The Armies Clash: Drona Against Dhrishtadyumna, and the Champions Pair Off

Verse 1 (7.95.1)

प्रविष्टयोर्महाराज पार्थवार्ष्णेययो रणे । दुर्योधने प्रयाते च पृष्ठतः पुरुषर्षभे ॥

praviṣṭayormahārāja pārthavārṣṇeyayo raṇe | duryodhane prayāte ca pṛṣṭhataḥ puruṣarṣabhe

After Partha and the Vrishni hero had entered the battle, O great king, and Duryodhana, bull among men, had gone in behind them,

Verse 2 (7.95.2)

जवेनाभ्यद्रवन्द्रोणं महता निःस्वनेन च । पाण्डवाः सोमकैः सार्धं ततो युद्धमवर्तत ॥

javenābhyadravandroṇaṃ mahatā niḥsvanena ca | pāṇḍavāḥ somakaiḥ sārdhaṃ tato yuddhamavartata

the Pandavas, together with the Somakas, rushed upon Drona with great speed and a mighty roar; and then the battle began.

Verse 3 (7.95.3)

तद्युद्धमभवत्तीव्रं तुमुलं रोमहर्षणम् । कुरूणां पाण्डवानां च व्यूहस्य पुरतोऽद्भुतम् ॥

tadyuddhamabhavattīvraṃ tumulaṃ romaharṣaṇam | kurūṇāṃ pāṇḍavānāṃ ca vyūhasya purato'dbhutam

That battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas, fierce, tumultuous and hair-raising, took place in front of the array, and it was marvellous.

Verse 4 (7.95.4)

राजन्कदाचिन्नास्माभिर्दृष्टं तादृङ्न च श्रुतम् । यादृङ्मध्यगते सूर्ये युद्धमासीद्विशाम्पते ॥

rājankadācinnāsmābhirdṛṣṭaṃ tādṛṅna ca śrutam | yādṛṅmadhyagate sūrye yuddhamāsīdviśāmpate

Never, O king, have we seen or heard of a battle such as that which took place, O lord of the people, when the sun stood at the meridian.

Note on the text: Corrected तादृङ्क च → तादृङ्न च (misprint in Wikisource; क for न, CE tādṛṅ na ca).

Verse 5 (7.95.5)

धृष्टद्युम्नमुखाः पार्था व्यूढानीकाः प्रहारिणः । द्रोणस्य सैन्यं ते सर्वे शरवर्षैरवाकिरन् ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnamukhāḥ pārthā vyūḍhānīkāḥ prahāriṇaḥ | droṇasya sainyaṃ te sarve śaravarṣairavākiran

The Parthas, with Dhrishtadyumna at their head, in ordered ranks and fierce in the strike, all showered Drona's army with arrows.

Verse 6 (7.95.6)

वयं द्रोणं पुरस्कृत्य सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम् । पार्षतप्रमुखान्पार्थानभ्यवर्षाम सायकैः ॥

vayaṃ droṇaṃ puraskṛtya sarvaśastrabhṛtāṃ varam | pārṣatapramukhānpārthānabhyavarṣāma sāyakaiḥ

And we, setting Drona in front, the best of all bearers of weapons, rained arrows on the Parthas led by Parshata.

Verse 7 (7.95.7)

महामेघाविवोदीर्णौ मिश्रवातौ हिमात्यये । सेनाग्रे प्रचकाशेते रुचिरे रथभूषिते ॥

mahāmeghāvivodīrṇau miśravātau himātyaye | senāgre pracakāśete rucire rathabhūṣite

Like two great clouds swollen and mingled with winds at the close of the cold season, the two splendid, chariot-adorned fronts of the armies shone.

Verse 8 (7.95.8)

समेत्य तु महासेने चक्रतुर्वेगमुत्तमम् । जाह्नवीयमुने नद्यौ प्रावृषीवोल्बणोदके ॥

sametya tu mahāsene cakraturvegamuttamam | jāhnavīyamune nadyau prāvṛṣīvolbaṇodake

The two great armies, meeting, surged with supreme force, like the rivers Jahnavi and Yamuna in the rainy season, with their swollen waters.

Verse 9 (7.95.9)

नानाशस्त्रपुरोवातो द्विपाश्वरथसंवृतः । गदाविद्युन्महारौद्रः सङ्ग्रामजलदो महान् ॥

nānāśastrapurovāto dvipāśvarathasaṃvṛtaḥ | gadāvidyunmahāraudraḥ saṅgrāmajalado mahān

With a wind of many weapons in front, a mass of elephants, horses and chariots around it, and lightning of maces, there was a great and terrible cloud of battle,

Verse 10 (7.95.10)

भारद्वाजानिलोद्भूतः शरधारासहस्रवान् । अभ्यवर्षन्महारौद्रं पाण्डुसेनाग्निमुद्धतम् ॥

bhāradvājānilodbhūtaḥ śaradhārāsahasravān | abhyavarṣanmahāraudraṃ pāṇḍusenāgnimuddhatam

stirred up by the wind that was Bharadvaja, with its thousand streams of arrows, and it rained, most terribly, upon that blazing fire, the Pandava army.

Verse 11 (7.95.11)

समुद्रमिव घर्मान्ते विशन्घोरो महानिलः । व्यक्षोभयदनीकानि पाण्डवानां द्विजोत्तमः ॥

samudramiva gharmānte viśanghoro mahānilaḥ | vyakṣobhayadanīkāni pāṇḍavānāṃ dvijottamaḥ

Like a terrible mighty storm wind entering the ocean at the end of the hot season, that best of brahmins threw the ranks of the Pandavas into turmoil.

Verse 12 (7.95.12)

तेऽपि सर्वप्रयत्नेन द्रोणमेव समाद्रवन् । बिभित्सन्तो महासेतुं वार्योघाः प्रबला इव ॥

te'pi sarvaprayatnena droṇameva samādravan | bibhitsanto mahāsetuṃ vāryoghāḥ prabalā iva

They too, with all their effort, rushed upon Drona alone, like mighty floods of water seeking to break a great dam.

Verse 13 (7.95.13)

वारयामास तान्द्रोणो जलौघमचलो यथा । पाण्डवान्समरे क्रुद्धान्पाञ्चालांश्च सकेकयान् ॥

vārayāmāsa tāndroṇo jalaughamacalo yathā | pāṇḍavānsamare kruddhānpāñcālāṃśca sakekayān

Drona held them back, the angry Pandavas and the Panchalas with the Kekayas, as a mountain holds back a flood of water.

Verse 14 (7.95.14)

अथापरे च राजानः परिवृत्य समन्ततः । महाबला रणे शूराः पाञ्चालानन्ववारयन् ॥

athāpare ca rājānaḥ parivṛtya samantataḥ | mahābalā raṇe śūrāḥ pāñcālānanvavārayan

Then other kings too, closing in from every side, mighty and brave in battle, held back the Panchalas.

Verse 15 (7.95.15)

ततो रणे नरव्याघ्रः पार्षतः पाण्डवैः सह । सञ्जघानासकृद्द्रोणं बिभित्सुररिवाहिनीम् ॥

tato raṇe naravyāghraḥ pārṣataḥ pāṇḍavaiḥ saha | sañjaghānāsakṛddroṇaṃ bibhitsurarivāhinīm

Then in the battle Parshata, tiger among men, together with the Pandavas, struck Drona again and again, eager to shatter the enemy host.

Verse 16 (7.95.16)

यथैव शरवर्षाणि द्रोणो वर्षति पार्षते । तथैव शरवर्षाणि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽप्यवर्षत ॥

yathaiva śaravarṣāṇi droṇo varṣati pārṣate | tathaiva śaravarṣāṇi dhṛṣṭadyumno'pyavarṣata

As Drona rained showers of arrows on Parshata, so too Dhrishtadyumna rained showers of arrows on him.

Verse 17 (7.95.17)

सनिस्त्रिंशपुरोवातः शक्तिप्रासर्ष्टिसंवृतः । ज्याविद्युच्चापसंह्रादो धृष्टद्युम्नबलाहकः ॥

sanistriṃśapurovātaḥ śaktiprāsarṣṭisaṃvṛtaḥ | jyāvidyuccāpasaṃhrādo dhṛṣṭadyumnabalāhakaḥ

With swords for the wind before it, covered with darts, lances and spears, with the bowstring for lightning and the twang of the bow for thunder, Dhrishtadyumna was the rain-cloud,

Note on the text: Corrected ज्याविद्युच्चापसंहादो → ज्याविद्युच्चापसंह्रादो (misprint in Wikisource; "संहाद" is no word, CE saṃhrādo).

Verse 18 (7.95.18)

शरधाराश्मवर्षाणि व्यसृजत्सर्वतो दिशम् । निघ्नन्रथवराश्वौघान्प्लावयामास वाहिनीम् ॥

śaradhārāśmavarṣāṇi vyasṛjatsarvato diśam | nighnanrathavarāśvaughānplāvayāmāsa vāhinīm

and it poured showers of arrow-streams like hail in every direction; smiting the best chariots and masses of horses, he swept the army away.

Verse 19 (7.95.19)

यंयमार्च्छच्छरैर्द्रोणः पाण्डवानां रथव्रजम् । ततस्ततः शरैर्द्रोणमपाकर्षत पार्षतः ॥

yaṃyamārcchaccharairdroṇaḥ pāṇḍavānāṃ rathavrajam | tatastataḥ śarairdroṇamapākarṣata pārṣataḥ

Whatever group of the Pandavas' chariots Drona struck with arrows, from there Parshata drew Drona away with his arrows.

Verse 20 (7.95.20)

तथा तु यतमानस्य द्रोणस्य युधि भारत । धृष्टद्युम्नं समासाद्य त्रिधा सैन्यमभिद्यत ॥

tathā tu yatamānasya droṇasya yudhi bhārata | dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ samāsādya tridhā sainyamabhidyata

Thus, while Drona was striving in battle, O Bharata, meeting Dhrishtadyumna, the army was split into three.

Verse 21 (7.95.21)

भोजमेकेऽभ्यवर्तन्त जलसन्धं तथाऽपरे । पाण्डवैर्हन्यमानाश्च द्रोणमेवापरे ययुः ॥

bhojameke'bhyavartanta jalasandhaṃ tathā'pare | pāṇḍavairhanyamānāśca droṇamevāpare yayuḥ

Some turned towards Bhoja, others towards Jalasandha, and others, being slain by the Pandavas, went to Drona alone.

Verse 22 (7.95.22)

सङ्घट्टयति सैन्यानि द्रोणस्तु रथिनां वरः । व्यधमच्चापि तान्यस्य धृष्टद्युम्नो महारथः ॥

saṅghaṭṭayati sainyāni droṇastu rathināṃ varaḥ | vyadhamaccāpi tānyasya dhṛṣṭadyumno mahārathaḥ

Drona, best of chariot-fighters, kept massing his troops together, and Dhrishtadyumna, the great warrior, kept scattering them.

Verse 23 (7.95.23)

धार्तराष्ट्रास्तथा भूता वध्यन्ते पाण्डुसृञ्जयैः । अगोपाः पशवोऽरण्ये बहुभिः श्वापदैरिव ॥

dhārtarāṣṭrāstathā bhūtā vadhyante pāṇḍusṛñjayaiḥ | agopāḥ paśavo'raṇye bahubhiḥ śvāpadairiva

Reduced to this state, the sons of Dhritarashtra were slain by the Pandavas and Srinjayas, like cattle in a forest without a herdsman, slain by many beasts of prey.

Verse 24 (7.95.24)

कालः स्म ग्रसते योधान्धृष्टद्युम्नेन मोहितान् । सङ्ग्रामे तुमुले तस्मिन्निति सम्मेनिरे जनाः ॥

kālaḥ sma grasate yodhāndhṛṣṭadyumnena mohitān | saṅgrāme tumule tasminniti sammenire janāḥ

"Time itself is devouring the warriors bewildered by Dhrishtadyumna," the people thought in that tumultuous battle.

Verse 25 (7.95.25)

कुनृपस्य यथा राष्ट्रं दुर्भिक्षव्याधितस्करैः । द्राव्यते तद्वदापन्ना पाण्डवैस्तव वाहिनी ॥

kunṛpasya yathā rāṣṭraṃ durbhikṣavyādhitaskaraiḥ | drāvyate tadvadāpannā pāṇḍavaistava vāhinī

As the realm of a wicked king is ravaged by famine, disease and thieves, so your army, overtaken by the Pandavas, was driven in flight.

Verse 26 (7.95.26)

अर्करश्मिविमिश्रेषु शस्त्रेषु कवचेषु च । चक्षूंषि प्रत्यहन्यन्त सैन्येन रजसा तथा ॥

arkaraśmivimiśreṣu śastreṣu kavaceṣu ca | cakṣūṃṣi pratyahanyanta sainyena rajasā tathā

With weapons and armour mingled with the rays of the sun, and with the dust of the army, men's eyes were blinded.

Verse 27 (7.95.27)

त्रिधा भूतेषु सैन्येषु वध्यमानेषु पाण्डवैः । अमर्षितस्ततो द्रोणः पाञ्चालान्व्यधमच्छरैः ॥

tridhā bhūteṣu sainyeṣu vadhyamāneṣu pāṇḍavaiḥ | amarṣitastato droṇaḥ pāñcālānvyadhamaccharaiḥ

While the troops, divided in three, were being slain by the Pandavas, Drona, enraged, then shattered the Panchalas with his arrows.

Verse 28 (7.95.28)

मृद्नतस्तान्यनीकानि निघ्नतश्चापि सायकैः । बभूव रूपं द्रोणस्य कालाग्नेरिव दीप्यतः ॥

mṛdnatastānyanīkāni nighnataścāpi sāyakaiḥ | babhūva rūpaṃ droṇasya kālāgneriva dīpyataḥ

As he crushed those divisions and struck them with arrows, Drona's form became like that of the blazing fire of the world's end.

Note on the text: Corrected मृद्गतः → मृद्नतः (misprint in Wikisource; "मृद्गत" is no word, CE mṛdnataḥ).

Verse 29 (7.95.29)

रथं नागं हयं चापि पत्तिनश्च विशाम्पते । एकैकेनेषुणा सङ्ख्ये निर्बिभेद महारथः ॥

rathaṃ nāgaṃ hayaṃ cāpi pattinaśca viśāmpate | ekaikeneṣuṇā saṅkhye nirbibheda mahārathaḥ

A chariot, an elephant, a horse, and foot soldiers, O lord of the people: that great warrior pierced each one in battle with a single arrow.

Verse 30 (7.95.30)

पाण्डवानां तु सैन्येषु नास्ति कश्चित्स भारत । दधार यो रणे बाणान्द्रोणचापच्युतान्प्रभो ॥

pāṇḍavānāṃ tu sainyeṣu nāsti kaścitsa bhārata | dadhāra yo raṇe bāṇāndroṇacāpacyutānprabho

Among the Pandava forces, O Bharata, there was no one who could withstand in battle the arrows shot from Drona's bow, O lord.

Note on the text: Removed a stray zero-width joiner after ण in "पाण्डवानां".

Verse 31 (7.95.31)

तत्पच्यमानमर्केण द्रोणसायकतापितम् । बभ्राम पार्षतं सैन्यं तत्रतत्रैव भारत ॥

tatpacyamānamarkeṇa droṇasāyakatāpitam | babhrāma pārṣataṃ sainyaṃ tatratatraiva bhārata

Scorched by the sun and tormented by Drona's arrows, the army of Parshata reeled about right there, O Bharata.

Verse 32 (7.95.32)

हन्यमानं तु तत्सैन्यं भारद्वाजेन सर्वतः । शरैरग्निशिखाकारैर्दह्यते भरतर्षभ ॥

hanyamānaṃ tu tatsainyaṃ bhāradvājena sarvataḥ | śarairagniśikhākārairdahyate bharatarṣabha

That army, struck down on every side by Bharadvaja, was burned, O best of the Bharatas, by arrows shaped like tongues of fire.

Note on the text: Removed stray wiki quote marks (backtick and apostrophe). Not in the critical edition's main text; its two lines appear there as star passage 7.70.31d*0514_01-02 (after 7.70.31).

Verse 33 (7.95.33)

तथैव पार्षतेनापि काल्यमानं बलं तव । अभवत्सर्वतो दीप्तं शुष्कं वनमिवाग्निना ॥

tathaiva pārṣatenāpi kālyamānaṃ balaṃ tava | abhavatsarvato dīptaṃ śuṣkaṃ vanamivāgninā

Likewise your force, driven on by Parshata too, blazed on every side, like a dry forest set on fire.

Verse 34 (7.95.34)

बाध्यमानेषु सैन्येषु द्रोणपार्षतसायकैः । त्यक्त्वा प्राणान्परं शक्त्या युध्यन्ते स्वर्गलिप्सवः ॥

bādhyamāneṣu sainyeṣu droṇapārṣatasāyakaiḥ | tyaktvā prāṇānparaṃ śaktyā yudhyante svargalipsavaḥ

While the armies were being oppressed by the arrows of Drona and Parshata, the warriors, abandoning their lives, fought with utmost effort, longing for heaven.

Verse 35 (7.95.35)

तावकानां परेषां च युध्यतां भरतर्षभ । नासीत्कश्चिन्महाराज योऽत्याक्षीत्संयुगं भयात् ॥

tāvakānāṃ pareṣāṃ ca yudhyatāṃ bharatarṣabha | nāsītkaścinmahārāja yo'tyākṣītsaṃyugaṃ bhayāt

Of your men and the enemy's as they fought, O best of the Bharatas, not one, O great king, abandoned the battle out of fear.

Verse 36 (7.95.36)

भीमसेनं तु कौन्तेयं सोदर्याः पर्यवारयन् । विविंशतिश्चित्रसेनो विकर्णश्च महारथः ॥

bhīmasenaṃ tu kaunteyaṃ sodaryāḥ paryavārayan | viviṃśatiścitraseno vikarṇaśca mahārathaḥ

Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, was surrounded by his brothers: Vivimshati, Chitrasena, and the great warrior Vikarna,

Verse 37 (7.95.37)

विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ क्षेमधूर्तिश्च वीर्यवान् । त्रयाणां तव पुत्राणां त्रय एवानुयायिनः ॥

vindānuvindāvāvantyau kṣemadhūrtiśca vīryavān | trayāṇāṃ tava putrāṇāṃ traya evānuyāyinaḥ

and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and the mighty Kshemadhurti: three followers for those three sons of yours.

Verse 38 (7.95.38)

बाह्लीकराजस्तेजस्वी कुलपुत्रो महारथः । सहसेनः सहामात्यो द्रौपदेयानवारयत् ॥

bāhlīkarājastejasvī kulaputro mahārathaḥ | sahasenaḥ sahāmātyo draupadeyānavārayat

The radiant king of the Bahlikas, a great warrior of good family, with his army and his counsellors, held back the sons of Draupadi.

Verse 39 (7.95.39)

शैब्यो गोवासनो राजा योधैर्दशशतावरैः । काश्यस्याभिभुवः पुत्रं पराक्रान्तमवारयत् ॥

śaibyo govāsano rājā yodhairdaśaśatāvaraiḥ | kāśyasyābhibhuvaḥ putraṃ parākrāntamavārayat

Shaibya Govasana, the king, with warriors numbering at least a thousand, held back the valiant son of Abhibhu, the king of Kashi.

Verse 40 (7.95.40)

अजातशत्रुं कौन्तेयं ज्वलन्तमिव पावकम् । मद्राणामीश्वरः शल्यो राजा राजानमावृणोत् ॥

ajātaśatruṃ kaunteyaṃ jvalantamiva pāvakam | madrāṇāmīśvaraḥ śalyo rājā rājānamāvṛṇot

Ajatashatru, the son of Kunti, blazing like fire, was enclosed by Shalya, lord of the Madras, king against king.

Verse 41 (7.95.41)

दुःशासनस्त्ववस्थाप्य स्वमनीकममर्षणः । सात्यकिं प्रययौ क्रुद्धः शूरो रथवरं युधि ॥

duḥśāsanastvavasthāpya svamanīkamamarṣaṇaḥ | sātyakiṃ prayayau kruddhaḥ śūro rathavaraṃ yudhi

Dushasana, enraged, having drawn up his own army, went furiously against Satyaki, the hero, best of charioteers, in the battle.

Verse 42 (7.95.42)

स्वकेनाहमनीकेन सन्नद्धः कवचावृतः । चतुःशतैर्महेष्वासैश्चेकितानमवारयम् ॥

svakenāhamanīkena sannaddhaḥ kavacāvṛtaḥ | catuḥśatairmaheṣvāsaiścekitānamavārayam

I myself, armoured and clad in mail, with my own division of four hundred great archers, held back Chekitana.

Note on the text: The speaker says "I" ("अहम्", "अवारयम्") although the narrator is Sanjaya; kept as the text reads.

Verse 43 (7.95.43)

शकुनिस्तु सहानीको माद्रीपुत्राववारयत् । गान्धारकैः सप्तशतैश्चापशक्त्यसिपाणिभिः ॥

śakunistu sahānīko mādrīputrāvavārayat | gāndhārakaiḥ saptaśataiścāpaśaktyasipāṇibhiḥ

Shakuni with his troops held back the sons of Madri, with seven hundred Gandharas, bows, spears and swords in their hands.

Verse 44 (7.95.44)

विन्दानुविन्दावावन्त्यौ विराटं मत्स्यमार्च्छताम् । प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा महेष्वासौ मित्रार्थेऽभ्युद्यतायुधौ ॥

vindānuvindāvāvantyau virāṭaṃ matsyamārcchatām | prāṇāṃstyaktvā maheṣvāsau mitrārthe'bhyudyatāyudhau

The two Avanti brothers Vinda and Anuvinda, both great archers, abandoning their lives for the sake of their friend, with weapons raised, attacked Virata of the Matsyas.

Note on the text: Corrected प्राणांस्तक्त्वा → प्राणांस्त्यक्त्वा (misprint in Wikisource; dropped य, CE prāṇāṃs tyaktvā).

Verse 45 (7.95.45)

शिखण्डिनं याज्ञसेनिं रुन्धानमपराजितम् । बाह्लीकः प्रतिसंयत्तः पराक्रान्तमवारयत् ॥

śikhaṇḍinaṃ yājñaseniṃ rundhānamaparājitam | bāhlīkaḥ pratisaṃyattaḥ parākrāntamavārayat

Bahlika, fully prepared, held back the valiant Shikhandi, son of Yajnasena, the unconquered, who was pressing on.

Verse 46 (7.95.46)

धृष्टद्युम्नं तु पाञ्चाल्यं क्रूरैः सार्धं प्रभद्रकैः । आवन्त्यः सहसौवीरैः क्रुद्धरूपमवारयत् ॥

dhṛṣṭadyumnaṃ tu pāñcālyaṃ krūraiḥ sārdhaṃ prabhadrakaiḥ | āvantyaḥ sahasauvīraiḥ kruddharūpamavārayat

The king of Avanti, with the Sauviras, held back the Panchala Dhrishtadyumna, wrathful in aspect, who came with the cruel Prabhadrakas.

Verse 47 (7.95.47)

घटोत्कचं तथा शूरं राक्षसं क्रूरकर्मिणम् । अलायुधोऽद्रवत्तूर्णं क्रुद्धमायान्तमाहवे ॥

ghaṭotkacaṃ tathā śūraṃ rākṣasaṃ krūrakarmiṇam | alāyudho'dravattūrṇaṃ kruddhamāyāntamāhave

Alayudha swiftly rushed at the heroic rakshasa Ghatotkacha, of cruel deeds, as he came on, enraged, in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected अलामुधो → अलायुधो (misprint in Wikisource; Alayudha, CE alāyudho).

Verse 48 (7.95.48)

अलम्बुसं राक्षसेन्द्रं कुन्तिभोजो महारथः । सैन्येन महता युक्तः क्रुद्धरूपमवारयत् ॥

alambusaṃ rākṣasendraṃ kuntibhojo mahārathaḥ | sainyena mahatā yuktaḥ kruddharūpamavārayat

The great warrior Kuntibhoja, accompanied by a great army, held back Alambusa, lord of the rakshasas, wrathful in aspect.

Verse 49 (7.95.49)

सैन्धवः पृष्ठतस्त्वासीत्सर्वसैन्यस्य भारत । रक्षितः परमेष्वासैः कृपप्रभृतिभी रथैः ॥

saindhavaḥ pṛṣṭhatastvāsītsarvasainyasya bhārata | rakṣitaḥ parameṣvāsaiḥ kṛpaprabhṛtibhī rathaiḥ

The Saindhava stood behind the whole army, O Bharata, guarded by foremost archers, by chariot-warriors headed by Kripa.

Verse 50 (7.95.50)

तस्यास्तां चक्ररक्षौ द्वौ सैन्धवस्य बृहत्तमौ । द्रौणिर्दक्षिणतो राजन्सूतपुत्रश्च वामतः ॥

tasyāstāṃ cakrarakṣau dvau saindhavasya bṛhattamau | drauṇirdakṣiṇato rājansūtaputraśca vāmataḥ

Two mighty wheel-guards of the Saindhava stood there: Drona's son on the right, O king, and the charioteer's son on the left.

Verse 51 (7.95.51)

पृष्ठगोपास्तु तस्यासन्सौमदत्तिपुरोगमाः । कृपश्च वृषसेनश्च शलः शल्यश्च दुर्जयः ॥

pṛṣṭhagopāstu tasyāsansaumadattipurogamāḥ | kṛpaśca vṛṣasenaśca śalaḥ śalyaśca durjayaḥ

His rear-guards were those led by Saumadatti: Kripa, Vrishasena, Shala, and the unconquerable Shalya.

Verse 52 (7.95.52)

नीतिमन्तो महेष्वासाः सर्वे युद्धविशारदाः । सैन्धवस्य विधायैवं रक्षां युयुधिरे ततः ॥

nītimanto maheṣvāsāḥ sarve yuddhaviśāradāḥ | saindhavasya vidhāyaivaṃ rakṣāṃ yuyudhire tataḥ

Wise in policy, great archers, all skilled in war, having so arranged the Saindhava's protection, they then went on to fight.