Ashvatthama's Reply and His Duel with Dhrishtadyumna

Verse 1 (7.161.1)

दुर्योधनेनैवमुक्तो द्रौणिराहवदुर्मदः । चकारारिवधे यत्नमिन्द्रो दैत्यवधे यथा । प्रत्युवाच महाबाहुस्तव पुत्रमिदं वचः ॥

duryodhanenaivamukto drauṇirāhavadurmadaḥ | cakārārivadhe yatnamindro daityavadhe yathā | pratyuvāca mahābāhustava putramidaṃ vacaḥ

Addressed in this way by Duryodhana, Drona's son, reckless in battle, set himself to the slaughter of his foes, as Indra did to the slaughter of the Daityas; and the mighty-armed one gave your son this reply.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.135.1a; line 2 = CE star line 7.135.1b*1155_01; line 3 joins the first half of CE 7.135.1c (pratyuvāca mahābāho) with the star line 7.135.1c*1156_01 (CE: "**** **** tava putram idaṃ vacaḥ").

Verse 2 (7.161.2)

सत्यमेतन्महाबाहो यथा वदसि कौरव । प्रिया हि पाण्डवा नित्यं मम चापि पितुश्च मे ॥

satyametanmahābāho yathā vadasi kaurava | priyā hi pāṇḍavā nityaṃ mama cāpi pituśca me

"What you say is true, O mighty-armed Kaurava. The Pandavas are always dear to me, and to my father as well.

Note on the text: No speaker heading is printed; the words are Ashvatthama's reply, so the speaker is Ashvatthama (the input carried Sanjaya over; Sanjaya's narration ends with verse 1). Line 1 joins the star line 7.135.1c*1156_02 (satyam etan mahābāho) with the second half of CE 7.135.1c (yathā vadasi kaurava); line 2 = CE 7.135.2a.

Verse 3 (7.161.3)

तथैवावां प्रियौ तेषां न तु युद्धे कुरूद्वह । शक्तितस्तात युध्यामस्त्यक्त्वा प्राणानभीतवत् ॥

tathaivāvāṃ priyau teṣāṃ na tu yuddhe kurūdvaha | śaktitastāta yudhyāmastyaktvā prāṇānabhītavat

In the same way, O chief of the Kurus, we two are dear to them; yet in battle, dear friend, we fight with all our strength, casting away our lives without fear.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2). The two lines are CE 7.135.2c and 2e.

Verse 4 (7.161.4)

अहं कर्णश्च शल्यश्च कृपो हार्दिक्य एव च । निमेषात्पाण्डवीं सेनां क्षपयेम नृपोत्तम ॥

ahaṃ karṇaśca śalyaśca kṛpo hārdikya eva ca | nimeṣātpāṇḍavīṃ senāṃ kṣapayema nṛpottama

I, Karna, Shalya, Kripa and Hardikya could destroy the Pandava army in the blink of an eye, O best of kings.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 5 (7.161.5)

ते चापि कौरवीं सेनां निमेषार्धात्कुरूद्वह । क्षपयेयुर्महाबाहो न स्याम यदि संयुगे ॥

te cāpi kauravīṃ senāṃ nimeṣārdhātkurūdvaha | kṣapayeyurmahābāho na syāma yadi saṃyuge

And they too, O mighty-armed chief of the Kurus, could destroy the Kaurava army in half the blink of an eye, if we were not there in the battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 6 (7.161.6)

युध्याम पाण्डवाच्छक्त्या ते चाप्यस्मान्यथाबलम् । तेजस्तेजः समासाद्य प्रशमं यातु भारत ॥

yudhyāma pāṇḍavācchaktyā te cāpyasmānyathābalam | tejastejaḥ samāsādya praśamaṃ yātu bhārata

We fight the Pandavas with all our strength, and they fight us according to theirs; when force meets force, O Bharata, let it come to rest.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2). Recension variant, not corrected: the page reads युध्याम पाण्डवाच्छक्त्या ते चाप्यस्मान्यथाबलम् / तेजस्तेजः समासाद्य प्रशमं यातु भारत where the CE has yudhyatāṃ pāṇḍavāñ śaktyā teṣāṃ cāsmān yuyutsatām / tejas tu teja āsādya praśamaṃ yāti bhārata.

Verse 7 (7.161.7)

अशक्या तरसा जेतुं पाण्डवानामनीकिनी । जीवत्सु पाण्डुपुत्रेषु तद्धि सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते ॥

aśakyā tarasā jetuṃ pāṇḍavānāmanīkinī | jīvatsu pāṇḍuputreṣu taddhi satyaṃ bravīmi te

The army of the Pandavas cannot be conquered by force while the sons of Pandu are alive; this I tell you truly.

Note on the text: Corrected अशक्त्या → अशक्या (misprint in Wikisource; the sentence has no predicate with the instrumental अशक्त्या; the adjective "unconquerable" is required; CE aśakyā). Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 8 (7.161.8)

आत्मार्थं युध्यमानास्ते समर्थाः पाण्डुनन्दनाः । किमर्थं तव सैन्यानि न हनिष्यन्ति भारत ॥

ātmārthaṃ yudhyamānāste samarthāḥ pāṇḍunandanāḥ | kimarthaṃ tava sainyāni na haniṣyanti bhārata

Fighting for their own cause, the sons of Pandu are well able to do it; why should they not cut down your armies, O Bharata?

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 9 (7.161.9)

त्वं तु लुब्धतमो राजन्निकृतिज्ञश्च कौरव । सर्वाभिशङ्की मानी च ततोऽस्मानभिशङ्कसे ॥

tvaṃ tu lubdhatamo rājannikṛtijñaśca kaurava | sarvābhiśaṅkī mānī ca tato'smānabhiśaṅkase

But you, O king, are exceedingly greedy and skilled in deceit, O Kaurava; you suspect everyone and are proud, and therefore you suspect us as well.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 10 (7.161.10)

मन्ये त्वं कुत्सितो राजन्पापात्मा पापपूरुषः । अन्यानपि स नः क्षुद्र शङ्कसे पापभावितः ॥

manye tvaṃ kutsito rājanpāpātmā pāpapūruṣaḥ | anyānapi sa naḥ kṣudra śaṅkase pāpabhāvitaḥ

I take you to be a despicable man, O king, evil-souled, a creature of sin; and so, you petty one, steeped in wickedness, you suspect others too, and us.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2). Not in the critical edition's main text: the two lines are the CE star passage 7.135.8d*1157_01–02 (after 7.135.8).

Verse 11 (7.161.11)

अहं तु यत्नमास्थाय त्वदर्थे त्यक्तजीवितः । एष गच्छामि सङ्ग्रामं त्वत्कृते कुरुनन्दन । योत्स्येऽहं शत्रुभिः सार्धं जेष्यामि च वरान्वरान् ॥

ahaṃ tu yatnamāsthāya tvadarthe tyaktajīvitaḥ | eṣa gacchāmi saṅgrāmaṃ tvatkṛte kurunandana | yotsye'haṃ śatrubhiḥ sārdhaṃ jeṣyāmi ca varānvarān

But I, having made my resolve, with my life cast aside for your sake, go now to the battle, for you, O joy of the Kurus. I shall fight with the enemy, and defeat the best of them one after another.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2). Lines = CE 7.135.9a, 9c and 10a.

Verse 12 (7.161.12)

पाञ्चालैः सह योत्स्यामि सोमकैः केकयैस्तथा । पाण्डवेयैश्च सङ्ग्रामे त्वत्प्रियार्थमरिन्दम ॥

pāñcālaiḥ saha yotsyāmi somakaiḥ kekayaistathā | pāṇḍaveyaiśca saṅgrāme tvatpriyārthamarindama

I shall fight the Panchalas, the Somakas and the Kekayas, and the sons of Pandu too in battle, to please you, O tamer of foes.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2). The two lines are CE 7.135.10c and 10e.

Verse 13 (7.161.13)

अद्य मद्बाणनिर्दग्धाः पाञ्चालाः सोमकास्तथा । सिंहेनेवार्दिता गावो विद्रविष्यन्ति सर्वशः ॥

adya madbāṇanirdagdhāḥ pāñcālāḥ somakāstathā | siṃhenevārditā gāvo vidraviṣyanti sarvaśaḥ

Today the Panchalas and the Somakas, burnt up by my arrows, will flee in every direction like cattle harried by a lion.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 14 (7.161.14)

अद्य धर्मसुतो राजा दृष्ट्वा मम पराक्रमम् । अश्वत्थाममयं लोकं मंस्यते सह सोमकैः ॥

adya dharmasuto rājā dṛṣṭvā mama parākramam | aśvatthāmamayaṃ lokaṃ maṃsyate saha somakaiḥ

Today King Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, seeing my prowess, will think the world made up of Ashvatthama alone, together with the Somakas.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 15 (7.161.15)

आगमिष्यति निर्वेदं धर्मपुत्रो युधिष्ठिरः । दृष्ट्वा विनिहतान्सङ्ख्ये पाञ्चालान्सोमकैः सह ॥

āgamiṣyati nirvedaṃ dharmaputro yudhiṣṭhiraḥ | dṛṣṭvā vinihatānsaṅkhye pāñcālānsomakaiḥ saha

Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, will be overcome with despair on seeing the Panchalas and the Somakas slain in battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 16 (7.161.16)

ये मां युद्धेऽभियोत्स्यन्ति तान्हनिष्यामि भारत । न हि ते वीर मोक्ष्यन्ते मद्बाह्वन्तरमागताः ॥

ye māṃ yuddhe'bhiyotsyanti tānhaniṣyāmi bhārata | na hi te vīra mokṣyante madbāhvantaramāgatāḥ

Those who come against me in battle I shall kill, O Bharata; for, O hero, they will not escape once they have come within the reach of my arms."

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (see verse 2).

Verse 17 (7.161.17)

एवमुक्त्वा महाबाहुः पुत्रं दुर्योधनं तव । अभ्यवर्तत युद्धाय त्रासयन्सर्वधन्विनः । चिकीर्षुस्तव पुत्राणां प्रियं प्राणभृतां वरः ॥

evamuktvā mahābāhuḥ putraṃ duryodhanaṃ tava | abhyavartata yuddhāya trāsayansarvadhanvinaḥ | cikīrṣustava putrāṇāṃ priyaṃ prāṇabhṛtāṃ varaḥ

Having spoken thus to your son Duryodhana, the mighty-armed one, foremost of living beings, went forward to the battle, terrifying all the archers and wishing to do what would please your sons.

Verse 18 (7.161.18)

ततोऽब्रवीत्सकैकेयान्पाञ्चालान्गौतमीसुतः ॥

tato'bravītsakaikeyānpāñcālāngautamīsutaḥ

Then the son of Gautami spoke to the Panchalas and the Kekayas:

Note on the text: The CE has this line as 7.135.16a; Wikisource divides the CE's three-line verse 7.135.16 into this verse and the next.

Verse 19 (7.161.19)

प्रहरध्वमितः सर्वे मम गात्रे महारथाः । स्थिरीभूताश्च युध्यध्वं दर्शयन्तोऽस्त्रलाघवम् ॥

praharadhvamitaḥ sarve mama gātre mahārathāḥ | sthirībhūtāśca yudhyadhvaṃ darśayanto'stralāghavam

"Strike me here on my body, all of you, great charioteers, and fight standing firm, showing the lightness of your skill with weapons."

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (no heading is printed; the words are his address to the Panchalas and Kekayas, and the input carried Sanjaya over). Lines = CE 7.135.16c and 16e.

Verse 20 (7.161.20)

एवमुक्तास्तु ते सर्वे शस्त्रवृष्टीरपातयन् । द्रौणिं प्रति महाराज जलं जलधरा इव ॥

evamuktāstu te sarve śastravṛṣṭīrapātayan | drauṇiṃ prati mahārāja jalaṃ jaladharā iva

Thus addressed, they all let fall showers of weapons on Drona's son, O great king, as rain-clouds let fall water.

Note on the text: Corrected शस्त्रवृषीरपातयन् → शस्त्रवृष्टीरपातयन् (misprint in Wikisource; the conjunct ष्ट is dropped, giving the non-word वृषी; CE śastravṛṣṭim, and the same compound with वृष्टीः in verse 42).

Verse 21 (7.161.21)

तान्निहत्य शरान्द्रौणिर्दश वीरानपोथयत् । प्रमुखे पाण्डुपुत्राणां धृष्टद्युम्नस्य च प्रभो ॥

tānnihatya śarāndrauṇirdaśa vīrānapothayat | pramukhe pāṇḍuputrāṇāṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnasya ca prabho

Cutting down those arrows, Drona's son struck down ten heroes before the sons of Pandu and before Dhrishtadyumna, O lord.

Verse 22 (7.161.22)

ते हन्यमानाः समरे पाञ्चालाः सोमकास्तथा । परित्यज्य रणे द्रौणिं व्यद्रवन्त दिशो दश ॥

te hanyamānāḥ samare pāñcālāḥ somakāstathā | parityajya raṇe drauṇiṃ vyadravanta diśo daśa

Struck down in the battle, the Panchalas and the Somakas abandoned Drona's son and fled in the ten directions.

Verse 23 (7.161.23)

तान्दृष्ट्वा द्रवतः शूरान्पाञ्चालान्सहसोमकान् । धृष्टद्युम्नो महाराज द्रौणिमभ्यद्रवद्रणे ॥

tāndṛṣṭvā dravataḥ śūrānpāñcālānsahasomakān | dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārāja drauṇimabhyadravadraṇe

Seeing those heroes, the Panchalas with the Somakas, in flight, Dhrishtadyumna, O great king, rushed at Drona's son in the battle.

Verse 24 (7.161.24)

ततः काञ्चनचित्राणां सजलाम्बुदनादिनाम् । वृतः शतेन शूराणां रथानामनिवर्तिनाम् ॥

tataḥ kāñcanacitrāṇāṃ sajalāmbudanādinām | vṛtaḥ śatena śūrāṇāṃ rathānāmanivartinām

Then, surrounded by a hundred heroes in chariots that never turned back, gold-adorned and rumbling like water-laden clouds,

Verse 25 (7.161.25)

पुत्रः पाञ्चालराजस्य धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः । द्रौणिमित्यब्रवीद्वाक्यं दृष्ट्वा योधान्निपातितान् ॥

putraḥ pāñcālarājasya dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ | drauṇimityabravīdvākyaṃ dṛṣṭvā yodhānnipātitān

Dhrishtadyumna, the great charioteer, son of the Panchala king, seeing his warriors struck down, spoke these words to Drona's son:

Verse 26 (7.161.26)

आचार्यपुत्र भद्रं ते किमन्यैर्निहतैस्तव । समागच्छ मया सार्धं यदि शूरोऽसि संयुगे । अहं त्वां निहनिष्यामि तिष्ठेदानीं ममाग्रतः ॥

ācāryaputra bhadraṃ te kimanyairnihataistava | samāgaccha mayā sārdhaṃ yadi śūro'si saṃyuge | ahaṃ tvāṃ nihaniṣyāmi tiṣṭhedānīṃ mamāgrataḥ

"Son of the teacher, good fortune to you; what is the use of killing others? Come and meet me, if you are a hero in battle. I shall kill you; stand now before me."

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (the words follow his introduction in verse 25; the input carried Sanjaya over).

Verse 27 (7.161.27)

ततस्तमाचार्यसुतं धृष्टद्युम्नः प्रतापवान् । मर्मभिद्भिः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्जघान भरतर्षभ ॥

tatastamācāryasutaṃ dhṛṣṭadyumnaḥ pratāpavān | marmabhidbhiḥ śaraistīkṣṇairjaghāna bharatarṣabha

Then the glorious Dhrishtadyumna struck the teacher's son with sharp arrows that pierce the vital parts, O best of the Bharatas.

Verse 28 (7.161.28)

ते तु पङ्क्तीकृता द्रौणिं शरा विविशुराशुगाः । रुक्मपुङ्खाः प्रसन्नाग्राः सर्वकायावदारणाः । मध्वर्थिन इवोद्दामा भ्रमराः पुष्पितं द्रुमम् ॥

te tu paṅktīkṛtā drauṇiṃ śarā viviśurāśugāḥ | rukmapuṅkhāḥ prasannāgrāḥ sarvakāyāvadāraṇāḥ | madhvarthina ivoddāmā bhramarāḥ puṣpitaṃ drumam

Those swift arrows, with gold-feathered shafts and bright points, able to rend the whole body, entered Drona's son in rows, like fierce bees seeking honey settling on a flowering tree.

Verse 29 (7.161.29)

सोऽतिविद्धो भृशं क्रुद्धः पदाक्रान्त इवोरगः । मानी द्रौणिरसम्भ्रान्तो बाणपाणिरभाषत ॥

so'tividdho bhṛśaṃ kruddhaḥ padākrānta ivoragaḥ | mānī drauṇirasambhrānto bāṇapāṇirabhāṣata

Deeply wounded and furious, like a snake trodden underfoot, the proud son of Drona, unshaken, bow in hand, said:

Verse 30 (7.161.30)

धृष्टद्युम्न स्थिरो भूत्वा मुहूर्तं प्रतिपालय । यावत्त्वां निशितैर्बाणैः प्रेषयामि यमक्षयम् ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumna sthiro bhūtvā muhūrtaṃ pratipālaya | yāvattvāṃ niśitairbāṇaiḥ preṣayāmi yamakṣayam

"Dhrishtadyumna, stand firm and wait a moment, while I send you to the abode of Yama with my sharp arrows."

Note on the text: Speaker: Ashvatthama (the words follow his introduction in verse 29; the input carried Sanjaya over).

Verse 31 (7.161.31)

द्रौणिरेवमथाभाष्य पार्षतं परवीरहा । छादयामास बाणौघैः समन्ताल्लघुहस्तवत् ॥

drauṇirevamathābhāṣya pārṣataṃ paravīrahā | chādayāmāsa bāṇaughaiḥ samantāllaghuhastavat

Having said this to Parshata, the slayer of enemy heroes covered him on all sides with floods of arrows, with a light hand.

Note on the text: Corrected लुघुहस्तवत् → लघुहस्तवत् (misprint in Wikisource; लुघु is not a word; CE laghuhastavat, "light-handed").

Verse 32 (7.161.32)

स बाध्यमानः समरे द्रौणिना युद्धदुर्मदः । द्रौणिं पाञ्चालतनयो वाग्भिरातर्जयत्तदा ॥

sa bādhyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā yuddhadurmadaḥ | drauṇiṃ pāñcālatanayo vāgbhirātarjayattadā

Harassed in the battle by Drona's son, the Panchala prince, reckless in the fight, then rebuked Drona's son with words:

Verse 33 (7.161.33)

न जानीषे प्रतिज्ञां मे विप्रोत्पत्तिं तथैव च । द्रोणं हत्वा किल मया हन्तव्यस्त्वं सुदुर्मते ॥

na jānīṣe pratijñāṃ me viprotpattiṃ tathaiva ca | droṇaṃ hatvā kila mayā hantavyastvaṃ sudurmate

"You do not know my vow, nor what my birth is for with regard to that brahmin: after killing Drona, I am to kill you, you fool.

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (the words follow his introduction in verse 32; the input carried Sanjaya over). Lines = CE 7.135.30a and 30c.

Verse 34 (7.161.34)

ततस्त्वाऽहं न हन्म्यद्य द्रोणे जीवति संयुगे ॥

tatastvā'haṃ na hanmyadya droṇe jīvati saṃyuge

Therefore I do not kill you today, while Drona lives in the battle.

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (see verse 33). The line is CE 7.135.30e; Wikisource divides the CE's three-line verse 7.135.30 into this verse and the one before.

Verse 35 (7.161.35)

इमां तु रजनीं प्राप्तामप्रभातां सुदुर्मते । निहत्य पितरं तेऽद्य ततस्त्वामपि संयुगे । नेष्यामि प्रेतलोकाय ह्येतन्मे मनसि स्थितम् ॥

imāṃ tu rajanīṃ prāptāmaprabhātāṃ sudurmate | nihatya pitaraṃ te'dya tatastvāmapi saṃyuge | neṣyāmi pretalokāya hyetanme manasi sthitam

But on this night that has come and is not yet dawn, O fool, I shall kill your father today, and then I shall send you too to the world of the dead in battle; so it stands in my mind.

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (see verse 33).

Verse 36 (7.161.36)

यस्ते पार्थेषु विद्वेषो या भक्तिः कौरवेषु च । तां दर्शय स्थिरो भूत्वा न मे जीवन्विमोक्ष्यसे ॥

yaste pārtheṣu vidveṣo yā bhaktiḥ kauraveṣu ca | tāṃ darśaya sthiro bhūtvā na me jīvanvimokṣyase

Whatever hatred you have for the sons of Pritha and whatever devotion you have for the Kauravas, show it standing firm; you will not escape me alive.

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (see verse 33).

Verse 37 (7.161.37)

यो हि ब्राह्मण्यमुत्सृज्य क्षत्रधर्मरतो द्विजः । स वध्यः सर्वलोकस्य यथा त्वं पुरुषाधमः ॥

yo hi brāhmaṇyamutsṛjya kṣatradharmarato dvijaḥ | sa vadhyaḥ sarvalokasya yathā tvaṃ puruṣādhamaḥ

A twice-born who abandons brahminhood and delights in the duty of a kshatriya deserves to be killed by the whole world, as you do, lowest of men."

Note on the text: Speaker: Dhrishtadyumna (see verse 33).

Verse 38 (7.161.38)

इत्युक्तः परुषं वाक्यं पार्षतेन द्विजोत्तमः । क्रोधमाहारयत्तीव्रं तिष्ठतिष्ठेति चाब्रवीत् ॥

ityuktaḥ paruṣaṃ vākyaṃ pārṣatena dvijottamaḥ | krodhamāhārayattīvraṃ tiṣṭhatiṣṭheti cābravīt

Addressed in such harsh words by the son of Prishata, that best of the twice-born conceived a fierce anger, and said, "Stand! Stand!"

Verse 39 (7.161.39)

निर्दहन्निव चक्षुर्भ्यां पार्षतं सोऽभ्यवैक्षत । छादयामास च शरैर्निःश्वसन्पन्नगो यथा ॥

nirdahanniva cakṣurbhyāṃ pārṣataṃ so'bhyavaikṣata | chādayāmāsa ca śarairniḥśvasanpannago yathā

He looked at Parshata as if burning him with his eyes, and covered him with arrows, hissing like a serpent.

Verse 40 (7.161.40)

स च्छाद्यमानः समरे द्रौणिना राजसत्तम । सर्वपाञ्चालसेनाभिः संवृतो रथसत्तमः ॥

sa cchādyamānaḥ samare drauṇinā rājasattama | sarvapāñcālasenābhiḥ saṃvṛto rathasattamaḥ

Though covered in battle by Drona's son, O best of kings, that best of charioteers, surrounded by all the Panchala forces,

Verse 41 (7.161.41)

नाकम्पत महाबाहुः स्ववीर्यं समुपाश्रितः । सायकांश्चैव विविधानश्वत्थाम्नि मुमोच ह ॥

nākampata mahābāhuḥ svavīryaṃ samupāśritaḥ | sāyakāṃścaiva vividhānaśvatthāmni mumoca ha

the mighty-armed one did not tremble; relying on his own valour, he loosed arrows of many kinds at Ashvatthama.

Verse 42 (7.161.42)

तौ पुनः सन्न्यवर्तेतां प्राणद्यूतपणे रणे । निपीडयन्तौ बाणौघैः परस्परममर्षिणौ । उत्सृजन्तौ महेष्वासौ शरवृष्टीः समन्ततः ॥

tau punaḥ sannyavartetāṃ prāṇadyūtapaṇe raṇe | nipīḍayantau bāṇaughaiḥ parasparamamarṣiṇau | utsṛjantau maheṣvāsau śaravṛṣṭīḥ samantataḥ

The two turned on each other again in that battle, staking their lives on the contest, hammering each other with floods of arrows, each enraged with the other, those two great archers pouring down showers of arrows on every side.

Verse 43 (7.161.43)

द्रौणिपार्षतयोर्युद्धं घोररूपं भयानकम् । दृष्ट्वा सम्पूजयामासुः सिद्धचारणवादिकाः ॥

drauṇipārṣatayoryuddhaṃ ghorarūpaṃ bhayānakam | dṛṣṭvā sampūjayāmāsuḥ siddhacāraṇavādikāḥ

Seeing the fearful, terrifying duel of Drona's son and Parshata, the Siddhas, Charanas and bards praised them.

Verse 44 (7.161.44)

शरौघैः पूरयन्तौ तावाकाशं च दिशस्तथा । अलक्ष्यौ समयुध्येतां महत्कृत्वा शरैस्तमः ॥

śaraughaiḥ pūrayantau tāvākāśaṃ ca diśastathā | alakṣyau samayudhyetāṃ mahatkṛtvā śaraistamaḥ

Filling the sky and the quarters with floods of arrows, the two fought unseen, having made a great darkness with their arrows.

Verse 45 (7.161.45)

नृत्यमानाविव रणे मण्डलीकृतकार्मुकौ । परस्परवधे यत्तौ सर्वभूतभयङ्करौ ॥

nṛtyamānāviva raṇe maṇḍalīkṛtakārmukau | parasparavadhe yattau sarvabhūtabhayaṅkarau

With their bows drawn into circles they seemed to dance in the battle, each bent on the other's death, a terror to all beings.

Note on the text: Recension variant, not corrected: line 2 reads परस्परवधे यत्तौ सर्वभूतभयङ्करौ where the CE has parasparavadhe yattau parasparajayaiṣiṇau.

Verse 46 (7.161.46)

अयुध्येतां महाबाहू चित्रं लघु च सुष्ठु च । सम्पूज्यमानौ समरे योधमुख्यैः सहस्रशः ॥

ayudhyetāṃ mahābāhū citraṃ laghu ca suṣṭhu ca | sampūjyamānau samare yodhamukhyaiḥ sahasraśaḥ

The two mighty-armed warriors fought in a wondrous way, swiftly and skilfully, honoured in the battle by thousands of the foremost fighters.

Verse 47 (7.161.47)

तौ प्रबुद्धौ रणे दृष्ट्वा वने वन्यौ गजाविव । उभयोः सेनयोर्हर्षस्तुमुलः समपद्यत ॥

tau prabuddhau raṇe dṛṣṭvā vane vanyau gajāviva | ubhayoḥ senayorharṣastumulaḥ samapadyata

Seeing the two roused to battle like a pair of wild elephants in a forest, a tumultuous joy arose in both armies.

Verse 48 (7.161.48)

सिंहनादरवाश्चासन्दध्मुः शङ्खांश्च सैनिकाः । वादित्राण्यभ्यवाद्यन्त शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

siṃhanādaravāścāsandadhmuḥ śaṅkhāṃśca sainikāḥ | vāditrāṇyabhyavādyanta śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

There were lion-roars, the soldiers blew their conches, and instruments were sounded by the hundreds and thousands.

Verse 49 (7.161.49)

तस्मिंस्तु तुमुले युद्धे भीरुणां भयवर्धने । मुहूर्तमपि तद्युद्धं समरूपं तदाऽभवत् ॥

tasmiṃstu tumule yuddhe bhīruṇāṃ bhayavardhane | muhūrtamapi tadyuddhaṃ samarūpaṃ tadā'bhavat

In that tumultuous battle, which increased the fear of the timid, the fight remained evenly matched for a moment.

Verse 50 (7.161.50)

ततो द्रौणिर्महाराज पार्षतस्य महात्मनः । ध्वजं धनुस्तथा छत्रमुभौ च पार्ष्णिसारथी । सूतमश्वांश्च चतुरो निहत्याभ्यद्रवद्रणे ॥

tato drauṇirmahārāja pārṣatasya mahātmanaḥ | dhvajaṃ dhanustathā chatramubhau ca pārṣṇisārathī | sūtamaśvāṃśca caturo nihatyābhyadravadraṇe

Then Drona's son, O great king, killed the great-souled Parshata's banner, bow and umbrella, his two rear-guard charioteers, his charioteer and his four horses, and charged at him in the battle.

Verse 51 (7.161.51)

पाञ्चालांश्चैव तान्सर्वान्बाणैः सन्नतपर्वभिः । व्यद्रावयदमेयात्मा शतशोऽथ सहस्रशः ॥

pāñcālāṃścaiva tānsarvānbāṇaiḥ sannataparvabhiḥ | vyadrāvayadameyātmā śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ

And that one of immeasurable spirit routed all those Panchalas with straight-jointed arrows, by hundreds and thousands.

Verse 52 (7.161.52)

ततस्तु विव्यथे सेना पाण्डवी भरतर्षभ । दृष्ट्वा द्रौणेर्महत्कर्म वासवस्येव संयुगे ॥

tatastu vivyathe senā pāṇḍavī bharatarṣabha | dṛṣṭvā drauṇermahatkarma vāsavasyeva saṃyuge

Then the Pandava army shuddered, O best of the Bharatas, seeing the great deed of Drona's son in the battle, like that of Indra.

Verse 53 (7.161.53)

शतेन च शतं हत्वा पाञ्चालानां महारथः । त्रिभिश्च निशितैर्बाणैर्हत्वा त्रीन्वै महारथान् ॥

śatena ca śataṃ hatvā pāñcālānāṃ mahārathaḥ | tribhiśca niśitairbāṇairhatvā trīnvai mahārathān

The great charioteer killed a hundred of the Panchalas with a hundred arrows, and with three sharp arrows killed three great charioteers,

Verse 54 (7.161.54)

द्रौणिर्द्रुपदपुत्रस्य फल्गुनस्य च पश्यतः । नाशयामास पाञ्चालान्भूयिष्ठं ये व्यवस्थिताः ॥

drauṇirdrupadaputrasya phalgunasya ca paśyataḥ | nāśayāmāsa pāñcālānbhūyiṣṭhaṃ ye vyavasthitāḥ

and, while Drupada's son and Phalguna looked on, Drona's son destroyed the Panchalas, above all those who stood their ground.

Verse 55 (7.161.55)

ते वध्यमानाः पाञ्चालाः समरे सह सृञ्जयैः । अगच्छन्द्रौणिमुत्सृज्य विप्रकीर्णरथध्वजाः ॥

te vadhyamānāḥ pāñcālāḥ samare saha sṛñjayaiḥ | agacchandrauṇimutsṛjya viprakīrṇarathadhvajāḥ

Struck down in the battle, the Panchalas with the Srinjayas left Drona's son and went away, their chariots and banners scattered.

Verse 56 (7.161.56)

स जित्वा समरे शत्रून्द्रोणपुत्रो महारथः । ननाद सुमहानादं तपान्ते जलदो यथा ॥

sa jitvā samare śatrūndroṇaputro mahārathaḥ | nanāda sumahānādaṃ tapānte jalado yathā

Having conquered his enemies in the battle, the great charioteer, son of Drona, roared a mighty roar, like a cloud at the end of the hot season.

Verse 57 (7.161.57)

स निहत्य बहूञ्छूरानश्वत्थामा व्यरोचत । युगान्ते सर्वभूतानि भस्म कृत्वेव पावकः ॥

sa nihatya bahūñchūrānaśvatthāmā vyarocata | yugānte sarvabhūtāni bhasma kṛtveva pāvakaḥ

Having killed many heroes, Ashvatthama shone like fire at the end of the age, when it reduces all beings to ashes.

Verse 58 (7.161.58)

सम्पूज्यमानो युधि कौरवेयै- । र्निर्जित्य सङ्ख्येऽरिगणान्सहस्रशः । व्यरोचत द्रोणसुतः प्रतापवा- । न्यथा सुरेन्द्रोऽरिगणान्निहत्य वै ॥

sampūjyamāno yudhi kauraveyai- | rnirjitya saṅkhye'rigaṇānsahasraśaḥ | vyarocata droṇasutaḥ pratāpavā- | nyathā surendro'rigaṇānnihatya vai

Honoured in the battle by the Kauravas, having vanquished thousands of bands of foes in combat, the valiant son of Drona shone like the lord of the gods after slaying hosts of enemies.

Note on the text: Normalised the page's double hyphen ("--") marking the words कौरवेयैर्निर्जित्य and प्रतापवान्यथा split between lines to the single hyphen used for such breaks. Wikisource prints the CE's two lines (7.135.54a and 54c) as four lines.