Mahābhārata

M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, when the greater part of that fearful day passed away, Durmukha, Kritavarma, Kripa, Shalya and Vivingshati, urged by your son, came to Bhishma and began to protect him in that fearful battle which was so destructive of the foremost of men.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, protected by those five great car-warriors that great hero penetrated the Pandava army.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, the palmyra standard of Bhishma was seen to glide continuously through the Chedis, the Kashis, the Karushas and the Panchalas.

M. N. Dutt: That hero (Bhishma) cut off the heads (of the foes) and their cars with yokes and standards with broad-headed, swifts and perfectly straight arrows.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, Bhishma seemed to dance on his car as it moved about. Some elephants vitally wounded by him, shrieked in great agony.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Abhimanyu angrily rushed towards Bhishma's car on his own car yoked with excellent horses of brown colour.

M. N. Dutt: And adorned with a standard decked with pure gold and resembling a Karnikara tree, he attacked Bhishma and those five foremost of car-warriors.

M. N. Dutt: Striking with a sharp arrows the palmyra standard (of Bhishma) that hero fought with Bhishma and those others warriors who were protecting him.

M. N. Dutt: Wounding Kritvarma with one arrow and Shalya with five, he weakened his great grandfather with nine arrows.

M. N. Dutt: With one arrow shot from his bow drawn to its fullest extent, he cut off (Bhishma's) standard adorned with gold,

M. N. Dutt: With one broad-headed and straight arrow capable of penetrating every thing, he cut off the head of Durmukha's charioteer.

M. N. Dutt: With another sharp arrow, he cut down the gold-decked bow of Kripa. With many sharp arrows that great car warrior wounded them all. Seeing his lightness of hand, even the celestial were pleased.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the great exactness of Abhimanyu's aim, all the car-warriors with Bhishma at their head, considered that he possessed the great capacity (of his father) Dhananjaya.

M. N. Dutt: His bow, sending forth sound like the twang of Gandiva while stretched and restretched, seemed to revolve like a circle of fire.

M. N. Dutt: Then that chastiser of foes, Bhishma rushing on him with great impetuosity, soon, wounded the son of Arjuna with nine arrows.

M. N. Dutt: He too with three broad-headed arrows cut off the standard of that greatly powerful warrior. Of rigid vows, Bhishma also struck his adversary's charioteer.

M. N. Dutt: O sire, Kritavarmana, Kripa and Shalya, piercing Arjuna's son, all failed to make him, waver for he stood firm like the Mainaka mountain.

M. N. Dutt: Though surrounded by those greatest carwarriors of Dhritarashtra's army, the heroic son of Arjuna still showered, on those five carwarriors, a down pour of arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Baffling their great weapons by a shower of arrows and pouring on Bhishma a shower of his arrows, the mighty son of Arjuna sent up a loud roar.

M. N. Dutt: When he was thus struggling in the battle, and afflicting Bhishma with (his) arrows, the strength of his arms we saw then was very great.

M. N. Dutt: Possessed of such great power, Bhishma shot his arrows at him. But he (Abhimanyu) cut off in the fight all the arrows shot from Bhishma's bow.

M. N. Dutt: Then that brave bowman cut off with nine arrows, the standard of Bhishma in the great battle. When this great deed was done, the people sent forth a loud shout.

M. N. Dutt: Adorned with jewels and made of silver, that tall palmyra-deviced standard. 0 descendant of Bharata, cut off by the arrows of Subhadra's son, fell down on the ground.

M. N. Dutt: 0 best of the Bharata race, seeing that standard cut down by the arrows of Subhadra's son, the proud Bhishma sent up a loud shout to cheer up the son of Subhadra.

M. N. Dutt: Then in that great battle, the mighty Bhimasena caused many powerful celestial weapons to app-ear.

M. N. Dutt: The high-souled great grandsire (Bhishma) then covered Subhadra's son with thousands of arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon ten great bowmen and mighty car-warriors of the Pandava (army) soon rushed on their cars to protect the son of Subhadra.

M. N. Dutt: O king, these were Virata and his son, the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, Bhima, the five Kaikeya brothers, and Satyaki.

M. N. Dutt: As they were rushing upon him with great impetuosity, the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, in that great battle, wounded the Panchala prices with three arrows and Satyaki with nine.

M. N. Dutt: With one winged arrow as sharp as a razor shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch, he cut off the standard of Bhimasena.

M. N. Dutt: O foremost of men, the lion-deviced standard of Bhimasena, made cf gold, being cut off by Bhishma, fell from the car.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Bhima wounded the son of Shantanu with three arrows, Kripa with one and Kritavarman with eight.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Virata, Uttara, also riding on an elephant with upraised trunk attacked the king of Madra.

M. N. Dutt: But Shalya checked the great impetuosity of that foremost of elephants rushing towards his car.

M. N. Dutt: But that foremost of elephants angrily placed his let on the yoke of (Shalya's) car and killed his four large and swift horses.

M. N. Dutt: The king of Madra,. staying on the car the horses of which had been killed, hurled an iron dart, which resembled a snake, in order to kill Uttara.

M. N. Dutt: His armour being cut through by the dart, he lost consciousness and fell from the elephant, the hook and the lance also fell loosened from his grasp.

M. N. Dutt: Shalya then took up his sword and jumping down from his excellent car, he with great force cut off the large trunk of that great elephant.

M. N. Dutt: His armour pierced all over with a shower of arrows and his trunk cut off, that elephant sent forth a loud shriek. He then fell down and expired.

M. N. Dutt: O king, performing this great feat, the Madra king soon got the of Kritavarman.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing his brother Uttara killed and seeing Shalya on the Kritavarman's car, Virata's son Shveta blazed up in anger as fire blazed forth with Ghee. That great warrior stretching his large bow that looked like that of Indra, rushed upon Shalya, the king of Madra with the desire of killing him. Surrounded on all sides with innumerable car-warriors, he advanced towards Shalya's chariot and poured upon him a on car shower of arrows. Seeing him rush to the fight with the prowess of an infuriated elephants, seven car-warriors of your side surrounded him on all sides with the desire of protecting the ruler of Madra who seemed to be already within the jaws of death.

M. N. Dutt: Those seven warriors were Brihadbala, the king of the Kosalas, Jayatsena of Magadha, Rukmaratha, the brave son of Shalya, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, Sudakshina the king of the Kambojas, and Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus and the kinsman of Brihatkshatra.

M. N. Dutt: The stretched bow of these illustrious warriors, decorated with various colours, looked like the flashes of lightning in the clouds.

M. N. Dutt: They all poured on the head of Shveta a continuous shower of arrows as the clouds, tossed by the wind, pure rain on the mountain breast when summer is passed.

M. N. Dutt: The great bowman, that commander of the force, being greatly enraged at this struck their bows with seven broad-headed arrows of great impetuosity.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, we saw those bows were cut off. Then within half the time of a wink of the eye they took up other bows.

M. N. Dutt: That mighty-armed and high-souled warrior then with seven swift arrows again cut off the bows of those bowmen.

M. N. Dutt: Those heroes, those great car-warriors whose large bows had been cut down swelled in wrath, and grasping darts, sent forth a loud shout.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, they hurled these seven darts on Shveta's chariot. Those blazing darts, which flew like large meteors with the sound of thunder, were all cut down by that great warrior with seven broad-headed arrows before they could reach him. O best of the Bharata race, then taking up an arrow which was capable of penetrating into every part of their body, he hurled it on Rukmaratha. That great arrow penetrated into his body.

M. N. Dutt: Then, O king, being thus struck by the arrow, Rukmaratha sat down on his car and lost all consciousness.

M. N. Dutt: His charioteer, however, without betraying any fear, carried him away, senseless and fainted, from the field of battle.

M. N. Dutt: Then taking up six other arrows decked with gold, Shveta cut off the standards of his six adversaries.

M. N. Dutt: Wounding their horses and charioteers also and covering those six warriors with a continuos shower of arrows, that chastiser of foes, went towards the car of Shalya.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, when that great general (Shveta) was rushing with great force towards the car of Shalya, loud cries of “Oh" "Alas" rose in your army.

M. N. Dutt: Then your great son, with Bhishma, at the head and with many other heroic warriors and troops, went towards Shveta's car.

M. N. Dutt: He thus rescued the Madra King who was at the point of death. Then a fearful and hairstring battle was fought between your troops and those of the enemy in which cars and elephants all got mixed up in confusion. The old grandfather of the Kurus poured showers of arrows on Subhadra's son, on Bhimsena and on that great car-warrior Satyaki and also upon the king of the Kaikeyas, on Virata, on the descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna, and also upon Chedi troops.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya when that great bow man Shveta went towards Shalya's chariot, what did the Kurus and the Pandavas do? What did Bhishma the son of Shantanu do? Tell me all this, I ask you

M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, hundreds and thousands of the foremost of Kshatriyas, all brave great carwarriors placed their general Shveta in their front.

M. N. Dutt: And displaying their prowess to your royal son, O descendant of Bharata, desired to rescue Shveta, with Shikhandin at their head.

M. N. Dutt: Those great car-warriors rushed towards Bhishma's car decked with gold, with the intention of killing that foremost of warriors. The battle that was then fought was fearful.

M. N. Dutt: I shall describe to you that wonderful and fearful battle that was fought between your warriors and those of the enemy.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Shantanu made many cars empty, for that foremost of all car-warriors cut off many heads by showering his arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Possessing the prowess of the sun, he covered the very sun with his arrows. As the rising sun dispels the darkness from around him, so did he remove the foe from around him in that great battle.

M. N. Dutt: O king, in that great battle, hundreds and thousands of arrows were shot by him. They were very powerful and they possessed great impetuosity. They killed countless Kshatriya in that battle.

M. N. Dutt: O king, in that great battle, he cut off the heads of hundreds of heroic warriors and elephants clad in thorny mail as summits of mountains are felled by thunderbolt.

M. N. Dutt: O king, cars were seen to mingle with cars. One car was seen upon another car and a horse upon another horse.

M. N. Dutt: O king, impetuous horses carried here and there the youthful riders killed and hung from their saddle with their bows till in their hands.

M. N. Dutt: With swords and quivers, attached to their person and their armours loosened, hundreds of dead warriors lay on the ground sleeping on beds worthy of heroes.

M. N. Dutt: Rushing upon one another, falling down and rising up again, and rushing again having risen up the combatants fought hand to hand.

M. N. Dutt: Struck by one another, many rolled on the field of battle, O Bharata! several hundred warriors with bow and arrow-stand and gold ornaments on body were destroying the warriors of rival army with all reliance in their might and enduring the blows made by the enemies. They were rushing to and fro through the several routes the found and blowing continuously the arms and weapons on them.

M. N. Dutt: Car-warriors, with their cars, were crushed (by the elephants). Some warrior fell on their cars killed by other warriors with their arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Many great car-warriors were seen to fall down from high, their charioteers being killed. A thick dust covered all sides. Then the warriors knew their adversaries by the twang of the bow. From the pressure also on their bodies the combatants guessed their enemies.

M. N. Dutt: O king, the warriors fought on with arrows guided by the twang of the bow strings. Even the very his sing sound of the arrows shot by the combatants at one another could not be heard.

M. N. Dutt: So loud was the sound of drums that it seemed to pierce the cars. In that tumultuous and hair-string uproar even the names of the combatants could not be heard.

M. N. Dutt: All warriors were bearing the pains sprcaded by the arrows released from Bhishma's bow in battle-field. Those arrows had created fear of death in the mind of all those warriors. That battle was most fierce, thrilling and arousing anxiety in the hearts of all. Any father in that battle was so lost of recognition as his own son was beyond the same.

M. N. Dutt: One of the wheels being broken, the yoke being torn off, onc of the steeds being killed, the brave car-warrior was overthrown from the car along with his charioteer.

M. N. Dutt: Thus many brave warriors, deprived of their cars, were seen to run (in all directions).

M. N. Dutt: He, who was killed, had his head cut off, he, who was not killed, was mortally wounded. When Bhishma attacked, there was none who was not wounded.

M. N. Dutt: In that fearful battle Shveta killed innumerable Kurus. He killed hundreds of noble princes.

M. N. Dutt: He cut off with his arrows the heads of hundreds of car-warriors and also their arms decked with Angadas, and also their bows.

M. N. Dutt: O king, O best of the Bharata race, carwarriors and car-wheels, the cars-themselves, both small and costly standards, many horses and innumerable inen and hundreds of elephants were destroyed by Shveta.

M. N. Dutt: From fear of Shveta, we abandoned Bhishma that foremost of warriors; we left the battle and retreated to the rear and therefore, we now see your cxalted self.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Kuru, retreating beyond the range of arrows and abandoning the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, in that battle, all the Kurus stood (as spectators), though armed for the battle.

M. N. Dutt: Ever cheerful even in the hour of cheerlessness, that foremost of man, Bhishma, alone, of our army, stood in that fearful battle as immovable as the mountain Meru.

M. N. Dutt: Killing the foes like the sun at the end of the winter, he stood effulgent with the golden rays of his car, as the sun shines with his rays.

M. N. Dutt: That great bow man shot showers in arrows and struck down his enemies in that battle as Vishnu, arıncd with the discus struck down the Asuras.

M. N. Dutt: The mighty Bhishma was separated from your army and became ferocious in that battlefield as an elephant becomes dangerous when its caravan missed and he is left alone. (All warriors from rival party, ran away leaving him alone because they could not bear more blows given by Bhishma.)

M. N. Dutt: While fighting with the great warriors (Shveta), that chastiser of foes, Bhishma was the only one who was cheerful. Ever devoted to the welfare of Duryodhana, he began to consume the warriors (Shveta).

M. N. Dutt: O kind, reckless of his own life, abandoning all fear, he slaughtered the Pandava troops in that great battle.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing that (Pandava) general striking Duryodhana's troops,, your father Bhishma, also called Devavrata, rushed upon him.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Shveta covered Bhishma with a great net of arrows, Bhishma also covered Shveta with a shower of arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Roaring like two bulls, they rushed against each other like two gigantic mad elephants or like two angry tigers.

M. N. Dutt: Baffling each other's weapons by means of their weapons those (two) foremost of men, Bhishma and Shveta fought with each other with the desire of taking each other's life.

M. N. Dutt: If Shveta did not protect it, in one single day Bhishma could have in anger consumed the Pandava army with his arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the grandfather made to retreat by Shveta, the Pandavas grew exceedingly delighted, but your son became very much cheerless.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon Duryodhana surrounded by many kings, rushed in anger against the Pandava troops in that great battle.

M. N. Dutt: Durmukha, Kritavarman, Kripa and Shalya, the lord of men also protected Bhishma inspired by your son.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the army of Pandavas is being slain in battle by Duryodhana and all other kings, Shveta abandoned the son of Ganga, Bhishma and began to slaughter your son's troops with great iinpetuosity as the wind up-roots trees with great violence.

M. N. Dutt: O king, having routed your army, Virata's son (Shveta) senseless in anger again rushed towards the place where Bhishma stood.

M. N. Dutt: O king! those two mighty and great warriors, both blazing with their arrows, fought with each other like Vritra and Vasava in the days of yore, both eager to kill each other. Having drawn his bow to the fullest stretch, Shveta wounded Bhishma with seven arrows.

M. N. Dutt: The brave one (Bhishma) then put forth his prowess; he quickly checked his adversary's valour as a mad elephants checks another inad elephant.

M. N. Dutt: Shveta again shot twenty five arrows having bent knot cach and penetrated the budy of Bhishma, the son of Shantanu. It was happened as an unprecedented event.

M. N. Dutt: That delighter of the Kshatriyas, Shveta, then struck Bhishma; and the son of Shantanu pierced him in return with ten arrows.

M. N. Dutt: They smiling and licking with his tongue the corners of the mouth, Shveta cut down Bhishma's bow into ten parts with nine arrows. Then taking up a winged arrow made of iron, he crushed the palmyra on the top of the standard of that exalted one (Bhishma). Seeing the standard of Bhishma cut down, your sons thought that Bhishma was killed. The Pandavas in great delight blew their conchs.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing the palmyra-standard of the illustrious Bhishma cut down, Duryodhana, in great anger, urged his army to the battle.

M. N. Dutt: They all carefully protected Bhishma who was then in great distress. To them that stood there as spectators, the king (Duryodhana) thus exclaimed. “Either Shveta or Bhishma will die (to day)". Having heard the words of the king, the great car-warriors soon with four kinds of troops advanced to protect the son of Ganga. O descendant of Bharata, Balhika, Kritavarina, Kripa, Shalya, the son of Jarasandha, Vikarna, Chitrasena and Vivingshati, all with great speed, surrounded him on all sides and poured a continuous shower of arrows. That highsouled and mighty warrior then soon checked those wrathful warriors with sharp arrows by displaying his own lightness of hands. Checking them all as a lion checks a herd of elephants, Shveta cut off Bhishma's bow with a thick shower of arrows.

M. N. Dutt: Then the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, took up another bow in that battle and wounded Shveta with arrows, furnished with the feather of Kanka birds. Then that commander (Shveta) in great anger wounded Bhishma in that battle with innumerable arrows in the very sight of all. Seeing Bhishma, that foremost of all the warriors, checked in the battle by Shveta the king (Duryodhana) became exceedingly cheerless, and your whole army felt themselves in great distress. Seeing the heroic Bhislima checked and wounded by Shveta with his arrows, a!' thought that Bhishma had been killed.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon your father Devavrata, seeing his standard cut down and the army checked, grew greatly enraged and shot at Shveta innumerable arrows. O king, that foremost of heroes Shveta however baffled all those arrows of Bhishma and he once more cut off with a broad-headed arrow the bow of your father. O king, throwing aside that bow, the son of Ganga took up in great anger another strong and large bow, and aiming seven large broadheaded arrows, killed the four horses of the general Shveta, then he cut down his standard and then, the head of his charioteer.

M. N. Dutt: Thereupon that great car-warrior jumped down from his car the horses and the charioteer of which had been killed. Seeing Shveta, that foremost of car-warriors, deprived of his car, the grandsire began to strike him on all sides with showers of arrows. Wounded in this great battle with arrows shot from Bhishma's bow, leaving his bow on his car, he took up a dart decked with gold, and taking up that terrible and fearful dart which resembled the fatal rod of Death and which was capable of killing even Death himself, Shveta thus spoke in anger to the son of Shantanu, Bhishma. "O foremost of men, wait a little and see my prowess". Having said this to Bhishma that greatly powerful and high-souled bow-man hurled that dart resembling a snake.

M. N. Dutt: O king, then loud cries of “Oh” and “Alas" rose among your sons when they saw that fearful dart which was as effulgent as the rod of death.

M. N. Dutt: Having been furled from Shveta's handthat dart which resembled a snake that had just cast off its slough, fell with great force like a meteor from the sky.

M. N. Dutt: Your father Devavrata, then, without the slightest fcar, with eight sharp and winged arrows, cut down into nine parts that fearful dart which was decked with pure gold and which appeared to be covered with flames of fire.

M. N. Dutt: All your troops, O best of the Bharata race, then sent up a loud shout of joy. Virata's son, however, having seen his dart cut down into fragments, lost all sense in anger.

M. N. Dutt: Like one whose heart was over come by the approaching death, he could not settle what to do. O king, deprived of his senses by anger, Virata's son, with smiles.

M. N. Dutt: Took up in great cheerfulness a fearful mace for Bhishma's destruction. With eyes red in anger, and loO king like a second Yama armed with the rod.

M. N. Dutt: He rushed upon Bhishma as a swollen river rushes upon a rock. Considering his great impetuosity as incapable of being checked, the greatly fearful Bhishma.

M. N. Dutt: Who is ever skillful in knowing the prowess of other, suddenly jumped down on the ground to avoid that blow. O king, Shveta, however, whirling that heavy mace in anger.

M. N. Dutt: Hurled it on Bhishma's car like the dcity Maheshvara (Shiva). By the fall of that mace intended for Bhishma's destruction, that car. with its standard, charioteer and horses, was reduced to ashes. Seeing Bhishrma, that foremost of car-warriors fighting on foot.

M. N. Dutt: Many car-warriors, Shalya and others soon came to his help. Getting up on another car and stretching his bow. Bhishma slowly advanced towards Shveta. In the meantime he heard a voice in the sky. It was celestial and fraught with his own good. It said, “O Bhishma, O Bhishma, O mighty armed hero, fight without losing a moment.

M. N. Dutt: This is the moment fixed by the creator for getting success over this one.” Having heard these words uttered by the celestial messenger.

M. N. Dutt: Bhishma carefully determined to kill Shveta. Seeing that foremost of car-warriors fighting on foot, many great car-warriors rushed untidily to his rescue. They were Satyaki, Bhimasena, and that descendant of Prishata, Dhrishtadyumna.

M. N. Dutt: The Kaikeya brothers, Dhrishtaketu and the greatly powerful Abhimanyu. Seeing them coming to his rescue, with Drona, Shalya, and Kripa.

M. N. Dutt: That high-souled hero (Bhishma) stopped them all as a mountain resists the wind. When the illustrious warriors of the Pandava army were thus checked.

M. N. Dutt: Shveta took up a sword and cut off Bhishma's bow. Throwing off that bow the (Kuru) grandfather having heard the words of the celestial messenger set his heart to destroy Shveta as soon as possible. Though baffled, your father Devavrata.

M. N. Dutt: That great car-warrior, soon took up another bow as effulgent as the bow of Indra. He stringed it in a moment.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, then your father. seeing that great car-warrior Shveta, though he was then surrounded by those foremost of men (the Pandava warriors) with Bhimasena at their head.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Ganga (Bhishma), rushed forward to attack Shveta alone. Seeing Bhishma coming, the greatly powerful Bhimasena wounded him with sixty arrows. But that great car-warrior, your father Devavrata, checked Bhimasena, Abhimanyu and other carwarriors with some fearful arrows. He then struck him (Shveta) with three straight arrows.

M. N. Dutt: The (Kuru) grandfather, struck Satyaki in that great battle with one hundred arrows, Dhrishtadyumna with twenty and the Kaikeya brothers with five.

M. N. Dutt: Having thus checked all those great bowmen with fearful arrows, your father Devavrata rushed towards Shveta alone.

M. N. Dutt: Then taking up an arrow which resembled Death himself which was capable of being a great strain and which was incapable of being resisted, the mighty Bhishma placed it on his bow-string.

M. N. Dutt: That winged arrow, endued with the force of the Brahma weapon, was seen by the celestial, the Gandharvas, the Pishachas, the Uragas and the Rakshasas.

M. N. Dutt: That arrow, as effulgent as the fire went through his armour and struck into the earth with a flash like that of the thunder-bolt.

M. N. Dutt: As the sun hurriedly retires to his western chamber taking with him the rays of light, so did it pass away out of Shveta's body taking with it his life.

M. N. Dutt: When he was thus killed by Bhishma in that battle, we saw him fall down like a loosened peak of a mountain.

M. N. Dutt: All the great Kshatriya car warriors, on the Pandava side lamented (for his death). But your son and all the Kurus were filled with great delight.

M. N. Dutt: o king, seeing Shveta killed, Dushasana danced in joy over the field of battle in accompaniment of the loud music of conchs and druins.

M. N. Dutt: When that great bowman, was killed by that ornament of battle, Bhishma, the great bowmen of the Pandava side, with Shikhandin at their head, trembled in fear.

M. N. Dutt: O king, when the general (Shveta) was killed, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) and the Vrishni chief (Krishna) slowly withdrew their troops.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, both your troops and theirs withdrew and both your troops and theirs frequently sent up loud shouts.

M. N. Dutt: O chastiser of foes the great (Pandava) car warriors entered their camp in great cheerlessness, thinking of the great slaughter made by their general (Shveta) in that great single combat.

M. N. Dutt: Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, when their general Shveta was killed by the foe in that battle, what did those great bowmen, the Panchalas and the Pandavas do?

M. N. Dutt: When they heard that their general Shveta had been killed, what took place between those that fought to kill him and those that retreated before them.

M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, your words please me for they speck of our victory. My heart does not feel any shame in remembering our transgression.

M. N. Dutt: The old Kuru chief (Bhishma) is ever cheerful and devoted to us. Though he (Duryodhana) provoked hostilities with that intelligent son of his uncle, (Yudhishthira), yet he once sought the protection of the Pandavas. At that time abandoning every thing, he lived in misery.

M. N. Dutt: In consequence of the prowess of the Pandavas and in consequence of placing himself amid entanglement, Duryodhana had recourse (for sometime) to honourable behaviour. Once that wicked-minded prince had to seek their protection, why, therefore. O Sanjaya, had Shveta, who was devoted to Yudhishthira, been killed?

M. N. Dutt: This narrow minded prince (Duryodhana) with all his prosperity has been hurled to the nether regions by a number of wretches. Bhishma did not like this war, nor did the preceptor (Drona).

M. N. Dutt: Nor did Kripa, nor Gandhari, nor did I, O Sanjaya, like it. Nor did the Vrishni chief, Vasudeva (Krishna), nor that son of Pandu, Dharmaraja (Yudhishthira).

M. N. Dutt: Nor did Bhima, nor Arjuna, nor those two foremost of men, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva. Though always forbidden by me, by Gandhari, by Vidura, by Rama the son of Jamadagni, and by the illustrious Vyasa, yet, O Sanjaya, the wicked-minded and sinful Duryodhana with Dushasana always followed the evil counsels of Karna and Subala's son (Shakuni), and behaved maliciously with the Pandavas.

M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, I think that he has fallen into great distress. After the death of Shveta and the victory of Bhishma, what did Partha, accompanied by Krishna, in anger do? O child, it is Arjuna whom I fear, and my that fear cannot be dispelled.

M. N. Dutt: The son of Kunti, Dhananjaya, is brave, and he possesses great activity. I have no doubt he will, with his arrows, cut into fragments the bodies of his enemies.

M. N. Dutt: Seeing that son of Indra, who is equal in battle to Upendra, the younger brother of Indra, who is a warrior whose wrath and purpose are never futile, what became the state of your mind?

M. N. Dutt: He is brave, he is learned in the Vedas, he is as effulgent as the fire and the sun. He possesses the knowledge of Indra weapon; that high-souled warrior is ever victorious when he falls upon his foe.

M. N. Dutt: His weapons always fall on the foe with the force of the thunder-bolt. His arms astonishingly quick to draw the bowstring. That son of Kunti is a great car-warrior.

M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, the invincible son of Drupada also is exceedingly wise. What did Dhrishtadyumna do when Shveta had been killed in battle.

M. N. Dutt: I have no doubt that in consequence of the wrongs they suffered before, and in consequence of the death of their general, the hearts of the Pandavas blazed up.

M. N. Dutt: O Sanjaya, thinking of their anger, I never, by day or by night, enjoy any peace of mind on account of Duryodhana. How did the great battle take place? Tell me all about it.

M. N. Dutt: Sanjaya said O king, hear about your great transgressions. You should not put all blame on Duryodhana.

M. N. Dutt: Your understanding is like building an embankment when the waters have escaped. It is like the digging of a well when the house is on fire.

M. N. Dutt: 0 descendant of Bharata, when the forenoon had passed away and the general Shveta had been killed by Bhishma in that great fearful battle.

M. N. Dutt: That chastiser of foes, Shankha, the son of Virata, that hero who always took delight in battle, seeing Shalya stationed with Kritavarman. Blazed up in anger as fire with Ghee. That great car-warrior, having stretched his bow that resembled the bow of Indra himself.

M. N. Dutt: Rushed upon the Madra king with the intention of killing him. He was supported on all sides by innumerable car-warriors.

M. N. Dutt: Pouring a shower of arrows. Shankha rushed towards the car of Shalya. Seeing him advance like a mad elephant, seven great carwarriors on your side surrounded him in order to rescue the Madra king who was almost within the jaws of death.

M. N. Dutt: O king! The names of those chariot holders are-Brihadbala, the king of Kosala, Jayatsena the king of Magadha, Rukinaratha the valorous son of Shalya, Vinda and Anuvinda (the princes of Avanti), Sudakshina, the king of Kamboja and Jayadratha, the king of Sindhu and son of Brihatkshatra.

M. N. Dutt: The excellent bows stretched by these great warriors were of different colour and shapes. Those were appeared as if lightening in the clouds.

M. N. Dutt: These all started shooting volley of arrows targeted the head of Shankha. It seerned that scenario as if the clouds rain on the mountain when they are pushed by the strong wind in the end of summer.

M. N. Dutt: The great archer and army commander Shankha furiated on this. He shot seven bhalla arrows duly sharpened which cut-off the bows of those seven chariot holders. He then challenged them for another attack.

M. N. Dutt: The long armed Bhishma challenged in reciprocation with his voice thundering like clouds, picked up a bow measuring four hands length and attacked on Shankha in the battlefield.

M. N. Dutt: The Pandavas' army shivered like a boat dwindling due to strong wind when it saw mighty archer Bhishma ready to fight fiercely. Seeing that great car-warrior and great bowman thus rush (towards) Shankha, the Pandava army began to tremble like a boat tossed by the tempest.

M. N. Dutt: Then Arjuna quickly advanced and placed himself in front of Shankha in order to protect him from Bhishma. Then a great battle was fought between Bhishma and Arjuna.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, then Shalya jumped down from his large car with his mace in hand, and killed the four horses of Shankha's car.

M. N. Dutt: Shankha leaped down from his car thus deprived of its horses, and taking a sword, he ran towards the car of Vibhatsu. He then got on it and once more was at his ease.

M. N. Dutt: There was shot from Bhishma's innumerable arrows with which both the sky and the earth were covered.

M. N. Dutt: That foremost of heroes, Bhishma killed with his arrows innumerable troops of the Panchalas, the Matasya's, the Kaikeyas and the Prabhadraka hosts.

M. N. Dutt: Abandoning the battle with the son of Pandu viz., Savyasachin (Arjuna), Bhishima rushed towards Drupada, the Panchala king, who stood surrounded by his troops.

M. N. Dutt: As a forest in consumed by fire at the end of winter, so were the troops of Drupada scen to be consumed (by Bhishma). Bhishina stood in that battle like a blazing fire without smoke, or like the sun at mid-day, scorching every thing around. The Pandava troops could not even look at Bhishma.

Corresponding verse not found in M. N. Dutt's version.

M. N. Dutt: Afflicted with fear, the Pandava troops looked around, and not finding any protector, they appeared like a herd of kine afflicted with cold.

M. N. Dutt: Afflicted with the arrows of son of Ganga (Bhishma) the army of Yudhishthira appeared like a kine of white colour afflicted by lion.

M. N. Dutt: O descendant of Bharata, being slaughtered in great numbers and crushed when retreating, the Pandava troops cried “Oh” and “Alas”.

M. N. Dutt: Then the son of Shantanu, Bhishma, with his bow always drawn to a circle, poured a continuous shower of arrows that resembled so many poisonous snakes. Creating continuous lines of arrows in all directions, that vowobserving hero killed innumerable car-warriors of the Pandava's.

M. N. Dutt: When the Pandava troops were thus routed and crushed all over the field, the sun set, the night came, and nothing could be seen.

M. N. Dutt: O best of the Bharata race, seeing Bhishma still proudly standing in battle, the sons of Pritha withdrew their forces.