Third day of war

OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word 'Jaya' be uttered.

The vyuhas of the opposing armies

When the night having passed away, the dawn came, Shantanu’s son Bhishma, that chastiser of foes, gave the order for the (Kuru) army to prepare for battle. The son of Shantanu, the old Kuru grandsire, desirous of victory to Dhritarashtra’s sons, formed that mighty array known after the name of Garuda. On the beak of that Garuda was Devavrata himself. Its two eyes were Bharadwaja's son and Kritavarman of Satwata's race. Those renowned warriors, Ashwatthaman and Kripa, supported by the Trigartas, the Kekayas, and the Vatadhanas, were in its head. Bhurishravas and Shala, and Shalya and Bhagadatta, and the Madrakas, the Sindhu-Souviras, and they that were called the Pancha-nadas, together with Jayadratha, were placed on its neck. On its back was king Duryodhana with all his followers. Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and the Kambojas with the Shakas, and the Shurasenas formed its tail. The Magadhas and the Kalingas, with all the tribes of the Dasherakas, accoutred in mail, formed the right wing of that array. The Karushas, the Vikunjas, the Mundas, and the Kaundivrishas, with Vrithadvala, were stationed on the left wing.

Then that chastiser of foes, Savyasachin, beholding the host disposed in battle-array, aided by Dhrishtadyumna, disposed his troops in counter-array. In opposition to that array of Dhritarashtra, the son of Pandu formed fierce array after the form of the half-moon. Stationed on the right horn, Bhimasena shone surrounded by kings of diverse countries abundantly armed with various weapons. Next to him were those mighty car-warriors Virata and Drupada; and next to them was Nila armed with envenomed weapons. Next to Nila was the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu, surrounded by the Chedis, the Kashis, the Karushas, and the Pauravas. Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandin, with the Panchalas and the Prabhadrakas, and supported by other troops, were stationed in the middle for battle. There also was king Yudhishthira the just, surrounded by his elephant division. Next to him were Satyaki and the five sons of Draupadi. Immediately next to them was Iravan. Next to him were Bhimasena's son (Ghatotkacha) and those mighty car-warriors, the Kekayas. Next, on the left horn (of that array), was that best of men, viz., he who had for his protector, Janardana, that protector of the whole Universe. It was thus that the Pandavas formed their mighty counter-array for the destruction of Dhritarashtra’s sons and of those who had sided with them.

Then commenced the battle between Dhritarashtra’s troops and those of the foe striking one another, and in which cars and elephants mingled in the clash of combat. Large numbers of elephants and crowds of cars were seen everywhere to rush towards one another for purposes of slaughter. The rattle of innumerable cars rushing (to join the fray), or engaged separately raised a loud uproar, mingling with the beat of drums. The shouts of the heroic combatants belonging to Dhritarashtra’s army and theirs slaying one another in that fierce encounter, reached the very heavens.

Arjuna’s carnage

After the ranks of the Kaurava and Pandava armies had been disposed in battle-array, that mighty car-warrior, Dhananjaya, felling in that conflict leaders of car-divisions with his arrows, caused a great carnage among the car-ranks. The Dhartarashtras, (thus) slaughtered in battle by Pritha's son, like the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga, still fought perseveringly with the Pandavas. Desirous of (winning) blazing glory and (bent upon) making death (the only ground for) a cessation of the fight, with minds undirected to anything else, they broke the Pandava ranks in many places and were also themselves broken. Then both the Pandava and the Kaurava troops broke, changed positions, and fled away. Nothing could be distinguished. An earthly dust arose, shrouding the very sun. Nobody there could distinguish, either the cardinal or the subsidiary directions. Everywhere the battle raged the combatants being guided by the indications afforded by colours, by watch-words, names and tribal distinctions. The array of the Kauravas could not be broken, duly protected as it was by Bharadwaja's son. So the formidable array of the Pandava also, protected by Savyasachin, and well-guarded by Bhima, could not be broken. The cars and elephants in close ranks of both the armies, and other combatants, coming out of their respective arrays, engaged in conflict. In that fierce battle cavalry soldiers felled cavalry soldiers, with polished swords of sharp edges and long lances.

Car-warriors, getting car-warriors (within reach) in that fierce conflict, felled them with shafts decked with golden wings. Elephant-riders of both the sides felled large numbers of elephant-riders in close ranks, with broad-headed shafts and arrows and lances. Large bodies of infantry, inspired with wrath towards one another, cheerfully felled combatants of their own class with short arrows and battle-axes. Car-warriors getting elephant-riders (within reach) in that conflict, felled them along with their elephants. Elephant-riders similarly felled car-warriors. The cavalry soldier with his lance felled the car-warrior in that conflict, and the car-warrior also felled the cavalry soldier. Both the armies the foot-soldier, felled the car-warrior in the combat, and the car-warrior felled the foot-soldiers, with sharp weapons. Elephant-riders felled horse-riders, and horse-riders felled warriors on the backs of elephants. All this appeared exceedingly wonderful. Here and there foot-soldiers, were felled by foremost of elephant-riders, and elephant-riders were seen to be felled by the former. Bands of foot-soldiers, by hundreds and thousands, were seen to be felled by horse-riders and horse-riders by foot-soldiers. Strewn with broken standards and bows and lances and housings of elephants, and costly blankets and bearded darts, and maces, and clubs furnished with spikes, and Kampanas, and darts, and variegated coats of mail and Kunapas, and iron hooks, and polished scimitars, and shafts furnished with golden wings, the field shone as if with floral wreaths. The earth, miry with flesh and blood, became impassable with the bodies of men and steeds and elephants slain in that dreadful battle. Drenched with human blood, the earthy dust disappeared. The cardinal points, all around, became perfectly clear. Innumerable headless trunks rose up all around indicating of the destruction of the world. In that terrible and awful battle, car-warriors were seen to run away in all directions.

Then Bhishma and Drona, and Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus and Purumitra, and Vikarna, and Shakuni the son of Subala-these warriors invincible in battle and possessed of leonine prowess-staying in battle broke the ranks of the Pandavas. So Bhimasena and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Satyaki, and Chekitana, and the sons of Draupadi supported by all the kings (on their side), began to grind Dhritarashtra’s troops and his sons stationed in battle, like the gods grinding the Danavas. Those bulls among Kshatriyas, striking one another in battle, became terrible to behold and covered with blood shone like Kinshukas. The foremost warriors of both armies, vanquishing their opponents, looked like the planetary luminaries in the firmament. Then Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana, supported by a thousand cars, rushed to battle with the Pandavas and the Rakshasa. So all the Pandavas, with a large body of combatants rushed in battle against those chastisers of foes, the heroic Bhishma and Drona. The diadem-decked (Arjuna) also, excited with rage rushed against the foremost of kings. Arjuna's son (Abhimanyu), and Satyaki, both advanced against the forces of Subala’s son. Then commenced once more a fearful battle, making the hair to stand on end, between the Kauravas and the enemy's troops both desirous of vanquishing each other.

Then those kings, excited with rage, beholding Phalguni in battle, surrounded him on all sides with many thousands of cars. Having surrounded him with multitudinous division of cars, they shrouded him from all sides with many thousands of shafts. Bright lances of sharp points, and maces, and clubs endued with spikes, and bearded darts and battle-axes, and mallets and bludgeons they hurled at Phalguni's car, excited with rage. That shower of weapons approaching (towards him) like a flight of locusts, Pritha's son checked on all sides with his gold-decked arrows. Beholding there on that occasion the superhuman lightness of hand that Bibhatsu possessed, the gods, the Danavas, the Gandharvas, the Pishachas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas eulogised Phalguni saying, “Excellent, Excellent.”

Satyaki and Abhimanyu fight the Gandhara army

The heroic Gandharas along with Subala’s son with a large force surrounded Satyaki and Abhimanyu. Then the brave warriors led by Subala’s son from anger, cut into pieces the excellent car of the Vrishni hero, with weapons of diverse kinds. In course of that fierce conflict, Satyaki, abandoning that car of his, speedily mounted on Abhimanyu's car. Those two, mounted on the same car, then began to speedily slaughter the army of Subala’s son with straight arrows of sharp points.

Drona and Bhishma fight Yudhishthira army

Drona and Bhishma, steadily struggling in battle, began to slaughter the division of king Yudhishthira the just, with sharp shafts furnished with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Then the son of Dharma and two other sons of Pandu by Madri, in the very sight of the whole army, began to grind the division of Drona. The battle that took place there was fierce and awful, making the hair stand on end, like the terrible battle that took place between the gods and the Asuras in days of yore.

Bhimasena and Ghatotkacha fight Duryodhana

Bhimasena and Ghatotkacha, both achieved mighty feats. Then Duryodhana, approaching, checked them both. The prowess we then beheld of Hidimba’s son was exceedingly wonderful, insomuch that he fought in battle transcending his very father. Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, excited with wrath, pierced the vindictive Duryodhana in the breast, with an arrow, smiling the while. Then king Duryodhana, afflicted by the violence of that blow, sat down on the terrace of his car and swooned away. His charioteer then, beholding him senseless, speedily bore him away from battle. Then the troops that supported Duryodhana broke and fled. Thereupon Bhima, smiting that Kuru army thus flying away in all directions, with sharp-pointed shafts, pursued it behind.

Prishata's son (Dhrishtadyumna), that foremost of warriors, and Pandu's son king Yudhishthira, the just, in the very sight of both Drona and Ganga's son, slew their army with sharp shafts capable of slaying hostile forces. That host of Dhritarashtra’s son, thus flying away in battle, those mighty car-warriors. Bhishma and Drona were incapable of checking. For though attempted to be checked by Bhishma and the high-souled Drona, that host fled away in the very sight of Drona and Bhishma. Then when (those) thousand of car-warriors fled away in all directions, Subhadra's son and that bull of Shini's race, both stationed on the same car, began to slaughter the army of Subala’s son of battle. Shini's grandson and that bull of Kuru's race looked resplendent like the sun and the moon when together in the firmament after the last lunation of the dark fortnight has passed away. Then Arjuna also excited with rage, showered arrows on Dhritarashtra’s army like the clouds pouring rain in torrents. The Kaurava army, thus slaughtered in battle with the shafts of Partha, fled away, trembling in grief and fear.

Conversation between Duryodhana and Bhishma

Beholding the army flying away, the mighty Bhishma and Drona, excited with rage and both desirous of Duryodhana's welfare sought to check it. Then king Duryodhana himself, comforting the combatants, checked that army, then flying away in all directions. Thereupon all the mighty Kshatriya car-warriors stopped, each at the spot where he saw Dhritarashtra’s son. Then others among the common soldiers, beholding them stop, stopped of their own accord from shame and desire of displaying their courage unto one another. The impetuosity of that army thus rallied to the fight resembled that of the surging sea at the moment of the moon's rise. King Duryodhana, beholding that army of his rallied for the fight, quickly repaired to Shantanu’s son Bhishma and said these words,

“O grandsire, listen to what I say, O Bharata. When, O son of Kuru, you are alive, and Drona, that foremost of persons conversant with weapons, along with his son and with all our other friends (is alive), and then that mighty bowman Kripa also is alive, I do not regard it as at all creditable that my army should thus fly away. I do not regard the Pandavas to be, by any means, a match for you or for Drona, in battle, or for Drona's son, or for Kripa. Without doubt, O grandsire, the sons of Pandu are being favoured by you, inasmuch as you forgive, O hero, this slaughter of my army. You should have told me, O king, before this battle took place, that you would not fight with the Pandavas. Hearing such words from you, as also from the preceptor, O Bharata, I would then have, with Karna, reflected upon what course I should pursue. If I do not deserve to be abandoned by you two in battle, then, O bulls among men, do you fight according to the measure of your prowess.”

Hearing these words, Bhishma, laughing repeatedly, and turning up his eyes in wrath, said to Dhritarashtra’s son,

“Many a time, O king, have I said unto you words worthy of your acceptance and fraught with your good. The Pandavas are incapable of being vanquished in battle by the very gods with Vasava amongst them. That, however, which my aged self is capable of doing, I will do to the extent of my power, O best of kings, in this battle. Witness it now with your kinsmen. Today, in the very sight of all, alone I shall check the sons of Pandu at the head of their troops and with all their kinsfolk.”

Thus addressed by Bhishma, Dhritarashtra’s son filled with delight, caused conches to be blown and drums to be beaten. The Pandavas also hearing that loud uproar, blew their conches, and caused their drums and cymbals to be played upon.

Bhishma attacks the Pandava army

After the forenoon of that day had passed away, and the sun in his westward course had passed a portion of his path, and after the high-souled Pandavas had won the victory, Devavrata, conversant with the distinction of all codes of morality, rushed carried by the fleetest steeds, towards the army of the Pandavas, protected by a large force and by all Dhritarashtra’s sons. Then, in consequence of Dhritarashtra’s sinful policy, commenced a dreadful battle, making the hair stand on end, between ourselves and the Pandavas. The twang of bows, the flapping of bowstrings against the leathern fences (casing the hands of the bowman), mingling together, made a loud uproar resembling that of splitting hills. “Stay”, “Here I stand”, “Know this one”, “Turn back”, “Stand”, “I wait for you”, “Strike”, these were the words heard everywhere. The sound of falling coats of mail made of gold, of crowns and diadems, and of standards resembled the sound of falling stones on a stony ground. Heads, and arms decked with ornaments, falling by hundreds and thousands upon the ground moved in convulsions. Some brave combatants, with heads severed from their trunks, continued to stand weapons in grasp or armed with drawn bow. A dreadful river of blood began to flow there, of impetuous current, miry with flesh and blood, and with the bodies of (dead) elephants for its (sub-aqueous) rocks. Flowing from the bodies of steeds, men, and elephants, and delightful to vultures and jackals, it ran towards the ocean represented by the next world. A battle such as that which (then) took place between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was never seen or heard before.

In consequence of the bodies of combatants slain in that conflict, cars could not make their way. The field of battle in consequence of the bodies of slain elephants seemed to be strewn over with blue crests of hills. The field of battle, strewn with variegated coats of mail and turbans looked beautiful like the firmament autumn. Some combatants were seen who, though severely wounded, yet rushed cheerfully and proudly upon the foe in battle. Many, fallen on the field of battle, cried aloud, saying “O father, O brother, O friend, O kinsman, O companion, O maternal uncle, do not abandon me.” And others cried aloud, saying, “Come! Come you here! Why are you frightened? Where do you go? I stand in battle, do not be afraid.” And in that combat Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, with bow incessantly drawn to a circle, shot shafts of blazing points, resembling snakes of virulent poison.

Shooting continuous line of arrows in all directions, that hero of rigid vows smote the Pandava car-warriors naming each beforehand. Displaying his extreme lightness of hands, and dancing (as it were) along the track of his car, he seemed to be present everywhere like a circle of fire. In consequence of the lightness of his movements, the Pandavas in that battle, along with the Srinjayas, beheld that hero, though really alone, as multiplied a thousand-fold. Every one there regarded Bhishma as having multiplied his self by illusion. Having seen him now on the east, the next moment they saw him on the west. So having seen him on the north, the next moment they saw him on the south. The son of Ganga was thus seen fighting in that battle. There was no one amongst the Pandavas capable of even looking at him. What they all saw were only the innumerable shafts shot from his bow. Heroic warriors, beholding him achieve such feats in battle, and (thus) slaughtering their ranks, uttered many lamentations. Kings in thousands came in contact with Bhishma, thus coursing over the field in a superhuman way, and fell upon that fire represented by the enraged Bhishma like flights of senseless insects (upon a blazing fire) for their own destruction. Not a single shaft of that light-handed warrior was futile, falling upon the bodies of men, elephants, and steeds, in consequence of the numbers (opposed to him). With a single straight shaft shot in that battle, he dispatched a single elephant like hill riven by the thunderbolt. Two or three elephant-riders at a time, cased in mail and standing together, Bhishma pierced with one shaft of sharp point. Whoever approached Bhishma, that tiger among men, in battle, seen for a moment was, next beheld to fall down on the ground.

That vast host of king Yudhishthira the just, thus slaughtered by Bhishma of incomparable prowess, gave way in a thousand directions. Afflicted with that arrowy shower, the vast army began to tremble in the very presence of Vasudeva and the high-souled Partha. Although the heroic leaders of the Pandava army made great efforts, yet they could not check the flight of (even) the great car-warriors of their side afflicted with the shafts of Bhishma.

The prowess, in consequence of which that vast army was routed, was equal to that of the chief of the gods himself. That army was so completely routed that no two persons could be seen together. Cars and elephants and steeds were pierced all over, and standards and shafts of cars were strewn over the field. The army of the sons of Pandu uttered cries of “oh” and “alas”, and became deprived of senses. Sire struck the son and the son struck the sire; and friend challenged the dearest of friends to battle as if under the influence of fate. Others amongst the combatants of Pandu's son were seen to run away, throwing aside their coats of mail, and with disheveled hair. The army of the sons of Pandu, indulging in loud wails, including the very leaders of their best of car-warriors, was seen to be as confounded as a very herd of kine.

Arjuna fights Bhishma

The delighter of the Yadavas then, beholding that army thus routed, said unto Partha, stopping that best of cars (which he guided), these words,

“The hour is now come, O Partha, which was desired by you. Strike Bhishma, O tiger among men, else, you will lose the senses. O hero, formerly, in the conclave of kings, you had said,

“I will slay all the warriors of Dhritarashtra's sons, headed by Bhishma and Drona, all in fact, who will fight with me in battle”.

O son of Kunti, O chastiser of foes, make those words of yours true. Behold, O Bibhatsu, this army of yours is being routed on all sides. Behold, the kings in Yudhishthira's host are all flying away, seeing Bhishma in battle, who looks like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth. Afflicted with fear, they are making themselves scarce like the weaker animals at sight of the lion”.

Thus addressed, Dhananjaya replied unto Vasudeva, saying,

“Plunging through this sea of the hostile host, urge on the steeds to where Bhishma is. I will throw down that invincible warrior, the reverend Kuru grandsire”.

Then Madhava urged those steeds of silvery hue to where the car of Bhishma was, that car which, like the very sun, was incapable of being gazed at. Beholding the mighty-armed Partha thus rushing to an encounter with Bhishma, the mighty army of Yudhisthira rallied for battle. Then Bhishma, that foremost of warriors amongst the Kurus, repeatedly roaring like a lion, quickly covered Dhananjaya's car with an arrowy shower. In a moment that car of his, with standard and charioteer, became invisible, shrouded with that arrowy downpour. Vasudeva, however, endued with great might fearlessly and summoning all his patience, began to guide those steeds mangled by Bhishma's shafts. Then Partha, taking up his celestial bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, caused Bhishma's bow to drop down, cutting it off with his keen shafts.

The Kuru warrior, seeing his bow cut off, took up another and stringed it within the twinkling of the eye. He stretched that bow whose twang resembled the roar of the clouds, with his two hands. But Arjuna, excited with wrath, cut off that bow also of his. Then the son of Shantanu applauded that lightness of hand (displayed by Arjuna), saying,

“Excellent, O Partha, O you of mighty arms, excellent, O son of Pandu. O Dhananjaya, such a mighty feat is, indeed, worthy of you. I have been pleased with you. Fight hard with  me, O son.”

Having applauded Partha thus, and taking up another large bow, that hero shot his shafts at Partha's car. Vasudeva then displayed his great skill in the guiding of chariot, for he baffled those shafts of his, by guiding the car in quick circles. Then, Bhishma with great strength pierced both Vasudeva and Dhananjaya with keen shafts all over their bodies. Mangled by those shafts of Bhishma, those two tigers among men looked like two roaring bulls with the scratches of horns on their bodies. Once again, excited with rage, Bhishma covered the two Krishnas on all sides with shafts in hundreds and thousands. With those keen shafts of his, the enraged Bhishma caused him of Vrishni's race to shiver. Laughing loudly he also made Krishna to wonder.

Krishna takes up the weapon against Bhishma

Then the mighty-armed Krishna, beholding the prowess of Bhishma in battle as also the mildness with which Arjuna fought, and seeing that Bhishma was creating incessant showers of arrows in that conflict and looked like the all-consuming Sun himself in the midst of the two armies, and marking besides, that that hero was slaying the foremost of combatants in Yudhishthira's host and causing a havoc in that army as if the hour of dissolution had come, the adorable Keshava, that slayer of hosts, endued with immeasurable soul, unable to bear what he saw, thought that Yudhishthira's army could not survive that slaughter.

“In a single day Bhishma can slaughter all the Daityas and the Danavas. With how much ease then can he slay in battle the sons of Pandu with all their troops and followers. The vast army of the illustrious son of Pandu is again flying away. The Kauravas also beholding the Somakas routed, are rushing to battle cheerfully, gladdening the grandsire. Accoutred in mail, even I will slay Bhishma to-day for the sake of the Pandavas. This burden of the high-souled Pandavas even I will lighten. As regards Arjuna, though struck in battle with keen shafts, he knows not what he should do, from respect for Bhishma”

While Krishna was reflecting thus the grandsire, excited with wrath, once again shot his shafts at Partha's car. In consequence of very great number of those arrows all the points of the compass became entirely shrouded. Neither the welkin nor the quarters nor the earth nor the sun himself of brilliant rays, could be seen. The winds that blew seemed to be mixed with smoke, and all the points of the compass seemed to be agitated. Drona, and Vikarna, and Jayadratha, and Bhurishrava, and Kritavarman, and Kripa, and Shrutayush and the ruler of the Ambashthas and Vinda and Anuvinda, Sudakshina and the westerners, and the diverse tribes of the Sauviras, the Vasatis, and the Kshudrakas, and the Malavas, all these, at the command of the royal son of Shantanu, quickly approached Kiritin for battle. The grandson of Shini saw that Kiritin was surrounded by many hundreds of horse, and infantry, and cars, and mighty elephants. Beholding both Vasudeva and Arjuna thus encompassed by infantry and elephants and horses and cars, on all sides, that foremost of all bearers of arms, viz., the chief of the Shinis, quickly proceeded to that spot. That foremost of bowmen, the chief of the Shinis, quickly rushing at those troops, came to Arjuna's side like Vishnu coming to the aid of the slayer of Vritra.

That foremost warrior of Shini's race cheerfully said unto Yudhishthira's host all the combatants of which had been frightened by Bhishma and whose elephants, steeds, cars, and numberless standards had been mangled and broken into pieces, and which was flying away from the field, these words,

“You Kshatriyas, where do you go? This is not the duty of the righteous as has been declared by the ancients. You foremost of heroes, do not violate your pledges. Observe your own duties as heroes”.

Beholding that those foremost of kings were flying together from the field of battle, and marking the mildness with which Partha fought, and beholding also that Bhishma was exerting himself very powerfully in battle, and that the Kurus were rushing from all sides, the younger brother of Vasava, the high-souled protector of all the Dasharhas, unable to bear it all, addressed the renowned grandson of Shini, and applauding him, said,

“O hero of Shini's race, they that are retreating, are, indeed, retreating. They that are yet staying, O you of the Satwata race, let them also go away. Behold, I will soon throw Bhishma down from his car, and Drona also in battle, with all their followers. There is none in the Kuru host, O you of the Satwata race, who is able to escape my angry self. Therefore, taking up my fierce discus, I will slay Bhishma of high vows. Slaying in battle those two foremost of car-warriors, viz., Bhishma along with his followers and Drona also, O grandson of Shini, I will gladden Dhananjaya, and the king, and Bhima, and the twin Ashwins. Slaying all the sons of Dhritarashtra and all those foremost of kings who have embraced their side, I will joyfully furnish king Ajatashatru with a kingdom today.”

Saying this, Vasudeva's son, abandoning (the reins of) the steeds, jumped down from the car, whirling with his (right) arm his discus of beautiful nave with edge sharp as a razor, effulgent as the sun and possessed of force equal to that of a thousand bolts of heaven. Making the earth tremble under his tread, the high-souled Krishna rushed impetuously towards Bhishma. That grinder of foes, the younger brother of the chief of the gods, excited with wrath, rushed towards Bhishma staying in the midst of his troops, like a lion from desire of slaying upon a prince of elephants blinded with fury and staying proudly for the attack. The end of his yellow garments waving in the air looked like a cloud charged with lightning in the sky. That lotus of a discus called Sudarshana, having for its stalk the beautiful arm of Shaurin, looked as beautiful as the primeval lotus, bright as the morning sun, which sprung from the navel of Narayana. Krishna's wrath was the morning sun that caused that lotus to blow. The beautiful leaves of that lotus were as sharp as the edge of a razor. Krishna's body was the beautiful lake, and his (right) arm the stalk springing therefrom, upon which that lotus shone.

Beholding the younger brother of Mahendra, excited with wrath and roaring loudly and armed with that discus, all creatures set out a loud wail, thinking that the destruction of the Kurus was at hand. Armed with his discus Vasudeva looked like the Samvarta fire that appears at the end of the Yuga for consuming the world. The preceptor of the universe blazed up like a fierce comet risen for consuming all creatures. Beholding that foremost of bipeds, that divine personage, advancing armed with the discus, Shantanu’s son stationed on his car, bow and arrow in hand, fearlessly said,

“Come, Come, O Lord of the gods, O you that has the universe for your abode. I bow to you, O you that are armed with mace, sword and Saranga. O lord of the universe, forcibly throw me down from this excellent car, O you that are the refuge of all creatures in this battle. Slain here by you, O Krishna, great will be my good fortune both in this world and the next. Great is the respect you pay me, O Lord of the Vrishnis and the Andhakas. My dignity will be celebrated in the three worlds.”

Hearing these words of Shantanu’s son, Krishna rushing impetuously towards him said,

“You are the root of this great slaughter on earth. You will behold Duryodhana slain to-day. A wise minister who treads in the path of righteousness should restrain a king that is addicted to the evil of gambling. That wretch again of his race who transgresses duty should be abandoned as one whose intelligence has been misdirected by destiny.”

The royal Bhishma, hearing these words, replied unto the chief of the Yadus, saying,

“Destiny is all powerful. The Yadus, for their benefit, had abandoned Kansa. I said this to the king (Dhritarashtra) but he minded it not. The listener that has no benefit to receive becomes, for (his own) misery, of perverted understanding through (the influence of destiny).”

Meanwhile, jumping down from his car, Partha, himself of massive and long arms, quickly ran on foot after that chief of Yadu's race possessed of massive and long arms, and seized him by his two hands. That first of all gods devoted in self, Krishna, was excited with rage. Therefore, though thus seized, Vishnu forcibly dragged Jishnu after him, like a tempest bearing away a single tree. The high-souled Partha, however, seizing them with great force his legs as he was proceeding at a quick pace towards Bhishma, succeeded in stopping him with difficulty at the tenth step. When Krishna stopped, decked as he was with a beautiful garland of gold, cheerfully bowed down to him and said,

“Quell this wrath of yours. You are the refuge of the Pandavas, O Keshava. I swear, O Keshava, by my sons and uterine brothers that I will not withdraw from the acts to which I have pledged myself. O younger brother of Indra, at your command I will certainly annihilate the Kurus.”

Hearing that promise and oath of his, Janardana became gratified. Ever engaged as he was in doing what was agreeable to Arjuna, that best of the Kurus, he once more, discus on arm, mounted on his car. That slayer of foes once more took up those reins (that he had abandoned), and taking up his conch called Panchajanya, Shaurin filled all the points of the compass and the welkin with its blare. Thereupon beholding Krishna decked with necklace and Angada and ear-rings, with curved eye-lashes smeared with dust, and with teeth of perfect whiteness, once more take up his conch the Kuru heroes uttered a loud cry.

The sound of cymbals and drums and kettle-drums, and the rattle of car-wheels and the noise of smaller drums, mingling with those leonine shouts, set forth from all the ranks of the Kurus, became a fierce uproar. The twang of Partha's Gandiva, resembling the roll of the thunder, filled the welkin and all the quarters. Shot from the bow of Pandu's son, bright and blazing shafts proceeded in all directions. Then the Kuru king, with a large force, and with Bhishma and Bhurishravas also, arrow in hand, and resembling a comet risen for consuming a constellation, rushed against him.

Bhurishravas hurled at Arjuna seven javelins furnished with wings of gold, and Duryodhana a lance of fierce impetuosity, and Shalya a mace, and Shantanu’s son a dart. Thereupon, Arjuna, baffling with seven shafts the seven javelins, fleet as arrows, shot by Bhurishravas, cut off with another keen-edged shaft the lance hurled from Duryodhana's arm. The blazing dart coming towards him, effulgent as lightning, hurled by Shantanu’s son, and the mace hurled from the arm of the ruler of the Madras, that hero cut off with two (other) shafts. Then drawing with his two hands and with great force his beautiful bow Gandiva of immeasurable energy, he invoked with proper mantras the highly wonderful and terrible Mahendra weapon and caused it to appear in the welkin. With that mighty weapon producing profuse showers of arrows endued with the effulgence of the blazing fire, that high-souled and mighty bowman, decked with diadem and garland of gold, checked the entire Kaurava host.

Those shafts from Partha's bow, cutting off the arms, bows, standard-tops, and cars, penetrated into the bodies of the kings and of the huge elephants and steeds of the foe. Filling the cardinal and the subsidiary directions with those sharp and terrible shafts of his, Pritha's son decked with diadem and garland of gold, agitated the hearts of his foes by means of the twang of Gandiva. In that awful passage at arms, the blare of conches and beat of drums and the deep rattle of cars were all silenced by the twang of Gandiva. Ascertaining that twang to be of Gandiva, king Virata and other heroes among men, and the brave Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, all proceeded to that spot with undepressed hearts. All Kaurava combatants stood, struck with fear, each at the spot where he heard that twang of Gandiva. None amongst them ventured to proceed to that place whence that sound was heard.

In that awful slaughter of kings, heroic combatants were slain and car-warriors with those that guided their cars. Elephants with resplendent housings of gold and gorgeous standards (on their backs), afflicted with broad-headed shafts failing upon them, suddenly fell down, deprived of life and their bodies mangled by Kiritin. Forcibly struck by Partha with his winged arrows of great impetuosity and broad-headed shafts of keen-edge and points, the standards of innumerable kings stationed at the heads of their yantras and Indrajalas were cut off. Bands of infantry and car-warriors, in that battle, and steeds and elephants, fell fast on the field, their limbs paralyzed, or themselves speedily deprived of life, affected by Dhananjaya with those shafts. Many were the warriors who in that terrible conflict had their coats of mail and bodies cut through by that mighty weapon called after the name of Indra. With those terrible and sharp shafts of his, Kiritin caused an awful river to run on the field of battle, having for its waters the blood flowing from the mangled bodies of the combatants and having for its froth their fat.

Its current was broad and ran fiercely. The bodies of elephants and steeds dispatched to the other world formed its banks. Its mire consisted of the entrails, the marrow, and the flesh of human beings, and prodigious Rakshasas formed the (tall) trees (standing on its banks). The crowns of human heads in profusion, covered with hair, formed its (floating) mess, and heaps of human bodies, forming its sandbanks, caused the current to flow in a thousand directions. The coats of mail strewn all over formed its hard pebbles. Its banks were infested by large number of jackals and wolves and cranes and vultures and crowds of Rakshasas, and packs of hyenas. They that were alive beheld that terrible river of current consisting of fat, marrow, and blood, caused by the arrowy showers of Arjuna, that embodiment of (man's) cruelty, to look like the great Vaitarani. Beholding the foremost warriors of that army of the Kurus thus slain by Phalguni, the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kurushas, the Matsyas, and all the combatants of the Pandava side, those foremost of men, elated with victory, together set up a loud shout for frightening the Kaurava warriors. They uttered that cry indicative of victory, beholding the foremost combatants of the (Kuru) army, the very troops protected by mighty leaders of divisions, thus slain by Kiritin, that terror of foes, who frightened them like a lion frightening herds of smaller animals.

Then the bearer of Gandiva himself, and Janardana both filled with delight, uttered loud roars. The Kurus, with Bhishma, and Drona and Duryodhana and Bahlika, exceedingly mangled by the weapons (of Arjuna), beholding the sun withdraw his rays, and seeing also that awful and irresistible weapon called after the name of Indra spread out and causing (as it were) the end of the Yuga to appear, withdraw their forces for the nightly rest. That foremost of men, Dhananjaya also, having achieved a great feat and won great renown by crushing his foes, and beholding the sun assume a red hue and the evening twilight to set in, and having completed his work, retired with his uterine brothers to the camp for nightly rest. Then when darkness was about to set in, there arose among the Kuru troops a great and terrible uproar. All said,

“In today's battle Arjuna has slain ten thousand car-warriors, and full seven hundred elephants. All the westerners, and the diverse tribes of the Sauviras, and the Kshudrakas and the Malavas, have all been slain. The feat achieved by Dhananjaya is a mighty one. None else is competent to achieve it. Shrutayush, the ruler of the Ambashthas, and Durmarshana, and Chitrasena, and Drona, and Kripa, and the ruler of the Sindhus, and Bahlika, and Bhurishravas, and Shalya, and Shala, and other warriors by hundreds united together, along with Bhishma himself, have on battle, by the prowess of his own arms, been vanquished today by the angry son of Pritha, viz., Kiritin, that one mighty car-warrior in the world.”

Talking thus, all the warriors of Dhritarashtra’s side went to their tents from the field of battle. All the combatants of the Kuru army frightened by Kiritin, then entered their tents illumined by thousands of torches, and beautified by innumerable lamps.