War in the night of the fourteenth day-1

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

The fight between Duryodhana and Yudhishthira

That elephant force of Dhritarashtra, swelling with might, fought everywhere, prevailing over the Pandava force. Resolved to go to the other world, the Panchalas and the Kauravas fought with one another for admission into the swelling domains of Yama. Brave warriors, encountering brave rivals, pierced one another with arrows and lances and darts, and quickly despatched one another unto Yama's abode. Dreadful was the battle that took place between car-warriors and car-warriors who struck one another and caused a fierce flow of blood. Infuriated elephants, encountering infuriated compeers, afflicted one another with their tusks. Horsemen, solicitous of glory, pierced and cut down horsemen in that terrific melee with spears and darts and battle-axes. Foot-soldiers also, in hundreds, armed with weapons, repeatedly rushed against one another with resolute courage. So great was the confusion that the Panchalas and the Kurus could only be distinguished from each other by the tribal, the family, and the personal names that was heard them utter. The warriors, despatching one another to the other world with arrows and darts and axes, careered fearlessly on the field. With thousands of arrows, however, shot by the combatants the ten points were no longer illuminated as before in consequence of the Sun having set.

While the Pandavas were thus fighting, Duryodhana, penetrated into the midst of their host. Filled with great wrath at the slaughter of the ruler of Sindhus, and resolved to lay down his life, he penetrated into the hostile army. Filling the earth with the rattle of his car-wheels and causing her to tremble therewith, Dhritarashtra’s son approached the Pandava host. Terrific was the clash that took place between him and them, causing a tremendous carnage of troops. Like the sun himself at midday scorching everything with his rays, Dhritarashtra’s son scorched the hostile host with his arrowy showers. The Pandavas became incapable of even looking at their brother (Duryodhana). Despairing of vanquishing their foes, they set their hearts on flying away from the field. Slaughtered by Dhritarashtra’s illustrious son, armed with the bow, by means of his gold-winged arrows of blazing points, the Panchalas ran away in all directions. Afflicted with those keen shafts, the Pandava troops began to fall down on the ground. Indeed, the Pandavas had never succeeded in achieving such a feat in battle as was then achieved by Dhritarashtra’s royal son. The Pandava host was crushed and ground by an elephant. As, again, an assemblage of lotuses becomes shorn of its beauty when the water (over which it grows) is dried up by the sun and the wind, even so became the Pandava host being dried up by Dhritarashtra’s son. Striking then the Panchalas with Bhimasena with ten shafts, and each of the sons of Madri with three, and Virata and Drupada each with six, and Shikhandin with a hundred, and Dhrishtadyumna with seventy, and Yudhishthira with seven, and the Kaikeyas and the Chedis with innumerable keen shafts, and Satwata with five, and each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with three, and Ghatotkacha also with a few, he uttered a leonine shout. Cutting off hundreds of other warriors and the bodies of elephants and steeds in that great battle by means of his fierce shafts, he behaved like the Destroyer himself in rage slaying created beings.

While engaged, however, in thus slaughtering his foes, his bow, the back of whose staff was ornamented with gold, Yudhishthira, the son of Pandu, cut off into three parts with a pair of broad-headed shafts. Yudhishthira pierced Duryodhana himself with ten keen arrows shot with great force. Piercing through Duryodhana's vital limbs, those passed out and entered the earth in a continuous line. The troops that stood around then encompassed Yudhishthira, like the celestials encompassing Purandara for the slaughter of Vritra. Then king Yudhishthira, who is incapable of being easily defeated, shot at Dhritarashtra’s son in that battle a fierce shaft. Deeply pierced therewith, Duryodhana sat down on his excellent car. Then a loud noise arose from among the Panchala troops. This was that tremendous uproar, viz., “The king is slain!” The fierce whizz of arrows also was heard there.

Then Drona quickly showed himself there in that battle. Meanwhile, Duryodhana recovering his senses, had firmly grasped the bow. He then rushed towards the royal son of Pandu saying, “Wait, Wait.” Then the Panchalas also solicitous of victory, began to advance with speed. Desirous of rescuing the Kuru prince, Drona received them all. The preceptor began to destroy them like the bright-rayed maker of day destroying tempest-tossed clouds. Then, there occurred a fierce battle, fraught with immense carnage, between Dhritarashtra’s and theirs encountering one another from desire of fight.

The Pandava force fights Drona

Having slain the ruler of the Sindhus in the evening, Partha, after his meeting with Yudhishthira and the great bowman, viz., Satyaki, both proceeded towards Drona. Then Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu, each with a separate division of the army, quickly proceeded against Drona. Similarly, the intelligent Nakula, and the invincible Sahadeva, and Dhrishtadyumna with his own division, and Virata, and the ruler of the Salwas, with a large force, proceeded against Drona in battle. Similarly, king Drupada, the father of Dhrishtadyumna, protected by the Panchalas proceeded against Drona. The sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, accompanied by their forces, proceeded against Drona of great splendour. The Prabhadraka-Panchalas also six thousand strong, and all effectual smiters, proceeded against Drona placing Shikhandin at their head. Other foremost of men and mighty car-warriors among the Pandavas, uniting together, proceeded against Drona. When those heroic warriors proceeded to battle, the night became pitch dark, enhancing the terrors of the timid.

During that hour of darkness, many were the warriors that laid down their lives. That night also proved the death of many elephants and steeds and foot-soldiers. On that night of pitch darkness, yelling jackals everywhere inspired great fear with their blazing mouths. Fierce owls, perching on the standards of Kauravas and hooting therefrom, foreboded fears. Then, a fierce uproar arose among the troops. Mingling with the loud beat of drums and cymbals, grunts of elephants, neighings of steeds, and stampings of horse-hoofs, that uproar spread everywhere. Then, in that hour of evening, fierce was the battle that took place between Drona and all of the Srinjayas. The world having been enveloped in darkness, nothing could be noticed. The welkin was covered with the dust raised by the combatants. Blood of man and horse and elephant mingled together. The earthy dust then disappeared. All of Kauravas became perfectly cheerless. During that night, like the sounds of a burning forest of bamboos on a mountain, frightful sounds were heard of clashing weapons. With the sounds of Mridangas and Anakas and Vallakis and Patahas, with the shouts (of human beings) and the neigh (of steeds), a dreadful confusion set in everywhere. When the field of battle was enveloped in darkness, friends could not be distinguished from foes. All were possessed with a madness in that night. The earthen dust that had arisen was soon allayed with showers of blood. Then, in consequence of golden coats of mail and the bright ornaments of the warriors, that darkness was dispelled. The Bharata host then, adorned with gems and gold (and abounding with darts and standards), looked like the firmament in the night, bespangled with stars.

The field of battle then resounded with the yells of jackals and the cawings of crows, with the grunts of elephants, and the shouts and cries of the warriors. Those sounds, mingling together, produced a loud uproar, making the hair stand on end. That uproar filled all the points of the compass like the report of Indra's thunder. At dead of night, the Bharata host seemed illuminated with the Angadas, the ear-rings, the cuirasses, and the weapons of combatants. There elephants and cars, adorned with gold, looked in that night like clouds charged with lightning. Swords and darts and maces and scimitars and clubs and lances and axes, as they fell, looked like dazzling flashes of fire. Duryodhana was the gust of wind that was the precursor (of that tempest-like host). Cars and elephants constituted its dry clouds. The loud noise of drums and other instruments formed the peal of its thunders. Abounding with standards, bows formed to lightning flashes. Drona and the Pandavas formed its pouring clouds. Scimitars and darts and maces constituted its thunders. Shafts formed its downpour, and weapons (of other kinds) its incessant gusts of wind. The winds that blew were both exceedingly hot and exceedingly cold. Terrible, stunning and fierce, it was destructive of life. There was nothing that could afford shelter from it. Combatants, desirous of battle entered into that frightful host on that dreadful night resounding with terrible noises, enhancing the fears of the timid and the delight of heroes. During the progress of that fierce and dreadful battle in the night, the Pandus and the Srinjayas, united together, rushed in wrath against Drona. All these, however, that advanced right against the illustrious Drona, were either obliged to turn back or despatched to the abode of Yama. Indeed, on that night, Drona alone pierced with his shafts, elephants in thousands and cars in tens of thousands and millions of millions of foot-soldiers and steeds.

Drona kills Shibi

During the progress of that fierce night-battle, the Pandavas along with the Somakas all rushed against Drona. Then Drona, with his swift-going shafts, despatched all the Kaikeyas and the sons of Dhrishtadyumna into the world of spirits. Indeed, all those mighty car-warriors that advanced right against Drona, all those lords of the earth, were despatched (by him) into the region of the dead. Then king Shibi, of great prowess, filled with rage, proceeded against that mighty car-warrior, viz., the heroic son of Bharadwaja, while the latter was thus employed in grinding (the hostile combatants). Beholding that great car-warrior of the Pandavas advancing, Drona pierced him with ten shafts made entirely of iron. Shibi, however, pierced Drona in return with thirty shafts, winged with Kanka feathers. Smiling the while, he also, with a broad-headed shaft felled the driver of Drona's car. Drona then, slaying the steeds of the illustrious Shibi as also the driver of his car, cut off from his trunk Shibi's head with head-gear on it. Then Duryodhana quickly sent unto Drona a driver for his car. The reins of his steeds having been taken up by the new man, Drona once more rushed against his foes.

Bhima kills the Kalinga prince

The sort of the ruler of the Kalingas, supported by the Kalinga troops, rushed against Bhimasena, filled with rage at the slaughter of his sire by the latter, Having pierced Bhima with five shafts he once more pierced him with seven. He struck Vishoka (the driver of Bhima's car) with three shafts and the latter's standard with one. The Vrikodara, filled with rage, leaping from his own car to that of his foe, slew with only his fists that angry hero of the Kalingas. The bones of that prince thus slain in battle by the mighty son of Pandu with only his fists, fell down on the earth separated from one another.

Bhima kills Dhruva and Jayarata

Karna and the brother of the slain prince, (and others), could not brook that act of Bhima. All of them began to strike Bhimasena with keen shafts resembling snakes of virulent poison. Abandoning then that car of the foe (upon which he stood), Bhima proceeded to the car of Dhruva, and crushed, by a blow of his fist, that prince who had been striking him incessantly. Thus struck by the mighty son of Pandu, Dhruva fell down. Having slain him, Bhimasena of great strength, proceeding to the car of Jayarata, began to roar repeatedly like a lion. Dragging Jayarata then with his left arm, while, employed in roaring, he slew that warrior with a slap of his palm in the very sight of Karna. Then Karna hurled at the son of Pandu, a dart decked with gold. The Pandava, however, smiling the while, seized with his hand that dart. The invincible Vrikodara in that battle hurled that very dart back at Karna. Then Shakuni, with a shaft that had drunk oil, cut off that dart as it coursed towards Karna. Having achieved these mighty feats in battle, Bhima, of wonderful prowess, came back to his own car and rushed against Dhritarashtra’s troops.

Bhima kills two sons of Dhritarashtra

While Bhima was thus advancing, slaughtering (Dhritarashtra’s troops) like the Destroyer himself in rage, Dhritarashtra’s sons attempted to resist that mighty-armed hero. Indeed, those mighty car-warriors covered him with a dense shower of arrows. Then Bhima, smiling the while, despatched in that battle, with his shafts, the driver and the steeds of Durmada unto the abode of Yama. Durmada, at this, quickly mounted upon the car of Dushkarna. Then those scorchers of foes, viz., the two brothers, riding oh the same car, both rushed against Bhima in the front rank of battle, like the Regent of the waters and Surya rushing against Taraka, that foremost of Daityas. Then Dhritarashtra’s sons, Durmada and Dushkarna, mounting on the same car, pierced Bhima with shafts. Then in the very sight of Karna, of Ashwatthaman, of Duryodhana, of Kripa, of Somadatta, and of Balhika, the son of Pandu, that chastiser of foes, by a stamp of his foot, caused that car of the heroic Durmada and Dushkarna to sink into the earth. Filled with rage, Bhima struck with his fists those mighty and brave sons of Dhritarashtra, viz., Durmada and Dushkarna, and crushed them therewith and roared aloud. Then cries of “Oh” and “Alas” arose among the troops. The kings, beholding Bhima said,

“That is Rudra who is fighting in Bhima's form among the Dhartarashtras.”

Saying these words, all the kings fled away, deprived of their senses and urging the animals they rode to their greatest speed. Indeed, no two of them could be seen running together. Then, when on that night a great carnage had been caused among the (Kaurava) army, the mighty Vrikodara, with eyes beautiful as the full-blown lotus, highly applauded by many bulls among kings, repairing unto Yudhishthira, paid his regards unto him. Then the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and Drupada and Virata, and the Kaikeyas, and Yudhishthira also, felt great joy. All of them paid their adorations unto Vrikodara even as the celestials did unto Mahadeva after Andhaka had been slain.

Then Dhritarashtra’s sons, all equal unto the sons of Varuna, filled with rage and accompanied by the illustrious Preceptor and a large number of cars, foot-soldiers, and elephants encompassed Vrikodara on all sides from desire of fight. Then, on that terrible night, when everything was enveloped in darkness, as thick as a cloud, a dreadful battle took place between those illustrious warriors, delightful to wolves and crows and vultures.

Satyaki defeats Somadatta

After his son (Bhurishravas) had been slain by Satyaki while the former was sitting in Praya, Somadatta, filled with rage, said unto Satyaki these words,

“Why, O Satwata, having abandoned those Kshatriya duties ordained by the high-souled gods, have you betaken yourself to the practices of robbers? Why would one that is observant of Kshatriya duties and possessed of wisdom, strike in battle a person that is turning away from the fight, or one that has become helpless, or one that has laid aside his weapons, or one that begs for quarters? Two persons, indeed, among the Vrishnis are reputed to be the foremost of great car-warriors, viz., Pradyumna of mighty energy and you also, O Satyaki! Why then did you behave so cruelly and sinfully towards one that had sat on Praya and that had his arms cut off by Partha? Take now in battle the consequence of that act of yours, O you of wicked behaviour! I shall today, O wretch, putting forth my prowess, cut off your. head with a winged arrow. I swear, O Satwata, by my two sons, by what is dear to me, and by all my meritorious acts, that, if before this night passes away, I do not slay you, that are so proud of your heroism, with your sons and younger brothers, provided Jishnu, the son of Pritha, does not protect you, then let me sink into terrible hell, O wretch of Vrishni's race!”

Having said these words, the mighty Somadatta, filled with rage, blew his conch loudly and uttered a leonine roar. Then Satyaki, of eyes like lotus-petals and teeth like those of a lion, possessed of great strength, and filled with rage, said these words unto Somadatta,

“O you of Kuru's race, whether battling with you or with others, I do not in my heart ever experience the slightest fear. If, protected by all the troops, you fight with me, I would not, even then experience on your account, any pain, O you of Kuru's race! I am ever observant of Kshatriya practices. You can not, therefore, frighten me with only words smacking of battle or with speeches that insult the good. If, O king, you wish to fight with me today, be cruel and strike me with keen shafts and I will also strike you. Your son, the mighty car-warrior Bhurishravas, O king, had been slain. Shala also, and Vrishasena, have been crushed by me. You also today I shall slay, with your soils and kinsmen. Stay with resolution in battle, for you, O Kaurava, are endued with great strength. You are already slain in consequence of the energy of that drum-bannered king Yudhishthira in whom are always charity, and self-restraint, and purity of heart, compassion, and modesty, and intelligence, and forgiveness, and all else that is indestructible. You shall meet with destruction along with Karna and Subala's son. I swear by Krishna's feet and by all my good acts that, filled with rage, I shall, with my shafts, slay you with your sons in battle. If you fly away from battle, then may you have safety.”

Having thus addressed each other, with eyes red in wrath, those foremost of men began to shoot their shafts at each other. Then with a thousand cars and ten thousand horses, Duryodhana took his station, encompassing Somadatta, Shakuni also, filled with rage, and armed with every weapon and surrounded by his sons and grandsons as also by his brothers, that were equal to Indra himself in prowess (did the same). Dhritarashtra’s brother-in-law, young in years and of body hard as the thunder-bolt and possessed of wisdom, had a hundred thousand horses of the foremost valour with him. With these he encompassed the mighty bowman Somadatta. Protected by those mighty warriors, Somadatta covered Satyaki (with clouds of shafts).

Beholding Satyaki thus covered with clouds of straight shafts, Dhrishtadyumna proceeded towards him in rage and accompanied by a mighty force. Then, the sound that arose there of those two large hosts striking each other, resembled that of many oceans lashed into fury by frightful hurricanes. Then Somadatta pierced Satyaki, with nine arrows. Satyaki, in return, struck that foremost of Kuru warriors with nine arrows. Deeply pierced in that battle by the mighty and firm bowman (Satyaki), Somadatta sat down on the terrace of his car and lost his senses in a swoon, Beholding him deprived of his senses, his driver, with great speed, bore away from the battle that great car-warrior, viz., the heroic Somadatta.

Seeing that Somadatta, afflicted with Yuyudhana's shafts, had lost his senses Drona rushed with speed, desiring to slay the Yadu hero. Beholding the Preceptor advance, many Pandava warriors headed by Yudhishthira surrounded that illustrious perpetuator of Yadu's race from desire of rescuing him. Then commenced a battle between Drona and the Pandavas, resembling that between Bali and the celestials for acquiring sovereignty oft the three worlds. Then Bharadwaja's son of great energy shrouded the Pandava host with clouds of arrows and pierced Yudhishthira also. Drona pierced Satyaki with ten arrows, and the son of Prishata with twenty. He pierced Bhimasena with nine arrows and Nakula with five, and Sahadeva with eight, and Shikhandin with a hundred. The mighty-armed hero pierced each of the (five) sons of Draupadi with five arrows. He pierced Virata with eight arrows and Drupada with ten. He pierced Yudhamanyu with three arrows and Uttamaujas with six in that encounter. Piercing many other combatants, he rushed towards Yudhishthira. The troops of Pandu's son, slaughtered by Drona, ran away in all directions, from fear, with loud wails.

Beholding that host slaughtered by Drona, Phalguna, the son of Pritha, with wrath excited a little, quickly proceeded towards the preceptor. Beholding then that Drona was also proceeding towards Arjuna in that battle, that host of Yudhishthira once more rallied. Then once more occurred a battle between Drona and the Pandavas. Drona, surrounded on all sides by Dhritarashtra’s sons, began to consume the Pandava host, like fire consuming a heap of cotton. Beholding him radiant like the sun and endued with the splendour of a blazing fire, and fiercely and continually emitting his ray-like arrows, with bow incessantly drawn to a circle and scorching everything around like the sun himself, and consuming his foes, there was none in that army that could check him. The shafts of Drona cutting off the head of all those that ventured to approach him in the face, penetrated into the earth. Thus slaughtered by that illustrious warrior, the Pandava host, once more fled away in fear in the very sight of Arjuna.

Beholding that force thus routed on that night by Drona, Jishnu asked Govinda to proceed towards Drona's car. Then he of Dasharha's race urged those steeds, white as silver or milk or the Kunda flower, or the moon, towards the car of Drona. Bhimasena also, beholding Phalguna proceed towards Drona, commanded his own charioteer, saying, “Bear me towards Drona's division.” Hearing those words of Bhima, his driver Vishoka urged his steeds, following in the wake of Jishnu, of sure aim. Beholding the two brothers resolutely proceeding towards Drona's division, the mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Kosalas, and the Kaikeyas, all followed them. Then, took place a terrible battle that made the hair stand on end. With two mighty throngs of cars, Bibhatsu and Vrikodara attacked Dhritarashtra’s host; the former on the right and the latter in the front. Seeing those tigers among men, viz., Bhimasena and Dhananjaya (thus engaged), Dhrishtadyumna, and Satyaki of great strength, rushed behind. Then, an uproar arose there in consequence of the two hosts striking each other, that resembled the noise made by many seas lashed into fury by a tempest. Beholding Satyaki in battle, Ashwatthaman, filled with rage at the slaughter of Somadatta's son, rushed furiously against that Satwata hero at the van of battle.

Fight between Ghatotkacha and Ashwatthaman

Seeing him rush in that battle against the car of Shini's grandson, Bhimasena's son, the gigantic Rakshasa, Ghatotkacha, endued with great strength, rushed at him, riding on a huge and terrible car made of black iron covered with bear-skins. Both the height and the width of that large car measured thirty nalwas. Equipped with machines set in proper places it was; its rattle resembled that of a mighty mass of clouds. No steeds or elephants were yoked unto it, but, instead, beings that looked like elephants. On its tall standard perched a prince of vultures with outstretched wings and feet, with eyes wide-expanded, and shrieking awfully. It was equipped with red flags and decked with the entrails of various animals. That huge vehicle was furnished with eight wheels. Riding on it, Ghatotkacha was surrounded by a full Akshauhini of fierce-looking Rakshasas armed with lances and heavy clubs and rocks and trees. Seeing him advance with uplifted bow, resembling the mace-armed Destroyer himself in the hour of universal dissolution, the hostile kings were struck with fear.

At sight of that prince of Rakshasas, viz., Ghatotkacha, looking like a mountain summit of terrible aspect, frightful, possessed of terrible teeth and fierce face, with arrow-like ears and high cheek-bones, with stiff hair rising upwards, awful eyes, sunken belly, blazing mouth, wide as a chasm, and diadem on his head, capable of striking every creature with fear, possessing jaws wide-open like those of the Destroyer, endued with great splendour and capable of agitating all foes, advancing towards them, Dhritarashtra’s son's host, afflicted with fear, became highly agitated like the current of the Ganga agitated into fierce eddies by (the action of) the wind. Terrified by the leonine roar uttered by Ghatotkacha, elephants began to eject urine and the kings began to tremble. Then, thrown by the Rakshasas who had become more powerful in consequence of the night, there began to fall on the field of battle a thick shower of stones. A ceaseless shower of iron wheels and Bhundis and darts and lances and spears and Shataghnis and axes also fell there. Beholding that fierce and awful battle, the kings, Dhritarashtra’s sons, and Karna, also exceedingly pained, fled away.

Only the proud son of Drona, ever boastful of his might in arms, stood fearlessly. He soon dispelled that illusion that had been created by Ghatotkacha. Upon the destruction of his illusion, Ghatotkacha in rage sped fierce shafts (Ashwatthaman). These pierced the son of Drona, like angry snakes speedily piercing through an ant-hill. Those arrows, having pierced through the body of Ashwatthaman, dyed with blood and quickly entered the earth like snakes into an ant-hill. The light-handed Ashwatthaman, however, of great prowess, filled with wrath, pierced Ghatotkacha with ten arrows. Ghatotkacha, deeply pierced in his vital parts by Drona's son, and feeling great pain, took up a wheel having a thousand spokes. Its edge was sharp as a razor, and it was resplendent as the rising sun. It was decked with diverse gems and diamonds. Desirous of slaying him, the son of Bhimasena hurled that wheel at Ashwatthaman. As that wheel coursed swiftly towards Drona's son, the latter cut it into fragments by means of his shafts. Baffled, it fell down on the earth, like the hope cherished by an unfortunate man. Beholding his wheel baffled, Ghatotkacha quickly covered the son of Drona with his shafts, like Rahu swallowing the sun.

Meanwhile, Ghatotkacha's son endued with great splendour and looking like a mass of antimony, checked the advancing son of Drona like the king of mountain (Meru) checking the (course of the) wind. Afflicted with showers of shafts by Bhimasena's grandson, viz., the brave Anjanaparvan, Ashwatthaman looked like the mountain Meru bearing a torrent of rain from a mighty cloud. Then Ashwatthaman, equal unto Rudra or Upendra in prowess, became filled with rage. With one shaft he cut off the standard of Anjanaparvan. With two others, his two drivers, and with three others, his Trivenuka. He cut off the Rakshasa's bow with one arrow, and his four steeds with four other arrows, Made carless, Anjanaparvan took up a scimitar. With another keen shaft, Ashwatthaman cut off in two fragments that scimitar, decked with golden stars, in the Rakshasa's hand. The grandson of Hidimba then, whirling a gold adorned mace, quickly hurled it at Ashwatthaman. Drona's son, however, striking it with his shafts, caused it to fall down on the earth. Soaring up then into the sky, Anjanaparvan began to roar like a cloud. From the welkin he showered trees upon his foe. Like the sun piercing a mass of clouds with his rays, Ashwatthaman then began to pierce with his shafts the son of Ghatotkacha, that receptacle of illusions, in the welkin. Gifted with great energy, the Rakshasa once more came down on his gold decked car. He then looked like a high and beautiful hill of antimony on the surface of the earth. The son of Drona then slew that son of Bhima's son, viz., Anjanaparvan, cased in an iron coat of mail, even as Mahadeva had slain in days of yore the Asura Andhaka.

Beholding his mighty son slain by Ashwatthaman, Ghatotkacha, coming unto the son of Drona, fearlessly addressed the heroic son of Sharadwata's daughter, who was then consuming the Pandava troops like a raging forest-conflagration, in these words. Ghatotkacha said,

“Wait, Wait, O son of Drona! You shall not escape me with life! I shall slay you today like Agni's son slaying Krauncha.”

Ashwatthaman said,

“Go, O son, and fight with others, O you that have the prowess of a celestial. It is not proper, O son of Hidimba, that sire should battle with son. I do not cherish any grudge against you, O son of Hidimba! When, however, one's ire is excited, one may kill one's own self.”

Having heard these words, Ghatotkacha, filled with grief on account of the fall of his son, and with eyes red as copper in wrath, approached Ashwatthaman and said,

“Am I a dastard in battle, O son of Drona, like a vulgar person, that you do frighten me thus with words? Your words are improper. Verily, I have been begotten by Bhima in the celebrated race of the Kurus. I am a son of the Pandavas, those heroes that never retreat from battle. I am the king of the Rakshasas, equal to the Ten-necked (Ravana) in might. Wait, wait, O son of Drona! You shall not escape me with life. I shall today, on the field of battle, dispel your desire for fight.”

Having thus replied unto Ashwatthaman, that mighty Rakshasa with eyes red as copper in rage, rushed furiously against the son of Drona, like a lion against a prince of elephants. Ghatotkacha began to shower upon that bull among car-warriors, viz., Drona's son, shafts of the measure of Aksha of battle car, like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Drona's son however, with his own shafts, checked that arrowy shower before it could reach him. At that time, it seemed that another encounter was taking place in the welkin between shafts (as the combatants). The welkin, then, during the night, shone resplendent with the sparks caused by the clash of those weapons, as if with (myriads of) flies. Observing that his illusion was dispelled by Drona's son, proud of his prowess in battle, Ghatotkacha, once more making himself invisible, created an illusion. He assumed the form of a high mountain, crowded with cliffs and trees, and possessing fountains from which ceaselessly flowed spears and lances and swords and heavy clubs. Beholding that mountain-like mass of antimony, with countless weapons falling from it, Drona's son was not at all moved. The latter invoked into existence the Vajra weapon. The prince of mountains, then, struck with that weapon, was quickly destroyed. Then the Rakshasa, becoming a mass of blue clouds in the firmament, decked with rainbow, began furiously to shower upon Drona's son in that battle a downpour of stones and rocks. Then that foremost of all persons acquainted with weapons, viz., Ashwatthaman, aiming the Vayavya weapon, destroyed that blue cloud which had risen on the firmament. Drona's son, that foremost of men, covering then all the points of the compass with his shafts, slew a hundred thousand car-warriors.

He then beheld Ghatotkacha fearlessly coming towards him with bent bow and accompanied by a large number of Rakshasas that resembled lions or infuriated elephants of great strength, some riding on elephants, some on cars, and some on steeds. The son of Hidimba was accompanied by those fierce followers of his, with frightful faces and heads and necks. Those Rakshasas consisted of both Paulastyas and Yatudhanas. Their prowess was equal to that of Indra himself. They were armed with diverse kinds of weapons and were cased in diverse kinds of armour. Of terrible visage, they swelled with rage. Ghatotkacha came to battle, accompanied by those Rakshasas, who were, indeed, incapable of being easily defeated in battle. Beholding them, Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana, became exceedingly cheerless. Unto him the son of Drona said,

“Wait, O Duryodhana! You need have no fear. Stand aside with these your heroic brothers and these lords of earth, endued with the prowess of Indra. I will slay your foes. Defeat you shall not have. I tell you truly. Meanwhile, assure your troops.”

Duryodhana said,

“I do not regard what you say to be at all wonderful, since your heart is large. O son of Gautama's daughter, your regard for us is great.”

Having said those words unto Ashwatthaman, he then addressed the son of Subala, saying,

“Dhananjaya is engaged in battle surrounded by a hundred thousand car-warriors of great valour. Go you against him, with sixty thousand cars. Karna also, and Vrishasena and Kripa, and Nila, and the Northerners, and Kritavarman, and the sons of Purumitra, and Duhshasana, and Nikumbha, and Kundabhedin, and Puranjaya and Dridharatha, and Hemakampana, and Shalya, and Aruni, and Indrasena, and Sanjaya, and Vijaya, and Jaya, and Purakrathin, and Jayavarman, and Sudarshana, these will follow you, with sixty thousand foot-soldiers. O uncle, slay Bhima and the twins and king Yudhishthira the Just, like the chief of the celestials slaying the Asuras. My hope of victory is in you. Already pierced by Drona's son with shafts, all their limbs have been exceedingly mangled. Slay the sons of Kunti, O uncle, like Kartikeya slaying the Asuras.”

Thus addressed by Dhritarashtra’s son, Shakuni proceeded quickly to destroy the Pandavas, filling Dhritarashtra’s son's heart with delight.

Meanwhile, the battle that took place between the Rakshasas and the son of Drona on that night was exceedingly terrible like that between Shakra and Prahlada (in days of old). Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, struck Drona's son in the chest with ten powerful shafts fierce as poison or fire. Deeply pierced with those shafts by the son of Bhimasena, Ashwatthaman trembled on the terrace of his car like a tall tree shaken by the tempest. Once more Ghatotkacha, with a broad-headed shaft, quickly cut off the bright bow that was in the hands of Drona's son. The latter, then, taking up another bow capable of bearing of great strain, showered keen arrows (upon his foe) like a cloud pouring torrents of rain. Then the son of Sharadwat's daughter sped many sky-ranging and foe-slaying arrows, winged with gold, towards the sky-ranging Rakshasa. Afflicted with those shafts of Ashwatthaman, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions. Consuming with his arrows those Rakshasas with their steeds, drivers, and elephants, he blazed forth like the adorable Agni while consuming creatures at the end of the Yuga. Having burnt with his shafts a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops, Ashwatthaman shone resplendent like the divine Maheshwara in heaven after the burning of the triple city. That foremost of victors, viz., Drona's son, having burnt Dhritarashtra’s foes, shone brilliantly like the blazing Yuga-fire after having burnt all creatures at the end of the Yuga.

Then Ghatotkacha, filled with rage, urged that vast Rakshasa force on, saying, “Slay the son of Drona!” That command of Ghatotkacha was obeyed by those terrible Rakshasa of bright teeth, large faces, frightful aspects, gaping mouths, long tongues and eyes blazing with wrath. Causing the earth to be filled with their loud leonine roars, and armed with diverse kinds of weapons, they rushed against the son of Drona for slaying him. Endued with fierce prowess, those Rakshasas, with eyes red in wrath, fearlessly hurled at Ashwatthaman's head hundreds and thousands of darts, and Shataghnis, and spiked maces, and Ashanis and long lances, and axes, and scimitars, and maces, and short arrows and heavy clubs, and battle-axes, and spears, and swords, and lances, and polished Kampanas and Kunapas, and Hulas, and rockets, and stones, and vessels of (hot) treacle, and thunas made of black iron, and mallets, all of terrible forms and capable of destroying foes. Beholding that thick shower of weapons falling upon the head of Drona's son, Dhritarashtra’s warriors were much pained. The son of Drona, however, fearlessly destroyed with his whetted shafts endued with the force of the thunder that frightful shower of weapons looking like a risen cloud. Then the high-souled son of Drona, with other weapons, equipped with golden wings and inspired with mantras speedily slew many Rakshasas. Afflicted with those shafts, that vast force of broad-chested Rakshasas looked like a herd of infuriated elephants afflicted by lions. Then those mighty Rakshasas, thus afflicted Drona's son, became filled with fury and rushed against the former. The prowess that the son of Drona then showed was exceedingly wonderful, for the feat he achieved is incapable of being achieved by any other being among living creatures, since, alone and unsupported, that warrior acquainted with high and mighty weapons burnt that Rakshasa force with his blazing shafts in the very sight of that prince of Rakshasas.

Whilst consuming that Rakshasa force, Drona's son in that battle shone resplendent like the Samvartaka fire, while burning all creatures at the end of the Yuga. Indeed, amongst those thousands of kings and those Pandavas, there was none, except that mighty prince of the Rakshasa, viz., the heroic Ghatotkacha, capable of even looking at the son of Drona in that battle, who was thus employed in consuming their ranks with his shafts, resembling snakes of virulent poison. The Rakshasa, with eyes rolling in wrath, striking his palms, and biting his (nether) lip, addressed his own driver, saying, “Bear me towards the son of Drona.” Riding on that formidable car equipped with triumphal banners, that slayer of foes once more proceeded against Drona's son, desirous of a single combat with the latter. Endued with terrible prowess, the Rakshasa, uttering a loud leonine roar, hurled in that encounter at Drona's son, having whirled it (previously), a terrible Ashani of celestial workmanship, and equipped with eight bells.

Drona's son, however, jumping down from his car, having left his bow thereon, seized it and hurled it back at Ghatotkacha himself. Ghatotkacha, meanwhile, had quickly alighted from his car. That formidable Ashani, of dazzling effulgence, having reduced to ashes the Rakshasa's vehicle with steeds and drivers and standard, entered the earth, having pierced her through. Beholding that feat of Drona's son, viz., his having jumped down and seized that terrible Ashani of celestial workmanship, all creatures applauded it. Proceeding then, to Dhrishtadyumna's car, Bhimasena's son, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the large bow of Indra himself, once more shot many keen shafts at the illustrious son of Drona. Dhrishtadyumna also fearlessly shot at Ashwatthaman's chest many foremost of shafts, equipped with wings of gold and resembling snakes of virulent poison. Then Drona's son shot arrows and long shafts by thousands. These two heroes, however, viz., Ghatotkacha and Dhrishtadyumna, struck and baffled Ashwatthaman's shafts by means of their own shafts whose touch resembled that of fire.

The battle then that took place between those two lions among men (Ghatotkacha on the one side) and the son of Drona (on the other) became fierce in the extreme and gladdened all the combatants. Then, accompanied by a thousand cars, three hundred elephants, and six thousand horses, Bhimasena arrived at that spot. The virtuous son of Drona, however, endued as he was with prowess that knew no fatigue, continued to fight with the heroic son of Bhima and with Dhrishtadyumna supported by his followers. The prowess then that Drona's son displayed on that occasion was exceedingly wonderful, in as much as, none else amongst all creatures is capable of accomplishing such feats. Within the twinkling of an eye, he destroyed, by means of his sharp shafts, a full Akshauhini of Rakshasa troops with steeds, drivers, cars, and elephants, in the very sight of Bhimasena and Hidimba's son and Prishata's son and the twins and Dharma's son and Vijaya and Achyuta.

Deeply struck with the straight-going shafts (of Ashwatthaman), elephants fell down on elephants on the earth like crestless mountains. Strewn all around with the lopped off trunks of elephants, that moved still in convulsions, the earth looked as if overspread with moving snakes. The earth looked resplendent with golden staves and royal umbrellas, like the firmament at the end of the Yuga, bespangled with planets and stars and many moons and suns. Drona's son caused a bloody river of impetuous current to flow there. The blood of elephants and steeds and combatants formed its water; tall standards its frogs; drums formed its large tortoises; umbrellas, its rows of swans, yak-tails in profusion, Kankas and vultures, its crocodiles; weapons its fishes; large elephants the stones and rocks on its banks; elephants and steeds, its sharks; cars, its unstable and broad banks; and banners, its beautiful rows of trees. Having shafts for its (smaller) fishes, that frightful river had lances and darts and swords for snakes; marrow and flesh for its mire, and trunkless bodies floating on it for its rafts. It was choked with the hair (of men and animals) for its moss. It inspired the timid with cheerlessness and fear. Bloody waves were seen on its surface. Rendered frightful by means of the foot-soldiers with which it teemed, Yama's abode, was the ocean towards which it flowed.

Having slain the Rakshasas, Drona's son then began to afflict the son of Hidimba with arrows. Filled once more with rage, the puissant son of Drona having pierced those mighty car-warriors, viz., the Parthas including Vrikodara and the sons of Prishata, slew Suratha, one of the sons of Drupada. Then he slew in that battle Suratha's younger brother named Shatrunjaya. Then he slew Balanika and Jayanika, and Jaya. Once more, with a keen shaft, Drona's son, uttering a leonine roar, slew Prishdhra, and then proud Chandrasena. Then he slew with ten arrows the ten sons of Kuntibhoja. Then, Drona's son despatched Shrutayus to the abode of Yama. With three other keen shafts, equipped with beautiful wings and red eyes, he despatched the mighty Shatrunjaya to the region of Shakra. Then Ashwatthaman, filled with rage, fixed on his bowstring a fierce and straight arrow. Drawing the string to his ear, he quickly shot that fierce and excellent arrow resembling the rod of Death himself, aiming at Ghatotkacha. That mighty shaft, equipped with beautiful wings, passing through the chest of that Rakshasa, entered the earth, piercing through it, Ghatotkacha thereupon fell down on the car. Beholding him fallen down and believing him to be dead, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna took him away from the presence of Drona's son and caused him to be placed upon another car. Thus, that car-force of Yudhishthira turned away from the fight. The heroic son of Drona having vanquished his foes, uttered a loud roar. He was worshipped by all men and all Dhritarashtra’s sons.

The earth, strewn all around with the fallen bodies of dead Rakshasas, pierced and mangled with hundreds of arrows, became fierce looking and impassable, as if strewn with mountain summits. The Siddhas and Gandharvas and Pishachas, and Nagas, and birds, and Pitris and ravens and large numbers of cannibals and ghosts, and Apsaras and celestials, all combined in highly applauding the son of Drona.

Bhima kills Balhika

Beholding the sons of Drupada, as also those of Kuntibhoja, and Rakshasas too in thousands, slain by the son of Drona, Yudhishthira and Bhimasena, and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata, and Yuyudhana, uniting together, set their hearts firmly on battle. Then Somadatta, once more filled with rage upon beholding Satyaki in that battle, covered the latter, with a dense shower of arrows. Then took place a battle, fierce and exceedingly wonderful to behold, between Dhritarashtra’s warriors and those of the foe, both parties being solicitous of victory. Fighting on behalf of Satyaki, Bhima pierced the Kaurava hero with ten shafts. Somadatta, however, in return, pierced that hero with a hundred arrows. Then Satwata, filled with rage, pierced with ten keen shafts, endued with the force of the thunder, that old warrior afflicted with grief on account of the death of his son, and who was, besides, endued with every estimable virtue like Yayati, the son of Nahusha. Having pierced him with great force, he struck him once more with seven arrows. Then, fighting for the sake of Satyaki, Bhimasena hurled at the head of Somadatta a new, hard and terrible Parigha. Satyaki also filled with rage, shot at Somadatta's chest, in that battle, an excellent shaft, keen and equipped with goodly wings and resembling fire itself in splendour. The Parigha and the shaft, both terrible, fell simultaneously upon the body of the heroic Somadatta. That mighty car-warrior, thereupon, fell down.

Beholding his son (Somadatta) thus fallen into a swoon, Balhika rushed at Satyaki scattering showers of arrows like a cloud in season. Then Bhima, for Satyaki's sake, afflicted the illustrious Balhika with nine shafts and pierced him therewith at the an of battle. Then the mighty-armed son of Pratipa, Balhika, filled with great fury, hurled a dart at the chest of Bhima, like Purandara himself hurling the thunder. Struck therewith, Bhima trembled (on his car) and swooned away. The mighty warrior then, recovering his senses, hurled a mace at his opponent. Hurled by the son of Pandu, that mace snatched away the head of Balhika, who, thereupon, fell down lifeless on the earth, like a tree struck down by lightning.

Bhima slays 10 sons of Dhritarashtra

Upon the slaughter of that bull among men, viz., the heroic Balhika, ten of Dhritarashtra’s sons, each of whom was equal unto Rama, the son of Dasharatha, in prowess, began to afflict Bhima. They were Nagadatta, and Dridharatha, and Virabahu, and Ayobhuja, and Dridha, and Suhasta, and Viragas and Pramatha, and Ugrayayin. Beholding them Bhimasena became filled with rage. He then took up a number of arrows, each capable of bearing a great strain. Aiming at each of them one after another, he sped those arrows at them, striking each in his vital part. Pierced therewith, they fell down from their cars, deprived of energy and life, like tall trees from mountain cliffs broken by a tempest.

Bhima kills Karna’s brother and five brothers of Shakuni

Having with those ten shafts slain those ten sons of Dhritarashtra, Bhima shrouded the favourite son of Karna with showers of arrows. Then the celebrated Vrikaratha, brother of Karna, pierced Bhima with many arrows. The mighty Pandava, however, soon disposed of him effectually. Slaying next, seven car-warriors among Dhritarashtra’s brother-in-law, with his shafts, the heroic Bhima pressed Shatachandra down into the earth. Unable to bear the slaughter of the mighty car-warrior Shatachandra, Shakuni's brothers, viz., the heroic Gavaksha and Sharabha and Vibhu, and Subhaga, and Bhanudatta, those five mighty car-warriors, rushing towards Bhimasena, attacked him with their keen shafts. Thus attacked with those shafts, like a mountain with torrents of rain, Bhima slew those five mighty kings with five shafts of his. Beholding those heroes slain many great kings began to waver.

Yudhishthira fights Drona

Then Yudhishthira, filled with wrath, began to destroy Dhritarashtra’s ranks, in the sight of the Pot-born (Drona) and of Dhritarashtra’s sons. Indeed, with his shafts, Yudhishthira began to despatch to the regions of Yama the Ambashthas, the Malavas, the brave Trigartas and the Shibis. Cutting off the Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, the Bahlikas, and the Vasatis, he caused the earth to be miry with flesh and blood. He also despatched within a trice, by means of many shafts, to Yama's domains, the Yaudheyas, the Malavas, and large numbers of the Madrakas. Then a loud uproar arose in the vicinity of Yudhishthira's car, amid which was heard, “Slay”, “Seize”, “Capture”, “Pierce”, “Cut into pieces”! Beholding him thus slaying and routing Dhritarashtra’s troops, Drona, urged on by Dhritarashtra’s son, shrouded Yudhishthira with showers of shafts. Drona filled with great wrath, struck Yudhishthira with the Vayavya weapon. The son of Pandu, however, baffled that celestial weapon with a similar weapon of his own. Seeing his weapon baffled, the son of Bharadwaja, filled with great wrath and desirous of slaying the son of Pandu, sped at Yudhishthira diverse celestial weapons such as the Varuna, the Yamya, the Agneya, the Tvashtra, and the Savitra. The mighty-armed Pandava, however, conversant with morality, fearlessly baffled all those weapons of the Pot-born that were hurled or in course of being hurled at him. Then the Pot-born, striving to accomplish his vow and desirous also for Dhritarashtra’s son's good, to slay the son of Dharma, invoked into existence, the Aindra and the Prajapatya weapons. Then that foremost one of Kuru's race, Yudhishthira, of the gait of the elephant or the lion, of broad chest and large and red eyes, and endued with energy scarcely inferior (to that of Drona) invoked into existence the Mahendra weapon. With that he baffled the weapon of Drona.

Seeing all his weapons baffled, Drona, filled with wrath and desirous of accomplishing the destruction of Yudhishthira, invoked into existence the Brahma weapon. Enveloped by a thick gloom, none could observe what passed. All creatures also were filled with great fright. Beholding the Brahma weapon uplifted, Kunti's son, Yudhishthira, baffled it with a Brahma weapon of his own. Then, all the foremost warriors applauded those two bulls among men, viz., Drona and Yudhishthira, those great bowmen acquainted with every mode of warfare.

Abandoning Yudhishthira, Drona then, with eyes red as copper in rage, began to consume the division of Drupada with the Vayavya weapon. Oppressed by Drona, the Panchalas fled away from fear, in the very sight of Bhimasena and of the illustrious Partha. Then the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and Bhimasena, checking that flight of their troops, suddenly encountered that hostile force with two large throngs of cars. Bibhatsu, attacking the right and Vrikodara the left, Bharadwaja's son was encountered, with two mighty showers of shafts. Then the Kaikeyas, the Srinjayas, and the Panchalas of great energy followed the two brothers, accompanied by the Matsyas and the Satwatas. Then the Bharata host, slaughtered by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and overcome with sleep and darkness, began to break. Drona, and Dhritarashtra’s son himself, endeavoured to rally them. The combatants, however, were incapable of being then checked in their flight.

Arguments among Karna, Kripa and Ashwatthaman

Beholding that vast host of the Pandavas swelling with rage and regarding it to be incapable of being resisted, Dhritarashtra’s son Duryodhana. addressing Karna, said these words,

“O you that are devoted to friends, that hour has now come in respect of your friends (when your help is most needed). O Karna, save in battle all my warriors. Our combatants are now encompassed on all sides by the Panchalas, the Kaikeyas, the Matsyas, and the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, all filled, with rage and resembling hissing snakes. Yonder the Pandavas, solicitous of victory, are roaring in joy. The vast car-force of the Panchalas is possessed of the prowess of Shakra himself.”

Karna replied,

“If Purandara himself were to come here for saving Partha, quickly vanquishing even him, I would slay that son or Pandu. I tell you truly. Be cheered, O Bharata! I will slay the son of Pandu and all the assembled Panchalas, I will give you victory, like Pavaka's son giving victory unto Vasava. I shall do what is agreeable to you in this battle that has begun. Amongst all the Parthas, Phalguna is the strongest. At him I will hurl the fatal dart of Shakra's workmanship. Upon the death of that great bowman, his brothers, O giver of honour, will either surrender themselves unto you or once more retire into the forest. When I am alive, O Kauravya, never indulge in any grief. I will vanquish in battle all the Pandavas united together and all the Panchalas, the Kaikeyas, and the Vrishnis assembled together. Making porcupines of them by means of my arrowy showers, I will give you the earth.”

While Karna was uttering those words, Kripa, the mighty armed son of Sharadwat, smiling the while, addressed the Suta's son in these words,

“Your speech is fair, O Karna! If words alone could lead to success, then with you, O son of Radha, as his protector, this bull among the Kurus would be considered to have the amplest measure of protection. You boast much, O Karna, in the presence of the Kuru chief, but your prowess is seldom witnessed, nor, indeed, any result (of your boastful speeches). Many a time have we seen you encounter the sons of Pandu in battle. On every one of those occasions, O Suta's son, you have been vanquished by the Pandavas. While Dhritarashtra's son was being taken away (as a captive) by the Gandharvas, all the troops fought on that occasion except your single self, who was the first to fly away. In Virata's city also, all the Kauravas, united together, including yourself and your younger brother were vanquished by Partha in battle. You are not a match for even one of the sons of Pandu, viz., Phalguna, on the field of battle. How then canst you venture to vanquish all the sons of Pandu with Krishna at their head? You indulge in too much brag, O Suta's son! Engage yourself in battle without saying anything. To Put forth prowess without indulging in brag is the duty of good men. Ever roaring aloud, O Suta's son like the dry clouds of autumn, you show yourself, O Karna to be without substance. The king, however, does not understand it. You roar, O son of Radha, as long as you see not the son of Pritha. These your roars disappear when you see Partha near. Indeed, you roar as long as you are out of the range of Phalguna's shafts. Those roars of yours disappear when you are pierced with Partha's shafts. Kshatriyas evince their eminence by means of their arms; Brahmanas, by means of speech; Arjuna evinces his by means of the bow; but Karna, by the castles he builds in the air. Who is there that will resist that Partha who gratified Rudra himself (in battle)?' Thus railed at by Sharadwat's son, Karna, that foremost of smiters, answered Kripa in the following strain, 'Heroes always roar like clouds in the season of rains, and like steeds put in the soil, quickly yield fruits. I do not see any fault in heroes that take great burdens on their shoulders, indulging in boastful speeches on the field of battle. When a person mentally resolves to bear a burden, Destiny itself aids him in the execution. Wishing in my heart bear a great burden, I always summon sufficient resolution. If, slaying the sons of Pandu with Krishna and Satwatas in battle, I indulge in such roars, what is it to you, O Brahmana? They that are heroes never roar fruitlessly like autumnal clouds. Conscious of their own might, the wise indulge in roars! In my heart I am determined to vanquish in battle today Krishna and Partha united together and fighting with resolution! It is for this that I roar, O son of Gautama! Behold the fruit of these my roars, O Brahmana! Slaying the son of Pandu in battle, with all their followers, Krishna and Satwatas, I will bestow on Duryodhana the whole earth without a thorn in it."

Kripa said,

“Little do I reckon, O Suta's son, these delirious saying of yours discovering your thoughts, not deeds. You always speak in depreciation of the two Krishnas and king Yudhishthira the just. He, O Karna, is certain, to have the victory who has on his side those two heroes skilled in battle. Indeed, Krishna and Arjuna are incapable of being defeated by the celestials, the Gandharvas, the Yakshas, human beings, the Nagas, and the birds, all clad in mail. Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma is devoted to the Brahmanas. He is truthful in speech and self-restrained. He reverences the Pitris and the deities. He is devoted to the practice of truth and righteousness. He is, again, skilled in weapons. Possessed of great intelligence, he is also grateful. His brothers are all endued with great might and well-practised in all weapons. They are devoted to the service of their seniors. Possessed of wisdom and fame, they are also righteous in their practices. Their kinsmen and relatives are all endued with the prowess of Indra. Effectual smiters, they are all exceedingly devoted to the Pandavas. Dhrishtadyumna, and Shikhandin and Janamejaya, the son of Durmuksha and Chandrasena, and Madrasena, and Kritavarman, Dhruva, and Dhara and Vasuchandra, and Sutejana, the sons of Drupada, and Drupada himself, conversant with high and mighty weapons, and the king of the Matsyas also, with his younger brothers, all resolutely struggling for their sake, and Gajanika, and Virabhadra, and Sudarshana, and Shrutadhwaja, and Balanika, and Jayanika, and Jayaprya, and Vijaya and Labhalaksha, and Jayashwa, and Kamaratha, and the handsome brothers of Virata, and the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva), and the (five) sons of Draupadi, and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, are all fighting for the Pandavas. The sons of Pandu, therefore, will not meet with destruction. These and many other hosts (of heroes) are for the sons of Pandu. Without doubt, the entire universe, with the celestials, Asuras, and human beings, with all the tribes of Yaksha and Rakshas and with all the elephants and snakes and other creatures, can be annihilated by Bhima and Phalguna by the prowess of their weapons. As regards Yudhishthira also, he can, with angry eyes only, consume the whole world. How, O Karna, canst you venture to vanquish those foes in battle for whom Shauri of immeasurable might has clad himself in mail? This, O Suta's son, is a great folly on your part, since you always venture to contend with Sauri himself in battle.”

Thus addressed (by Kripa), Karna the son of Radha, smiling the while, said these words unto the preceptor Kripa, the son of Sharadwat,

“The words you have spoken about the Pandavas, O Brahmana, are all true. These and many other virtues are to be seen in the sons of Pandu. It is true also that the Parthas are incapable of being vanquished by the very gods with Vasava at their head, and the Daityas, the Yakshas, and the Rakshasas. For all that I will vanquish the Parthas with the help of the dart given me by Vasava. You know, O Brahmana, that the dart given by Shakra is incapable of being baffled. With that I will slay Savyasachin in battle. Upon Arjuna's fall, Krishna and the uterine brothers of Arjuna will never be able to enjoy the (sovereignty of the) earth without Arjuna (to aid them). All of them, therefore, will perish. This earth then, with her seas, will remain subject to the chief of the Kurus, O Gautama, without costing him any efforts. In this world everything, without doubt, becomes attainable by policy. Knowing this, I indulge in these roars, O Gautama!

As regards yourself, you are old, a Brahmana by birth, and unskilled in battle. You bear much love for the Pandavas. It is for this you insult me thus. If, O Brahmana, you tell me again such words as these, I shall, then, drawing out my scimitar, cut off your tongue, O wretch! You desire, O Brahmana, to applaud the Pandavas, for frightening all the troops and the Kauravas, O you of wretched understanding! As regards this also, O Gautama, listen to what I say. Duryodhana, and Drona, and Shakuni, and Durmukha, and Jaya, and Duhshasana, and Vrishasena, and the ruler of the Madras, and yourself too and Somadatta and Drona's son, and Vivimshati, all these heroes skilled in battle, are here, clad in mail. What foe is there, endued with even the prowess of Shakra, that would vanquish these in battle? All those I have named are heroes, skilled in weapons, endued with great might, solicitous of admission into heaven, conversant with morality, and skilled in battle. They would stay the very gods in fight. These will take their places on the field for slaying the Pandavas, clad in mail on behalf of Duryodhana desirous of victory.

I regard victory to be dependent on destiny, even in the case of the foremost of mighty men. When the mighty-armed Bhishma himself lies pierced with a hundred arrows, as also Vikarna, and Jayadratha, and Bhurishravas, and Jaya, and Jalasandha, and Sudakshina, and Shala; that foremost of car-warriors, and Bhagadatta of great energy, I say, when these and many others, incapable of being easily vanquished by the very gods, heroes all and mightier (than the Pandavas), lie on the field of battle, slain by the Pandavas, what do you think, O wretch among men, but that all this is the result of destiny? As regards them also, viz., the foes of Duryodhana, whom you adore, O Brahmana, brave warriors of theirs, in hundreds and thousands, have been slain. The armies of both the Kurus and the Pandavas are diminishing in numbers; I do not, in this, behold the prowess of the Pandavas! With them, O lowest of men, whom you always regard to be so mighty, I shall strive, to the utmost extent of my might, to contend in battle, for Duryodhana's good. As regards victory, that depends on destiny.”

Seeing his uncle thus addressed in harsh and insulting words by the Suta's son, Ashwatthaman, uplifting his scimitar, furiously rushed towards the latter. Filled with fury, Drona's son rushed towards Karna, in the very sight of the Kuru king, like a lion at an infuriated elephant. And Ashwatthaman said,

“O lowest of men, Kripa was speaking of the virtues truly possessed by Arjuna. Of wicked understanding as you are, you rebuke, however, my brave uncle from malice. Possessed with pride and insolence, you brag today of your prowess, not regarding any of the world's bowmen in battle! Where was your prowess and where were your weapons when vanquishing you in battle the wielder of Gandiva slew Jayadratha in your very sight? Vainly, O wretch of a Suta, do you indulge in your mind the hope of vanquishing him who formerly contended in battle with Mahadeva himself. The very gods with the Asuras united together and with Indra at their head had failed to vanquish Arjuna, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, having Krishna only for his ally. How then, O Suta, hope you, aided by these kings, to vanquish that foremost of heroes in the world, viz., the unvanquished Arjuna, in battle? Behold, O Karna of wicked soul, (what I do to you) today! O lowest of men, O you of wretched understanding, I shall presently severe your head from your trunk.”

Thus saying, Ashwatthaman made a furious rush at Karna. The king himself, of great energy, and Kripa, that foremost of men, held him fast. Then Karna said,

“Of wicked understanding, this wretch of a Brahmana thinks himself brave and boasts of his prowess in battle. Set him at liberty, O chief of the Kurus. Let him come in contact with my might.”

Ashwatthaman said,

“O son of a Suta, O you of wicked understanding, this (your fault) is pardoned by us. Phalguna, however, will quell this risen pride of yours.”

Duryodhana said,

“O Ashwatthaman, quell your wrath. It befits you, O giver of honours, to forgive. You should not, O sinless one, be angry with the Suta's son. Upon you and Karna and Kripa and Drona and the ruler of the Madras and Subala's son rests a great burden. Drive away your wrath, O best of Brahmanas! There, all the Pandava troops are approaching from desire of fight with Radha's son. Indeed, O Brahmana, there they come, challenging us all.”

Thus pacified by the king, the high-souled son of Drona, whose ire had been excited, suppressed his wrath and forgave (Karna). Then the preceptor Kripa, of noble heart, who is of a quiet disposition and mild temper, therefore, returned soon unto him, said these words. Kripa, said,

“O Suta's son of wicked heart, this (your fault) is pardoned by us. Phalguna, however, will quell this your risen pride.”

Karna fights

Then the Pandavas and the Panchalas, celebrated for their prowess, uniting together approached in thousands, uttering loud shouts; Karna also, that foremost of car-warriors, endued with great energy, surrounded by many foremost ones among the Kuru warriors and resembling Shakra in the midst of the celestials, waited, drawing his bow and relying on the might of his own arms. Then commenced a battle between Karna and the Pandavas, that was exceedingly dreadful and characterised by loud leonine roars. Then Pandavas and the Panchalas, celebrated for their prowess, beholding the mighty-armed Karna, loudly shouted, saying, “There is Karna,” “Where is Karna in this fierce battle.” “O you of wicked understanding, O lowest of men, fight with us!” Others, beholding the son of Radha said, with eyes expanded In wrath,

“Let this arrogant wretch of little understanding, this son of a Suta, be slain by the allied kings. He has no need to live. This sinful man is always very hostile to the Parthas. Obedient to the counsels of Duryodhana, this one is the root of these evils. Slay him.”

Uttering such words, great Kshatriya car-warriors, urged by Pandu's son, rushed towards him, covering him with a dense shower of arrows, for slaying him. Beholding all those mighty Pandavas thus (advancing), the Suta's son, trembled not, nor experienced any fear. Indeed, seeing that wonderful sea of troops, resembling Death himself, that benefactor of Dhritarashtra’s sons, viz., the mighty and fight-handed Karna, never vanquished in battle, began, with clouds of shafts, to resist that force on all sides. The Pandavas also fought with the foe, shooting showers of shafts. Shaking their hundreds and thousands of bows they fought with Radha's son, like the Daityas of old fighting with Shakra. The mighty Karna, however, with a dense arrowy shower of his own dispelled that downpour of arrows caused by those lords of earth on all sides. The battle that took place between them, and in which each party counteracted the feats of the other, resembled the encounter between Shakra and the Danavas in the great battle fought of yore between the gods and the Asuras. The lightness of arm of the Suta's son was wonderful in the extreme, inasmuch as, all his foes, fighting resolutely, could not strike him in that battle.

Checking the clouds of arrows shot by the (hostile) king, that mighty car-warrior, viz., Radha's son, sped terrible arrows marked with his own name at the yokes, the shafts, the umbrellas, the cars, and the steeds (of his foes). Then those kings, afflicted by Karna and losing their coolness, began to wander on the field like a herd of kine afflicted with cold. Struck by Karna, large numbers of steeds and elephants and car-warriors were seen there to drop down deprived of life. The whole field became strewn with the fallen heads and arms of unreturning heroes. With the dead, the dying, and the wailing warriors, the field of battle assumed the aspect of Yama's domain. Then Duryodhana, witnessing the prowess of Karna, repaired to Ashwatthaman and addressing him, said,

“Behold, Karna, clad in mail, is engaged with all the (hostile) kings. Behold, the hostile army, afflicted with the arrows of Karna, is being routed like the Asura army overwhelmed with the energy of Kartikeya. Seeing his army vanquished in battle by that intelligent Karna, yonder cometh Bibhatsu from desire of slaying the Suta's son. Let such steps, therefore, be taken as may prevent the son of Pandu from slaying that mighty car-warrior viz., Suta's son, in the very sight of us all.”

(Thus addressed), Drona's son, and Kripa, and Shalya, and that great car-warrior, viz., the son of Hridika, beholding the son of Kunti coming (towards them) like Shakra himself towards the Daitya host, all advanced against Partha for rescuing the Suta's son. Meanwhile, Bibhatsu, surrounded by the Panchalas, advanced against Karna, like Purandara proceeding against the Asura Vritra.

Beholding the son of Pandu rushing towards him like an elephant towards a rival elephant, Karna fearlessly proceeded against Dhananjaya. Partha, however, soon covered Karna who was thus advancing with great impetuosity, with showers of straight shafts, equipped with wings of gold. Karna also covered Vijaya with his shafts. The son of Pandu then once more shrouded Karna with clouds of arrows. Then Karna, filled with rage, pierced Arjuna with three shafts. The mighty car-warrior, Arjuna, beholding Karna's lightness of hand, could not brook it. That scorcher of foes shot at the Suta's son thirty straight shafts, whetted on stone and equipped with blazing points. Endued with great might and energy, he also pierced him, in rage, with another long arrow on the wrist of his left arm, smiling the while. Karna's bow then dropped from that arm of his, which had thus been pierced with great force. Then the mighty Karna, taking up that bow within the twinkling of an eye, once more covered Phalguna with clouds of shafts, displaying great lightness of hand. Dhananjaya then, smiling the while, baffled with his own shafts, that arrowy shower shot by the Suta's son. Approaching each other, those two great bowmen, desirous of counteracting each other's feats, continued to cover each other with showers of shafts. The battle that took place between them, viz., Karna and the son of Pandu, became exceedingly wonderful, like that between the two wild elephants for the sake of a she-elephant in her season.

Then the mighty bowman Partha, beholding Karna's prowess, quickly cut of the latter's bow at the handle. He also despatched the four steeds of the Suta's son to Yama's abode with a number of broad-headed shafts. That scorcher of foes also cut off from the trunk the head of Karna's driver. Then, the son of Pandu and Pritha pierced the bowless, the steedless, and the driverless Karna with four shafts. Then that bull among men Karna, afflicted with those shafts, specially jumping down from that steedless car, mounted upon that of Kripa.

Ashwatthaman fights

Beholding the son of Radha vanquished, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, fled away in all directions. Seeing them fly away, king Duryodhana himself checked them and said these words,

“You heroes, do not fly away. You bulls among Kshatriyas, stay in battle. I myself will now advance for slaying Partha in battle. I myself will slay Partha with the assembled Panchalas. While I shall fight with the wielder of Gandiva today, Partha will behold my prowess to resemble that of the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga. Today the Parthas shall behold my shafts shot in thousands to resemble flights of locusts. The combatants shall behold me today shooting, bow in hand, dense showers of shafts, like torrents of rain poured by the clouds at the end of the summer season. I shall today vanquish Partha with my straight shafts. Stay, you heroes, in battle, and remove your fear or Phalguna. Encountering my prowess, Phalguna shall never be able to bear it, like the ocean, the abode of makaras, unable to overcome the continents.”

Thus saying, the king proceeded in rage, his eyes red in wrath, surrounded by a large host, towards Phalguna. Beholding the mighty-armed Duryodhana thus proceeding, Sharadwat's son, approaching Ashwatthaman, said these words,

“There, the mighty-armed Duryodhana, deprived of his senses by wrath, desires to fight with Phalguna, like an insect desiring to rush into a blazing fire. Before this foremost of kings lays down his life, in our very sight, in this battle with Partha, prevent him (from rushing into the encounter). The brave Kuru king can remain alive in battle as long only as he does not place himself within the range of Partha's shafts. Let the king be stopped before he is consumed into ashes by the terrible shafts of Partha, that resemble snakes just freed from their sloughs. When we are here, O giver of honours, it seems to be highly improper that the king should himself go to battle to fight, as if he had none to fight for him. The life of this descendant of Kuru will be in great danger if he engages in battle with the diademdecked (Arjuna), like that of an elephant contending with a tiger.”

Thus addressed by his maternal uncle, Drona's son, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, quickly repaired unto Duryodhana and addressing him, said these words,

“When I am alive, O son of Gandhari, it befits you not to engage yourself in battle, disregarding me, O descendant of Kuru, that am ever desirous of your good. You need not be at all anxious about vanquishing Partha. I will check Partha! Stand here, O Suyodhana.”

Duryodhana said,

“The preceptor (Drona) always protects the sons of Pandu, as if they are his own sons. You also always never interfere with those my foes. Or, it may be due to my misfortune, that your prowess never becometh fierce in battle. This may be due also to your affection for Yudhishthira or Draupadi. I myself am ignorant of the true reason. Fie on my covetous self, for whose sake all friends, desirous of making me happy, are themselves vanquished and plunged into grief. Except you, O son of Gautama's daughter, what foremost of all wielders of weapons of there, what warrior, indeed, equal to Mahadeva himself in battle, that would not, though competent, destroy the foe? O Ashwatthaman, be pleased with me and destroy my enemies. Neither the gods nor the Danavas are capable of staying within the range of your weapons, O son of Drona, slay the Panchalas and the Somakas with all their followers. As regards the rest, we will slay them, protected by you. There, O Brahmana, the Somakas and the Panchalas, possessed of great fame, are careering amid my troops like a forest-conflagration. O mighty-armed one, check them as also the Kailkeyas, O best of men, else, protected by the diadem-decked (Arjuna), they will annihilate us all. O Ashwatthaman, O chastiser of foes, go there with speed. Whether you accomplish it now or afterwards, that feat, O sire, should be accomplished by you. You have been born, O mighty-armed one, for the destruction of the Panchalas. Putting forth your prowess, you shall make the world destitute of Panchalas. Even thus the reverend ones crowned with (ascetic) success, have said. It will be as they have said. Therefore, O tiger among men, slay the Panchalas with all their followers. The very gods with Vasava at their head are incapable of staying within the range of your weapons, what need be said then of the Parthas and the Panchalas? These words of mine are true. I tell you truly, O hero, that the Pandavas united with the Somakas are no match for you in battle! Go, O mighty-armed one! Let there be no delay. Behold, our army, afflicted with Partha's shafts, is breaking and flying away. You are competent, O mighty-armed one, aided by your own celestial energy, to afflict, O giver of honours, the Pandavas and the Panchalas.”

Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Drona's son, that warrior difficult of defeat in battle, set his heart upon destroying the foe, like Indra bent upon destroying the Daityas. The mighty-armed Ashwatthaman answered Dhritarashtra’s son, saying,

“It is even so as you say, O descendant of Kuru! The Pandavas are always dear to both myself and my father. So also, are we both dear unto them. Not so, however, in battle. We will, according to the measure of our might, fearlessly contend in battle, reckless of our lives. Myself, Karna, Shalya, Kripa, and Hridika's son, could, O best of kings, destroy the Pandava host within the twinkling of an eye. The Pandavas also, O best of the Kurus, could within the twinkling of an eye, destroy the Kaurava host, if, O mighty-armed one, we were not present in battle. We are fighting with the Pandavas to the best of our might, and they also are fighting with us to the best of their might. Energy, encountering energy, is being neutralised, O Bharata! The Pandava army is incapable of being vanquished as long as the sons of Pandu are alive. This that I tell you is true. The sons of Pandu are endued with great might. They are, again, fighting for their own sake. Why should not they, O Bharata, be able to slay your troops. You, however, O king, are exceedingly covetous. You, O Kaurava, are deceitful. You are vainglorious and suspicious of everything. For this, you suspect even us. I think, O king, you are wicked, of sinful soul, and an embodiment of sin. Mean and of sinful thoughts, you doubt us and others. As regards myself, fighting with resolution for your sake, I am prepared to lay down my life. I will presently go to battle for your sake, O chief of the Kurus. I will fight with the foe and slay a large number of the enemy. I will fight with the Panchalas, the Somakas, the Kaikeyas, and the Pandayas also, in battle, for doing what is agreeable to you, O chastiser of foes. Scorched with my arrows today, the Chedis, the Panchalas, and the Somakas, will fly away on all sides like a herd of kine afflicted by a lion.

Today, the royal son of Dharma with all the Somakas, beholding my prowess, will regard the whole world to be filled with Ashwatthamans. Dharma's son, Yudhishthira, will become exceedingly cheerless, beholding the Panchalas and Somakas slain (by me) in battle. I will, O Bharata, slay all those that will approach me in battle. Afflicted with the might of my arms, none of them, O hero, will escape me today with life.”

Having said so unto Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana, the mighty-armed (Ashwatthaman) proceeded to battle, and afflicted all bowmen. That foremost of all living beings thus sought to achieve what was agreeable to your sons. The son of Gautama's daughter, then addressing the Panchalas and the Kaikeyas, said unto them,

“You mighty car-warriors, strike you all at my body. Displaying your lightness in the use of arms, fight you with me coolly.”

Thus addressed by him, all those combatants poured showers of weapons upon Drona's son like clouds pouring torrents of rain. Baffling that shower, Drona's son in that battle, slew ten brave warriors amongst them, in the very sight of Dhrishtadyumna and the sons of Pandu. The Panchalas and the Somakas then, thus worked in battle, abandoned the son of Drona and fled away in all directions. Beholding those brave warriors, viz., the Panchalas and the Somakas, flying away, Dhrishtadyumna rushed against Drona's son in that battle.

Surrounded then by a hundred brave and unreturning car-warriors mounted upon cars, decked with gold, and the rattle of whose wheels resembled the roar or rain-charged clouds, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna, the son of the Panchala king, beholding his warriors slain, addressed Drona's son and said these words,

“O foolish son of the preceptor, what is the use of slaying vulgar combatants. If you are a hero, fight then with me in battle. I will slay you. Wait for a moment without flying away.”

Saying thus, Dhrishtadyumna of great prowess struck the preceptor's son with many keen and terrible arrows capable of piercing the very vitals. Those swiftly-coursing shafts, equipped with golden wings and keen points, and capable of piercing the body of every foe proceeding in a continuous line, penetrated into Ashwatthaman's body, like freely-roaming bees in search of honey entering a flowering tree. Deeply pierced and swelling with rage, like a trodden snake, the proud and fearless son of Drona, arrow in hand, addressed his foe, saying,

“O Dhrishtadyumna, wait for moment, without leaving my presence. Soon shall I despatch you to Yama's abode with my keen shafts.”

Having said these words, that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the son of Drona, displaying great lightness of hands, covered the son of Prishata from every side with clouds of arrows. Thus covered in that encounter (with arrows) by Drona's son, the Panchala prince, difficult to defeat in battle, said

“You know not of my origin, O Brahmana, or of my vow. O you of wicked understanding, having first slain Drona himself, I will not, therefore, slay you today when Drona himself is still alive. O you of wicked understanding, after this night passes away and brings in the fair dawn, I shall first slay your sire in battle and then despatch you also to the region of Spirits. Even this is the wish entertained by me. Standing before me, display, therefore, till then, the hatred you bear towards the Parthas, and the devotion you cherishes for the Kurus. You shall not escape from me with life. That, Brahmana who, abandoning the practices of a Brahmana, devotes himself to the practices of a Kshatriya, becomes slayable by all Kshatriyas even as you, O lowest of men.”

Thus addressed by Prishata's son in language so harsh and insulting that best of Brahmanas Ashwatthaman mustered all his rage and answered, saying, “Wait, Wait!” And he gazed at Prishata's son apparently burning him with his eyes. Sighing (in rage) like a snake, the preceptor's son, then, covered Dhrishtadyumna in that battle (with a shower of arrows). The mighty-armed son of Prishata, however, that best of car-warriors, surrounded by all the Panchala troops, though thus struck with arrows in that encounter by Drona's son, did not tremble, relying as he did on his own energy. In return, he sped many arrows at Ashwatthaman. Both engaged in a gambling match in which the stake was life itself, those heroes, unable to brook each other, resisted each other and checked each other's arrowy showers. Those great bowmen shot dense showers of shafts all around. Beholding that fierce battle, inspiring terror, between Drona's and Prishata's son, the Siddhas and Charanas and other sky-ranging beings applauded them highly.

Filling the welkin and all the points of the compass with clouds of shafts, and creating a thick gloom therewith, those two warriors continued to fight with each other, unseen (by any of us). As if dancing in that battle, with their bows drawn to circles, resolutely aspiring to slay each other, those mighty-armed warriors, inspiring fear in every heart, fought wonderfully and with remarkable activity and skill. Applauded by thousands of foremost warriors in that battle, and thus resolutely engaged in fight like two wild elephants in the forest, both the armies, beholding them, became filled with delight. Leonine shouts were heard there, and all the combatants blew their conchs. Hundreds and thousands of musical instruments began to be sounded. That fierce fight, enhancing the terror of the timid, seemed only for a short time to be waged equally. Then Drona's son, making a rush, cut off the bow, and standard, and umbrella, and the two Parshni drivers, and the principal driver, and the four steeds, of the high-souled son of Prishata. That warrior of immeasurable soul then caused the Panchalas in hundreds and thousands, by means of his straight shafts, to fly away. Beholding those feats of Drona's son, resembling those of Vasava himself in battle, the Pandava host began to tremble in fear. Slaying a hundred Panchalas with a hundred arrows, and three foremost of men with three keen arrows, in the very sight of Drupada's son and of Phalguna, that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Drona, slew a very large number of Panchalas that stayed before him. The Panchalas then, as also the Srinjayas, thus disconcerted in battle, fled away leaving Drona's son, with their banners torn. Then that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Drona, having vanquished his foes in battle, uttered a loud roar like that of a mass of clouds at the end of summer. Having slain a large number of foes, Ashwatthaman looked resplendent like the blazing fire at the end of the Yuga, after having consumed all creatures. Applauded by all the Kauravas after having defeated thousands of foes in battle, the valiant son of Drona beamed forth in beauty, like the chief of the celestials himself after vanquishing his foes.

Then king Yudhishthira, and Bhimasena, the son of Pandu encompassed Drona's son on all sides. Seeing this, king Duryodhana, aided by Bharadwaja's son, rushed against the Pandavas in that encounter. Then commenced a battle that was fierce and terrific, enhancing the fears of the timid. Yudhishthira, in wrath began to despatch vast numbers of Ambashthas, Malavas, Vangas, Shibis, and Trigartas, to the domain of the dead. Bhima also, mangling the Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, and other Kshatriyas difficult to defeat in battle, made the earth miry with blood. The diademdecked (Arjuna) of white steeds despatched the Yaudheyas, the Mountaineers, the Madrakas, and the Malavas also, to the regions of the dead. Forcibly struck with swiftly-coursing shafts, elephants began to fall down on the earth like double-crested hills. Strewn with the lopped-off trunks elephants that still moved in convulsions, the earth seemed as if covered with moving snakes. Covered with the fallen umbrellas of kings that were adorned with gold, the field of battle looked resplendent like the firmament at the end of the Yuga bespangled with suns, moons and stars. About this time a fierce uproar arose near Drona's car, in the midst of which could be heard the words, “Slay”, “Strike fearlessly”, “Pierce”, “cut in pieces”. Drona, however, filled with rage, began to destroy by means of the Vayavya weapon the foes about him, like a mighty tempest destroying gathering masses of clouds. Thus treated by Drona, the Panchalas fled away, from fear, in the very sight to Bhimasena and the high-souled Partha. Then the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and Bhimasena soon checked the flight of their troops and accompanied by a large car-force attacked the vast force of Drona. Bibhatsu attacking the right and Vrikodara the left, they both poured on Bharadwaja's son two dense showers of arrows. The mighty car-warriors among the Srinjayas and the Panchalas, with the Matsyas and the Somakas, followed the two brothers thus engaged (in that encounter with Drona). Similarly, many foremost of car-warriors, skilled in smiting, belonging to Dhritarashtra’s son, accompanied by a large force, proceeded towards Drona's car (for supporting the latter). Then the Bharata host, slaughtered by the diadem-decked (Arjuna) and overcome with and afflicted by the darkness, began to break. Dhritarashtra’s son himself, and Drona, both endeavoured to rally them. Dhritarashtra’s troops, however, could not be checked in their flight. Indeed, that vast host, slaughtered by the shafts of Pandu's son, began to fly away in all directions in that hour when the world was enveloped with gloom. Many kings, abandoning the animals and vehicles they rode, fled away on all sides, overwhelmed with fear.