The display of Ashvatthaman's prowess

Sanjaya said Beholding Bhimasena completely shrouded by that weapon, Dhananjaya for quenching the fire produced by it shot the Varuna weapon.

The lightness with which Arjuna shot the weapon and also the fiery energy of the Narayana weapon, rendered it impossible for any body to perceive that Bhima was also protected by the Varuna weapon.

His steeds, charioteers and horses covered by the effulgence of the weapon of Drona's son, Bhima then was incapable of being looked at like a blazing fire within another blazing fire.

Just as at the close of night, all the luminaries fly towards the western hills, so also the shafts of Drona's son flew towards the car of Bhima.

Then thus shrouded with shafts by Drona's son, Bhima, his horses and charioteer, O sire, looked as if wrapt in the flames of a blazing fire.

Just as at the hour of the universal annihilation the All-destroying. Fire having burnt down the mobile and immobile creation proceeds to enter the mouth of the Creator, so also that weapon Proceeded to enter the body of Bhima.

Just as the fire penetrating into the Sun or the Sun penetrating into the fire, cannot be perceived by any body so also that weapon entering into Bhima's body could not be perceived.

Beholding then that weapon swelling in fury near Bhima's chariot and also Drona's son career unopposed on the field of battle.

And seeing that all the warriors of the Pandava army had laid their weapons aside and that all the mighty car-warriors headed by Yudhishthira had turned their faces away from the field.

Those two brave heroes of great effulgence viz., Arjuna and Vasudeva, then jumping down from their chariot, ran towards Bhima.

Those two puissant persons then plunging into the energy born of the might of Ashvatthaman's weapon, betook to their power of illusion.

The fire of that weapon failed to burn them down in consequence of their having laid aside their weapons, as also in consequence of their great personal prowess and the energy of the Varuna weapon.

Then Nara and Narayana began forcibly to take off all weapons from Bhima and to drag him out of the fire of that weapon.

Thus dragged the puissant son of Kunti (Bhima) began to roar aloud, where-upon the invincible weapon of Drona's son also swelled in its fury.

Then the son of Vasudeva, addressing (Bhima) said-"O delighter of Pandu, what do you mean? Why don't you desist from fighting though repeatedly for bidden to do so.

Had it been possible now to vanquish the Kouravas in battle, then we as well as all these forest of men would have fought against them.

All your troops have alighted from their chariots, so you also, O son of Kunti, quickly come down from your chariot.

Having thus spoken, Krishna dragged him down on the earth, him who was breathing like a snake with eyes coppery with rage.

When he was thus dragged down from the car, when he was thus compelled to lay his weapons aside, the Narayana weapon, capable of burning down the foe, became pacified.

Sanjaya said When the unbearable energy of that weapon was pacified by this means, all the quarters, subsidiary and cardinal, became clear.

Auspicious winds began to blow and animals and birds became quiet. The steeds and elephants as well as the warriors themselves became cheerful, O ruler of men.

O Bharata, when that dreadful energy was thus stilled, the intelligent Bhima shone like the Sun at the close of night.

Then the remnant of the Pandava troops, beholding the subsidence of the energy of that weapon, again stood ready in order to slay your sons.

When the Pandava army was rallied and rearranged and when the Narayana weapon was thus counteracted, your son Duryodhana, O king, addressing Drona's son said these

O Ashvatthaman, once more discharged that weapon quickly, for the Panchalas, desirous of victory, have again rallied.

Thus spoken to your son, Ashvatthaman, O sire, depressed and sighing heavily, replied to the king sayingनैतदावर्तते राजन्नत्रं द्विर्नोपपद्यते।

That weapon never comes back, neither, O king, can it be used twice. If invoked back it will slay the person invoking it.

The son of Vasudeva counter acted the weapon by what means you have seen. For this, O ruler of men, the extermination of the foe has not been accomplished in battle.

The worst in battle is either defeat or death. Death is better than defeat. The enemy compelled to lay aside their weapons are vanquished and more than dead.

Duryodhana said O son of my preceptor, O you foremost of those versed in the science of weapons, if this weapon cannot be used twice, then slay those slayers of their preceptor with other mighty weapons.

Like the three-eyed Mahadeva of infinite energy, you possess all the celestial weapons; even the enraged Indra cannot escape you alive if you wish it not.

Dhritarashtra said When Drona had been slain with underhand measures and when that weapon of his son had been baffled, what did Ashvatthman, urged on by Duryodhana do?

Beholding the Parthas, rally for the fight and freed from the influence of the Narayana weapon and career at the head of their divisions.

Sanjaya said Remembering the unfair slaughter of his sire, Drona's son, having the lion's tail as a device on his banner, casting off all fear and filled with fury rushed upon the son of Prisata.

Thus assailing him, that foremost of men, at first pierced his enemy with twenty small arrows and then again with five others, with great force.

Thereupon, O king, Dhristadyumna pierced Drona's son looking like a blazing fire, with four and sixty winged arrows.

He pierced the latter's charioteer with twenty shafts furnished with golden wings and whetted on stone and the four horses with four very sharp arrows.

Repeatedly piercing the son of Drona and making the earth trembling with his roars, Dhristadyumna appeared to be engaged in taking away the lives of every body on the face of earth in that dreadful battle.

O king, the son of Prisata was endued with prowess and accomplished in weapons and of resolute purposes. He rushed upon the son of Drona making death to be the final goal.

Then that foremost of car-warriors, that prince of the Panchalas, of unmeasurable depth of soul, poured a veritable shower of arrows on the head of Drona's son.

Thereupon Drona's covered that enraged hero with innumerable winged shafts and remembering the slaughter of his sire, pierced him with ten shafts.

Cutting down the bow and the standard of the Panchala prince with two well-directed razor-headed arrows, the son of Drona began to afflict the former with numerous other shafts.

Drona's son deprived his opponent of his horses, chariot and driver; and he, worked up with rage, covered the latter's followers with myriads of arrows.

Thereupon, O ruler of men, the troops of the Panchalas broke and fled away; their appearance reflected fear and they were greatly distressed and mangled with shaft-cuts. son arrows

Then beholding the troops turning back and Dhristadyumna greatly afflicted, the graidson of Shini, directed his chariot to be driven in haste towards that of Drona's son.

With eight sharp afflicted Ashvatthman; they once more he pierced his revengeful adversary with another twenty shafts of diverse shape.

He pierced his opponent's driver and the four horses with four arrows; and then like one endued with great lightness of hand, he cut-off his bow and standard with well-armed shafts.

He consumed the horses of his antagonist and shattered his car of golden effulgence; then he pierced the latter on the centre of his breast with twenty shafts.

Thus afflicted and enshrouded in a network of arrows, the puissant Ashvatthaman, O king, knew not what to do.

When the preceptor's son was involved in such a perilous position, your son, that mighty car-warrior, supported by Kripa, Karna and others, began to cover that scion of the Satvata race with numerous arrows.

Then Duryodhana with twenty Saradvata's son Kripa with three, Kritavarman with ten, Karna with fifty.

Dushasana with hundred and Vrishasena with seven sharp arrows pierced Satyaki quickly and form all sides.

Thereupon, O king, the puissant Satyaki deprived all those mighty car-warriors of their cars and compelled them to turn away from the field of battle, within a moment's time.

Meanwhile Ashvatthaman having regained his senses, began, O foremost of the Bharatas, to reflect, distressed with grief and sighing repeatedly.

Thereafter that afflicter of foes, namely, Drona's son, riding on another car proceeded to oppose Satyaki and shot hundreds of arrows.

Then beholding that son of Bharadvaja's son once wore advance against him in battle, the mighty car-warrior Satyaki once more compelled him to turn away and deprived him of his car.

Thereat the Pandavas beholding the prowess of Satyaki, O king, loudly blew their conches and uttered deafening war-cries.

Then Satyaki of infallible prowess, thus rendering Drona's son carless, slew the three thousand mighty car-warriors engaged in supporting Vrishasena.

He also slew ten thousand tusked elephants that accompanied Kripa, as also fifty thousand horses that constituted Skuni's division.

Then once more, O king, the valorous son of Drona, mounting on a fresh car and excited to the highest pitch of fury assailed Satyaki for slaughtering him.

But the grandson of Shini that subduer of foes seeing him once more proceed against him, ruthlessly pierced him with numerous sharp arrows.

But this time, though thus deeply pierced by Yuyudhana with of diverse descriptions, that mighty bowmen, that son of Drona, worked up with rage, addressing his

O grandson of Shini, I know the partiality you bear for the murderer of his preceptor (viz., Dhristadyumna), but you shall not succeed in saying him and your own self when assailed by me.

By my truth and by my ascetic austerities, I swear before you, that I shall enjoy no rest without slaying the whole Panchalas race.

You may unite together the troops of the Pandavas as well as those of the Vrishnis, yet I will exterminate the Somakas inspite of all their endeavours. arrows

Having thus spoken, Drona's son hurled at that scion of the Satvata race an excellent arrow of the effulgence of the solar rays, like Hari (Indra) hurling the thunder-bolt against Vritra.

That arrow hurled by him, penetrating through the armour and the body of Satyaki, entered the earth like a hissing serpent entering its hole.

Then like an elephant afflicted with the goad-stroke, with his armour pierced through and shedding copious blood from the wound, that hero Satyaki left his bow and arrows.

And steeped in blood and loosing strength he squatted down on the terrace of his car. His driver then quickly drove him away from the vicinity of Drona's son.

Then that afflicter of his forces namely the son of Drona, pierced Dhristadyumna between his bows with another shaft of depressed knots furnished with beautiful wings.

The Panchala prince had ere this been much wounded and now deeply hierced, he lost all his strength and caught pold of his flag-staff for supporting him.

Then fierce heroic warriors of the Pandava army rushed quickly to the rescue of an Dhristadyumna, who then resembled elephant assailed and afflicted by an enraged lion.

Those warriors were the diadem decked Arjuna, Bhimasena, Vrihat Kshatra of Puru's race, the youthful prince of the Chedis and Sudarsana the ruler of the Malavas.

Then all these brave warriors crying Oh and Alas and grasping their bows and arrows surrounded Drona's brave son on all sides.

Advancing twenty paces, each of these warriors shot with great care, five arrows at the revengeful son of Drona.

But Drona's son, almost at the same time cut-off those twenty-five arrows shot at him with twenty-five sharp arrows of his own, resembling snakes of virulent poison.

Then Drona's son afflicted the scion of the Puru race with seven sharp arrows, the Malava king with three, Partha with one and Vrikodara with six.

Thereupon, O king, all those mighty carwarriors, simultaneously and separately began to pierce the son of Drona with gold-winged arrows whetted on stone.

The youthful prince of the Chedis pierced Drona's son with twenty winged shafts, Partha with eight and all the rest with three arrows each.

Thereupon the son of Drona pierced Arjuna with six and Vasudeva's son with ten and Bhima with five and the youthful Chedi prince with four and the ruler of the Purus and the Malavas with couple of shafts.

Piercing Bhima's charioteer with six and cutting off his bow and standard with two other arrows and once more piercing Partha with a shower of arrows, the son of Drona uttered a dreadful war-cry.

Then as Drona's son shot his welltempered, well-sharpened arrows, the earth, the welkin, the firmament, the cardinal and subsidiary quarters, all in his front and rear became covered with arrows of dreadful look.

Possessed of fierce energy and matching Indra himself in prowess, Ashvatthaman with three arrows, almost at the same time cut-off the two arms, like Indra's poles and the head of Sudarsana, as the latter was seated on his car.

Then piercing Paurava with a lance and cutting off his chariot into smaller fragments, by means of his shafts, Ashvatthaman severed the two sandal-smeared arms of his opponent; and then with a bhalla he severed his head from his trunk.

Endued with agility, he then pierced with numerous arrows resembling blazing flames of fire in energy, the young and the puissant prince of the Chedis of complexion like that of a blue lotus and then detached him to Death's domain, together with his steeds and driver.

Then beholding the king of the Malavas, the Paurava prince and the youthful ruler of the Chedis slain under his very eyes by the son of Drona, Pandu's son.

Bhimasena of mighty arms became filled with terrible rage; then with hundreds of sharp arrows, looking like enraged snakes.

That scorcher of foes covered the son of Drona. Then the highly powerful son of Drona baffling that shower of arrows.

Wrathfully pierced Bhima with sharp arrows. Then the mighty armed Bhima, possessed of great mighty in battle.

Cutting off the bow of Drona's son with a razor-headed arrows pierced him with a winged shaft. Thereupon the high-souled son of Drona, throwing off that severed bow.

Took up another and pierced Bhima with winged shafts. Then Drona's son and Bhima, both valourous and possessed of might, in that battle.

Showered upon each other their arrowy showers like two clouds discharged with rain. Shafts, equipped with golden wing and bearing the name of Bhima and whetted on stone.

Covered Drona's son like masses of clouds covering the Sun, Similarly Bhima also was quickly covered over with hundreds and thousands of arrows of depressed knots, shot by Drona's son. Covered in battle by Drona's son accomplished in battle.

O Mighty monarch, Bhima was not at all pained; and that looked indeed wonderful. Then the mighty-arined Bhima discharged ten gold-decked of great keenness resembling the darts of Death himself, at his adversary. Those shafts, O sire, falling upon the shoulder of Drona's son.

Quickly pierced her body like snakes entering into an ant-hill. Thus deeply pierccd by the lustrious son of Pandu, Drona's son. arrows

Caught for support his flag-staff and shout his two eyes (in pain). But in a moment regaining his consciousness that on of Drona, Oking.

Became excited to the highest pitch of anger, steeped as he was with profuse blood. Wounded deeply and firmly by the high-souled son of Pandu.

That mighty arined hero rushed furiously upon the chariot of Bhimasena. Then, O Bharata, he sped a group of hundred arrows, all endued with fiery energy, shot from a string drawn back to the car and resembling snakes of virulent poison. Ever boastful in battle and in utter disregard of the prowess of his adversary Bhima.

That son of Pandu, soon discharged dreadful arrowy showers in Drona's son. Thereupon, O mighty monarch, cutting off with sharp arrows the bow of his foe, Drona's son.

Wrathfully struck Pandu's son on the breast with extremely keen darts. Thereat filled with a eager desire for revenge Bhimasena took up another bow.

And with fine sharp arrows pierced Drona's son in battle. Like two clouds at the expiration of summer, those two warriors, pouring showers of arrows.

And looking at each other with eyes coppery in rage soon covered each other. Thus covering each other and both filled with rage they fought on with each other producing sounds with their palms and desirous of counteracting each other's feats. Then stretching his mighty bow decked with gold.

Drona's son cast burning glances on Bhima who was shooting arrows at him from his vicinity. Ashvatthaman then appeared like the Sun shining in the meridian in a day of Autumn.

So quickly did he then shot his arrows that people could not mark when he took them out of his quiver, placed them on his bow-string, drew the string back and let them off.

Then as he shot those shafts, O mighty monarch, the bow of Drona's son looked like a circle of fire.

Arrows shot from his bow then, in hundreds and thousands, were seen to range through the welkin, like flights of locusts.

Those arrows discharged from the bow of Drona's son and decked with gold and dreadful, feel incessantly upon Bhima's car.

We then behold the wonderful prowess, energy, mighty, perseverance and strength of Pandu's son Bhima, O Bharata.

Inasmuch as considering that dreadful showers of arrows, thick as a dense mass of gathering clouds falling round him, to be nothing more than a shower of rain at the close of summer.

Bhima of terrible prowess, desirous of slaughtering the son of Drona, in return poured his arrowy showers upon his foe, like a cloud in the season of rains.

Then the mighty and formidable bow of Bhima, of golden staff stretched continuously in that battle appeared beautiful like another bow of Indra (rainbow).

Issuing out of it, hundreds and thousands of shafts covered, in that battle, that ornament of battle namely Drona's son.

The arrowy showers discharged by them were so thick that the very wind, O sire, could not find space for blowing through them, O king.

Thereafter Drona's son, O king, shot at Bhima, desirous or slaying him, arrows of keen points, washed with oil.

Then exhibiting his superiority over his adversary Bhimasena cut each of those shafts into three fragments, before they could reach him. And the latter then said “Wait, Wait.'

Thereupon, Drona's son, acquainted with the use of the most excellent weapons, soon destroying that arrowy shower by the illusive force of his own weapons, cut-off Bhima's bow in that battle.

Inflamed with fury he then pierced Bhima himself with numerous shafts. Then the highly puissant Bhima, when his bow was cut-off, having whirled with impetuosity a lance hurled it at Ashvatthaman's car. But the son of Drona, displaying his great lightness of hands, cut-off by means of his keen-arrows that lance as it flew towards himself, burning like a flamebeam. Meanwhile the formidable Bhima taking up a very strong bow smilingly began to wound the son of Drona with innumerable arrows. Then the son of Drona, O king, pierced the forehead of Bhima's driver with a straightflying arrow. The latter then thus deeply pierced by the mighty son of Drona.

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Was overwhelmed with a swoon and the reins of the horses fell off from his hands. Then when the charioteer of Bhima overwhelmed with a swoon the horses, O king, no longer restrained, fled away in great speed in the presence of all bowmen. Then seeing Bhima borne away from the field by those steeds.

The victorious Ashvatthaman cheerfully blew his large conch. Beholding Bhimasena carried away from the field, the Panchalas.

Filled with fear, abandoned the car of Dhristadyumna and fled in all directions. Then Drona's son discharging his arrows with great fury, pursued those routed troops spreading a terrible carnage in their ranks. Thus carnaged by the son of Drona those Kshatriya fled away in all directions from fear of that illustrious warrior.