Drona Anointed Commander; the Armies Take the Field

Verse 1 (7.7.1)

वेदं षडङ्गं वेदाहमर्थविद्यां च मानवीम् । त्रैय्यम्बकमथेष्वस्त्रं शस्त्राणि विविधानि च ॥

vedaṃ ṣaḍaṅgaṃ vedāhamarthavidyāṃ ca mānavīm | traiyyambakamatheṣvastraṃ śastrāṇi vividhāni ca

I know the Veda with its six limbs, the science of statecraft that comes from Manu, the lore of Tryambaka, the science of the bow, and weapons of many kinds.

Verse 2 (7.7.2)

ये चाप्युक्ता मयि गुणा भवद्भिर्जयकाङ्क्षिभिः । चिकीर्षुस्तानहं सर्वान्योधयिष्यामि पाण्डवान् ॥

ye cāpyuktā mayi guṇā bhavadbhirjayakāṅkṣibhiḥ | cikīrṣustānahaṃ sarvānyodhayiṣyāmi pāṇḍavān

Whatever qualities you, eager for victory, have ascribed to me, I wish to make all of them good, and I shall fight the Pandavas.

Verse 3 (7.7.3)

पार्षतं तु रणे राजन्न हनिष्ये कथञ्चन । स हि सृष्टो वधार्थाय ममैव पुरुषर्षभः ॥

pārṣataṃ tu raṇe rājanna haniṣye kathañcana | sa hi sṛṣṭo vadhārthāya mamaiva puruṣarṣabhaḥ

But I shall never kill the son of Prishata in battle, O king; that best of men was created for my own slaying.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 7.5.35d*0044_01–02 (reading na haniṣye kathaṃ cana).

Verse 4 (7.7.4)

योधयिष्यामि सैन्यानि नाशयन्सर्वसोमकान् । न च मां पाण्डवा युद्धे योधयिष्यन्ति हर्षिताः ॥

yodhayiṣyāmi sainyāni nāśayansarvasomakān | na ca māṃ pāṇḍavā yuddhe yodhayiṣyanti harṣitāḥ

I shall fight their armies, destroying all the Somakas; and the Pandavas, glad as they are, will not fight me in battle.

Note on the text: Not in the critical edition's constituted text (found in the vulgate recension); the critical edition records it in its apparatus as the star passage 7.5.35d*0044_03–04.

Verse 5 (7.7.5)

स एवमभ्यनुज्ञातश्चक्रे सेनापतिं ततः । द्रोणं तव सुतो राजन्विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा ॥

sa evamabhyanujñātaścakre senāpatiṃ tataḥ | droṇaṃ tava suto rājanvidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Thus permitted, your son, O king, made Drona commander of the army by the rite the scriptures prescribe.

Verse 6 (7.7.6)

अथाभिषिषिचुर्द्रोणं दुर्योधनमुखा नृपाः । स्वस्तिवादरवैश्चान्यैः श्लक्ष्णैश्चान्यैर्मनोरमैः । सैनापत्ये यथा स्कन्दं पुरा शक्रमुखाः सुराः ॥

athābhiṣiṣicurdroṇaṃ duryodhanamukhā nṛpāḥ | svastivādaravaiścānyaiḥ ślakṣṇaiścānyairmanoramaiḥ | saināpatye yathā skandaṃ purā śakramukhāḥ surāḥ

Then the kings, with Duryodhana at their head, anointed Drona, with shouts of benediction and with other soft and pleasing sounds, as in ancient days the gods led by Shakra anointed Skanda to the command of the army.

Note on the text: Lines 1 and 3 are the critical edition's 7.5.37a and c; line 2 is its star passage 7.5.37b*0045_01 (reading ślakṣṇaiḥ puṇyair manoramaiḥ), not in the constituted text. The page marks line 2 off with a backtick and a closing quote mark (its sign for an interpolated line); both marks were removed. The automatic alignment found no match.

Verse 7 (7.7.7)

ततो वादित्रघोषेण शङ्खानां च महास्वनैः । प्रादुरासीत्कृते द्रोणे हर्षः सेनापतौ तदा ॥

tato vāditraghoṣeṇa śaṅkhānāṃ ca mahāsvanaiḥ | prādurāsītkṛte droṇe harṣaḥ senāpatau tadā

Then, with the sound of instruments and the great blare of conches, joy arose when Drona was made commander.

Verse 8 (7.7.8)

ततः पुण्याहघोषेण साशीर्वादस्वनेन च । संस्तवैर्गीतशब्दैश्च सूतमागधबन्दिनाम् ॥

tataḥ puṇyāhaghoṣeṇa sāśīrvādasvanena ca | saṃstavairgītaśabdaiśca sūtamāgadhabandinām

Then, amid the chanting of the auspicious day, the sound of blessings, the praises and songs of the sutas, magadhas and bards,

Verse 9 (7.7.9)

जयशब्दैर्द्विजाग्र्याणां सुभगानर्तितैस्तथा । सत्कृत्य विधिना द्रोणं मेनिरे पाण्डवाञ्जितान् ॥

jayaśabdairdvijāgryāṇāṃ subhagānartitaistathā | satkṛtya vidhinā droṇaṃ menire pāṇḍavāñjitān

with the cries of victory of the foremost brahmins and the dances of auspicious women, they honored Drona according to the rite and thought the Pandavas already conquered.

Verse 10 (7.7.10)

सैनापत्यं तु संप्राप्य भारद्वाजो महारथः । युयुत्सुर्व्यूह्य सैन्यानि प्रायात्तव सुतैः सह ॥

saināpatyaṃ tu saṃprāpya bhāradvājo mahārathaḥ | yuyutsurvyūhya sainyāni prāyāttava sutaiḥ saha

Having gained the command, the great chariot-warrior Bharadvaja, eager to fight, arrayed the troops and marched out with your sons.

Verse 11 (7.7.11)

सैन्धवश्च कलिङ्गश्च विकर्णश्च तवात्मजः । दक्षिणं पार्श्वमास्थाय समतिष्ठन्त दंशिताः ॥

saindhavaśca kaliṅgaśca vikarṇaśca tavātmajaḥ | dakṣiṇaṃ pārśvamāsthāya samatiṣṭhanta daṃśitāḥ

Saindhava, the Kalinga, and your son Vikarna took the right flank and stood armored.

Verse 12 (7.7.12)

प्रपक्षः शकुनिस्तेषां प्रवरैर्हयसादिभिः । ययौ गान्धारकैः सार्धं विमलप्रासयोधिभिः ॥

prapakṣaḥ śakunisteṣāṃ pravarairhayasādibhiḥ | yayau gāndhārakaiḥ sārdhaṃ vimalaprāsayodhibhiḥ

Shakuni, as the wing, went with the choicest horsemen and the Gandharas, who fought with bright spears.

Verse 13 (7.7.13)

कृपश्च कृतवर्मा च चित्रसेनो विविंशतिः । दुःशासनमुखा यत्ताः सव्यं पक्षमपालयन् ॥

kṛpaśca kṛtavarmā ca citraseno viviṃśatiḥ | duḥśāsanamukhā yattāḥ savyaṃ pakṣamapālayan

Kripa, Kritavarma, Chitrasena and Vivimshati, with Duhshasana at their head, guarded the left flank, intent on the task.

Verse 14 (7.7.14)

तेषां प्रपक्षाः काम्भोजाः सुदक्षिणपुरस्सराः । ययुरश्वैर्महावेगैः शकाश्च यवनैः सह ॥

teṣāṃ prapakṣāḥ kāmbhojāḥ sudakṣiṇapurassarāḥ | yayuraśvairmahāvegaiḥ śakāśca yavanaiḥ saha

On their wings were the Kambojas, led by Sudakshina, who went on swift horses, and the Shakas with the Yavanas.

Note on the text: Corrected सुदक्षिणपुस्सराः → सुदक्षिणपुरस्सराः (misprint in Wikisource; a dropped र, critical edition sudakṣiṇapuraḥsarāḥ) and ययुरश्चैः → ययुरश्वैः (misprint; च for व, critical edition aśvair).

Verse 15 (7.7.15)

मद्रास्त्रिगर्ताः साम्बष्ठाः प्रतीच्योदीच्यमालवाः । शिबयः शूरसेनाश्च शूद्राश्च मलदैः सह ॥

madrāstrigartāḥ sāmbaṣṭhāḥ pratīcyodīcyamālavāḥ | śibayaḥ śūrasenāśca śūdrāśca maladaiḥ saha

The Madras, Trigartas, Ambashthas, the western and northern Malavas, the Shibis, Shurasenas and Shudras, together with the Maladas,

Verse 16 (7.7.16)

सौवीराः कितवाः प्राच्या दाक्षिणात्याश्च सर्वशः । तवात्मजं पुरस्कृत्य सूतपुत्रस्य पृष्ठतः ॥

sauvīrāḥ kitavāḥ prācyā dākṣiṇātyāśca sarvaśaḥ | tavātmajaṃ puraskṛtya sūtaputrasya pṛṣṭhataḥ

the Sauviras, the Kitavas, and the Easterners and Southerners from every side went with your son before them, behind the charioteer's son.

Note on the text: Corrected नवात्मजं → तवात्मजं (misprint in Wikisource; न for त, critical edition tavātmajaṃ).

Verse 17 (7.7.17)

हर्षयन्तः स्वसैन्यानि ययुस्तव सुतैः सह । प्रवरः सर्वयोधानां बलेषु बलमादधत् ॥

harṣayantaḥ svasainyāni yayustava sutaiḥ saha | pravaraḥ sarvayodhānāṃ baleṣu balamādadhat

Gladdening their own troops, they marched with your sons; the foremost of all warriors, he put strength into the forces.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is the vulgate's wording for CE 7.6.8a (harṣayan sarvasainyāni) and line 2 echoes its second half (baleṣu balam ādadhat). Corrected बलमादधम् → बलमादधत् (misprint in Wikisource; म for त, critical edition ādadhat).

Verse 18 (7.7.18)

ययौ वैकर्तनः कर्णः प्रमुखे सर्वधन्विनाम् । तस्य दीप्तो महाकायः स्वान्यनीकानि हर्षयन् ॥

yayau vaikartanaḥ karṇaḥ pramukhe sarvadhanvinām | tasya dīpto mahākāyaḥ svānyanīkāni harṣayan

Karna Vaikartana went at the head of all the archers, his huge body blazing, gladdening his own divisions.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.8cd; line 2 is 7.6.9ab. Word space restored in स्वान्यनीकानि हर्षयन् (the two words are run together in Wikisource).

Verse 19 (7.7.19)

हस्तिकक्ष्यो महाकेतुर्बभौ सूर्यसमद्युतिः । न भीष्मव्यसनं कश्चिदृष्ट्वा कर्णममन्यत ॥

hastikakṣyo mahāketurbabhau sūryasamadyutiḥ | na bhīṣmavyasanaṃ kaścidṛṣṭvā karṇamamanyata

His great banner, bearing the elephant's girth-rope, shone with the brilliance of the sun. Seeing Karna, no one remembered the calamity of Bhishma.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.9cd; line 2 is 7.6.10ab. Corrected गहाकेतुर् → महाकेतुर् (misprint in Wikisource; ग for म, critical edition hastikakṣyāmahāketur).

Verse 20 (7.7.20)

विशोकाश्चाभवन्सर्वे राजानः कुरुभिः सह । हृष्टाश्च बहवो योधास्तत्राजल्पन्त वेगतः ॥

viśokāścābhavansarve rājānaḥ kurubhiḥ saha | hṛṣṭāśca bahavo yodhāstatrājalpanta vegataḥ

All the kings with the Kurus became free of sorrow, and many delighted warriors there spoke eagerly.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.10cd; line 2 is 7.6.11a (वेगतः for saṃgatāḥ, kept as a variant).

Verse 21 (7.7.21)

न हि कर्णं रणे दृष्ट्वा युधि स्थास्यन्ति पाण्डवाः । कर्णो हि समरे शक्तो जेतुं देवान्सवासवान् ॥

na hi karṇaṃ raṇe dṛṣṭvā yudhi sthāsyanti pāṇḍavāḥ | karṇo hi samare śakto jetuṃ devānsavāsavān

"Once the Pandavas see Karna in battle, they will not stand their ground in the fight; Karna is able in war to conquer even the gods together with Vasava."

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.11cd; line 2 is 7.6.12a. Speaker: the warriors' talk, introduced in verse 20 (तत्राजल्पन्त), fills this whole verse; the page prints no heading and the input carried सञ्जय over, so it is given to the warriors (the critical edition prints no heading either).

Verse 22 (7.7.22)

किमु पाण्डुसुतान्युद्धे हीनवीर्यपराक्रमान् । भीष्मेण तु रणे पार्थाः पालिता बाहुशालिना ॥

kimu pāṇḍusutānyuddhe hīnavīryaparākramān | bhīṣmeṇa tu raṇe pārthāḥ pālitā bāhuśālinā

"What then of the sons of Pandu, weak in strength and valor? It was the mighty-armed Bhishma who protected the Parthas in battle."

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.12cd; line 2 is 7.6.13a. Speaker: the warriors' talk continues from verse 21 without a printed heading; the input carried सञ्जय over.

Verse 23 (7.7.23)

तांस्तु कर्णः शरैस्तीक्ष्णैर्नाशयिष्यति संयुगे । एवं ब्रुवन्तस्तेऽन्योन्यं हृष्टरूपा विशांपते ॥

tāṃstu karṇaḥ śaraistīkṣṇairnāśayiṣyati saṃyuge | evaṃ bruvantaste'nyonyaṃ hṛṣṭarūpā viśāṃpate

"Karna will destroy them in battle with his sharp arrows." So they spoke to one another, delighted, O lord of the people,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.13cd (नाशयिष्यति संयुगे for nāśayiṣyaty asaṃśayam, kept as a variant); line 2 is 7.6.14a. The verse is kept with Sanjaya: its first line closes the warriors' speech and its second line is narration.

Verse 24 (7.7.24)

राधेयं पूजयन्तश्च प्रशंसन्तश्च निर्ययुः । अस्माकं शकटव्यूहो द्रोणेन विहितोऽभवत् ॥

rādheyaṃ pūjayantaśca praśaṃsantaśca niryayuḥ | asmākaṃ śakaṭavyūho droṇena vihito'bhavat

honoring and praising Radheya, and went out. Our array, a cart formation, had been set by Drona,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.14cd; line 2 is 7.6.15a. Corrected शकटव्यूहों → शकटव्यूहो (misprint in Wikisource; a stray anusvara, critical edition śakaṭavyūho).

Verse 25 (7.7.25)

परेषां क्रौञ्च एवासीद्व्यूहो राजन्महात्मनाम् । प्रीयमाणेन विहितो धर्मराजेन भारत ॥

pareṣāṃ krauñca evāsīdvyūho rājanmahātmanām | prīyamāṇena vihito dharmarājena bhārata

and the array of the great-souled enemy, O king, was the Krauncha (heron) formation, set by the Dharma king with delight, O Bharata.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.15c; line 2 is 7.6.15e.

Verse 26 (7.7.26)

व्यूहप्रमुखतस्तेषां तस्थतुः पुरुषर्षभौ । वानरध्वजमुच्छ्रित्य विष्वक्सेनधनंजयौ ॥

vyūhapramukhatasteṣāṃ tasthatuḥ puruṣarṣabhau | vānaradhvajamucchritya viṣvaksenadhanaṃjayau

At the head of their array stood the two best of men, raising the banner of the ape: Vishvaksena (Krishna) and Dhananjaya.

Verse 27 (7.7.27)

ककुदं सर्वसैन्यानां धाम सर्वधनुष्मताम् । आदित्यपथगः केतुः पार्थस्यामिततेजसः ॥

kakudaṃ sarvasainyānāṃ dhāma sarvadhanuṣmatām | ādityapathagaḥ ketuḥ pārthasyāmitatejasaḥ

The summit of all the armies, the refuge of all bowmen: the banner of Partha of boundless splendor, moving along the sun's path in the sky,

Verse 28 (7.7.28)

दीपयामास तत्सैन्यं पाण्डवस्य महात्मनः । यथा प्रज्वलितः सूर्यो युगान्ते वै वसुंधराम् ॥

dīpayāmāsa tatsainyaṃ pāṇḍavasya mahātmanaḥ | yathā prajvalitaḥ sūryo yugānte vai vasuṃdharām

lit up the army of the great-souled Pandava, as the blazing sun at the end of the age lights the earth.

Verse 29 (7.7.29)

दीप्यन्दृश्येत हि तथा केतुः सर्वत्र धीमतः । योधानामर्जुनः श्रेष्ठो गाण्डीवं धनुषां वरम् ॥

dīpyandṛśyeta hi tathā ketuḥ sarvatra dhīmataḥ | yodhānāmarjunaḥ śreṣṭho gāṇḍīvaṃ dhanuṣāṃ varam

So the banner of that wise man was seen blazing everywhere. Of warriors Arjuna is the best, and the Gandiva is the best of bows,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is the critical edition's star passage 7.6.18d*0048_01, not in the constituted text; line 2 corresponds to 7.6.19a (योधानाम् for asyatām, kept as a variant).

Verse 30 (7.7.30)

वासुदेवश्च भूतानां चक्राणां च सुदर्शनम् । चत्वार्येतानि तेजांसि वहञ्श्वेतहयो रथः ॥

vāsudevaśca bhūtānāṃ cakrāṇāṃ ca sudarśanam | catvāryetāni tejāṃsi vahañśvetahayo rathaḥ

Vasudeva is the best of beings, and the Sudarshana of discs — these four splendors the white-horsed chariot bore,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.19cd; line 2 is 7.6.20a. Corrected तेजाञ्सि → तेजांसि (misprint in Wikisource; ञ् is not the nasal before स, critical edition tejāṃsi).

Verse 31 (7.7.31)

परेषामग्रतस्तस्थौ कालचक्रमिवोद्यतम् । एवं तौ सुमहात्मानौ बलसेनाग्रगावुभौ ॥

pareṣāmagratastasthau kālacakramivodyatam | evaṃ tau sumahātmānau balasenāgragāvubhau

and stood in front of the enemy like the uplifted wheel of Time. Thus those two great souls, both at the head of the force and the army —

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.20cd; line 2 is 7.6.21a.

Verse 32 (7.7.32)

तावकानां मुखे कर्णः परेषां च धनंजयः । ततो जयाभिसंरब्धौ परस्परवधैषिणौ ॥

tāvakānāṃ mukhe karṇaḥ pareṣāṃ ca dhanaṃjayaḥ | tato jayābhisaṃrabdhau parasparavadhaiṣiṇau

Karna at the front of your forces and Dhananjaya at the front of the enemy's — then, both roused by eagerness for victory and longing to kill each other,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.21cd; line 2 is 7.6.22a (ततो जयाभिसंरब्धौ for tato jātābhisaṃrambhau, kept as a variant).

Verse 33 (7.7.33)

अवेक्षेतां तदान्योन्यं समरे कर्णपाण्डवौ । ततः प्रयाते सहसा भारद्वाजे महारथे ॥

avekṣetāṃ tadānyonyaṃ samare karṇapāṇḍavau | tataḥ prayāte sahasā bhāradvāje mahārathe

Karna and the Pandava gazed at each other in the battle. Then, as the great chariot-warrior Bharadvaja suddenly set out,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.22cd; line 2 is 7.6.23a.

Verse 34 (7.7.34)

सिंहनादेन घोरेण वसुधा समकम्पत । ततस्तुमुलमाकाशमावृणोत्सदिवाकरम् ॥

siṃhanādena ghoreṇa vasudhā samakampata | tatastumulamākāśamāvṛṇotsadivākaram

the earth shook with a fearful lion's roar, and then it covered the tumultuous sky, together with the sun —

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.23cd (सिंहनादेन … for antarnādena …, kept as a variant); line 2 is 7.6.24a.

Verse 35 (7.7.35)

वातोद्भूतं रजस्तीव्रं कौशेयनिकरोपमम् । ववर्ष द्यौरनभ्राऽपि मांसास्थिरुधिराण्युत ॥

vātodbhūtaṃ rajastīvraṃ kauśeyanikaropamam | vavarṣa dyauranabhrā'pi māṃsāsthirudhirāṇyuta

a fierce dust raised by the wind, like a mass of silk cloth; and the sky, though cloudless, rained flesh, bones and blood.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.24c; line 2 is 7.6.25a.

Verse 36 (7.7.36)

गृध्राः श्येना बकाः कङ्का वायसाश्च सहस्रशः । उपर्युपरि सेनां ते तदा पर्यपतन्नृप ॥

gṛdhrāḥ śyenā bakāḥ kaṅkā vāyasāśca sahasraśaḥ | uparyupari senāṃ te tadā paryapatannṛpa

Vultures, hawks, herons, kankas and crows, by the thousand, kept swooping down over your army, O king.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.25c; line 2 is 7.6.25e.

Verse 37 (7.7.37)

गोमायवश्च प्राक्रोशन्भयदान्दारुणान्रवान् । अकार्षुरपसव्यं च बहुशः पृतनां तव ॥

gomāyavaśca prākrośanbhayadāndāruṇānravān | akārṣurapasavyaṃ ca bahuśaḥ pṛtanāṃ tava

Jackals howled their fearful, dreadful cries, and many times went round your army keeping it on their left, an ill omen.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.26a; line 2 is 7.6.26c.

Verse 38 (7.7.38)

चिखादिषन्तो मांसानि पिपासन्तश्च शोणितम् । अपतद्दीप्यमाना च सनिर्घाता सकम्पना ॥

cikhādiṣanto māṃsāni pipāsantaśca śoṇitam | apataddīpyamānā ca sanirghātā sakampanā

Longing to devour flesh and to drink blood, they cried out; and a blazing meteor fell, with a crash of thunder and a trembling of the earth,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.26e; line 2 is 7.6.27a.

Verse 39 (7.7.39)

उल्का ज्वलन्ती सङ्ग्रामे पुच्छेनावृत्य सर्वशः । परिवेषो महांश्चापि सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुमान् ॥

ulkā jvalantī saṅgrāme pucchenāvṛtya sarvaśaḥ | pariveṣo mahāṃścāpi savidyutstanayitnumān

a meteor blazing in the battle, enveloping everything with its tail; and a great halo, with lightning and thunder,

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.27c; line 2 is 7.6.28a.

Verse 40 (7.7.40)

भास्करस्याभवद्राजन्प्रयाते वाहिनीपतौ । एते चान्ये च बहवः प्रादुरासन्सुदारुणाः । उत्पाता युधि वीराणां जीवितक्षयकारिणः ॥

bhāskarasyābhavadrājanprayāte vāhinīpatau | ete cānye ca bahavaḥ prādurāsansudāruṇāḥ | utpātā yudhi vīrāṇāṃ jīvitakṣayakāriṇaḥ

appeared around the sun, O king, as the leader of the army set out. These and many other very dreadful portents arose, bringing the end of the lives of heroes in battle.

Note on the text: Wikisource divides CE 7.6.8–29 half a verse later than the critical edition, so the automatic alignment found no match. Line 1 is CE 7.6.28c; lines 2–3 are 7.6.29ac.

Verse 41 (7.7.41)

ततः प्रववृते युद्धं परस्परवधैषिणाम् । कुरुपाण्डवसैन्यानां शब्देनापूरयज्जगत् ॥

tataḥ pravavṛte yuddhaṃ parasparavadhaiṣiṇām | kurupāṇḍavasainyānāṃ śabdenāpūrayajjagat

Then the battle began between those bent on killing one another, and the noise of the Kuru and Pandava armies filled the world.

Verse 42 (7.7.42)

ते त्वन्योन्यं सुसंरब्धाः पाण्डवाः कौरवैः सह । अभ्यघ्नन्निशितैः शस्त्रैर्जयगृद्धाः प्रहारिणः ॥

te tvanyonyaṃ susaṃrabdhāḥ pāṇḍavāḥ kauravaiḥ saha | abhyaghnanniśitaiḥ śastrairjayagṛddhāḥ prahāriṇaḥ

Furious with one another, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, eager for victory and fierce in the attack, struck at one another with sharp weapons.

Verse 43 (7.7.43)

स पाण्डवानां महतीं महेष्वासो महाद्युतिः । वेगेनाभ्यद्रवत्सेनां किरञ्शरशतैः शितैः ॥

sa pāṇḍavānāṃ mahatīṃ maheṣvāso mahādyutiḥ | vegenābhyadravatsenāṃ kirañśaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ

The great archer of great splendor rushed with speed upon the vast army of the Pandavas, scattering hundreds of sharp arrows.

Verse 44 (7.7.44)

द्रोणमभ्युद्यतं दृष्ट्वा पाण्डवाः सहसृञ्जयैः । प्रत्यगृह्णंस्तदा राजञ्छरवर्षैः पृथक्पृथक् ॥

droṇamabhyudyataṃ dṛṣṭvā pāṇḍavāḥ sahasṛñjayaiḥ | pratyagṛhṇaṃstadā rājañcharavarṣaiḥ pṛthakpṛthak

Seeing Drona advance, the Pandavas with the Srinjayas met him, O king, each separately with showers of arrows.

Verse 45 (7.7.45)

विक्षोभ्यमाणा द्रोणेन भिद्यमाना महाचमूः । व्यशीर्यत सपाञ्चाला वातेनेव वलाहकाः ॥

vikṣobhyamāṇā droṇena bhidyamānā mahācamūḥ | vyaśīryata sapāñcālā vāteneva valāhakāḥ

Shaken by Drona and broken apart, the great host, with the Panchalas, scattered like clouds before the wind.

Note on the text: Corrected विक्षोभ्यमाणआ → विक्षोभ्यमाणा (misprint in Wikisource; a stray आ, critical edition saṃkṣobhyamāṇā).

Verse 46 (7.7.46)

बहूनीह विकुर्वाणो दिव्यान्यस्त्राणि संयुगे । अपीडयत्क्षणेनैव द्रोणः पाण्डवसृञ्जयान् ॥

bahūnīha vikurvāṇo divyānyastrāṇi saṃyuge | apīḍayatkṣaṇenaiva droṇaḥ pāṇḍavasṛñjayān

Displaying many divine weapons in the battle, Drona in an instant crushed the Pandavas and Srinjayas.

Verse 47 (7.7.47)

ते वध्यमाना द्रोणेन वासवेनेव दानवाः । पाञ्चालाः समकम्पन्त धृष्टद्युम्नपुरोगमाः ॥

te vadhyamānā droṇena vāsaveneva dānavāḥ | pāñcālāḥ samakampanta dhṛṣṭadyumnapurogamāḥ

Struck down by Drona as the Danavas are by Vasava, the Panchalas, with Dhrishtadyumna at their head, trembled.

Verse 48 (7.7.48)

ततो दिव्यास्त्रविच्छूरो याज्ञसेनिर्महारथः । अभिनच्छरवर्षेण द्रोणानीकमनेकधा ॥

tato divyāstravicchūro yājñasenirmahārathaḥ | abhinaccharavarṣeṇa droṇānīkamanekadhā

Then the hero, the great chariot-warrior son of Yajnasena, skilled in divine weapons, split Drona's host in many places with a shower of arrows.

Verse 49 (7.7.49)

द्रोणस्य शरवर्षाणि शरवर्षेण पार्षतः । सन्निवार्य ततः सर्वान्कुरूनप्यवधीद्बली ॥

droṇasya śaravarṣāṇi śaravarṣeṇa pārṣataḥ | sannivārya tataḥ sarvānkurūnapyavadhīdbalī

Warding off Drona's showers of arrows with his own, the son of Prishata, the mighty one, then struck down all the Kurus as well.

Verse 50 (7.7.50)

संयम्य तु ततो द्रोणः समवस्थाप्य चाहवे । स्वमनीकं महेष्वासः पार्षतं समुपाद्रवत् ॥

saṃyamya tu tato droṇaḥ samavasthāpya cāhave | svamanīkaṃ maheṣvāsaḥ pārṣataṃ samupādravat

Then Drona, the great archer, rallying and steadying his own army in the battle, rushed upon the son of Prishata.

Verse 51 (7.7.51)

स बाणवर्षं सुमहदसृजत्पार्षतं प्रति । मघवान्समभिक्रुद्धः सहसा दानवानिव ॥

sa bāṇavarṣaṃ sumahadasṛjatpārṣataṃ prati | maghavānsamabhikruddhaḥ sahasā dānavāniva

He loosed a very great volley of arrows at Prishata's son, like Maghavan suddenly enraged against the Danavas.

Verse 52 (7.7.52)

ते कम्प्यमाना द्रोणेन बाणैः पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः । पुनःपुनरभज्यन्त सिंहेनैवेतरे मृगाः ॥

te kampyamānā droṇena bāṇaiḥ pāṇḍavasṛñjayāḥ | punaḥpunarabhajyanta siṃhenaivetare mṛgāḥ

Shaken by Drona's arrows, the Pandavas and Srinjayas broke again and again, like other beasts before a lion.

Verse 53 (7.7.53)

तथा पर्यपतद्रोणः पाण्डवानां बले बली । अलातचक्रवद्राजंस्तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥

tathā paryapatadroṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ bale balī | alātacakravadrājaṃstadadbhutamivābhavat

So the mighty Drona swooped upon the Pandava force, O king, like a whirling firebrand, and it was a marvel to see.

Verse 54 (7.7.54)

खचरनगरकल्पं कल्पितं शास्त्रदृष्ट्या चलदनिलपताकं ह्लादनं वल्गिताश्वम् । स्फटिकविमलकेतुं त्रासनं शात्रवाणां रथवरमधिरूढः सञ्जहारारिसेनाम् ॥

khacaranagarakalpaṃ kalpitaṃ śāstradṛṣṭyā caladanilapatākaṃ hlādanaṃ valgitāśvam | sphaṭikavimalaketuṃ trāsanaṃ śātravāṇāṃ rathavaramadhirūḍhaḥ sañjahārārisenām

Mounted on his superb chariot — shaped according to the science like a city in the sky, with banners streaming in the moving wind, delighting his warriors, with prancing horses, and with a standard as clear as crystal, a terror to his foes — he destroyed the enemy host.