Droṇaparva Chapter -7 (Thirteenth day war

द्रोणपर्व - Droṇaparva (त्रयोदश दिवसीय युद्धम् - भाग-१)

अध्यायः – 7 ::Chapter-7 (Thirteenth day war – Part-1)

Shlokas	No. of Shlokas
सञ्जय उवाच॥ ततः प्रभातसमये द्रोणं दुर्योधनोऽब्रवीत् । प्रणयादभिमानाच्च द्विषद्वृद्ध्या च दुर्मनाः ॥ शृण्वतां सर्वभूतानां संरब्धो वाक्यकोविदः ॥ 1॥ नूनं वयं वध्यपक्षे भवतो ब्रह्मवित्तम । तथा हि नाग्रहीः प्राप्तं समीपेऽद्य युधिष्ठिरम् ॥ 2॥ इच्छतस्ते न मुच्येत चक्षुःप्राप्तो रणे रिपुः । जिघृक्षतो रक्ष्यमाणः सामरैरपि पाण्डवैः ॥ 3॥ वरं दत्त्वा मम प्रीतः पश्चाद्विकृतवानसि । आशाभङ्गं न कुर्वन्ति भक्तस्यार्याः कथञ्चन ॥ 4॥ ततोऽप्रीतस्तथोक्तः स भारद्वाजोऽब्रवीन्नृपम् । नार्हसे मान्यथा ज्ञातुं घटमानं तव प्रिये ॥ 5॥ ससुरासुरगन्धर्वाः सयक्षोरगराक्षसाः । नालं लोका रणे जेतुं पाल्यमानं किरीटिना ॥ 6॥ सत्यं तु ते ब्रवीम्यद्य नैतज्जात्वन्यथा भवेत् । अद्यैषां प्रवरं वीरं पातयिष्ये महारथम् ॥ 7॥ तं च व्यूहं विधास्यामि योऽभेद्यस्त्रिदशैरपि । योगेन केनचिद्राजन्नर्जुनस्त्वपनीयताम् ॥ 8॥ न ह्यज्ञातमसाध्यं वा तस्य सङ्ख्येऽस्ति किञ्चन । तेन ह्युपात्तं बलवत्सर्वज्ञानमितस्ततः ॥ 9॥ द्रोणेन व्याहृते त्वेवं संशप्तकगणाः पुनः । आह्वयन्नर्जुनं सङ्ख्ये दक्षिणामभितो दिशम् ॥ 10॥ तत्रार्जुनस्याथ परैः सार्धं समभवद्रणः । तादृशो यादृशो नान्यः श्रुतो दृष्टोऽपि वा क्वचित् ॥ 11॥ ततो द्रोणेन विहितो राजन्व्यूहो व्यरोचत । चरन्मध्यंदिने सूर्यः प्रतपन्निव दुर्दृशः ॥ 12 तदनीकमनाधृष्यं भारद्वाजेन रक्षितम् । पार्थाः समभ्यवर्तन्त भीमसेनपुरोगमाः ॥ 13॥ समवेतांस्तु तान्सर्वान्भारद्वाजोऽपि वीर्यवान् । असम्भ्रान्तः शरौघेण महता समवारयत् ॥ 14॥ महौघाः सलिलस्येव गिरिमासाद्य दुर्भिदम् । द्रोणं ते नाभ्यवर्तन्त वेलामिव जलाशयाः ॥ 15॥ तमायान्तमभिक्रुद्धं द्रोणं दृष्ट्वा युधिष्ठिरः । बहुधा चिन्तयामास द्रोणस्य प्रतिवारणम् ॥ 16॥ अशक्यं तु तमन्येन द्रोणं मत्वा युधिष्ठिरः । अविषह्यं गुरुं भारं सौभद्रे समवासृजत् ॥ 17॥ वासुदेवादनवरं फल्गुनाच्चामितौजसम् । अब्रवीत्परवीरघ्नमभिमन्युमिदं वचः ॥ 18॥ एत्य नो नार्जुनो गर्हेद्यथा तात तथा कुरु । चक्रव्यूहस्य न वयं विद्म भेदं कथञ्चन ॥ 19॥ त्वं वार्जुनो वा कृष्णो वा भिन्द्यात्प्रद्युम्न एव वा । चक्रव्यूहं महाबाहो पञ्चमोऽन्यो न विद्यते ॥ 20॥ अभिमन्यो वरं तात याचतां दातुमर्हसि । पितॄणां मातुलानां च सैन्यानां चैव सर्वशः ॥ 21॥ धनञ्जयो हि नस्तात गर्हयेदेत्य संयुगात् । क्षिप्रमस्त्रं समादाय द्रोणानीकं विशातय ॥ 22॥ अभिमन्युरुवाच॥ द्रोणस्य दृढमव्यग्रमनीकप्रवरं युधि । पितॄणां जयमाकाङ्क्षन्नवगाहे भिनद्मि च ॥ 23॥ उपदिष्टो हि मे पित्रा योगोऽनीकस्य भेदने । नोत्सहे तु विनिर्गन्तुमहं कस्याञ्चिदापदि ॥ 24॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ भिन्ध्यनीकं युधा श्रेष्ठ द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः । वयं त्वानुगमिष्यामो येन त्वं तात यास्यसि ॥ 25॥ धनञ्जयसमं युद्धे त्वां वयं तात संयुगे । प्रणिधायानुयास्यामो रक्षन्तः सर्वतोमुखाः ॥ 26॥ भीम उवाच॥ अहं त्वानुगमिष्यामि धृष्टद्युम्नोऽथ सात्यकिः । पाञ्चालाः केकया मत्स्यास्तथा सर्वे प्रभद्रकाः ॥ 27॥ सकृद्भिन्नं त्वया व्यूहं तत्र तत्र पुनः पुनः । वयं प्रध्वंसयिष्यामो निघ्नमाना वरान्वरान् ॥ 28॥ अभिमन्युरुवाच॥ अहमेतत्प्रवेक्ष्यामि द्रोणानीकं दुरासदम् । पतङ्ग इव सङ्क्रुद्धो ज्वलितं जातवेदसम् ॥ 29॥ तत्कर्माद्य करिष्यामि हितं यद्वंशयोर्द्वयोः । मातुलस्य च या प्रीतिर्भविष्यति पितुश्च मे ॥ 30॥ शिशुनैकेन सङ्ग्रामे काल्यमानानि सङ्घशः । अद्य द्रक्ष्यन्ति भूतानि द्विषत्सैन्यानि वै मया ॥ 31॥ युधिष्ठिर उवाच॥ एवं ते भाषमाणस्य बलं सौभद्र वर्धताम् । यस्त्वमुत्सहसे भेत्तुं द्रोणानीकं सुदुर्भिदम् ॥ 32॥ रक्षितं पुरुषव्याघ्रैर्महेष्वासैः प्रहारिभिः । साध्यरुद्रमरुत्कल्पैर्वस्वग्न्यादित्यविक्रमैः ॥ 33॥ सञ्जय उवाच॥ तस्य तद्वचनं श्रुत्वा स यन्तारमचोदयत् । सुमित्राश्वान्रणे क्षिप्रं द्रोणानीकाय चोदय ॥ 34	34 (421)
Sanjaya recounted, 'The next morning, Duryodhana, driven by spite, anger, and despair at seeing his enemies prosper, spoke to Drona. Skilled in speech but enraged by the foe's success, he addressed Drona before all the troops: "O most eminent Brahmin, surely you've marked us for destruction. You failed today to capture Yudhishthira when he was within your grasp. Any foe you'd seize in battle cannot escape you once you have him in range, even if protected by the Pandavas and aided by gods. You granted me a boon, yet you fail to honour it. The noble never betray the hopes of those devoted to them." Shamed by Duryodhana's words, Drona replied, "Do not think of me as such. I always strive to please you. Not even the three worlds—gods, Asuras, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Nagas, and Rakshasas—can overcome the force protected by the diadem-crowned Arjuna. I speak truly, and it shall be so. Today, I will slay a mighty chariot-warrior, a leading hero of the Pandavas. Also, I will create an array impenetrable even by the gods. But, O king, find a way to draw Arjuna from the field. There is nothing he doesn't know or cannot accomplish in war, for he has mastered all aspects of battle from many places." 'Sanjaya said, 'After Drona spoke, the Samsaptakas again provoked Arjuna to fight, drawing him to the southern edge of the battlefield. What followed between Arjuna and his foes was unparalleled. Meanwhile, Drona's battle formation, O king, shone brilliantly, as blinding as the midday sun. Bhimasena led the Parthas towards Drona's seemingly impenetrable arrangement, charging headlong with their troops eager for battle. But the mighty Drona met their advance with a storm of arrows, halting them in their tracks. Like a relentless wave against an unyielding mountain, or the tide against the shore, Drona repelled their assault. Seeing Drona's furious advance, Yudhishthira sought ways to stop him. Realizing Drona was unstoppable by others, he entrusted this crucial task to Abhimanyu, Subhadra's son. He addressed Abhimanyu, a hero equal to Vasudeva and surpassing Arjuna in energy: 'Child, ensure Arjuna won't fault us upon his return. We cannot breach this circular formation; only you, Arjuna, Krishna, or Pradyumna can. No one else is capable. Perform this, Abhimanyu, that your fathers, uncles, and these warriors request. Rapidly arm yourself and shatter Drona's formation, or Arjuna will reprimand us all when he returns from battle.'' "Abhimanyu declared, 'Eager to secure victory for my fathers, I will swiftly break through Drona's formidable and fiercely guarded battle formation. My father taught me how to penetrate and strike formations like this. However, I might not be able to escape if I encounter unforeseen peril.' Yudhishthira responded, 'Just breach the array once, O greatest of warriors, and create an opening for us. We will all follow in your path. In battle, you are the equal of Arjuna himself. Seeing you enter, we will protect you on all sides as we follow.' Bhima added, 'I will personally follow you, along with Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki, the Panchalas, and the Prabhadrakas. Once you break through, we will repeatedly charge in and slay the leading warriors within.' Abhimanyu avowed, 'I shall penetrate Drona's impenetrable array, like a moth to a flame. Today, I will act in the best interests of both my father's and mother's lineages. I will please my uncle Krishna and my mother Subhadra. Today, everyone will witness vast numbers of enemy soldiers being cut down by me, a lone youth. If anyone who faces me today escapes with their life, I will doubt my parentage from Arjuna and Subhadra. If I cannot cut the entire warrior race into pieces from my single chariot, then I am not worthy to be called Arjuna's son.' "Yudhishthira said, 'Guarded by these tiger-like men, these mighty archers of fierce strength, resembling the Sadhyas, Rudras, or Maruts, or like the Vasus, or even Agni or Aditya in power, you dare to penetrate Drona's seemingly unbreakable formation. Since you speak with such confidence, may your strength increase, son of Subhadra!'" "Sanjaya continued, 'Hearing Yudhishthira's words, Abhimanyu commanded his charioteer, Sumitra, saying, 'Quickly drive the horses toward Drona's army!'"
सञ्जय उवाच॥ सौभद्रस्तु वचः श्रुत्वा धर्मराजस्य धीमतः । अचोदयत यन्तारं द्रोणानीकाय भारत ॥ 1॥ तेन सञ्चोद्यमानस्तु याहि याहीति सारथिः । प्रत्युवाच ततो राजन्नभिमन्युमिदं वचः ॥ 2॥ अतिभारोऽयमायुष्मन्नाहितस्त्वयि पाण्डवैः । सम्प्रधार्य क्षमं बुद्ध्या ततस्त्वं योद्धुमर्हसि ॥ 3॥ आचार्यो हि कृती द्रोणः परमास्त्रे कृतश्रमः । अत्यन्तसुखसंवृद्धस्त्वं च युद्धविशारदः ॥ 4॥ ततोऽभिमन्युः प्रहसन्सारथिं वाक्यमब्रवीत् । सारथे को न्वयं द्रोणः समग्रं क्षत्रमेव वा ॥ 5॥ ऐरावतगतं शक्रं सहामरगणैरहम् । योधयेयं रणमुखे न मे क्षत्रेऽद्य विस्मयः ॥ न ममैतद्द्विषत्सैन्यं कलामर्हति षोडशीम् ॥ 6॥ अपि विश्वजितं विष्णुं मातुलं प्राप्य सूतज । पितरं चार्जुनं सङ्ख्ये न भीर्मामुपयास्यति ॥ 7 ततोऽभिमन्युस्तां वाचं कदर्थीकृत्य सारथेः । याहीत्येवाब्रवीदेनं द्रोणानीकाय माचिरम् ॥ 8॥ ततः सञ्चोदयामास हयानस्य त्रिहायनान् । नातिहृष्टमनाः सूतो हेमभाण्डपरिच्छदान् ॥ 9॥ ते प्रेषिताः सुमित्रेण द्रोणानीकाय वाजिनः । द्रोणमभ्यद्रवन्राजन्महावेगपराक्रमाः ॥ 10॥ तमुदीक्ष्य तथायान्तं सर्वे द्रोणपुरोगमाः । अभ्यवर्तन्त कौरव्याः पाण्डवाश्च तमन्वयुः ॥ 11॥ स कर्णिकारप्रवरोच्छ्रितध्वजः सुवर्णवर्मार्जुनिरर्जुनाद्वरः । युयुत्सया द्रोणमुखान्महारथा न्समासदत्सिंहशिशुर्यथा गजान् ॥ 12॥ ते विंशतिपदे यत्ताः सम्प्रहारं प्रचक्रिरे । आसीद्गाङ्ग इवावर्तो मुहूर्तमुदधेरिव ॥ 13॥ शूराणां युध्यमानानां निघ्नतामितरेतरम् । सङ्ग्रामस्तुमुलो राजन्प्रावर्तत सुदारुणः ॥ 14॥ प्रवर्तमाने सङ्ग्रामे तस्मिन्नतिभयङ्करे । द्रोणस्य मिषतो व्यूहं भित्त्वा प्राविशदार्जुनिः ॥ 15॥ तं प्रविष्टं परान्घ्नन्तं शत्रुमध्ये महाबलम् । हस्त्यश्वरथपत्त्यौघाः परिवव्रुरुदायुधाः ॥ 16॥ तेषामापततां वीरः पूर्वं शीघ्रमथो दृढम् । क्षिप्रास्त्रो न्यवधीद्व्रातान्मर्मज्ञो मर्मभेदिभिः ॥ 17॥ ते हन्यमानाश्च तथा नानालिङ्गैः शितैः शरैः । अभिपेतुस्तमेवाजौ शलभा इव पावकम् ॥ 18॥ ततस्तेषां शरीरैश्च शरीरावयवैश्च सः । सन्तस्तार क्षितिं क्षिप्रं कुशैर्वेदिमिवाध्वरे ॥ 19॥ सकेयूराङ्गदान्बाहून्हृद्यगन्धानुलेपनान् । सञ्चिच्छेदार्जुनिर्वृत्तांस्त्वदीयानां सहस्रशः ॥ 20॥ तैः स्फुरद्भिर्महाराज शुशुभे लोहितोक्षितैः । पञ्चास्यैः पन्नगैश्छिन्नैर्गरुडेनेव मारिष ॥ 21॥ हितप्रियंवदैः काले बहुभिः पुण्यगन्धिभिः । द्विषच्छिरोभिः पृथिवीमवतस्तार फाल्गुणिः ॥ 22॥ गन्धर्वनगराकारान्विधिवत्कल्पितान्रथान् । वीषामुखान्वित्रिवेणून्व्यस्तदण्डकबन्धुरान् ॥ 23॥ एको विष्णुरिवाचिन्त्यः कृत्वा प्राक्कर्म दुष्करम् । तथा विमथितं तेन त्र्यङ्गं तव बलं महत् ॥ ॥ व्यहनत्स पदात्योघांस्त्वदीयानेव भारत ॥ 24 एवमेकेन तां सेनां सौभद्रेण शितैः शरैः । भृशं विप्रहतां दृष्ट्वा स्कन्देनेवासुरीं चमूम् ॥ 25॥ त्वदीयास्तव पुत्राश्च वीक्षमाणा दिशो दश । संशुष्कास्याश्चलन्नेत्राः प्रस्विन्ना लोमहर्षणाः ॥ 26॥ पलायनकृतोत्साहा निरुत्साहा द्विषज्जये । गोत्रनामभिरन्योन्यं क्रन्दन्तो जीवितैषिणः ॥ 27॥ हतान्पुत्रांस्तथा पितॄन्सुहृत्सम्बन्धिबान्धवान् । प्रातिष्ठन्त समुत्सृज्य त्वरयन्तो हयद्विपान् ॥ 28॥	28 (449)
Sanjaya said, 'Urged by the command 'Forward, forward!', the charioteer replied to Abhimanyu, 'Blessed one, a heavy burden has been placed upon you by the Pandavas! Consider whether you can bear it before engaging in battle. The teacher Drona is a master of weapons and skilled in combat. You, however, have been raised in luxury and are unaccustomed to war.' Hearing this, Abhimanyu laughed and replied, 'Charioteer, who is Drona? What is this vast assembly of warriors? I would face even Sakra on Airavata, aided by all the gods! I feel no anxiety about these warriors today. This hostile army is not even a fraction of my strength. Even if my uncle Vishnu, conqueror of the universe, or my father, Arjuna, were my opponents, I would feel no fear.' Abhimanyu, disregarding the charioteer's words, urged him, 'Go quickly towards Drona's army!' Thus commanded, the charioteer, reluctantly, spurred Abhimanyu's young steeds adorned with gold.' Spurred by Sumitra, those steeds charged toward Drona's army, O king, displaying speed and strength as they aimed for Drona himself. Seeing him approach, Drona and the Kauravas advanced, with the Pandavas right behind. Arjuna's son, outshining even Arjuna, clad in golden armour and bearing a Karnikara tree on his standard, fearlessly sought battle against Drona's warriors, like a lion cub attacking elephants. Eagerly, those warriors struck at Abhimanyu as he pierced their ranks. A surge of chaos arose, like ocean eddies where the Ganges current flows. The battle between the struggling heroes grew fierce and terrible, O king. As that dreadful battle raged, Arjuna's son, watched by Drona, shattered the formation and charged in. Joyful masses of elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers swarmed the mighty warrior deep in enemy lines, striking at him. But the hero, swift and knowing vital points, precisely shot deadly weapons, felling the advancing warriors. Cut down by many sharp arrows, those warriors were utterly helpless. Like insects falling into a blazing fire, they fell before Abhimanyu on the battlefield. He covered the ground with their bodies and scattered limbs, like priests strewing an altar with sacred grass. Arjuna's son severed thousands of arms from his foes. Some wore armor of iguana skin while others clutched bows and arrows, swords, shields, iron hooks, or reins; others wielded lances or battle-axes. Various well-equipped chariots, resembling vaporous structures in the sky, adorned with shafts and fine bamboo poles, their banners waving proudly, were stripped of their axles, wheel rims, fellies, hubs, wheels, standards, and platforms. Their war gear was shattered. The rich fabrics draped over them were torn away, and thousands of warriors aboard were slain. Abhimanyu, his arrows mangling all before him, charged across the field. With his sharp weapons, he cut down elephant-warriors and elephants alike, along with their standards, hooks, banners, quivers, coats of mail, girths, neck-ropes, blankets, bells, trunks, and tusks, as well as the foot soldiers guarding them from behind. Many steeds were seen stripped of their beautiful tail ornaments. Some lay with tongues hanging out and eyes dislodged, their entrails and livers exposed. And their riders lay lifeless beside them. Seeing your army utterly decimated by Subhadra's son alone, his sharp arrows like Skanda against the demon horde, your warriors and sons stared blankly in every direction. Their mouths were parched, their eyes darted nervously, sweat drenched them, and their hair stood on end. With no hope of victory, they only wished to flee the battlefield. Desperate to survive, they called out each other's names and family names. Abandoning their wounded sons, fathers, brothers, kinsmen, and in-laws scattered across the field, they frantically tried to escape, pushing their horses and elephants to their limits.