Bhima and Ashvatthama Fight Until Both Fall Senseless

Verse 1 (8.12.1)

भीमसेनं ततो द्रौणी राजन्विव्याध पत्रिणा । परया त्वरया युक्तो दर्शयन्नस्त्रलाघवम् ॥

bhīmasenaṃ tato drauṇī rājanvivyādha patriṇā | parayā tvarayā yukto darśayannastralāghavam

Then, O king, Drona's son struck Bhimasena with a feathered arrow, acting with the utmost speed and displaying the lightness of his hand with weapons.

Verse 2 (8.12.2)

अथैनं पुनराजघ्ने नवत्या निशितैः शरैः । सर्वमर्माणि सम्प्रेक्ष्य मर्मज्ञो लघुहस्तवत् ॥

athainaṃ punarājaghne navatyā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | sarvamarmāṇi samprekṣya marmajño laghuhastavat

Then, seeing all his vital spots, that knower of vulnerable points, quick of hand, struck him again with ninety sharp arrows.

Verse 3 (8.12.3)

भीमसेनः समाकीर्णो द्रौणिना निशितैः शरैः । रराज समरे राजन्रश्मिवानिव भास्करः ॥

bhīmasenaḥ samākīrṇo drauṇinā niśitaiḥ śaraiḥ | rarāja samare rājanraśmivāniva bhāskaraḥ

Covered with the sharp arrows of Drona's son, Bhimasena shone in the battle, O king, like the sun with its rays.

Verse 4 (8.12.4)

ततः शरसहस्रेण सुप्रयुक्तेन पाण्डवः । द्रोणपुत्रमवच्छाद्य सिंहनादममुञ्चत ॥

tataḥ śarasahasreṇa suprayuktena pāṇḍavaḥ | droṇaputramavacchādya siṃhanādamamuñcata

Then the Pandava covered Drona's son with a thousand well-aimed arrows and gave a lion's roar.

Verse 5 (8.12.5)

शरैः शरांस्ततो द्रौणिः संवार्य युधि पाण्डवम् । ललाटेऽभ्याहनद्राजन्नाराचेन स्मयन्निव ॥

śaraiḥ śarāṃstato drauṇiḥ saṃvārya yudhi pāṇḍavam | lalāṭe'bhyāhanadrājannārācena smayanniva

Then Drona's son, warding off those arrows with his own arrows, struck the Pandava on the forehead with a nārāca arrow, O king, as if smiling.

Note on the text: Corrected सरांस्ततो → शरांस्ततो (misprint in Wikisource; स for श; the critical edition reads śarāṃs tato).

Verse 6 (8.12.6)

ललाटस्थं ततो बाणं धारयामास पाण्डवः । यथा शृङ्गं वने दृप्तः खड्गो धारयते नृप ॥

lalāṭasthaṃ tato bāṇaṃ dhārayāmāsa pāṇḍavaḥ | yathā śṛṅgaṃ vane dṛptaḥ khaḍgo dhārayate nṛpa

The Pandava bore that arrow lodged in his forehead as a proud rhinoceros bears its horn in the forest, O king.

Note on the text: Corrected खङ्गो → खड्गो (misprint in Wikisource; ङ्ग for ड्ग; the critical edition reads khaḍgo).

Verse 7 (8.12.7)

ततो द्रौणिं रणे भीमो यतमानं पराक्रमी । त्रिभिर्विव्याध नाराचैर्ललाटे विस्मयन्निव ॥

tato drauṇiṃ raṇe bhīmo yatamānaṃ parākramī | tribhirvivyādha nārācairlalāṭe vismayanniva

Then mighty Bhima, in the battle, pierced the striving Drona's son in the forehead with three nārāca arrows, as if in wonder.

Verse 8 (8.12.8)

ललाटस्थैस्ततो बाणैर्ब्राह्मणोऽसौ व्यशोभत । प्रावृषीव यथा सिक्तस्त्रिशृङ्गः पर्वतोत्तमः ॥

lalāṭasthaistato bāṇairbrāhmaṇo'sau vyaśobhata | prāvṛṣīva yathā siktastriśṛṅgaḥ parvatottamaḥ

With those arrows standing in his forehead, that brahmin shone like a splendid three-peaked mountain drenched by the rains.

Verse 9 (8.12.9)

ततः शरशतैर्द्रौणिरर्दयामास पाण्डवम् । न चैनं कम्पयामास मातरिश्वेव पर्वतम् ॥

tataḥ śaraśatairdrauṇirardayāmāsa pāṇḍavam | na cainaṃ kampayāmāsa mātariśveva parvatam

Then Drona's son tormented the Pandava with hundreds of arrows, yet could not make him tremble, as the wind cannot shake a mountain.

Verse 10 (8.12.10)

तथैव पाण्डवो युद्धे द्रौणिं शरशतैः शितैः । नाकम्पयत संहृष्टो वार्योध इव पर्वतम् ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavo yuddhe drauṇiṃ śaraśataiḥ śitaiḥ | nākampayata saṃhṛṣṭo vāryodha iva parvatam

In the same way the Pandava, delighted, did not make Drona's son tremble in the battle with hundreds of sharp arrows, as a flood of water does not shake a mountain.

Note on the text: Corrected पांण्डवो → पाण्डवो (misprint in Wikisource; stray anusvara before ण्ड).

Verse 11 (8.12.11)

तावन्योन्यं शरैर्घोरैश्छादयानौ महारथौ । रथवर्यगतौ वीरौ शुशुभाते बलोत्कटौ ॥

tāvanyonyaṃ śarairghoraiśchādayānau mahārathau | rathavaryagatau vīrau śuśubhāte balotkaṭau

Covering each other with fearsome arrows, those two great chariot-warriors, heroes proud in strength, shone as they rode their excellent chariots.

Verse 12 (8.12.12)

आदित्याविव सन्दीप्तौ लोकक्षयकरावुभौ । स्वरश्मिभिरिवान्योन्यं तापयन्तौ शरोत्तमैः ॥

ādityāviva sandīptau lokakṣayakarāvubhau | svaraśmibhirivānyonyaṃ tāpayantau śarottamaiḥ

Blazing like two suns that bring about the destruction of the worlds, they scorched each other with their finest arrows as if with their own rays.

Verse 13 (8.12.13)

ततः प्रविकृते यत्नं कुर्वाणौ तौ महारणे । कृतप्रतिकृते यत्तौ शरसङ्घैरभीतवत् ॥

tataḥ pravikṛte yatnaṃ kurvāṇau tau mahāraṇe | kṛtapratikṛte yattau śarasaṅghairabhītavat

Then, in that great battle, those two made their efforts, stroke answering stroke; with volleys of arrows, each parrying the other's weapons, they pressed on as though fearless.

Note on the text: Both lines differ from CE 8.11.13 (recension variant: Wikisource ततः प्रविकृते यत्नं कुर्वाणौ तौ महारणे / कृतप्रतिकृते यत्तौ शरसङ्घैरभीतवत्; the CE has a different first half and ends cakrāte tāv abhītavat). Kept as printed.

Verse 14 (8.12.14)

व्याघ्राविव च सङ्ग्रामे चेरतुस्तौ नरोत्तमौ । शरदंष्ट्रौ दुराधर्षौ चापवक्रौ भयङ्करौ ॥

vyāghrāviva ca saṅgrāme ceratustau narottamau | śaradaṃṣṭrau durādharṣau cāpavakrau bhayaṅkarau

Like two tigers they ranged the battlefield, those two best of men, with arrows for fangs, unassailable, their bows bent, fearsome.

Verse 15 (8.12.15)

अभूतां तावदृश्यौ च शरजालैः समन्ततः । मेघजालैरिव च्छन्नौ गगने चन्द्रभास्करौ ॥

abhūtāṃ tāvadṛśyau ca śarajālaiḥ samantataḥ | meghajālairiva cchannau gagane candrabhāskarau

Hidden on every side by nets of arrows, they became invisible, like the moon and the sun in the sky covered by masses of cloud.

Note on the text: Corrected च्छनौ → च्छन्नौ (misprint in Wikisource; dropped न्; the critical edition reads cchannau).

Verse 16 (8.12.16)

चकाशेते मुहूर्तेन ततस्तावप्यरिन्दमौ । विमुक्तावभ्रजालेन अङ्गारकबुधाविव ॥

cakāśete muhūrtena tatastāvapyarindamau | vimuktāvabhrajālena aṅgārakabudhāviva

After a moment those two tamers of foes shone out again, freed from the mass of cloud, like Mars and Mercury.

Note on the text: CE 8.11.16 (recension variant: Wikisource चकाशेते मुहूर्तेन ततस्तावप्यरिन्दमौ / विमुक्तावभ्रजालेन अङ्गारकबुधाविव; the CE has prakāśau ca muhūrtena … vimuktau meghajālena śaśisūryau yathā divi). Kept as printed.

Verse 17 (8.12.17)

अथ तत्रैव सङ्ग्रामे वर्तमाने सुदारुणे । अपसव्यं ततश्चक्रे द्रौणिस्तत्र वृकोदरम् ॥

atha tatraiva saṅgrāme vartamāne sudāruṇe | apasavyaṃ tataścakre drauṇistatra vṛkodaram

Then, while that most dreadful battle was going on, Drona's son circled Vrikodara toward the left.

Note on the text: Corrected सङ्ग्रमे → सङ्ग्रामे (misprint in Wikisource; dropped long ā; the critical edition reads saṃgrāme). Line 1 is CE star passage 8.11.16d*0088_01 (placed after 8.11.16); line 2 is CE 8.11.17a.

Verse 18 (8.12.18)

किरञ्छरशतैरुग्रैर्धाराभिरिव पर्वतम् । न तु तन्ममृषे भीमः शत्रोर्विजयलक्षणम् ॥

kirañcharaśatairugrairdhārābhiriva parvatam | na tu tanmamṛṣe bhīmaḥ śatrorvijayalakṣaṇam

Showering him with hundreds of fierce arrows, as clouds pour streams upon a mountain; but Bhima could not bear that sign of his enemy's victory.

Note on the text: Corrected विजलक्षणम् → विजयलक्षणम् (misprint in Wikisource; dropped य; the critical edition reads vijayalakṣaṇam). Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.17c and 8.11.18a.

Verse 19 (8.12.19)

प्रतिचक्रे ततो राजन्पाण्डवोऽप्यपसव्यतः । मण्डलानां विभागेन गतप्रत्यागतेन च ॥

praticakre tato rājanpāṇḍavo'pyapasavyataḥ | maṇḍalānāṃ vibhāgena gatapratyāgatena ca

Then, O king, the Pandava answered by circling to the left in the same way, with an orderly division of circles, going forward and coming back.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.18c and 8.11.19a; line 2 reads विभागेन … गतप्रत्यागतेन where the CE has vibhāgeṣu … gatapratyāgateṣu (recension variant).

Verse 20 (8.12.20)

बभूव तुमुलं युद्धं तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः । चरित्वा विविधान्मार्गान्मण्डलस्थानमेव च ॥

babhūva tumulaṃ yuddhaṃ tayoḥ puruṣasiṃhayoḥ | caritvā vividhānmārgānmaṇḍalasthānameva ca

A tumultuous fight arose between those two lions among men, as they moved along many courses, in circling movements and in standing positions alike.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.19c and 8.11.20a; line 1 ends तयोः पुरुषसिंहयोः where the CE has tayos tatra mahāmṛdhe (recension variant).

Verse 21 (8.12.21)

शरैः पूर्णायतोत्सृष्टैरन्योन्यमभिजघ्नतुः । अन्योन्यस्य वधे चैव चक्रतुर्यत्नमुत्तमम् ॥

śaraiḥ pūrṇāyatotsṛṣṭairanyonyamabhijaghnatuḥ | anyonyasya vadhe caiva cakraturyatnamuttamam

With arrows drawn to the full length of the bow and let fly, they struck each other, and each made his utmost effort to kill the other.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.20c and 8.11.21a.

Verse 22 (8.12.22)

ईषतुर्विरथं चैव कर्तुमन्योन्यमाहवे । ततो द्रौणिर्महास्त्राणि प्रादुश्चक्रे महारथः ॥

īṣaturvirathaṃ caiva kartumanyonyamāhave | tato drauṇirmahāstrāṇi prāduścakre mahārathaḥ

Each wished to leave the other without a chariot in the fight. Then Drona's son, the great chariot-warrior, brought out his great weapons,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.21c and 8.11.22a.

Verse 23 (8.12.23)

तान्यस्त्रैरेव समरे प्रतिजघ्नेऽथ पाण्डवः । ततो घोरं महाराज अस्त्रयुद्धमवर्तत ॥

tānyastraireva samare pratijaghne'tha pāṇḍavaḥ | tato ghoraṃ mahārāja astrayuddhamavartata

and the Pandava countered those in the battle with weapons alone. Then, O great king, a dreadful contest of weapons began.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.22c and 8.11.23a; line 1 reads प्रतिजघ्नेऽथ पाण्डवः where the CE has pratijaghne 'sya pāṇḍavaḥ (recension variant).

Verse 24 (8.12.24)

ग्रहयुद्धं यथा घोरं प्रजासंहरणे ह्यभूत् । ते बाणाः समसज्जन्त मुक्तास्ताभ्यां तु भारत ॥

grahayuddhaṃ yathā ghoraṃ prajāsaṃharaṇe hyabhūt | te bāṇāḥ samasajjanta muktāstābhyāṃ tu bhārata

It was as dreadful as the war of the planets at the dissolution of creatures. Those arrows, loosed by the two of them, clashed together, O Bharata,

Note on the text: Corrected ग्रहयुद्वं → ग्रहयुद्धं (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध). Corrected वाणाः → बाणाः (misprint in Wikisource; व for ब; the critical edition reads bāṇāḥ). Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.23c and 8.11.24a; line 2 reads मुक्ताः where the CE has kṣiptāḥ (recension variant).

Verse 25 (8.12.25)

द्योतयन्तो दिशः सर्वास्तव सैन्यं समन्ततः । बाणसङ्घैर्वृतं घोरमाकाशं समपद्यत ॥

dyotayanto diśaḥ sarvāstava sainyaṃ samantataḥ | bāṇasaṅghairvṛtaṃ ghoramākāśaṃ samapadyata

lighting up all the quarters and your army on every side. The dreadful sky became veiled by masses of arrows,

Note on the text: Corrected द्योतग्रन्तो → द्योतयन्तो (misprint in Wikisource; ग्र for य; the critical edition reads dyotayanto). Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.24c and 8.11.25a.

Verse 26 (8.12.26)

उल्कापातावृतं युद्धं प्रजानां संक्षये नृप । बाणाभिघातात्सञ्जज्ञे तत्र भारत पावकः ॥

ulkāpātāvṛtaṃ yuddhaṃ prajānāṃ saṃkṣaye nṛpa | bāṇābhighātātsañjajñe tatra bhārata pāvakaḥ

as if the battle were shrouded in falling meteors, as when creatures perish, O king. From the striking of the arrows, O Bharata, a fire arose there,

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.25c and 8.11.26a; line 1 reads उल्कापातावृतं युद्धं where the CE has uklāpātakṛtaṃ yadvat (recension variant).

Verse 27 (8.12.27)

सविस्फुलिङ्गो दीप्तार्चिर्योऽदहद्वाहिनीद्वयम् । तत्र सिद्धा महाराज सम्पतन्तोऽब्रुवन्वचः ॥

savisphuliṅgo dīptārciryo'dahadvāhinīdvayam | tatra siddhā mahārāja sampatanto'bruvanvacaḥ

full of sparks and blazing with flame, which burned both armies. Then the Siddhas, O great king, flying about overhead, spoke these words:

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.26c and 8.11.27a.

Verse 28 (8.12.28)

युद्धानामति सर्वेषां युद्धमेतदिति प्रभो । सर्वयुद्धानि चैतस्य कलां नार्हन्ति षोडशीम् ॥

yuddhānāmati sarveṣāṃ yuddhametaditi prabho | sarvayuddhāni caitasya kalāṃ nārhanti ṣoḍaśīm

Of all battles, O lord, this one surpasses the rest; all other battles do not equal a sixteenth part of it.

Note on the text: Lines 1–2 are CE 8.11.27c and 8.11.28a; line 1 differs from the CE (युद्धानामति सर्वेषां युद्धमेतदिति प्रभो against ati yuddhāni sarvāṇi yuddham etat tato 'dhikam; recension variant). No speaker heading is printed; the words are the Siddhas', introduced at the end of the previous verse.

Verse 29 (8.12.29)

नेदृशं च पुनर्युद्धं भविष्यति कदाचन । अहो ज्ञानेन सम्पन्नावुभौ ब्राह्मणक्षत्रियौ ॥

nedṛśaṃ ca punaryuddhaṃ bhaviṣyati kadācana | aho jñānena sampannāvubhau brāhmaṇakṣatriyau

Never again will there be such a battle. Ah, how both of them, the brahmin and the kshatriya, are endowed with knowledge!

Note on the text: Corrected सम्पन्नावुभ ब्राह्मण → सम्पन्नावुभौ ब्राह्मण (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ौ of the dual; the critical edition reads ubhau). Lines 1–2 are a variant of CE 8.11.28c and 8.11.29a (CE 28c: naitādṛśaṃ punar yuddhaṃ na bhūtaṃ na bhaviṣyati; 29a: aho jñānena saṃyuktāv ubhau cograparākramau; the second line here also echoes CE star 8.11.29b*0089_01, brāhmaṇapāṇḍavau). Speech of the Siddhas; no heading is printed.

Verse 30 (8.12.30)

अहो शौर्येण सम्पन्नावुभौ चोग्रपराक्रमौ । अहो भीमबलो भीम एतस्य च कृतास्त्रता ॥

aho śauryeṇa sampannāvubhau cograparākramau | aho bhīmabalo bhīma etasya ca kṛtāstratā

Ah, how both are endowed with heroism and fierce prowess! Ah, how fearsome is Bhima's strength, and how great the other's mastery of weapons!

Note on the text: Line 1 is a variant of CE star passage 8.11.29b*0089_01 (aho śauryeṇa saṃpannāv ubhau brāhmaṇapāṇḍavau), with the closing words of CE 8.11.29a (ubhau cograparākramau); line 2 is CE 8.11.29c. Speech of the Siddhas; no heading is printed.

Verse 31 (8.12.31)

अहो वीर्यस्य सारत्वमहो सौष्ठवमेतयोः । स्थितावेतौ हि समरे कालान्तकयमोपमौ ॥

aho vīryasya sāratvamaho sauṣṭhavametayoḥ | sthitāvetau hi samare kālāntakayamopamau

Ah, the solidity of their prowess! Ah, the dexterity of these two! Standing in the battle they are like Time, the Ender, and Yama.

Note on the text: Speech of the Siddhas; no heading is printed.

Verse 32 (8.12.32)

रुद्रौ द्वाविव सम्भूतौ यथा द्वाविव भास्करौ । यमौ वा पुरुषव्याघ्रौ घोररूपावुभौ रणे ॥

rudrau dvāviva sambhūtau yathā dvāviva bhāskarau | yamau vā puruṣavyāghrau ghorarūpāvubhau raṇe

Like two Rudras come into being, like two suns, or two Yamas, these two tigers among men are both terrible in form in the battle.

Note on the text: Corrected रुद्रौ द्वावि सम्भूतौ → रुद्रौ द्वाविव सम्भूतौ (misprint in Wikisource; dropped व; the critical edition reads dvāv iva). Line 2 reads घोररूपावुभौ where the CE has ghorarūpāv imau (recension variant). Speech of the Siddhas; no heading is printed.

Verse 33 (8.12.33)

इति वाचः स्म श्रूयन्ते सिद्धानां वै मुहुर्मुहुः । सिंहनादश्च सञ्जज्ञे समेतानां दिवौकसाम् ॥

iti vācaḥ sma śrūyante siddhānāṃ vai muhurmuhuḥ | siṃhanādaśca sañjajñe sametānāṃ divaukasām

Such words of the Siddhas were heard again and again, and a lion's roar rose from the heavenly beings gathered there.

Note on the text: Line 1 differs from CE 8.11.32a (CE: śrūyante sma tadā vācaḥ siddhānāṃ vai muhur muhuḥ; recension variant); line 2 is CE 8.11.32c.

Verse 34 (8.12.34)

अद्भुतं चाप्यचिन्त्यं च दृष्ट्वा कर्म तयो रणे । सिद्धचारणसङ्घानां विस्मयः समपद्यत ॥

adbhutaṃ cāpyacintyaṃ ca dṛṣṭvā karma tayo raṇe | siddhacāraṇasaṅghānāṃ vismayaḥ samapadyata

Seeing the wondrous and inconceivable deed of the two in the battle, amazement came over the hosts of Siddhas and Charanas.

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्वचारण → सिद्धचारण (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध). Line 1 is CE 8.11.32e (reading तयो रणे for the CE's tayor mṛdhe); line 2 is CE star passage 8.11.32f*0090_01.

Verse 35 (8.12.35)

प्रशंसन्ति तदा देवाः सिद्धाश्च परमर्षयः । साधु द्रौणे महाबाहो साधु भीमेति चाब्रुवन् ॥

praśaṃsanti tadā devāḥ siddhāśca paramarṣayaḥ | sādhu drauṇe mahābāho sādhu bhīmeti cābruvan

Then the gods, the Siddhas and the great sages praised them, crying, "Well done, mighty-armed son of Drona! Well done, Bhima!"

Note on the text: Corrected सिद्वाश्च → सिद्धाश्च (misprint in Wikisource; व for ध). Not in the critical edition's main text; its two lines appear there as star passages 8.11.32f*0090_02 and 8.11.32f*0090_03 (placed after 8.11.32).

Verse 36 (8.12.36)

तौ शूरौ समरे राजन्परस्परकृतागसौ । परस्परमुदीक्षेतां क्रोधादुद्वृत्य चक्षुषी ॥

tau śūrau samare rājanparasparakṛtāgasau | parasparamudīkṣetāṃ krodhādudvṛtya cakṣuṣī

Those two heroes, O king, each having wronged the other, stared at each other with eyes rolled up in rage.

Verse 37 (8.12.37)

क्रोधरक्तेक्षणौ तौ तु क्रोधात्प्रस्फुरिताधरौ । क्रोधात्संदष्टदशनौ तथैव दशनच्छदौ ॥

krodharaktekṣaṇau tau tu krodhātprasphuritādharau | krodhātsaṃdaṣṭadaśanau tathaiva daśanacchadau

Their eyes red with anger, their lips quivering with anger, their teeth clenched in anger, and likewise biting their lips.

Verse 38 (8.12.38)

अन्योन्यं छादयन्तौ स्म शरवृष्ट्या महारथौ । शराम्बुधारौ समरे शस्त्रविद्युत्प्रकाशिनौ ॥

anyonyaṃ chādayantau sma śaravṛṣṭyā mahārathau | śarāmbudhārau samare śastravidyutprakāśinau

Those two great chariot-warriors covered each other with showers of arrows; in the battle they were like clouds streaming arrows for water and flashing weapons for lightning.

Note on the text: Corrected शराम्बुधारो → शराम्बुधारौ (misprint in Wikisource; dropped ौ of the dual; the critical edition reads śarāmbudhārau).

Verse 39 (8.12.39)

तावन्योन्यं ध्वजं विद्ध्वा सारथिं च महारणे । अन्योन्यस्य हयान्विद्ध्वा बिभिदाते परस्परम् ॥

tāvanyonyaṃ dhvajaṃ viddhvā sārathiṃ ca mahāraṇe | anyonyasya hayānviddhvā bibhidāte parasparam

Piercing each other's banner and charioteer in the great battle, and piercing each other's horses, they wounded one another.

Note on the text: Corrected तावन्यन्यं → तावन्योन्यं (misprint in Wikisource; न्य for न्यो; the critical edition reads tāv anyonyaṃ). Corrected विद्व्वा सारथिं → विद्ध्वा सारथिं (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads viddhvā). Corrected हयान्विद्वा → हयान्विद्ध्वा (misprint in Wikisource; broken conjunct; the critical edition reads viddhvā). Line 1 has ध्वजं … सारथिं च (singular) where the CE has dhvajau … sārathī ca (recension variant).

Verse 40 (8.12.40)

ततः क्रुद्धौ महाराज बाणौ गृह्य महाहवे । उभौ चिक्षिपतुस्तूर्ममन्योन्यस्य वधैषिणौ ॥

tataḥ kruddhau mahārāja bāṇau gṛhya mahāhave | ubhau cikṣipatustūrmamanyonyasya vadhaiṣiṇau

Then, enraged, O great king, each took up an arrow in that great battle and quickly shot it, each wishing to kill the other.

Verse 41 (8.12.41)

तौ सायकौ महाराज द्योतमानौ चमूमुखे । आजघ्नतुः समासाद्य वज्रवेगौ दुरासदौ ॥

tau sāyakau mahārāja dyotamānau camūmukhe | ājaghnatuḥ samāsādya vajravegau durāsadau

Those two arrows, O great king, blazing at the head of the army, reached them and struck, swift as thunderbolts and hard to withstand.

Verse 42 (8.12.42)

तौ परस्परवेगाच्च शराभ्यां च भृशाहतौ । निपेततुर्महावीर्यौ रथोपस्थे तयोस्तदा ॥

tau parasparavegācca śarābhyāṃ ca bhṛśāhatau | nipetaturmahāvīryau rathopasthe tayostadā

Struck hard by the force of each other's blow and by the two arrows, those two men of great prowess then fell on the platforms of their chariots.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads रथोपस्थे तयोस्तदा where the CE has svarathopasthayos tadā (recension variant).

Verse 43 (8.12.43)

ततस्तु सारथिर्ज्ञात्वा द्रोणपुत्रमचेतनम् । अपोवाह रणाद्राजन्सर्वसैन्यस्य पश्यतः ॥

tatastu sārathirjñātvā droṇaputramacetanam | apovāha raṇādrājansarvasainyasya paśyataḥ

Then the charioteer, knowing Drona's son to be unconscious, carried him out of the battle, O king, while the whole army looked on.

Note on the text: Line 2 reads सर्वसैन्यस्य where the CE has sarvakṣatrasya (recension variant).

Verse 44 (8.12.44)

तथैव पाण्डवं राजन्विह्वलन्तं मुहुर्मुहुः । अपोवाह रथेनाजौ विशोकः शत्रुतापनम् ॥

tathaiva pāṇḍavaṃ rājanvihvalantaṃ muhurmuhuḥ | apovāha rathenājau viśokaḥ śatrutāpanam

In the same way, O king, Vishoka carried the Pandava, the scorcher of foes, who kept swooning again and again, away from the battle in his chariot.

Note on the text: Matches CE 8.11.41 (the automatic alignment missed it); line 2 reads विशोकः where the CE has sārathiḥ (recension variant: Vishoka is Bhima's charioteer).