MAHABHARATA- DRONA PARVA

THE MAHABHARATA
CONDENSED IN THE POET’S OWN WORDS
By PANDIT A. M. SRINIVASACHARIAR
                                   
                          || द्रोणपर्व ||
                         DRONA PARVA
    
         अथाभिषिषिचुर्द्रोणं दुर्योधनमुखा
नृपाः।
         सैनापत्ये यथा स्कन्दं पुरा  शक्रमुखास्सुराः॥
Then,
Duryodhana and the other ,kings installed Drona in the office of generalissimo,
as Indra and the other gods installed god Skanda of yore.
  
        सेनापतित्वं  संप्राप्य भारद्वाजो महारथः।
         मध्ये सर्वस्य सैन्यस्य पुत्रं
ते वाक्यमब्रवीत्॥
Obtaining
the post of the commander-in-chief,  the
great warrior Drona said to Duryodhana in the midst of the whole army:

         ’करोमि कामं कं तेऽद्य प्रवृणीष्व
यमिच्छसि’
“What wish
of yours shall I now carry out? Ask what you want.”
          दुर्योधनः-
          ’ददासि चेद्वरं मह्यं जीवग्राहं
युधिष्ठिरम्।
          गृहीत्वा रथिनां श्रेष्ठं
मत्समीपमिहानय॥
          सत्यप्रतिज्ञे त्वानीते पुनर्द्यूतेन
निर्जिते।
          पुनर्यास्यन्त्यरण्याय पाण्डवास्तमनुव्रताः।
          सोऽयं मम जयो व्यक्तं दीर्घकालं
भविष्यति॥
“If you
grant me a boon, capture alive Yudhishthira, that best of chariot-fighters, and
bring him here to me.  When that
Yudhishthira who keeps his promise is brought and vanquished again at a game of
dice, the sons of Pandu who are vowed to act in obedience to him will go to the
forest once more. And this will clearly be a long standing victory for me.
           द्रोणुः-
           न चेद्युधिष्ठिरं वीरः पालयेदर्जुनो
युधि।
           मन्यस्व पाण्डवश्रेष्ठमानीतं
वशमात्मनः॥
Drona-
“If ony the
valorous Arjuna does not protect Yudhishthira in the battle, take it that
Yudhishthira is brought under your control.”
           ततो द्रोणेन विहितो व्यूहो
(राजन्) व्यरोचत।
           चरन्मध्यन्दिने सूर्यः प्रतपन्निव
दुर्दृशः॥
Then, the
circular array made by Drona shone like the sun moving in mid-day, burning and
impossible to look at.
           तं चाभिमन्युर्वचनात् पितुर्ज्येष्ठस्य
(भारत)
           बिभेद दुर्भिदं संख्ये चक्रव्यूहमनेकधा
That
unbreakable circular array, Abhimanyu, on the word of his eldest uncle,
Yudhishthira, shattered to pieces in the battle.
            स कृत्वा दुष्करं कर्म
हत्वा वीरान्सहस्रशः।
            नृत्यन्निव (महाराज) पाशहस्त इवान्तकः
            स कक्षेऽग्निरिवोत्सृष्टो
निर्दहंस्तरसा रिपून्।
            एकधा शतधा (राजन्) दृश्यते स्म सहस्रधा॥
Doing the
impossible task of breaking Drona’s circular array, killing warriors by thousands,
verily seeming to dance, looking like the god of death with his noose, consuming
his enemies rapidly like fire let loose on a dry forest, Abhimanyu appeared (on
the battle-field) single, hundredfold, and thousand fold.   
              तं तु द्रोणः कृपः कर्णो
द्रौणिश्च सबृहद्बलः।
              कृतवर्मा च हार्दिक्यः
षड्‍रथाः पर्यवारयन्॥
And that Abhimanyu,
six chariots surrounded, (those of) Drona, Kripa, Karna, Ashwathaman,
Brihadbala, and Kritavarman, son of Hridika.
              तं सौबलस्त्रिभिर्विद्ध्वा
दुर्योधनमथाब्रवीत्।
              ’सर्व एनं विमथ्नीमः
पुरैकैकं हिनस्ति नः॥
Hitting
Abhimanyu with three shafts, Sakuni then said to Duryodhana: “Ere he kills us
one by one; all of us will kill this Abhimanyu.”
              अथ कर्णः पुनर्द्रोणमाहार्जुनिशराहतः।
              ’स्थातव्यमिति तिष्ठामि
पीड्यमानोऽभिमन्युना’॥
Hit by the
arrows of Arjuna’s son, Karna said to Drona then: “Because I must stand, I am
standing here, afflicted as I am by Abhimanyu.”
            तमाचार्योऽब्रवीत्कर्णं
शनकैः प्रहसन्निव।
            ’अभेद्यमस्य कवचं युवा
चाशुपराक्रमः।
            अथैनं विमुखीकृत्य पश्चात्प्रहरणं
कुरु।
            सधनुष्को न शक्योऽयमपि
जेतुं सुरासुरैः
            विरथं विधनुष्कं च कुरुष्वैनं
यदीच्छसि॥’
Smiling a
little, the preceptor Drona said in a low voice to Karna, who had spoken so:
“His armour is unbreakable; he is young and swift in (the display of) his
valour. (So) make him turn back, and then strike.  (Armed) with his bow, he cannot be conquered
even by the gods and demons. If you wish (to vanquish him), deprive him of his
chariot and bow.”
           तदाचार्यवचश्श्रुत्वा कर्णो
वैकर्तनस्त्वरन्।
           अस्यतो लघुहस्तस्य पृष्ठतो
धनुरच्छिनत्
           अश्वानस्यावधीद् द्रोणो
गौतमः पार्ष्णिसारथी॥
           त्वरमाणास्त्वराकाले विरथं
षण्महारथाः।
           शरवर्षैरकरुणा बालमेकमवाकिरन्॥
Hearing
those words of the preceptor, Karna, son of the sun-god, hastened and cut from
behind the bow of Abhimanyu, who was throwing shafts with a swift hand.  Drona killed his horses; Kripa killed the two
side charioteers. Hurrying at that time which demanded quick action, those six
great warriors mounted on their chariots, devoid of mercy, strewed over with
showers of arrow, a boy, who was without his chariot and alone.
           खड्गचर्मधरश्श्रीमानुत्पपातार्जुनिर्भृशम्।
           स पुनश्चक्रमुद्यम्य द्रोणं
क्रुद्धोऽभ्यधावत।
           महारथस्ततः कार्ष्णिः स
जग्राह महागदाम्।
           शराचिताङ्गस्सौभद्रः श्वाविद्वत्समदृश्यत
Arming
himself with sword and shield, the glorious son of Arjuna, leapt up with force.
Again, infuriated, he attacked Drona, lifting his discus.  Then, the great warrior, Abhimanyu, took a
huge mace.  His body covered with arrows,
Abhimanyu looked like a porcupine.
         
        ततो दौश्शासनिः क्रुद्धो गदामुद्यम्य
(मारिष)।
        अभिदुद्राव सौभद्रमन्योन्यवधकाङ्क्षिणौ
        तावन्योन्यं गदाग्राभ्यामाहत्य
पतितौ क्षितौ॥
Then, the
furious son of Dussasana rushed at Abhimanyu, lifting his mace.  Wishing to kill each other, they hit each
other by their mace-heads, and fell on the ground.
         दौश्शासनिरथोत्थाय कुरूणां
कीर्तिवर्धनः।
         उत्तिष्ठमानं सौभद्रं गदया
मूर्ध्न्यताडयत्।
         एवं विनिहतो (राजन्) एको बहुभिराहवे ॥
Rising up
then, Dussasana’s son, (the warrior) who made the fame of the Kauravas
increase, with his mace, struck on the head of Abhimanyu who was rising.  Thus was one killed by many in the battle.
          तं भूमौ  पतितं दृष्ट्वा तावकास्ते महारथाः।
          मुदा परमया युक्ताश्चुक्रुशुस्सिंहवन्मुहुः।
          इतरेषां तु वीराणां नेत्रेभ्यः
प्रापतज्जलम्॥
          अन्तरिक्षे च भूतानि प्राक्रोशन्त
(विशांपते)
          ’द्रोणकर्णमुखैः षड्भिः धार्तराष्ट्रैः
महारथैः।
          एकोऽयं निहतः शेते नैष धर्मो
मतो हि नः’॥
Seeing him
fallen on the ground, those warriors on the side of Dhritarashtra roared again
and again like lions, with greatest delight; but from the eyes of the warriors
on the Pandava’s side, tears fell. And in the sky also, (the celestial) beings
cried: “ Single, this Abhimanyu lies killed by six of the great warriors of
Dhritarashtra, by Drona, Karna and others; this is not considered Dharma by
us.”
               हत्वा संशप्तकव्रातान् दिव्यैरस्त्रैः कपिध्वजः।
               प्रायात्स्वशिविरं जिष्णुर्जैत्रमास्थाय तं रथम्॥
After
killing the multitudes of Samsaptakas with (his) divine missiles, triumphant
Arjuna went to his tent, riding that victorious chariot of his.
                दृष्ट्वा भ्रातॄंश्च पुत्रांश्च विमना वानरध्वजः।
                अपश्यंश्चैव सौभद्रमिदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Seeing the
brothers and the sons dejected and not seeing Abhimanyu (there), Arjuna said
these words:
                ‘मुखवर्णोऽप्रसन्नो
वस्सर्वेषामेव लक्ष्यते।
                 न चाभिमन्युं पश्यामि
न च मां प्रतिनन्दथ’॥
“Clouded
are all your faces; and I do not see Abhimanyu and you do not congratulate me
(on my victory over the Samsaptakas).”
                 युधिष्ठिरः-
                 ’त्वयि याते महाबाहो
संशप्तकबलं प्रति।
                  प्रयत्नमकरोत्तीव्रमाचार्यो
ग्रहणे मम॥
Yudhishthira-
“Mighty
Arjuna, after you had gone against the Samsaptaka forces, our preceptor, Drona,
made intense effort to capture me.
               “ते पीड्यमाना द्रोणेन  द्रोणानिकं न शक्नुमः
                प्रतिवीक्षितुमप्याजौ
भेत्तुं तत्कुत एव तु॥“
“Troubled by
Drona, we could not even look at Drona’s army in the battle; how could we break
his array?”
               ‘ततस्तमप्रतिरथमहं सौभद्रमब्रवम्।
                द्रोणानीकमिदं भिन्धि
द्वारं सञ्जनयस्व नः ॥

‘Then I
told that unrivalled Abhimanyu : ‘Break this array of Drona’s army and make a
way for us to enter.’
      
             ‘स तवास्त्रोपदेशेन वीर्येण
प्राविशद्बलम्।
             तेऽनुयाता वयं वीरं सात्वतीपुत्रमाहवे
॥                                                         
 
“With your
teachings in missiles and with his heroism, Abhimanyu broke into Drona’s army
and we followed that heroic son of Subhadra in the battle.”
              ’ततः सैन्धवकः क्षुद्रः
सर्वान्नस्समवारयत्’।
“Then the
mean and petty king of the Sindhus, (Jayadratha), stopped us all.
              ‘परिवार्य तु तैर्बालो
बहुभिर्विरथीकृतः।
              ततो दौश्शासनिः क्षिप्रं
गदया मूर्ध्न्यताडयत्।
              स चैवं पुरुषव्याघ्रः
स्वर्गलोकमवाप्तवान्॥’
The
boy was surrounded by a number of them deprived of his chariot; at that time,
Dussasana’s son quickly struck him on the head with his mace.  That best among men attained to heaven in
this manner.”  
            ततोऽर्जुनो वचश्श्रुत्वा
धर्मराजेन भाषितम्।
            उन्मत्त इव विप्रेक्षन्निदं
वचनमब्रवीत्॥
Hearing
then these words spoken by Yudhishthira, Arjuna said these words, looking
wildly like a mad man:
            ‘सत्यं वः प्रतिजानामि
श्वोऽस्मि हन्ता जयद्रथम्’
“I swear in
truth to you; I will kill Jayadratha tomorrow’
             श्रुत्वा तु तं महाशब्दं
पाण्डूनां पुत्रगृद्धिनाम्।
             चारैः प्रवेदितस्त्रस्तस्समुत्थाय
जयद्रथः।
             दुर्योधनेन सहितो द्रोणं
रात्रावुपागमत्॥
Informed
by spies who had heard that huge shout of the Pandavas who loved their son
(Abhimanyu), Jayadratha rose up and, along with Duryodhana,  came to Drona in the night.
              द्रोणः-
              व्यूहयिष्यामि तं व्यूहं
यं पार्थो न तरिष्यति।
              तस्माद्युध्यस्व
मा भैस्त्वं स्वधर्ममनुपालय॥

Drona said
to Jayadratha-
“I will
make an array that Arjuna will not cross; therefore fight, and be not afraid;
keep up your Dharma.”
               एवमाश्वासितो राजा भारद्वाजेन
सैन्धवः।
               अपानुदद् भयं पार्थाद्
युद्धाय च मनो दधे॥
So consoled
by Drona, king Jayadratha cast off his fear of Arjuna and made up his mind to
fight.
                तस्यां निशायां व्युष्टायां
पारयिष्यन्महाव्रतम्।
                रथप्रवरमास्थाय नरो
नारायणानुगः।
                सिन्धुराजं परीप्सन्वै
द्रोणानीकमुपाद्रवत्॥
After
that night, at day-break, Arjuna, bent on carrying out his great vow, mounted
his excellent chariot, and along with Krishna, rode against Drona’s army,
wishing to capture jayadratha.
            
                  दर्शयन् रौद्रमात्मानामुग्रे
कर्मणि धिष्ठितः।
                  तथा सर्वा दिशो
(राजन्) सर्वाश्च रथिनो रणे।
                  आकुलीकृत्य कौन्तेयो
जयद्रथमुपाद्रवत्॥
Resolute
on doing a formidable act, showing himself in a terrible form, throwing into
confusion all the quarters and all the chariot-warriors in the battle, Arjuna
rushed in search of Jayadratha.
                 आदित्यं प्रेक्षमाणस्तु
बीभत्सुः सृक्वणी लिहन्।
                 अपश्यन्नान्तरं तस्य
रक्षिभिस्संवृतस्य वै॥
Looking at
the sun and licking the corners of his mouth, Arjuna did not find
the way to
(capture) Jayadratha who was surrounded by his protectors.
                 अथाब्रवीद्वासुदेवः
कुन्तीपुत्रं धनञ्जयम्।
                 ’स्रक्ष्यामहमुपायं
तमादित्यस्यापवारणे।
                  ततोऽस्तङ्गतमादित्यं
मंस्यते सिन्धुराडिह।
                  न हि शक्ष्यत्यथात्मानं
रक्षितुं हर्षसंभवात्।
                  एतस्मिन्नेव काले
तु प्रहर्तव्यं धनञ्जय॥’
  
Krishna
said to Arjuna: ”I shall create a means to hide the sun; Jayadratha will then
take the sun as having set; and then he will not be able to protect himself, on
account of the joy; at that very time, Arjuna, you must strike.”
                 एवमुक्त्वा ततः पार्थं
क्षिप्रमेवाहरत्प्रभाम्।
                 वीक्षमाणे ततस्तस्मिन्
सिन्धुराजे दिवाकरम्।
                 शरं तूणीशयं घोरमिन्द्राशनिसमप्रभम्।
                 विससर्ज ततस्तूर्णं
सैन्धवस्य रथं प्रति॥
Having said
this to Arjuna, Krishna quickly removed the daylight. At that time, when
jayadratha looked up for the sun, Arjuna quickly shot in the direction of his
chariot a terrible arrow which resembled Indra’s thunderbolt  and was lying in his quiver.
              
स तु गाण्डीवनिर्मुक्तस्सैन्धवस्याहरच्छिरः।
That arrow
shot from the Gandiva took off the head of Jayadratha.
               रक्षसां घोररूपाणामक्षौहिण्या
समावृतः।
               ततो घटोत्कचः क्रुद्धश्चोदयामास
तां चमूम्॥
Then,
surrounded by an Akshauhini of demons of terrific appearance, the furious
Ghatotkacha (the demon son of Bhima), drove his army (against the Kaurava
forces).
                 तमसा संवृते लोके
रजसा च (महीपते)।  
                
अनुमानेन संज्ञाभिर्युद्धं तद्ववृधे महत्॥
When the
world was wrapped in darkness and dust, that great battle went on by inference
and signals.

                 प्रदीपानां
सहस्रैश्च दीप्यमानैस्समन्ततः।

                 उल्काशतैः प्रज्ज्वलितै
रणभूमिर्व्यराजत॥
The
battle-field shone with thousands of lights burning on all sides and hundreds,
of blazing brands.
                   ततस्समभवद्युद्धं
कर्णराक्षसयोर्निशि॥
Then, there
took place in that night, a fight between Karna and the demon Ghatotkacha.
                    तां राक्षसीं भीमरूपां
सुघोरां
                       वृष्टिं महाशस्त्रमयीं
पतन्तीम्।
                    दृष्ट्वा बलौघांश्च
निपात्यमाना-
                            न्महद्भयं
तव पुत्रान्विवेश॥
At the
sight of that formidable and very terrible shower of great missiles falling from
the demon Ghatotkacha and of multitudes of their own forces being struck down,
great fear took possession of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
                      ततोऽब्रुवन्कुरवस्सर्व
एव
                           कर्णं दृष्ट्वा
घोररूपां च मायाम्।
                     ’शक्त्या रक्षो जहि कर्णाद्य
तूर्णं
                           नश्यन्त्येते
कुरवो धार्तराष्ट्राः’॥
All
the Kauravas then said (to Karna), seeing Karna and the terrible magic (of
Ghatotkacha): “Karna, quickly kill this demon now with your Sakti;  these kauravas and others on the side of
Dhritarashtra are perishing.
                       स वध्यमानो
रक्षसा वै निशीथे।
                              मतिं दधे शक्तिमोक्षाय
कर्णः॥
Hit
by the demon at midnight, Karna made up his mind to hurl the Sakti (at him).
                       याऽसौ
(राजन्) निहिता वर्षपूगा-
                           न्वधायाजौ
सत्कृता फल्गुनस्य।
                       यां वै प्रादात्सूतपुत्राय शक्रः
                           तां
वै शक्तिं प्राहिणोद्राक्षसाय ॥
That Sakti
which was being kept in worship for many years for killing Arjuna in the battle
and which Indra had given to Karna, Karna threw at the demon.                             
                
                       ततोऽन्तरिक्षादपतद्गतासु-
                           स्स राक्षसेन्द्रो
भुवि भिन्नदेहः॥
With body
cut through and life gone, the great demon then fell on the ground from the
skies.
                   उदिते तु सहस्रांशौ
पुनर्युद्धमवर्तत।
The battle
went on again when the sun arose.
                   उदीर्यमाणे द्रोणास्त्रे
पाण्डवान्भयमाविशत् ।
Fear took
hold of the Pandavas when Drona’s missile was discharged.
                   त्रस्तान्कुन्तीसुतान्दृष्ट्वा
केशवोऽर्जुनमब्रवीत्।
                   ’नैष युद्धेन संग्रामे
जेतुं शक्यः कथञ्चन     
                    न्यस्तशस्त्रस्तु
संग्रामे शक्यः हन्तुं भवेन्नृभिः।
                    आस्थीयतां जये
योगो धर्ममुत्सृज्य पाण्डवाः
                    अश्वत्थाम्नि हते
नैष युध्येदिति मतिर्मम।
                     तं हतं संयुगे
कश्चिदस्मै शंसतु मानवः ॥
Seeing
the Pandavas in fear, Krishna said to Arjuna: “This Drona cannot be conquered
by any means by fighting in the battle; he can be killed by men if he lays down
his arms. Pandavas! Adopt some trick for victory,abadoning Dharma. I think,
Drona will not fight, if Aswathaman were killed; let somebody tell Drona that
Aswathaman has been killed in the battle.
               
                      एतन्नारोचयद्
(राजन्) कुन्तीपुत्रो धनञ्जयः।
                      अन्येत्वरोचयन्सर्वे
कृच्छ्रेण तु युधिष्ठिरः॥
Arjuna did
not like this; all the rest did; Yudhishthira approved of it with difficulty.
                     ततो भीष्मो महाबाहुरनीकेषु
महागजम्।
                     जघान गदया
[राजन्] अश्वत्थामानमित्युत।
                     भीमसेनस्तु सव्रीडमुपेत्य
द्रोणमाहवे
                     ’अश्वत्थामा हत’
इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह॥
The mighty
Bhima then killed with his mace a big elephant in the army named Ashwathaman
and with a feeling of shame, he approached Drona in the battle and shouted: “
Ashwatthaaman is killed.”
               शङ्कमानस्स तन्मिथ्या
वीर्यज्ञस्स्वसुतस्य वै।
               प्रादुश्चक्रे ततो द्रोणो
ब्राह्ममस्त्रं परन्तपः॥
Suspecting
it to be a falsehood, knowing as he did the valour of his son, Drona, the
tormentor of his enemies, brought forth then the divine missile presided over
by Brahman.
              ऋषयोऽभ्यागतास्तूर्णं  हव्यवाहपुरोगमाः
              त एनमब्रुवन्सर्वे द्रोणमाहवशोभिनम्॥
With the
god of fire at their head, the sages came quickly and all of them said to Drona
shining in the battle:
              “अधर्मतः कृतं युद्धं
समयो नियतस्य ते।
               वेदवेदाङ्गविदुषस्सत्यधर्मरतस्य
ते।
               ब्राह्मणस्य विशेषेण
तवैतन्नोपपद्यते ।
               ब्रह्मास्त्रेण त्वया
दग्धा अनस्त्रज्ञा नरा भुवि।
               मा पापिष्ठतरं कर्म
करिष्यसि पुनर्द्विज”॥
               
“You have
fought this battle by Adharma; it is time for your demise; this  does not become you especially, a Brahmin
learned in the Vedas and their auxiliary lores and devoted to Truth and Dharma.
Men ignorant of divine missiles have been burnt by you in the world by the
Brahma Astra, you shall not do again (such) a most sinful act.
              इति तेषां वचः श्रुत्वा
भीमसेनवचस्स्मरन्।
              सन्दिह्यमानो व्यथितः
कुन्तीपुत्रं युधिष्ठिरं।
              अहतं वा हतं वेति पप्राच्छ
सुतमात्मनः॥
              स्थिरा बिद्धिर्हि द्रोणस्य
न पार्थो वक्ष्यतेऽनृतम्।
              त्रयाणामपि लोकानामैश्वर्यार्थे
कथञ्चन॥
              तस्मात्तं परिपप्रच्छ
नान्यं कञ्चिद्द्विजर्षभः।
              तस्मिंस्तस्य हि सत्याशा बाल्यात्प्रभृति
पाण्डवे ॥
Hearing
these words of the sages, remembering the words of Bhima (that Ashwathaman had
been killed), doubting and in pain, Drona asked Yudhishthira whether his son
was killed or not.  For, firm was Drona’s
conviction that Yudhishthira would not utter falsehood, under any circumstance,
even for the sake of the lordship over the three worlds.  Therefore, that best of Brahmins, Drona,
asked Yudhishthira and not any one else. 
Indeed, Drona had full confidence in the truthfulness of that son of
Pandu from his very boyhood.  
                            
            ततो निष्पाण्डवामुर्वीं
करिष्यन्तं युधांपतिम्।
            द्रोणं ज्ञात्वा धर्मराजं
गोविन्दो व्यथितोऽब्रवीत्।
            ’अनृतं जीवितस्यार्थे वदन्न
स्पृश्यतेऽनृतैः’॥
Knowing
that the commander Drona would make the world rid of the Pandavas, Krishna, in
his affliction, told Yudhishthira: “Uttering falsehood for the sake of life,
one is not affected by untruths.”
             तमतथ्यभये मग्नो जये सक्तो
युधिष्ठिरः।
             ’अश्वत्थामा हत’
इति शब्दमुच्चैश्चकार ह।
             अव्यक्तमब्रवीद्
[राजन्] ’हतः कुञ्जर’ इत्युत॥
Immersed
in the fear of uttering falsehood and intent on victory, Yudhishthira       
said aloud
to Drona: “Killed is Ashwathaman,” and added indistinctly ‘ the elephant’.
               तस्य पूर्वं रथः पृथिव्याश्चतुरङ्गुलमुच्छ्रितः।
               बभूवैवं च तेनोक्ते
तस्य वाहास्स्पृशन्हीम्॥

Previously,
Yudhishthira’s chariot was four inches above the ground; when yudhishthira had
said so, his horses touched the ground.
               युधिष्ठिरात्तु तद्वाक्यं
श्रुत्वा द्रोणो महारथः
                पुत्रव्यसनसन्तप्तो
निराशो जीवितेऽभवत्॥
Hearing
those words from Yudhishthira,  the
warrior Drona, afflicted by the death of his son, did not wish to live.
                ततो भीमो दृढक्रोधो
द्रोणं वचनमब्रवीत्।
                ’यदि नाम न युध्येरञ्शिक्षिता
ब्रह्मबन्धवः।
                 स्वकर्मभिरसंतुष्टा
न स्म क्षत्रं क्षयं व्रजेत्॥
                 अहिंसां सर्वभूतेषु
धर्मं ज्यायस्तरं विदुः।
                 तस्य च ब्राह्मणो
मूलं भवांश्च ब्रह्मवित्तमः
                 बहून्हत्वा विकर्मस्थो
न व्यपत्रपसे कथम्’॥
Then
Bhima, violently angry, said to Drona: “If well trained, fallen Brahmins, not
content with their own calling, would not take the fighting, kshatriyas would
not perish.  (The wise) consider (the
virtue) of non-injury towards all beings the greatest Dharma; and of it, the
Brahmin is the foundation; and you are the greatest among those who have known
the Brahman; having killed many, following what is another’s prescribed
vocation, how is it you are not ashamed?”
             एवमुक्तस्ततो द्रोणः संन्यासाय
स वै द्विजः।
             उत्सृज्य च रणे शस्त्रं
रथोपस्थे निविश्य च।
             अभयं सर्वभूतानां प्रददौ
योगमीयिवान् ॥
Then,
the Brahmin, Drona, who was addressed in this manner, threw away all arms, sat
in the centre of his chariot for laying down his body, vowed security to all
beings and entered on Yoga.
             स्मरित्वा देवेदेवेशमक्षरं परमं प्रभुम्
             दिवमाक्रामदाचार्यस्साक्षात्सद्भिर्दुराक्रमाम्॥
Thinking
of the imperishable supreme Lord, the lord of the god of gods, the preceptor
(of the kauravas and the Pandavas), Drona, visibly reached heaven hard to be
attained even by the good.
              आकर्णपलितश्श्यामो वयसाऽशीतिपञ्चकः
              रणे पर्यचरद्द्रोणो  वृद्धः षोडशवर्षवत्॥
The
swarthy Drona, completely white-haired, eighty-five years of age, that                  old
man had moved about in the battle like a youth of sixteen.
          ततः प्रत्यवहारोऽभूत्पाण्डवानां
(विशांपते)।
          कौरवाणां च दीनानां द्रोणे
युधि निपातिते॥
When
Drona had been killed in the battle, the Pandavas and the dejected Kauravas
withdrew (from the field).
                     ॥इति द्रोणपर्व
समाप्तम्॥
                THUS ENDS THE DRONA PARVA

Sri P R Ramamurthy Ji was the author of this website. When he started this website in 2009, he was in his eighties. He was able to publish such a great number of posts in limited time of 4 years. We appreciate his enthusiasm for Sanskrit Literature. Authors story in his own words : http://ramamurthypr1931.blogspot.com/

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