and broad-headed arrows, those ten lances (of Virata), and with certain other shafts that dart (of Drupada) decked with gold and stones of lapis lazuli.  Then that grinder of foes, viz., the son of Bharadwaja, with a couple of well-tempered and broad-headed shafts, despatched both Drupada and Virata unto the abode of Yama.  Upon the fall of Virata and Drupada, and the slaughter of the Kshatriyas, the Chedis, the Matsyas, and the Panchalas, and upon the fall of those three heroes, viz., the three grandsons of Drupada, the high-souled Dhrishtadyumna, beholding those feats of Drona, became filled with rage and grief, and swore in the midst of all the ear-warriors, saying, ’Let me lose merits of all my religious acts as also my Kshatriya and Brahma energy, if Drona escape me today with life, or if he succeed in vanquishing me!’[248] Having taken that oath in the midst of all the bowmen, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the prince of the Panchalas, supported by his own division, advanced against Drona.  The Panchalas then began to strike Drona from one side, and Arjuna from another.  Duryodhana, and Karna, and Sakuni, the son of Suvala, and the uterine brothers of Duryodhana (stationed), according to their precedence, began to protect Drona in battle.  Drona being thus protected in battle by those illustrious warriors, the Panchalas though struggling vigorously, could not even gaze at him.  Then Bhimasena, O sire, became highly angry with Dhrishtadyumna and, O bull among men, that son of Pandu pierced Dhrishtadyumna with these fierce words:[249]

“Bhimasena said, ’What man is there who being regarded as a Kshatriya and who taking his birth in the race of Drupada and who being the foremost of all persons possessing a knowledge of weapons, would only thus look at his foe stationed before him?  What man having seen his sire and son slain, and especially, having sworn such an oath in the midst of the king, would thus be indifferent to his enemy?  Yonder stands Drona like a fire swelling with its own energy.  Indeed, with bow and arrows constituting his fuel, he is consuming with his energy all the Kshatriyas.  Soon will he annihilate the Pandava army.  Stand ye (as spectators) and behold my feat.  Against Drona himself will I proceed.  Having said these words, Vrikodara, filled with rage, penetrated into Drona’s array, began to afflict and rout that host.  Then the Panchalaprince Dhrishtadyumna, also, penetrating into that large host, engaged himself with Drona in battle.  The battle became furious.  Such a fierce encounter we had never seen or heard of before, O king, as that which now took place at sunrise of that day.  The cars, O sire, were seen to be entangled with one another.  The bodies of embodied creatures deprived of lives were scattered all over the field.  Some, while proceeding towards another part of the field, were, on the way, assailed by others.  Some, while flying away, were struck on their backs, and others on their sides.  That general engagement continued to rage fiercely.  Soon, however, the morning sun rose.’