Uttara Gograhana: The cattle seize - 3

Having disorganised the hostile host by force and having recovered the kine, that foremost of bowmen, desirous of fighting again, proceeded towards Duryodhana. Beholding the kine running wild towards the city of the Matsyas, the foremost warriors of the Kurus regarded Kiriti to have already achieved success. All of a sudden they fell upon Arjuna who was advancing towards Duryodhana. Beholding their countless divisions firmly arrayed in order of battle with countless banners waving over them, that slayer of foes, addressing the son of the king of the Matsyas, said,

“Urge on, to the best of their speed by this road, these white steeds decked with golden bridles. Strive well, for I would approach this crowd of Kuru lions. Like an elephant desiring an encounter with another, the Suta's son of wicked soul eagerly desires a battle with me. Take me, O prince, to him who has grown so proud under the patronage of Duryodhana.”

Thus addressed, the son of Virata, by means of those large steeds endued with the speed of the wind and furnished with golden armour, broke that array of cars and took the Pandava into the midst of the battle-field. Seeing this those mighty car-warriors, Chitrasena and Sangramajit and Shatrusaha and Jaya, desirous of aiding Karna, rushed with arrows and long shafts, towards the advancing hero of Bharata's race. Then that foremost of men, inflamed with wrath, began to consume by means of fiery arrows shot from his bow, that array of cars belonging to those bulls among the Kurus, like a tremendous conflagration consuming a forest.

Then, when the battle began to rage furiously, the Kuru hero, Vikarna, mounted on his car, approached that foremost of car-warriors, Partha, the younger brother of Bhima, showering upon him terrible shafts thick and long. Then cutting Vikarna's bow furnished with a tough string and horns overlaid with gold, Arjuna cut off his flagstaff. Vikarna, beholding his flagstaff cut off, speedily took to flight.

After Vikarna's flight, Shatruntapa, unable to repress his ire, began to afflict Partha, that obstructer of foes and achiever of super-human feats, by means of a perfect shower of arrows. Drowned, as it were, in the midst of the Kuru-array, Arjuna, pierced by that mighty car-warrior, king Shatruntapa, pierced the latter in return with five and then slew his car-driver with ten shafts, and pierced by that bull of the Bharata race with an arrow capable of cleaving the thickest coat of mail, Shatruntapa fell dead on the field of battle, like a tree from a mountain-top torn up by the wind.

The battle with Karna

Those brave bulls among men, mangled in battle by that braver bull among men, began to waver and tremble like mighty forests shaken by the violence of the wind that blows at the time of the universal dissolution. Struck in battle by Partha, the son of Vasava, those well-dressed heroes among men, those givers of wealth endued with the energy of Vasava—defeated and deprived of life, began to measure their lengths on the ground, like full-grown Himalayan elephants clad in mails of black steel decked with gold. Like unto a raging fire consuming a forest at the close of summer, that foremost of men, wielding the Gandiva, ranged the field in all directions, slaying his foes in battle thus. As the wind ranges at will, scattering masses of clouds and fallen leaves in the season of spring, so did that foremost of car-warriors – Kiriti - ranged in that battle, scattering all his foes before him. Soon slaying the red steeds yoked unto the car of Sangramajit, the brother of Vikartana's son, that hero decked in diadem and endued with great vigour, then cut off his antagonist's head by a crescent-shaped arrow. When his brother was slain, Vikartana's son of the Suta caste, mustering all his prowess, rushed at Arjuna, like a huge elephant with out-stretched tusks, or like a tiger at a mighty bull. The son of Vikartana quickly pierced the son of Pandu with twelve shafts and all his steeds also in every part of their bodies and Virata's son too in his hand. Rushing impetuously against Vikartana's son who was suddenly advancing against him, Kiriti attacked him fiercely like Garuda of variegated plumage swooping down upon a snake. Both of them were foremost of bowmen, and both were endued with great strength, and both were capable of slaying foes. Seeing that an encounter was imminent between them, the Kauravas, anxious to witness it, stood aloof as lookers on.

Beholding the offender Karna, the son of Pandu, excited to fury, and glad also at having him, soon made him, his horses, his car, and car-driver invisible by means of a frightful shower of countless arrows. The warriors of the Bharatas headed by Bhishma, with their horses, elephants, and cars, pierced by Kiriti and rendered invisible by means of his shafts, their ranks also scattered and broken, began to wail aloud in grief. The illustrious and heroic Karna, however, counteracting with numberless arrows of his own those shafts by Arjuna's hand, soon burst forth in view with bow and arrows like a blazing fire. Then there arose the sound of loud clapping of hands, with the blare of conchs and trumpets and kettle-drums made by the Kurus while they applauded Vikartana's son who filled the atmosphere with the sound of his bow-string flapping against his fence. Beholding Kiriti filling the air with the twang of Gandiva, and the upraised tail of the monkey that constituted his flag and that terrible creature yelling furiously from the top of his flagstaff, Karna sent forth a loud roar. Afflicting by means of his shafts, Vikartana's son along with his steeds, car and car-driver, Kiriti impetuously poured an arrowy shower on him, casting his eyes on the grandsire and Drona and Kripa. Vikartana's son also poured upon Partha a heavy shower of arrows like a rain-charged cloud. The diadem-decked Arjuna also covered Karna with a thick down-pour of keen-edged shafts. The two heroes stationed on their cars, creating clouds of keen-edged arrows in a combat carried on by means of countless shafts and weapons, appeared to the spectators like the sun and the moon covered by clouds, and the light-handed Karna, unable to bear the sight of the foe, pierced the four horses of the diadem-decked hero with whetted arrows, and then struck his car-driver with three shafts, and his flagstaff also with three.

Thus struck, that grinder of all adversaries in battle, that bull of the Kuru race, Jishnu wielding the Gandiva, like a lion awaked from slumber, furiously attacked Karna by means of straight-going arrows. Afflicted by the arrowy shower (of Karna), that illustrious achiever of super-human deeds soon displayed a thick shower of arrows in return. He covered Karna's car with countless shafts like the sun covering the different worlds with rays. Like a lion attacked by an elephant, Arjuna, taking some keen crescent-shaped arrows from out of his quiver and drawing his bow to his ear, pierced the Suta's son on every part of his body. That grinder of foes pierced Karna's arms and thighs and head and forehead and neck and other principal parts of his body with whetted shafts endued with the impetuosity of the thunderbolt and shot from the Gandiva in battle. Mangled and afflicted by the arrows shot by Partha the son of Pandu, Vikartana's son, quitted the van of battle, and quickly took to flight, like one elephant vanquished by another.

Arjuna’s war on the Kaurava army

After the son of Radha had fled from the field, other warriors headed by Duryodhana, one after another, fell upon the son of Pandu with their respective divisions. Like the shore withstanding the fury of the surging sea, that warrior withstood the rage of that countless host rushing towards him, arrayed in order of battle and showering clouds of arrows. That foremost of car-warriors, Kunti's son Bibhatsu of white steeds, rushed towards the foe, discharging celestial weapons all the while. Partha soon covered all the points of the horizon with countless arrows shot from the Gandiva, like the sun covering the whole earth with his rays. Amongst those that fought on cars and horses and elephants, and amongst the mail-clad foot-soldiers, there was none that had on his body a space of even two finger's breadth unwounded with sharp arrows. For his dexterity in applying celestial weapons, and for the training of the steeds and the skill of Uttara, and for the coursing of his weapons, and his prowess and light-handedness, people began to regard Arjuna as the fire that blazes forth during the time of the universal dissolution for consuming all created things. None amongst the foe could cast his eyes on Arjuna who shone like a blazing fire of great effulgence. Mangled by the arrows of Arjuna, the hostile ranks looked like newly-risen clouds on the breast of a hill reflecting the solar rays, or like groves of Ashoka trees resplendent with clusters of flowers. Indeed, afflicted by the arrows of Partha, the soldiers looked like these, or like a beautiful garland whose flowers gradually wither and drop away: the all-pervading wind bore on its wings in the sky the torn flags and umbrellas of the hostile host. Frightened at the havoc amongst their own ranks, the steeds fled in all directions, freed from their yokes by means of Partha's arrows and dragging after them broken portions of cars and elephants, struck on their ears and ribs and tusks and nether lips and other delicate parts of the body, began to drop down on the battle-field. The earth, bestrewn in a short time with the corpses of elephants belonging to the Kauravas, looked like the sky overcast with masses of black clouds. As that fire of blazing flames at the end of the yuga consumes all perishable things of the world, both mobile and immobile, so did Partha, consumed all foes in battle. By the energy of his weapons and the twang of his bow, and the preter-natural yells of the creatures stationed on his flagstaff, and the terrible roar of the monkey, and by the blast of his conch, that mighty grinder of foes, Bibhatsu, struck terror into the hearts of all the troops of Duryodhana. The strength of every hostile warrior seemed, as it were, to be levelled to the dust at the very sight of Arjuna.

Unwilling to commit the daring act of sin of slaying them that were defenceless, Arjuna suddenly fell back and attacked the army from behind by means of clouds of keen-edged arrows proceeding towards their aims like hawks let off by fowlers. He soon covered the entire welkin with clusters of blood-drinking arrows. As the (infinite) rays of the powerful sun, entering a small vessel, are contracted within it for want of space, so the countless shafts of Arjuna could not find space for their expansion even within the vast welkin. Foes were able to behold Arjuna's car, when near, only once, for immediately after, they were with their horses, sent to the other world. As his arrows unobstructed by the bodies of foes always passed through them, so his car, unimpeded by hostile ranks, always passed through the latter. Indeed, he began to toss about and agitate the hostile troops with great violence like the thousand-headed Vasuki sporting in the great ocean. As Kiriti incessantly shot his shafts, the noise of the bow-string, transcending every sound, was so loud that the like of it had never been heard before by created beings. The elephants crowding the field, their bodies pierced with (blazing) arrows with small intervals between looked like black clouds coruscated with solar rays. Ranging in all directions and shooting (arrows) right and left, Arjuna's bow was always to be seen drawn to a perfect circle. The arrows of the wielder of the Gandiva never fell upon anything except the aim, as the eye never dwells on anything that is not beautiful. As the track of a herd of elephants marching through the forest is made of itself, so was the track was made of itself for the car of Kiriti. Struck and mangled by Partha, the hostile warriors thought that,

“Verily, Indra himself, desirous of Partha's victory, accompanied by all the immortals is slaying us!”

And they also regarded Vijaya, who was making a terrible slaughter around, to be none else than Death himself who having assumed the form of Arjuna, was slaying all creatures. The troops of the Kurus, struck by Partha, were so mangled and shattered that the scene looked like the achievement of Partha himself and could be compared with nothing else save what was observable in Partha's combats. He severed the heads of foes, even as reapers cut off the tops of deciduous herbs. The Kurus all lost their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna.

Tossed and mangled by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's foes reddened the earth with purple secretions. The dust mixed with blood, uplifted by the wind, made the very rays of the sun redder still. Soon the sun-decked sky became so red that it looked very much like the evening. Indeed, the sun ceases to shed his rays as soon as he sets, but the son of Pandu ceased not to shoot his shafts. And that hero of inconceivable energy overwhelmed, by means of all celestial weapons, all the great bowmen of the enemy, although they were possessed of great prowess. Arjuna then shot three and seventy arrows of sharp points at Drona, and ten at Dussaha and eight at Drona's son, and twelve at Duhshasana, and three at Kripa, the son of Sharadvata. That slayer of foes pierced Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, with arrows, and king Duryodhana with a hundred. And, lastly, he pierced Karna in the ear with a bearded shaft.

When that great bowman Karna, skilled in all weapons, was thus pierced, and his horses and car and car-driver were all destroyed, the troops that supported him began to break. And beholding those soldiers break and give way the son of Virata desirous of knowing Partha's purpose, addressed him on the field of battle, and said,

“O Partha, standing on this beautiful car, with myself as charioteer, towards which division shall I go? For, commanded by you, I would soon take you there.”

Arjuna replied,

“O Uttara, yonder auspicious warrior whom you see cased in coat of tiger-skin and stationed on his car furnished with a blue-flag and drawn by red steeds, is Kripa. There is to be seen the van of Kripa's division. Take me there. I shall show that great bowman my swift-handedness in archery. And that warrior whose flag bears the device of an elegant water-pot worked in gold, is the preceptor Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons. He is always an object of regard with me, as also with all bearers of arms. Do you, therefore, circumambulate that great hero cheerfully. Let us bend our heads there, for that is the eternal virtue. If Drona strikes my body first, then I shall strike him, for then he will not be able to resent it. There, close to Drona, that warrior whose flag bears the device of a bow, is the preceptor's son, the great car-warrior Ashwatthama, who is always an object of regard with me as also with every bearer of arms. Do you, therefore, stop again and again, while you come by his car. There, that warrior who stays on his car, cased in golden mail and surrounded by a third part of the army consisting of the most efficient troops, and whose flag bears the device of an elephant in a ground of gold, is the illustrious king Duryodhana, the son of Dhritarashtra. O hero, take before him this your car that is capable of grinding hostile cars. This king is difficult of being vanquished in battle and is capable of grinding all foes. He is regarded as the first of all Drona's disciples in lightness of hand. I shall, in battle, show him my superior swiftness in archery. There, that warrior whose flag bears the device of a stout chord for binding elephants, is Karna, the son of Vikartana, already known to you. When you come before that wicked son of Radha, be very careful, for he always challenges me to an encounter. That warrior whose flag is blue and bears the device of five stars with a sun (in the centre), and who endued with great energy stays on his car holding a huge bow in hand and wearing excellent fences, and over whose head is an umbrella of pure white, who stands at the head of a multitudinous array of cars with various flags and banners like the sun in advance of masses of black clouds, and whose mail of gold looks bright as the sun or the moon, and who with his helmet of gold strikes terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Shantanu and the grandsire of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by Duryodhana, he is very partial and well-affected towards that prince. Let him be approached last of all, for he may, even now, be an obstacle to me. While fighting with me, you carefully guide the steeds.”

Thus addressed by him, Virata's son guided Savyasachi's car with great alacrity towards the spot where Kripa stood anxious to fight.

And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus, looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a gentle wind. Close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers) stood the enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. There were also elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in beautiful armour, ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with iron crows and hooks.

Indra, Gods and other beings gather above to witness the War

Mounted on a beautiful car, Shakra came there accompanied by the celestials, - the Vishwas and Maruts. Crowded with gods, Yakshas, Gandharvas and Nagas, the firmament looked as resplendent as it does when bespangled with the planetary constellation in a cloudless night. The celestials came there, each on his own car, desirous of beholding the efficacy of their weapons in human warfare, and for witnessing also the fierce and mighty combat that would take place when Bhishma and Arjuna would meet. Embellished with gems of every kind and capable of going everywhere at the will of the rider, the heavenly car of the lord of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a hundred thousand pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of jewels and gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. There appeared on the scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head), and (many) Gandharvas and Rakshasas and Nagas and Pitris, together with the great Rishis. Seated on the car of the lord of the celestials, appeared the effulgent persons of king, Vasumanas and Valakshas and Supratarddana, and Ashtaka and Shibi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and Manu and Puru and Raghu and Bhanu and Krishashwa and Sagara and Nala. There shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of Agni and Isha and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and Vidhatri and Kubera and Yama, and Alambusha and Ugrasena and others, and of the Gandharva Tumburu. All the celestials and the Siddhas, and all the foremost of sages came there to behold that encounter between Arjuna and the Kurus. The sacred fragrance of celestial garlands filled the air like that of blossoming woods at the advent of spring. The red and reddish umbrellas and robes and garlands and chamaras of the gods, as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful.

The dust of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit up everything. Redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to soothe the combatants. The firmament seemed ablaze and exceedingly beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving cars of handsome and various make, all illumined with diverse sorts of jewels, and brought there by the foremost of the celestials. Surrounded by the celestials, and

Wearing a garland of lotuses and lilies the powerful wielder of the thunderbolt looked exceedingly beautiful on his car. The slayer of Bala, although he steadfastly gazed at his son on the field of battle, was not satiated with such gazing.

The battle with Kripa

Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order of battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata's son, said,

“Do proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen to bear the device of a golden altar.”

Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the son of Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of silvery hue decked in golden armour. Making them adopt, one after another, every kind of the swifter paces, he urged those fiery steeds resembling the moon in colour. Versed in horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the Kuru host, turned back those steeds endued with the speed of the wind. Skilled in guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes wheeling about, and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and sometimes turning to the left, began to be wilder the Kurus. And wheeling round, the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached the car of Kripa, and stood confronting him.

Then announcing his own name, Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called Devadatta, of loud blare. Blown on the field of battle by the mighty Jishnu, the blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a mountain. Seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred fragments when blown by Arjuna, the Kurus with all their warriors began to applaud it highly. Having reached the very heavens, that sound coming back was heard even like the crash of the thunderbolt hurled by Maghavat on the mountain breast. Thereupon that heroic and intrepid and mighty car-warrior, Sharadwat's son Kripa, endued with strength and prowess, waxing wroth at Arjuna, and unable to bear that sound and eager for fight, took up his own sea-begotten conch and blew it vehemently. Filling the three worlds with that sound, that foremost of car-warriors took up a large bow and twanged the bow-string powerfully. Those mighty car-warriors, equal unto two suns, standing opposed to each other, shone like two masses of autumnal clouds. Then Sharadwat's son quickly pierced Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, with ten swift and whetted arrows capable of entering into the very vitals. Pritha's son also, on his part, drawing that foremost of weapons, the Gandiva, celebrated over the world, shot innumerable iron-arrows, all capable of penetrating into the very core of the body. Thereupon Kripa, by means of whetted shafts, cut into hundreds and thousands of fragments, those blood-drinking arrows of Partha before they could come up. Then that mighty car-warrior, Partha also, in wrath displaying various manoeuvres, covered all sides with a shower of arrows. Covering the entire welkin with his shafts, that mighty warrior of immeasurable soul, the son of Pritha, enveloped Kripa with hundred of shafts. Sorely afflicted by those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire, Kripa waxed wroth and quickly afflicting the high-souled Partha of immeasurable prowess with ten thousand shafts, set up on the field of battle a loud roar. Then the heroic Arjuna quickly pierced the four steeds of his adversary with four fatal arrows shot from the Gandiva, sharp and straight, and furnished with golden wings. Pierced by means of those whetted arrows resembling flames of fire those steeds suddenly reared themselves, and in consequence Kripa reeled off his place.

Seeing Gautama thrown off his place, the slayer of hostile heroes, the descendant of the Kuru race, out of regard for his opponent's dignity, ceased to discharge his shafts at him. Then regaining his proper place, Gautama quickly pierced Savyasachi with ten arrows furnished with feathers of the Kanka bird. Then with a crescent-shaped arrow of keen edge, Partha cut off Kripa's bow and leathern fences. Soon Partha cut off Kripa's coat of mail also by means of arrows capable of penetrating the very vitals, but he did not wound his person. Divested of his coat of mail, his body resembled that of a serpent which has in season cast off its slough.

As soon as his bow had been cut off by Partha, Gautama took up another and stringed it in a trice. Strange to say, that bow of him was also cut off by Kunti's son, by means of straight shafts. In this way that slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Pandu, cut off other bows as soon as they were taken up, one after another, by Sharadwat's son. When all his bows were thus cut off, that mighty hero hurled, from his car, at Pandu's son, a javelin like unto the blazing thunderbolt. Thereupon, as the gold-decked javelin came whizzing through the air with the flash of a meteor, Arjuna cut it off by means of ten arrows. Beholding his dart thus cut off by the intelligent Arjuna, Kripa quickly took up another bow and almost simultaneously shot a number of crescent-shaped arrows. Partha, however, quickly cut them into fragments by means of ten keen-edged shafts, and endued with great energy, the son of Pritha then, inflamed with wrath on the field of battle, discharged three and ten arrows whetted on stone and resembling flames of fire. With one of these, he cut off the yoke of his adversary's car, and with four pierced his four steeds, and with the sixth he severed the head of his antagonist's car-driver from off his body. With three that mighty car-warrior pierced, in that encounter, the triple bamboo-pole of Kripa's car and with two, its wheels. With the twelfth arrow he cut off Kripa's flagstaff. With the thirteenth Falguni, who was like Indra himself as if smiling in derision, pierced Kripa in the breast. Then with his bow cut off, his car broken, his steeds slain, his car-driver killed, Kripa leapt down and taking up a mace quickly hurled it at Arjuna. But that heavy and polished mace hurled by Kripa was sent back along its course, struck by means of Arjuna's arrows. Then the warriors (of Kripa's division), desirous of rescuing wrathful son of Sharadwat encountered Partha from all sides and covered him with their arrows. Then the son of Virata, turning the steed to the left began to perform circuitous evolution called Yamaka and thus withstood all those warriors. Those illustrious bulls among men, taking Kripa with them who had been deprived of his car, led him away from the vicinity of Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti.

The battle with Drona

After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincible Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringed an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds. Beholding at no great distance from him the preceptor advancing on his golden car, Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors, addressing Uttara, said,

“Blessed be you, O friend, carry me before that warrior on whose high banner-top is seen a golden altar resembling a long flame of fire and decked with numerous flags placed around, and whose car is drawn by steeds that are red and large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained, of face pleasant and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and with faces of coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire to fight. Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of strength and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his prowess, resembling Ushanas himself in intelligence and Brihaspati in knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four Vedas and devoted to the practice of Brahmacharya virtues. O friend, the use of the celestial weapons together with the mysteries of their withdrawal and the entire-science of weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness, self-control, truth, abstention from injury, rectitude of conduct, these and countless other virtues always dwell in that regenerate one. I desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the field. Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me there, O Uttara.”

Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son urged his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's son. Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing Partha, the son of Pandu, that foremost of car-warriors, like an infuriate elephant rushing towards an infuriate compeer. The son of Bharadwaja then blew his conch whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. At that sound the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. Beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. Seeing on the field of battle those car-warriors, the preceptor Drona and his disciple Partha, both endued with prowess, 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.

That mighty car-warrior Partha, possessed of great prowess and filled with joy upon reaching Drona's car on his own, saluted the preceptor. 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 does not suit you to be angry with us. O sinless one, I will not strike you unless you strike me first. This is my intention. It befits you to act as you choose”

Thus addressed, Drona discharged at him more than twenty arrows. But the light-handed Partha cut them off before they could reach him. At this, the mighty Drona, displaying his lightness of hand in the use of weapons, covered Partha's car with a thousand arrows. 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. When the battle between Drona and Kiriti 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. All the warriors that were assembled there were filled with wonder at sight of all this. They all admired Drona who quickly shot clouds of arrows exclaiming,

“Well done! Well done! Indeed, who else save Falguna, is worthy of fighting with Drona in battle? Surely the duties of a Kshatriya are stern, for Arjuna fights with even his own preceptor!”

It was thus that they who stood on the field of battle said unto one another. Inflamed with fire, those mighty-armed heroes standing before other, and each incapable of overcoming the other, covered each other with arrowy showers. Bharadwaja's son, waxing wroth, drew his large and unconquerable bow plated on the back with gold, and pierced Falguna with his arrows. Discharging at Arjuna's car innumerable whetted arrows possessed of solar effulgence, he entirely shrouded the light of the sun. That great car-warrior of mighty arms, violently pierced Pritha's son with keen-edged shafts even as the clouds shower upon a mountain. Then taking up that foremost of bows, the Gandiva, destructive of foes and capable of withstanding the greatest strain, the impetuous son of Pandu cheerfully discharged countless shafts of various kinds adorned with gold, and that powerful warrior also baffled in a moment Drona's arrowy shower by means of those shafts shot from his own bow. At this the spectators wondered greatly.

The handsome Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, ranging on his car, displayed his weapons on all sides at the same time. The entire welkin covered with his arrows, became one wide expanse of shade. At this Drona become invisible like the sun enveloped in mist. Shrouded by those excellent arrows on all sides, Drona looked like a mountain on fire. Beholding his own car completely enveloped by the arrows of Pritha's son, Drona, that ornament of battle, bent his terrible and foremost of bows whose noise was as loud as that of the clouds. Drawing that first of weapons, which was like unto a circle of fire, he discharged a cloud of keen-edged shafts. Then there were heard on the field loud sounds like the splitting of bamboos set on fire. That warrior of immeasurable soul, shooting from his bow, arrows furnished with golden wings, covered all sides, shrouding the very light of the sun. Those arrows with knots well-peeled off, and furnished with golden wings, looked like flocks of birds in the sky. The arrows discharged by Drona from his bow, touching one another at the wings, appeared like one endless line in the sky.

Those heroes, thus discharging their arrows decked with gold, seemed to cover the sky with showers of meteors. Furnished with feathers of the Kanka bird, those arrows looked like rows of cranes ranging in the autumnal sky. The fierce and terrible encounter that took place between the illustrious Drona and Arjuna resembled that between Vritra and Vasava of old. And discharging arrows at each other from bows drawn at their fullest stretch, they resembled two elephants assailing each other with their tusks. Those wrathful warriors, those ornaments of battle, fighting strictly according to established usage, displayed in that conflict various celestial weapons in due order. Then that foremost of victorious men, Arjuna, by means of his keen shafts resisted the whetted arrows shot by that best of preceptors. Displaying before the spectators various weapons, that hero of terrible prowess covered the sky with various kinds of arrows. 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.

Bharadwaja's son fought on with Falguna, resisting with his own the celestial weapons shot by the former. 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. The son of Pandu repeatedly baffled with his own, the Aindra, the Vayavya, and the Agneya weapons that were shot by Drona. Discharging keen shafts, those mighty bowmen, by their arrowy showers completely covered the sky and made a wide expanse of shade. Then the arrows shot by Arjuna, falling on the bodies of hostile warriors, produced the crash of thunderbolt. Elephants, cars, and horses, bathed in blood, looked like Kimshuka trees crowned with flowers. 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. Shaking their bows capable of bearing much strain, those combatants began to shroud and weaken each other with their shafts. The encounter that took place between Drona and Kunti's son was dreadful in the extreme and resembled that between Bali and Vasava. Staking their very lives, they began to pierce each other straight arrows shot from their fully-stretched bow-strings. A voice was heard in the sky applauding Drona, and saying,

“Difficult is the feat performed by Drona, inasmuch as he fights 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. Lifting up his excellent bow, the Gandiva, the unforbearing Partha drew it now with one hand and now with another shot an arrowy shower. Beholding that shower resembling a flight of locusts, the spectators wondering applauded him exclaiming, “Excellent'! 'Excellent'!” So ceaselessly did he shoot his arrows that the very air was unable to penetrate the thick array. The spectators could not perceive any interval between the taking up of the arrows and letting them off. In that fierce encounter characterised by lightness of hand in the discharge of weapons, Partha began to shoot his arrows more quickly than before. Then all at once hundreds and thousands of straight arrows fell upon Drona's car. Beholding Drona completely covered by the wielder of the Gandiva with his arrows, the Kuru army set up exclamation of “Oh!” and “Alas!” Maghavat, together with those Gandharvas and Apsaras that had come there, applauded the fleetness of Partha's hand.

That mighty car-warrior, the preceptor's son, then resisted the Pandava with a mighty array of cars. Although enraged with Arjuna, yet Ashwatthama mentally admired that feat of the high-souled son of Pritha. Waxing wroth, he rushed towards Partha, and discharged at him an arrowy shower like a heavy down-pour by the cloud. Turning his steeds towards Drona's son, Partha gave Drona an opportunity to leave the field. And thereupon the latter, wounded in that terrible encounter, and his mail and banner gone sped away by the aid of swift horses.

The battle with Ashwatthama

Then, Drona's son rushed to an encounter with Arjuna in battle. Beholding his rush to the conflict like a hurricane, showering shafts like a rain charged cloud Pritha's son received him with a cloud of arrows. Terrible was the encounter between them, like that between the gods and the Danavas. They shot arrows at each other like Vritra and Vasava. The welkin being enveloped on all sides with arrows, the sun was completely hidden, and the air itself was hushed. As they assailed and struck each other, loud sounds arose as of bamboos on fire. Ashwatthama's horses being sorely afflicted by Arjuna, they became bewildered and could not ascertain which way to go. As Pritha's son ranged on the field, the powerful son of Drona finding an opportunity, cut off the string of the Gandiva with an arrow furnished with a horse-shoe head. Beholding that extraordinary feat of his, the celestials applauded him highly. Exclaiming “Well done!” “Well done!” Drona and Bhishma, and Karna, and the mighty warrior Kripa, all applauded that feat of his greatly.

And the son of Drona, drawing his excellent bow, pierced with his shafts, furnished with the feathers of the Kanka bird, the breast of Partha, that bull among warriors. Thereupon, with a loud laughter, the mighty-armed son of Pritha attached a strong and fresh string to Gandiva. Moistening his bow-string with the sweat that stood on his forehead resembling the crescent moon, Pritha's son advanced towards his adversary, even as an infuriated leader of a herd of elephants rushes at another elephant. The encounter that took place between those two matchless heroes on the field of battle was exceedingly fierce and made the bristles of the spectators stand on their ends. As those heroes endued with mighty energy fought on, the two mighty elephants, the Kurus beheld them with wonder. Those brave bulls among men assailed each other with arrows of snaky forms and resembling blazing fires. As the couple of quivers belonging to the Pandava was inexhaustible, that hero was able to remain on the field immovable as a mountain. As Ashwatthama's arrows, in consequence of his ceaseless discharge in that conflict, were quickly exhausted, it was for this that Arjuna prevailed over his adversary.

The battle with Karna again

Then Karna, drawing his large bow with great force twanged the bow-string. Thereupon arose loud exclamation of “Oh!” and “Alas!” And Pritha's son, casting his eyes towards the spot where that bow was twanged, beheld before him the son of Radha. At that sight his wrath was greatly excited. Inflamed with ire and desirous of slaying Karna, that bull of the Kuru race stared at him with rolling eyes. Beholding Partha turn away from Ashwatthama's side, the Kuru warriors discharged thousands of arrows on Arjuna. The mighty-armed Dhananjaya, that conqueror of foes, leaving Drona's son, all on a sudden rushed towards Karna. Rushing towards Karna, with eyes reddened in anger the son of Kunti, desirous of a single combat with him, said these words.

Arjuna said,

“The time, O Karna, has now come for making good your loquacious boast in the midst of the assembly, viz., that there is none equal to you in fight. Today, O Karna, contending with me in terrible conflict, you shall know your own strength, and shall no longer disregard others. Abandoning good breeding, you had uttered many harsh words, but this that you endeavours to do, is, I think, exceedingly difficult. Do you now, O Radha's son, contending with me in the sight of the Kurus, make good what you had said before in disregard of myself. You who had witnessed Panchala's princess outraged by villains in the midst of the court, do you now reap the fruit of that act of yours. Fettered by the bonds of morality before, I desisted from vengeance then. Behold now, O son of Radha, the fruit of that wrath in conflict at hand. O wicked fool, we have suffered much misery in that forest for full twelve years. Reap today the fruits of our concentrated vengeance. Come, O Karna, cope with me in battle. Let these your Kaurava warriors witness the conflict.”

Hearing these words, Karna replied,

“Do you, O Partha, accomplish in deed what you say in words. The world knows that your words verily exceed your deed. That you had forborne formerly was owing to your inability to do anything. If we witness your prowess even now, we may acknowledge its truth. If your past forbearance was due to your having been bound by the bonds of morality, truly you are equally bound now although you regard yourself free. Having as you say, passed your exile in the woods in strict accordance with your pledge and being therefore weakened by practising an ascetic course of life, how can you desire a combat with me now! O Pritha's son, if Shakra himself fight on your side, still I would feel no anxiety in putting forth my prowess. Your wish, O son of Kunti, is about to be gratified. Do fight with me now, and behold my strength.”

Hearing this, Arjuna said,

“Even now, O Radha's son, you had fled from battle with me, and it is for this that you live although your younger brother has been slain. What other person, save you, having beheld his younger brother slain in battle would himself fly from the field, and boast as you do, amid good and true men?”

Having said these words unto Karna, the invincible Bibhatsu rushed at him and charged a volley, of shafts capable of penetrating through a coat of mail. But that mighty car-warrior, Karna, received with great alacrity that discharge with an arrowy shower of his own, heavy as the downpour of the clouds. That fierce volley of arrows covered all sides and severally pierced the steeds and arms and leathern fences of the combatants. Incapable of putting up with that assault, Arjuna cut off the strings of Karna's quiver by means of a straight and sharp arrow. Thereupon, taking out from his quiver another arrow, Karna pierced the Pandava in the hand at which the latter's hold of the bow was loosened. Then the mighty-armed Partha cut off Karna's bow into fragments. Karna replied by hurling a dart at his adversary, but Arjuna cut it off by means of his arrows. Then the warriors that followed the son of Radha rushed in crowds at Arjuna, but Partha sent them all to the abode of Yama by means of arrows shot from the Gandiva. Bibhatsu slew the steeds of Karna by means of sharp and tough arrows shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, and deprived of life they dropped down on the ground. Taking another sharp and blazing arrow endued with great energy, the mighty son of Kunti pierced the breast of Karna. That arrow, cleaving through his mail, penetrated into his body. At this, Karna's vision was obscured and his senses left him. Regaining consciousness, he felt a great pain, and leaving the combat fled in a northernly direction. At this, the mighty car-warrior Arjuna and Uttara, both began to address him contumely.

The battle with Bhishma

Having defeated Vikartana's son, Arjuna said unto the son of Virata,

“Take me towards that division where yonder device of a golden palmyra is seen. There our grandfather, Shantanu’s son, like unto a celestial, waits, desirous of an encounter with me.”

Thereupon, beholding that mighty host thronged with cars and horses and elephants, Uttara, sorely pierced with arrows, said,

“O hero, I am no longer able to guide your excellent steeds. My spirits droop and my mind is exceedingly bewildered. All the directions seem to be whirling before my eyes in consequence of the energy of the celestial weapons used by you and the Kurus. I have been deprived of my senses by the stench of fat and blood and flesh. Beholding all this, from terror my mind is, as it were, cleft in twain. Never before had I beheld such a muster of horses in battle. At the flapping of fences, and the blare of conchs, the leonine roars made by the warriors and the shrieks of elephants, and the twang of the Gandiva resembling the thunder, I have, O hero, been so stupefied that I have been deprived of both hearing and memory. O hero, beholding you incessantly drawing to a circle, in course of the conflict, the Gandiva which resembles a circle of fire, my sight fails me and my heart is rent asunder. Seeing your fierce form in battle, like that of the wielder of the Pinaka while inflamed with wrath, and looking also at the terrible arrows shot by you, I am filled with fear. I fail to see when you take up your excellent arrows, when you fix them on the bow-string, and when you let them off. Though all this is done before my eyes, yet, deprived of my senses, I do not see it. My spirits are drooping and earth itself seems to be swimming before me. I have no strength to hold the whip and the reins.”

Hearing these words, Arjuna said,

“Do you not fear. Assure yourself. You also have, on the field of battle performed, O bull among men, wonderful feats. Blessed be you, you are a prince and born in the illustrious line of Matsyas. It befits you not to feel dispirited in chastising your foes. Therefore, O prince, stationed on my car, muster all your fortitude and hold the reins of my steeds, O slayer of foes, when I once more become engaged in battle.”

Having said this unto Virata's son, that best of men and foremost of car-warriors, the mighty-armed Arjuna, again addressed the son of Virata, saying.

“Take me without delay to the van of Bhishma's division. I will cut off his very bow-string in the battle. You shall behold today the celestial weapons of blazing beauty, shot by me, look like flashes of lightning disporting amid the clouds in the sky. The Kauravas shall behold the gold decked back of my Gandiva today, and assembled together the foe shall dispute, saying, “By which hand of his, the right or the left, does he shoot?” And I shall cause a dreadful river (of death) to flow today towards the other world with blood for its waters and cars for its eddies, and elephants for its crocodiles. I shall today, with my straight arrows, extirpate the Kuru forest having hands and feet and heads and backs and arms for the branches of its trees. Alone, bow in hand, vanquishing the Kuru host, a hundred paths shall open before me like those of a forest in conflagration. Struck by me, you shall today behold the Kuru army moving round and round like a wheel (unable to fly off the field). I shall show you today my excellent training in arrows and weapons. Stay you on my car firmly, whether the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with my winged arrows even the mountain of Sumeru that stands touching the very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousands of Paulomas and Kalakhanjas in battle. I have obtained my firmness of grasp from Indra, and my lightness of hand from Brahman, and I have learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes from Prajapati. I vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean, sixty thousands of car-warriors, all fierce archers, residing in Hiranyapura. Behold, now I defeat the multitudinous host of the Kurus like a tempest scattering a heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall today set the Kuru-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts of prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the Danavas, alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from the chambers of their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army stationed therein and struggling in the conflict to the best of their power. I have obtained from Rudra the Raudra, from Varuna the Varuna from Agni the Agneya, from the god of Wind the Vayavya, and from Shakra the thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly exterminate the fierce Dhartarashtra-forest though protected by many leonine warriors. Therefore, O Virata's son, let your fears be dispelled.”

Thus assured by Savyasachi, the son of Virata penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by Bhishma. The son of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully withstood the mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of vanquishing the heroes in battle. Jishnu, then, confronting Bhishma, cut off his standard clean off at the roots by shooting a gold-decked arrow pierced by which it fell to the ground. At this, four mighty warriors, Duhshasana and Vikarna and Dussaha and Vivimshati, skilled in weapons and endued with great energy, and all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments, rushed towards that terrible bowman. Advancing towards Bibhatsu, that fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the heroic Duhshasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. Jishnu, confronting Duhshasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow furnished with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited with gold, and then pierced his person in the breast by means of five arrows. Afflicted by the arrows of Partha. Duhshasana fled, leaving the combat.

Then Vikarna, the son of Dhritarashtra, pierced Arjuna, that slayer of hostile heroes, by means of sharp and straight arrows furnished with vulturine wings. But the son of Kunti within a moment hit him also in the forehead with straight shafts. Pierced by Arjuna, he fell down from his car. At this, Dussaha, supported by Vivimshati, covered Arjuna with a cloud of sharp arrows, impelled by the desire of rescuing his brother. Dhananjaya, however, without the least anxiety, pierced both of them almost at the same instant by means of couple of keen-edged arrows and then slew the steeds of both. There upon, both those sons of Dhritarashtra, deprived of their steeds and their bodies mangled were taken away by the warrior behind them who had rushed forward with other cars. Then the unvanquished Bibhatsu, the mighty son of Kunti, decked with diadem and sure of aim, simultaneously attacked all sides with his arrows.

Then, all the great car-warriors of the Kurus, united together, began to assail Arjuna to the best of their might from all sides. But that hero of immeasurable soul completely covered all those mighty car-warriors with clouds of arrows, even as the mist covers the mountains. The roars of huge elephants and conchs, mingling together, produced a loud up roar. Penetrating through the bodies of elephants and horses as also through steel coats of mail, the arrows shot by Partha fell by thousands. Shooting shafts with the utmost celerity, the son of Pandu seemed in that contest to resemble the blazing sun of an autumnal midday. Afflicted with fear, the car-warriors began to leap down from their cars and the horse-soldiers from horse-back, while the foot-soldiers began to fly in all directions. Loud was the clatter made by Arjuna's shafts as they cleft the coats of mail belonging to mighty warriors, made of steel, silver, and copper.

The field was soon covered with the corpses of warriors mounted on elephants and horses, all mangled by the shafts of Partha of great impetuosity like unto sighing snakes. Then it seemed as if Dhananjaya, bow in hand, was dancing on the field of battle. Sorely affrighted at the twang of the Gandiva resembling the noise of the thunder, many were the combatants that fled from that terrible conflict. The field of battle was bestrewn with severed heads decked with turbans, ear-rings and necklaces of gold, and the earth looked beautiful by being scattered all over with human trunks mangled by shafts, and arms having bows in their grasp and hands decked with ornaments. In consequence of heads cut off by whetted shafts ceaselessly falling on the ground, it seemed as if a shower of stones fell from the sky. That Partha of formidable prowess, displaying his fierceness, now ranged the field of battle, pouring the terrible fire of his wrath upon the sons of Dhritarashtra. Beholding the fierce prowess of Arjuna who thus scorched the hostile host, the Kuru warriors, in the very presence of Duryodhana, became dispirited and ceased to fight. Having struck terror into that host and routed those mighty car-warriors, that fore-most of victors, ranged on the field. The son of Pandu then created on the field of battle a dreadful river of blood, with waving billows, like unto the river of death that is created by Time at the end of the Yuga, having the dishevelled hair of the dead and the dying for its floating moss and straw, with bows and arrows for its boats, fierce in the extreme and having flesh and animal juices for its mire. Coats of mail and turbans floated thick on its surface. Elephants constituted its alligators and the cars its rafts. Marrow and fat and blood constituted its currents. It was calculated to strike terror into the hearts of the spectators. Dreadful to behold, and fearful in the extreme, and resounding with the yells of ferocious beasts, keen edged weapons constituted its crocodiles. Rakshasas and other cannibals haunted it from one end to the other. Strings of pearls constituted its ripples, and various excellent ornaments, its bubbles. Having swarms of arrows for its fierce eddies and steeds for its tortoises, it was incapable of being crossed. The mighty car warrior constituted its large island, and it resounded with the bleat of conchs and the sound of drums. The river of blood that Partha created was incapable of being crossed. Indeed, so swift-handed was Arjuna that the spectators could not perceive any interval between his taking up an arrow, and fixing it on the bow-string, and letting it off by a stretch of the Gandiva.

Then while a great havoc was being made among the Kurus, Shantanu’s son, Bhishma, and grandsire of the Bharatas rushed at Arjuna, taking up an excellent bow adorned with gold, and many arrows also of keen points and capable of piercing into the very vitals of the foe and afflicting him sorely. In consequence of a white umbrella being held over his head, that tiger among men looked beautiful like unto a hill at sunrise. The son of Ganga, blowing his conch, cheered the sons of Dhritarashtra, and wheeling along his right came upon Bibhatsu and impeded his course. That slayer of hostile heroes, the son of Kunti, beholding him approach, received him with a glad heart, like a hill receiving a rain-charged cloud. Bhishma, endued with great energy, pierced Partha's flag-staff with eight arrows. The arrows reaching the flag-staff of Pandu's son, struck the blazing ape and those creatures also stationed in the banner-top. Then the son of Pandu, with a mighty javelin of sharp-edge cut of Bhishma's umbrella which instantly fell on the ground. Then the light-handed son of Kunti struck his adversary's flag-staff also with many shafts, and then his steeds and then the couple of drivers that protected Bhishma's flanks. Unable to bear this, Bhishma though cognisant of the Pandava's might, covered Dhananjaya with a powerful celestial weapon. The son of Pandu, of immeasurable soul, hurling in return a celestial weapon at Bhishma, received that from Bhishma like a hill receiving a deep mass of clouds. The encounter that took place between Partha and Bhishma, was fierce and the Kaurava warriors with their troops stood as lookers on. In the conflict between Bhishma and the son of Pandu, shafts striking against shafts shone in the air like fireflies in the season of rains. In consequence of Partha's shooting arrows with both his right and left hands, the bent Gandiva seemed like a continuous circle of fire. The son of Kunti then covered Bhishma with hundreds of sharp and keen-edged arrows, like a cloud covering the mountain-breast with its heavy downpour. Bhishma baffled with the own arrows that arrowy shower, like the bank resisting the swelling sea, and covered the son of Pandu in return. Those warriors, cut into a thousand pieces in battle, fell fast in the vicinity of Falguna's car. Then there was a downpour, from the car of Pandu's son, of arrows furnished with golden wing, and raining through the sky like a flight of locusts. Bhishma again repelled that arrowy shower with hundreds of whetted shafts shot by him. Then the Kauravas exclaimed, “Excellent! Excellent!” Indeed, Bhishma has performed an exceedingly difficult feat inasmuch as he has fought with Arjuna. Dhananjaya is mighty and youthful, and dexterous and swift of hand. Who else, save Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, or Krishna, the son of Devaki, or the mighty son of Bharadwaja, the foremost of preceptors, is able to bear the impetus of Partha in battle?

Repelling weapons with weapons, those two bulls of the Bharata race, both endued with great might, fought on playfully and infatuated the eyes of all created beings. Those illustrious warriors ranged on the field of battle, using the celestials weapons obtained from Prajapati and Indra, and Agni and the fierce Rudra, and Kubera, and Varuna, and Yama, and Vayu. All beings were greatly surprised, upon beholding those warriors engaged in combat. They all exclaimed,

“Bravo Partha of long arms! Bravo Bhishma! Indeed, this application of celestial weapons that is being witnessed in the combat between Bhishma and Partha is rare among human beings."

Thus raged that conflict with weapons between those warriors conversant with all weapons. When that conflict of celestial weapons ceased, then commenced a conflict with arrows. Jishnu approaching his opponent, cut of with an arrow sharp like a razor the gold-decked bow of Bhishma. Within the twinkling of the eye, however, Bhishma, that mighty-armed and great car-warrior, took up another bow and stringed it. Inflamed with wrath, he showered upon Dhananjaya a cloud of arrows. Arjuna, too, endued with great energy, rained upon Bhishma innumerable sharp-pointed and keen-edged arrows. Bhishma also shot clouds of arrows upon Pandu's son. Conversant with celestial weapons and engaged in shooting and each other, arrows of keen points, no distinction, could then be perceived between those illustrious warriors. That mighty car-warrior, Kunti's son, covered with a diadem, and the heroic son of Shantanu, obscured the ten directions with their arrows. The Pandava covered Bhishma, and Bhishma also covered the Pandava, with clouds of shafts. Wonderful was this combat that took place in this world of men. The heroic warriors that protected Bhishma's car, slain by the son of Pandu, fell prostrate, beside the car of Kunti's son. The feathery arrows of Shwetavahana, shot from the Gandiva, fell in all directions as if with the object of making a wholesale slaughter of the foe. Issuing forth from his car those blazing arrows furnished with golden wings looked like rows of swans in the sky. All the celestials with Indra, stationed in the firmament, gazed with wonder upon another celestial weapon hurled with great force by that wonderful archer Arjuna. Beholding that wonderful weapon of great beauty, the mighty Gandiva, Chitrasena, highly pleased, addressed the lord of celestials, saying,

“Behold these arrows shot by Partha coursing through the sky in one continuous line. Wonderful is the dexterity of Jishnu in evolving this celestial weapon! Human beings are incapable of shooting such a weapon, for it does not exist among men. How wonderful again is this concourse of mighty weapons existing from days of old! No interval can be perceived between his taking up the arrows, fixing them on the bow-string, and letting them off by stretching the Gandiva. The soldiers are incapable of even looking at the son of Pandu, who is like unto the midday sun blazing in the sky. So also none ventures to look at Bhishma, the son of Ganga. Both are famous for their achievements, and both are of fierce prowess. Both are equal in feats of heroism, and both are difficult of being vanquished in battle.”

Thus addressed by the Gandharva about that combat between Partha and Bhishma, the lord of the celestials paid proper respect unto both by a shower of celestial flowers. Meanwhile, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, assailed Arjuna on the left side, while that drawer of the bow with either hands was on the point of piercing him. At this, Bibhatsu, laughing aloud, cut off with an arrow of keen edge and furnished with vulturine wings, the bow of Bhishma, that hero of solar effulgence. Then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, pierced Bhishma in the breast with ten shafts although the latter was contending with all his prowess. Sorely afflicted with pain Ganga's son of mighty arms and irresistible in battle, stood for a long time leaning on the pole of his car. Beholding him deprived of consciousness the driver of his car-steeds, calling to mind the instructions about protecting the warriors when in a swoon, led him away for safety.

After Bhishma had fled, leaving the van of battle, the illustrious son of Dhritarashtra hoisting high flag approached Arjuna, bow in hand and setting up a loud roar. With a spear-headed shaft shot from his bow stretched to the ear, he pierced on the forehead of that terrible bowman of fierce prowess, Dhananjaya, ranging amidst the foes. Pierced with that keen shaft of golden point on the forehead, that hero of famous deeds looked resplendent, like unto a beautiful hill with a single peak. Cut by that arrow, the warm life-blood gushed out profusely from the wound. The blood trickling down his body shone beautifully like a wreath of golden flowers. Struck by Duryodhana with the shaft, the swift-handed Arjuna of unfailing strength, swelling with rage, pierced the king in return, taking up arrows that were endued with the energy of snakes of virulent poison. Duryodhana of formidable energy attacked Partha, and Partha also, that foremost of heroes, attacked Duryodhana. It was that those foremost of men, both born in the race of Ajamida, struck each other alike in the combat. Then (seated) on an infuriate elephant huge as a mountain and supported by four cars, Vikarna rushed against Jishnu, the son of Kunti. Beholding that huge elephant, advancing with speed, Dhananjaya struck him on the head between the temples with an iron arrow of great impetus shot from the bow-string stretched to the ear. Like the thunderbolt hurled by Indra splitting a mountain, that arrow furnished with vulturine wings, shot by Partha, penetrated, up to the very feathers, into the body of that elephant huge as hill. Sorely afflicted by the shaft, that lord of the elephant species began to tremble, and deprived of strength fell down on the ground in intense anguish, like the peak of mountain riven by thunder. That best of elephants falling down on the earth, Vikarna suddenly alighting in great terror, ran back full eight hundred paces and ascended on the car of Vivimshati. Having slain with that thunder-like arrow that elephant huge as a mighty hill and looking like a mass of clouds, the son of Pritha smote Duryodhana in the breast with another arrow of the same kind. Both the elephant and the king having thus been wounded, and Vikarna having broken and fled along with the supporters of the king's car, the other warriors, smitten with the arrows shot from the Gandiva, fled from the field in panic.

Beholding the elephant slain by Partha, and all the other warriors running away, Duryodhana, the foremost of the Kurus, turning away his car precipitately fled in that direction where Partha was not. When Duryodhana was fast running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomiting forth blood, Kiriti, still eager for battle and capable of enduring every enemy, thus censured him from wrath,

“Sacrificing your great fame and glory, why do you fly away, turning the back? Why are not those trumpet sounded now, as they were when you had set out from your kingdom? Lo, I am an obedient servant of Yudhishthira, myself being the third son of Pritha, standing here for battle. Turn back, show me your face, O son of Dhritarashtra, and bear in your mind the behaviour of kings. The name Duryodhana bestowed on you before is hereby rendered meaningless. When you run away, leaving the battle, where is your persistence in battle? Neither do I behold your body-guards. O Duryodhana, before nor behind. O foremost of men, fly you away and save your life which is dear from the hands of Pandu's son.”

Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero, Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like an infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. Stung by those reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave car-warrior endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car, like a snake that is trampled under foot. Beholding Duryodhana turn back with his wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with a golden necklace, stopped the king on the way and soothing him, himself proceeded along the north of Duryodhana's car to meet Partha in battle. The mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of Shantanu, turning back his steeds decked with gold, enormous in size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in hand, for protecting Duryodhana from Partha's hand. Drona and Kripa and Vivimshati and Duhshasana and others also, quickly turning back, rushed forward with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the bow-strings, for protecting Duryodhana. Beholding those divisions advance towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a descending cloud. With celestial weapons in their hands, they completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all sides a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the mountain breast a heavy downpour of rain, Warding off with weapons, all the weapons of those bulls among the Kurus, the wielder of the Gandiva who was capable of enduring all foes, evolved another irresistible weapon obtained from Indra, called Sanmohana. Entirely covering the cardinal and other directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished with beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with the twang of the Gandiva. Once more, taking up with both his hands that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of foes, blew it with force and filled the cardinal and other points, the whole earth, and sky, with that noise. Those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the sound of that conch blown by Partha. All of them stood still, their bows, from which they were never separated, dropping down from their hands. When the Kuru army became insensible, Partha calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the son of the Matsya king, saying,

“O best of men, go among the Kurus, so long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments of Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as also the blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma is not stupefied, for he knows how to counteract this weapon of mine. So, pass on, keeping his steeds to your left; for those that are sensible should thus be avoided.”

Hearing these words, the illustrious son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds, jumped down from the car and taking off the garments of the warriors, came back to his place. The son of Virata then urged the four handsome steeds with flanks adorned with golden armours. Those white steeds, urged on, took Arjuna away from the midst of battle-field and beyond the array of the infantry bearing standards in their hands. Bhishma, beholding that best of men thus going away, struck him with arrows. Partha, too, having slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. Abandoning Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his car-driver, Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that multitude of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. Dhritarashtra's son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering his senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the celestials, alone on the battle-field. He said in hurry (unto Bhishma),

“How has this one escape from you? Do you afflict him in such a way that he may not escape.”

At this, Shantanu’s son, smiling, said unto him,

“Where had been this sense of yours, and where had been your prowess too, when you had been in a state of unconsciousness renouncing your arrows and handsome bow? Bibhatsu is not addicted to the commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul inclined to sin. He renounces not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. It is for this only that all of us have not been slain in this battle. O you foremost of Kuru heroes, go back to the city of the Kurus, and let Partha also go away, having conquered the kine. Do you never foolishly throw away your own good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare ought to be accomplished.”

Having listened to the words of the grandsire that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king Duryodhana no longer eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. Reflecting that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial and seeing that the Pandavas gaining in strength, the other warriors also, desirous of protecting Duryodhana, resolved to return. Beholding those foremost of Kuru heroes departing for their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a cheerful heart followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and worshipping them. Having worshipped the aged grandsire, the son of Shantanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones among the Kurus, the son of Pritha broke into fragments Duryodhana's crown decked with precious gems, with another arrow. Having saluted all the venerable and brave warriors thus, he filled the three worlds with the twang of the Gandiva. Suddenly blowing his conch called Devadatta, the hero pierced the hearts of all his foes. Having humbled the hostile, he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. Beholding the Kurus depart, Kiriti cheerfully said unto Matsya's son,

“Turn back your steeds; your kine have been recovered; the foe is going away and do you also return to your city with a cheerful heart.”

And the celestials also, having witnessed that most wonderful encounter between Falguna and the Kurus, were highly delighted, and went to their respective abodes, reflecting upon Partha's feats.

Having vanquished the Kurus in battle, that one with eyes like those of a bull, brought back that profuse cattle wealth of Virata. While the Dhartarashtras, after their rout, were going away, a large number of Kuru-soldiers issuing out of the deep forest appeared with slow steps before Partha, their hearts afflicted with fear. They stood before him with joined palms and with hair dishevelled. Fatigued with hunger and thirst, arrived in a foreign land, insensible with terror, and confused in mind, they all bowed down unto the son of Pritha and said, “We are your slaves.”

Arjuna said,

“Welcome, blessed be you. Go away. You have no cause of fear. I will not take the lives of them that are afflicted. You have my assurance of protection”

Hearing these words of assurance, the assembled warriors greeted him with benedictions in praise of his achievements and fame and wishing him long life. The Kauravas were unable to confront Arjuna while after routing the foe he proceeded towards the city of Virata, like an elephant with rent temples. Having routed the whole army of the Kuru like a violent wind scattering the clouds, that slayer of foes, Partha, regardfully addressing the prince of Matsya, said,

“It is known to you alone, O child, that the sons of Pritha are all living with your father. Do not eulogise them upon entering the city, for then the king of the Matsyas may hide himself in fear. On the other hand, entering the city, you proclaim in the presence of your father that the deed is your own, saying, “By me has the army of the Kurus been vanquished and by me have the kine been recovered from the foe!””

Uttara said,

“The feat you have achieved is beyond my power. I do not possess the ability to achieve it. I shall not, however, O Savyasachi, discover you to my father, as long as you will not tell me to do it.”

Having vanquished the hostile army and wrested the whole of the cattle wealth from the Kurus, Jishnu returned again to the cemetery and having approached the same Shami tree, stood there with body mangled by the arrows of the enemy. Then that terrible monkey blazing like fire ascended into the sky with those other creatures in the flag-staff. The illusion created (by Vishwakarma) melted away and Uttara's own banner bearing the device of a lion was set up on the car again. Having replaced the arrows and quivers of those foremost of the Kuru princes, and also that other weapon the (Gandiva) which enhances the fierceness of a battle, the illustrious prince of Matsya set out for the city with a glad heart, having Kiriti as his charioteer. Having achieved an exceedingly mighty feat and slain the foe, Partha also, that slayer of foes, binding his hair into a braid as before, took the reins from Uttara's hands. That illustrious hero entered the city of Virata, with a cheerful heart rehabilitating himself as Brihannala, the car-driver of Uttara.

When all the Kauravas utterly routed and vanquished, set out in a dejected mood for Hastinapura, Falguna, on his way back, addressed Uttara, saying,

“O prince, O hero of mighty arms, seeing the kine escorted in advance of us by the cowherds, we shall enter Virata's metropolis in the afternoon, having tended the steeds with drink and a bath. Let the cowherds, despatched by you, speedily repair to the city with the good news and proclaim your victory.”

Agreeable to Arjuna's words, Uttara speedily ordered the messengers, saying,

“Go and proclaim the king's victory. The foe has been routed, and the kine have been recovered.”

The Matsya and the Bharata princes having thus consulted together re-approached the same Shami tree. Gratified with the victory they had won, and arrived at the foot of the Shami tree, they wore on their persons and took up on their car the ornaments and robes they had left there. Having vanquished the whole hostile army and recovered the whole of the wealth from the Kurus, the heroic son of Virata returned to the city with Brihannala as his car-driver.