The encounter between Dushasana and Abhimanyu

Dhritarashtra said Upon hearing that Subhadra's son, singleheaded as he was, held in bay the entire army of my son, my heart, my heart, O Sanjaya, is simultaneously filled with shame and delight.

O son of Gavalgani, relate to me in detail the fight with prince Abhimanyu, that seems to be much like that between Skanda and the Asuras.

Sanjaya said Yes; I will tell you all about the dreadful carnage, the dreadful battle that was fought between the one and the many.

Then mounted upon his car and exerting his best, Abhimanyu began to shower shafts upon your warriors, all subduers of their foes, mounted on cars and exerting to the best of their might.

Roving like a circle of fire, he then struck his arrows of Drona, Karna, Kripa, Shalya, Drona's son, Bhoja, Brihadbala, Duryodhana, Somadatta's son, the valiant Shakuni and various other kings and princes and diverse kind of troops.

With his excellent weapons slaying his focs, the highly puissant son of Subhadra, endued with fierce energy, was then scen, O Bharata, on all directions.

Beholding those feats of Subhadra's son of immeasurable prowess, your troops trembled repeatedly.

Thereupon the highly wise and valiant son of Bharadvaja, with his eyes blooming forth in delight, addressing Kripa quickly said, beholding then Abhimanyu proficient in battle he said these words of Kripa, O Bharata, thereby seeming to pierce the very vitals of your sons.

Drona said-Yonder advances the youthful son of Subhadra at the head of the Parthas, imparting delight to all his friends, to king Yudhishthira, to Nakula, to Sahadeva, to Bhimasena the son of Pandu, to his friends, relatives, kinsinen and to all who are passive and neutral spectators.

I do not regard any other bowman equal to him in fight. If he wills, he can annihilate this vast host; but why does he not wish it?

Thereupon hearing the words of Drona that betrayed how delighted he (at Abhimanyu's feat), your son cnraged with Abhimanyu, smiled looking Drona. Thereafter, king Duryodhana addressing Karna, king Balhika, Dushasana, the ruler of the Madras and many other mighty carwarriors present, said-

“The preceptor of all venerable Kshatriyas, this one foremost of all those conversant with Brahma, does not, out of affection, wish to slay the son of Arjuna.

None can escape him in battle, no, not even the Des.royer himself, if he comes as an was at antagonist. What then, O friends, shall we say of a mortal! I say this forsooth.

He spares the son of Arjuna for he is his pupil. Pupils, their sons and grandsons, are ever dear to the righteous people.

Thus protected by Drona Abhimanyu is prizing his valour highly. Indeed he is a fool proud of himself. Crush him without delay."

Thus spoken to, O king, they rushed against the son of Subhadra the daughter of the Satvata race, all inspired with wrath and a desire to slay the latter, before the very eyes of Bharadvaja's son.

Then that foremost of the Kurus, viz., Dushasana, having heard the words of Duryodhana, addressed these words to him in reply.

“I tell you, O mighty monarch, I will slay this one before the very eyes of the sons of Pandu and at the sight of the Panchalas themselves.

Today, like the Rahu devouring the maker of the day, I will devour the son of Subhadra.” Then raising his voice, Dushasana once more spoke to the Kuru kings thus.

"Hearing that the son of Subhadra has been slain by me, the two Krishnas, both braggards, will surely go to the regions of the departed, leaving this world of animate beings.

Then it is evident also, that hearing of the death of these latter, the other sons of Pandi, with all their allies and friends, will give up their lives in the course of a single day, out of despair.

It seems therefore, that this one enemy of yours being slain, all the rest of them will be destroyed. Wish me well, O king, even I will slay this your enemy.

Having thus spoken, o king, your son Dushasana waxing wroth and sending up a loud war cry, rushed at Subhadra's son, covering him at the same time with a shower of arrows.

Then, O subduer of your foes, beholding your wrathful son advance furiously towards himself, Abhimanyu wounded him, with twenty-six arrows of exceeding sharpness.

Then like an elephant with its ternples rent, Dushasana infuriate with rage, fought on with Abhimanyu the illustrious son of Subhadra.

Then those two heroes well-versed in the art of driving cars, fought on describing beautiful circles, right and left, with their ears.

The combatants then set up a loud din, with the sounds of their Pandavas Mridangas Dundubhis, Krakachas, mighty Anakas, Bheris and Jharjharas, mingled with their war-cries, such as is produced by the great reservoir of saline water. The combatants then set up a loud din, with the sounds of their Pandavas Mridangas Dundubhis, Krakachas, mighty Anakas, Bheris and Jharjharas, mingled with their war-cries, such as is produced by the great reservoir of saline water.