Shalya Parva — Shalya strikes the Pandavas who in return strike him. Kritavarma and Kripa go to help Shalya. The fight between various Kuru and Pandava leaders

Sanjaya said When the troops, killed by one another, were thus agitated, when many of the heroes took to their heels and the elephants sent up loud roars, when the infantry in that dreadful battle began to shout and cry aloud, when the horse, O king, ran in various directions, when the slaughter became dreadful, when a terrible onslaught of creatures took place, when various weapons clashed with one another, when car and elephants were mixed up, when heroes were delighted and cowards became afraid-when warriors encountered. One another in order to kill them-on that awful occasion of carnage, that increased the denizens of Yama's kingdom, the Pandavas killed your troops with keen arrows and similarly your troops slew those of the Pandavas.

During that awe-inspiring battle, during the progress of the battle faught about the hour of sin-rise, the Pandava heroes, of good aim, protected by the high-souled Yudhishthira, fought with your forces, making death itself their goal.

The Kuru army, Kuru chief, encountering the proud and powerful Pandavas skilled in striking and of sure aim, became weakened and agitated like a herd of she-deer frightened at a forest fire.

Seeing that army weakened and helpless like a cow sunk in mire, Shalya, desirous of rescuing it, proceeded against the Pandavas army.

Enraged the king of the Madras, taking up an excellent bow, rushed for battle against the Pandavas.

The Pandavas also, O king, in that battle, filled with the desire of victory, proceeded against the king of the Madras and struck him with keen arrows.

The powerful king of the Madras struck that army with showers of keen arrows before the very eyes of the righteous king.

The Earth, with her mountains, shook, making a loud noise.

Meteors, keen pointed and bright like lances, dropped on Earth from the sky piercing the air.

Large numbers of deer and buffaloes and birds, O king, passed by the left of your army.

The planets Venus and Mars in conjunction with Mercury, appeared at the back of the Pandavas and at the front of all the Kauravas.

Blazing flames came out from the points of weapons, dazzling the eyes of the warriors. Crows and owls sat upon the heads of the combatants and on the and on the tops of their standards.

Then a fierce encounter took place between the Kauravas and the Pandavas assembled together in large bodies.

Then O king, the Kauravas, collecting all their detachments, rushed against the Pandavas.

Shalya, who never knew depression, then poured showers of arrows on Yudhishthira the son of Kunti, like the thousand-eyed Indra pouring rain in torrents.

He struck Bhimasena, the five sons of Draupadi, the two sons of Madri by Pandu, Dhrishtadyumna, the grand-son of Shini, Shikhandin each with ten gold-winged arrows whetted on stone. Then he, the great powerful wounded every one by ten arrows. Indeed, he began to discharge his arrows like Indra pouring rain at the close of the summer season.

Then the Prabhadrakas, O king and the Somakas, where killed by thousands by Shalya's arrows.

The arrows of Shalya, as swarms of becs or fights of locusts, were seen to fall, like thunder bolts from the clouds.

Elephants and horses and foot-soldiers and car-warriors, assailed with Shalya's arrows, fell down or strayed away bewailing loudly.

Beside himself with rage the ruler of the Madras covered his foes in that battle like the Destroyer at the end of the cycle.

The Pandava army, thus killed by Shalya, ran towards Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti.

Light-handed Shalya, having in that battle struck them with whetted arrows, began to assail Yudhishthira with a down-pour of arrows.

Beholding Shalya rushing towards him with horse and foot, king Yudhishthira, worked up with wrath, checked him with sharp arrows, even as an infuriate elephant is checked with iron-hooks.

Then Shalya shot a dreadful arrow at Yudhishthira that resembled a a snake of dreadful venom. Piercing through the highsouled son of Kunti, that arrow quickly dropped down the Earth.

Then Vrikodara, enraged, pierced Shalya with seven arrows and Sahadeva pierced him with five and Nakula with ten.

The five sons of Draupadi poured upon that heroic and impetuous Artayani, showers of arrows like clouds pouring rain upon a mountain.

Beholding Shalya struck by the Parthas on every side, both Kritavarman and Kripa proceeded in anger there.

The generally energetic Uluka, Shakuni, the son of Subala and the great car-warrior Ashvatthaman smiling and all your sons protected Shalya every way in that battle.

Piercing Bhimasena with three arrows Kritavarman, discharging a mass of arrows, checked that warrior who was as if the personification of wrath.

Excited with anger, Kripa struck Dhrishtadyumna with numberless arrows. Shakuni rushed against the sons of Draupadi and Ashvathaman against the twins.

That foremost of warriors, the energetic Duryodhana, rushed in that battle, against Keshava and Arjuna and struck them both with many arrows.

Thus hundreds of dreadful encounters, O king, took place between your ariny and the enemy, on the various parts of the field.

The chief of the Bhojas then killed he brown horses of Bhimasena's car in that encounter. The son of Pandu, deprived of his horses, alighting from his car, began to fight with his mace, like the Destroyer himself with his uplifted bludgeon.

The king of the Madras then killed the horses of Sahadeva before his eyes and then Sahadeva killed Shalya's son with his sword.

The preceptor Gautama again fought with Dhristadyumna, both trying their level best.

The preceptor's son Ashvatthama, not excited with anger and as if smiling in that battle, struck each of the five heroic sons of Draupadi with ten arrows.

Again the horses of Bhimasena were killed in that battle. He then quickly got down from his car, took up his mace like the Destroyer his rod in anger and crushed the horses of Kritavarman's car, Jumping down from his chariot Kritavarman fled away.

Shalya also excited with anger, O king, killed many Somakas and Pandavas and once more assailed Yudhishthira with many sharp arrows.

Then biting his lips and beside himself with range, the valiant Bhima took up his mace in that battle and aimed it at Shalya for killing him.

It resembled the very rod of Yama, in the death-night and was destructive of the lives of elephants and horses and human beings.

It was coated with a cloth of gold, looked like a burning meteor, furnished with a sling, was fierce as a she-snake, hard as thunder and made entirely of iron.

It was smeared with sandal-paste and other unguents like a desirable lady, pasted with marrow and fat and blood and reseinbled the very tongue of Yama.

It produced sounds on account of the bells attached to it, like unto the thunder of Indra. It resembled in shape a dreadful serpent that had just cast off its slough, soaked with the temporal juice of elephants.

It inspired the enemies with terror and the friends with joy. It was celebrated in the world and capable or riving mountain summits.

With this mace, the powerful son of Kunti had, in Kailasa, challenged the enraged Lord of Alaka, the friend of Maheshvara.

With this weapon Bhima, though resisted by many, had in anger killed a large number of proud Guhyakas endued with powers of illusion on the mount Gandhamadana for the sake of procuring Mandara flowers for Draupadi.

Taking up that mace which was set with diamonds and other gems, eight-sided and celebrated as Indra's thunder-the mightyarmed son of Pandu now ruslied against Shalya.

With that mace of dreadful sound Bhima, skilled in battle, crushed the four quickcoursing horses of Shalya.

Then heroic Shalya, worked up with wrath, in that battle, hurled a lance at the broad chest of Bhima and sent fourth a loud war-cry. That lance, cutting through the cost of mail of Pandu's son, entered into his person.

However taking out the weapon fearless Vrikodara struck therewith the driver of Shalya on the chest.

Cut to the quick, the driver, vomiting blood, fell down with a trembling heart. At this the king of the Madras got down from his car and looked at Bhiina in depression.

Beholding his own attempt thus thwarted, Shalya was struck with wonder. Of quiescent soul, the king of the Madras took up his mace and began to eye his enemy.

Beholding that terrible fear of his in battle, the Parthas joyfully worshipped Bhima of untiring energy.