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84.YUDHISHTHIRA'S MISGIVINGS
WHEN the Pandavas saw Duryodhana
proceeding in the direction of Arjuna, they
attacked the Kaurava army in force so as
to hold Drona and prevent him from going
to Jayadratha's rescue.
So, Dhrishtadyumna led his forces
repeatedly against Drona. As a result of
all this, the Kaurava army had to fight on
three fronts, and was greatly weakened.
Driving his chariot right against Drona's,
Dhrishtadyumna attacked him violently.
Drona's chestnut horses and the Panchala's
dove-colored ones were entangled with
one another and presented a picturesque
sight like the clouds at sunset.
Dhrishtadyumna threw away his bow and,
sword and shield in hand, he sprang upon
Drona's chariot. Now standing on the
shafts of the vehicle, now on the horses
and now on the yoke, he attacked Drona
bewilderingly, all the while seeming to
scorch him with baleful and bloodshot
eyes.
Long did this fight go on. Drona pulled
his bow in great wrath and sent a shaft,
which would have drunk the Panchala's
life but for the unexpected intervention of
Satyaki who sent an arrow and diverted
the acharya's shaft.
Drona then turned and attacked Satyaki,
which enabled the Panchala warriors to
take Dhrishtadyumna away. Drona,
hissing like a black cobra, his eyes red
with anger, advanced on Satyaki who was
among the front rank warriors on the
Pandava side and who, when he saw
Drona desiring battle, went forward to
accept the challenge.
"Here is the man who, giving up his
vocation as a brahmana has taken up the
profession of fighting and is causing
distress to the Pandavas," Satyaki said to
his charioteer. "This man is the principal
cause of Duryodhana's arrogance. This
man fancies himself a very great soldier
and is ever bursting with conceit. I must
teach him a lesson. Take the chariot up
quickly."
Satyaki's charioteer accordingly lashed the
silver-white horses and took the car at a
great pace. Satyaki and Drona shot shafts
at one another so quick that they covered
the sun, and the battlefield was in
darkness for a while. The steel shafts
swished glimmering like newly-sloughed
snakes rushing about.
The chariot hoods and the flagstaffs on
both sides were battered down. Drona as
well as Satyaki were bleeding profusely.
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