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 with one hand and now
with another shot an arrowy shower. And beholding that shower resembling
a flight of locusts, the spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming,
'Excellent! Excellent!' And so ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that
the very air was unable to penetrate the thick array.
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