, both invincible, both well-trained,
both possessed of great energy and great strength, engaged with each
other, that mighty host of the Bharatas began to tremble frequently. And
that mighty car-warrior Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled
with joy upon reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor.
And that slayer of hostile heroes, the mighty armed son of Kunti, then
addressed Drona in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having completed
our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging our wrongs. Even
invincible in battle, it doth not behove thee to be angry with us. O
sinless one, I will not strike thee unless thou strikest me first. Even
this is my intention. It behoveth thee to act as thou choosest.' Thus
addressed Drona discharged at him more than twenty arrows. But the
light-handed Partha cut them off before they could reach him. And at
this, the mighty Drona, displaying his lightness of hand in the use of
weapons, covered Partha's car with a thousand arrows. And desirous of
angering, Partha, that hero of immeasurable soul, then covered his
steeds of silvery whiteness with arrows whetted on stone and winged with
the feathers of the _Kanka_ bird. And when the battle between Drona and
Kiritin thus commenced, both of them discharging in the encounter arrows
of blazing splendour, both well-known for their achievements, both equal
to the wind itself in speed, both conversant with celestial weapons, and
both endued with mighty energy, began shooting clouds of arrows to
bewilder the royal Kshatriyas. And all the warriors that were assembled
there were filled with wonder at sight of all this. And they all admired
Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows exclaiming,--_Well done! Well
done_! Indeed, _who else save Phalguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona
in battle? Surely the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna
fighteth with even his own preceptor_!--And it was thus that they who
stood on the field of battle said unto one another. And inflamed with
fire, those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each
incapable of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy
showers. And Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and
unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced Phalguna
with his arrows. And discharging at Arjuna's car innumerable whetted
arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he entirely shrouded the light of
the sun. And that great car-warrior of mighty