The defeat and death of Brihadbala

Dhritarashtra said ever When that youthful and invincible son of Subhadra, unretrcating in battle, penetrating into the ranks of my troops was achieving feats worthy of his own family and when borne by his three-year-old steeds of great strength and excellent breed, he appeared to sail through the skies, what heroes of my army then strove to resist him?

Sanjaya said Penetrating into the heart of your troops, Abhimanyu, the delighter of the Pandavas, with his sharp arrows compelled all the kings to turn their faces away from the field of battle.

Thereupon Drona, Kripa, Karna, the son of Drona, Brihadbala and Kritavarman the son of Hridika, these six car-warriors surrounded him.

Beholding a very heavy burden (of keeping the rest of the Pandavas at bay) placed on the shoulder of the Sindhu king, your troops, O mighty monarch, assailed Yudhishthira.

Other mighty warriors stretching their bows full six cubits long, covered the heroic son of Subhadra with a shower of arrows.

Then that slayer of hostile heroes, namely Subhadra's son, assailed by means of his arrows, all those mighty car-warriors all well accomplished in all kinds of learning.

And he then pierced Drona with fifty arrows and Brihadvala with twenty; and Kritavarman with eighty and Kripa with sixty, the son of Arjuna then pierced Ashvatthaman with ten shafts furnished with wings of gold, charged with great forces and shot from the bow drank back to the very ear.

Then in the very midst of the hostile troops, the son of Phalguna pierced Karna in one of his ears with an excellent barbed arrows, carefully tempered and whetted.

Then having felled Krìpa's steeds and the two supporters of his flanks, Abhimanyu pierced him on his breast with ten shafts.

Thereafter the valiant Abhimanyu slew the warlike Vrindaraka the enhancer of the glory of the Kurus, even before the very eyes of your heroic son.

Then Drona's son dauntlessly struck Abhimanyu with twenty-five short arrows, when the latter was occupied in slaying the best among his enemies.

son Thereupon O Sire, Arjuna's son pierced Ashvatthaman in return with whetted shafts, before the presence of all the warriors of your army.

Then Drona's having pierced Abhimanyu with sixty fierce and resplendent shafts of exceeding sharpness, could not make the latter tremble; and then the latter remained unmoved like the Mainaka hills.

Then that hero of puissant mighty and fierce energy, pierced the son of Drona who had been afflicting him, with thirty seven arrows, all straight-going and furnished with wings of gold.

Thereupon Drona desirous of saving his son, struck hundred shafts on Abhimanyu; and Ashvatthaman also desirous of rescuing his father, pierced him with sixty shafts.

Karna then pierced Abhimanyu with lwenty-two broad-headed shafts. Kritavarman with fourteen, Brihadbala with fifty and Kripa the son of Saradvata with ten.

In return, Abhimanyu pierced each of them with ten shafts. Then the ruler of the Kosalas pierced him on the breast with a barbed dart. Abhimanyu then felled on the ground his horses, his standards, his bow and his charioteer.

Thercupon deprived of the use of his bar the king of the Kosalas grasping his sword and shield. Strove to take off the head, graced with ear-rings, of Phalguna's son, from his trunk

Then the latter, pierced the ruler of Kosalas; by name prince Brihadbala on the breast, with arrows; and the latter fell down with his breast cleft open.

Then ten thousand high-souled kings broke away. Uttering abusive language (againsi Duryodhana), armed though they were with swords and bows.

Thereafter having slain Brihadbala in battle, Subhadra's son careered through the field, the paralysed the mighty car-warriors of your army with a downpour of arrowy showers.