The appearance of Arjuna on the field of battle

Sanjaya said Thus when the troops had been excellently disposed of in that array, Osire and when Bheris were sounded and Mridangas struck up.

When the soldiers uttered loud war-cries and musical instruments emitted tremendous din, when conchs were blown and horripilating roars were heard.

When the field slowly became over-spread with Bharata heroes desirous of battle and when the hour known as Roudra arrived, Savyasachin (Arjuna) made his appearance on the field of battle.

Then, O Bharata, many thousands of ravens and crows flew sportively in front of Arjuna's car.

Various animals of fearful yells and jackals of dreadful appearance, began to how in our right as we proceeded to battle.

Thousands of meteors, with harsh sounds and blazing tails, began to drop down; on the dreadful occasion, the whole Earth began to quake and tremble.

Dry winds accompanied by deep sounds and driving pebbles and gravel, began to blow when Kunti's son made his appearance before the commencement of the battle.

Then Shatanika the son of Nakula and Dhristadyumna the son of Prishata, these two warriors endued with great wisdom began to array in order the numerous divisions of the Pandavas.

Supported by a thousand cars, a hundred elephants, three thousand horses and ten thousand foot-soldiers and covering a part of the field measuring fifteen hundred bows, your son Durmarshana stationed himself in the very

Like the banks resisting the waves of the swelling main, even I myself will this day hold in check the wielder of the Gandiva bow, that slayer of foes, that hero who is irrepressible in battle.

Today let people see the irate and indomitable Dhananjaya collide with me, even like a mass of stone against another story mass.

Stay, O you car-warriors that long to join in the fray! Single-handed, will I fight with the assembled Pandavas, for enhancing my glory and my fame

Having thus (spoken, O mighty monarch, that illustrious site of generous intellect, that fierce bowmen, stood, king, being surrounded by many excellent car-warriors.

Then, ikt, the enraged Destroyer or like Vasata arnted with the thunderbolt or like the unbearate'r god of Death wielding his bludgeon and lét loose by time.

Or like Siva with trident and unruffled or like Varuna armed with the noose or like the blazing fire appearing at the end of a Yuga for consuming the creation.

That slayer of the Nivatakavachas, inflamed with rage and swelling with his energies, the ever victorious Jaya attached to truth and intent on accomplishing his great vow.

Cased in mail and armed with a sword, graced with a golden diadem, decorated with garlands of white flowers and attired in white garments, his arms decked with charming Angadas and ears with resplendent ear-rings.

Riding on his own best of chariots, the embodied Nara accompanied by Narayana, shaking his Gandiva bow in battle appeared shining and dazzling like the risen sun.

Then Dhananjaya endued with great might, O king, stopping his chariot before the van of his troops where the thickest downpour of arrows was expected blew his conch.

Thereupon the undaunted Krishna also, O sire, with Pritha's son, blew with force that most excellent conch of his, known as the Panchajanya.

Then at that blare of the conchs, O ruler of men, the soldiers of your army had the hair of their body erect and they trembled and were confounded.

At the blare of their conchs, your troops took right even as creatures become frightened at the rumbling of the thunder.

All the beasts discharged urine and excreta. Your whole army with its animals seized with anxiety.

O sire, O monarch, in consequence of the blare of those two conchs, all men were deprived of their strength. And some of our array the were filled with fear and some lost their consciousness.

Then frightening your soldiers, the ape of Arjuna's banner with other creatures thereon, opening its mouth, uttered a terrible roar.

Then conchs, horns, cymbals and Anakas, were sounded and blown for inspiring energy into your troops.

Then din thus produced, became mixed up with the din produced by various musical instruments, by the shouts of warriors and by the slappings of their armpits, by the war-cries of the great car-warriors, as they challenged one another.

Thus when that tremendous din arose there din that enhanced the fear of the cowards the son of Pakashasani became filled with joy; and addressing the descendant of the Dasarha race, he then thus spoke.