The fourteenth day of war – 4

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 goes past Drona

When Yuyudhana, from desire of battle proceeded against Dhritarashtra’s troops, king Yudhishthira, surrounded by his forces, followed Yuyudhana for reaching the car of Drona. Then the son of the king of the Panchalas, viz., the invincible warrior Dhrishtadyumna, the king Vasudana, both loudly exclaimed with the Pandava host,

“Come, smite quickly, and rush against the foe, so that Satyaki, that warrior invincible battle, in might pass easily (through the Kaurava host). Many mighty car-warriors will struggle for vanquishing him.”

The great car-warriors (of the Pandava army). saying this, fell impetuously upon their foes. Indeed, they all rushed, saying, “We will vanquish those that will endeavour to vanquish Satyaki.”

Then a loud uproar was heard about the car of Satyaki. Dhritarashtra’s son's host, however, covered with Satyaki's shafts, fled away. Indeed, that host was broken into a hundred struggling bodies by him of the Satwata race. While that force was breaking, that mighty car-warrior, viz., the (grandson) of Shini, crushed seven heroic and great bowmen in the front rank of the foe. With his shafts that resembled blazing flames of fire, he despatched many other heroes, kings of diverse realms, unto the region of Yama. He sometimes pierced a hundred warriors with one shaft, and sometimes one warrior with a hundred shafts. Like the great Rudra destroying creatures, he slew elephant-riders and car-warriors with steeds and drivers. None amongst Dhritarashtra’s troops ventured to advance against Satyaki who was displaying such lightness of hand and who showered such clouds of shafts. Struck with panic and crushed grounded thus by that hero of long arms, those brave warriors all left the field at the sight of that proud hero. Although alone, they saw him multiplied manifold, and were stupefied by his energy. The earth looked exceedingly beautiful with crushed cars and broken nidas and wheels and fallen umbrellas and standards and anukarshas, and banners, and headgears decked with gold, and human arms smeared with sandal-paste and adorned with Angadas and human thighs, resembling trunks of elephants or the tapering bodies of snakes, and faces, beautiful as the moon and decked with ear-rings, of large-eyed warriors lying all about the field. The ground there looked exceedingly beautiful with the huge bodies of fallen elephants, cut off in diverse ways, like a large plain strewn with hills. Crushed by that hero of long arms, steeds, deprived of life and fallen down on the ground, looked beautiful in their traces made of burnished gold and decked with rows of pearls, and in their carcasses of handsome make and design. Having slain diverse kinds of your troops, he of the Satwata race entered into Dhritarashtra’s host, agitating and routing Dhritarashtra’s army. Then Satyaki desired to go by that very track by which Dhananjaya had gone before him.

Then Drona came and resisted him. Encountering the son of Bharadwaja, Yuyudhana., filled with rage, stopped not like a vast expanse of water upon encountering on embankment. Drona, however, checking in that battle the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, pierced him with five keen shafts, capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Satyaki, however, in that battle pierced Drona with seven shafts whetted on stone, equipped with golden wings and the feathers of the Kanka and the peacock. Then Drona, afflicted Satyaki, his steeds and the drivers, with six shafts. The mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana could not brook that feat of Drona. Uttering a leonine shout, he then pierced Drona with ten shafts, and then with six, and then with eight others. Once more Yuyudhana pierced Drona with ten shafts, his charioteer with one and his four steeds with four. With another shaft, Satyaki struck Drona's standard. Then, Drona speedily covered Satyaki, his car, steeds, driver, and standard, with swiftly coursing shafts, countless in number like a flight of locusts. Similarly, Yuyudhana fearlessly covered Drona with countless shafts of great speed. Then Drona, addressing Yuyudhana, said,

“Your preceptor (Arjuna) has, like a coward, gone away, leaving the battle, avoiding me who was fighting with him, proceeding by my flank. O you of Madhu's race, if like your preceptor, you too do not quickly avoid me in this battle, you shalt not escape me with life today, engaged as I am in battle with you.”

Satyaki, hearing these words, answered,

“At the command of king Yudhishthira the just, I shall follow in the track of Dhananjaya. Blessed be you, O Brahmana, I would lose time (if I fight with you). A disciple should always tread in the way trod by his preceptor. I shall, therefore follow in the track that has been trod by my preceptor.”

Having said this much, the grandson of Shini avoided the preceptor and suddenly proceeded onwards, and addressing his charioteer, he said,

“Drona will, by every means, endeavour to check my progress. Proceed carefully, O Suta, in battle and listen to these grave words of mine. There is seen the host of great splendour of Avantis. Next to them, is the mighty host of the Southerners. Next to it, is the great host of the Bahlikas. By the side of the Bahlikas, stands resolved for fight the mighty host commanded by Karna. O charioteer, all these hosts are different from one another, but relying upon one another, they protect one another on the field of battle. Arrived at the space left open between these divisions cheerfully urge you the steed. Indeed, O charioteer, bear me there, making the steeds adopt a tolerable speed, there, that is, where are seen the Bahlikas with diverse weapons uplifted in their arms, and the countless Southerners headed by the Suta's son and whose division is seen to present a serried array of elephants and steeds and cars and in which stand foot-soldiers from various realm.”

Having said this much unto his driver, avoiding the Brahmana (Drona), he proceeded, telling his charioteer, “Pass through the open space between those two divisions towards the fierce and mighty host of Karna.”

Drona, however, excited with wrath, pursued him from behind, shooting at him countless shafts. Indeed, the preceptor closely followed highly blessed Yuyudhana who advanced without any desire of turning back. Smiting the great host of Karna with whetted arrows, Satyaki penetrated into the vast and limitless army of the Bharatas. When Yuyudhana, however, entered the army, the troops (opposed to him) fled away.

Satyaki goes past Kritavarman

At this, wrathful Kritavarman came forward to resist Satyaki. The valiant Satyaki striking the advancing Kritavarman with six shafts, quickly slew his four steeds with four other shafts. Once again, he pierced Kritavarman in the centre of the chest with four other shafts. Once again, he pierced Kritavarman in the centre of the chest with sixteen straight shafts of great speed. Thus encountered with many shafts of fierce energy by him of the Satwata race, Kritavarman was unable to brook it. Aiming then a calf-toothed shaft resembling a shake of virulent poison and endued With the speed of the wind, and drawing the bow-string to his ear, he pierced Satyaki in the chest. That shaft, equipped with beautiful feathers, penetrating through his armour and body, and dyed in blood, entered the earth. Then, Kritavarman, that warrior equipped with the highest weapons, shooting many shafts, cut off the bow of Satyaki with arrows fixed thereon. Excited with rage, he then, in that battle pierced Satyaki of unbaffled prowess in the centre of the chest with ten shafts of great keenness. Upon his bow being broken, the foremost of mighty men, viz., Satyaki, hurled a dart at the right arm of Kritavarman. Taking up and drawing a tougher bow, Yuyudhana quickly shot at his foe, shafts by hundreds and thousands and entirely shrouded Kritavarman and his car with that arrowy downpour. Having thus shrouded the son of Hridika in that battle, Satyaki cut of, with a broad-headed arrow, the head of his foe's charioteer from his trunk. The charioteer of Hridika's son then, thus slain, fell down from that great car. At this, the steeds of Kritavarman, deprived of a driver, ran away with great speed. The ruler of the Bhojas, then, in great agitation, himself checked those steeds. That heroic warrior then, bow in hand, stood upon his car (ready for battle). Beholding this feat, his troops applauded it highly. Resting for a short space of time, Kritavarman then urged those good steeds of his. Himself devoid of fear, he inspired his foes with great fear. Satyaki, however, had by that time, left him behind, while Kritavarman himself now rushed against Bhimasena without pursuing Satyaki.

Thus issuing out of the division of the Bhojas, Satyaki proceeded with great speed towards the mighty division of the Kambojas. Resisted there by many brave and mighty car-warriors, Yuyudhana, of prowess incapable of being thwarted, could not then proceed a step. Meanwhile, Drona, having placed his troops in a proper position and made over the burden of their protection to the ruler of the Bhojas, firmly resolved, proceeded with great speed towards Yuyudhana from desire of battle. Then the foremost warriors of the Pandava host, beholding Drona thus pursuing Yuyudhana from behind, cheerfully began to resist him. The Panchalas, however, who were headed by Bhimasena, having approached the son of Hridika, that foremost of car-warriors, all became cheerless. The heroic Kritavarman, displaying his prowess, resisted all those warriors who, although they had become a little heartless, struggled yet with great vigour. Fearlessly he weakened, by means of his arrowy showers, the animals of his foes. The brave warriors, however, (of the Pandava army), though thus afflicted by the ruler of the Bhojas, stood, like high-born soldiers that they were, resolved to fight with the division of the Bhojas itself, from a desire of great renown.

Kritavarman resists the Pandava army

After the grandson of Shini, that warrior of prowess incapable of being baffled, had entered into Dhritarashtra’s host, the Parthas headed by Bhimasena also rushed against Dhritarashtra’s troops. The mighty car-warrior Kritavarman, however, alone, resisted, in that battle the Pandavas thus rushing in fury and wrath with their followers against Dhritarashtra’s host. As the continent resists the surgings, even so did the son of Hridika resist the troops of the Pandavas in that battle. The prowess of the son of Hridika was wonderful, inasmuch as the united Parthas succeeded not in transgressing his single self. Then the mighty-armed Bhima, piercing Kritavarman with three shafts, blew his conch, gladdening all the Pandavas. Then Sahadeva pierced the son of Hridika with twenty shafts, and Yudhishthira the just pierced him with five and Nakula pierced him with a hundred. The sons of Draupadi pierced him with three and seventy shafts, Ghatotkacha pierced him with seven. Virata and Drupada and Drupada's son (Dhrishtadyumna) each pierced him with five shafts, and Shikhandin, having once pierced him with five, again pierced him smilingly with five and twenty shafts. Then Kritavarman pierced every one of those great car-warriors with five shafts, and Bhima again with seven. The son of Hridika felled both the bow and the standard of Bhima from the latter's car. Then that mighty car-warrior, with great speed, wrathfully struck Bhima, whose bow had been cut off with seventy keen shafts in the chest. Then mighty Bhima, deeply pierced with those excellent shafts of Hridika's son, trembled on his car like a mountain during an earthquake.

Beholding Bhimasena in that condition, the Parthas headed by king Yudhishthira the just afflicted Kritavarman shooting at him many shafts. Encompassing that warrior there with throngs of cars, they cheerfully began to pierce him with their shafts, desiring to protect the Wind-god's son in that battle. Then mighty Bhimasena recovering consciousness, took up in that battle a dart made of steel and equipped with a golden staff, and hurled it with great speed from his own car at the car of Kritavarman. That dart resembling a snake freed from its slough, hurled from Bhima's hands, fierce-looking, blazed forth as it proceeded towards Kritavarman. Beholding that dart endued with the splendour of the Yuga-fire coursing towards him, the son of Hridika cut it in twain with two shafts. Thereupon, that dart decked with gold, thus cut off, fell down on the earth, illumining the ten points of the compass like a large meteor falling from the firmament. Seeing his dart baffled, Bhima blazed forth in wrath. Then taking tip another bow which was tougher and whose twang was louder, Bhimasena, filled with wrath, attacked the son of Hridika in that battle. Then, Bhima, of terrible might, struck Kritavarman, in the centre of the chest with five shafts. The ruler of the Bhoja then, mangled in every limb by Bhimasena, shone resplendent in the field like a red Ashoka covered with flowers. Then that mighty bowman, viz., Kritavarman, filled with rage, smilingly struck Bhimasena with three shafts, and having struck him forcibly, pierced in return every one of those great car-warriors struggling vigorously in battle, with three shafts. Each of the latter then pierced him in return with seven shafts.

Then that mighty car-warrior of the Satwata race, filled with rage, cut off, smiling in that battle, with a razor-faced shaft the bow of Shikhandin. Shikhandin then, seeing his bow cut off, quickly took up a sword and a bright shield decked with a hundred moons. Whirling his large shield, decked with gold, Shikhandin sent that sword towards the car of Kritavarman. That large sword, cutting off Kritavarman's bow with arrow fixed thereon, fell down on the earth, like a bright luminary loosened from the firmament. Meanwhile, those mighty car-warriors quickly and deeply pierced Kritavarman with their shafts in that battle. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Hridika, casting off, that broken bow, and taking up another, pierced each of the Pandavas with three straight shafts. He pierced Shikhandin at first with three, and then with five shafts. Then the illustrious Shikhandin, taking up another bow, checked the son of Hridika with many swift-flying shafts, furnished with heads like tortoise nails. Then, the son of Hridika, inflamed with rage in that battle, rushed impetuously at that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Yajnasena, that warrior who was the cause of the illustrious Bhishma's fall in battle. Indeed, the heroic Kritavarman rushed at Shikhandin, displaying his might, like a tiger at an elephant. Then those two chastisers of foes, who resembled a couple of huge elephants or two blazing fires, encountered each other with clouds of shafts. They took their best of bows and aimed their arrows, and shot them in hundreds like a couple of suns shedding their rays. Those two mighty car-warriors scorched each other with their keen shafts, and shone resplendent like two Suns appearing at the end of the Yuga. Kritavarman in that battle pierced that mighty car-warrior viz., Yajnasena's son, with three and seventy shafts and once more with seven. Deeply pierced therewith, Shikhandin sat down in pain on the terrace of his car, throwing aside his bow and arrows, and was overtaken by a swoon. Beholding that hero in a swoon, Dhritarashtra’s troops worshipped the son of Hridika, and waved their garments in the air. Seeing Shikhandin thus afflicted with the shafts of Hridika's son his charioteer quickly bore that mighty car-warrior away from the battle.

The Parthas, beholding Shikhandin lying senseless on the terrace of his car, soon encompassed Kritavarman in that battle with crowds of cars. The mighty car-warrior, Kritavarman, then achieved a most wonderful feat there, inasmuch as, alone, he held in check all the Parthas with their followers. Having thus vanquished the Parthas, that mighty car-warrior then vanquished the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, and the Kekayas, all of whom are endued with great prowess. The forces of the Pandavas then, thus slaughtered by the son of Hridika began to run in all directions, unable to stay coolly in battle. Having vanquished the sons of Pandu headed by Bhimasena himself, the son of Hridika stayed in battle like a blazing fire. Those mighty car-warriors, afflicted with torrents of shafts and routed by Hridika's son in battle, ventured not to face him.

Satyaki turns back and attacks Kritavarman

After the rout of that force by the high-souled son of Hridika, and upon the Parthas being humiliated with shame and Dhritarashtra’s troops elated with joy, he that became protector of the Pandavas who were solicitous of protection while sinking in that fathomless sea of distress, that hero, viz., the grandson of Shini, hearing that fierce uproar, of Dhritarashtra’s army in that terrible fight, quickly turned back and proceeded against Kritavarman. Hridika's son, Kritavarman, then excited with wrath, covered the grandson of Shini with clouds of sharp shafts. At this, Satyaki also became filled with rage. The grandson of Shini then quickly sped at Kritavarman a sharp and broad-headed arrow in the encounter and then four other arrows. These tour arrows slew the steeds of Kritavarman, and the other cut off Kritavarman's bow. Then Satyaki pierced the charioteer of his foe and those that protected the latter's rear, with many keen shafts, to afflict his antagonist's forces. The hostile division then, afflicted with Satyaki's arrows, broke down. Thereupon, Satyaki of prowess incapable of being baffled, quickly proceeded on his way.

Satyaki kills Jalasandha

Having forded the ocean constituted by Drona's division, and filled with joy at having vanquished Kritavarman in battle, that hero then addressed his charioteer, saying, “Proceed slowly without fear.” Beholding, however, that army of Dhritarashtra that abounded with cars, steeds, elephants and foot-soldiers, Satyaki once more told his charioteer,

“That large division which you see on left of Drona's host, and which looks dark as the clouds, consists of the elephants (of the foe). Rukmaratha is its leader. Those elephants are many, O charioteer, and are difficult of being resisted in battle. Urged by Duryodhana, they wait for me, prepared to cast away their lives. All those combatants are of princely birth, and great bowmen, and capable of displaying great prowess in battle, belonging to the country of the Trigartas, they are all illustrious car-warriors, owning standards decked with gold. Those brave warriors are waiting, desirous of battle with me. Urge the steeds quickly, O charioteer and take me there. I shall fight with the Trigartas in the very sight of Bharadwaja's son.”

Thus addressed, the charioteer, obedient to Satwata's will, proceeded slowly. Upon that bright car of solar effulgence, equipped with standard, those excellent steeds harnessed thereto and perfectly obedient to the driver, endued with speed of the wind, white as the Kunda flower, or the moon, or silver, bore him (to that spot). As he advanced to battle, drawn by those excellent steeds of the hue of a conch, those brave warriors encompassed him on all sides with their elephants, scattering diverse kinds of keen arrows capable of easily piercing everything. Satwata also fought with that elephant division, shooting his keen shafts, like a mighty cloud at the end of summer pouring torrents of rain on a mountain breast. Those elephants slaughtered with those shafts, whose touch resembled thunder sped by that foremost one among the Shinis began to fly away from the field, their tusks broken, bodies covered with blood, heads and frontal globes split open, ears and faces and trunks cut off, and themselves deprived of riders, and standards cut down, riders slain, and blankets loosened, ran away in all directions.

Many amongst them mangled by Satwata with long shafts and calf-tooth-headed arrows and broad-headed arrows and Anjalikas and razor-faced arrows and crescent-shaped ones fled away, with blood flowing down their bodies, and themselves ejecting urine and excreta and uttering loud and diverse cries, deep as the roar of clouds. Some amongst the others wandered, and some limped, and some fell down, and some became pale and cheerless. Thus afflicted by Yuyudhana, with shafts that resembled the sun or fire, that elephant division fled away in all directions. After that elephant division was exterminated, the mighty Jalasandha, exerting himself coolly, led his elephant before Yuyudhana's car drawn by white steeds. Cased in golden Angadas, with ear-rings and diadem, armed with sword, smeared with red sandal-paste, his head encircled with a blazing chain of gold, his breast covered with a cuirass, his neck adorned with a bright chain (of gold), that hero of sinless soul, stationed on the heads of his elephant, shaking his bow decked with gold, looked resplendent like a cloud charged with lightning. Like the continent resisting the surging sea, Satyaki checked that excellent elephant of the ruler of the Magadhas that approached him with such fury.

Beholding the elephant checked by the excellent shafts of Yuyudhana, the mighty Jalasandha became filled with rage. Then, the enraged Jalasandha, pierced Shini's grandson on his broad chest with some shafts of great force. With another sharp and well tempered broad-headed arrow, he cut off the bow of the Vrishni hero while the latter was drawing it. Then, smiling the while, the heroic ruler of the Magadhas pierced the bowless Satyaki with five keen shafts. The valiant and mighty-armed Satyaki, however, though pierced with many shafts by Jalasandha, trembled not in the least. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then mighty Yuyudhana without any fear, thought of the shafts (he should use). Taking up another bow, addressed Jalasandha, saying, “Wait, Wait!” Saying this much, the grandson of Shini deeply pierced Jalasandha on his broad breast with sixty arrows, smiling the while. With another razor-faced arrow of great sharpness he cut off Jalasandha's bow at the handle, and with three more shafts he pierced Jalasandha himself. Then Jalasandha, casting aside that bow of his with an arrow fixed thereon, hurled a lance at Satyaki. That terrible lance, passing through the left arm of Madhava in fierce battle, entered the earth, like a hissing snake of gigantic proportion. And his left arm had thus been pierced. Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, struck Jalasandha with thirty keen shafts. Then mighty Jalasandha taking up his scimitar and large shield made of bull's hide and decked with a hundred moons whirled the former for a while and hurled it at Satwata. Cutting off the bow of Shini's grandson, that scimitar fell down on the earth, and looked resplendent like a circle of fire, as it lay on the earth. Then Yuyudhana took up another bow capable of piercing everybody, large as a Sala-offshoot, and of twang resembling the roar of Indra's thunder, and filled with rage, stretched in and then pierced Jalasandha with a single shaft. Then Satyaki, that foremost one of Madhu's race, smiling the while, cut off, with a pair of razor-faced arrows, the two arms, decked with ornaments, of Jalasandha. Thereupon, those two arms, looking like a couple of spiked maces, fell down from that foremost of elephants, like a couple of five-headed snakes falling down from a Mountain. Then, with a third razor-headed arrow, Satyaki cut off his antagonist's large head endued with beautiful teeth and adorned with a pair of beautiful ear-rings. The headless and armless trunk, of fearful aspect, dyed Jalasandha's elephant with blood. Having slain Jalasandha, in battle, Satwata quickly felled the wooden structure from that elephant's back. Bathed in blood, the elephant of Jalasandha bore that costly seat, hanging down from his back. Afflicted with the arrows of Satwata, the huge beast crushed friendly ranks as it ran wildly, uttering fierce cries of pain. Then, wails of woe arose among your troops, at the sight of Jalasandha slain by that bull among the Vrishnis. Dhritarashtra’s warriors then, turning their faces, fled away in all directions. Indeed, despairing of success over the foe, they set their hearts on flight.

Satyaki defeats Duryodhana

Meanwhile, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of bows, approached the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, borne by his swift coursers. Many bulls among the Kurus, beholding Shini's grandson swelling (with rage-and pride), rushed at him with fury, accompanied by Drona. Then commenced a battle between the Kurus and Drona (on one side) and Yuyudhana (on the other), that resembled the awful battle of old between the gods and the Asuras.

Shooting clouds of arrows, all those warriors, accomplished in smiting, carefully encountered Yuyudhana. Drona struck him with seven and seventy shafts of great keenness. Durmarshana struck him with a dozen, Duhshasana, struck him with ten shafts. Vikarna also pierced him on the left side as also on the centre of the chest with thirty keen shafts equipped with Kanka feathers. Durmukha struck him with ten shafts, and Duhshasana with eight, Chitrasena pierced him with a couple of shafts. Duryodhana and many other heroes, afflicted that mighty car-warrior with dense showers of shafts in that battle. Though checked on all sides by those mighty car-warriors, viz., Dhritarashtra’s sons, Yuyudhana of Vrishni's race pierced each of them separately with his straight shafts. Indeed, he pierced the son of Bharadwaja with three shafts, and Duhshasana with nine, and Vikarna with five and twenty, and Chitrasena with seven, and Durmarshana with a dozen, and Vivimshati with eight, and Satyavrata with nine, and Vijaya with ten shafts. Having pierced Rukmangada also that mighty car-warrior, viz., Satyaki, shaking his bow, speedily proceeded against Dhritarashtra’s son (Duryodhana). Yuyudhana, in the sight of all men, deeply pierced with his arrows the king, that greatest of car-warriors in the whole world. Then commenced a battle between those two.

Both shooting keen arrows and both aiming countless shafts, each of those mighty car-warriors made the other invisible in that battle. Satyaki, pierced by the Kuru king, looked exceedingly resplendent as blood copiously ran adown his body, like a sandal tree shedding its juicy secretions. Dhritarashtra’s son also pierced by Satwata with clouds of shafts, looked beautiful like a stake set up (at a sacrifice) decked all over with gold. Then Madhava in that battle, cut off with razor-faced arrow, smiling the while, the bow of the Kuru king. Then he pierced the bowless king with countless arrows. Pierced with arrows by that foe of great activity, the king could not brook this indication of the enemy's success. Duryodhana then, taking up another formidable bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, speedily pierced Satyaki with a hundred arrows. Deeply pierced by Dhritarashtra’s mighty son armed with the bow, Yuyudhana became inflamed with wrath and began to afflict Dhritarashtra’s son.

Beholding the king thus afflicted, your sons, those mighty car-warriors, shrouded Satyaki with dense showers of arrows, shot with great force. Whilst being thus shrouded by those mighty car-warriors, viz., Dhritarashtra’s multitude of sons, Yuyudhana pierced each of them with five arrows, and once more with seven. Soon he pierced Duryodhana with eight swift arrows and, smiling the while, cut off the latter's bow that frightened all foes. With a few arrows he also felled the king's standard adorned with a jewelled elephant. Slaying then the four steeds of Duryodhana with four arrows, the illustrious Satyaki felled the king's charioteer with a razor-faced shaft. Meanwhile, Yuyudhana, filled with joy, pierced the mighty car-warrior, viz., the Kuru king, with many arrows capable of penetrating into the very vitals. Then, Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana, while being thus struck in that battle with those excellent arrows of Shini's grandson, suddenly fled away. The king, quickly mounted the car of Chitrasena, armed with the bow.

Satyaki fights Kritavarman

Beholding the king thus attacked by Satyaki in battle, and reduced to the position of Soma in the firmament while seized by Rahu, cries of woe arose from every section of the Kuru host. Hearing that uproar, the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman quickly proceeded to that spot where the puissant Madhava was battling. Kritavarman proceeded, shaking his bow, and urging his steeds, and urging his charioteer with the words, “Go with speed, Go with speed!” Beholding Kritavarman rushing towards him like the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, Yuyudhana addressed his driver, saying,

“That Kritavarman, armed with arrows, is rushing in his car towards me with speed.”

Then, with his steeds urged to their greatest speed, and on his car duly equipped, Satyaki came upon the ruler of the Bhojas, the foremost of all bowmen. Then those two tigers among men, both inflamed with rage, and both resembling fire encountered each other like two tigers endued with great activity. Kritavarman pierced Shini's grandson with six and twenty whetted arrows of keen points, and the latter's driver with five arrows. Skilled in battle, the son of Hridika pierced, with four mighty shafts, the four excellent and well-broken steeds of Satyaki that were of the Sindhu breed. Owning a standard decked with gold, and adorned with golden mail, Kritavarman, shaking his formidable bow, whose staff was decked with gold, thus checked, Yuyudhana with shafts equipped with golden wings. Then the grandson of Shini, desirous of seeing Dhananjaya, sped with great activity eight arrows at Kritavarman. That scorcher of foes, then, deeply pierced by that mighty foe, that invincible warrior, began to tremble like a hill during an earthquake. After this, Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, speedily pierced Kritavarman's four steeds with three and sixty keen arrows, and his driver also with seven. Indeed, Satyaki, then aiming another arrow of golden wings, that emitted blazing flames and resembled an angry snake, or the rod of the Destroyer himself, pierced Kritavarman. That terrible arrow, penetrating through his antagonist's effulgent armour decked with gold, entered the earth, dyed with blood. Afflicted with the shafts of Satwata, and bathed in blood in that battle, Kritavarman throwing aside his bow with arrow, fell upon his car. That lion-toothed hero of immeasurable prowess, that bull among men, afflicted by Satyaki with his arrows, fell on his knees upon the terrace of his car. Having thus resisted Kritavarman who resembled the thousand-armed Arjuna of old, or Ocean himself of immeasurable might, Satyaki proceeded onwards. Passing through Kritavarman's division bristling with swords and darts and bows, and abounding in elephants and steeds and cars, and out of the ground rendered awful in consequence of the blood shed by foremost Kshatriyas numbering by hundreds, that bull among the Shinis proceeded onwards in the very sight of all the troops, like the slayer of Vritra through the Asura array. Meanwhile, the mighty son of Hridika, taking up another huge bow, stayed where he was, resisting Pandavas in battle.

Satyaki fights Drona

While the (Kuru) host was shaken by the grandson of Shini in these places (through which he proceeded), the son of Bharadwaja covered him with a dense shower of arrows. The encounter that then took place between Drona and Satwata in the very sight of all the troops was extremely fierce, like that between Bali and Vasava (in days of old). Then Drona pierced the grandson of Shini on the forehead with three beautiful arrows made entirely of iron and resembling snakes of virulent poison. Thus pierced on the forehead with those straight shafts, Yuyudhana looked beautiful like a mountain with three summits. The son of Bharadwaja always on the alert for an opportunity, then sped in that battle many other arrows of Satyaki which resembled the roar of Indra's thunder. Then he of Dasharha's race, acquainted with the highest weapons, cut off all those arrows shot from Drona's bow, with two beautifully winged arrows of his. Beholding that lightness of hand (in Satyaki), Drona, smiling the while, suddenly pierced that bull among the Shinis with thirty arrows. Surpassing by his own lightness the lightness of Yuyudhana, Drona, once more, pierced the latter with fifty arrows and then with a hundred. Indeed, those mangling arrows issued from Drona's car, like vigorous snakes in wrath issuing through an ant-hill. Similarly, blood-drinking arrows shot by Yuyudhana in hundreds and thousands covered the car of Drona. There was no difference, however, between the lightness of hand displayed by that foremost of regenerate ones and that displayed by him of the Satwata race. Indeed, in this respect, both those bulls among men were equal.

Then Satyaki, inflamed with wrath, struck Drona with nine straight arrows. He struck Drona's standard also with many sharp shafts. And in the sight of Bharadwaja's son, he pierced the latter's driver also with a hundred arrows. Beholding the lightness of hand displayed by Yuyudhana, the mighty car-warrior Drona piercing Yuyudhana's driver with seventy shafts, and each of his (four) steeds with three, cut off with a single arrow the standard that stood on Madhava's car. With another broad-headed arrow, equipped with feathers and with wings of gold, he cut off in that battle the bow of that illustrious hero of Madhu's race. Thereupon, the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, excited with wrath, laid aside that, taking up a huge mace, hurled it at the son of Bharadwaja. Drona, however, with many arrows of diverse forms, resisted that mace, made of iron and twined round with strings, as it coursed impetuously towards him. Then Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, took up another bow and pierced the heroic son of Bharadwaja with many arrows whetted on stone. Piercing Drona thereby in that battle, Yuyudhana uttered a leonine shout. Drona, however, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, was unable to brook that roar. Taking up a dart made of iron and equipped with golden staff Drona sped it quickly at the car of Madhava. That dart, however, fatal as Death, without touching the grandson of Shini, pierced through the latter's car and entered the earth with a fierce noise. The grandson of Shini then pierced Drona with many winged arrows. Indeed, striking him on the right arm, Satyaki afflicted him greatly. Drona also, in that battle, cut off the huge bow of Madhava with a crescent-shaped arrow and smote the latter's driver with a dart. Struck with that dart, Yuyudhana's driver swooned away and for a while lay motionless on the terrace of the car.

Then, Satyaki, acting as his own driver, achieved a superhuman feat, inasmuch as he continued to fight with Drona and hold the reins himself. Then the mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana struck that Brahmana with a hundred arrows in that battle, and rejoiced exceedingly at the feat he had achieved. Then Drona sped at Satyaki five arrows. Those fierce arrows, piercing Satyaki's armour, drank his blood in that battle. Thus pierced with those frightful arrows, Satyaki became inflamed with wrath. In return, that hero shot many shafts at him of the golden car. Then felling on the earth with a single shaft, the driver of Drona, he caused next, with his arrows, those driverless steeds of his antagonist to fly away. Thereupon that car was dragged to a distance. Indeed, the bright chariot of Drona began to trace a thousand circles in the field of battle like a sun in motion. Then all the kings and princes (of the Kaurava host) made a loud uproar, exclaiming, “Run, Rush, Seize the steeds of Drona.” Quickly abandoning Satyaki in that battle all those mighty car-warriors rushed to the place where Drona was. Beholding those car-warriors run away afflicted with the arrows of Satyaki, Dhritarashtra’s troops once more broke down and became exceedingly cheerless. Meanwhile, Drona, once more proceeding to the gate of the array, took up his station there, borne away (from Satyaki's presence) by those steeds, fleet as the wind, that had been, afflicted with the shafts of the Vrishni hero. The valiant son of Bharadwaja, beholding the array broken (in his absence) by the Pandavas and the Panchalas, made no endeavour to follow the grandson of Shini, but employed himself in protecting his (broken) array. Checking the Pandavas and the Panchalas then, the Drona fire, blazing up in wrath stayed there, consuming everything, like the sun that rises at the end of the Yuga.

Satyaki kills Sudarshana

Having vanquished Drona and other warriors of Dhritarashtra’s army, headed by the son of Haridika, that foremost of men, viz., that bull amongst the Shinis, laughing said unto his charioteer,

“Our foes, O Suta, had already been consumed by Keshava and Phalguna. In vanquishing them (again), we have only been the (ostensible) means. Already slain by that bull among men, viz., the son of the celestial chief, we have but slain the dead.”

Saying these words unto his charioteer, that bull amongst the Shinis, that foremost of bowmen, that slayer of hostile heroes, that mighty warrior, scattering with great force his arrows all around in that dreadful battle, proceeded like a hawk in search of prey. The Kuru warriors, although they attacked him from all sides, succeeded not in resisting that foremost of car-warriors, resembling the sun himself of a thousand rays, that foremost of men, who, having pierced the Kaurava ranks, was proceeding, borne by those excellent steeds of his that were white as the moon or a conch. Indeed, none amongst those that fought on Dhritarashtra’s side could resist Yuyudhana of irresistible prowess, of might incapable of impairment, of valour equal to that of him of a thousand eyes, and looking like the autumnal sun in the firmament.

Then that foremost of kings, viz., Sudarshana, conversant with all modes of warfare, clad in golden coat of mail, armed with bow and arrows and filled with rage, advanced against the rushing Satyaki and endeavoured to check his course. Then the encounter that took place between them was fierce in the extreme. Both Dhritarashtra’s warriors and the Somakas highly applauded the encounter as between Vritra and Vasava. Sudarshana endeavoured to pierce that foremost one of the Satwata's in that battle with hundreds of keen shafts before they could reach him. Similarly, Sudarshana, stationed on his foremost of cars, cut off, by means of his own excellent shafts in two or three fragments all the shafts that Satyaki, resembling Indra himself, sped at him. Beholding his shafts baffled by the force of Satyaki's shafts, Sudarshana of fierce energy, as if to consume (his foe), wrathfully shot beautiful arrows winged with gold. Once more he pierced his enemy with three beautiful arrows resembling fire itself and equipped with wings of gold, shot from his bow-string drawn to the ear. Those piercing through Satyaki's armour, penetrated into the latter's body. Similarly, that (prince, viz., Sudarshana), aiming four other blazing arrows, smote therewith the four steeds of Satyaki that were white as silver in hue. Thus afflicted by him the grandson of Shini, endued with great activity and possessed of prowess equal to that of Indra himself speedily slew with his keen shafts the steeds of Sudarshana and uttered a loud roar. Then cutting off with a broad-headed arrow endued with the force of Shakra's thunder, the head of Sudarshana's driver, the foremost one amongst the Shinis. with a razor-faced arrow resembling the Yuga-fire, cut off from Sudarshana's trunk his head graced with ear-rings, resembling the moon at full, and decked with an exceedingly radiant face, like the wielder of the thunder in days of old, forcibly cutting off the head of the mighty Bala in battle. That high-souled bull among the Yadus then, endued with great activity thus slaying that grandson of a prince, became filled with delight and shone resplendent like the chief of the celestials himself. Yuyudhana, then, that hero among men, proceeded along the track by which Arjuna had passed before him, checking (as he went) by means of clouds of shafts, all Dhritarashtra’s troops, and riding on that same car of his unto which were yoked those excellent steeds and filling everybody with amazement. All the foremost of warriors there, assembled together, applauded that foremost of amazing feats achieved by him, for he consumed all foes that came within reach of his arrows, like a conflagration consuming everything in its way.

Satyaki destroys the Yavanas and Mlecchas

Then that bull of Vrishni's race, viz., the high-souled Satyaki of great intelligence, having slain Sudarshana, once more addressed his driver, saying,

“Having forded through the almost unfordable ocean of Drona's division, teeming with cars and steeds and elephants, whose waves are constituted by arrows and darts, fishes by swords and scimitars and alligators by maces, which roar with the whiz of shafts and the clash of diverse weapons, an ocean that is fierce and destructive of life, and resounds with the noise of diverse musical instruments, whose touch is unpleasant and unbearable to warriors of victory, and whose margin is infested with fierce cannibals represented by the force of Jalasandha, I think, the portion of the array that remains may easily be forded like a poor stream of shallow water. Urge you the steeds, therefore, without fear. I think, I am very near to Savyasachin. Having vanquished in battle the invincible Drona with his followers, and that foremost of warriors, viz., the son of Hridika, I think, I cannot be distant from Dhananjaya. Fear never comes to my heart even if I behold countless foes before me. These to me are like a heap of straw and grass to a blazing conflagration in the woods. Behold, the track by which the diadem-decked (Arjuna), that foremost one among the Pandavas, has gone, is rendered uneven with large bodies of foot-soldiers and steeds and car-warriors and elephants lying slain on the ground. Behold, routed by that high-souled warrior, the Kaurava army is flying away. Behold, O charioteer, a dark brown dust is raised by those retreating cars and elephants and steeds. I think, I am very near to Arjuna of white steeds having Krishna for his charioteer. Hark, the well-known twang of Gandiva of immeasurable energy is being heard. From the character of the omens that appear to my view, I am sure that Arjuna will slay the ruler of the Sindhus before the sun sets. Without causing their strength to be spent, urge the steeds slowly to where those hostile ranks are staying, that is, to where yonder warriors headed by Duryodhana, their hands cased in leathern fences, and yonder Kambojas of fierce deeds, clad in mail and difficult of being defeated in battle, and those Yavanas armed with bow and arrows and skilled in smiting, and under Shakas and Daradas and Barbaras and Tamraliptakas, and other countless Mlecchas, armed with diverse weapons, are, to the spot (I repeat) where, indeed, yonder warriors headed by Duryodhana, their hands cased in leathern fences, are waiting with their faces turned towards me and inspired with the resolution of battling with me. Regard me to have already passed through this fierce fastness, O Suta, having slain in battle all these combatants with cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers that are amongst them.”

The charioteer, thus addressed, said,

“O you of Vrishni's race, fear I have none, O you of prowess that cannot be baffled! If you have before the Jamadagni's son himself in wrath, or Drona, that foremost of car-warriors, or the ruler of the Madras himself, even then fear does not enter my heart, O you of mighty arms, as long as I am under the shadow of your protection, O slayer of foes. Countless Kambojas, clad in mail, of fierce deeds, and difficult to defeat in battle, have already been vanquished by you, as also many Yavanas armed with bow and arrows and accomplished in smiting, including Shakas and Daradas and Tamraliptakas, and many other Mlecchas armed with various weapons. Never before did I experience fear in any battle. Why shall I, therefore, O you of great courage, experience any fear in this miserable fray? O you that are blessed with length of days, by which way shall I take you to where Dhananjaya is? With whom have you been angry, O you of Vrishni's race? Who are they that will fly away from battle, beholding you endued with such a prowess, resembling the Destroyer himself as he appears at the end of the Yuga, and putting forth that prowess of yours (against your foes)? O you of mighty arms, who are they of whom king Vaivaswata is thinking today?”

Satyaki said,

“Like Vasava destroying the Danavas, I shall slay these warriors with shaved heads. By slaying these Kambojas I will fulfil my vow. Bear me there. Causing a great carnage amongst these, I shall today repair to the dear son of Pandu. The Kauravas, with Suyodhana at their head, will today behold my prowess, when this division of Mlecchas, of shaved heads, will have been exterminated and the whole Kaurava army put to the greatest distress. Hearing the loud wails of the Kaurava host, today, mangled and broken by me in battle Suyodhana will be inspired with grief. Today, I shall show unto my preceptor, the high-souled Pandava, of white steeds, the skill in weapons acquired by me from him. Beholding today thousands of foremost warriors slain with my arrows, king Duryodhana will be plunged into great grief. The Kauravas will today behold the bow in my hands to resemble a circle of fire when, light-handed, I will stretch the bowstring for shooting my host of shafts. Beholding the incessant slaughter of his troops today, their bodies covered with blood and pierced all over with my shafts, Suyodhana will be filled with grief. While I shall slay in wrath the foremost of Kuru warriors, Suyodhana will today behold to count two Arjunas. Beholding thousands of kings slain by me in battle, king Duryodhana will be filled with grief in today's great battle. Slaying thousands of kings today, I will show my love and devotion to those high-souled ones, viz., the royal sons of Pandu. The Kauravas will know today the measure of my might and energy, and my gratefulness (to the Pandavas).”

Thus addressed, the charioteer urged to their utmost speed those well-trained coursers of delightful pace and of the hue of the moon. Those excellent animals, endued with the speed of the wind or thought, proceeded, devouring the very skies, and bore Yuyudhana to the spot where those Yavanas were. Thereupon, the Yavanas, many in number and endued with lightness of hands, approaching unretreating Satyaki, covered him with showers of arrows. The rushing Satyaki, however cut off by means of his own straight arrows, all those shafts and weapons of the Yavanas. Inflamed with wrath, Yuyudhana. then, with his straight shafts of great sharpness, winged with gold and vulture's feathers, cut off the heads and arms of those Yavanas. Many of those arrows, again, piercing through their coats of mail, made of iron and brass, entered the earth. Struck by the brave Satyaki in that battle, the Mlecchas began to fall down on the earth in hundreds, deprived of life. With his arrows shot in continuous lines from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, that hero began to slay five, six, seven, or eight Yavanas at a time. Thousands of Kambojas, and Shakas, and Barbaras, were similarly slain by Satyaki. Indeed, the grandson of Shini, causing a great carnage among your troops, made the earth impassable and miry with flesh and blood. The field of battle was strewn with the head-gears of those robbers and their shaved heads too that looked, in consequence of their long beards, like featherless birds. Indeed, the field of battle covered with headless trunks dyed all over with blood, looked beautiful like the welkin covered with coppery clouds. Slain by Satwata by means of his straight shafts whose touch resembled that of Indra's thunder, the Yavanas covered the surface of the earth. The small remnant of those mail-clad troops vanquished in battle by Satwata, becoming cheerless, their lives on the point of being taken, broke and urging their steeds with goads and whips to their utmost speed, fled from fear in all directions. Routing the invincible Kamboja host in battle as also that host of the Yavanas and that large force of the Shakas, that tiger among men who had penetrated into Dhritarashtra’s army, viz., Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled, crowned with victory, urged his charioteer, saying, “Proceed!” Beholding that feat of his in battle, never before achieved by any one else, the Charanas and the Gandharvas applauded him highly. Indeed, the Charanas, as also Dhritarashtra’s warriors, beholding Yuyudhana thus proceeded for aiding Arjuna, became filled with delight (at his heroism).

Satyaki defeats Duryodhana again

Having the vanquished the Yavanas and the Kambojas that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Yuyudhana, proceeded towards Arjuna, right through the midst of Dhritarashtra’s troops. Like a hunter slaying deer, that tiger among men, (Satyaki), endued with beautiful teeth, clad in excellent armour, and owning a beautiful standard, slew the Kaurava troops and inspired them with fear. Proceeding on his car, he shook his bow with great force, that bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, whose toughness was great, and which was adorned with many golden moons. His arms decked with golden Angadas, his head-gear adorned with gold; his body clad in golden mail, his standard and bow also was so embellished with gold, that he shone like the summit of Meru. Himself shedding such effulgence, and bearing that circular bow in his hand, he looked like a second sun in autumn, That bull among men, possessing the shoulders and the tread and eyes of a bull, looked in the midst of Dhritarashtra’s troops, like a bull in a cow-pen.

Dhritarashtra’s warriors approached him from desire of slaughter like a tiger approaching the leader, with rent temples, of an elephant-herd, standing proudly in the midst of his herd, resembling as he did and possessed as he was of the tread of an infuriated elephant. Indeed, after he had passed through Drona's division, and the unfordable division of the Bhojas, after he had forded through the sea of Jalasandha's troops as also the host of the Kambojas, after he had escaped the alligator constituted by Hridika's son, after he had traversed those ocean-like host, many car-warriors of your army, excited with wrath, surrounded Satyaki. Duryodhana and Chitrasena and Duhshasana and Vivimshati, and Shakuni and Duhsaha, and the youthful Durdharshana, and Kratha, and many other brave warriors well-conversant with weapons and difficult of defeat, wrathfully followed Satyaki from behind as he proceeded onwards. Then, loud was the uproar that arose among Dhritarashtra’s troops, resembling that of the ocean itself at full tide when lashed into fury by the tempest. Beholding all those warriors rushing at him, that bull among the Shinis smilingly addressed his charioteer, saying,

“Proceed slowly. The Dhartarashtra force, swelling (with rage and pride), and teeming with elephants and steeds and cars and foot-soldiers, that is rushing with speed towards me, filling the ten points of the compass with deep roar of its cars, O charioteer, and causing the earth, the welkin, and the very seas, to tremble, therewith. This sea of troops, O driver, I will resist in great battle, like the continent resisting the ocean swelling to its utmost height at full moon. Behold, O charioteer, my prowess which is equal to that of Indra himself in great battle. I will consume this hostile force by means of my whetted arrows. Behold these foot-soldiers and horsemen and car-warriors, and elephants slain by me in thousands, their bodies pierced with my fiery arrows.”

While saying these words (unto his charioteer), those combatants from desire of battle, speedily came before Satyaki of immeasurable prowess. They made a loud noise, saying as they came, “Slay, Rush, Wait, See, See!” Of those brave warriors that said these words, Satyaki, by means of his sharp arrows, slew three hundred horsemen and four hundred elephants. The passage at arms between those united bowmen (on the one side) and Satyaki (on the other) was exceedingly fierce, resembling that between the gods and the Asuras (in days of old). An awful carnage set in. The grandson of Shini received with his shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison that force of Dhritarashtra’s son which looked like a mass of clouds. Shrouding every side, in that battle with his arrowy downpours, that valiant hero fearlessly slew a large number of your troops. Exceedingly wonderful was the sight that was witnessed there, viz., that not an arrow even of Satyaki failed in effect. That sea of troops, abounding in cars and elephants and steeds, and full of waves constituted by foot-soldiers, stood still as soon as it came in contact with the Satyaki continent. That host consisting of panic-stricken combatants and elephants and steeds, slaughtered on all sides by Satyaki with his shafts repeatedly turned round, and wandered here and there as if afflicted with the chilling blasts of winter. There were no foot-soldiers or car-warriors or elephants or horsemen or steeds that were not struck with Yuyudhana's arrows. Not even Phalguna had caused such a carnage there as Satyaki then caused among those troops. That bull among men, viz., the dauntless grandson of Shini, endued with great lightness of hand and displaying the utmost skill, fought, surpassing Arjuna himself.

Then king Duryodhana pierced the charioteer of Satwata with three keen shafts and his four steeds with four shafts. He pierced Satyaki himself with three arrows and once again with eight. Duhshasana pierced that bull among the Shinis with sixteen arrows. Shakuni pierced him with five and twenty arrows and Chitrasena with five. Duhshasana pierced Satyaki in the chest with five and ten arrows. That tiger amongst the Vrishnis then, thus struck with their arrows, proudly pierced every one of them with three arrows. Deeply piercing all his foes with shafts endued with great energy, the grandson of Shini, possessed of great activity and prowess, careered on the field with the celerity of a hawk. Cutting off the bow of Subala's son and the leathern fence that cased his hand. Yuyudhana pierced Duryodhana in the centre of the chest with three shafts. He pierced Chitrasena with a hundred arrows, and Duhsaha with ten. That bull of Shini's race then pierced Duhshasana with twenty arrows. Dhritarashtra’s brother-in-law (Shakuni) then, taking up another bow, pierced Satyaki with eight arrows and once more with five. Duhshasana pierced him with three. Durmukha pierced Satyaki with a dozen shafts. Duryodhana, having pierced Madhava with three and seventy arrows, then pierced his charioteer with three keen shafts. Then Satyaki pierced each of those brave and mighty car-warriors vigorously contending in battle together with five shafts in return. Then the foremost of car-warriors, (viz., Yuyudhana) speedily struck Dhritarashtra’s son's charioteer with a broad-headed shaft; whereupon, the latter deprived of life, fell down on the earth. Upon the fall of the charioteer, Dhritarashtra’s son's car was taken away from the battle by the steeds yoked thereto, with the speed of the wind. Then Dhritarashtra’s sons and the other warriors, setting their eyes, on the king's car fled away in hundreds. Beholding that host fly away, Satyaki covered it with showers of keen shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. Routing all Dhritarashtra’s combatants counting by thousands, Satyaki proceeded towards the car of Arjuna. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s troops worshipped Yuyudhana, beholding him shooting arrows and protecting his charioteer and himself as he fought in battle.

At the command of Dhritarashtra’s son, the Samshaptakas, rallying, all resolved upon fighting fiercely. Three thousand bowmen headed by Duryodhana, with a number of Shakas and Kambojas and Bahlikas and Yavanas and Paradas, and Kalingas and Tanganas and Ambashthas and Pishachas and Barbaras and mountaineers, inflamed with rage and armed with stone, all rushed against the grandson of Shini like insects against a blazing fire. Five hundred other warriors similarly rushed against Satyaki. Another mighty body consisting of a thousand cars, a hundred great car-warriors, a thousand elephants, two thousand heroes, and countless foot-soldiers, also rushed against the grandson of Shini. Duhshasana, urging all those warriors, saying,

“Slay him, surrounded Satyaki therewith.”

Grand and wonderful was the conduct of Shini's grandson, inasmuch as alone he fought fearlessly with those innumerable foes. He slew that entire body of car-warriors and that elephant force, and all those horsemen and that entire body of robber. Like the autumnal firmament bespangled with stars, the field of battle there became strewn with car-wheels broken and crushed by means of his mighty weapons with innumerable Akshas and beautiful cart-shafts reduced to fragments, with crushed elephants and fallen standards, with coats of mail and shields scattered all about, with garlands and ornaments and robes and Anuskarshas. Many foremost of elephants, huge as hills, and born of the race of Anjana or Vamana or of other races, many foremost of tuskers lay there on the ground, deprived of life. Satyaki slew many foremost of steeds of the Vanayu, the mountain, the Kamboja and the Balhika breeds. The grandson of Shini also slew foot-soldiers there, in hundreds and thousands, born in various realms and belonging to various nations. While those soldiers were being thus slaughtered, Duhshasana, addressing the robbers said,

“You warriors unacquainted with morality, fight! Why do you retreat?”

Beholding them run away without paying any heed to his words, Dhritarashtra’s son Duhshasana urged on the brave mountaineers, skilled in fighting with stones, saying,

“You are accomplished in battling with stones. Satyaki is ignorant of this mode of warfare. Stay you, therefore, that warrior who, though desirous of battle, is ignorant of your mode of fight. The Kauravas also are all unacquainted with this mode of battle. Rush you at Satyaki. Do not fear. Satyaki will not be able to approach you.”

Thus urged, those Kshatriyas dwelling on the mountains, all acquainted with the method of fighting with stones, rushed towards the grandson of Shini like ministers towards a king. Those denizens of the mountain then, with stones huge as elephants' heads uplifted in their hands, stood before Yuyudhana in that battle. Others, urged by Dhritarashtra’s son, and desirous of slaying Satwata, encompassed the latter on all sides, armed with missiles. Then, Satyaki, aiming at those warriors rushing at him from desire of fighting with stones, sped at them showers of keen shafts. That bull amongst the Shinis, with those shafts looking like snakes, cut into fragments that dense shower of stones thrown by the mountaineers. The fragments of those stones, looking like a swarm of blazing fire-flies, slew many combatants there, whereupon cries of “oh” and “alas” arose on the field. Then, again, five hundred brave warriors with huge stones uplifted in their hands, fell down on the ground, their arms cut off. Once more a full thousand, and again a hundred thousand, amongst others, fell down without being able to approach Satyaki, their arms with stones still in grasp cut off by him. Indeed, Satyaki slew many thousands of those warriors fighting with stones. All this seemed exceedingly wonderful. Then many of them, returning to the fight, hurled at Satyaki showers of stones. Armed with swords and lances many Daradas and Tanganas and Khasas and Lampakas and Pulindas, hurled their weapons at him. Satyaki however, well-conversant with the application of weapons, cut off those stones and weapons by means of his shafts. Those stones while being pierced, broken in the welkin by Satyaki's whetted shafts, produced a fierce noise, at which many car-warriors and steeds and elephants fled away from battle. Struck with the fragments of those stones, men and elephants and steeds, became incapable of staying in battle, for they felt as if they were bit by wasps. The small remnant of the elephants (that had attacked Satyaki), covered with blood, their heads, and frontal globes split open, then fled away from, Yuyudhana's car. Then there arose among Dhritarashtra’s troops, while they were being thus ground by Madhava a noise like that of the ocean at full tide.

Hearing that great uproar, Drona, addressing his charioteer, said,

“O Suta, that great car-warrior of the Satwata race, excited with wrath, is tearing our army into diverse fragments, and careering in battle like the Destroyer himself. Take you the car to that spot whence this furious uproar is coming. Without doubt, Yuyudhana is engaged with the mountaineers who battle with stones, Our car-warriors are seen also to be borne away by their wildly running steeds. Many amongst them, weaponless and armourless and wounded, are falling down. The charioteers are unable to check their steeds as these are rushing wildly.”

Hearing these words of Bharadwaja's son, the charioteer said unto Drona, that foremost of wielders of weapons,

“You blessed with length of days, the Katirava troops are flying away. Behold, our warriors, routed (by the foe), are flying in all directions. There, again, those heroes, viz., the Panchalas, and the Pandavas, united together, are rushing from all sides from desire of slaughtering you, O chastiser of foes, do you determine which of these tasks should first demand attention. Should we stay here (to meet the advancing Pandava), or should we proceed (towards Satyaki)? As regards Satyaki, he is now far ahead of us.”

While the charioteer was speaking thus unto Bharadwaja's son, the grandson of Shini suddenly appeared to the view, engaged in slaughtering a large number of car-warriors. Those troops of Dhritarashtra, while being thus slaughtered by Yuyudhana, in battle, fled away from Yuyudhana's car towards where Drona's division was. Those (other) car-warriors also with whom Duhshasana had proceeded, all struck with panic, similarly rushed to the spot where Drona's car was seen.

Beholding Duhshasana's car staying near his, the son of Bharadwaja, addressing Duhshasana, said these words,

“Why, O Duhshasana, are all these cars flying away? Is the king well? Is the ruler of the Sindhus yet alive? You are a prince. You are a brother of the king. You are a mighty car-warrior. Why do you fly away from battle? (Securing the throne to your brother), become you that Prince-Regent. You had formerly said unto Draupadi,

“You are our slave, having been won by us at dice. Without being confined to your husbands, cast aside your chastity. Be you a bearer of robes to the king, my eldest brother. Your husbands are all dead. They are as worthless as grains of sesamum without kernel.”

Having said these words then, why, O Duhshasana, do you fly from battle now? Having yourself provoked such fierce hostilities with the Panchalas and the Pandavas, why are you afraid in battle in the presence of Satyaki alone? Taking up the dice on the occasion of the gambling match, could you not divine that those dice then handled by you would soon transform themselves into fierce shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison? It was you that had formerly applied diverse abusive epithets towards the Pandavas. The woes of Draupadi have you for their root. Where now is that pride, that insolence, that brag of yours? Why do you fly, having angered the Pandavas, those terrible snakes of virulent poison? When you that are a brave brother of Suyodhana, are intent on flight, without doubt, O hero, you should today protect, relying on the energy of your own arms, this routed and panic-stricken Kaurava host. Without doing this, you, however, forsake the battle in fear and enhance the joy of your foes. O slayer of foes, when you that are the leader of your host, flies away thus, who else will stay in battle? When you, its refuge, are frightened, who is there that will not be frightened? Fighting with a single warrior of the Satwata race, your heart is inclined towards flight from battle. What, however, O Kaurava, will you do when you will see the wielder of Gandiva in battle, or Bhimasena, or the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva)? The shafts of Satyaki, frightened by which you seek safety in flight, are scarcely equal to those of Phalguna in battle that resemble the sun or fire in splendour. If your heart is firmly bent on flight, let the sovereignty of the earth then, upon the conclusion of peace, be given to king Yudhishthira the Just. Before the shafts of Phalguna, resembling snakes freed from their sloughs, enter your body, make peace with the Pandavas. Before the high-souled Parthas, slaying your hundred brothers in battle, wrest the earth by force, make peace with the Pandavas. Before king Yudhishthira is enraged, and Krishna also, that delighter in battle, makes peace with the Pandavas. Before the mighty-armed Bhima, penetrating into this vast host, seizes your brothers, make peace with the Pandavas. Bhishma formerly told your brother Suyodhana,

“The Pandavas are unconquerable in battle. O amiable one, make peace with them.”

Your wicked brother Suyodhana however, did not do it. Therefore, setting your heart firmly on battle, fight vigorously with the Pandavas. Go quickly on your car to the spot where Satyaki is. Without you, O Bharata, this host will fly away. For the sake of your own self, fight in battle with Satyaki, of prowess incapable of being baffled.”

Thus addressed (by Drona), Dhritarashtra’s son said not a word in reply. Feigning not to have heard the words (of Bharadwaja's son), Duhshasana proceeded to the place where Satyaki was. Accompanied by a large force of unretreating Mlecchas, and coming upon Satyaki in battle, Duhshasana fought vigorously with that hero. Drona also, that foremost of car-warriors, excited with wrath, rushed against the Panchalas and the Pandavas, with moderate speed. Penetrating into the midst of the Pandava host in that battle, Drona began to crush their warriors by hundreds and thousands.

Drona slays the Panchala princes

Drona, proclaiming his name in that battle, caused a great carnage among the Pandavas, the Panchalas, and the Matsyas. The illustrious Viraketu, the son of the ruler of the Panchalas, rushed against the son of Bharadwaja who thus engaged in vanquishing the Pandava ranks. Piercing Drona with five straight shafts, that prince then pierced Drona's standard with one shaft, and then his charioteer with seven. The sight in that battle was exceedingly wonderful, inasmuch as Drona, though exerting himself vigorously could not approach the prince of the Panchalas. Then, the Panchalas, beholding Drona checked in battle, surrounded the latter on all sides, from desire of king Yudhishthira's victory. Those warriors then covered Drona along with showers of fiery shafts and strong lances and various other kinds of weapons. Baffling then those dense showers of weapons by means of his own numerous shafts like the wind driving away from the welkin masses of clouds, Drona looked exceedingly resplendent. Then that slayer of hostile heroes (the son of Bharadwaja), aimed a fierce shaft endued with the effulgence of the sun or the fire, at the car of Viraketu. The shaft, piercing through the prince of Panchala, quickly entered the earth, bathed in blood and blazing like a flame of fire. Then the prince of the Panchalas quickly fell down from his car, like a Champaka tree uprooted by the wind, falling down from a mountain summit.

Upon the fall of that great bowman, that prince endued with great might, the Panchalas speedily encompassed Drona on every side. Then Chitraketu, and Sudhanwan, and Chitravarman, and Chitraratha also, all afflicted with grief on account of their (slain) brother, together rushed against the son of Bharadwaja, desirous of battling with him, and shooting shafts (at him) like the clouds (pouring) at the end of summer. Struck from all sides by those mighty car-warriors of royal lineage, that bull among Brahmanas mustered all his energy and wrath for their destruction. Then Drona, shot showers of shafts at them. Struck with those shafts of Drona shot from his bow to its fullest stretch those princess became confounded and know not what to do. The angry Drona, beholding those princes stupefied, smilingly deprived them of their steeds and charioteers and cars in that battle. Then the illustrious son of Bharadwaja, by means of his sharp arrows and broad-headed shafts, cut off their heads, like a person plucking flowers from a tree. Deprived of life, those princes there of great splendour, fell down from their cars on the earth, like the (slain) Daityas and Danavas in the battle between the gods and the Asuras in days of old.

Dhrishtadyumna attacks Drona

Having slain them in battle, the valiant son of Bharadwaja shook his invincible bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold. Beholding those mighty car-warriors, resembling the very celestials among the Panchalas slain, Dhrishtadyumna inflamed with rage, shed tears in that battle. Excited with wrath, he rushed, in that encounter, against Drona's car. Then, cries of woe suddenly arose there at the sight of Drona covered with arrows by the prince of Panchala. Completely shrouded by the high-souled son of Prishata, Drona, however, suffered no pain. On the other hand, he continued to fight, smiling the while. The prince of the Panchalas then, furious with rage, struck Drona in the chest with many straight shafts. Deeply pierced by that mighty warrior, the illustrious son Of Bharadwaja sat down on the terrace of his car and fell into a swoon.

Beholding him in that condition, Dhrishtadyumna endued with great Prowess and energy, laid aside his bow and quickly took up a sword. That mighty car-warrior then, speedily jumping down from his own car, Mounted that of Bharadwaja in no time, his eyes red in wrath and impelled by the desire of cutting Drona's head from off his trunk. Meanwhile, the valiant Drona, regaining his senses, took up his bow and seeing Dhrishtadyumna arrived so near him from desire of slaughter, began to pierce that mighty car-warrior with shafts measuring a span only in length and therefore, fit to be used in close fight. Those arrows of the measure of a span and fit to be used in close fight, were known to Drona. With them he succeeded in weakening Dhrishtadyumna. The mighty Dhrishtadyumna, struck with a large number of those arrows, quickly jumped down from Drona's car. Then, that hero of great prowess, his impetuosity baffled, mounted upon his own car and once more took up his large bow. The mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna once more began to pierce Drona in that battle. Drona also began to pierce the son of Prishata with his arrows. Thereupon, the battle that took place between Drona and the prince of the Panchalas was wonderful in the extreme, like that between Indra and Prahlada, both desirous of the sovereignty of the three worlds.

Both conversant with the ways of battle, they careered over the field, displaying diverse motions of their cars and mangling each other with their shafts, Drona and Prishata's son, stupefying the mind of the warriors, shot showers of shafts like two mighty clouds (pouring torrents of rain) in the rainy season. Those illustrious warriors shrouded with their shafts the welkin, the points of the compass, and the earth. All creatures, viz., the Kshatriyas and all the other combatants there, highly applauded that battle between them. The Panchalas loudly exclaimed, “Without doubt, Drona, having encountered Dhrishtadyumna in battle, will succumb to us.” Then Drona, in that battle, quickly cut off the head of Dhristadyumna's charioteer like a person plucking a ripe fruit from a tree. Then the steeds of the high-souled Dhrishtadyumna ran away and after those steeds had carried away Dhrishtadyumna from the field, Drona, endued with great prowess, began to rout the Panchalas and the Srinjayas in that battle. Having vanquished the Pandus and the Panchalas, Bharadwaja's son of great prowess, that chastiser of foes, once more took up his station in the midst of his own array. The Pandavas ventured not to vanquish him in battle.

Duhshasana attacks Satyaki again

Meanwhile, Duhshasana rushed against the grandson of Shini, scattering thousands of shafts like a mighty cloud pouring torrents of rain. Having pierced Satyaki with sixty arrows and once more with sixteen, he failed to make that hero tremble, for the latter stood it, battle, immovable as the Mainaka mountain. Accompanied by a large throng of cars hailing from diverse realms, that foremost one of Bharata's race shot numberless arrows, and filled all the points of the compass with roars deep as those of the clouds. Beholding the Kaurava coming to battle, Satyaki of mighty arms rushed towards him and shrouded him with his shafts. They that were at the van of Duhshasana, thus covered with those arrowy showers, all fled away in fear, in the very sight of your son. After they had fled away, Dhritarashtra’s son Duhshasana remained fearlessly in battle and began to afflict Satyaki with arrows. Piercing the four steeds of Satyaki with four arrows, his charioteer with three, and Satyaki himself with a hundred in that battle, Duhshasana uttered a loud roar, Then, Madhava, inflamed with rage, soon made Duhshasana's car and driver and standard and Duhshasana himself invisible by means of his straight arrows. Indeed, Satyaki entirely shrouded the brave Duhshasana with arrows. Like a spider entangling a gnat within reach by means of its threads, that vanquisher of foes quickly covered Duhshasana with his shafts.

Then King Duryodhana, seeing Duhshasana thus covered with arrows, urged a body of Trigartas towards the car of Yuyudhana. Those Trigarta car-warriors, of fierce deeds, accomplished in battle, and numbering three thousand, proceeded towards Yuyudhana. Firmly resolved upon battle and swearing not to retreat, all of them encompassed Yuyudhana with a large throng of cars, Soon, however, Yuyudhana struck down five hundred of their foremost warriors stationed in the van of the force as it advanced towards him in battle, shooting showers of arrows at him. Speedily slain by that foremost one amongst the Shinis with his shafts, these fell down, like tall trees from mountain-tops uprooted by a tempest. The field of battle, strewn with mangled elephants and fallen standards, and bodies of steeds decked in trappings of gold, and torn and lacerated with the shafts of Shini's grandson and weltering in blood, looked beautiful, like a plain overgrown with flowering Kinsukas. Those soldiers of Dhritarashtra, thus slaughtered by Yuyudhana, failed to find a protector like elephants sunk in a morass. Then all of them turned towards the spot where Drona's car was, like mighty snakes making towards holes from fear of the prince of birds.

Having slain those five hundred brave warriors by in means of his shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison, that hero slowly proceeded towards the place where Dhananjaya was. As that foremost of men was thus proceeding, Dhritarashtra’s son Duhshasana quickly pierced him with nine straight arrows. That mighty bowman then (Yuyudhana), pierced Duhshasana, in return, with five straight and sharp arrows equipped with golden wings and vulturine feather. Then Duhshasana, smiling the while, pierced Satyaki with three arrows, and once more with five. The grandson of Shini, then, striking Dhritarashtra’s son with five arrows and cutting off his bow proceeded smilingly towards Arjuna. Then Duhshasana, inflamed with wrath and desirous of slaying the Vrishni hero, hurled at him, as he proceeded, a dart made wholly of iron. Satyaki, however cut off, with his shafts, equipped with Kanka feathers, that fierce dart of Dhritarashtra’s son. Then, Dhritarashtra’s son, taking up another bow, pierced Satyaki with some arrows and uttered a loud roar. Then Satyaki excited with wrath, stupefying Dhritarashtra’s son in that battle, struck him in the centre of the chest with some shafts that resembled flames of fire. Once more, he pierced Duhshasana with eight shafts made wholly of iron and having very keen points. Duhshasana, however, pierced Satyaki in return with twenty arrows. Then, the highly-blessed Satyaki pierced Duhshasana in the centre of the chest with three straight arrows. The mighty car-warrior Yuyudhana, with some straight shafts slew the steeds of Duhshasana; inflamed with wrath he slew, with some straight arrows, that the latter's charioteer also. With one broad-headed arrow he then cut off Dhritarashtra’s son's bow, and with five arrows he cut the leathern fence that encased his hand. Acquainted as he was with highest weapons, Satyaki, then, with a couple of broad-headed shafts, cut off Duhshasana's standard and the wooden shafts of his car. Then with a number of keen arrows he slew both the Parshni charioteers of Dhritarashtra’s son. The latter, then, bowless and carless and steedless and driverless, was taken up by the leader of the Trigarta warriors on his car. The grandson of Shini, then, pursuing him a moment, restrained himself and slew him not, for the mighty-armed hero recollected the words of Bhimasena. Indeed, Bhimasena vowed in the midst of the assembly the destruction of all Dhritarashtra’s sons in battle. Then, Satyaki, having thus vanquished Duhshasana, quickly proceeded along the track by which Dhananjaya had gone before him.

The fierce exertions and the uproar made by Dhritarashtra’s host which abounded with cars and elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers, resembled what is seen at the end of the yuga. When Dhritarashtra’s assembled host was (daily) mustered, it seemed that another assemblage like that of Dhritarashtra’s army had never been on earth. The gods and the Charanas, who came there said, “This muster will be the last of its kind on earth.” Indeed, never had such an array been formed before as that which was formed by Drona on the day of Jayadratha's slaughter. The uproar made by those vast bodies of soldiers rushing at one another in battle resembled that of the ocean itself lashed into fury by the tempest. In that host of Dhritarashtra, as also in that of the Pandavas, there were hundreds and thousands of kings. The noise made by those angry heroes of fierce deeds while engaged in battle was tremendous and made the hair-stand on end. Then Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna and Nakula and Sahadeva and king Yudhishthira the Just, loudly shouted,

“Come, Strike, Rush” The brave Madhava and Arjuna have entered the hostile army! Do that quickly by which they may easily go to where Jayadratha's car is.”

Saying this, they urged their soldiers. They continued,

“If Satyaki and Arjuna be slain, Kurus will have achieved their objects, and ourselves shall be defeated. All of you, therefore, uniting together, quickly agitate this ocean-like army (of the foe) like impetuous winds agitating the deep.”

The warriors, thus urged by Bhimasena and the prince of the Panchalas, smothered the Kauravas, becoming reckless of their very lives. Endued with great energy, all of them, desiring death in battle, at the point or the edge of weapons in expectation of heaven, showed not the least regard for their lives in fighting for their friends. Similarly, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, desirous of great renown, and nobly resolved upon battle, stood on the field, determined to fight.

In that fierce and terrible battle, Satyaki having vanquished all the combatants proceeded towards Arjuna. The rays of the sun being reflected from the bright armour of the warriors, the combatants were obliged to withdraw their eyes from those. Duryodhana also penetrated the mighty host of the high-souled Pandavas vigorously struggling in battle. The encounter that took place between him on the one side and them on the other, was exceedingly fierce, and great was the carnage that occurred there on the occasion.

Indeed, the Pandava army was agitated by Duryodhana in that battle, like an assemblage of lotus-stalks in a lake by an elephant. Seeing then that army thus smitten by Dhritarashtra’s son, the Panchalas headed by Bhimasena rushed at them. Then Duryodhana pierced Bhimasena with ten arrows and each of the twins with three and king Yudhishthira with seven. He pierced Virata and Drupada with six arrows, and Shikhandin with a hundred. Piercing Dhrishtadyumna with twenty arrows, he struck each of the five sons of Draupadi with three arrows. With his fierce shafts he cut off hundreds of other combatants in that battle, including elephants and car-warriors, like the Destroyer himself in wrath exterminating creatures. In consequence of his skill cultured by practice and of the power of his weapons, he seemed, as he was engaged in striking down his foes, to bend his bow incessantly drawn to a circle whether when aiming or letting off his shafts. Indeed, that formidable bow of his, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, was seen by people to be drawn into a perpetual circle as he was employed in slaying his enemies. Then king Yudhishthira, with a couple of broad-headed shafts, cut off the bow of Dhritarashtra’s son as the latter struggled in fight. Yudhishthira also pierced him deeply with ten excellent and foremost of shafts. Those arrows, however, touching the armour of Duryodhana, quickly broke into pieces. Then the Parthas, filled with delight surrounded Yudhishthira, like the celestials and great Rishis in days of old surrounding Shakra on the occasion of the slaughter of Vritra. Dhritarashtra’s valiant son then, taking up another bow, addressed king Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, saying, “Wait, Wait,” and rushed against him. Beholding Dhritarashtra’s son thus advancing in great battle, the Panchalas, cheerfully and with hopes of victory, advanced to receive him.

Then Drona, desirous of rescuing the (Kuru) king, received the rushing Panchalas, like a mountain receiving masses of rain-charged clouds driven by tempest. The battle then that took place there was exceedingly fierce, making the hair stand on end, between the Pandavas and Dhritarashtra’s warriors. Dreadful was the carnage of all creatures that then took place, resembling the sport of Rudra himself (at the end of the Yuga). Then there arose a loud uproar at the place where Dhananjaya was. That uproar, making the hair stand on end, rose above all other sounds. Thus, progressed the battle between Arjuna and Dhritarashtra’s bowmen. Thus progressed the battle between Satyaki and Dhritarashtra’s men in the midst of Dhritarashtra’s army. Thus continued the fight between Drona and his enemies at the gate of the array. Thus, indeed, continued that carnage on the earth, when Arjuna and Drona and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki were all excited with wrath.

Drona kills Kekaya Brihatkshatra

In the afternoon of that day, a dreadful battle, characterised by roars, deep as those of the clouds, once more occurred between Drona and the Somakas. That foremost of men, Drona, mounted on his car of red steeds, and intent on battle rushed against the Pandavas, with moderate speed. The valiant son of Bharadwaja, that great bowman endued with mighty strength, that hero born in an excellent pot, engaged in doing what was agreeable to Dhritarashtra, and striking down many foremost of warriors with his whetted arrows, equipped with beautiful wings, seemed to sport in that battle. Then that mighty car-warrior of the Kaikeyas, Brihatkshatra, irresistible in battle, and the eldest of five brothers, rushed against him. Shooting many keen shafts, he greatly afflicted the preceptor, like a mighty mass of clouds pouring torrents of rain on the mountain of Gandhamadana. Then Drona, excited with wrath sped at him five and ten shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. The prince of the Kekayas, however, cheerfully cut off every one of those shafts shot by Drona, and which resembled angry snakes of virulent poison, with five shafts of his own. Beholding that lightness of hand displayed by him that bull among Brahmanas, then, sped at him eight straight shafts. Seeing those shafts shot from Drona's bow, swiftly coursing towards him, Brihatkshatra in that battle resisted them with as many sharp shafts of his. Beholding that exceedingly difficult feat achieved by Brihatkshatra, Dhritarashtra’s troops were filled with amazement. Then Drona, applauding Brihatkshatra, invoked into existence the irresistible and celestial weapon called Brahma in that battle.

The prince of the Kekayas, seeing it shot by Drona in battle, baffled that Brahma weapon by a Brahma weapon of his own. After that weapon had been thus baffled, Brihatkshatra pierced the Brahmana with sixty shafts whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. Then Drona, that foremost of men, pierced the prince of the Kekayas with a powerful shaft which, penetrating through the latter's armour, (passed through his body and) entered the earth. As a black cobra pierces through an ant-hill, even so did that shafts enter the earth, having pierced through the body of the Kekaya prince in that battle. Deeply pierced with the shafts of Drona, the prince of the Kekayas, filled with rage, and rolling his beautiful eyes, pierced Drona with seventy arrows whetted on stone and equipped with wings of gold. With another arrow he greatly afflicted Drona's charioteer in this very vitals. Pierced by Brihatkshatra with arrows, Drona shot showers of keen shafts at the car of the Prince of the Kekayas. Depriving the mighty car-warrior, Brihatkshatra, of his coolness, Drona then, with four-winged arrows, slew the four steeds of the former. With another arrow he felled Brihatkshatra's charioteer from his niche in the car. Felling on the earth, with two other arrows, his enemy's standard and umbrella, that bull among Brahmanas, with a third shaft well-shot from his bow, pierced Brihatkshatra himself in the chest. Thereupon, the latter, thus struck in the chest, fell down from his car.

Drona kills Dhrishtaketu, the Chedi prince

Upon the slaughter of Brihatkshatra, that mighty car-warrior among the Kaikeyas, the son of Shishupala, filled with rage, addressed his charioteer, saying,

“O charioteer, proceed to the spot where Drona stays, clad in armour and engaged in slaying the Kaikeya and the Panchala hosts.”

Hearing these words of his, the charioteer soon took that foremost of car-warriors unto Drona, by means of those fleet steeds of the Kamboja breed. Then Dhrishtaketu, that bull among the Chedis, swelling with might, rushed towards Drona for his own destruction like an insect upon a blazing fire. Soon he pierced Drona and his steeds and car and standard with sixty shafts. Once more he struck him with many other keen shafts like a man rousing a sleeping tiger. Then Drona, with a sharp razor-faced arrow winged with vulturine feathers, cut off the middle of the bow of that mighty warrior struggling in battle. Then that powerful car-warrior, viz., the son of Shishupala, taking up another bow, pierced Drona with many shafts winged with the feathers of Kankas and peacocks. Drona then, slaying with four shafts the four steeds of Dhrishtaketu, smilingly cut off the head of the latter's charioteer from his trunk. Then he pierced Dhrishtaketu himself with five and twenty arrows. The prince of the Chedis then, quickly jumping down from his car, took up a mace, and hurled it at the son of Bharadwaja like an angry snake.

Beholding that heavy mace, endued with the strength of adamant and decked with gold, coursing towards him like Death, the son of Bharadwaja cut it off with many thousands of whetted arrows. That mace, cut off by Bharadwaja's son, with many shafts, fell down, making the earth echo with its noise. Beholding his mace baffled, the wrathful and brave Dhrishtaketu hurled a lance and then a dart decked with gold. Cutting off that lance with five shafts, Drona cut off that dart also with five arrows. Both those missiles, thus cut off, fell down on the earth, like a couple of snakes mangled and torn by Garuda. The valiant son of Bharadwaja then, in that battle, sped for his destruction a keen shaft at Dhrishtaketu who was battling for the destruction of Bharadwaja himself. That shaft, piercing through the armour and breast of Dhrishtaketu of immeasurable energy, entered the earth, like a swan diving into a lake overgrown with lotuses. As a hungry jay seizes and devours a little insect, even so did the heroic Drona swallowed up Dhrishtaketu in that great battle. Upon the slaughter of the ruler of the Chedis, his son who was conversant with the highest weapons, excited with wrath, sought to bear the burden of his sire. Him also, Drona, smiling, despatched to the abode of Yama by means of his shafts, like a huge and mighty tiger in the deep woods slaying an infant deer.

While the Pandavas were thus being thinned, the heroic son of Jarasandha rushed towards Drona. Like the clouds shrouding the sun, he quickly made the mighty-armed Drona invisible in that battle by means of his arrowy showers. Beholding that lightness of hand in him, Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, quickly shot his shafts by hundreds and thousands. Covering (with his arrows) in that battle that foremost of car-warriors stationed on his car, Drona speedily slew the son of Jarasandha in the very sight of all bowmen. Indeed, Drona, resembling the Destroyer himself, swallowing up every one who approached him then, like the Destroyer himself, swallowing up creatures when their hour arrives. Then Drona, proclaiming his name in that battle, covered the Pandavas with many thousands of shafts. Those shafts shot by Drona, whetted on stone and engraved with his name, slew in that battle men and elephants and steeds by hundreds. Thus slaughtered by Drona, like the Asuras by Shakra, the Panchalas began to tremble like a herd of kine afflicted with cold. Indeed, when the Pandava army was thus being slaughtered by Drona, there arose an awful wail of woe from it. Scorched by the sun and slaughtered by means of those arrows, the Panchalas then became filled with anxiety. Stupefied by Bharadwaja's son with his arrowy showers in that battle the mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas felt like persons whose thighs had been seized by alligators. Then, the Chedis, the Srinjayas, the Kashis, and the Kosalas, rushed cheerfully against the son of Bharadwaja from desire of battle. The Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Srinjayas addressed one another, saying, “Drona is slain! Drona is slain!”

Saying these words, they rushed at that hero. Indeed, all these tigers among men fell with their utmost might upon the illustrious Drona, desirous of despatching him to the abode of Yama. Then the son of Bharadwaja, by means of his shafts, despatched those brave warriors struggling vigorously in battle, especially those forest ones among the Chedis, into the presence of the King of the dead. After those foremost ones among the Chedis had been exterminated, the Panchalas, afflicted with the shafts of Drona, began to tremble. Beholding those feats of Drona, they loudly called after Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna and said,

“This Brahmana has, without doubt, practised the austerest of penances and acquired great ascetic merit. Inflamed with rage in battle, he consumes the foremost of Kshatriyas. A Kshatriya's duty is battle; a Brahmana's, the highest asceticism. A Brahmana endued with ascetic merit and learning, is capable of burning everything by his glances only. Many foremost of Kshatriyas, having approached the uncrossable and fierce fire of Drona's weapons, have, O Bharata, been blasted and consumed. The illustrious Drona, to the measure of his might, courage, and perseverance, stupefies all creatures and slays our troops!”

Drona kills Kshatradharman, the son of Dhrishtadyumna

Hearing these words of theirs, the mighty Kshatradharman, rightly observant of the duties of a Kshatriya, wrathfully cut off with a crescent-shaped arrow the bow of Drona with arrow fixed thereon. Then Drona, that grinder of Kshatriyas, becoming more angry still, took up another bright bow, tougher than the one he had laid aside. Fixing on it a keen arrow, destructive of hostile ranks, the preceptor, endued with great strength, sped it at the prince, drawing the bowstring to his ear. That arrow, slaying Kshatradharman entered the earth. His breast pierced through, he fell down from his vehicle on the earth. Upon the slaughter of Dhrishtadyumna's son, the (Pandava) troops began to tremble.

Then the mighty Chekitana fell upon Drona, Piercing Drona with ten arrows, he once more pierced him with a shaft in the centre of his chest. He pierced Drona's charioteer with four arrows and his four steeds also with four. The Preceptor then pierced the right arm of Chekitana with sixteen arrows, and his standard with sixteen, and his charioteer with seven. Upon the charioteer being slain, Chekitana's steeds fled away, dragging the car after them. Beholding the steeds of Chekitana pierced with the arrows of Bharadwaja's son, and his car also deprived of driver, the Panchalas and the Pandavas were filled with great fear. Drona then, routing on all sides the Panchalas and the Srinjayas united together in battle looked exceedingly resplendent. The venerable Drona, full five and eighty years of age, dark in hue and with white locks descending to his cars, careered in battle like a youth of sixteen. Indeed, enemies regarded the foe-slaying Drona, as he fearlessly careered in battle, to be none else than Indra himself armed with the thunder. Then, the mighty-armed Drupada of great intelligence said,

“This one (Drona) is slaying the Kshatriyas like a hungry tiger slaying smaller animals. The sinful Duryodhana of wicked soul will assuredly obtain the most miserable regions (in the next world). It is through his covetousness that many foremost of the Kshatriyas, slain in battle, lay prostrate on the field, like mangled bulls, weltering in blood and becoming the food of dogs and jackals.”

Saying these words, Drupada, that master of an Akshauhini of troops, placing the Parthas at his head, rushed with speed towards Drona.