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द्रोणवधपर्वन् (droNavadhaparvan)

 
Mahabharata
English
[Droṇavadhaparvan]
(“the section including the slaughter of Droṇa, ” the 77th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.
cf. Droṇavadha). § 601: CONTINUATION OF THE NIGHT AFTER THE FOURTEENTH DAY: According to the words of Vyāsa, Yudhishṭhira refrained from himself seeking to slay Karṇa, but was filled with grief and anger because Karṇa had slain Ghaṭotkaca. Beholding the Kurus held in check by Bhīma, he told Dhṛshṭadyumna, etc. (), to attack Droṇa, who received them
Duryodhana, etc., came to Droṇa's rescue
a fierce battle ensued between the two hosts
both armies became sorely afflicted with fatigue and blind with sleep. Arjuna granted permission to the warriors to sleep. D., Ṛ., and the soldiers applauded Arjuna
the Kurus asked Karṇa and Duryodhana to abstain from the fight
all the combatants laid themselves down on the field to sleep (description)
the Kaurava troops blessed Arjuna for his act of kindness. When the moon rose, both hosts, rising from sleep, again prepared for battle (VII, 184). Duryodhana taxed Droṇa wrathfully for his kindness to the Pāṇḍavas ()
Droṇa in wrath promised to slay all the Pāñcālas, and described the measure of Arjuna's might and prowess (). Duryodhana vowed that he, etc. (), that very day would slay Arjuna, dividing the Bharata host into two divisions. Droṇa ridiculed Duryodhana (), saying that it was only right that Duryodhana or Śakuni, who were the root of the hostility, should proceed against Arjuna, instead of causing all the unoffending Kshatriyas to be slain, and that he should accomplish his boasting vow before Dhṛtarāshṭra, and that he and Karṇa and Duḥśāsana would slay the Pāṇḍavas
moreover, he had done all in life that one should do. The army then was divided into two bodies, and the battle commenced (VII, 185).--§ 602: THE FIFTEENTH DAY: When three-quarters of that night had worn away, the battle once more commenced. At sunrise both hosts, alighting from their chariots, etc., uttered the prayers of the twilight. After the Kuru army had been divided into two bodies, Droṇa, with Duryodhana before him, proceeded against the Somakas, the Pāṇḍavas, and the Pāñcālas. Urged by Kṛshṇa, Arjuna moved to the left of Droṇa and Karṇa. Bhīma urged Arjuna to put forth all his vigour. Arjuna & Droṇa & Karṇa, etc. () (description). Droṇa moved away towards the north
the Pāṇḍava troops began to tremble
the Pāñcālas & Droṇa
Drupada and Virāṭa + the three grandsons of Drupada + the Cedis & Droṇa, who slew the three grandsons of Drupada, vanquished the Cedis, etc. (), and slew Drupada and Virāṭa. Dhṛshṭadyumna swore to slay Droṇa that very day
Drupada with his division (from one side) + Arjuna (from another side) & Droṇa + Duryodhaṇa, etc. ()
Bhīma urged Dhṛshṭadyumna, and they both attacked Droṇa's division (description)
soon the morning sun arose (VII, 186). The warriors adored the Sun, as he rose, and the battle once more commenced (description)
neither Karṇa, etc. (), could be seen for dust. Duryodhana, etc. (), engaged in battle with four of the Pāṇḍava warriors: Duryodhana + his brothers & Nakula and Sahadeva
Karṇa & Bhīma
Droṇa & Arjuna
Nakula was worsted by Duryodhana (VII, 187)
Sahadeva slew Duḥśāsana's driver
Duḥśāsana was worsted by Sahadeva
Bhīma jumped into the chariot of Nakula
Droṇa invoked the Aindra, etc. (), weapons
D., G., Ṛ., Si., Aps., Y., and Rā. applauded Droṇa and Arjuna, saying that “this is no human, etc. (), but a high Brāhma encounter”
both employed the Brāhma weapon
the engagement became general (VII, 188). Duḥśāsana & Dhṛshṭadyumna, who vanquished him and proceeded against Droṇa. Kṛtavarman + three of his brothers & Dhṛshṭadyumna + Nakula and Sahadeva, who checked them (enumeration of unfair weapons that were not used)
Dhṛshṭadyumna proceeded towards Droṇa. Dhṛshṭadyumna + Sātyaki & Droṇa + Duryodhana (who grieved on account of his former friendship with Sātyaki)
Duryodhana was worsted by Sātyaki
Karṇa rushed to the rescue of Duryodhana
Bhīma rushed towards Karṇa. Yudhishṭhira urged his warriors to rush to the rescue of Sātyaki, Bhīma, and the twins
Arjuna attacked the Kurus, and Droṇa attacked the Pāñcālas (VII, 189). Droṇa caused a great carnage among the Pāñcālas
the Pāñcālas and Sṛñjayas & Droṇa
the Pāṇḍavas feared, thinking that Arjuna would not fight with Droṇa. Kṛshṇa told Arjuna to abandon virtue and let some man tell Droṇa that Aśvatthāman had been slain in battle. Arjuna did not approve of it
others approved of it, but Yudhishṭhira with great difficulty. Bhīma slew with a mace an elephant named Aśvatthāman belonging to the Mālava chief Indravarman, and exclaimed before Droṇa: “Aśvatthāman has been slain.” Droṇa did not believe Bhīma, but attacked Dhṛshṭadyumna and slew the Pāñcālas (and Somakas) with the Brāhma weapon, and cut off the head of Vasudāna, and slew 500 Matsyas, etc. The Ṛ. Viśvāmitra, etc., etc. (), appeared in the welkin and reproved Droṇa for using the Brāhma weapon against persons not acquainted with it, and called upon Droṇa to lay aside his weapons and leave the earth soon. Droṇa asked Yudhishṭhira whether the report about Aśvatthāman's death was true
Kṛshṇa urged Yudhishṭhra to save his army by an untruth
Bhīma urged him to do the same
Yudhishṭhira distinctly said that Aśvatthāman was dead, adding indistinctly the word “elephant”
before this Yudhishṭhira's chariot had stayed at a height of four fingers' breadth from the surface of the earth
after this untruth his animals touched the earth. Droṇa became quite dejected, also after the words of the Ṛ., and beholding Dhṛshṭadyumna before him, could not fight as before (VII, 190). Dhṛshṭadyumna & Droṇa
the celestial weapons no longer appeared at Droṇa's bidding
his weapons, that had not been exhausted for four days and one night, now became exhausted on the third part of the fifth day. Droṇa took up another celestial bow which Aṅgiras had given him
a fierce encounter took place between Droṇa and Dhṛshṭadyumna
none else had arrows of that kind that Droṇa used in close fight except Kṛpa, etc. ()
Sātyaki rescued Dhṛshṭadyumna and was applauded by Kṛshṇa and Arjuna, and the Si., etc. (VII, 191). Duryodhana, Karṇa, and Kṛpa + Dhṛtarāshṭra's sons & Sātyaki + Yudhishṭhira, etc. ()
Yudhishṭhira urged his troops against Droṇa (in order to aid Dhṛshṭadyumna), who again used the Brāhma weapon
Bhīma took up Dhṛshṭadyumna on his own chariot, and urged him to slay Droṇa quickly
both Dhṛshṭadyumna and Droṇa invoked the Brāhma weapon, etc.: Dhṛshṭadyumna began to slay the Vaśātis, etc. ()
Bhīma again reminded Droṇa of Aśvatthāman's death, calling upon Karṇa, Kṛpa, and Duryodhana to exert carefully in battle. Droṇa laid his weapons aside, devoted himself to yoga, and proceeded to heaven (Brahmaloka) in the company of the foremost of Ṛ., in a blaze of light, that only Sañjaya, etc. (), saw
Dhṛshṭadyumna cut off Droṇa's head--though forbidden by Arjuna and blamed by everybody--and threw it down amongst the Kurus, who ran away in all directions, except Aśvatthāman. Sañjaya, through the grace of Vyāsa, beheld Droṇa's proceeding after he had ascended the sky. The Kurus, the Pāṇḍavas, and the Sṛñjayas all became dejected and ran away
Bhīmasena and Dhṛshṭadyumna embraced each other, Bhīmasena expecting the slaughter of Karṇa and Duryodhana (VII, 192).