The fourteenth day of war – 6: The killing of Jayadratha

OM! Having bowed down unto Narayan, and unto that most exalted of male beings, viz., Nara, and unto the goddess Saraswati also, must the word Jaya be uttered.

Satyaki kills king Alambusha

Beholding that foremost of men, viz., Bhima, to proceed, afflicted with Karna's shafts in the midst, or many heroes, that foremost warrior amongst the Shinis followed him on his car. Roaring like the clouds at the close of summer, and blazing like the autumnal sun, he began to slaughter with his formidable bow the host of Dhritarashtra’s son, causing it to tremble repeatedly. As the foremost one of Madhu's race thus proceeded along the field on his car, drawn by steeds of the hue of silver and himself roaring terribly, none amongst Dhritarashtra’s warriors could check his progress. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Alambusha, full of rage, never retreating from battle, armed with bow, and clad in a golden coat of mail rushing quickly, impeded the progress of Satyaki, that foremost warrior of Madhu's race. The encounter, then that took place between them was such that its like had never been. All Dhritarashtra’s warriors and the enemy, abstaining from the fight, became spectators of that engagement between those two ornaments of battle. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Alambusha forcibly pierced Satyaki with ten arrows. That bull of Shini's race, however, with shafts, cut all those arrows before they could reach him. Once more, Alambusha struck Satyaki with three sharp arrows equipped with beautiful wings, blazing as fire, and shot from his bow drawn to the ear. Those piercing through Satyaki's coat of mail, penetrated into his body. Having pierced Satyaki's body with those sharp and blazing arrows, endued with the force of fire or the wind, Alambusha forcibly struck the four steeds of Satyaki, white as silver, with four other arrows. The grandson of Shini, endued with great activity and prowess like that of (Keshava himself), the bearer of the discus, thus struck by him, slew with four shafts of great impetuosity the four steeds of Alambusha. Having then cut off the head, beautiful as the full moon and decked with excellent car-rings with a broad-headed arrow, fierce as the Yuga-fire. Having slain that descendant of many kings in battle, that bull among the Yadus, that hero capable of grinding hostile hosts, proceeded towards Arjuna, resisting, as he went, the enemy's troops.

Satyaki, aided by Arjuna, kills Bhurishravas

Indeed, thus careering in the midst of the foe, the Vrishni hero, while proceeding in the wake (of Arjuna), was seen repeatedly to destroy with his shafts the Kuru host, like the hurricane dispersing gathering masses of clouds. Whithersoever that lion among men desired to go, there he was borne by those excellent steeds of his, of the Sindhu breed, well-broken, docile, white as milk of the Kunda flower or the moon or snow, and adorned with trappings of warriors, viz., Duhshasana,--their commander. Those leaders of divisions, encompassing the grandson of Shini on all sides in that battle, began to strike him. That foremost one among the Satwatas, that hero, viz., Satyaki also, resisted them all with showers of arrows. Quickly checking all of them by means of his fiery shafts, that slayer of foes, viz., the grandson of Shini, forcibly uplifting his bow, slew the steeds of Duhshasana. Then, Arjuna and Krishna, beholding that foremost of men, (viz., Satyaki) in that battle, became filled with joy.

Then the great bowmen of the Trigarta country owning standards, adorned with gold, encompassed on all sides the mighty-armed Satyaki, that warrior who accomplished with great activity everything that demanded accomplishment and who, having penetrated into that host, unlimited as the sea, was rushing against Duhshasana's car from desire of Dhananjaya's success. Checking his course with a large throng of cars on all sides, those great bowmen, excited with rage, covered him with showers of arrows. Having penetrated into the midst of the Bharata army which resembled a shoreless sea, and which, filled with the sound of palms abounded with swords and darts and maces, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, alone vanquished his foes, those fifty (Trigarta) princes shining brilliantly in that battle. On that occasion the conduct of Shini's grandson in battle was extremely wonderful. So great was the lightness (of his movements) that being seen on the west, he immediately was seen in the east. North, south, east, west, and in the other subsidiary directions, that hero seemed to career dancingly, as if he constituted a hundred warriors in his single self. Beholding that conduct of Satyaki, endued with the sportive tread of the lion, the Trigarta warriors, unable to bear his prowess fled away towards (the division of) their own (countrymen).

Then the brave warriors of the Shurasenas endeavoured to check Satyaki, striking him with showers of shafts, like a driver striking an infuriated elephant with the hook. The high-souled Satyaki struggled with them for a short space of time and then that hero of inconceivable prowess began to fight with the Kalingas. Transgressing that division of the Kalingas which was incapable of being crossed, the mighty-armed Satyaki approached the presence of Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha. Like a tired swimmer in water when he reaches the land, Yuyudhana became comforted on obtaining the sight of Dhananjaya, that tiger among men.

Beholding him approach, Keshava, addressing Partha, said,

“There comes the grandson of Shini, O Partha, following in your wake. O you of prowess incapable of being baffled, he is your disciple and friend. That bull among men, regarding all the warriors as straw, has vanquished them. Inflicting terrible injuries upon the Kaurava warriors, Satyaki, who is dear to you as life, comes towards you, O Kiritin! Having with his shafts crushed Drona himself and Kritavarman of the Bhoja race, this Satyaki comes to you, O Phalguna! Intent on Yudhishthira's good, having slain many foremost of warriors, the brave Satyaki, skilled in weapons, is coming to you, O Phalguna! Having achieved the most difficult feat in the midst of the (Kaurava) troops, the mighty Satyaki, desirous of obtaining your sight comes to you, O son of Pandu! Having on a single car fought in battle many mighty car-warriors with the preceptor (Drona) on their head, Satyaki comes to you, O Partha! Despatched by Dharma's son, this Satyaki comes to you, O Partha, having pierced through the Kaurava army, relying on the might of his own arms. Invincible in battle, that Satyaki, who has no warrior amongst the Kauravas equal to him, is coming to you, O son of Kunti! Having slain, countless warriors, this Satyaki comes to you, O Partha, freed from amid the Kaurava troops, like a lion from amid a herd of kine. Having strewn the earth with the faces, beautiful as the lotus, of thousands of kings, this Satyaki is coming to you, O Partha! Having vanquished in battle Duryodhana himself with his brothers, and having slain Jalasandha, Satyaki is coming quickly. Having caused a river of blood for its mire, and regarding the Kauravas as straw, Satyaki comes towards you.”

The son of Kunti, without being cheerful, said these words unto Keshava,

“The arrival of Satyaki, O mighty-armed one, is scarcely agreeable to me. I do not, O Keshava, know how king Yudhishthira the Just is. Now that he is separated from Satwata, I doubt whether he is alive; O mighty-armed one, this Satyaki should have protected the king. Why then, O Krishna, has this one, leaving Yudhishthira followed in my wake? The king, therefore, has been abandoned to Drona. The ruler of the Sindhus has not yet been slain. There, Bhurishravas is proceeding against Satyaki in battle. A heavier burden has been cast upon me on account of Jayadratha. I should know how the ling is and I should also protect Satyaki. I should also slay Jayadratha. The sun hangs low. As regards the mighty-armed Satyaki, he is tired; his weapons also have been exhausted. His steeds as also their driver, are tired, O Madhava! Bhurishravas, on the other hand, is not tired, he has supporters behind him, O Keshava! Will success be Satyaki's in this encounter? Having crossed the very ocean, will Satyaki of unbaffled prowess, will that bull amongst the Shinis, of great energy, succumb, obtaining (before him) the vestige of a cow's foot? Encountering that foremost one amongst the Kurus, viz., the high-souled Bhurishravas, skilled in weapons, will Satyaki have good fortune? I regard this, O Keshava, to have been an error of judgment on the part of king Yudhishthira the Just. Casting of all fear of the preceptor, he has despatched Satyaki (from away his side). Like a sky-ranging hawk after a peace of meat, Drona always endeavours after the seizure of king Yudhishthira the Just. Will the king be free from all danger?”

Beholding Satwata, invincible in battle coming (towards Arjuna), Bhurishravas, in rage, suddenly advanced towards him. He of Kuru's race, then, addressing that bull of Shini's race, said,

“By luck it, is you that have today come within the range of my vision. Today in this; battle, I obtain the wish I had always cherished. If you do not flee away from battle, you will not escape me with life. Slaying you today in fight, you that are ever proud of your heroism, I will, O you of Dasharha's race, gladden the Kuru king Suyodhana. Those heroes, viz., Keshava and Arjuna, will today together behold you lying on the field of battle, scorched with my arrows. Hearing that you have been slain by me, the royal son of Dharma, who caused you to penetrate into this host, will today be covered with shame. Pritha's son, Dhananjaya, will today behold my prowess when he sees you slain and lying on the earth, covered with gore. This encounter with you has always been desired by me, like the encounter of Shakra with Bali in the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old. Today I will give you dreadful battle, O Satwata! You shall thence truly understand (the measure of) my energy, might, and manliness. Slain by me in battle, you shall today proceed to the abode of Yama, like Ravana's son (Indrajit) slain by Lakshmana, the younger brother of Rama. Today, Krishna and Partha and king Yudhishthira the Just, O you of Madhu's race, witnessing your slaughter will, without doubt, be overcome with despondency and will give up battle. Causing your death today, O Madhava, with keen shafts, I will gladden the wives of all those that have been slain by you in battle. Having come within the scope of my vision, you shall not escape, like a small deer from within the range of a lion's vision.”

Hearing these words of his, Yuyudhana answered him with a laugh, saying,

“O you of Kuru's race, I am never inspired with fear in battle. You shall not succeed in terrifying me with your words only. He will slay me in battle who will succeed in disarming me. He that will slay me in battle will slay (foes) for all time to come. What is the use of such idle and long-winded boast in words? Accomplish in deed what you say. Your words seem to be as fruitless as the roar of autumnal clouds. Hearing, O hero, these roars of yours, I cannot restrain my laughter. Let that encounter, O you of Kuru's race, which has been desired by you so long, take place today. My heart, O sire, inspired as it is with the desire of an encounter with you, cannot brook any delay. Before slaying you, I shall not abstain from the fight, O wretch.”

Rebuking each other in such words, those two bulls among men, both excited with great wrath, struck each other in battle, each being desirous of taking the other's life. Those great bowmen both endued with great might, encountered each other in battle, each challenging the other, like two wrathful elephants in rut for the sake of a she-elephant in her season. Those two chastisers of foes, viz., Bhurishravas and Satyaki, poured upon each other dense showers of arrows like two masses of clouds. Then Somadatta's son, having shrouded the grandson of Shini with swift coursing shafts, once more pierced the latter with many keen shafts, from desire of slaying him. Having pierced Satyaki with ten shafts, Somadatta's son sped many other keen shafts at that bull amongst the Shinis, from a desire of compassing his destruction. Satyaki, however, cut off, with the power of his weapons, all those keen shafts of Bhurishravas in the welkin, before, in fact, any of them could reach him. Those two heroes, those two warriors that enhanced the fame of the Kurus and the Vrishnis respectively, both of noble lineage, thus poured upon each other their arrowy showers. Like two tigers fighting with their claws or two huge elephants with their tusks they mangled each other with shafts and darts, such as car-warriors may use.

Mangling each other's limbs, and with blood issuing out of their wounds, those two warriors engaged in a gambling match in which their lives were at the stake, checked and confounded each other. Those heroes of excellent feats, those enhancers of the fame of the Kurus and the Vrishnis, thus fought with each other, like two leaders of elephantine herds. Indeed, those warriors, both coveting the highest region, both cherishing the desire of very soon attaining the region of Brahman, thus roared at each other. Indeed, Satyaki and Somadatta's son continued to cover each other with their arrowy showers in the sight of the Dhartarashtras filled with joy. The people there witnessed that encounter between those two foremost of warriors who were fighting like two leaders of elephantine herds for the sake of a she-elephant in her season. Then each slaying the other's steeds and cutting off the other's bow, those car-less combatants encountered each other with swords in a dreadful fight. Taking up two beautiful and large and bright shields made of bull's hide, and two naked swords, they careered on the field. Stalking in circles and in diverse other kinds of courses duly, those grinders of foes excited with rage, frequently struck each other. Armed with swords, clad in bright armour, decked with cuirass and Angadas, those two famous warriors showed diverse kinds of motion. They wheeled about on high and made side-thrusts, and ran about, and rushed forward and rushed upwards. Those chastisers of foes began to strike each other with their swords. Each of them looked eagerly for the dereliction of the other. Both of those heroes leapt beautifully and both showed their skill in that battle, began also to make skilful passes at each other, and having struck each other, those heroes took rest for a moment in the sight of all the troops.

Having with their swords cut in pieces each other's beautiful shield, decked with a hundred moons, those tigers among men, engaged themselves in a wrestling encounter. Both having broad chests, both having long arms, both well-skilled in wrestling, they encountered each other with their arms of iron that resembled spiked maces. They struck each other with their arms, and seized each other's arms, and each seized with his arms the other's neck. The skill they had acquired by exercise, contributed to the joy of all the warriors that stood as spectators of the encounter. As those heroes fought with each other, in that battle, loud and terrible were the sounds produced by them, resembling the fall of the thunder upon the mountain breast. Like two elephants encountering each other with the end of their tusks, or like two bulls with their horns, those two illustrious and foremost warriors of the Kuru and the Satwata races, fought with each other, sometimes binding each other with their arms, sometimes striking each other with their heads, sometimes intertwining each other's legs, sometimes slapping their armpits, sometimes pinching each other with their nails, sometimes clasping each other tightly, sometimes twining their legs round each other's loins, sometimes rolling on the ground, sometimes advancing, sometimes receding, sometimes rising up, and sometimes leaping up. Indeed, those two and thirty kinds of separate manoeuvres that characterise encounters of that kind.

When Satwata's weapons were exhausted during his engagement with Bhurishravas, Vasudeva said unto Arjuna,

“Behold that foremost of all bowmen, viz., Satyaki, engaged in battle, deprived of car. He has entered the Bharata host, having pierced through it, following in your wake, O son of Pandu! He has fought with all the Bharata warriors of great energy. The giver of large sacrificial presents, viz., Bhurishravas, has encountered that foremost of warriors while tired with fatigue. Desirous of battle, Bhurishravas is about to encounter.”

Then that warrior invincible in battle, viz., Bhurishravas, excited with wrath, vigorously struck Satyaki, like an infuriated elephant striking an infuriated compeer. Those two foremost of warriors, both upon their cars, and both excited with wrath, fought on, Keshava and Arjuna witnessing their encounter. Then the mighty-armed Krishna, addressing Arjuna, said,

“Behold, that tiger among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas has succumbed to Somadatta's son. Having achieved the most difficult feats, exhausted with exertion, he has been deprived of his car. O Arjuna, protect Satyaki, your heroic disciple. See that foremost of men may not, for your sake, O tiger among men, succumb to Bhurishravas, devoted to sacrifices. O puissant one, speedily do what is needed.”

Dhananjaya, with a cheerful heart addressing Vasudeva, said,

“Behold, that bull amongst the Kurus and that foremost one among the Vrishnis are sporting with each other, like a huge elephant mad with rage sporting with a mighty lion in the forest.”

While Dhananjaya the son of Pandu was thus speaking, loud cries of “oh” and “alas” arose among the troops, since the mighty-armed Bhurishravas, exerting vigorously struck Satyaki and brought him down upon the ground. Like a lion dragging an elephant, that foremost one of Kuru's race, viz., Bhurishravas, that giver of profuse presents at sacrifices, dragging that foremost one amongst the Satwatas, looked resplendent in that battle. Then Bhurishravas in that encounter, drawing his sword from the scabbard, seized Satyaki by the hair of his head and struck him at the chest with his feet. Bhurishravas then was about to cut off from Satyaki's trunk his head decked with ear-rings. For sometime, the Satwata hero rapidly whirled his head with the arm of Bhurishravas that held it by the hair, like a potter's wheel whirled round with the staff. Beholding Satwata thus dragged in battle by Bhurishravas, Vasudeva once more, addressed Arjuna and said,

“Behold, that tiger among the Vrishnis and the Andhakas, that disciple of yours, O mighty-armed one, not inferior to you in bowmanship, has succumbed to Somadatta's son. O Partha, since Bhurishravas is thus prevailing over the Vrishni hero, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, the very name of the latter is about to be falsified.”

Thus addressed by Vasudeva the mighty-armed son of Pandu, mentally worshipped Bhurishravas in that battle, saying,

“I am glad that, Bhurishravas, that enhancer of the fame of the Kurus, is dragging Satyaki in battle, as if in sport. Without slaying Satyaki that foremost one among the heroes of the Vrishni race, the Kuru warrior is only dragging him like a mighty lion in the forest dragging a huge elephant.”

Mentally applauding the Kuru warrior thus, the mighty-armed Arjuna, the son of Pritha, replied unto Vasudeva, saying,

“My eyes having rested upon of the Sindhus, I could not, O Madhava, see Satyaki. I shall, however, for the sake of that Yadava warrior, achieve a most difficult feat.”

Having said these words, in obedience to Vasudeva, the son of Pandu, fixed on Gandiva a sharp razor-headed arrow. That arrow, shot by Partha's hand and resembling a meteor flashing down from the firmament, cut off the Kuru warrior's arm with the sword in the grasp and decked with Angada.

That arm (of Bhurishravas) decked with Angada and the sword in its grasp (thus cut off), fell down on the earth to the great grief of all living creatures. Indeed, that arm, which was to have cut off Satyaki's head itself, cut off by the unseen Arjuna, quickly dropped down on the earth, like a snake of five heads. The Kuru warrior, beholding himself incapacitated by Partha abandoned his hold on Satyaki and wrathfully reproved the son of Pandu.

Bhurishravas said,

“You have, O son of Kunti, done a cruel and heartless deed, since without being engaged with me, you have, unseen by me, cut off my arm. Shall you not have to say unto Yudhishthira, the royal son of Dharma, even this, viz.,

“Bhurishravas, while otherwise engaged, was slain by me in battle?”

Were you taught this use of weapons by the high-souled Indra or by Rudra, O Partha, or by Drona, or by Kripa? You are, in this world, better acquainted with the rules about the use of weapons than all others. Why then have you cut off in battle the arm of a warrior who was not engaged with you? The righteous never strike him that is heedless, or him that is terrified, or him that is made carless, or him that begged for life or protection, of him that has fallen into distress. Why, then, O Partha, have you perpetrated such an extremely unworthy deed that is sinful, that is worthy only of a low wretch, and that is practised by only a wicked bloke! A respectable person, O Dhananjaya, can easily accomplish a deed that is respectable. A deed, however, that is disrespectable becomes difficult of accomplishment by a person that is respectable. A man quickly catches the behaviour of those with whom and amongst whom he moves. This is seen in you, O Partha! Being of royal lineage and born, especially, in Kuru's race, how have you fallen off from the duties of a Kshatriya, although you wert of good behaviour and observant of excellent vows. This mean act that you have perpetrated for the sake of the Vrishni warrior, is without doubt, conformable to Vasudeva's counsels. Such an act does not suit one like you. Who else, unless he were a friend of Krishna's, would inflict such a wrong upon lone that is heedlessly engaged with another in battle? The Vrishnis and the Andhakas are bad Kshatriyas, ever engaged in sinful deeds, and are, by nature, addicted to disreputable behaviour. Why, O Partha, have you taken them as model?”

Thus addressed in battle, Partha replied unto Bhurishravas, saying,

“It is evident that with the decrepitude of the body one's intellect also becomes decrepit, since, O lord, all those senseless words have been uttered by you. Although you know Hrishikesha and myself well, how is it that you rebuke us thus? Knowing as I do the rules of battle and conversant as I am with the meaning of all the scriptures, I would never do an act that is sinful. Knowing this well, you rebuke me yet. The Kshatriyas fight with their foes, surrounded by their own followers, their brothers, sires, sons, relatives, kinsmen, companions, and friends. These also fight, relying on the (strength of) arms of those they follow. Why, then, should I not protect Satyaki, my disciple and dear kinsman, who is fighting for our sake in this battle, regardless of life itself, that is so difficult of being laid down. Invincible in fight, Satyaki, O king, is my right arm in battle. One should not protect one's own self only, when one goes to battle, he, O king, who is engaged in the business of another should be protected (by that other). Such men being protected, the king is protected in press of battle. If I had calmly beheld Satyaki on the point of being slain in great battle (and had not interfered for saying him), sin would, then, owing to Satyaki's death, have been mine, for such negligence! Why then do you become angry with me for my having protected Satyaki? You rebuke me, O king, saying,

“Though engaged with another, I have yet been maimed by you.”

In that matter, I answer, I judged wrongly. Sometimes shaking my armour; sometimes riding on my car, sometimes drawing the bow-string, I was fighting with my enemies in the midst of a host resembling the vast deep, teeming with cars and elephants and abounding with steeds and foot-soldiers and echoing with fierce leonine shouts. Amongst friends and foes engaged with one another, how could it be possible that the Satwata warrior was engaged with only one person in battle? Having fought with many and vanquished many mighty car-warriors, Satyaki had been tired. He himself, afflicted with weapons, had become cheerless. Having, under such circumstances, vanquished the mighty car-warrior, Satyaki, and brought him under your control, you sought to display your superiority. You had desired to cut off, with your sword, the head of Satyaki in battle. I could not possibly behold with indifference Satyaki reduced to that strait. You should rather rebuke your own self, since you did not take care of yourself (when seeking to injure another). Indeed, O hero, how would you have behaved towards one who is your dependant?”

Thus addressed (by Arjuna), the mighty-armed and illustrious Bhurishravas, bearing the device of the sacrificial stake on his banner, abandoning Yuyudhana, desired to die according to the vow of Praya. Distinguished by many righteous deeds, he spread with his left hand a bed of arrows, and desirous of proceeding to the region of Brahman, committed his senses to the care of the deities presiding over them. Fixing his gaze on the sun, and setting his cleansed heart on the moon, and thinking of (the mantras in) the Maha Upanishad, Bhurishravas, betaking himself to Yoga, ceased to speak. Then all the persons in the entire army began to speak ill of Krishna and Dhananjaya and applauded Bhurishravas, that bull among men. Though censured, the two Krishnas, however, spoke not a word disagreeable (to the dying hero). The stake-bannered Bhurishravas also, though thus applauded, felt no joy.

Then Pandu's son Dhananjaya, called also Phalguna, incapable of bearing Dhritarashtra’s sons speaking in that strain, as also of putting up with their words and the words of Bhurishravas, in grief and without an angry heart, and as if for reminding them all, said these words,

“All the kings are acquainted with my great vow, viz., that no one shall succeed in slaying anybody that belongs to our side, as long as the latter is within the range of my shafts. Remembering this, O stake-bannered one, it befits you not to censure me. Without knowing rules of morality, it is not proper for one to censure others. That I have cut off your arm while you, well-armed in battle, were on the point of slaying (the unarmed) Satyaki, is not all contrary to morality. But what righteous man is there, O sire, that would applaud the slaughter of Abhimanyu, a mere child, without arms, deprived of car, and his armour fallen off?”

Thus addressed by Partha, Bhurishravas touched the ground with his left arm the right one (that had been lopped off). The stake-bannered Bhurishravas, having heard those words of Partha, remained silent, with his head hanging down. Then Arjuna said,

“O eldest brother of Shala, equal to what I bear to king Yudhishthira the Just, or Bhima, that foremost of all mighty persons, or Nakula, or Sahadeva, is the love I bear to you. Commanded by me as also by the illustrious Krishna, repair you to the region of the righteous, even where Shibi, the son of Ushinara, is.”

Vasudeva also said,

“You have constantly performed sacrifices and Agnihotras. Go you then, without delay, into those pure, regions of mine that incessantly blaze forth with splendour and that are desired by the foremost of deities with Brahma as their head, and becoming equal to myself, be you borne on the back to Garuda.”

Set free by Somadatta's son, the grandson of Shini, rising up, drew his sword and desired to cut off the head of the high-souled Bhurishravas. Indeed, Satyaki desired to slay the sinless Bhurishravas, the eldest brother of Shala, that giver of plenty in sacrifices who was staying with his, senses withdrawn from battle, who had already been almost slain by the son of Pandu, who was sitting with his arm lopped off and who resembled on that account a trunkless elephant. All the warriors loudly censured him (for his intention). But deprived of reason, and forbidden by Krishna and the high-souled Partha, Bhima, and the two protectors of the two wheels (of Arjuna's car, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas), and Ashwatthaman, and Kripa and Karna, and Vrishasena, and the ruler of the Sindhus also, and while the soldiers were yet uttering shouts of disapproval, Satyaki slew Bhurishravas while in the observance of his vow. Indeed, Satyaki, with his sword, cut off the head of the Kuru warrior who had been deprived of his arm by Partha and who was then sitting in Praya for freeing his soul from the body. The warriors did not applaud Satyaki for that act of his in slaying that perpetuator of Kuru's race who had before been almost slain by Partha.

The Siddhas, the Charanas, and the men there present, as also the gods, beholding the Shakra-like Bhurishravas slain in that battle, through sitting in the observance of that Praya vow, began to applaud him, amazed at the acts, accomplished by him. Dhritarashtra’s soldiers also argued the matter,

“It is no fault of the Vrishni hero. That which was pre-ordained has happened. Therefore, we should not give way to wrath. Anger is the cause of men's sorrow. It was ordained that Bhurishravas would be slain by the Vrishni hero. There is no use of judging of its propriety or otherwise. The Creator had ordained Satyaki to be the cause of Bhurishrava's death in battle.” 

Satyaki said,

“You sinful Kauravas, wearing the outward garment of righteousness, you tell me, in words of virtue, that Bhurishravas should not be slain. Where, however, did this righteousness of yours go when you slew in battle that child, viz., the son of Subhadra, while destitute of arms? I had in a certain fit of haughtiness vowed that he who would, throwing me down alive in battle, strike me with his foot in rage, he would be slain by me even though that foe should adopt the vow of asceticism. Struggling in the encounter, with my arms and eyes hale and sound, you had yet regarded me as dead. This was an act of folly on our part. You bulls among the Kurus, the slaughter of Bhurishravas, accomplished by me, has been very proper! Partha, however, by cutting off this one's arm with sword in grasp for fulfilling, from his affection for me, his own vow (about protecting all on his side), has simply robbed me of glory. That which is ordained must happen. It is destiny that works. Bhurishravas has been slain in press of battle. What sin have I perpetrated? In days of yore, Valmiki sang this verse on earth, viz., “You say, O ape, that women should not be slain. In all ages, however, men should always, with resolute care, accomplish that which gives pain to enemies.””

After Satyaki had said these words, none amongst the Pandavas and the Kauravas said anything. On the other hand, they mentally applauded Bhurishravas. No one there applauded the slaughter of Somadatta's illustrious son who resembled an ascetic living in the woods, or one sanctified with mantras in a great sacrifice, and who had given away thousands of gold coins. The head of that hero, graced with beautiful blue locks and eyes, red as those of pigeons, looked like the head of a horse cut off in a Horse-sacrifice and placed on the sacrificial altar. Sanctified by his prowess and the death he obtained at the edge of the weapon, the boon-giving Bhurishravas, worthy of every boon, casting off his body in great battle, repaired to regions on high, filling the welkin with his high virtues.

Here is an account of the origin, in the past times, of Shini's grandson, and of how Bhurishravas also came to be descended. Atri had for son Soma. Soma's son was called Budha. Budha had one son, of the splendour of the great Indra, called Pururavas. Pururavas had a son called Ayus. Ayus had for his son Nahusha. Nahusha had for his son Yayati who was a royal sage equal to a celestial. Yayati had by Devayani Yadu for his eldest son. In Yadu's race was born a son of the name of Devamidha of Yadu's race had a son named Shura, applauded in the three worlds. Shura had for his son that foremost of men, viz., the celebrated Vasudeva. Foremost in bowmanship, Shura was equal to Kartavirya in battle. In Shura's race and equal unto Shura in energy was, born Shini. About this time occurred the Swayamvara. Of the high-souled Devaka's daughter, in which all the Kshatriyas were present. In that self-choice, Shini vanquishing all the kings, quickly took up on his car the princess Devaki for the sake of Vasudeva. Beholding the princess Devaki on Shini's car, that bull among men, viz., the brave Somadatta of mighty energy could not brook the sight. A battle ensued between the two which lasted for half a day and was beautiful and wonderful to behold. The battle that took place between those two mighty men was a wrestling encounter. That bull among men, viz., Somadatta, was forcibly thrown down on the earth by Shini. Uplifting his sword and seizing him by the hair, Shini struck his foe with his foot, in the midst of many thousands of kings who stood as spectators all around. At last, from compassion, he let him off, saying, “Live!”

Reduced to that plight by Shini, Somadatta, under the influence of wrath began to pay his adorations to Mahadeva for inducing the latter to bless him. That great lord of all boon-giving deities viz., Mahadeva, became ratified with him and asked him to solicit the boon he desired. The royal Somadatta then solicited the following boon,

“I desire a son, O divine lord, who will strike Shini's son in the midst of thousands of kings and who will in battle strike him with his foot.”

Hearing these words of Somadatta, the god saying, “So be it,” disappeared then and there. It was in consequence of the gift of that boon that Somadatta subsequently obtained the highly charitable Bhurishravas for son, and it was for this, Somadatta's son threw down Shini's descendant in battle and struck him, before the eyes of the whole army, with his foot. Indeed, the Satwata hero was incapable of being vanquished in battle by even the foremost of men.

The Vrishni heroes were all of sure aim in battle, and were conversant with all modes of warfare. They were vanquishers of the very gods, the Danavas and the Gandharvas. They were never confounded. They always fought, relying upon their own energy. They were never dependent on others. None were seen in this world to be equal to the Vrishni's. None, have been, are, or will be equal in might to the Vrishni's. They never show disrespect to their kinsmen. They are always obedient to the commands of those that are reverend in years. The very gods and Asuras and Gandharvas, the Yakshas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas could not vanquish the Vrishni heroes, what need be said of men, therefore, in battle? They never coveted also the possessions of those that ever rendered them aid on any occasion of distress. Devoted to the Brahmanas and truthful in speech, they never displayed any pride although they were wealthy. The Vrishnis regarded even the strong as weak and rescued them from distress. Always devoted to the gods, the Vrishnis were self-restrained, charitable, and free from pride. It was for this that the prowess of the Vrishnis was never baffled. A person may remove the mountains of Meru or swim across the ocean but could not defeat the Vrishnis.

Arjuna, with Krishna’s aid, kills Jayadratha

After Bhurishravas had proceeded to the other world, the mighty-armed Arjuna urged Vasudeva, saying,

"Urge the steeds, O Krishna, to greater speed for taking me to the spot where king Jayadratha is. O sinless one, the sun is quickly proceeding towards the Asta hills. O tiger among men, this great task should be achieved by me. The ruler of the Sindhus is, again, protected by many mighty car-warriors among the Kuru army. Urge you the steeds, therefore, O Krishna, in such a way that I may, by slaying Jayadratha before the sun sets, make my vow true.”

Then the mighty-armed Krishna conversant with horse-lore, urged those steeds of silvery hue towards the car of Jayadratha. Then, many leaders of the Kuru army, such as Duryodhana and Karna and Vrishasena and the ruler of the Sindhus himself, rushed with speed, against Arjuna whose shafts were never baffled and who was proceeding, on his car drawn by steeds of great fleetness. Bibhatsu, however, getting at the ruler of the Sindhus who was staying before him, and casting his glances upon him, seemed to scorch him with his eyes blazing with wrath. Then, king Duryodhana, quickly addressed the son of Radha. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s son Suyodhana said unto Karna,

“O son of Vikartana, that time of battle has come at last. O high-souled one, exhibit now your might. O Karna, act in such a way that Jayadratha may not be slain by Arjuna! O foremost of men, the day is about to expire, strike now the foe with clouds of shafts! If the day expire, O foremost of men, victory, O Karna, will certainly be ours! If the ruler of the Sindhus can be protected till the setting of the sun, then Partha, his vow being falsified, will enter into blazing fire. O giver of honours, the brothers, then, of Arjuna, with all their followers, will not be able to live for even a moment in a world that is destitute of Arjuna! Upon the death of the sons of Pandu, the whole of the earth, O Karna, with her mountains and waters and forests, we will enjoy without a thorn on our side! O giver of honours, it seems that Partha, who without ascertaining what is practicable and what is impracticable, made this vow in battle, was afflicted by destiny itself, his judgment having taken a misdirected course! Without doubt, O Karna, the diadem-decked son of Pandu must have made this vow about the slaughter of Jayadratha for his own destruction! How, O son of Radha, when you are alive will Phalguna succeed in slaying the ruler of the Sindhus before the sun goes to the Asta hills? How will Dhananjaya slay Jayadratha in battle when the latter is protected by the king of the Madras and by the illustrious Kripa? How will Bibhatsu, who seems to have been urged on by Fate, get at the ruler of the Sindhus when the latter if protected by Drona's son, by myself, and Duhshasana? Many are the heroes engaged in fight. The sun is hanging low in the sky. Partha will not even get at Jayadratha in battle, O giver of honours. Do you therefore, O Karna, with myself and other brave and mighty car-warriors, with Drona's son and the ruler of the Madras and Kripa fight with Partha in battle, exerting yourself with the greatest firmness and resolution”

Thus addressed by Dhritarashtra’s son, the son of Radha replied unto Duryodhana, that foremost one among the Kurus, in these words,

“Deeply has my body been pierced in battle by the brave bowman Bhimasena, capable of striking vigorously with repeated showers of arrows. O giver of honours, that I am yet present in battle is because that one like me should be present here. Scorched with the powerful shafts of Bhimasena, every limb of mine is suffering from torturing pain I shall, however, for all that, fight to the best of my powers. My life itself is for you. I shall strive my best so that this foremost one of the sons of Pandu may not succeed in slaying the ruler of the Sindhus. As long as I shall fight, shooting my whetted shafts, the heroic Dhananjaya, capable of drawing the bow with even his left hand, will not succeed in getting at the ruler of the Sindhus. All that a person, bearing love and affection to you and always solicitous of your good, may do, shall be done by me, O you of Kuru's race! As regards victory, that depends on destiny. I shall in battle today exert myself to my utmost for the sake of the ruler of the Sindhus, and for achieving your good. O king, victory, however, is dependent on destiny. Relying on my manliness, I shall fight with Arjuna today for your sake, O tiger among men! Victory, however, is dependent on destiny. O chief of the Kurus, let all the troops behold today the fierce battle, making the very hair stand on end, that takes place between myself and Arjuna.”

While Karna and the Kuru king were thus talking to each other in battle, Arjuna began, with his keen arrows, to slaughter Dhritarashtra’s host. With his broad-headed arrows of great sharpness he began to cut off in that battle the arms, looking like spiked clubs or the trunks of elephants, of unreturning heroes. The mighty-armed hero also cut off their heads with whetted shafts. Bibhatsu also cut off the trunks of elephants and the necks of steeds and the Akshas of cars all around, as also blood-dyed horsemen, armed with spears and lances, with razor-faced arrows into two or three fragments. Steeds and foremost of elephants and standards and umbrellas and bows and Yalk-tails and heads fell fast on all sides. Consuming Dhritarashtra’s host like a blazing fire consuming a heap of dry grass, Partha soon caused the earth to be covered with blood. The mighty and invincible Partha, of prowess incapable of being baffled, causing an immense slaughter in that army of Dhritarashtra, soon reached the ruler of the Sindhus. Protected by Bhimasena and by Satwata, Bibhatsu looked resplendent like a blazing fire.

Beholding Phalguna in that state, the mighty bowmen of Dhritarashtra’s army, those bulls among men, endued with wealth of energy, could not brook him. Then Duryodhana and Karna and Vrishasena and the ruler of the Madras, and Ashwatthaman and Kripa and the ruler of the Sindhus himself, excited with wrath and fighting for the sake of the Sindhu king, encompassed the diadem-decked Arjuna on all sides. All those warriors, skilled in battle, placing the ruler of the Sindhus at their back, and desirous of slaying Arjuna and Krishna, surrounded Partha, that hero conversant with battle, who was then dancing along the track of his car, producing fierce sounds with the bowstring and his palms and resembling the Destroyer himself with wide-opened mouth. The sun then had assumed a red hue in the sky. Desirous of his (speedy) setting, the Kaurava warriors, bending their bows with arms, resembling the (tapering) bodies of snake sped their shafts in hundreds towards Phalguna, resembling the rays of the sun. Cutting off those shafts thus sped towards him, into two, three, or eight fragments the diadem-decked Arjuna, invincible in battle, pierced them all in that encounter.

Then Ashwatthaman, bearing on his banner the mark of a lion's tail, displaying his might, began to resist Arjuna. Indeed, the son of Sharadwata's daughter piercing Partha with ten shafts and Vasudeva with seven, stayed in the track of Arjuna's car, protecting the ruler of the Sindhus. Then, many foremost ones among the Kurus, great car-warriors, all encompassed Arjuna, on all sides with a large throng of cars. Stretching their bows and shooting countless shafts, they began to protect the ruler of the Sindhus, at the command of Dhritarashtra’s son. The prowess of the brave Partha as also the inexhaustible character of his shafts, and the might, too, of his bow Gandiva could be seen. Baffling with his own weapons those of Drona's son and Kripa, he pierced every one of those warriors with nine shafts. Then, Drona's son pierced him with five and twenty arrows, and Vrishasena with seven, and Duryodhana pierced him with twenty, and Karma and Shalya each with three. All of them roared at him and continued to pierce him frequently, and shaking their bows, they surrounded him on all sides. Soon they caused their cars to be drawn up in a serried line around Arjuna.

Desirous of the (speedy) setting of the sun, those mighty car-warriors of the Kaurava army, endued with great activity, began to roar at Arjuna, and shaking their bows, covered him with showers of keen arrows like cloud pouring rain on a mountain. Those brave warriors, with arms resembling heavy clubs, also discharged on that occasion, on Dhananjaya's body celestial weapons. Having caused an immense slaughter in Dhritarashtra’s army, the mighty and invincible Dhananjaya, of prowess incapable of being baffled came upon the ruler of the Sindhus. Karna, however, with his arrows, resisted him in that battle in the very sight of Bhimasena and Satwata. The mighty-armed Partha, in the very sight of all the troops, pierced the Suta's son, in return, with ten arrows, on the field of battle. Then Satwata pierced Karna with three arrows. Bhimasena pierced him with three arrows, and Partha himself, once more, with seven. The mighty car-warrior, Karna, then pierced each of those three warriors with sixty arrows. Thus, raged that battle between Karna alone (on one side) and the many (on the other). The prowess of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, since, excited with wrath in battle, he singly resisted those three great car-warriors.

Then the mighty-armed Phalguna, in that battle, pierced Karna, the son of Vikartana, in all his limbs with a hundred arrows. All his limbs bathed in blood, the Suta's son of great prowess and bravery, pierced Phalguna in return with fifty arrows. Beholding that lightness of hand displayed by him in battle, Arjuna brooked it not. Cutting off his bow, that hero, viz., Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, quickly pierced Karna in the centre of the chest with nine arrows, Then Dhananjaya, with great speed at a time, when speed was necessary shot in that battle a shaft of solar effulgence for the destruction of Karna. Drona's son, however, with a crescent-shaped arrow, cut off that shaft as it coursed impetuously (towards Karna). Thus cut off by Ashwatthaman, that shaft fell down on the earth. Endued with great prowess, the Suta's son, then, took up another bow, and covered the son of Pandu with several thousands of arrows. Partha, however, like the wind dispersing flight of locusts, dispelled with his own arrows that extraordinary shower of arrows issuing out of Karna's bow. Then Arjuna, displaying his lightness of hands, covered Karna, in that battle, with his arrows, in the very sight of all Dhritarashtra’s troops. Karna also, that slayer of hosts, desirous of counteracting Arjuna's feat, covered Arjuna with several thousands of arrows. Roaring at each other like two bulls, those lions among men, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded the welkin with clouds of straight shafts. Each rendered invisible by the other's arrowy showers, they continued to strike each other. They roared at each other and pierced each other with their wordy darts, saying, “I am Partha, wait” or, “I am Karna, wait”. Indeed these two heroes fought with each other wonderfully, displaying great activity and skill. The sight they presented was such that other warriors became witnesses of that battle. Applauded by Siddhas, Charnas and Pannagas, they fought with each other, each desirous of slaying the other. Then Duryodhana addressing Dhritarashtra’s warriors, said,

“Carefully protect the son of Radha! Without slaying Arjuna he would not abstain from battle. Even this is what Vrisha told me.”

Meanwhile, beholding the prowess of Karna, Arjuna, of white steeds, with four shafts shot from the bow-string drawn to the ear, despatched the four steeds of Karna to Yama's domain. He also felled with a broad-headed arrow, Karna's charioteer from his niche in the car. He covered Karna himself with clouds of shafts in the very sight of Dhritarashtra’s son. Thus shrouded with arrows the steedless and driverless Karna, stupefied by that arrowy shower, knew not what to do. Beholding him made carless, Ashwatthaman caused him to ride on his car, and continued to fight with Arjuna.

Then the ruler of the Madras pierced the son of Kunti with thirty arrows. Sharadwata's son pierced Vasudeva with twenty arrows. He struck Dhananjaya also with a dozen shafts. The ruler of the Sindhus pierced each with four arrows, and Vrishasena also pierced each of them with seven arrows. Kunti's son, Dhananjaya, pierced all of them in return. Indeed, piercing Drona's son with four and sixty shafts, and the ruler of the Madras with a hundred, and the Sindhu king with ten broad-headed arrows, and Vrishasena with three arrows and Sharadwata's son with twenty, Partha uttered a loud shout. Desirous of baffling the vow of Savyasachin, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, excited with wrath, quickly rushed at Dhananjaya from all sides. Then Arjuna, frightening the Dhartarashtras, invoked into existence the Varuna weapon on all sides. The Kauravas, however, on their costly cars, pouring showers of arrows, advanced against the son of Pandu. But, in course of that stupefying and fierce engagement, fraught with the greatest confusion, that price, viz., Arjuna, decked with diadem and gold chain never lost his senses. On the other hand, he continued to pour showers of arrows. Desirous of recovering the kingdom and recollecting all the wrongs he had suffered for twelve years in consequence of the Kurus, the high-souled and immeasurable Arjuna darkened all the points of the compass with shafts from Gandiva. The welkin seemed ablaze with meteors. Innumerable crows, alighting from the sky, perched on the bodies (of dead combatants).

Meanwhile, Arjuna continued to slay the foe with his Gandiva, like Mahadeva slaying the Asuras with his Pinaka equipped with tawny string. Then the illustrious Kiritin, that subjugator of (hostile) ranks, dispersing the shafts of the foe by means of his own formidable bow, slaughtered with his arrows many foremost ones among the Kurus, mounted on their foremost of steeds and elephants. Then many kings, taking up heavy maces and clubs of iron and swords and darts and diverse other kinds of powerful weapons, assuming terrible forms, rushed suddenly against Partha in that battle. Then Arjuna, bending with his arms his formidable bow Gandiva which resembled the bow of Indra himself and whose twang was as loud as the roar of the clouds congregating at the end of the Yuga, and laughing the while, went on consuming your troops and increasing the population of Yama's kingdom. Indeed, that hero caused those enraged warriors with their cars and elephants and with the foot-soldiers and bowmen supporting them, to be deprived of their arms and lives and thus to swell the population of Yama's domain.

Hearing the twang, resembling the loud call of Death himself or the frightful peal of Indra's thunder, of Dhananjaya's bow, while he stretched it, that host of Dhritarashtra, anxious with fear and exceedingly agitated, became like the waters of the sea with fishes and makaras within them, ruffled into mountain-like waves and lashed into fury by the hurricane that arises at the end of the Yuga. Then Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, careered in battle in such a way that he was seen at the same time to be present in all directions, displaying his wonderful weapons. Indeed, so light-handed was the son of Pandu that we could not mark when he took out his shafts, when he fixed them on the bow-string, when he stretched the bow, and when he let them off. Then the mighty-armed one excited with wrath, invoked into existence the invincible Aindra weapon, frightening all the Bharatas. Hundreds and thousands of blazing shafts of fiery mouths, inspired by mantras with the force of celestial weapons, flowed from it. With those shafts resembling fire or the rays of the sun, coursing with fierce impetuosity, the welkin became incapable of being gazed at, as if filled with flashing meteors. Then that darkness which had been caused by the Katirava with their arrows, which was incapable of being dispersed even in imagination by others, the son of Pandu, careering around and displaying his prowess, destroyed by means of those shafts of his that were inspired by means of mantras with the force of celestial weapons, like the sun himself speedily dispersing at dawn of day the darkness of night by means of his rays. Then the puissant Arjuna, with those blazing shafts of his, sucked the lives of Dhritarashtra’s warriors like the summer sun sucking with his hot rays the waters of tanks and lakes. Indeed, showers of shafts endued with the force of celestial weapons, (shot by Arjuna) covered the hostile army like the rays of the sun covering the earth. Other arrows of fierce energy, sped (by Dhananjaya), quickly entered the hearts of (hostile) heroes, like dear friends. Indeed, those brave warriors that came in that battle before Arjuna, all perished like insects approaching a blazing fire. Thus crushing the lives of his foes and their fame, Partha careered in that battle like Death in embodied form.

Heads decked with diadems, massive arms, adorned with Angadas, and ears with ear-rings of the foes, Partha, cut off with his shafts. The arms, with spears, of elephant-riders; those, with lances, of horsemen; those, with shields, of foot-soldiers; those with bows, of car-warriors; and those, with whips and goads, of charioteers the son of Pandu cut off. Indeed, Dhananjaya looked resplendent with his shafts of blazing points that seemed to constitute his rays, like a blazing fire with incessant sparks and rising flames. The hostile kings, mustering all their resolution, could not even gaze at Dhananjaya, that foremost of all bearers of arms, that hero equal to the chief of the gods himself, that bull among men, seen at the same time in all directions on his car, scattering his mighty weapons, dancing in the tract of his car, and producing deafening sounds with his bowstring and palms, and resembling the midday sun of scorching rays in the firmament. Bearing his shafts of blazing points, the diadem-decked Arjuna looked beautiful like a mighty mass of rain-charged clouds in the season of rains decked with a rainbow. When that perfect flood of mighty weapons was set in motion by Jishnu, many bulls among warriors sank in that frightful and unfordable flood. Strewn with infuriated elephants whose trunks or tusks had been cut off, with steeds deprived of hoofs or necks, with cars reduced to pieces, with warriors having their entrails drawn out and others with legs or other limbs cut off, with bodies lying in hundreds and thousands that were either perfectly still or moving unconsciously, the vast field, on which Partha battled, resembled the coveted arena of Death, enhancing the terrors of the timid, or like the sporting ground of Rudra when he destroyed creatures in days of old. Portions of the field, strewn with the trunks of elephants cut off with razor-headed arrows, looked as if strewn with snakes. Portions, again, covered with the cut-off heads of warriors, looked as if strewn with garlands of lotuses. Variegated with beautiful head-gear and crowns, Keyuras and Angadas and car-rings with coats of mail decked with gold, and with the trappings and other ornaments of elephants and steeds, and scattered over with hundreds of diadems, lying here and there, and the earth looked exceedingly beautiful like a new bride. Dhananjaya then caused a fierce and terrible river full of fearful objects and enhancing the fear of the timid, to flow resembling the Vaitarani itself. The marrow and fat (of men and animals) formed its mire. Blood formed its current. Full of limbs and bones, it was fathomless in depth. The hairs of creatures formed its moss and weeds. Heads and arms formed the stones on its shores. It was decked with standards and banners that variegated its aspect. Umbrellas and bows formed the waves. It abounded with bodies of huge elephants deprived of life, and it teemed with cars that formed hundreds of rafts floating on its surface. The carcases of countless steeds formed its banks. It was difficult to cross in consequence of wheels and yokes and shafts and Akshas and Kuveras of cars, and spears and swords and darts and battle-axes and shafts looking like snakes. Ravens and kankas formed its alligators. Jackals, forming its Makaras, made in terrible. Fierce vultures formed its sharks. It became frightful in consequence of the howls of jackals. It abounded with capering ghosts and Pishachas and thousands of other kinds of spirits. On it floated countless bodies of warriors destitute of life.

Beholding that prowess of Arjuna whose visage then resembled that of the Destroyer himself, a panic, such as had never occurred before, possessed the Kurus on the field of battle. The son of Pandu, then, baffling with his weapons those of the hostile heroes, and engaged in achieving fierce feats, gave all to understand that he was a warrior of fierce feats. Then Arjuna transgressed all those foremost of car-warriors, like the midday sun of scorching rays in the firmament, no one amongst the creatures there could even look at him. The shafts issuing out of the bow Gandiva of that illustrious hero in that battle, seemed to us to resemble a row of cranes in the welkin. Baffling with his own the weapons of all those heroes, and showing by the terrible achievements in which he was engaged that he was a warrior of fierce feats. Arjuna, desirous of slaying Jayadratha, transgressed all those foremost of car-warriors, stupefying them all by means of his shafts. Shooting his shafts on all sides, Dhananjaya, having Krishna for his charioteer, presented a beautiful sight by careering with great speed on the field of battle. The shafts in the welkin, by hundreds and thousands, of that illustrious hero, seemed to course incessantly through the sky. None could notice when that mighty bowman took out his shafts, when indeed, that son of Pandu aimed them, and when he let them off. Then, filling all the points of the compass with his shafts and afflicting all the car-warriors in battle, the son of Kunti proceeded towards Jayadratha and pierced him with four and sixty straight arrows.

Then the Kuru warriors, beholding the son of Pandu proceeded towards Jayadratha, all abstained from battle. In fact, those heroes became hopeless of Jayadratha's life. Every one amongst Dhritarashtra’s warriors that rushed in that fierce battle against the son of Pandu, had his body deeply pierced with a shaft of Arjuna. The mighty car-warrior Arjuna, that foremost of victorious persons, with his shafts blazing as fire made Dhritarashtra’s army teem with headless trunks. Indeed, thus creating a perfect confusion in Dhritarashtra’s host consisting of four kinds of forces, the son of Kunti proceeded towards Jayadratha. He pierced the son of Drona. with fifty shafts and Vrishasena with three. The son of Kunti mildly struck Kripa with nine arrows, and he struck Shalya with sixteen arrows and Karna with two and thirty. Piercing the ruler of the Sindhus then with four and sixty arrows, he uttered a leonine shout. The ruler of the Sindhus, however, thus pierced by the wielder of Gandiva with his arrows, became filled with rage and unable to brook it, like an elephant when pierced with the hook. Bearing the device of the boar on his banner, he quickly sped towards Phalguna's car many straight shafts equipped with vulturine feathers, resembling angry snakes of virulent poison, well-polished by the hands of the smith, and shot from his bow drawn to the fullest stretch. Then piercing Govinda with three shafts, he struck Arjuna with six. Then he pierced the steeds of Arjuna with eight arrows and his standard also with one. Then Arjuna, baffling the keen arrows sped by the ruler of the Sindhus, cut off at the same time, with a pair of shafts, the head of Jayadratha's driver and the well-decked standard also of Jayadratha. Its stay cut off and itself pierced and struck with arrows, that standard fell down like a flame of fire.

Meanwhile, the sun was going down quickly. Janardana then quickly addressed the son of Pandu and said,

“Behold, O Partha, the ruler of the Sindhus has, by six mighty and heroic car-warriors, been placed in their-midst! Jayadratha also, O mighty-armed one, is waiting there in fear! Without vanquishing those six car-warriors in battle, O bull among men, you will never be able to slay the ruler of the Sindhus even if you exert yourself without intermission. I shall, therefore, resort to Yoga for shrouding the sun. Then the ruler of the Sindhus will (in consequence) behold the sun to have set. Desirous of life, O lord, through joy that wicked wight will no longer, for his destruction, conceal himself. Availing yourself of that opportunity, you should then, O best of the Kurus, strike him. You should not give up the enterprise, thinking the sun to have really set.”

Hearing these words, Bibhatsu replied unto Keshava, saying, “Let it be so.” Then Krishna otherwise called Hari, possessed of ascetic powers, that lord of all ascetics, having taken recourse to Yoga, created that darkness. Dhritarashtra’s warriors, thinking the sun to have set were filled with delight at the prospect of Partha's laying down his life. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, not seeing the sun, were filled with gladness. All of them stood, with heads thrown backwards. King Jayadratha also was in the same attitude. While the ruler of the Sindhus was thus beholding the sun, Krishna, once more addressing Dhananjaya said these words,

“Behold, the heroic ruler of the Sindhus is now looking at the sun, casting off his fear of you, O foremost one among the Bharatas! This is the hour, O mighty-armed one, for the slaughter of that wicked-souled wretch. Speedily cut off the head and make your vow true.”

Thus addressed by Keshava the valiant son of Pandu began to slaughter Dhritarashtra’s host with his arrows resembling the sun or fire in splendour. He pierced Kripa with twenty arrows and Karna with fifty. He struck Shalya and Duryodhana each with six. He pierced Vrishasena with eight arrows and the ruler of the Sindhus himself with sixty. The mighty-armed son of Pandu, deeply piercing with his arrows the other warriors of Dhritarashtra’s host, rushed against Jayadratha. Beholding him in their presence like a swelling fire with its tongue of flame outstretched, the protectors of Jayadratha were sorely puzzled. Then all the warriors, desirous of victory, bathed the son of Indra in that battle with torrents of arrows. Shrouded with incessant showers of arrows, the son of Kunti, that mighty-armed and unvanquished descendant of Kuru, became filled with rage. Then that tiger among men, viz., the son of Indra, desirous of slaughtering your host, created a thick net of arrows. Then those warriors of Dhritarashtra, thus slaughtered in battle by that hero, abandoned the ruler of the Sindhus in fear and fled away. They fled away in such a manner that no two persons could be seen flying together. The prowess of Kunti's son was extremely wonderful. Indeed, the like of what that illustrious warrior then did had never been nor will ever be. Like Rudra himself slaughtering creatures, Dhananjaya slaughtered elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horse-riders, and (car-warriors and) car-drivers. There was not a single elephant or steed or human warrior that was not struck with Partha's shafts. Their vision blurred by dust and darkness, Dhritarashtra’s warriors became perfectly cheerless and unable to distinguish one another. Urged on by fate and with their vital limbs cut open and mangled with shafts, they began to wander or, limp, or fall down. Some amongst them became paralysed and some became deathly pale. During that terrible carnage resembling the slaughter of creatures at the end of the Yuga, in that deadly and fierce battle from which few could escape with life, the earth became drenched with gore and the earthy dust that had arisen disappeared in consequence of the showers of blood that fell and the swift currents of wind that blew over the field. So deep was that rain of blood that the wheels of cars sank to their naves. Thousands of infuriated elephants endued with great speed of Dhritarashtra’s army, their riders slain and limbs mangled, fled away, uttering cries of pain and crushing friendly ranks with their tread. Steeds destitute of riders and foot-soldiers also fled away from fear, struck with the shafts of Dhananjaya. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s soldiers, with dishevelled hair and deprived of their coats of mail, with blood streaming out of their wounds, fled away in terror, leaving the field of battle. Some, deprived of the power of motion as if their lower limbs had been seized by alligators, remained on the field. Others concealed themselves behind and under the bodies of slain elephants.

Routing Dhritarashtra’s host thus, Dhananjaya began to strike with terrible shafts the protectors of the ruler of the Sindhus with his arrowy showers, Karna and Drona's son and Kripa and Shalya and Vrishasena and Duryodhana. So quick was he in the use of weapons that no one could mark when Arjuna took out his arrows, when he fixed them on the bowstring, when he stretched the bow and let them off. Indeed, while striking the foe, his bow was seen incessantly drawn to a circle. His arrows also were seen incessantly issuing out of his bow and scattered in all directions. Then cutting off Karna's bow as also of Vrishasena's, Arjuna felled Shalya's driver from his niche in the car, with a broad-headed arrow. With many arrows that foremost of victors, viz., Dhananjaya, then deeply pierced in that battle Kripa and Ashwatthaman, related as uncle and nephew to each other. Sorely afflicting those mighty car-warriors of your army thus, the son of Pandu took up a terrible arrow of fiery splendour. Looking like the thunderbolt of Indra, and inspired with divine mantras, that formidable arrow was capable of bearing any strain. It had been always worshipped with incense and garlands of flowers. Duly inspiring it (by mantras) with the force of the thunderbolt, that descendant, of Kuru, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna, fixed it on Gandiva. When that arrow of fiery effulgence was fixed on the bowstring, loud shouts were heard in the welkin. Then Janardana, once more addressing Arjuna, quickly said,

“O Dhananjaya, quickly cut off the head of the wicked-souled ruler of the Sindhus! The sun is about to get at the mountain of Asta. Listen, however, to the words I say about the slaughter of Jayadratha. The father of Jayadratha is Vriddhakshatra known all over the world. It was after a long time that he got Jayadratha, that slayer of foes, for his son. (At the birth of the son) an incorporeal and invisible voice, deep as that of the clouds or of the drum, said unto king Vriddhakshatra.

“This your son, O lord, amongst men in this world will become worthy of the two races (viz., the Solar and the Lunar) in respect of blood, behaviour, self-restraint and the other attributes. He will become one of the foremost of Kshatriyas, and will always be worshipped by heroes. But while struggling in battle, some bull among the Kshatriyas, some conspicuous person in the world, excited with wrath, will cut off this one's head.”

That chastiser of foes, viz., the (old) ruler of the Sindhus, hearing these words, reflected for sometime. Overwhelmed with affection for his son, he summoned all his kinsmen and said,

“That man who will cause the head of my son to fall on the earth while the latter, struggling in battle, will be bearing a great burden, I say that the head of that man will certainly crack into a hundred pieces.”

Having spoken these words and installed Jayadratha on the throne, Vriddhakshatra, repairing to the woods, devoted himself to ascetic austerities. Endued with great energy, he is still engaged in the observance of the austerest of penances outside this very Samantapanchaka, O ape-bannered one! Therefore, cutting off Jayadratha's head in this dreadful battle, you, O slayer of foes, should, O Bharata, by your fierce celestial weapon of wonderful feats, quickly throw that head decked with ear-rings upon the lap of Vriddhakshatra himself, O younger brother of the son of the Wind-god! If you fell Jayadratha's head on the earth, your own head, then, without doubt, will crack into a hundred fragments. Aided by your celestial weapon, do your deed in such a way that the lord of earth viz., the old Sindhu king, may not know that it is done. Truly, O Arjuna, there is nothing in the three worlds which you canst not achieve or do, O son of Vasava!”

Hearing these words (of Krishna), Dhananjaya, licking the corners of his mouth, quickly shot that arrow which he had taken up for Jayadratha's slaughter, that arrow, viz., whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, which was inspired with mantras and converted into a celestial weapon, which was capable of bearing any strain, and which had always been worshipped with incense and garlands. That shaft, sped from Gandiva, coursing swiftly, snatched Jayadratha's head away, like a hawk snatching away a smaller bird from the top of a tree. Dhananjaya, then, with his shafts, sent that head along in the welkin (without allowing it to fall down). For grieving his foes and gladdening his friends, the son of Pandu, by shooting his shafts repeatedly at it, sent that head outside the limits of Samantapanchaka. Meanwhile, king Vriddhakshatra, the father of Dhritarashtra’s son-in-law, endued with great energy, was engaged in his evening prayers. Decked with black locks and adorned with ear-rings, that head of Jayadratha was thrown upon Vriddhakshatra's lap, as the latter was saying his prayers in a sitting posture. Thus thrown on his lap, that head decked with car-rings was not seen by king Vriddhakshatra. As the latter, however, stood up after finishing his prayers it suddenly fell down on the earth. As the head of Jayadratha fell down on the earth, the head of Vriddhakshatra cracked into a hundred pieces. At the sight of this, all creatures were filled with wonder. All of them applauded Vasudeva and the mighty Bibhatsu.

After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by the diadem-decked Arjuna, that darkness was withdrawn by Vasudeva. Dhritarashtra’s sons with their followers, thus, came to know subsequently that the darkness, they had seen, had all been an illusion produced by Vasudeva. Thus was Dhritarashtra’s son-in-law, the ruler of the Sindhus, having caused eight Akshauhinis to be slaughtered, himself slain by Partha of inconceivable energy. Beholding Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus slain, tears of sorrow fell from the eyes of Dhritarashtra’s sons. After Jayadratha had been slain by Partha, Keshava blew his conch and that scorcher of foes, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna also blew his; Bhimasena also, in that battle, as if for sending a message to Yudhishthira, filled the welkin with a tremendous leonine shout. Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, hearing that tremendous shout understood that the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by the high-souled Phalguna. With sounds of drums and other instruments he gladdened the warriors of his own army, and proceeded against the son of Bharadwaja from desire of battle.

Then commenced, after the sun had set, a fierce battle between Drona and the Somakas, that made the very hair stand on end. Desirous of slaying him, those mighty car-warriors after the fall of Jayadratha, fought with the son of Bharadwaja, exerting themselves to their utmost. Indeed, the Pandavas, having got the victory by slaying the ruler of the Sindhus fought with Drona, intoxicated with success. Arjuna, also, having slain king Jayadratha, fought with many mighty car-warriors of Dhritarashtra’s army. Indeed, that hero decked with diadem and garlands, having accomplished his former vow, began to destroy his foes like the chief of the celestials destroying the Danavas, or the sun destroying darkness.

Arjuna fights Kripa and Ashwatthaman

Beholding the ruler of the Sindhus slain in battle by Partha, Kripa, the son of Sharadwat, under the influence of wrath, covered the son of Pandu with a dense shower of arrows. Drona's son also, on his car, rushed against Phalguna, the son of Pritha. Those two foremost of car-warriors began from their cars to shower from opposite directions upon the son of Pandu their keen arrows. That foremost of car-warriors, viz., the mighty-armed Arjuna, afflicted by those arrowy showers of (Kripa and Drona's son) felt great pain. Without desiring, however, to slay his preceptor (Kripa) as also the son of (his other preceptor) Drona, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, began to act like a preceptor in arms. Baffling with his own weapons those of both Ashwatthaman and Kripa, he sped at them, without desiring to slay them, shafts that coursed mildly. Those shafts, however (though mildly), shot by Jaya struck the two with great force, and in consequence of their number, caused great pain to Kripa and his nephew. Then Sharadwat's son, thus afflicted with the arrows of Arjuna, lost all strength and swooned away on the terrace of his car. Understanding his master afflicted with shafts to be deprived of his senses, and believing him to be dead, the driver of Kripa's car bore Kripa away from the fight. After Kripa, the son of Sharadwat, had thus been borne away from the battle, Ashwatthaman also, from fear, fled away from the son of Pandu.

Then the mighty bowman, Partha, beholding the son of Sharadwat afflicted with shafts and in a swoon, began to indulge, on his car, in piteous lamentations. With a tearful face and in great dejection of heart, he uttered these words:

“Beholding all this (in his mental vision), Vidura of great wisdom had, on the birth of the wretched Suyodhana, that exterminator of his race, said unto Dhritarashtra,

“Let this wretch of his race be soon killed. Owing to him, a great calamity will overtake the foremost ones of Kuru's race.”

Alas, these words of the truth-telling Vidura have come to be true. It is for him that I behold my preceptor today lying on a bed of arrows. Fie on the practices of Kshatriya! Fie on my might and prowess! Who else like me would fight with a Brahmana that is, besides his preceptor? Kripa is the son of a Rishi; he is, again, my preceptor; he is also the dear friend of Drona. Alas, he lies stretched on the terrace of his car, afflicted with my arrows. Though not wishing it, I have still been the means of crushing him with my shafts. Lying senseless on the terrace of his car, he pains my heart exceedingly. Even though he afflicted me with shafts, I should still have only looked at that warrior of dazzling splendour (without striking him in return). Struck with numerous shafts of mine, he has gone the way of all creatures. By that he has pained me more than even the slaughter of my own son. Behold, O Krishna, to what plight he has been reduced, thus lying miserably and in a senseless state on his own car. Those bulls among men that give desirable objects unto their preceptors after obtaining knowledge from them, attain to godhead. Those lowest of mortals on the other hand, who, after obtaining knowledge from their preceptors strike the latter, those wicked men, go to hell. Without doubt, this act that I have done will lead me to hell. I have deeply pierced my preceptor on his car with showers of arrows. While studying the science of arms at his feet, Kripa told me in those days, 'Do not, O you of Kuru's race, ever strike your preceptor. That command of my righteous and high-souled preceptor I have not obeyed, for I have struck, the very Kripa himself with my shafts. I bow to that worshipful son of Gotama, to that unretreating hero. Fie on me, O you of Vrishni's race, since I have struck even him.”

Satyaki fights Karna

While Savyasachin was thus lamenting for Kripa, the son of Radha, beholding the ruler of the Sindhu slain, rushed towards him. Seeing the son of Radha thus rushing towards Arjuna the two Panchala princes and Satyaki suddenly rushed towards him. The mighty car-warrior, Partha, beholding the son of Radha advancing, smilingly addressed the son of Devaki and said,

“There comes the son of Adhiratha against the car of Satyaki. Without doubt, he is unable to bear the slaughter of Bhurishravas in battle. Urge my steeds, O Janardana, towards the spot whither Karna comes. Let not Vrisha (Karna) cause the Satwata hero to follow in the wake of Bhurishravas.”

Thus addressed by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Keshava, endued with great energy, replied in these opportune words,

“The mighty-armed Satyaki is singly a match for Karna, O son of Pandu! How much superior then will this bull among the Satwatas be when he is united with the two sons of Drupada! For the present, O Partha, it is not proper for you to fight with Karna. The latter has with him the blazing dart, like a fierce meteor, that Vasava gave him. O slayer of hostile heroes, he has kept it for your sake, worshipping it with reverence. Let Karna then freely proceed against the Satwata hero. I know, O son of Kunti, this wicked wight's hour, when, indeed, you will, with keen shafts, throw him down from his car.”

Before even the encounter, Krishna knew it in his heart that the heroic Satyaki would be vanquished by the stake-bannered (Bhurishravas). Janardana knew both the past and the future. For this, summoning his charioteer, Daruka, he had commanded him, saying, “Let my car be kept equipped tomorrow.” This had been the command of that mighty one. Neither the gods, nor the Gandharvas, nor the Yakshas, nor the Uragas, nor the Rakshasas, nor human beings, were capable of conquering the two Krishnas. The gods with the Grandsire at their head, as also the Siddhas, knew the incomparable prowess of those two. Beholding Satyaki carless and Karna ready for battle Madhava blew his conch of loud blare in the Rishabha note. Daruka, hearing the blare of (Keshava's) conch, understood the meaning, and soon took that car, equipped with a lofty standard of gold, to where Keshava was. With Keshava's permission, upon hat car guided by Daruka, and which resembled the blazing fire or the sun in effulgence, ascended the grandson of Shini. Ascending upon the car which resembled a celestial vehicle and unto which were yoked those foremost of steeds, capable of going everywhere at will, viz., Shaibya and Sugriva and Meghapushya and Balahaka, and which were adorned with trappings of gold, Satyaki rushed against the son of Radha, scattering countless shafts. The two protectors of (Arjuna's) car-wheels, viz., Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas, abandoning Dhananjaya's car, proceeded against the son of Radha. Radha's son also, shooting showers of shafts, angrily rushed, in that battle, against the invincible grandson of Shini. The battle that took place between them was such that its like had never been heard to have taken place on earth or in heaven between gods, Gandharvas, Asuras, Uragas, or Rakshasas. The entire host consisting of cars, steeds, men, and elephants, abstained from the fight, beholding the stunning feats of two warriors. All became silent spectators of that superhuman battle between those two human heroes and of the skill of Daruka in guiding the car. Indeed, beholding the skill of the charioteer Daruka standing on the car, as he guided the vehicle forwards, backwards, sidelong, now wheeling in circles and now stopping outright, all were amazed. The gods, the Gandharvas, and the Danavas, in the welkin, intently watched that battle between Karna and the grandson of Shini.

Both of them endued with great might, each challenging the other, those two warriors put forth their prowess for the sake of their friends. Karna who looked like a celestial, and Yuyudhana rained upon each other showers of shafts. Indeed, Karna ground the grandson of Shini with his arrowy downpours, unable to put up with the slaughter (by Satyaki) of the Kuru hero, Jalasandha. Filled with grief and sighing like a mighty snake, Karna, casting angry glances on the grandson of Shini in that battle, and as if burning him therewith, rushed at him furiously again and again. Beholding him filled with rage, Satyaki pierced him in return, shooting dense showers of arrows, like an elephant piercing (with his tusks) a rival elephant. Those two tigers among men, endued with the activity of tigers and possessed of incomparable prowess, mangled each other furiously in that battle. The grandson of Shini, then, with shafts made entirely of iron, repeatedly pierced Karna, that chastiser of foes, in all his limbs. He also felled, with a broad-headed arrow, the charioteer of Karna from his niche in the car. And with his keen shafts, he slew the four steeds, white in hue, of Adhiratha's son. Then cutting into a hundred fragments the standard of Karna with a hundred arrows, that bull among men made Karna carless in the very sight of Dhritarashtra’s son.

Then all Dhritarashtra’s warriors became cheerless. Then Vrishasena, the son of Karna, and Shalya, the ruler of the Madras, and Drona's son, encompassed the grandson of Shini from all sides. Then a confusion set in, and nothing could be seen. Indeed, when the heroic Karna was made carless by Satyaki, cries of “Oh” and “Alas” arose, among all Dhritarashtra’s troops. Karna also, pierced by Satwata with his arrows and exceedingly weakened ascended the car of Duryodhana, sighing deeply, remembering his friendship for Dhritarashtra’s son from his childhood and having striven to realise the promise he had made about the bestowal of sovereignty on Duryodhana. After Karna has been made carless, Dhritarashtra’s brave sons, headed by Duhshasana, were not slain by the self-restrained Satyaki because the latter wished not to falsify the vow made by Bhimasena. Desirous also of not falsifying the vow formerly made by Partha (about the slaughter of Karna), Satyaki simply made those warriors carless and weakened them exceedingly, but did not deprive them of life. It was Bhima that has vowed the slaughter of Dhritarashtra’s sons, and it was Partha that, at the time of the second match at dice, vowed the slaughter of Karna. Although all those warriors headed by Karna made strong efforts for slaying Satyaki, yet those foremost of car-warriors, failed to slay him. Drona's son and Kritavarman and other mighty car-warriors, as also hundreds of foremost Kshatriyas, were all vanquished by Satyaki with only one bow. That hero fought, desirous of benefiting king Yudhishthira the Just, and of attaining to heaven. Indeed, Satyaki, that crusher of foes, is equal to either of the two Krishnas in energy. Smiling the while, he vanquished all Dhritarashtra’s troops. In that world, there were only three mighty bowmen, viz., Krishna, Partha, and Satyaki. There is no fourth to be seen.

The intelligent younger brother of Daruka soon brought unto Satyaki another car, duly equipped with all necessaries. With shafts attached to it by chains of iron and gold and bands of silk, decked with a thousand stars, decked with banners and with the figure of a lion on his standard, with horses, fleet as the wind and adorned with trappings of gold, yoked unto it, and with rattle deep as the roar of the clouds, that car was brought unto him. Ascending upon it, the grandson of Shini rushed against Dhritarashtra’s troops. Daruka, meanwhile, went as he listed to Keshava's side. A new car was brought for Karna also, unto which were yoked four steeds of the best breed that were decked in trappings of gold and white as conchs or milk. Its kaksha and standard were made of gold. Furnished with banners and machines, that foremost of cars had an excellent driver. It was furnished with a profusion of weapons of every kind. Mounting on that car, Karna also rushed against his foes.

Arjuna vows to kill Karna’s son Vrishasena

After Bhimasena had been made carless, that hero, afflicted with the wordy darts of Karna and filled with rage, addressed Phalguna and said,

“In your very sight, O Dhananjaya, Karna has repeatedly said to me, “Eunuch, fool, glutton, unskilled in weapons, do not fight, child, unable to bear the burden of battle!” He that would tell me so would be slain by me. Karna has told me those words, O Bharata! O mighty-armed one, you Hrishikesha the vow which I have made jointly with you. Remember the words that were then spoken by me. O foremost of men, act in such a way that that vow of mine, O son of Kunti, as also your own vow, may not be falsified. O Dhananjaya, do that by which that vow of mine may be made true.”

Hearing these words of Bhima, Arjuna of immeasurable prowess, getting near Karna in that battle, told him,

“O Karna, you are of false fight. O son of a Suta, you applaud your own self. Of wicked understanding, listen now to what I tell you. Heroes meet with either of these two things in battle, viz., victory or defeat. Both of these are uncertain, O son of Radha! The case is not otherwise when Indra himself is engaged in battle. Made carless by Yuyudhana, with your senses no longer under your control, you were almost at the point of death. Remembering, however, that I had vowed to slay you, that hero dismissed you without taking your life. It is true you had succeeded in depriving Bhimasena of his car. Your abuse, however, O son of Radha, of that hero was sinful. Those bulls among men that are truly righteous and brave, having vanquished a foe, never boast, nor speak ill of anybody. Your knowledge, however, is little. It is for this, O son of a Suta, that you indulged in such speeches. Then, again the abusive epithets you did apply to the battling Bhimasena, endued with great prowess and heroism and devoted to the practices of the righteous, were not consistent with truth. In the very sight of all the troops, of Keshava, as also of myself, you wert many a time made carless by Bhimasena in battle. That son of Pandu, however, did not call you a single harsh word. Since, however, you have addressed Vrikodara in many harsh speeches, and since you with others have slain the son of Subhadra out of my sight, therefore, this very day obtain the fruit of those offences of yours. It was for your own destruction, O wicked wight, that you did then cut off Abhimanyu's bow; for that, O you of little understanding, you shall be slain by me, with all your followers, forces, and animals. Accomplish now all those acts which you should do, for a great calamity is impending over you. I will slay Vrishasena in your very sight in battle. All those other kings, again, that will fully advance against me, I will despatch unto Yama's abode. I say this truly, laying my hand on my weapon. A fool as you are, without wisdom and full of vanity, I say that beholding you lying on the field of battle the wicked Duryodhana will indulge in bitter lamentations.”

Krishna, Arjuna, Bhima and Satyaki  reunite with Yudhishthira

After Arjuna had vowed the slaughter of Karna's son, a loud and tremendous uproar arose amongst the car-warriors. At that frightful time when confusion was everywhere, the thousand-rayed sun, dimming his rays, entered the Asta hill. Then, Hrishikesha, stationed in the van of battle embracing Arjuna who had accomplished his vow, told him these words,

“By good luck, O Jishnu, your great vow has been accomplished. By good luck, that Vriddhakshatra has been slain along with his son. The celestial generalissimo himself, O -Bharata, encountering the Dhartarashtra force, would, in battle, O Jishnu, lose his senses. There is no doubt of this. Except you, O tiger among men, I do not even in thought see the person in the three worlds that could fight with this host. Many royal warriors endued with great prowess, equal to you or superior have been united together at Duryodhana's command. Clad in mail, they could not approach you, encountering your angry self in battle. Your energy and might are equal to that of Rudra or the Destroyer himself. None else is capable of putting forth such prowess in battle as you, O scorcher of foes, alone and unsupported, did today put forth. Thus shall I applaud you again after Karna of wicked soul has been slain along with his followers. Thus shall I glorify you when that foe of yours shall have been vanquished and slain.”

Unto him Arjuna replied,

“Through your grace, O Madhava, this vow that even the gods could with difficulty accomplish, has been accomplished by me. Their victory is not at all a matter of wonder that have you, O Keshava, for their lord. Through your grace, Yudhishthira will obtain the whole earth. All this is due to your power, O you of Vrishni's race! This is your victory, O lord! Our prosperity is your victory, O lord! Our prosperity is your care and we are your servants, O slayer of Madhu!”

Thus addressed, Krishna smiled softly, and slowly urged the steeds. And he showed unto Partha, as they came, the field of battle abounding with cruel sights. Then Krishna said,

“Desirous of victory in battle or world-wide fame many heroic kings are lying on the earth, struck with your shafts. Their weapons and ornaments lay scattered, and their steeds, cars, and elephants are mangled and broken. With their coats of mail pierced or cut open, they have come to the greatest grief. Some of them are yet alive, and some of them are dead. Those, however, that are dead, still seem to be alive in consequence of the splendour with which they are endued. Behold the earth covered with their shafts equipped with golden wings, with their numerous other weapons of attack and defence, and with their animals (deprived of life). Indeed, the earth looks resplendent with coats of mail and necklaces of gems, with their heads decked with earrings, and headgears and diadems, and floral wreaths and jewels worn on crowns, and Kanthasutras and Angadas, and collars of gold, and with diverse other beautiful ornaments. Strewn with Anuskaras and quivers, with standards and banners, with Upaskaras and Adhishthanas, with shafts and crests of cars, with broken wheels and beautiful Akshas in profusion, with yokes and trappings of steeds, with belts and bows and arrows, with elephants, housings, with spiked maces and hooks of iron, with darts and short arrows, with spears and pikes, with Kundas and clubs, with Shataghnis and Bhushandis, with scimitars and axes, with short and heavy clubs and mallets, with maces and Kunapas, with whips decked with gold, O bull of Bharata's race, with the bells and diverse other ornaments of mighty elephants, with floral garlands and various kinds of decorations, and with costly robes all loosened from the bodies of men and animals, the earth shines brilliantly, like the autumnal firmament with planets and stars. The lords of the earth, slain for the sake of earth, are slumbering on the earth clasping with their limbs the earth like a dear wife. Like mountains shedding through their caves and fissures streams of liquid chalk, these elephants, resembling Airavata himself and huge as mountains, are shedding profuse streams of blood through the openings in their bodies caused by weapons. Behold, O hero, those huge creatures afflicted with shafts lying on the ground in convulsions. Behold, those steeds also, lying on the ground, adorned with trappings of gold. Behold also, O Partha, those riderless and driverless cars that had at one time resembled celestial vehicles or the vapoury forms in the evening sky, now lying on the ground, with standards and banners and Akshas and yokes cut into pieces, and with broken shafts and crests, O lord! Foot-soldiers also, O hero, bearing bows and shields and slain in hundreds and thousands are lying on the ground, bathed in blood and clasping the earth with every limb and their locks smeared with dust. Behold, O mighty-armed one, those warriors with bodies mangled with your weapons. Behold the earth, strewn with Yak-tails and fans, and umbrellas and standards, and steeds and cars and elephants, and with diverse kinds of blankets, and reins of steeds, and beautiful robes and costly Varuthas (of cars), look, as if overspread with embroidered tapestry. Many warriors fallen from the backs of well-equipped elephants along with those creatures themselves that they had ridden, are looking like lions fallen from mountain summits struck down by thunder. Mingled with the steeds (they had ridden) and the bows (they had held), horsemen and foot-soldiers in large numbers, are lying on the field, covered with blood. Behold, O foremost of men, the surface of the earth is frightful to look at, covered as it is with large number of slain elephants and steeds and car-warriors, and miry with blood, fat, and rotten flesh in profusion, and on which dogs and wolves and Pishachas and diverse wanderers of the night are cantering with joy! This fame-enhancing and mighty feat on the field of battle is capable of being achieved by you only, O puissant one, or by that chief of the gods, viz., Indra himself, who in great battle slayed the Daityas and the Danavas.”

Thus showing the field of battle unto the diadem-decked Arjuna, Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya with the gleeful soldiers of the Pandava army (blowing their respective conchs). Having shown the field of battle unto the diadem-decked hero, that slayer of foes viz., Janardana quickly proceeded towards Ajatashatru, the son of Pandu, and informed him of the slaying of Jayadratha. After the ruler of the Sindhus had been slain by Partha, Krishna, repairing unto the king, viz., Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, worshipped the latter with a gladdened heart. And he said,

“By good luck, O king of kings, your prosperity increases. O best of men, your foe has been slain. By good luck, your younger brother has accomplished his vow.”

Thus addressed by Krishna, that subjugator of hostile towns, viz., king Yudhishthira, filled with joy, came down from his car! His eyes filled with tears of joy, he embraced the two Krishnas and wiping his bright and lotus-like face, said these words unto Vasudeva, and Dhananjaya, the son of Pandu,

“You mighty car-warriors, by good luck, I behold both of you after you have accomplished your task. By good luck, that sinful wretch, viz., the ruler of the Sindhus, has been slain. You Krishnas, by good luck, you have done that which has filled me with great happiness. By good luck, our foes have been plunged into an ocean of grief. You are the sovereign lord of all the worlds, O slayer of Madhu! In the three worlds they that have you for their preceptor can have no object incapable of accomplishment. Through your grace, O Govinda, we will conquer our foes, like Indra conquering the Danavas in days of old. Be it the conquest of the world, or be it the conquest of the three worlds, everything is certain, O you of the Vrishni race, in their case with whom you are gratified, O giver of honours! They can have no sin, nor can they meet with defeat in battle with whom you, O lord of the celestials, are gratified, O giver of honours! It is through your grace, O Hrishikesha, that Shakra has become the chief of the celestials. It is through your grace, that blessed personage obtained on the field of battle the sovereignty of the three worlds! It is through your grace, O lord of the celestials, that the latter obtained immortality, O Krishna, and enjoy eternal regions (of bliss). Having slain thousands of Daityas, with prowess having its origin in your grace, O slayer of foes, Shakra obtained the lordship of the celestials. Through your grace, O Hrishikesha, the mobile and immobile universe, without swerving from its (ordained) course, O hero, is engaged in prayers and homa![178] In the beginning, this universe, enveloped in darkness, had been one vast expanse of water. Through your grace, O mighty-armed one, the universe became manifest, O best of men! You are the creator of all the worlds, you are the Supreme Soul, and you are immutable! They that behold you, O Hrishikesha, are never confounded. You are the Supreme God, you are the God of gods, and you are Eternal. They that seek refuge with you, O lord of the gods, are never confounded. Without beginning and without death, you are Divine, the Creator of all the worlds, and immutable. They that are devoted to you, O Hrishikesha, always tide over every difficulty. You are Supreme, the Ancient one, the Divine-Being, and that which is the Highest of the high. He that attains to that viz., your Supreme Self has ordained for him the highest prosperity. You are sung in the four Vedas. The four Vedas sing of you. Be seeking your shelter, O high-souled one, I shall enjoy unrivalled prosperity. You are the Supreme God, you are the God of the highest gods, you are the lord of Winged creatures, and the lord of all human beings. You are the Supreme Lord of everything. I bow to you, O best of beings! You are the Lord, the Lord of lords O puissant one! Prosperity to you, O Madhava! O you of large eyes, O Universal soul, You are the origin of all things. He, again, that is a friend of Dhananjaya or is engaged in Dhananjaya's good, obtain you that are the preceptor of Dhananjaya and attain to happiness.”

Thus addressed by him those high-souled ones, viz., Keshava and Arjuna, cheerfully said unto the king, that lord of the earth,

“The sinful king Jayadratha, has been consumed by the fire of your wrath. O puissant one, although the Dhartarashtra host is vast and swells with pride, yet, O Bharata, struck and slain, it is being exterminated. O slayer of foes, it is in consequence of your wrath that the Kauravas are being destroyed. Having, O hero, angered you that can slay with your eyes alone, the wicked-minded Suyodhana, with his friends and kinsmen, will have to lay down his life in battle. Slain before in consequence of your ire, and struck down also by the gods themselves, the invincible Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, lies now on a bed of arrows. O slayer of foes, victory in battle is unattainable by them, and death also waits for them, that have you, O son of Pandu, for their foe. Kingdom, life, dear ones, children, and diverse kinds of bliss, will soon be lost by him with whom you, O scorcher of foes, have been angry. I regard the Kauravas to be lost with their sons, and kinsmen, when you, O scorcher of foes, that are observant of the duties of a king, have been angry with them.”

Then Bhima and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, both mangled with shafts, saluted their senior. Those two mighty bowmen sat down on the ground, surrounded by the Panchalas, Beholding those two heroes filled with joy and arrived and waiting with joined hands, the son of Kunti congratulated them both, saying,

“By good luck, it is that I see you both, you heroes, escaped with lire from that sea of (hostile) troops, that sea in which Drona acted the part of an invincible alligator, and the son of Hridika that of a fierce shark. By good luck, all the kings of the earth have been vanquished (by you two). By good luck, I see both of you victorious in battle. By good luck, Drona has been vanquished in battle, and that mighty car-warrior also viz., the son of Hridika. By good luck, Karna has been vanquished in battle with barbed shafts. By good luck, Shalya also was obliged to turn away from the field by you both, you bulls among men. By good luck, I behold you both come back from battle safe and sound, you that are foremost of car-warriors and well-skilled in battle! By good luck, I behold again, you heroes, that have forded that sea of troops in obedience to my command, you that went to battle impelled by the desire of honouring me! You are heroes delighting in battle. You are to me as life. By good luck, I see you both.”

Having said this, the son of Pandu embraced both Yuyudhana and Vrikodara, those tigers among men, and shed tears of joy. Then, the entire host of the Pandavas became cheerful and filled with joy. All of them once more set their hearts on battle.

Duryodhana’s conversation with Drona and Karna

Upon the fall of the ruler of the Sindhus, Dhritarashtra’s son Suyodhana, his face bedewed with tears, and himself filled with grief and breathing hot sighs like a snake whose fangs have been broken, that offender against the whole world, viz., Dhritarashtra’s son, experienced bitter affliction. Beholding that great terrible slaughter of his troops caused by Jishnu and Bhimasena and Satwata in battle, he became pale, dejected and melancholy, and his eyes became filled with tears. He came to think no warrior existed on the earth that could be compared with Arjuna. Neither Drona, nor the son of Radha, nor Ashwatthaman, nor Kripa, is competent to stand before Arjuna when the latter is excited with wrath, Suyodhana, said unto himself,

“Having vanquished in battle all the mighty car-warriors of my army, Partha slew the ruler of the Sindhus. None could resist him. This my vast host has almost been exterminated by the Pandavas. I think, there is no one that can protect my army, no, not even Purandara himself. He, relying upon whom I have been engaged in this passage-at-arms in battle, alas, that Karna has been defeated in battle and Jayadratha slain. That Karna relying upon whose energy I regarded Krishna as straw who came to sue me for peace, alas, that Karna has been vanquished in battle.”

Grieving so within his heart, that offender against the whole world, went to Drona for seeing him. Repairing unto him, he informed Drona of that immense slaughter of the Kurus, the victory of his foes, and the dire calamity of the Dhartarashtras. Suyodhana said,

“Behold, O preceptor, this immense slaughter of kings. I came to battle, placing that grandsire of mine, viz., the heroic Bhishma, at our head. Having slain him, Shikhandin, his aspiration fulfilled, stays at the very van of all the troops, surrounded by all the Panchalas, covetous of another triumph. Another disciple of yours, viz., the invincible Savyasachin, having slain seven. Akshauhinis of troops has despatched king Jayadratha to Yama's abode. How, O preceptor, shall I be freed from the debt I owe to those allies of mine who, desirous of victory to me and ever engaged in my good, have gone to Yama's abode? Those lords of earth who had desired the sovereignty of the earth, are now lying on the earth, abandoning all their earthly prosperity. Truly, I am a coward. Having caused such a slaughter of friends, I dare not think that I shall be sanctified by performing even a hundred horse-sacrifices. I am covetous and sinful and a transgressor against righteousness. Through my acts alone, these lords of earth, in their desire for victory, have gone to Yama's abode. Why, in presence of those kings, does not the earth yield me a hole (through which to sink), since I am so sinful in behaviour and such a fomenter of internecine dissensions! Alas, what will the grandsire with blood-red eyes, that invincible hero who has conquered the other world, tell me in the midst of the kings when he meets me? Behold that mighty bowman, Jalasandha, slain by Satyaki. That great car-warrior, that hero, came proudly to battle for my sake, prepared to lay down his life. Beholding the ruler of the Kambojas slain, as also Alambusha and many other allies of mine, what object can I have for preserving my life? Those unretreating heroes who, fighting for my sake and struggling to the utmost of their powers to vanquish my foes, have laid down their lives. I shall today, O scorcher of foes, exerting the utmost measure of my might, free myself from the debt that I owe them and gratify them with oblations of water by repairing to the Yamuna. O foremost of all bearers of arms, I tell you truly and swear by the good acts I have performed, by the prowess I possess and by my sons, that slaying all the Panchalas with the Pandavas, I shall obtain peace of mind, or slain by them in battle I shall repair to those regions whither those allies of mine have gone. I shall certainly proceed there whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna have gone! Our allies, seeing that they are not well-protected by us, no longer desire to stand by us. O you of mighty arms, they now regard the Pandavas to be preferable to ourselves.

Yourself, of sure aim, have ordained our extermination in battle, for you treat Arjuna leniently, since he is your disciple. It is for this that all those have been slain who had endeavoured to secure victory to us. It seems that only Karna now wishes us victory. The man of weak understanding who without duly examining another, accept him for a friend and engage him in concerns that require friends for their accomplishment, is certain to suffer injury even so has this affair of mine been managed by my best friend! I am exceedingly covetous, sinful, crooked-hearted, and characterised by avarice! Alas, king Jayadratha has been slain, and Somadatta's son also of great energy, and the Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, the Shibis, and the Vasatis! I shall go there today whither those bulls among men, slain, while engaged in battle for my sake, by Arjuna, have gone. In the absence of those bulls among men, I have no need for life. O preceptor of the sons of Pandu, let me have your permission in this.”

Loud wails arose among Dhritarashtra’s troops after the slaughter of Bhurishravas and the ruler of the Sindhus. All of them disregarded the counsels of Dhritarashtra’s son, those counsels in consequence of which leaders of men, by hundreds, were slain, As regards Drona, hearing those words of Dhritarashtra’s son, he became filled with grief. Reflecting for a short while, he said these words in great affliction. Drona said,

“O Duryodhana, why do you pierce me thus with wordy shafts? I told you before that Arjuna is incapable of defeat in battle. Protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna, Shikhandin slew Bhishma. By that feat, O you of Kuru's race, the prowess of Arjuna in battle has been well-tested. Beholding Bhishma who was incapable of being defeated by the gods and the Danavas, actually slain in battle, even then I knew that this Bharata host is doomed. Upon the fall of him whom of all persons in the three worlds, we had regarded to be the very foremost of heroes, who else is there upon whom we are to rely? Those dice, O sire, with which Shakuni formerly played in the Kuru assembly, were not dice but keen arrows capable of slaying foes. Even those arrows, O sire, sped by Jaya, are now slaying us. Though Vidura characterised them to be such, you did not yet understand them to be so. Those words, again, that the wise and high-souled Vidura, with tears in his eyes had then said unto you, those auspicious words recommending peace, you did not then hear. That calamity which foretold has now come. That frightful carnage, O Duryodhana, has now come as the result of that disobedience by you of Vidura's words. That man of foolish understanding who, disregarding the salutary words of trusted friends, follows his own opinion, soon falls into a pitiable plight. O son of Gandhari, this great evil, viz., that dragging in our very sight to the Kuru assembly of Krishna who never deserved such treatment, who has been born in a noble race, and who practises every virtue. Know that all this is but little, for in the next world dire consequences yet will be yours. Vanquishing the Pandavas at dice by deceit, you had sent them, into the woods, attired in deer-skins. What other Brahmana, except myself, in this world, would seek to injure those princes that are ever engaged in the practice of virtue and that are to me even as my own sons" With the approval of Dhritarashtra, in the midst of the Kuru assembly, you had, with Shakuni as your help-mate, provoked the ire of the Pandavas. United with Duhshasana, Karna then fanned that wrath. Disregarding the words of Vidura, you have repeatedly fanned it yourself. With resolute care, all of you had surrounded Arjuna, resolved to stand by the ruler of the Sindhus. Why then have all of you been vanquished and why also has Jayadratha been slain? Why, when you are alive, and Karna, and Kripa, and Shalya, and Ashwatthaman, O Kauravya, has the ruler of the Sindhus been slain? For rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, the kings (on your side) had put forth all their fierce energy. Why, then, has Jayadratha been slain in their midst? Relying upon me, king Jayadratha had expected his rescue from the hands of Arjuna. He, however, obtained not the rescue he had expected. I do not also see my safety for my own self. Until I succeed in slaying the Panchalas with Shikhandin, I feel like one sinking in the Dhristadyumna-mire. Having failed, O Bharata, in rescuing the ruler of the Sindhus, why do you pierce me thus with your wordy shafts, seeing that I too am burning with grief? You see not any longer on the field the gold standards of Bhishma of sure aim, that warrior who was never tired in battle. How, then, canst you hope for success? When the ruler of the Sindhus and Bhurishravas also have been slain in the very midst of so many mighty car-warriors, what do you think, will the end be? Kripa, difficult of being vanquished, is still alive, O king! That he has not followed in the track of Jayadratha, I applaud him highly for this! When I saw Bhishma himself, that achiever of the most difficult feats (in battle), that warrior who was incapable of being slain in battle by the gods with Vasava at their head, slain in your sight, O Kaurava, as also of your younger brother Duhshasana, I thought then, O king, that the Earth has abandoned you. Yonder the troops of the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, united together, are now rushing against me. For achieving your good in battle, O son of Dhritarashtra, I will not without slaying all the Panchalas, put off my armour. O king, go and tell my son Ashwatthaman who is present in battle that even at the risk of his life he should not let the Somakas alone. You should also tell him, Observe all the instructions you have received from your father. Be firm in acts of humility, in self-restraint, in truth and righteousness. Observant of religion, profit, and pleasure, without neglecting religion and profit, you should always accomplish those acts in which religion predominates. The Brahmanas should always be gratified with presents. All of them deserve your worship. You should never do anything that is injurious to them. They are like flames of fire. As regards myself, I will penetrate the hostile host, O slayer of foes, for doing great battle, pierced as I am by you with your wordy shafts. If you canst, O Duryodhana, go and protect those troops. Both the Kurus and the Srinjayas have been angry. They will fight even during the night.' Having said these words, Drona proceeded against the Pandavas and set himself to over-ride the energy of the Kshatriyas like the sun overshadowing the light of the stars.”

Thus urged by Drona, king Duryodhana, filled with rage set his heart on battle. Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana, then said unto Karna,

“Behold, the diadem-decked son of Pandu, with Krishna alone for helpmate, penetrated into the array formed by the preceptor, an array that the gods themselves could not pierce, and in the very sight of the illustrious Drona struggling in battle and of many other foremost of warriors, slew the ruler of the Sindhus. Behold, O son of Radha, many foremost of kings lying on the earth, slain in battle. Partha unaided by any one, in the very sight of the illustrious Drona and myself, vigorously exerting ourselves like a host of inferior animals-slain by a lion. The son of Shakra has reduced my host to a small remnant of what it was. How, indeed, could Phalguna, in spite of the resistance offered by Drona in battle, accomplish his vow by slaying the ruler of the Sindhus? If Drona had not himself willed it, O hero, how could the son of Pandu, in battle, have pierced that impenetrable array, overcoming his struggling preceptor? Truly, Phalguna is exceedingly dear to the illustrious preceptor! For this, the latter gave him admittance, without having fought with him. Behold my misfortune! Having in the first instance promised protection unto the ruler of the Sindhus, Drona, that scorcher of foes, gave unto the diadem-decked Arjuna admittance into the array! If he had in the beginning granted permission to the ruler of the Sindhus for his return home, without doubt, such an awful carnage would then have never occurred. Alas! Jayadratha, in hopes of saving his life, had desired to return home. Having obtained from Drona a promise of protection in battle, it was I, a fool that I was, who prevented him from going. Alas, today my brothers having Chitrasena for their head, have all perished in the very sight of our wretched selves.”

Karna said,

“Do not blame the preceptor. That Brahmana is fighting according to the measure of his power and courage and regardless of his very life. If Arjuna, of white steeds, having transgressed him, penetrated into our array, the slightest fault does not, for that, attach to the preceptor. Phalguna is accomplished in weapons, possessed of great activity, endued with youth; he is a hero who has mastered all arms; he is distinguished for the celerity of his movements. Armed with celestial weapons and mounted on his ape-bannered car, the reins of whose steeds again were in the hands of Krishna, cased in impenetrable armour, and taking his celestial bow Gandiva of unfading might, the valiant Arjuna, scattering keen arrows, and proud of the strength of his arms, transgressed Drona. There is nothing to wonder at this. The preceptor, on the other hand is, O king, old and incapable of proceeding quickly. He is also, O king, incapable of exercising his arms long. It was for this that Phalguna, of white steeds and having Krishna for his charioteer, succeeded in transgressing the preceptor. For this reason also, I do not see any fault in Drona. For all that, when Arjuna, of white steeds, penetrated into our array, having transgressed the preceptor it seems that the latter, however skilled in weapons, is incapable of vanquishing the Pandavas in battle. I think that which is ordained by Fate never occurs otherwise.

Since, O Suyodhana, in spite of ourselves fighting to the utmost extent of our powers, the ruler of the Sindhus has been slain in battle, it seems that Fate is all-powerful. With yourself we had all been exerting to the utmost of our might on the field of battle. Fate, however, baffling our exertions, did not smile on us. We have always exerted to injure the Pandavas, relying both on deceit and prowess. Whatever act, O king, a person afflicted by Fate does, is frustrated by Fate, however, much the person himself may strive to achieve it. Whatever, indeed, a man endued with perseverance should do, ought to be done fearlessly. Success depends on Fate! By deceit the sons of Pritha were beguiled as also by the administration of poison, O Bharata! Burnt they were in the palace of lac, vanquished they were at dice. In accordance with the dictates of statecraft, they were exited into the woods. All these, though done by us with care, have been baffled by Fate. Fight with resolution, O king, setting Fate at nought. Between you and them, both striving to the best of your prowess even Fate may prove auspicious to that party which excels the other. No wise measures have been adopted by the Pandavas with the aid of superior intelligence. Nor, O hero, do we see, O perpetuator of Kuru's race, that you have done anything unwise from want of intelligence! It is Fate that decides the result of acts, wise or unwise; Fate, ever intent on its own purposes is awake when all else sleeps. Vast was your host, and your warriors are many. Even thus the battle began. With their small force, much greater and consisting of men capable of smiting effectually, has been much reduced. I fear, it is the work of Fate, that has frustrated our exertions.”

While they were discoursing thus, the Pandava divisions appeared for battle. Then occurred a fierce battle between Dhritarashtra’s warriors and theirs, in which cars and elephants encountered one another. All this, however, was due to Dhritarashtra’s evil policy!