Lakshmanrao Upadhyayula
Seeing Arjuna pierce the Kaurava formations with irresistible force, Duryodhana approached Dronacharya with a heart consumed by anxiety and suspicion. In a voice sharpened by fear, he lamented that Arjuna had crossed the impregnable barrier of his preceptor with astonishing ease, leaving the Kaurava army in utter confusion. Bitterly, he accused Drona of turning a blind eye towards Arjuna’s advance and declared that the teacher’s heart had always leaned towards the Pandavas. He likened Drona’s conduct to that of a serpent hissing like a harmless frog, concealing its true nature until the decisive moment. The king declared that the mystery had at last become clear to him. It appeared, he said, that Drona had secretly bestowed a blessing upon their enemies. Jayadratha, trusting entirely in his protection, had stood fearlessly amidst the Kaurava ranks, while the preceptor now seemed prepared to abandon him to certain death, like a dagger hidden beneath honeyed words. The more Duryodhana reflected, the stronger his suspicion became.
Sanjaya narrated that, despite his wounded pride and mounting anger, Duryodhana restrained himself, for the safety of Jayadratha depended upon Drona alone. Softening his tone, he pleaded with his teacher. “Do not be offended by my words,” he said. “They spring not from disrespect but from grief and concern. Those guarding Jayadratha have lost heart after witnessing Arjuna’s fearless penetration into our ranks. Their faces have turned pale, and they look towards you as their only refuge. Save Jayadratha from the jaws of death.”
Dronacharya replied with serene dignity. “Suyodhana,” he said, “I bear no anger towards you, nor does Ashwatthama. Listen carefully to my words. When Krishna guides the celestial horses, they fly with the speed of the wind itself, and Arjuna’s arrows shatter every obstacle before him. In such circumstances, who possesses the strength to halt Dhananjaya’s advance? Yet, for your welfare, I offer this counsel. If our entire army abandons its positions to pursue Arjuna, the strength of the Pandavas will only increase. Should our formations collapse into disorder, Jayadratha cannot be saved. Moreover, before the assembled monarchs I solemnly vowed to capture Dharmaraja alive. My pledge cannot be allowed to fail. Age has weakened my limbs, and I cannot move with the swiftness of youth. You and Arjuna are equals in age and vigour. It was you who chose enmity with him without a moment’s hesitation. Therefore, gather your courage, confront him with your full strength, and hasten without delay.”
Duryodhana bowed his head and answered with humility. “Master, Arjuna has already overcome both you and Kritavarma. He has vowed to defeat every king who stands before him. Not I alone—even Indra himself, accompanied by the celestial hosts, would find it impossible to restrain such a warrior. Yet, in whatever manner lies within my power, I shall obey your command.”
Pleased by his resolve, Dronacharya smiled. “You have spoken the truth,” he declared. “Arjuna is indeed unmatched in prowess. Yet today I shall bestow upon you a protection beyond imagination.” He brought forth a resplendent golden armour sanctified by sacred mantras and celestial grace. This divine armour had passed through a glorious lineage: Brahma had first granted it to Indra for the protection of the gods; Indra entrusted it to Angirasa; Angirasa bestowed it upon Brihaspati; Brihaspati passed it to Agnivesya; and from Agnivesya it had come into Drona’s possession. With solemn Vedic invocations, the preceptor adorned Duryodhana with the sacred armour and blessed him for victory.
Filled with renewed confidence, Duryodhana mounted his magnificently equipped chariot. Surrounded by the fourfold divisions of the Kaurava army, he advanced amidst the deafening echoes of conches, trumpets, kettle drums, tabors, cymbals, and war horns. Their mighty resonance rolled across the heavens like the roar of gathering thunder. Pressing swiftly through the battlefield, he attacked Arjuna from the rear. The Pandava warriors answered the challenge with equal enthusiasm, and the conflict flared with fresh intensity.
Sanjaya addressed Dhritarashtra. “O King, your warriors stood firm in their ranks, and the battlefield resembled the majestic confluence of the Ganga and the Yamuna, where two mighty currents met in irresistible force. Never before, nor since, have I witnessed a battle of such grandeur. The blazing sun stood high in the heavens, while Dronacharya and Dhrishtadyumna fought with such blazing brilliance that it seemed as though two additional suns had descended upon the earth.”
Their fierce exchange transformed the battlefield into a sea of destruction. Dhrishtadyumna’s relentless showers of arrows drew torrents of blood that flowed like crimson streams beneath a monsoon sky. The Kaurava formations broke into three divisions under the pressure of the assault. Then Drona, blazing like a sacrificial fire, descended upon the Panchala and Kekaya forces with terrible fury. His irresistible advance restored the confidence of the Kuru warriors, who rallied around their commander with renewed determination.
Meanwhile, Dharmaraja advanced with his brothers to confront the Kaurava host. Vivimsati, Vikarna, and Chitrasena engaged Bhimasena. Bahlika confronted the Upapandavas. Satyaki crossed weapons with Dussasana. Sakuni challenged Nakula and Sahadeva. Somadatta opposed Sikhandi, while Salya and the warriors guarding Jayadratha pressed fiercely against Dharmaraja. Across the vast battlefield, chariots wheeled, cavalry charged, elephants thundered, and infantry surged in every direction as each commander sought to distract and overwhelm his adversary.
The combat displayed astonishing mastery. Precision, speed, strategy, and graceful manoeuvres unfolded with a brilliance never before witnessed. Blood streamed from the wounded heroes until their bodies glowed crimson like forests of fully blossomed palasa trees. Dussasana struck Satyaki with tremendous force, causing the Yadava hero to lose consciousness for a brief moment. Recovering almost instantly, Satyaki rose with the fury of a wounded lion and resumed the battle with undiminished vigour. Terrified by the combined prowess of Nakula and Sahadeva, Sakuni abandoned his position and sought refuge behind Dronacharya.
Sanjaya continued, “O Dhritarashtra, your army gradually contracted into scattered clusters as uncertainty spread among the ranks. At that critical hour, Dronacharya launched a devastating assault upon Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna, and Dharmaraja. His arrows descended so densely that they spread over the battlefield like an unbroken carpet.”
The struggle reached unimaginable ferocity. Elephants, horses, and warriors fell in countless numbers, forming dreadful heaps of blood and broken flesh. Splintered chariots lay strewn across the plain like shattered hills of timber. Even the celestial hosts watching from the heavens gazed upon the scene with awe, fear, and astonishment as events unfolded with breathtaking swiftness.
Amidst the raging conflict, Dronacharya, blazing with supreme martial pride, drove past Dhrishtadyumna and wrought terrible havoc among the Pandava forces. Refusing to yield, Dhrishtadyumna boldly drove his chariot against his preceptor. Leaping forward with his sword, he struck at Drona’s charioteer and horses. With lightning speed, Drona shattered the sword, slew the charioteer and steeds, cut down Dhrishtadyumna’s banner, and hurled a mighty spear towards him. Displaying remarkable skill, Dhrishtadyumna split the speeding missile in mid-air before it could reach its mark.
At that critical moment, Satyaki swiftly arrived and lifted Dhrishtadyumna onto his own chariot, rescuing him as a swift stag is snatched away from the jaws of a ravenous lion. Sanjaya said to Dhritarashtra, “Just as a fearless hunter tears away the prey from the mouth of a tiger, so did Satyaki rescue Dhrishtadyumna from the deadly grasp of Dronacharya. Enraged by the escape of his destined victim, the great preceptor turned his blazing wrath towards Satyaki.” Perceiving the king’s eager curiosity, Sanjaya continued his majestic narration of that unforgettable day of war.
