Karna and Bhima; the Duel of Drona and Arjuna

Verse 1 (7.189.1)

ततो दुःशासनः क्रुद्धः सहदेवमुपाद्रवत् । रथवेगेन तीव्रेण कम्पयन्निव मेदिनीम् ॥

tato duḥśāsanaḥ kruddhaḥ sahadevamupādravat | rathavegena tīvreṇa kampayanniva medinīm

Then Duhshasana, enraged, charged at Sahadeva, the swift rush of his chariot seeming to shake the earth.

Verse 2 (7.189.2)

तस्यापतत एवाशु भल्लेनामित्रकर्शनः । माद्रीपुत्रः शिरो यन्तुः सशिरस्त्राणमच्छिनत् ॥

tasyāpatata evāśu bhallenāmitrakarśanaḥ | mādrīputraḥ śiro yantuḥ saśirastrāṇamacchinat

As he came rushing on, the son of Madri, destroyer of his foes, swiftly cut off the head of his charioteer, helmet and all, with a broad-headed arrow.

Verse 3 (7.189.3)

नैनं दुःशासनः सूतं नापि कश्चन सैनिकः । कृत्तोत्तमाङ्गमाशुत्वात्सहदेवेन बुद्धवान् ॥

nainaṃ duḥśāsanaḥ sūtaṃ nāpi kaścana sainikaḥ | kṛttottamāṅgamāśutvātsahadevena buddhavān

So swiftly was it done that neither Duhshasana nor any of the soldiers noticed that Sahadeva had cut off the charioteer's head.

Verse 4 (7.189.4)

यदा त्वसङ्गृहीतत्वात्प्रयान्त्यश्वा यथासुखम् । ततो दुःशासनः सूतं बुबुधे गतचेतसम् ॥

yadā tvasaṅgṛhītatvātprayāntyaśvā yathāsukham | tato duḥśāsanaḥ sūtaṃ bubudhe gatacetasam

Only when the horses, left unguided, began to wander wherever they pleased did Duhshasana realize that his charioteer had lost his senses.

Verse 5 (7.189.5)

स हयान्सन्निगृह्याजौ स्वयं हयविशारदः । युयुधे रथिनां श्रेष्ठो लघु चित्रं च सुष्ठु च ॥

sa hayānsannigṛhyājau svayaṃ hayaviśāradaḥ | yuyudhe rathināṃ śreṣṭho laghu citraṃ ca suṣṭhu ca

Reining in the horses himself in the battle, for he was skilled with horses, that best of chariot-fighters went on fighting swiftly, wonderfully and well.

Verse 6 (7.189.6)

तदस्यापूजयन्कर्म स्वे परे चापि संयुगे । हतसूतरथेनाजौ व्यचरद्यदभीतवत् ॥

tadasyāpūjayankarma sve pare cāpi saṃyuge | hatasūtarathenājau vyacaradyadabhītavat

Both his own men and the enemy praised that deed of his, for he moved about fearlessly in the battle on a chariot whose driver was slain.

Verse 7 (7.189.7)

सहदेवस्तु तानश्वांस्तीक्ष्णैर्बाणैरवाकिरत् । पीड्यमानाः शरैश्चाशु प्राद्रवंस्ते ततस्ततः ॥

sahadevastu tānaśvāṃstīkṣṇairbāṇairavākirat | pīḍyamānāḥ śaraiścāśu prādravaṃste tatastataḥ

But Sahadeva showered those horses with sharp arrows, and tormented by the shafts they bolted off in every direction.

Verse 8 (7.189.8)

स रश्मिषु विषक्तत्वादुत्ससर्ज शरासनम् । धनुषा कर्म कुर्वंस्तु रश्मींश्च पुनरुत्सृजत् ॥

sa raśmiṣu viṣaktatvādutsasarja śarāsanam | dhanuṣā karma kurvaṃstu raśmīṃśca punarutsṛjat

With his hands tied up with the reins, he dropped his bow; then, setting to work with the bow, he let go of the reins again.

Note on the text: Corrected उत्सर्ज → उत्ससर्ज (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped स, not a valid perfect form; CE 7.163.8 utsasarja).

Verse 9 (7.189.9)

छिद्रेष्वेतेषु तं बाणैर्माद्रीपुत्रोऽभ्यवाकिरत् । परीप्संस्त्वत्सुतं कर्णस्तदन्तरमवापतत् ॥

chidreṣveteṣu taṃ bāṇairmādrīputro'bhyavākirat | parīpsaṃstvatsutaṃ karṇastadantaramavāpatat

In those openings the son of Madri covered him with arrows, and Karna, wishing to protect your son, rushed into the gap.

Verse 10 (7.189.10)

वृकोदरस्ततः कर्णं त्रिभिर्भल्लैः समाहितः । आकर्णपूर्णैरभ्यघ्नद्बाह्वोरुरसि चानदत् ॥

vṛkodarastataḥ karṇaṃ tribhirbhallaiḥ samāhitaḥ | ākarṇapūrṇairabhyaghnadbāhvorurasi cānadat

Then Vrikodara, steady and composed, struck Karna on the arms and chest with three broad-headed arrows drawn back to the ear, and roared.

Verse 11 (7.189.11)

स निवृत्तस्ततः कर्णः सङ्घट्टित इवोरगः । भीममावारयामास विकिरन्निशिताञ्छरान् । ततोऽभूत्तुमुलं युद्धं भीमराधेययोस्तदा ॥

sa nivṛttastataḥ karṇaḥ saṅghaṭṭita ivoragaḥ | bhīmamāvārayāmāsa vikiranniśitāñcharān | tato'bhūttumulaṃ yuddhaṃ bhīmarādheyayostadā

Karna turned on him then, like a struck snake, and held Bhima back, scattering sharp arrows; and a tumultuous fight began between Bhima and Karna.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.11a (Wikisource reads स निवृत्तस्ततः कर्णः for CE saṃnyavartata taṃ karṇaḥ, a recension variant); line 2 = CE star passage 7.163.11b*1281_01 (भीममावारयामास विकिरन्निशिताञ्छरान्); line 3 = CE 7.163.11c.

Verse 12 (7.189.12)

तौ वृषाविव नर्दन्तौ विवृत्तनयनावुभौ । वेगेन महताऽन्योन्यं संरब्धावभिपेततुः ॥

tau vṛṣāviva nardantau vivṛttanayanāvubhau | vegena mahatā'nyonyaṃ saṃrabdhāvabhipetatuḥ

Like two bulls bellowing, both with eyes rolling, those two, in a fury, hurled themselves at each other with great force.

Verse 13 (7.189.13)

अभिसंश्लिष्टयोस्तत्र तयोराहवशौण्डयोः । विच्छिन्नशरपातत्वाद्गदायुद्धमवर्तत ॥

abhisaṃśliṣṭayostatra tayorāhavaśauṇḍayoḥ | vicchinnaśarapātatvādgadāyuddhamavartata

As the two, so eager for battle, closed with each other, the fall of arrows between them was cut off, and a fight with maces began.

Verse 14 (7.189.14)

गदया भीमसेनस्तु कर्णस्य रथकूबरम् । बिभेद शतधा राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

gadayā bhīmasenastu karṇasya rathakūbaram | bibheda śatadhā rājaṃstadadbhutamivābhavat

With his mace Bhimasena smashed the pole of Karna's chariot into a hundred pieces, O king, and it seemed a marvel.

Verse 15 (7.189.15)

ततो भीमस्य राधेयो गदामाविध्य वीर्यवान् । अवासृजद्रथे तां तु बिभेद गदया गदाम् ॥

tato bhīmasya rādheyo gadāmāvidhya vīryavān | avāsṛjadrathe tāṃ tu bibheda gadayā gadām

Then the valiant son of Radha whirled a mace and hurled it at the chariot; but with his own mace Bhima shattered that mace.

Verse 16 (7.189.16)

ततो भीमः पुनर्गुर्वीं चिक्षेपाधिरथेर्गदाम् । तां गदां बहुभिः कर्णः सुपुङ्खैः सुप्रवेजितैः ॥

tato bhīmaḥ punargurvīṃ cikṣepādhirathergadām | tāṃ gadāṃ bahubhiḥ karṇaḥ supuṅkhaiḥ supravejitaiḥ

Then Bhima once more hurled a heavy mace at the son of Adhiratha, and that mace Karna struck with many fine-feathered, well-sharpened arrows,

Note on the text: The sentence runs on into verse 17. Line 1 = CE 7.163.16a; line 2 = CE 7.163.16c (recension variants बहुभिः सुप्रवेजितैः; CE: daśabhiḥ susamāhitaiḥ). CE 7.163.16 has three lines (16a, 16c, 16e); the third falls in the next verse.

Verse 17 (7.189.17)

प्रत्यविध्यत्पुनश्चान्यैः सा भीमं पुनराव्रजत् । व्यालीव मन्त्राभिहता कर्णबाणैरभिद्रुता ॥

pratyavidhyatpunaścānyaiḥ sā bhīmaṃ punarāvrajat | vyālīva mantrābhihatā karṇabāṇairabhidrutā

and struck it again with others; yet it came back toward Bhima, like a serpent bound by a spell and driven on by Karna's arrows.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.16e; line 2 = CE star passage 7.163.16f*1284_01 (व्यालीव मन्त्राभिहता कर्णबाणैरभिद्रुता).

Verse 18 (7.189.18)

तस्याः प्रतिनिपातेन भीमस्य विपुलो ध्वजः । पपात सारथिश्चास्य मुमोह च गदाहतः ॥

tasyāḥ pratinipātena bhīmasya vipulo dhvajaḥ | papāta sārathiścāsya mumoha ca gadāhataḥ

By the mace's falling back, Bhima's great banner fell, and his charioteer, struck by the mace, fainted.

Verse 19 (7.189.19)

स कर्णं सायकानष्टौ व्यसृजत्क्रोधमूर्च्छितः । तैस्तस्य निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैर्भीमसेनो महाबलः ॥

sa karṇaṃ sāyakānaṣṭau vyasṛjatkrodhamūrcchitaḥ | taistasya niśitaistīkṣṇairbhīmaseno mahābalaḥ

Dizzy with rage, he let fly eight arrows at Karna, and with those sharp and piercing shafts the mighty Bhimasena,

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.18a; line 2 = CE star passage 7.163.18d*1285_01 (तैस्तस्य निशितैस्तीक्ष्णैः for CE pītaiḥ, a recension variant). The sentence runs on into verse 20.

Verse 20 (7.189.20)

चिच्छेद परवीरघ्नः प्रहसन्निव भारत । ध्वजं शरासनं चैव शरावापं च भारत ॥

ciccheda paravīraghnaḥ prahasanniva bhārata | dhvajaṃ śarāsanaṃ caiva śarāvāpaṃ ca bhārata

slayer of enemy heroes, cut down Karna's banner, bow and quiver, as if laughing, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE star passage 7.163.18d*1285_02 (चिच्छेद परवीरघ्नः प्रहसन्निव भारत); line 2 = CE 7.163.18c.

Verse 21 (7.189.21)

कर्णोऽप्यन्यद्धनुर्गृह्य हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम् । ततः पुनस्तु राधेयो हयानस्य रथेषुभिः । ऋक्षवर्णाञ्जघानाशु तथोभौ पार्ष्णिसारथी ॥

karṇo'pyanyaddhanurgṛhya hemapṛṣṭhaṃ durāsadam | tataḥ punastu rādheyo hayānasya ratheṣubhiḥ | ṛkṣavarṇāñjaghānāśu tathobhau pārṣṇisārathī

Karna too took up another bow, golden-backed and hard to withstand, and then with his long arrows swiftly killed Bhima's bear-coloured horses and both his rear charioteers.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE star passage 7.163.18d*1286_01 (कर्णोऽप्यन्यद्धनुर्गृह्य हेमपृष्ठं दुरासदम्); lines 2–3 = CE 7.163.19a, 19c.

Verse 22 (7.189.22)

स विपन्नरथो भीमो नकुलस्याप्लुतो रथम् । हरिर्यथा गिरेः शृङ्गं समाक्रमदरिन्दमः ॥

sa vipannaratho bhīmo nakulasyāpluto ratham | hariryathā gireḥ śṛṅgaṃ samākramadarindamaḥ

His chariot ruined, Bhima, tamer of foes, sprang onto Nakula's chariot, as a lion leaps onto a mountain peak.

Verse 23 (7.189.23)

तथा द्रोणार्जुनौ चित्रमयुध्येतां महारथौ । आचार्यशिष्यौ राजेन्द्र कृतप्रतिकृतौ युधि ॥

tathā droṇārjunau citramayudhyetāṃ mahārathau | ācāryaśiṣyau rājendra kṛtapratikṛtau yudhi

In the same way Drona and Arjuna, those two great chariot-warriors, teacher and pupil, fought a marvellous fight, O best of kings, each answering the other's blows.

Verse 24 (7.189.24)

लघुसन्धानयोगाभ्यां रथयोश्च रणेन च । मोहयन्तौ मनुष्याणां चक्षूंषि च मनांसि च ॥

laghusandhānayogābhyāṃ rathayośca raṇena ca | mohayantau manuṣyāṇāṃ cakṣūṃṣi ca manāṃsi ca

By swift aim and mastery of weapons, by their chariots and their fighting, they bewildered the eyes and minds of men.

Verse 25 (7.189.25)

उपारमन्त ते सर्वे योधाऽस्माकं परे तथा । विचित्रान्पृतनामध्ये रथमार्गानुदीर्य तौ ॥

upāramanta te sarve yodhā'smākaṃ pare tathā | vicitrānpṛtanāmadhye rathamārgānudīrya tau

All the warriors, ours and the enemy's, stopped fighting, as those two drove along wondrous chariot-paths in the midst of the army,

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.23a; line 2 = CE 7.163.24a (Wikisource reads रथमार्गानुदीर्य तौ for CE udīryataḥ). CE 23c (adṛṣṭapūrvaṃ paśyantas tad yuddhaṃ guruśiṣyayoḥ) is not in Wikisource. The sentence runs on into verse 26.

Verse 26 (7.189.26)

अन्योन्यमपसव्यं च कर्तुं वीरौ तदेषतुः ॥

anyonyamapasavyaṃ ca kartuṃ vīrau tadeṣatuḥ

and each of the two heroes tried to bring the other round onto his left side.

Note on the text: Single line = CE 7.163.24c. Wikisource prints this and the next verse as one-line verses.

Verse 27 (7.189.27)

पराक्रमं तयोर्योधा ददृशुस्ते सुविस्मिताः ॥

parākramaṃ tayoryodhā dadṛśuste suvismitāḥ

The warriors watched their prowess, utterly amazed.

Note on the text: Single line = CE 7.163.24e.

Verse 28 (7.189.28)

तयोः समभवद्युद्धं द्रोणपाण्डवयोर्महत् । आमिषार्थे महाराज गगने श्येनयोरिव ॥

tayoḥ samabhavadyuddhaṃ droṇapāṇḍavayormahat | āmiṣārthe mahārāja gagane śyenayoriva

A great battle arose between Drona and the Pandava, O great king, like that of two hawks in the sky fighting over a piece of meat.

Verse 29 (7.189.29)

यद्यच्चकार द्रोणस्तु कुन्तीपुत्रजिगीषया । तत्तत्प्रतिजघानाशु प्रहसंस्तस्य पाण्डवः ॥

yadyaccakāra droṇastu kuntīputrajigīṣayā | tattatpratijaghānāśu prahasaṃstasya pāṇḍavaḥ

Whatever Drona did in his wish to defeat the son of Kunti, the Pandava swiftly countered, laughing.

Verse 30 (7.189.30)

यदा द्रोणो न शक्नोति पाण्डवं स्म विशेषितुम् । ततः प्रादुश्चकारास्त्रमस्त्रमार्गविशारदः ॥

yadā droṇo na śaknoti pāṇḍavaṃ sma viśeṣitum | tataḥ prāduścakārāstramastramārgaviśāradaḥ

When Drona could not gain the advantage over the Pandava, that master of the paths of weapons brought forth his divine weapons.

Verse 31 (7.189.31)

ऐन्द्रं पाशुपतं त्वाष्ट्रं वायव्यमथ वारुणम् । मुक्तंमुक्तं द्रोणचापात्तज्जघान धनञ्जयः ॥

aindraṃ pāśupataṃ tvāṣṭraṃ vāyavyamatha vāruṇam | muktaṃmuktaṃ droṇacāpāttajjaghāna dhanañjayaḥ

The Aindra, the Pashupata, the Tvashtra, the Vayavya and the Varuna: each one as it was loosed from Drona's bow, Dhananjaya struck down.

Verse 32 (7.189.32)

अस्त्राण्यस्त्रैर्यदा तस्य विधिवद्धन्ति पाण्डवः । ततोऽस्त्रैः परमैर्दिव्यैर्द्रोणः पार्थमवाकिरत् ॥

astrāṇyastrairyadā tasya vidhivaddhanti pāṇḍavaḥ | tato'straiḥ paramairdivyairdroṇaḥ pārthamavākirat

When the Pandava duly struck down his weapons with weapons, Drona covered Partha with supreme divine weapons.

Verse 33 (7.189.33)

यद्यदस्त्रं स पार्थाय प्रयुङ्क्ते विजिगीषया । तस्यतस्य विघाताय तत्तद्धि कुरुतेऽर्जुनः ॥

yadyadastraṃ sa pārthāya prayuṅkte vijigīṣayā | tasyatasya vighātāya tattaddhi kurute'rjunaḥ

Whatever weapon Drona sent at Partha in his desire to win, Arjuna did whatever was needed to destroy that very weapon.

Verse 34 (7.189.34)

स वध्यमानेष्वस्त्रेषु दिव्येष्वपि यथाविधि । अर्जुनेनार्जुनं द्रोणो मनसैवाभ्यपूजयत् ॥

sa vadhyamāneṣvastreṣu divyeṣvapi yathāvidhi | arjunenārjunaṃ droṇo manasaivābhyapūjayat

As his divine weapons were being duly struck down by Arjuna, Drona honoured Arjuna in his heart.

Verse 35 (7.189.35)

मेने चात्मानमधिकं पृथिव्यामधि भारत । तेन शिष्येण सर्वेभ्यः शस्त्रविद्भ्यः परन्तपः ॥

mene cātmānamadhikaṃ pṛthivyāmadhi bhārata | tena śiṣyeṇa sarvebhyaḥ śastravidbhyaḥ parantapaḥ

Through that pupil, scorcher of foes, he thought himself, O Bharata, superior to all the knowers of weapons on earth.

Note on the text: Corrected शस्त्रविद्भ्य → शस्त्रविद्भ्यः (misprint in Wikisource; dropped visarga on the ablative plural; CE 7.163.32c śastravidbhyaḥ).

Verse 36 (7.189.36)

वार्यमाणस्तु पार्थेन तथा मध्ये महात्मनाम् । यतमानोऽर्जुनं प्रीत्या प्रीयते स्मार्जुनेन सः ॥

vāryamāṇastu pārthena tathā madhye mahātmanām | yatamāno'rjunaṃ prītyā prīyate smārjunena saḥ

Though held back by Partha in the midst of those great men, striving against Arjuna with affection, he was delighted by Arjuna.

Verse 37 (7.189.37)

ततोऽन्तरिक्षे देवाश्च गन्धर्वाश्च सहस्रशः । ऋषयः सिद्धसङ्घाश्च व्यतिष्ठन्त दिदृक्षया ॥

tato'ntarikṣe devāśca gandharvāśca sahasraśaḥ | ṛṣayaḥ siddhasaṅghāśca vyatiṣṭhanta didṛkṣayā

Then in the sky stood gods and gandharvas by the thousand, sages and hosts of siddhas, eager to watch.

Verse 38 (7.189.38)

तदप्सरोभिराकीर्णं यक्षगन्धर्वसङ्कुलम् । श्रीमदाकाशमभवद्भूयो मेघाकुलं यथा ॥

tadapsarobhirākīrṇaṃ yakṣagandharvasaṅkulam | śrīmadākāśamabhavadbhūyo meghākulaṃ yathā

Thronged with apsarases and crowded with yakshas and gandharvas, the splendid sky became again as if full of clouds.

Verse 39 (7.189.39)

तत्र स्मान्तर्हिता वाचो व्यचरन्त पुनः पुनः । द्रोणपार्थस्तवोपेता व्यश्रूयन्त नराधिप ॥

tatra smāntarhitā vāco vyacaranta punaḥ punaḥ | droṇapārthastavopetā vyaśrūyanta narādhipa

There, hidden voices rang out again and again, O lord of men, full of praise for Drona and Partha.

Note on the text: Corrected तत्रास्मान्तर्हिता → तत्र स्मान्तर्हिता (misprint in Wikisource; a stray ा and a missing word break; CE 7.163.36a tatra smāntarhitā). Line 1 = CE 7.163.36a; line 2 = CE 7.163.36c (Wikisource reads द्रोणपार्थस्तवोपेता for CE droṇasya stavasaṃyuktāḥ pārthasya ca mahātmanaḥ, a recension variant).

Verse 40 (7.189.40)

विसृज्यमानेष्वस्त्रेषु ज्वालयस्तु दिशो दश । अब्रुवंस्तत्र सिद्धाश्च ऋषयश्च समागताः ॥

visṛjyamāneṣvastreṣu jvālayastu diśo daśa | abruvaṃstatra siddhāśca ṛṣayaśca samāgatāḥ

While the weapons were being discharged and flames lit the ten directions, the siddhas and sages who had gathered there said:

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.36e (Wikisource reads ज्वालयस्तु, 'the flames', for CE jvālayatsu; a recension variant, good Sanskrit, kept); line 2 = CE star passage 7.163.36f*1288_01.

Verse 41 (7.189.41)

नैवेदं मानुषं युद्धं नासुरं न च राक्षसम् । न दैवं न च गान्धर्वं ब्राह्मणं ध्रुवमिदं परम् ॥

naivedaṃ mānuṣaṃ yuddhaṃ nāsuraṃ na ca rākṣasam | na daivaṃ na ca gāndharvaṃ brāhmaṇaṃ dhruvamidaṃ param

"This is not a human battle, nor one of asuras or rakshasas, nor of gods or gandharvas; surely it is something higher, a brahmic contest.

Note on the text: Lines = CE 7.163.37a, 37c. Recension variant ब्राह्मणं (CE: brāhmam). The gods' and sages' speech begins in verse 40 and runs to verse 46 (unheaded; narrated by Sanjaya).

Verse 42 (7.189.42)

विचित्रमिदमाश्चर्यं न नो दृष्टं न च श्रुतम् । अति पाण्डवमाचार्यो द्रोणं चाप्यति पाण्डवः ॥

vicitramidamāścaryaṃ na no dṛṣṭaṃ na ca śrutam | ati pāṇḍavamācāryo droṇaṃ cāpyati pāṇḍavaḥ

Strange and marvellous it is; we have neither seen nor heard the like. The teacher surpasses the Pandava, and the Pandava surpasses Drona.

Note on the text: Line 1 = CE 7.163.37e; line 2 = CE 7.163.38a.

Verse 43 (7.189.43)

नानयोरन्तरं शक्यं द्रष्टुमन्येन केनचित् ॥

nānayorantaraṃ śakyaṃ draṣṭumanyena kenacit

No one else can see any difference between these two."

Note on the text: Single line = CE 7.163.38c (CE: astreṇa kena cit).

Verse 44 (7.189.44)

यदि रुद्रो द्विधाकृत्य युध्येतात्मानमात्मना । तत्र शक्योपमा कर्तुमन्यत्र तु न विद्यते ॥

yadi rudro dvidhākṛtya yudhyetātmānamātmanā | tatra śakyopamā kartumanyatra tu na vidyate

"If Rudra were to divide himself in two and fight against himself, a comparison might be made; in any other case there is none.

Verse 45 (7.189.45)

ज्ञानमेकस्थमाचार्ये ज्ञानं योगश्च पाण्डवे । शौर्यमेकस्थमाचार्ये बलं शौर्यं च पाण्डवे ॥

jñānamekasthamācārye jñānaṃ yogaśca pāṇḍave | śauryamekasthamācārye balaṃ śauryaṃ ca pāṇḍave

Knowledge is gathered in the teacher; in the Pandava are knowledge and discipline. Valour is gathered in the teacher; in the Pandava are strength and valour.

Verse 46 (7.189.46)

नेमौ शक्यौ महेष्वासौ युद्धे क्षपयितुं परैः । इच्छमानौ पुनरिमौ हन्येतां सामरं जगत् ॥

nemau śakyau maheṣvāsau yuddhe kṣapayituṃ paraiḥ | icchamānau punarimau hanyetāṃ sāmaraṃ jagat

These two mighty archers cannot be worn down in battle by others; if they wished, these two could destroy the world with its gods."

Verse 47 (7.189.47)

इत्यब्रुवन्महाराज दृष्ट्वा तौ पुरुषर्षभौ । अन्तर्हितानि भूतानि प्रकाशानि च सर्वशः ॥

ityabruvanmahārāja dṛṣṭvā tau puruṣarṣabhau | antarhitāni bhūtāni prakāśāni ca sarvaśaḥ

So they spoke, O great king, as they beheld those two bulls among men; and the beings, hidden and visible, were present on every side.

Verse 48 (7.189.48)

यदा द्रोणं महाराज विशेषयति पाण्डवः । ततो द्रोणो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं प्रादुश्चक्रे महामतिः ॥

yadā droṇaṃ mahārāja viśeṣayati pāṇḍavaḥ | tato droṇo brāhmamastraṃ prāduścakre mahāmatiḥ

When the Pandava was getting the better of Drona, O great king, then the wise Drona brought forth the Brahma weapon.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quotation marks (` and ') around line 1. Line 1 = CE star passage 7.163.42d*1291_01 (यदा द्रोणं महाराज विशेषयति पाण्डवः); line 2 = CE 7.163.43a.

Verse 49 (7.189.49)

तदस्त्रं संहितं राजन्घोररूपं महाहवे । सन्तापयद्रणे पार्थं भूतान्यन्तर्हितानि च ॥

tadastraṃ saṃhitaṃ rājanghorarūpaṃ mahāhave | santāpayadraṇe pārthaṃ bhūtānyantarhitāni ca

That weapon, fitted to the bow, O king, of fearsome form in that great battle, scorched Partha in the fight, and the beings who were hidden.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quotation marks (` and ') around line 1. Corrected धोररूपं → घोररूपं (misprint in Wikisource; ध for घ; CE star passage 7.163.43b*1292_01 ghorarūpaṃ). Line 1 = that star passage; line 2 = CE 7.163.43c.

Verse 50 (7.189.50)

ततश्चचाल पृथिवी सपर्वतवनद्रुमा । सरितश्च प्रतिस्रोतः प्रवहुर्वै क्षणान्तरम् । ववौ च विषमो वायुः सागराश्चापि चुक्षुभुः ॥

tataścacāla pṛthivī saparvatavanadrumā | saritaśca pratisrotaḥ pravahurvai kṣaṇāntaram | vavau ca viṣamo vāyuḥ sāgarāścāpi cukṣubhuḥ

Then the earth shook, with its mountains, forests and trees; the rivers flowed against their currents for a moment; a violent wind blew, and the oceans too were stirred.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quotation marks (` and ') around line 2. Line 1 = CE 7.163.44a; line 2 = CE star passage 7.163.44b*1293_01 (CE reads samūhur vai kṣaṇāntaram; Wikisource प्रवहुर्वै, an unusual verb form kept as printed, read as 'flowed'); line 3 = CE 7.163.44c.

Verse 51 (7.189.51)

ततस्त्रासो महानासीत्कुरुपाण्डवसेनयोः । सर्वेषां चैव भूतानामुद्यतेऽस्त्रे महात्मना ॥

tatastrāso mahānāsītkurupāṇḍavasenayoḥ | sarveṣāṃ caiva bhūtānāmudyate'stre mahātmanā

Then great terror seized the armies of the Kurus and Pandavas, and all beings, when the great-souled one raised that weapon.

Verse 52 (7.189.52)

ततः पार्थोऽप्यसम्भ्रान्तस्तदस्त्रं प्रतिजघ्निवान् । ब्रह्मास्त्रेणैव राजेन्द्र ततः सर्वमशीशमत् ॥

tataḥ pārtho'pyasambhrāntastadastraṃ pratijaghnivān | brahmāstreṇaiva rājendra tataḥ sarvamaśīśamat

Then Partha too, unshaken, countered that weapon with the Brahma weapon itself, O best of kings, and so calmed everything.

Verse 53 (7.189.53)

यदा न गम्यते पारं तयोरन्यतरस्य वा । ततः सङ्कुलयुद्धेन तद्युद्धं व्याकुलीकृतम् ॥

yadā na gamyate pāraṃ tayoranyatarasya vā | tataḥ saṅkulayuddhena tadyuddhaṃ vyākulīkṛtam

When neither of the two could reach the end of the other, that battle was thrown into confusion by a general melee.

Verse 54 (7.189.54)

नाज्ञायत ततः किञ्चित्पुनरेव विशाम्पते । प्रवृत्ते तुमुले युद्धे द्रोणपाण्डवयोर्नृप ॥

nājñāyata tataḥ kiñcitpunareva viśāmpate | pravṛtte tumule yuddhe droṇapāṇḍavayornṛpa

Then, O lord of the people, nothing more could be made out as the tumultuous fight between Drona and the Pandava went on, O king.

Verse 55 (7.189.55)

द्रोणो मुक्त्वा रणे पार्थं पाञ्चालानन्वधावत । अर्जुनोपि रणे द्रोणं त्यक्त्वा प्राद्रवयत्कुरून् ॥

droṇo muktvā raṇe pārthaṃ pāñcālānanvadhāvata | arjunopi raṇe droṇaṃ tyaktvā prādravayatkurūn

Drona, leaving Partha in the battle, ran after the Panchalas, and Arjuna too, leaving Drona, drove the Kurus before him.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quotation mark (`) at the start of line 1 and (') in line 2. The verse is not in the critical edition's main text; its two lines appear there as star passage 7.163.48d*1294_01–02 (vulgate-only).

Verse 56 (7.189.56)

शरौघैरथ ताभ्यां तु छायाभूतं महामृधे । तुमुलं प्रबभौ राजन्सर्वस्य जगतो भयम् ॥

śaraughairatha tābhyāṃ tu chāyābhūtaṃ mahāmṛdhe | tumulaṃ prababhau rājansarvasya jagato bhayam

With the showers of arrows from the two of them the great battle turned dark as a shadow; the tumult shone forth, O king, a terror to the whole world.

Note on the text: Removed the wiki quotation mark (') at the end. Corrected तुमलं → तुमुलं (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ु; CE star passage 7.163.48d*1294_04 tumulaṃ). The verse is not in the critical edition's main text; its two lines appear there as star passage 7.163.48d*1294_03–04 (vulgate-only).

Verse 57 (7.189.57)

शरजालैः समाकीर्णे मेघजालैरिवाम्बरे । नापतच्च ततः कश्चिदन्तरिक्षचरस्तदा ॥

śarajālaiḥ samākīrṇe meghajālairivāmbare | nāpatacca tataḥ kaścidantarikṣacarastadā

As the sky was filled with nets of arrows, as with nets of cloud, no creature that moves in the air could then come down.