The words of Vyasa

Sanjaya said Beholding the troops broken and routed Kunti's son Dhananjaya of illustrious soul, rallied them from a desire of slaying the son of Drona.

Rallied with effort by Arjuna and Govinda. O king, the troops stayed on the field of battle.

Then Vibhatsu, supported by the Somakas, Matsyas, Andhas and Kouravas returned to the charge.

Then the fierce bowman Savyasachin, rushing quickly upon Ashvatthaman having the lions tail as the device on his banner, spoke these words to the latter.

All your might, your energy, your knowledge, your manliness, you partiality for the sons of Dhritarashtra, you hostility against us.

And all your fiercest prowess do you now display to me. Even that son of Prisata who has slain Drona, your sire, will also humiliate your pride.

Encounter now the prince of the Panchalas, who is like the fire at the universal destruction or like the Destroyer of his foes, as also me accompanied by Kesava. Today in battle I shall humiliate the pride of your haughty self.

Dhritarashtra said The son of the preceptor is, O Sanjaya, worthy of honour and possessed of prowess; he loved Dhananjaya and enjoys the love of that high-souled warrior.

Ere this Vibhatsu had never addressed such words to him; why then did the son of Kunti address his friend in that harsh language.

Sanjaya said Upon the slaughtering of the youthful Chedi prince, of Vrihatkshatra of Puru's race and O king, of Sudarshana the chief of the Malavas, who was accomplished in the use of all weapons and conversant with the rules of military science.

Upon the defeat of Dhristadyumna, Satyaki and Bhima and cut to the quick by those words of king Yudhishthira.

And agitated at heart and remembering all his former woes, O lord, Vibhatsu was possessed by an anger engendered of brief, the like of which had never possessed him before.

For this reason it was that like a mean fellow, he then addressed Ashvatthaman, the son of his preceptor and worthy of his respect in such a vale, cruel, disagreeable and undeserving language.

Thus wrathfully addressed, o king, by Partha in that indecent and harsh language, that foremost of all best bowmen.

Namely the son of Drona, became extremely angry with Dhananjaya and specially with Krishna. Then that highly puissant hero, staying carefully on his car ruiced his mouth with water.

And then invoked into existence this Agneya weapon incapable of being resisted even by the gods. Aiming that weapon at this visible and hidden foes the preceptor's son.

That slayer of hostile heroes, filled with extreme raged, let go with due Mantras that shaft that looked resplendent like fire without a curl of smoke.

Then from the welkin a thick shower of arrows began to fall and wrapt up in fiery flames those arrows then surrounded Pritha's son on all sides.

Meteors dropped down from the concave dome and the points of the compass did not any longer shine; and suddenly a dreadful gloom enveloped the army in its sober folds.

The Rakshasa and the Pisachas, joining together to utter fierced yells; inauspicious winds began to blow and the Sun ceased to shine and give heat.

Ravens fiercely croaked on all sides; on the sky clouds emitted roars of thunder and showered torrents of blood.

Birds, breasts, kine, sages of illustrious vows and tranquil soul, could not then find any peace.

The very elements became perturbed and the Sun appeared to evolve in an opposite course. The triune world seemed as if afflicted in consequence of being under the influence of a corroding fever.

Afflicted with the energy of that weapon elephants and other creatures of the land fled with precipitation, breathing heavily and desirous of saving themselves from that fierce energy.

The watery expouses being heated, the acquatic creatures, scorched with the heat, O Bharata, could not find any ease.

Showers of shafts, swift-flying as Garuda or the wind itself, fell from all points of the compass, cardinal and subsidiary from the welkin and out of earth.

Wounded with those arrows of Drona's son, arrows endued with the energy of the thunder, his foes, scorched and consumed began to fall down like trees consumed by fire.

Dreadfully scorched mighty elephants fell on the ground uttering terrible roars resembling the rumble of clouds.

Other huge elephants scorched with the burning heat fled and careered in fear in battlefield as if in a forest set on fire.

O Sire, divisions of steeds and hosts of cars were seen there burnt like the tops of trees during a forest conflagration.

Thousands and thousands of car divisions then fell on that field; and ( Bharata, the illustrious God of fire then consumed that army of the Pandavas.

Like the Samvartaka fire consuming all creatures at the end of a Yuga. Beholding the Pandava troops consumed in that terrible battle.

Your warriors became filled with joy and they uttered loud and defiant war-cries. Then ) Bharata, thousands of drums of various sorts.

Were quickly struck up by your troops when victory then appeared sure. The complete host of the Panavas and Sabyasachin himself O king.

Could not be seen in that dreadful battle in consequence of the darkness that then enveloped the world; O king, we neither heard of, nor beheld the like of the that weapon that a a the revengeful son of Drona then invoked into existence. Thereupon, O mighty monarch, Arjuna invoked into existence the Brahma weapon.

That had been created by lotus-born Brahma for baffling all weapons. Then in a moment only that darkness was dispelled.

Cold breeze began to blow and the points of the compass became clear and bright. We then beheld wonderful sight, namely, Askshouhini of the Pandavas laid bow.

Their forms could not be distinguished, so horribly were they scorched by the energy of Ashvatthaman's weapon. Then the two heroic bowmen, Kesava and Arjuna, freed from that darkness.

Appeared like the two dispellers of darkness, the Sun and the Moon, rising in conjunction. The wielder of the Gandiva and Kesava were not at all wounded or injured.

Freed from that fie with their car, their banners and flags and steeds and excellent weapons, they the shone resplendent inspiring terrors at the heart of your troops.

Then from among the Pandava troops filled with delight, various confused sounds of life mingled with the sounds of drums and the blast of conchs.

Both the armies had thought Kesava and Arjuna to be destroyed. Beholding Kesava and Arjuna (freed from that fire of the weapon and that darkness) and seeing them quickly reappear.

Both uninjured and cheerful and blowing their excellent conches, the Pandava troops were filled with delight whilst those of yours were greatly pained.

Then Drona's son also beholding those illustrious warriors free and un-injured, became cheerless and O sire, for a moment only be thought. 'What is this?'

Thus reflecting, O king and over-whelmed with grief and anxious contemplation and sighing hot and heavily, he became cheerless in mind.

Then Drona's son throwing aside his bow and leaping down with agility from his car, fled from the field of battle-saying-"O Fie, 0 fie, everything is un-true.

Then as he was flying, he came across the sinless Vyasa, that compiler of the Vedas, that receptacle of Sarasvati, that habitation of the Vadas, who possess the hue of rain clouds.

O perpetuator of the Kuru race, then Drona's son beholding him stand before him, saluted and then in a voice choked in grief nor

O sire, O sire, is this an illusion or a caprice (on the part of the weapon)? I do not know what this may be? Why has this weapon been repulsed? What has been my fault in the method of its invocation?

Or is it something beyond the natural order of things or is it the defeat of the three worlds, inasmuch as the two Krishnas are still alive. Time indeed, is irresistible.

Neither Asuras, nor Gandharvas, Pisachas, nor Rakshasa, nor Snakes, nor Jakshas, nor insects, nor men.

Dare baffle this weapon invoked by me. This weapon however has become pacified having slain only one Akshauhini of troops.

I discharged this fierce weapon capable of slaying all things but why and how then did it not siay Kesava and Arjuna both possessed of attributes of the human kind.

O you possessor of the six qualities the Bhagas, explain to me all this truly as I have questioned you on the matter. O great sage, I want to hear the truth about the subject.

Vyasa said What you have asked me from curiosity is a matter of great significance. I shall speak to you everything. Hear me attentively.

He that is called Narayana is the most ancient of the ancient; that creator of the worlds took his birth as the son of Dharma for accomplishing a certain mission.

On the Himalaya hills, he performed severe austerities; possessed of great energy and resembling the Sun or the fire, he stood there with his arms upraised.

Endowed with eyes like lotus petals he reduced his bodily strength, by the observance of austerities for six and sixty thousand years living all the while upon air only.

Again undergoing severe austerities of another kind for twice that period, he filled the space intervening between heaven and earth with his energy.

When in virtue of those austerities, O son, he became equal to Brahma: he then obtained a sight of that master, origin and Protector, of the universe, the Lord of all the gods, the paramount Deity, who is highly difficult of being looked at; who is smaller then the smallest and larger than the largest;

Who is denominated the Rudra, who is the Lord of all the superior ones, who is called Hara and Shambhu; who wears matted looks on his head; who imparts vital energy to the all beings, who is the primordial cause of all the mobile and immobile things.

Who is incapable of being resisted and of dreadful aspect, who possesses fierce anger and magnanimous soul, who is the all-destroyer and of generous heart, who bears the celestial bow and a pair of quivers, who is covered in a golden coat of mail and whose energy.

Who wields the Pinaka, who is armed with the thunderbolt, the blazing trident, the battle axe, mace and a large sword. Whose eye-brows are fair, whose locks are matted, who wields the heavy bludgeon, who bears the moon on his forehead, who is clad in tiger-skin and who is armed with the heavy short club.

Who is furnished with beautiful Angadas, who has got snakes round his neck in the shape of the sacred thread, who is surrounded by various creatures and numerous ghosts of the universe, who is the One, who is the receptacle of ascetic rites and who is greatly admired by persons of venerable age.

Who is water, heaven, sky, earth, sun, moon, wind and fire and who is the measure of the duration of the universe. Beings of evil mode of life can never obtain a sight of that unborn one, that slayer of ali contemners of Brahmanas, that origin of immorality.

Only Brahmanas of pious mode of life, when purged of their sins and liberated from the influence of grief's obtain a sight of him, in their mind. Through the merits of his severe ascetic austerities Narayana beheld that undeteriorating, that most venerable one, that Being having the universe for his form. Beholding that best receptacle of all kinds of splendour, that divinity with a garland of Akshasas round his neck, Vasudeva with gratified soul became filled with delight, which he tried to express by his words, heart and understanding and body. Then Narayana worshipped that divine Lord, that primordial cause of the universe.

That giver of boons, that lord of illustrious soul engaged in sporting with the beautifullimbed Parvati and surrounded by hosts of ghost.

That unborn one and paramount. lord, that unmanifest one, that essence of all causes and that undeteriorating one ; then Narayana of eyes like lotus petals, having saluted Rudra, that 'slayer of Andhaka, reverentially began to praise that god of three-eyes. from you.

Narayana said O most adorable one, O first of all the gods, the creators (the Prajapatis) who are protectors of the world and who having entered the earth, your first creation-had, O lord, protected it before, having all sprung

The celestials, the Asuras, the Nagas, the Rakshasas, the Pisachas, human beings, birds, the Gandharvas, Yakshas and all other creatures, with the whole of this universe, we know have all originated from you.

All acts done for gratifying Indra, Yama, Varuna, Kubera, the Pitris and Tashtri and the Moon, all are done to propitiate you. Form and light, sound and the etherial space, wind and touch, taste and water, scent and earth.

Time, Brahma and the Vedas and the Brahmanas and all the mobile and immobile creatures have all sprung from you. Vapours rising up from expanses of water are turned into rain drops and which falling upon the earth, are separated from one another. When the hour of the universal dissolution comes, those separated individual drops once more : unite together and make the earth one vast sheet of water.

He who is conversant with the nature of things, thus observing the origin and destruction of all things from you, comprehends your unity and oneness. Two birds (Isvara and Jiva), four Ashvathas with their branches (the Vedas and the auxiliaries), the seven guardians (the five elements and the heart and the understanding).

And the then others (the ten senses) that constitute the city, the body) have all been created by you; but you are separate from and independent of them all; the past, the present and the future, beyond the sway of any body, have all originated from you, as also the seven worlds and this universe.

Out of a desire for paying homage O you, I am euiogising you, with a view to ascertain your real nature, O you that are beyond the comprehension of all gods. Worshipped by me, accord me the boons I desire to have, although they may be difficult of being acquired. Do not allow your illusion to shade you from me.

Vyasa said Then that god of inconceivable soul, possessed of blue throat and the wielder of the Pinaka bow, that divinity always eulogised by the sages, accorded boons to Vasudeya, who deserved then all.

The auspicious Lord said O Narayana, through my grace, among human beings, among the celestials and the Gandharavas, you shall be one whose soul and strength will be immeasurable.

The celestials, the Asuras and the mighty serpents the Pisachas, the Gandharvas, men and Rakshasas, none among these will be able to withstand you (in battle).

Neither Suparna, nor any Naga, nor any other creature born in the universe, nor even any of the gods shall be able to vanquish you in battle.

By weapons or thunder-bolt or fire or wind or with any object that is wet or dry or with any mobile and or immobile things.

None will be able to cause you pain, in consequence of my grace. You will be superior in battle even to me, if perchance you ever fight with me.

From the ascetic observances of the great Narayana, a mighty sage, called by the name of Nara was born. This latter is equal to the god Narayana himself. Know that Nara to be Arjuna.

These two sages, said to be older than the older gods, take their births in every Yuga for carrying on the easy rule of the universe.

You endued in energy and wrath also, O you of generous heart, have sprung from a portion of Rudra, through the merits of all your pious deeds and as a consequence of high ascetic austerities.

Being embodied, your intelligent self considered the world to be pervaded by Mahadeva; and then for propitiating that god you emaciated your body by the observance of hard vows.

Creating a white image of that foremost of male beings, O Bestower of honor, you adored him with homage, offerings and reiterating prayers.

Thus adored by you, the god became gratified on you in your previous life; and he then accorded to you, O learned one, excellent boons that you cherished in your heart.

In him are eternally present Atma Yuga and the undeteriorating Sashtra Yoga. The celestials, the Sidhas and the foremost sages all adore him.

With a view to obtain that highest object in the world viz., Sthanu or Mahadeva; He is the creator of all. The eternal Krishna ought to be adored in all sacrifices.

Knowing the Phallic from of Siva to be the origin of all forms, the lord Kesava adores him. The god having the bull for him emblem entertains great respect for Kesava.

Sanjaya said Hearing those words of his, that mighty carwarrior viz., the son of Drona, saluted Rudra and conceived a great regard for Kesava.

That one of controlled soul bowed also to that mighty sage (Krishna) and had the downs of his body erect. Then looking at his own divisions he withdrew them from the field of battle.

Thereupon, O ruler of men, the Pandava and the Kaurava troops were both withdrawn, the latter highly defeated in consequence of the overthrow of Drona.

Fighting only for the days and spreading carnage among the Pandava troops, o king, that Brahmana Drona, conversant with the contents of all the Vedas, attained to the posthumous region of the Brahmanas.