The surprise of the troops

Sanjaya said When the illustrious son of Kunti had created that water there and had held in check the troops of the enemies and when he had constructed that arrowy hall.

The highly effulgent son of Vasudeva descending down quickly from the chariot unharnessed the horses lacerated with arrows furnished with wings of the Kanka feathers.

The Siddhas, the Charanas and the troops present there, beholding that sight unseen before, uttered loud exclamations in praise of Arjuna.

That all the mighty car-warriors of your army were unable to resist that son of Kunti who then was fighting standing on his legs, was indeed wonderful.

Though myriads of chariots and thousands upon thousands of elephants and steeds assailed him, yet Partha experienced no fear; but every moment obtained advantages over his enemies.

Showers of arrows were poured upon that son of Pandu by the hostile kings; but that slayer of foes, the illustrious son of Vasava felt no pain.

Then the highly puissant son of Pritha received those showers of arrows, lances and maces, like the ocean receiving the numerous rivers flowing into it.

With the tremendous force of his arms, Pritha's son began to swallow up, as it were, all the excellent arrows shot at him by hostile kings.

During that fight, O mighty kings, even the Kurus themselves applauded the prowess displayed by Arjuna and the son of Vasudeva. course

“What incident, more wonderful has ever taken place or will ever take place in this world, then this, viz., that Pritha's son and Govinda in of the fight, have unharnessed their steeds?

Those two foremost of men, displaying fierce energy in battle and confident of their prowess, have filled our hearts with terrors.

Thereafter Hrishikesha of eyes resembling lotus petals, smiling with the greatest assurance as if he were in the midst of women, led the steeds in the arrowy hall created on the field of battle by Arjuna, before the very eyes of all your troops, O king.

Then Krishna well-skilled in the art of grooming, removed their fatigue, pain, trembling and lacerations.

Drawing the arrows out of their bodies and shampooing them with his two hands and walking them duly, he made them drink water.

Having then washed them and made them drink and removing their fatigue and pain, he once more harnessed them to that foremost of chariots, with a joyful heart.

Thereafter that foremost of all wielders of weapons, that one endued with fierce energy viz., Shauri (Krishna), accompanied by Arjuna, mounted on the car and once more drove on quickly.

Beholding then that car belonging to that foremost of car-warrior, to which were yoked steeds whose thirst had been quenched, the foremost of the Kuru warriors once more became depressed at heart.

O king, beating like snakes whose fangs have been broken, they exclaimed, 'Fie fie on us; Oh, Partha and Krishna, have gone.'

Your armies excited by seeing that excellent and thrilling experience began to cry on their follows-"Bravo! It cannot be so. Pursue them immediately.

Riding on a single car and clad in mail, slaughtering our troops with as much as ease as boys playing with a toy, even before the very eyes of all the Kshatriyas. In spite of all our efforts and endeavours, those two scorchers of foes, have gone way, disregarding all other kings and displaying their superior prowess."

Beholding them gone away, other soldiers said-"O Kurus, prepare yourselves in all haste for slaughtering Krishna and the diademdecked Arjuna.

Yoking the steeds to the car, he of the Dasharha is proceeding toward race Jayadratha, crushing us in battle before the very eyes of all our bow-men."

Other rulers of earth, seeing that highly wonderful incident, never seen before, o king, said among themselves-

"These troops, the king Dhritarashtra himself, the Kshatriyas and the earth herself, are a'l now involved in a great calamity, through the fault of king Duryodhana.

All these are being destroyed; but the king (Duryodhana) heeds it not." Even thus did the Kshatriyas speak there. Others O Bharata, said

Let the son of Dhritarashtra, of erring sight and meagre knowledge of measures, now perform those rites that are done for the departed, for, the ruler of the Sindhus may already be taken to be dispatched to the abode of Yama.

Then as the sun perambulated through the concavity of heaven, that son of Pandu proceeded with increased speed towards the ruler of the Sindhus, being borne by refreshed steeds whose thirst had been quenched.

Then your warriors were unable to check that mighty-armed hero, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, viz., Arjuna, who had been proceeding like the enraged Destroyer himself.

Then for getting at the ruler of the Sindhus, that son of Pandu, that afflicter of foes, routing your army, began to agitate it like a lion agitating a herd of deer.

Plunging into the ranks of your soldiers, he of the Dasharha race, urged the steeds of to the top their speed and blew his conch Panchajanya of the hue of clouds.

The arrows discharged by the son of Kunti began to fall behind him, so quickly did those steeds, endowed with the fleetness of the wind, bear that chariot of his.

Thereafter, inflamed with rage, numerous hostile kings and various other Kshatriyas, surrounded Dhananjaya who was eager for bringing about the slaughter of Jayadratha.

When the Kuru-combatants thus rushed upon that foremost of men who had stopped for moment only, Duryodhana, advancing quickly, followed Partha from behind, in that fierce encounter.

Many warriors became greatly depressed, beholding that chariot, of which the banner fluttered in the air, the rattle of which resembled the rumble of clouds and which was mounted with that fearful standard having the ape for its device.

Thus when the ord of the day had been enshrouded in a cloud of dust and when the a warriors had been afflicted sore with arrows, they could not look at the two Krishnas engaged in that battle. warriors had been afflicted sore with arrows, they could not look at the two Krishnas engaged in that battle.