The fourteenth day of war – 1

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.

Vyuha formations

After that night had passed away, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, began to array all his divisions for battle. Diverse sounds were heard of angry heroes shouting in wrath and desirous of slaying one another. Some stretched their bows, and some rubbed with their hands their bow-strings. Drawing deep breaths, many of them shouted, saying, “Where is that Dhananjaya?” Some began to throw upwards (and again seize) their naked swords, unyielding, well-tempered, of the colour of the sky, possessed of great sharpness, and furnished with beautiful hilts. Brave warriors, desirous of battle, by thousands, were seen to perform the evolutions of swordmen and of bowmen, with skill acquired by practice. Some whirling their maces decked with bells, smeared with sandal paste, and adorned with gold and diamonds enquired after the sons of Pandu. Some intoxicated with the pride of strength, and possessed of massive arms, obstructed the welkin with their spiked clubs that resembled (a forest of flag) staff raised in honour of Indra. Others, brave warriors all, adorned with beautiful garlands of flowers, desirous of battle, occupied diverse portions of the field, armed with diverse weapons. “Where is Arjuna? Where is that Govinda? Where is proud Bhima? Where also are those allies of their?” Thus did they call upon them in battle. Then blowing his conch and himself urging the horses to great speed, Drona moved about with great celerity, arraying his troops. After all those divisions that delight in battle had taken up their stations, Bharadwaja's son said these words unto Jayadratha.

“Yourself, Somadatta's son, the mighty car-warrior Karna, Ashwatthaman, Shalya, Vrishasena and Kripa, with a hundred thousand horses, sixty thousand cars, four and ten thousand elephants with rent temples, one and twenty thousand foot-soldiers clad in mail take up your station behind me at the distance of twelve miles. There the very gods with Vasava at their head will not be able to attack you, what need be said, therefore, of the Pandavas? Take comfort, O ruler of the Sindhus.”

Thus addressed (by Drona), Jayadratha, the ruler of the Sindhus, became comforted. He proceeded to the spot indicated by Drona, accompanied by many Gandhara warriors, and surrounded by those great car-warriors, and with many foot-soldiers clad in mail, prepared to fight vigorously and armed with nooses. The steeds of Jayadratha, well-skilled in bearing of drawing were all decked with yalk-tails and ornaments of gold. Seven thousand such steeds, and three thousand other steeds of the Sindhu breed were with him.

Dhritarashtra’s son Durmarshana, desirous of doing battle, stationed himself at the head of all the troops, accompanied by a thousand and five hundred infuriated elephants and awful size clad in mail and of fierce deeds, and all ridden by well-trained elephant-riders. Dhritarashtra’s two other sons, viz., Duhshasana and Vikarna, took up their position amid the advance-divisions of the army, for the accomplishment of the objects of Jayadratha. The array that Bharadwaja's son formed, part Shakata and part a circle, was full forty-eight miles long and the width of its rear measured twenty miles. Drona himself formed that array with countless brave kings, stationed with it, and countless cars and steeds and elephants and foot-soldiers. In the rear of that array was another impenetrable array of the form of lotus. Within that lotus was another dense array called the needle.

Having formed his mighty array thus, Drona took up his station. At the mouth of that needle, the great bowman Kritavarman took up his stand. Next to Kritavarman stood the ruler of the Kambojas and Jalasandha. Next to these, stood Duryodhana and Karna. Behind them hundreds and thousands of unreturning heroes were stationed in that Shakata for protecting its head. Behind them all and surrounded by a vast force was king Jayadratha stationed at one side of that needle-shaped array. At the entrance of the Shakata was Bharadwaja's son. Behind Drona was the chief of the Bhojas, who protected him. Clad in white armour, with excellent head-gear, of broad chest and mighty arms, Drona stood, stretching his large bow, like the Destroyer himself in wrath. Beholding Drona's car which was graced with a beautiful standard and had red sacrificial altar and a black deer-skin, the Kauravas were filled with delight. Seeing that array formed by Drona, which resembled the ocean itself in agitation, the Siddhas and the Charanas were filled with wonder. All creatures thought that array would devour the whole earth with her mountains and seas and forests, and abounding with diverse things. King Duryodhana, beholding that mighty array in the form of a Shakata, teeming with carts and men and steeds and elephants, roaring dreadful of wonderful form, and capable of riving the hearts of foes, began to rejoice.

After the divisions of the Kuru army had been (thus) arrayed, and a loud uproar had arisen; after drums and Mridangas began to be beaten and played upon, after the din of the warriors and the noise of musical instruments had become audible; after conch began to be blown, and an awful roar had arisen, making the hair stand on end; after the field of battle had beer slowly covered by the Bharata heroes desirous of fight; and after the hour called Rudra had set in, Savyasachin made his appearance. Many thousands of ravens and crows proceeded sporting on the front of Arjuna's car. Various animals of terrible cries, and jackals of inauspicious sight, began to yell and howl on our right as we proceeded to battle. Thousands of blazing meteors fell with great noise. The whole earth trembled on that dreadful occasion. Dry winds blew in all directions, accompanied by thunder, and driving bard pebbles and gravel when Kunti's son came at the commencement of battle.

Then Nakula's son, Shatanika, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, those two warriors possessed of great wisdom, arrayed the several divisions of the Pandavas. Then Dhritarashtra’s son Durmarshana, accompanied by a thousand cars, a hundred elephants, three thousand heroes, and ten thousand foot-soldiers, and covering a piece of ground that measured the length of fifteen hundred bows, took up his position at the very van of all the troops, and said:

“Like the continent resisting the surging sea, I will today resist the wielder of Gandiva, that scorcher of foes, that warrior who is irresistible in battle. Let people today behold the wrathful Dhananjaya collide with me, like a mass of stone against another stony mass. You car-warriors that are desirous of battle, stay you (as witness). Alone I will fight with all the Pandavas assembled together, for enhancing my honour and fame.”

That high-souled and noble son of Dhritarashtra, that great bowman saying this, stood there surrounded by many great bowmen. Then, like the Destroyer himself in wrath, or Vasava himself armed with the thunder, or Death's irresistible self armed with his club and urged on by Time, or Mahadeva armed with the trident and incapable of being ruffled, or Varuna bearing his noise, or the blazing fire at the end of the Yuga risen for consuming the creation, the slayer of the Nivatakavachas inflamed with rage and swelling with might, the ever-victorious Jaya, devoted to truth and desirous of achieving his great vow, clad in mail and armed with sword, decked in golden diadem, adorned with garlands of swords of white flowers and attired in white robes, his arms decked with beautiful Angadas and ears with excellent ear-rings, mounted on his own foremost of cars, (the incarnate) Nara, accompanied by Narayana, shaking his Gandiva in battle, shone brilliantly like the risen sun. Dhananjaya of great prowess, placing his car at the very van of his army, where densest showers of arrows would fall, blew his conch. Then Krishna also fearlessly blew with great force his foremost of conchs called Panchajanya as Partha blew his. In consequence of the blare of the conchs, all the warriors in Dhritarashtra’s army trembled and became lost heart. Their hair stood on end at that sound. As an creatures are oppressed with fright at the sound of the thunder, even so did all your warriors took fright at the blare of those conchs. All the animals ejected urine and excreta. Dhritarashtra’s whole army with its animals became filled with anxiety and in consequence of the blare of those (two) conchs, all men lost their strength. Some amongst them were inspired with dread, and some lost their senses. The ape on Arjuna's banner, opening his mouth wide, made an awful noise with the other creatures on it, for terrifying Dhritarashtra’s troops. Then conchs and horns and cymbals and Anakas were once more blown and beat for cheering your warriors. That noise mingled with the noise of diverse (other) musical instruments, with the shouts of warriors and the slaps of their arm-pits, and with their leonine roars uttered by great car-warriors in summoning and challenging (their antagonists). When that tumultuous uproar rose there, an uproar that enhanced the fear of the timid, the son of Pakashasana, filled with great delight, addressing him of Dasharha's race, said (these words). Arjuna said,

“Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesha, to where Durmarshana stays. Piercing through that elephant division I will penetrate into the hostile army.”

Arjuna causes a carnage of Dhritarashtra’s army

Thus addressed by Savyasachin, the mighty-armed Keshava urged the steeds to where Durmarshana was staying. Fierce and awful was the encounter that commenced there between one and the many, an encounter that proved very destructive of cars and elephants and men. Then Partha, resembling a pouring cloud, covered his foes with showers of shafts, like a mass of clouds pouring rain on the mountain breast. The hostile of car-warriors also, displaying great lightness of hand, quickly covered both Krishna and Dhananjaya with clouds of arrows. The mighty-armed Partha, then, thus opposed in battle by his foes, became filled with wrath, and began to strike off with his arrows the heads of car-warriors from their trunks. The earth became strewn with beautiful heads decked with ear-rings and turbans, the lower lips bit by the upper ones, and the faces adorned with eyes troubled with wrath. Indeed, the scattered heads of the warriors looked resplendent like an assemblage of plucked off and crushed lotuses lying strewn about the field. Golden coats of mail dyed with gore (lying thick over the field), looked like masses of clouds charged with lightning. The sound of severed heads dropping on the earth, resembled that of falling palmyra fruits ripened in due time, headless trunks arose, some with bow in hand, and some with naked swords upraised in the act of striking. Those brave warriors incapable of tolerating Arjuna's feats and desirous of vanquishing him, had no distinct perception as to when their heads were struck off by Arjuna. The earth became strewn with heads of horses, trunks of elephants, and the arms and legs of heroic warriors. “This is one Partha”, “Where is Partha? Here is Partha!”, thus, the warriors, of Dhritarashtra’s army became filled with the idea of Partha only. Deprived of their senses by Time, they regarded the whole world to be full of Partha only, and therefore, many of them perished, striking one another, and some struck even their own selves. Uttering yells of woe, many heroes, covered with blood, deprived of their senses, and in great agony, laid themselves down, calling upon their friends and kinsmen. Arms, bearing short arrows, or lances, or darts, or swords, or battle-axes, or pointed stakes, or scimitars, or bows, or spears, or shafts, or maces, and cased in armour and decked with Angadas and other ornaments, and looking like large snakes, and resembling huge clubs, cut off (from trunks) with mighty weapons, were seen to jump about, jerk about, and move about, with great force, as if in rage. Every one amongst those that wrathfully advanced against Partha in that battle, perished, pierced in his body with some fatal shafts of that hero.

While dancing on his car as it moved, and drawing his bow, no one there could detect the minutest opportunity for striking him. The quickness with which he took his shafts, fixed them on the bow, and let them off, filled all his enemies with wonder. Indeed Phalguna, with his shafts, pierced elephants and elephant-riders, horses and horse-riders, car-warriors and drivers of cars. There was none amongst his enemies, whether staying before him or struggling in battle, or wheeling about, whom the son of Pandu did not slay. As the sun rising in the welkin destroys the thick gloom, so did Arjuna destroy that elephant-force by means of his shafts winged with Kanka plumes. The field occupied by Dhritarashtra’s troops, in consequence of riven elephants fallen upon it, looked like the earth strewn with huge hills at the hour of universal dissolution. As the midday sun is incapable of being looked at by all creatures, so was Dhananjaya, excited with wrath, incapable of being looked at, in battle, by his enemies.

The troops of Dhritarashtra’s son, afflicted (with the arrows of Dhananjaya), broke and fled in fear. Like a mass of clouds pierced and driven away by a mighty wind, that army was pierced and routed by Partha. None indeed could gaze at the hero while he was slaying the foe. Urging their heroes to great speed by spurs, by the horns of their bows, by deep growls, by encouraging behests, by whips, by cuts on their flanks, and by threatening speeches, your men, viz., your cavalry and your car-warriors, as also your foot-soldiers, struck by the shafts of Arjuna, fled away from the fields. Others (that rode on elephants), fled away, urging those huge beasts by pressing their flanks with their hooks and many warriors struck by Partha's arrows, in flying, ran against Partha himself. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, then became all cheerless and their understandings were all confused.

Duhshasana fights Arjuna

When Indra's son Arjuna began, with his excellent arrows, to break and incessantly slay that force of Dhritarashtra, many heroes were either slain, or becoming dispirited, fled away. None in that battle, was capable of even looking at Arjuna. Then, Dhritarashtra’s son Duhshasana, beholding that state of the troops, became filled with wrath and rushed against Arjuna for battle. That hero of fierce prowess, cased in a beautiful coat of mail, made of gold, and his head covered with a turban decked with gold, caused Arjuna to be surrounded by a large elephant-force which seemed capable of devouring the whole earth. With sound of the elephants' bells, the blare of conchs, the twang of bow-strings, and the grunts of the tuskers, the earth, the points of compass, and the welkin, seemed to be entirely filled. That period of time became fierce and awful. Beholding those huge beasts with extended trunks filled with wrath and rushing quickly towards him, like winged mountains urged on with hooks, Dhananjaya, that lion among men, uttering a leonine shout, began to pierce and slay that elephant-force with his shafts. Like a Makara penetrating into the vast deep, surging into mountain waves when agitated by the tempest, the diadem-decked (Arjuna) penetrated into that elephant-host. Indeed, Partha, that subjugator of hostile cities, was then seen by all on every side to resemble the scorching sun that rises, transgressing the rule about direction and hour, on the day of the universal destruction. In consequence of the sound of horses' hoofs, rattle of car-wheels, the shouts of combatants, the twang of bow-strings, the noise of diverse musical instruments, the blare of Panchajanya and Devadatta, and roar of Gandiva, men and elephants were dispirited and deprived of their senses.

Men and elephants were riven by Savyasachin with his shafts whose touch resembled that of snakes of virulent poison. Those elephants, in that battle, were pierced all over their bodies with shafts, numbering thousands upon thousands shot from Gandiva. While thus mangled by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), they uttered loud noises and incessantly fell down on the earth like mountains shorn of their wings. Others struck at the jaw, or frontal globes, or temples with long shafts, uttered cries resembling those of cranes. The diadem-decked (Arjuna) began to cut off, with his straight arrows the heads of warriors standing on the necks of elephants. Those heads decked with ear-rings, constantly falling on the earth, resembled a multitude of lotuses that Partha was calling for an offer to his gods. While the elephants wandered on the field, many warriors were seen to hang from their bodies, divested of armour, afflicted with wounds, covered with blood, and looking like painted pictures. In some instances, two or three warriors, pierced by one arrow winged with beautiful feathers and well-shot (from Gandiva), fell down on the earth. Many elephants deeply pierced with long shafts, fell down, vomiting blood from their mouths, with the riders on their backs, like hills overgrown with forests tumbling down through some convulsion of nature. Partha, by means of his straight shafts, cut into fragments the bow-strings, standards, bows, yokes, and shafts of the car-warriors opposed to him. None could notice when Arjuna took up his arrows, when he fixed them on the bow-string, when he drew the string, and when he let them off. All that could be seen was that Partha seemed to dance on his car with his bow incessantly drawn to a circle. Elephants, deeply pierced with long shafts and vomiting blood from their mouths, fell down, as soon as they were struck, on the earth. In the midst of that great carnage, innumerable headless trunks were seen to stand up. Arms, with bows in grasp, or whose fingers were cased in leathern gloves, holding swords, or decked with Angadas and other ornaments of gold, cut off from trunks, were seen lying about. The field of battle was strewn with innumerable Upashkaras and Adhishthanas, and shafts, and crowns, crushed car-wheels, and broken Akshas, and yokes, and warriors armed with shields and bows, and floral garlands, and ornaments and robes and fallen standards. In consequence of those slain elephants and steeds, and the fallen bodies of Kshatriyas, the earth there assumed an awful aspect. Duhshasana's forces, thus slaughtered by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), fled away. Their leader himself was in great pain, for Duhshasana, greatly afflicted by those shafts, overcome by fear entered with his division the Shakata array, seeking Drona as his deliverer.

Arjuna moves past Drona

Slaying the force of Duhshasana, the mighty car-warrior, Savyasachin, desirous of getting at the ruler of the Sindhus, proceeded against the division of Drona, Having approached Drona who was stationed at the entrance of the array, Partha, at Krishna's request joined his hands and said these words unto Drona:

“Wish me well, O Brahmana, and bless me, saying Swasti! Through your grace, I wish to penetrate into this impenetrable array. You are to me even as my sire, or even as king Yudhishthira the just, or even as Krishna! I tell you this truly. O sire, O sinless one! As Ashwatthaman deserves to be protected by you, I also deserve to be protected by you, O foremost of regenerate ones! Through your grace, O foremost of men, I desire to stay the ruler of the Sindhu in battle. O lord, see that my vow is accomplished.”

Thus addressed by him, the preceptor, smiling, replied unto him, saying,

“O Bibhatsu, without vanquishing me, you shall not be able to vanquish Jayadratha.”

Telling him this much, Drona, with a smile covered him with showers of sharp arrows, as also his car and steeds and standard and charioteer. Then, Arjuna baffling Drona's arrowy showers with his own arrows, rushed against Drona, shooting mightier and more awful shafts. Observant of Kshatriya duties, Arjuna then pierced Drona in that battle with nine arrows. Cutting the shafts of Arjuna by his own shafts, Drona then pierced both Krishna and Arjuna with many shafts that resembled poison or fire, Then, while Arjuna was thinking of cutting of Drona's bow with his arrows, the latter, endued with great valour, fearlessly and quickly cut off, with shafts the bow-string of the illustrious Phalguna. He also pierced Phalguna's steeds and standard and charioteer. The heroic Drona covered Phalguna himself with many arrows, smiling the while. Meantime, stringing his large bow anew, Partha, that foremost of all persons conversant with arms, getting the better of his preceptor, quickly shot six hundred arrows as if he had taken and shot only one arrow. Once more he shot seven hundred other arrows, and then a thousand arrows incapable of being resisted, and ten thousand other arrows. All these slew many warriors of Drona's array.

Deeply pierced with those weapons by the mighty and accomplished Partha, acquainted with all modes of warfare, many men and steeds and elephants fell down deprived of life. Car-warriors, afflicted by those shafts, fell down from their foremost of cars, deprived of horses and standards and destitute of weapons and life. Elephants fell down like summits of hills, or masses of clouds, or large houses, loosened, dispersed, or burnt down by the thunder, or by the wind, or fire. Struck with Arjuna's shafts, thousands of steeds fell down like swans on the breast of Himavat, struck down by the force of watery current. Like the Sun, that rises at the end of the Yuga, drying up with his rays, vast quantities of water, the son of Pandu, by his showers of weapons and arrows, slew a vast number of car-warriors and steeds and elephants and foot-soldiers. Then like the clouds covering the sun, the Drona-cloud, with its arrowy showers, covered the Pandava-sun, whose rays in the shape of thick showers of arrows were scorching in the battle the foremost ones among the Kurus. Then the preceptor struck Dhananjaya at the breast with a long shaft shot with great force and capable of drinking the life-blood of every foe. Then Arjuna, deprived of strength, shook in all his limbs, like a hill during an earthquake. Soon, however, regaining for fortitude, Bibhatsu pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Then Drona struck Vasudeva with five arrows. He struck Arjuna with three and seventy arrows, and his standard with three. Then, the valorous Drona getting the better of his disciple, within the twinkling of an eye made Arjuna invisible by means of his arrowy showers. The shafts of Bharadwaja's son fell in continuous lines, and his bow also was seen to present the wonderful aspect of being incessantly drawn to a circle. Those shafts, countless in number, and winged with the Kanka feathers, shot by Drona in that battle, incessantly fell on Dhananjaya and Vasudeva. Beholding then that battle between Drona and the son of Pandu, Vasudeva of great intelligence began to reflect upon the accomplishment of the (important) task. Then Vasudeva, addressing Dhananjaya, said these words:

“O Partha, O you of mighty arms, we should not waste time. We must go on, avoiding Drona, for a more important task awaits us.”

In reply Partha said unto Krishna, “O Keshava, as you please!” Then keeping the mighty-armed Drona to their right, Arjuna proceeded onwards. Turning his face round, Bibhatsu proceeded, shooting his shafts. Then Drona, addressing Arjuna, said,

“Where do you proceed, O son of Pandu! Is it not true that you cease not (to fight) till you have vanquished your foe?”

Arjuna answered,

“You are my preceptor and not my foe. I am your disciple and, therefore, like to your son. Nor is there the man in the whole world who can vanquish you in battle.”

Saying these words, the mighty-armed Bibhatsu, desirous of slaying Jayadratha, quickly proceeded against the (Kaurava) troops.

While he penetrated into Dhritarashtra’s army, those high-souled princes of Panchala, viz., Yudhamanyu, and Uttamaujas, followed him as the protector of his wheels. Then, Jaya, and Kritavarman of the Satwata race, and the ruler of the Kambojas, and Shrutayush, began to oppose the progress of Dhananjaya. These had ten thousand car-warriors for their followers. The Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, the Shibis, the Vasatis, the Mavellakas, the Lilithyas, the Kaikeyas, the Madrakas, the Narayana Gopalas, and the various tribes of the Kambojas who had before been vanquished by Karna, all of whom were regarded as very brave, placing Bharadwaja's son at their head, and becoming regardless of their lives, rushed towards Arjuna, for resisting that angry hero, burning with grief on account of the death of his son, that warrior resembling all-destroying Death himself, clad in mail, conversant with all modes of warfare, prepared to throw away his life in thick of battle, that mighty bowman of great prowess, that tiger among men, who resembled an infuriate leader of elephantine herd, and who seemed ready to devour the whole hostile army. The battle then that commenced was exceedingly fierce and made the hair stand on end, between all those combatants on the one side and Arjuna on the other. All of them, uniting together, began to resist that bull among men, advancing for the slaughter of Jayadratha, like medicines resisting a raging disease.

Held in check by them, that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Partha of great might and prowess, was quickly pursued by Drona from behind. The son of Pandu, however, like diseases scorching the body, blasted that army, scattering his sharp shafts and resembling on that account the sun himself scattering his countless rays of light. Steeds were pierced, and cars with riders were broken and mangled, and elephants were overthrown. Umbrellas were cut off and displaced, and vehicles were deprived of their wheels. The combatants fled on all sides, exceedingly afflicted with arrows. Even thus progressed that fierce battle between those warriors and Arjuna encountering each other. Nothing could be distinguished. With his straight shafts, Arjuna made the hostile army tremble incessantly. Firmly devoted to truth, Arjuna then, of white steeds desirous of accomplishing his vow rushed against the foremost of car-warriors, viz., Drona of red steeds. Then the preceptor, Drona, struck his disciple, viz., the mighty bowman Arjuna, with five and twenty straight shafts capable of reaching the very vitals. Thereupon, Bibhatsu, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, quickly rushed against Drona, shooting arrows capable of baffling the force of counter arrows, shot at him. Invoking into existence then the Brahma weapon, Arjuna, of immeasurable soul, baffled with his straight shafts those shot so speedily at him by Drona. The skill we then beheld of Drona was exceedingly wonderful, since Arjuna, though young, and though struggling vigorously, could not pierce Drona with a single shaft. Like a mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain, the Drona cloud rained shower on the Partha-mountain. Possessed of great energy, Arjuna received that arrowy downpour, by invoking the Brahma weapon, and cut off all those arrows by arrows of his own.

Drona then afflicted Partha of white steeds with five and twenty arrows. He struck Vasudeva with seventy arrows on the chest and arms. Partha then, of great intelligence, smiling the while resisted the preceptor in that battle who was incessantly shooting sharp arrows. Then those two foremost of car-warriors, while thus struck by Drona, avoided that invincible warrior, who resembled the raging Yuga fire. Avoiding those sharp shafts shot from Drona's bow, the diadem-decked son of Kunti, adorned with garlands of flowers, began to slaughter the host of the Bhojas. Indeed, avoiding the invincible Drona who stood immovable like the Mainaka mountain, Arjuna took up his position between Kritavarman and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kambojas.

Arjuna moves past Kritavarman and the latter stops Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas from following Arjuna

Then that tiger among men, viz., the ruler of the Bhojas, coolly pierced that invincible and foremost descendant of Ruru with ten arrows winged with Kanka feathers. Then Arjuna pierced him in that battle with a hundred arrows. Once more he pierced him with three other arrows, stupefying that hero of the Satwata race. The ruler of the Bhojas then, laughing the while, pierced Partha and Vasudeva each with five and twenty arrows. Arjuna then, cutting off Kritavarman's bow, pierced him with one and twenty arrows resembling blazing flames of fire or angry snakes of virulent poison. Then Kritavarman, that mighty car-warrior, taking up another bow, pierced Arjuna in the chest with five arrows. Once more he pierced Partha with five sharp arrows. Then Partha struck him in return in the centre of the chest with nine arrows. Beholding the son of Kunti obstructed before the car of Kritavarman, he of Vrishni's race thought that no time should be wasted. Then Krishna addressing Partha, said,

“Do not show any mercy to Kritavarman! Disregarding your relationship (with him), crush and slay him!”

Then Arjuna, stupefying Kritavarman with his arrows, proceeded, on his swift steeds, to the division of the Kambojas. Seeing Arjuna of white steeds penetrate into the Kamboja force, Kritavarman became filled with wrath. Taking his bow with arrows fixed thereon, he then encountered the two Panchala princes. Indeed, Kritavarman, with his arrows resisted those two Panchala princes as they advanced, following Arjuna for protecting his wheels. Then Kritavarman, the ruler of the Bhojas, pierced them both with sharp shafts, striking Yudhamanyu with three, and Uttamaujas with four.

Those two princes in return each pierced him with ten arrows. Once more, Yudhamanyu shooting three arrows and Uttamaujas shooting three cut off Kritavarman's standard and bow. Then the son of Hridika, taking up another bow, and becoming infuriated with rage, deprived both those warriors of their bows and covered them with arrows. Then those two warriors, taking up and stringing two other bows, began to pierce Kritavarman. Meanwhile Bibhatsu penetrated into the hostile army. But those two princes, resisted by Kritavarman, obtained no admittance into the Dhritarashtra host, although those bulls among men struggled vigorously. Then Arjuna of white steeds quickly afflicted in that battle the divisions opposed to him. That slayer of foes, however, slew not Kritavarman although he had got him within reach.

Shrutayudha, the son of river Parnasha, is slain

Beholding Partha thus proceeding, the brave king Shrutayudha, filled with wrath, rushed at him, shaking his large bow. He pierced Partha with three arrows, and Janardana with seventy. He struck the standard of Partha with a very sharp arrow having a razor-like head. Then Arjuna, filled with wrath deeply pierced his antagonist with ninety straight shafts, like (a rider) striking a mighty elephant with the hook. Shrutayudha, however, could not tolerate that act of prowess on the part of Pandu's son. He pierced Arjuna in return with seven and seventy shafts. Arjuna then cut off Shrutayudha's bow and then his quiver, and angrily struck him on the chest with seven straight shafts. Then, king Shrutayudha, deprived of his senses by wrath, took up another bow and struck the son of Vasava with nine arrows on the latter's arms and chest. Then Arjuna, that chastiser of foes laughing the while, afflicted Shrutayudha with many thousands of arrows. That mighty car-warrior quickly slew also the latter's steeds and charioteer. Endued with great strength the son of Pandu then pierced his foe with seventy arrows. Then the valiant king Shrutayudha abandoning that steedless car, rushed in that encounter against Partha, uplifting his mace.

The heroic king Shrutayudha was the son of Varuna, having for his mother that mighty river of cool water called Parnasha. His mother had for the sake of her son, begged Varuna saying, “Let this my son become unslayable on earth.” Varuna, gratified (with her), had said,

“I give him a boon highly beneficial to him, viz., a celestial weapon, by virtue of which this your son will become unslayable on earth by foes. No man can have immortality. O foremost of rivers, every one who has taken birth must inevitably die. This child, however, will always be invincible by foes in battle, through the power of this weapon. Therefore, let your heart's fever be dispelled.”

Having said these words, Varuna gave him, with mantras, a mace. Obtaining that mace, Shrutayudha became invincible on earth. Unto him, however, illustrious Lord of the waters again said,

“This mace should not be hurled at one who is not engaged in fight. If hurled at such a person, it will come back and fall upon yourself. O illustrious child, (if so hurled) it will then course in an opposite direction and slay the person hurling it.”

It would seem that when his hour came, Shrutayudha disobeyed that injunction. With that hero-slaying mace he attacked Janardana. The valiant Krishna received that mace on one of his well-formed and stout shoulders. It failed to shake Shauri, like the wind failing to shake the Vindhya mountain. That mace, returning unto Shrutayudha himself, struck that brave and wrathful king staying on his car, like an ill-accomplished act of sorcery injuring the performer himself, and slaying that hero fell down on the earth. Beholding the mace turn back and Shrutayudha slain, loud cries of “Alas” and “Oh” arose there among the troops, at the sight of Shrutayudha that chastiser of foes, slain by a weapon of his own. Because Shrutayudha had hurled that mace at Janardana who was not engaged in fighting it slew him who had hurled it. Shrutayudha perished on the field, in the manner that Varuna had indicated. Deprived of life, he fell down on the earth before the eyes of all the bowmen. While falling down, that dear son of Parnasha shone resplendent like a tall banian with spreading boughs broken by the wind. Then all the troops and even all the principal warriors fled away, beholding Shrutayudha, that chastiser of foes, slain.

Arjuna slays Sudakshina, the Kamboja prince

Then, the son of the ruler of the Kambojas, viz., the brave Sudakshina, rushed on his swift steeds against Phalguna that slayer of foes. Partha then sped seven shafts at him. Those shafts passing through the body of that hero, entered the earth. Deeply pierced those shafts sped in battle from Gandiva, Sudakshina pierced Arjuna in return with ten shafts winged with Kanka feathers. Piercing Vasudeva with three shafts, he once more pierced Partha with five. Then, Partha, cutting off Sudakshina's bow, lopped off the latter's standard. The son of Pandu pierced his antagonist with a couple of broad-headed arrows of great sharpness. Sudakshina, however, piercing Partha once more with three arrows, uttered a leonine shout. Then the brave Sudakshina, filled with wrath, hurled at the wielder of Gandiva a terrible dart made wholly of iron and decked with bells. That dart blazing as a large meteor, and emitting sparks of fire, approaching that mighty car-warrior pierced him through and fell down on the earth. Deeply struck by that dart and overcome with a swoon, Arjuna soon enough recovered. Then that hero of mighty energy, licking the corners of his mouth, that son of Pandu, of inconceivable feats, pierced his foe, along with his steeds, standard, bow, and charioteer, with four and ten shafts winged with Kanka feathers. With other arrows, countless in number, Partha then cut Sudakshina's car into fragments. Then the son of Pandu pierced Sudakshina, the prince of the Kambojas, whose purpose and prowess had both been baffled, with a sharp arrow in the chest. Then the brave prince of the Kambojas, his coat of mail cut off, his limbs weakened, his diadem and Angadas displaced, fell head downwards, like a pole of Indra when hurled from an engine. Like a beautiful Karnikara tree in the spring, gracefully growing on a mountain summit with beautiful branches, lying on the earth when uprooted by the wind, the prince of the Kambojas lay on the bare ground deprived of life, though deserving of the costliest bed, decked with costly ornaments. Handsome, possessed of eyes that were of a coppery hue, and bearing on his head a garland of gold, endued with the effulgence of fire, the mighty-armed Sudakshina, the son of the ruler of the Kambojas, overthrown by Partha with his shafts, and lying on the earth, reft of life, looked resplendent like a beautiful mountain with a level top. Then all the troops of Dhritarashtra’s son fled away, beholding Shrutayudha, and Sudakshina the prince of the Kambojas, slain.

Arjuna slays Shrutayush and Achyutayush as well as their sons

Upon the fall of Sudakshina and of the heroic Shrutayudha, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, filled with wrath, rushed with speed at Partha. The Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, the Shibis, and the Vasatis began to scatter their arrowy showers on Dhananjaya. The son of Pandu then consumed by means of his arrows six hundred of them at once. Thereupon, those warriors, terrified, fled away like smaller animals from a tiger. Rallying, they once more surrounded Partha, who was slaying his foes and vanquishing them in battle. Dhananjaya then, with shafts sped from Gandiva, speedily felled the heads and arms of the combatants thus rushing upon him. Not an inch of the field of battle was unstrewn with fallen heads, and the flights of crows and vultures and ravens that hovered over the field seemed to form a cloudy canopy. Seeing their men thus exterminated, Shrutayush and Achyutayush were both filled with wrath. They continued to contend vigorously with Dhananjaya. Endued with great might, proud, heroic, of noble lineage, and possessed of strength of arms, those two bowmen, solicitous of winning great fame and desirous, for the sake of Dhritarashtra’s son, to compass the destruction of Arjuna, quickly showered upon the latter their arrowy downpours at once from his right and left. Those angry heroes, with a thousand straight shafts, covered Arjuna like two masses of clouds filling a lake.

Then that foremost of car-warriors viz., Shrutayush filled with wrath, struck Dhananjaya with a well-tempered lance. That crusher of foes viz., Arjuna, then, deeply pierced by his mighty foe, swooned away in that battle, stupefying Keshava also (by that act). Meanwhile, the mighty car-warrior Achyutayush forcibly struck the son of Pandu with a keen-pointed spear. By the act he seemed to pour an acid upon the wound of the high-souled son of Pandu. Deeply pierced therewith, Partha supported himself by seizing the flag-staff. Then a leonine shout was sent forth by all the troops in the belief that Dhananjaya was deprived of life. Krishna also was scorched with grief upon beholding Partha senseless. Then Keshava comforted Dhananjaya with soothing words. Then those foremost of car-warriors, (viz., Shrutayush and Achyutayush), of true aim, pouring their arrowy showers on all sides, in that battle, made Dhananjaya and Vasudeva of Vrishni's race invisible with their car and car-wheels and Kubaras, their steeds and flagstaff and banner. All this seemed wonderful.

Meanwhile, Bibhatsu slowly regained his senses, like one come back from the very abode of the king of the dead. Beholding his car with Keshava overwhelmed with arrows and seeing also those two antagonists of his staying before him like two blazing fires, the mighty car-warriors Partha then invoked into existence the weapon named after Shakra. From that weapon flowed thousands of straight shafts. Those shafts struck Shrutayush and Achyutayush, those mighty bowmen. The arrows shot by the latter, pierced by those of Partha, coursed through the welkin. The son of Pandu quickly baffling those arrows by the force of his own arrows, began to career over the field, encountering mighty car-warriors. Meanwhile Shrutayush and Achyutayush were, by Arjuna's arrowy showers, deprived of their arms and heads. They fell down on the earth, like a couple of tall trees broken by the wind. The death of Shrutayush and slaughter of Achyutayush created surprise equal to what men would feel at the sight of the ocean becoming dry. Then slaying fifty car-warriors amongst the followers of those two princes, Partha proceeded against the Bharata army, slaying many foremost of warriors.

Beholding both Shrutayush and Achyutayush slain, their sons, those foremost of men, viz., Niyatayush and Dirghayush, both filled with rage, rushed against the son of Kunti, scattering shafts of diverse kinds, and much pained by the calamity that had happened to their sires. Arjuna, excited with rage, in a moment despatched them both towards Yama's abode, by means of straight shafts. Those bulls among Kshatriyas (that were in the Kuru army) were unable to resist Partha who agitated the Dhartarashtra ranks, like an elephant agitating the waters of a lake filled with lotuses.

Arjuna destroys the Anga and Mleccha armies

Then thousands of trained elephant-riders amongst the Angas, filled with rage, surrounded the son of Pandu with their elephant-force. Urged by Duryodhana, many kings also of the west and the south, and many others headed by the ruler of the Kalingas, also surrounded Arjuna, with their elephants huge as hills. Partha however, with shafts sped from Gandiva, quickly cut off the heads and arms, decked with ornaments, of those advancing combatants. The field of battle, strewn with those heads and arms decked with Angadas, looked like golden stones entwined by snakes. The arms of warriors cut off therewith, while failing down, looked like birds dropping down from trees. The elephants, pierced with thousands of arrows and shedding blood (from their wounds), looked like hills in the season of rains with liquefied red chalk streaming down their sides. Others, slain by Partha with sharp shafts, lay prostrate on the field. Many Mlecchas on the backs of elephants, of diverse kinds of ugly forms, robed in diverse attires and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, and bathed in blood, looked resplendent as they lay on the field, deprived of life by means of diverse kinds of arrows. Thousands of elephants along with their riders and those on foot that urged them forward, struck with Partha's shafts, vomited blood, or uttered shrieks of agony, or fell down, or ran ungovernably in all directions. Many, exceedingly frightened, trod down and crushed their own men. Many which were kept as reserves and which were fierce as snakes of virulent poison, did the same. Many terrible Yavanas and Paradas and Shakas and Bahlikas, and Mlecchas born of the cow (belonging to Vasishtha), of fierce eyes, accomplished in smiting looking like messengers of Death, and all conversant with the deceptive powers of the Asuras and many Darbabhisaras and Daradas and Pundras numbering by thousands, of bands, and together forming a force that was countless, began to shower their sharp shafts upon the son of Pandu. Accomplished in various modes of warfare, those Mlecchas covered Arjuna with their arrows. Upon them, Dhananjaya also quickly poured his arrows. Those arrows, shot from Gandiva, looked like flights of locusts, as they coursed through the welkin. Indeed. Dhananjaya, having by his arrows caused a shade over the troops like that of the clouds, slew, by the force of his weapons, all the Mlecchas, with heads completely shaved or half-shaved or covered with matted locks, impure in habits, and of crooked faces. Those dwellers of hills, pierced with arrows, those denizens of mountain-caves, fled away in fear.

Ravens and Kankas and wolves, with great glee, drank the blood of those elephants and steeds and their Mleccha-riders overthrown on the field by Partha with his sharp shafts. Indeed, Arjuna caused a fierce river to flow there whose current consisted of blood. (Slain) foot-soldiers and steeds and cars and elephants constituted its embankments. The showers of shafts poured constituted its rafts and the hairs of the combatants formed its moss and weeds. The fingers cut off from the arms of warriors, formed its little fishes. That river was as awful as Death itself at the end of the Yuga. That river of blood flowed towards the region of Yama, and the bodies of stain elephants floating on it, obstructed its current. The earth was covered all over with the blood of Kshatriyas and of elephants and steeds and their riders, and became one bloody expanse like to what is seen when Indra showers a heavy down-pour covering uplands and lowlands alike.

That bull among Kshatriyas despatched six thousand horsemen and again a thousand foremost of Kshatriyas in that battle into the jaws of death. Thousands of well-equipped elephants, pierced with arrows, lay prostrate on the field, like hills struck down by thunder. Arjuna careered over the field, slaying steeds and car-warriors and elephants, like an elephant of rent temples crushing a forest a reeds. As a conflagration, urged by the wind, consumes a dense forest of trees and creepers and plants and dry wood and grass, even so did that fire, viz., Pandu's son Dhananjaya, having shafts for its flames and urged on by the Krishna-wind, angrily consume the forest of your warriors. Making the terraces of cars empty, and causing the earth to be strewn, with human bodies, Dhananjaya seemed to dance bow in hand, in the midst of those vast masses of men. Deluging the earth with blood by means of his shafts, endued with the strength of the thunder, Dhananjaya, excited with wrath, penetrated into the Bharata host.

Arjuna kills Shrutayush, the Ambashtha ruler

While thus proceeding, Shrutayush, the ruler of the Ambashthas, resisted him. Arjuna then speedily felled with keen shafts equipped with Kanka feathers, the steeds of Shrutayush struggling in battle. Cutting off with other shafts, the bow also of his antagonist, Partha careered over the field. The ruler of the Ambashthas, then with eyes troubled in wrath, took up a mace and approached the mighty car-warrior Partha and Keshava also in that battle. Then that hero, uplifting his mace, stopped the (progress of Arjuna's) car by its strokes, and struck Keshava also therewith. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., Arjuna, beholding Keshava struck with that mace, became filled with wrath. Then that hero, with his shafts, equipped with wings of gold, covered the ruler of the Ambashthas, that foremost or car-warriors, armed with mace, like clouds covering the risen sun. With other shafts, Partha then cut off the mace of that high-souled warrior in fragments, reducing it almost to dust. All this seemed highly wonderful. Beholding that mace of his cut off in fragments, the ruler of the Ambashthas took up another huge mace, and repeatedly struck both Arjuna and Keshava therewith. Then, Arjuna with a couple of sharp broad-faced arrows, cut off the uplifted arms of Shrutayush which held the mace, those arms that looked like a couple of Indra's standard, and with another winged arrow, he cut off the head of that warrior. Thus slain, Shrutayush fell down, filling the earth with a loud noise, like a tall standard of Indra when the strings, tying it to the engine on which it is set, are cut off. Surrounded then on all sides by rounds of cars and by hundreds upon hundreds of elephants and cars, Partha became invisible like the sun covered with clouds.

Drona gives a magical armor to Duryodhana

After the son of Kunti, impelled by the desire of slaying the ruler of the Sindhus, had penetrated (into the Bharata host) having pierced through the irresistible divisions of both Drona and the Bhojas, after the heir of the ruler of the Kambojas, viz., prince Sudakshina, had been slain, after Savyasachin had killed the valiant Shrutayudha also, after the (Kuru) ranks had fled away and confusion had set in on all sides, Dhritarashtra’s son, beholding his army broken, repaired to Drona. Quickly coming on his car to Drona, Duryodhana said:

“That tiger among men (viz., Arjuna), having crushed this vast host has already passed through it. Aided by your judgment, think now what should be done next for the slaughter of Arjuna in view of awful carnage. Blessed be you, adopt such measures that that tiger among men may not succeed in slaying Jayadratha. You are our sole refuge. Like a raging conflagration consuming heaps of dry grass and straw, Dhananjaya-fire, urged by the wind of his wrath, is consuming the grass and straw constituted by my troops. O scorcher of foes, seeing the son of Kunti pass, having pierced through this host, those warriors that are protecting Jayadratha have become doubtful (of their ability to resist Partha). O foremost of those acquainted with Brahma, it was the settled conviction of the kings that Dhananjaya would never, with life, succeed in transgressing Drona. O you of great splendour, when, however, Partha has pierced through your division in the very sight, I regard my army to be very weak. Indeed, I think that I have no troops. O you that are highly blessed, I know you are devoted to the welfare of the Pandavas. I lose my reason, o regenerate one, in thinking what should be done. To the best of my power, I also seek to gratify you. You, however, do not bear all this in mind. O you of immeasurable prowess, although we are devoted to you, still you never seek our welfare. You are always well-pleased with the Pandavas and always engaged in doing us evil. Though deriving your livelihood from us, still you are engaged in doing evil to us. I was not aware that you are but a razor steeped in honey. If you had not granted me the boon about humiliating and checking the Pandavas, I would never have prevented the ruler of the Sindhus from returning to his own country. Fool that I am, expecting protection from you, I assured the ruler of the Sindhus, and through my folly offered him as a victim to death. A man may escape, having entered the very jaws of death, but there is no escape for Jayadratha, when once he comes within reach of Dhananjaya's arms. O you that own red steeds, do that by which the ruler of the Sindhus may yet be saved. Do not give way to wrath on hearing the delirious ravings of my afflicted self, O, protect you the ruler of the Sindhus.”

Drona said,

“I do not find fault with your words. You are as dear to me as Ashwatthaman himself. I tell you truly. Act, however, now according to my words, O king! Of all drivers of cars, Krishna is the foremost. His steeds are also the foremost of their species. Obtaining only a very small space, Dhananjaya can pass very quickly through it. See you not that the shafts of the diadem-decked (Arjuna), countless in number, shot from his bow, are falling full two miles behind his car as he is proceeding? Burdened with the weight of years, I am now incapable of going so fast. The whole army of the Parthas, again, is now close upon our van. Yudhishthira also should be seized by me. Even so, O you of mighty arms, has been the vow made by me in the Presence of all bowmen and in the midst of all the Kshatriyas. O king! he is now staying at the head of his troops, abandoned by Dhananjaya. I shall not, therefore, abandoning the gate of our array, fight with Phalguna. It is meet that yourself, properly supported, should fight With that foe of yours, who is alone and who is your equal in lineage and feats. Do not fear. Go and fight with him. You are the ruler of the world. You are a king. You are a hero. Possessed of fame, you are accomplished in vanquishing (your foes). O brave subjugator of hostile towns, go yourself to that spot where Dhananjaya the son of Pritha is.”

Duryodhana said,

“O preceptor, how is it possible for me to resist Dhananjaya who has transgressed even you that are the foremost of all wielders of arms? The very chief of celestials, armed with the thunder, is capable of being vanquished in battle, but Arjuna that subjugator of hostile towns, cannot be vanquished in battle. He by whom Hridika's son (Kritavarman), the ruler of the Bhojas, and yourself equal unto a celestial, have both been vanquished by the power of his weapons, he by whom Shrutayudha has been slain, as also Sudakshina, and king Shrutayush too, he by whom both Shrutayush and Achyutayush and myriads of Mlecchas also have been slain, how can I contend in battle with that invincible son of Pandu, that accomplished master of weapons, who is even like an all-consuming fire? How also do you think me competent to fight with him today? I am dependent on you like a slave. Protect my fame.”

Drona said,

“You say truly, O you of Kuru's race, that Dhananjaya is irresistible. I, however, will do that by which you shall be able to bear him. Let all the bowmen in the world behold today the wonderful feat of the son of Kunti being held in check by you in the very sight of Vasudeva. This your armour of gold, O king, I will tie on your body in such a way that no weapon used by man will be able to strike you in battle. If even the three worlds with the Asuras and the celestials, the Yakshas, the Uragas, and the Rakshasas, together with all human beings, fight with you today, you need still entertain no fear. Neither Krishna, nor the son of Kunti, nor any other wielder of weapons in battle, will be able to pierce this armour of yours with arrows. Cased in that coat of mail, quickly go you today against angry Arjuna in battle. He will not be able to bear you.”

Having said these words, Drona, that foremost of persons conversant with Brahma, touching water, and duly uttering certain Mantras, speedily tied that highly wonderful and bright armour on Duryodhana's body for the victory of Dhritarashtra’s son in that dreadful battle and causing (by that act) all persons there to be filled with amazement. Drona said,

“Let the Vedas, and Brahman, and the Brahmanas, bless you. Let all the higher classes of reptiles be a source of blessings to you, O Bharata! Let Yayati and Nahusha, and Dhundhumara, and Bhagiratha, and the other royal sages, all do what is beneficial to you. Let blessings be to you from creatures having but one leg, and from those that have many legs. Let blessings be to you, in this great battle from creatures that have no legs. Let Swaha, and Swadha, and Shachi, also, all do what is beneficial to you. O sinless one, let Lakshmi and Arundhati too do what is beneficial to you. Let Asita, and Devala and Vishwamitra, and Angiras, and Vasishtha, and Kashyapa, O king, do what is beneficial to you. Let Dhatri, and the lord of the worlds and the points of the compass and the regents of those points, and the six-faced Karttikeya, all give you what is beneficial. Let the divine Vivaswat benefit you completely. Let the four elephants, of the four quarters, the earth, the firmament, the planets, and he who is underneath the earth and holds her (on his head), O king, viz., Shesha, that foremost of snakes, give you what is for your benefit.

O son of Gandhari, formerly the Asura named Vritra, displaying his prowess in battle, had defeated the best of celestials in battle. The latter, numbering thousands upon thousands, with mangled bodies, those denizens of heaven, with Indra at their head, deprived of energy and might, all repaired to Brahman and sought his protection, afraid of the great Asura Vritra. The gods said,

“O best of gods, O foremost of celestials, be you the refuge of the gods now crushed by Vritra. Indeed, rescue us from this great fear.”

Then Brahmana, addressing Vishnu staying beside him as also those best of celestials headed by Shakra, said unto them that were all cheerless, these words fraught with truth:

“Indeed, the gods with Indra at their head, and the Brahmanas also, should ever be protected by me. The energy of Tvashtri from which Vritra has been created is invincible. Having in days of yore performed ascetic penances for a million of years, Tvashtri, then, you gods, created Vritra, obtaining permission from Maheshwara. That mighty foe of yours has succeeded in smiting you through the grace of that god of gods. Without going to the place where Shankara stays, you cannot see the divine Hara. Having seen that god, you will be able to vanquish Vritra. Therefore, go you without delay to the mountains of Mandara. There stays that origin of ascetic penances, that destroyer of Daksha's sacrifice, that wielder of Pinaka, that lord of all creatures, that slayer of the Asura called Bhaganetra.”

Thus addressed by Brahman, the gods proceeding to Mandara with Brahman in their company, beheld there that heap of energy, that Supreme god endued with the splendour of a million suns. Seeing the gods Maheshwara welcomed them and enquired what he was to do for them.

“The sight of ray person can never be fruitless. Let the fruition of your desires proceed from this.”

Thus addressed by him, the dwellers of heaven replied,

“We have been deprived of our energy by Vritra. Be you the refuge of the dwellers of heaven. Behold, O lord, our bodies beaten and bruised by his strokes. We seek your protection. Be you our refuge, O Maheshwara!”

The god of gods, called Sharva, then said,

“You gods, it is well-known to you how this action, fraught with great strength, terrible and incapable of being resisted by persons destitute of ascetic merit, originated, springing from the energy of Tvashtri (the divine artificer). As regards myself, it is certainly my duty to render aid to the dwellers of heaven. O Shakra, take this effulgent armour from off my body. And, O chief of the celestials, put it on, mentally uttering these mantras.””

Drona continued,

“Having said these words, the boon-giving (Shiva) gave that armour with the mantras (to be uttered by the wearer). Protected by that armour, Shakra proceeded against the host of Vritra in battle. Although diverse kinds of weapons were hurled at him in that dreadful battle, yet the joints of that armour could not be cut open. Then the lord of the celestials slew Vritra, and afterwards gave unto Angiras that armour, whose joints were made up of mantras. Angiras imparted those mantras to his son Brihaspati, having a knowledge of all mantras. Brihaspati imparted that knowledge to Agniveshya of great intelligence. Agniveshya imparted it to me, and it is with the aid of those mantras, O best of kings, that I, for protecting your body, tie this armour on your body.”

Having said these words Drona, that bull among preceptors, once more addressed Dhritarashtra’s son, of great splendour, saying,

“O king, I put this armour on your body, joining its pieces with the aid of Brahma strings. In days of yore, Brahma himself had thus put it on Vishnu in battle. Even as Brahma himself had put this celestial armour on Shakra in the battle caused by the abduction of Taraka, I put it on you.”

Having thus, with mantras, donned that armour duly on Duryodhana, the regenerate Drona sent the king to battle. The mighty-armed king, cased in armour by the high-souled preceptor, and accomplished in smiting, and a thousand infuriated elephants endued with great prowess, and a hundred thousand horses, and many other mighty car-warriors, proceeded towards the car of Arjuna. The mighty-armed king proceeded, with the sound of diverse kinds of musical instruments, against his foe, like Virochana's son (Bali in days of yore). Then, a loud uproar arose among Dhritarashtra’s troops, beholding the Kuru king proceeding like a fathomless ocean.