hat best of
preceptors. And displaying before the spectators various weapons, that
hero of terrible prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows.
And beholding that tiger among men, Arjuna, endued with fierce energy
and intent upon striking him, that foremost of warriors and best of
preceptors (from affection) began to fight with him playfully by means
of smooth and straight arrows. And Bharadwaja's son fought on with
Phalguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the
former. And the fight that took place between those enraged lions among
men, incapable of bearing each other, was like unto encounter between
the gods and the _Danavas_. And the son of Pandu repeatedly baffled with
his own, the _Aindra_, the _Vayavya_, and the _Agneya_ weapons that were
shot by Drona. And discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by
their arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse
of shade. And then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies of
hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. O king, elephants,
cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like _Kinsuka_ trees crowned
with flowers. And in that encounter between Drona and Arjuna, beholding
the field covered with arms decked with bangles, and gorgeously-attired
car-warriors, and coats of mail variegated with gold, and with banners
lying scattered all about, and with warriors slain by means of Partha's
arrows, the Kuru host became panic-stricken. And shaking their bows
capable of bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and
weaken each other with their shafts. And, O bull of the Bharata race,
the encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was dreadful
in the extreme and resembled that between Vali and Vasava. And staking
their very lives, they began to pierce each other straight arrows shot
from their fully-stretched bow-strings. And a voice was heard in the sky
applauding Drona, and saying, 'Difficult is the feat performed by Drona,
inasmuch as he fighteth with Arjuna,--that grinder of foes, that warrior
endued with mighty energy, of firm grasp, and invincible in
battle,--that conqueror of both celestials and _Daityas_, that foremost
of all car-warriors.' And beholding Partha's infallibility, training,
fleetness of hand, and the range also of Arjuna's, arrows, Drona became
amazed. And, O bull of the Bharata race, lifting up his excellent bow,
the _Gandiva_, the unforbearing Partha drew it now wi