Droṇaparva Chapter -16 (Fifteenth day war – Part -2)

द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (पञ्चदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-२) – द्रोण वध:

अध्यायः – 16 ::Chapter-16 (Fifteenth day war – Part -2) - Droṇa killed

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततः प्रादुष्करोद्द्रोणो ब्राह्ममस्त्रं परन्तपः । वधाय तेषां शूराणां पाञ्चालानाममर्षितः ॥ 1॥ ततो व्यरोचत द्रोणो विनिघ्नन्सर्वसोमकान् । शिरांस्यपातयच्चापि पाञ्चालानां महामृधे ॥ तथैव परिघाकारान्बाहून्कनकभूषणान् ॥ 2॥ ते वध्यमानाः समरे भारद्वाजेन पार्थिवाः । मेदिन्यामन्वकीर्यन्त वातनुन्ना इव द्रुमाः ॥ 3॥ कुञ्जराणां च पततां हयौघानां च भारत । अगम्यरूपा पृथिवी मांसशोणितकर्दमा ॥ 4॥ हत्वा विंशतिसाहस्रान्पाञ्चालानां रथव्रजान् । अतिष्ठदाहवे द्रोणो विधूमोऽग्निरिव ज्वलन् ॥ 5॥ तथैव च पुनः क्रुद्धो भारद्वाजः प्रतापवान् । वसुदानस्य भल्लेन शिरः कायादपाहरत् ॥ 6॥ पुनः पञ्चशतान्मत्स्यान्षट्सहस्रांश्च सृञ्जयान् । हस्तिनामयुतं हत्वा जघानाश्वायुतं पुनः ॥ 7॥ क्षत्रियाणामभावाय दृष्ट्वा द्रोणमवस्थितम् । ऋषयोऽभ्यागमंस्तूर्णं हव्यवाहपुरोगमाः ॥ 8॥ विश्वामित्रो जमदग्निर्भारद्वाजोऽथ गौतमः । वसिष्ठः कश्यपोऽत्रिश्च ब्रह्मलोकं निनीषवः ॥ 9॥ सिकताः पृश्नयो गर्गा बालखिल्या मरीचिपाः । भृगवोऽङ्गिरसश्चैव सूक्ष्माश्चान्ये महर्षयः ॥ 10॥ त एनमब्रुवन्सर्वे द्रोणमाहवशोभिनम् । अधर्मतः कृतं युद्धं समयो निधनस्य ते ॥ 11॥ न्यस्यायुधं रणे द्रोण समेत्यास्मानवस्थितान् । नातः क्रूरतरं कर्म पुनः कर्तुं त्वमर्हसि ॥ 12॥ वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषः सत्यधर्मपरस्य च । ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण तवैतन्नोपपद्यते ॥ 13॥ न्यस्यायुधममोघेषो तिष्ठ वर्त्मनि शाश्वते । परिपूर्णश्च कालस्ते वस्तुं लोकेऽद्य मानुषे ॥ 14॥ इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा भीमसेनवचश्च तत् । धृष्टद्युम्नं च सम्प्रेक्ष्य रणे स विमनाभवत् ॥ 15॥ स दह्यमानो व्यथितः कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरम् । अहतं वा हतं वेति पप्रच्छ सुतमात्मनः ॥ 16॥ स्थिरा बुद्धिर्हि द्रोणस्य न पार्थो वक्ष्यतेऽनृतम् । त्रयाणामपि लोकानामैश्वर्यार्थे कथञ्चन ॥ 17॥ तस्मात्तं परिपप्रच्छ नान्यं कञ्चिद्विशेषतः । तस्मिंस्तस्य हि सत्याशा बाल्यात्प्रभृति पाण्डवे ॥ 18॥ ततो निष्पाण्डवामुर्वीं करिष्यन्तं युधां पतिम् । द्रोणं ज्ञात्वा धर्मराजं गोविन्दो व्यथितोऽब्रवीत् ॥ 19॥ यद्यर्धदिवसं द्रोणो युध्यते मन्युमास्थितः । सत्यं ब्रवीमि ते सेना विनाशं समुपैष्यति ॥ 20॥ स भवांस्त्रातु नो द्रोणात्सत्याज्ज्यायोऽनृतं भवेत् । अनृतं जीवितस्यार्थे वदन्न स्पृश्यतेऽनृतैः ॥ 21॥ तयोः संवदतोरेवं भीमसेनोऽब्रवीदिदम् । श्रुत्वैव तं महाराज वधोपायं महात्मनः ॥ 22॥ गाहमानस्य ते सेनां मालवस्येन्द्रवर्मणः । अश्वत्थामेति विख्यातो गजः शक्रगजोपमः ॥ 23॥ निहतो युधि विक्रम्य ततोऽहं द्रोणमब्रुवम् । अश्वत्थामा हतो ब्रह्मन्निवर्तस्वाहवादिति ॥ 24॥ नूनं नाश्रद्दधद्वाक्यमेष मे पुरुषर्षभः । स त्वं गोविन्दवाक्यानि मानयस्व जयैषिणः ॥ 25॥ द्रोणाय निहतं शंस राजञ्शारद्वतीसुतम् । त्वयोक्तो नैष युध्येत जातु राजन्द्विजर्षभः ॥ सत्यवान्हि नृलोकेऽस्मिन्भवान्ख्यातो जनाधिप ॥ 26॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा कृष्णवाक्यप्रचोदितः । भावित्वाच्च महाराज वक्तुं समुपचक्रमे ॥ 27॥ तमतथ्यभये मग्नो जये सक्तो युधिष्ठिरः । अव्यक्तमब्रवीद्राजन्हतः कुञ्जर इत्युत ॥ 28॥ युधिष्ठिरात्तु तद्वाक्यं श्रुत्वा द्रोणो महारथः । पुत्रव्यसनसन्तप्तो निराशो जीवितेऽभवत् ॥ 29॥ आगस्कृतमिवात्मानं पाण्डवानां महात्मनाम् । ऋषिवाक्यं च मन्वानः श्रुत्वा च निहतं सुतम् ॥ 30॥ विचेताः परमोद्विग्नो धृष्टद्युम्नमवेक्ष्य च । योद्धुं नाशक्नुवद्राजन्यथापूर्वमरिंदम ॥ 31॥	31 (1034)
Sanjaya said, ‘Consumed by wrath and seeking the annihilation of the valiant Panchalas, the formidable warrior Drona, a scourge to his enemies, deflected their arrows and summoned the Brahma weapon. Drona's radiance then resembled a smokeless, roaring fire. Enraged anew, Bharadwaja's valiant son, slaughtering the Somakas, appeared magnificent. In that terrible battle, he severed Panchala heads and hacked off thick, golden-adorned arms, like spiked clubs. Those Kshatriyas, slain by Bharadwaja's son, fell and lay scattered like trees felled by a storm. The earth, slick with blood and flesh from fallen elephants and horses, became impassable. Having slain twenty thousand Panchala chariot warriors, Drona shone like a smokeless, blazing fire. Once more enraged, Bharadwaja's brave son severed Vasudana's head with a broad-headed arrow. Again, he slew five hundred Matsyas, six thousand elephants, and ten thousand horses. As Drona stood on the battlefield, intent on destroying the Kshatriya race, a host of Rishis—Viswamitra, Jamadagni, Bharadwaja, Gautama, Vashishtha, Kashyapa, Atri, the Srikatas, the Prisnis, Garga, the Valkhilyas, the Marichis, the descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, and many other subtle sages—swiftly arrived, led by Agni. Wishing to guide Drona to Brahman, they addressed him, that esteemed warrior: 'You fight unfairly. Your time is up. Drona, cast aside your weapons and look upon us. It is wrong for you to continue such cruel actions. You are learned in the Vedas and their teachings, dedicated to truth, and, above all, a Brahmana. These acts are unbecoming of you. Drop your weapons. Dispel the cloud of illusion that blinds you. Embrace the eternal path. Your time in the mortal world is complete. You have used the Brahma weapon to burn unarmed men on earth. This deed, O twice-born one, is unjust. *Lay down your arms now, Drona; do not linger on earth. Do not commit such a sinful act.' Drona, hearing their words and those of Bhimasena, and seeing Dhrishtadyumna before him, grew disheartened in battle. Overcome with grief and pain, he asked Kunti's son Yudhishthira if his son, Aswatthaman, was dead. Drona trusted that Yudhishthira would never lie, not even to rule the three worlds. Therefore, the Brahmin bull sought truth from Yudhishthira alone, trusting in the honesty he had shown since childhood. "Meanwhile, O king, Govinda, aware that Drona, that supreme warrior, had the power to wipe out all the Pandavas, grew greatly troubled. Addressing Yudhishthira, he said, 'If Drona fights fiercely for even half a day, I tell you truly, your army will be destroyed. Save us from Drona, then. In such times, a lie is better than the truth. Telling a lie to save a life incurs no sin. There is no sin in lies told to women, in marriages, or to save a king or a Brahmin.' As Govinda and Yudhishthira spoke, Bhimasena said, 'As soon as I heard how the noble Drona might be killed, summoning my strength in battle, I killed a massive elephant, like Indra's own, belonging to Indravarman, chief of the Malavas, who stood in your army. I went to Drona and said, 'Aswatthaman is dead, O Brahmin! Stop fighting.' But the preceptor did not believe the words. Desiring victory, take Govinda's advice. Tell Drona that Saradwat's daughter's son is gone. If you tell him, that bull among Brahmins will not fight. You are known as truthful in all three worlds.' Hearing Bhima's words, urged by Krishna's counsel, and fated as it was, Yudhishthira resolved to say what he must. Afraid to lie but desperate for victory, Yudhishthira stated clearly that Aswatthaman was dead, adding in inaudible voice, 'the elephant.'* Upon hearing those words from Yudhishthira, the powerful warrior Drona, overwhelmed by grief at the presumed death of his son, succumbed to despair. Compounded by the Rishis' words, he felt deeply guilty towards the noble Pandavas. The news of his son's death crushed his spirit and filled him with fear; seeing Dhrishtadyumna, O king, that punisher of enemies was no longer able to fight with his former strength."
सञ्जय उवाच॥ तं दृष्ट्वा परमोद्विग्नं शोकोपहतचेतसम् । पाञ्चालराजस्य सुतो धृष्टद्युम्नः समाद्रवत् ॥ 1॥ य इष्ट्वा मनुजेन्द्रेण द्रुपदेन महामखे । लब्धो द्रोणविनाशाय समिद्धाद्धव्यवाहनात् ॥ 2॥ अंदधे कार्मुके तस्मिञ्शरमाशीविषोपमम् । द्रोणं जिघांसुः पाञ्चाल्यो महाज्वालमिवानलम् ॥ 3॥ ततः स यत्नमातिष्ठदाचार्यस्तस्य वारणे । न चास्यास्त्राणि राजेन्द्र प्रादुरासन्महात्मनः ॥ 4॥ ततश्चतुर्दिशं सैन्यैर्द्रुपदस्याभिसंवृतः । निर्दहन्क्षत्रियव्रातान्द्रोणः पर्यचरद्रणे ॥ 5॥ हत्वा विंशतिसाहस्रान्क्षत्रियानरिमर्दनः । दशायुतानि तीक्ष्णाग्रैरवधीद्विशिखैः शितैः ॥ 6॥ संरब्धश्च शरानस्यन्द्रोणं दुर्वारणं रणे । विवारयिषुराचार्यं शरवर्षैरवाकिरत् ॥ 7॥ तौ न्यवारयतां श्रेष्ठौ संरब्धौ रणशोभिनौ । उदीरयेतां ब्राह्माणि दिव्यान्यस्त्राण्यनेकशः ॥ 8॥ ततो भीमो दृढक्रोधो द्रोणस्याश्लिष्य तं रथम् । शनकैरिव राजेन्द्र द्रोणं वचनमब्रवीत् ॥ 9॥ यदि नाम न युध्येरञ्शिक्षिता ब्रह्मबन्धवः । स्वकर्मभिरसन्तुष्टा न स्म क्षत्रं क्षयं व्रजेत् ॥ 10॥ अहिंसा सर्वभूतेषु धर्मं ज्यायस्तरं विदुः । तस्य च ब्राह्मणो मूलं भवांश्च ब्रह्मवित्तमः ॥ 11॥ श्वपाकवन्म्लेच्छगणान्हत्वा चान्यान्पृथग्विधान् । अज्ञानान्मूढवद्ब्रह्मन्पुत्रदारधनेप्सया ॥ 12॥ एकस्यार्थे बहून्हत्वा पुत्रस्याधर्मविद्यथा । स्वकर्मस्थान्विकर्मस्थो न व्यपत्रपसे कथम् ॥ 13॥ स चाद्य पतितः शेते पृष्टेनावेदितस्तव । धर्मराजेन तद्वाक्यं नातिशङ्कितुमर्हसि ॥ 14॥ एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणो भीमेनोत्सृज्य तद्धनुः । सर्वाण्यस्त्राणि धर्मात्मा हातुकामोऽभ्यभाषत ॥ 15॥ कर्ण कर्ण महेष्वास कृप दुर्योधनेति च ॥ सङ्ग्रामे क्रियतां यत्नो ब्रवीम्येष पुनः पुनः । 16 पाण्डवेभ्यः शिवं वोऽस्तु शस्त्रमभ्युत्सृजाम्यहम् ॥ इति तत्र महाराज प्राक्रोशद्द्रौणिमेव च । 17 उत्सृज्य च रणे शस्त्रं रथोपस्थे निवेश्य च ॥ अभयं सर्वभूतानां प्रददौ योगयुक्तवान् ॥ 18॥ तस्य तच्छिद्रमाज्ञाय धृष्टद्युम्नः समुत्थितः । खड्गी रथादवप्लुत्य सहसा द्रोणमभ्ययात् ॥ 19॥ वितुन्नाङ्गं शरशतैर्न्यस्तायुधमसृक्क्षरम् । धिक्कृतः पार्षतस्तं तु सर्वभूतैः परामृशत् ॥ 20॥ तस्य मूर्धानमालम्ब्य गतसत्त्वस्य देहिनः । किञ्चिदब्रुवतः कायाद्विचकर्तासिना शिरः ॥ 21॥ आकर्णपलितः श्यामो वयसाशीतिपञ्चकः । त्वत्कृते व्यचरत्सङ्ख्ये स तु षोडशवर्षवत् ॥ 22॥ शोणितेन परिक्लिन्नो रथाद्भूमिमरिंदमः । लोहिताङ्ग इवादित्यो दुर्दर्शः समपद्यत ॥ एवं तं निहतं सङ्ख्ये ददृशे सैनिको जनः ॥ 23॥ धृष्टद्युम्नस्तु तद्राजन्भारद्वाजशिरो महत् । तावकानां महेष्वासः प्रमुखे तत्समाक्षिपत् ॥ 24॥ हते द्रोणे निरुत्साहान्कुरून्पाण्डवसृञ्जयाः । अभ्यद्रवन्महावेगास्ततः सैन्यं व्यदीर्यत ॥ 25॥ अन्विच्छन्तः शरीरं तु भारद्वाजस्य पार्थिवाः । नाध्यगच्छंस्तदा राजन्कबन्धायुतसङ्कुले ॥ 26॥ पाण्डवास्तु जयं लब्ध्वा हृष्टा ह्यासन्विशां पते । अरिक्षयं च सङ्ग्रामे तेन ते सुखमाप्नुवन् ॥ 27॥	27 (1061)
Sanjaya recounted, 'Seeing Drona overwhelmed with dread and nearly senseless from sorrow, Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala king's son, charged at him. This hero, destined to destroy Drona, had been granted to Drupada, the king, through a grand ritual from Agni himself. He notched a deadly arrow, like a fiercely venomous snake, radiant as fire. The master prepared carefully to counter that arrow, but his divine weapons, O king, no longer appeared at his command. Surrounded by Dhrishtadyumna's forces, Drona raged in battle, annihilating countless warriors. The foe-crusher, having slain twenty-four thousand warriors, then sent a hundred thousand more to Yama's realm with his sharp arrows. Enraged, Dhrishtadyumna unleashed a barrage upon the seemingly unstoppable Drona, attempting to hinder him, covering the master with arrows. The two warriors, the finest among fighters, both consumed by anger, invoked the Brahma and other divine weapons into existence. Then Bhima, filled with great wrath, addressing Drona while holding his chariot, spoke these words slowly, O king: 'If vile Brahmanas, dissatisfied with their own priestly duties but skilled in arms, did not fight, the Kshatriya race would not face such annihilation. Non-violence towards all beings is considered the highest virtue, and Brahmans are the source of that virtue. You, the most knowledgeable of Brahmanas, slay countless barbarians and warriors, even though they are following their duties due to ignorance and lured by wealth for their families; even for the sake of your only son, how can you not feel ashamed?' The one for whom you drew your sword, for whom you live, now lifeless, lies on the battlefield, unknown to you, behind your back. King Yudhishthira, the righteous, has told you this; you mustn't doubt it.' Hearing this from Bhima, Drona lowered his bow. Wishing to lay down all his arms, virtuous Bharadwaja's son declared, 'Karna, great archer, Kripa, Duryodhana, I urge you, fight cautiously. Avoid harm from the Pandayas. I relinquish my weapons.' Saying this, he loudly called out Aswatthaman's name. He set aside his weapons in that battle, sat on his chariot's terrace, practiced Yoga, and calmed all creatures, relieving their fears. Seizing this moment, Dhrishtadyumna gathered his strength. He placed his mighty bow on the chariot, arrow ready, then grabbed a sword, leaped down, and charged at Drona. With his sword, he severed the head from his foe's body—his foe, rendered silent. Having slain Bharadwaja's son, Dhrishtadyumna, filled with joy, roared like a lion, brandishing his sword. This old man, dark-skinned with white locks, eighty-five years old, fought with the vigour of a sixteen-year-old, all for your sake. Then Dhrishtadyumna, great archer, O King, threw Bharadwaja's son's severed head before your army's warriors. After Drona fell, the Kurus, Pandavas, and Srinjayas were all disheartened and fled swiftly. The kings searched for Bharadwaja's son's body across the field of countless headless corpses, but they couldn't find him. O monarch, the victorious Pandavas rejoiced, experiencing great happiness from defeating their enemies in battle.