Karna Parva — The battle of Samsaptakas

Sanjaya said Beholding the Kuru army afflicted with the fear of Pandu's son sinking like a boat foundered in the ocean, Kritavarma, Kripa, Drona's son, Suta's son, Ulaka, Subala's son Shakuni and the king himself with his brother, came to their rescue.

Then there took place an encounter for the time being capable of striking terror unto the timid and increasing the delight of the heroes.

The downpour of arrows made by Kripa in the battle covered the Srinjayas like a swarm of locusts.

Thereupon Shikhandin, worked up with anger, speedily approached the son of Gautaina and discharged a shower of arrows upon that best of men.

And checking that downpour of arrows Kripa, conversant with the use of mighty weapons and filled with anger, struck in that encounter Shikhandin with ten arrows.

Then Shikhandin, worked up with anger, pierced Kripa and seven straight Kankafeathered arrows.

Then the Brahmana Kripa, a mighty carwarrior, piercing heavily with sharp arrows, deprived Shikhandin of his horses, charioteer and car.

Then jumping down from the car, the heroes of which were slain, the mighty carwarrior speedily took up his sword and armour and approached the Brahmana.

Then he covered him suddenly who was approaching with straight arrows. This was indeed wonderful. We then, O king, beheld a wonderful spectacle like the flying of rocks. And Shikhandin remained inactive in that battle.

Beholding Shikhandin covered with arrows by Kripa, O foremost of kings, the mighty carwarrior Dhristadyumna speedily approached him.

Thereupon the mighty car-warrior Kritavarma vehemently resisted Dhristadyumna who was advancing towards the son of Sharadvata.

Drona's son then resisted Yudhishthira who was advancing with his own son and arms against the son of Sharadvata.

Your son then impeded with a downpour of arrows the approach of the two car-warriors Nakula and Sahadeva.

Karna, the son of Vikartana, O descendant of Bharata, then resisted in battle Bhimasena, Karushas, Kaikeyas and Srinjayas.

Then in the battle, O Sire, Kripa quickly hurled arrows at Shikhandin as to burn him down.

Whirling his sword repeatedly (Shikhandin) then with his sword cut-off all those golddecked arrows that were discharged at him.

The son of Gautama then quickly cut-off with his arrows the shield of Prishata's son that was adorned with a hundred moons. At this his people made a loud uproar.

Deprived of his shield, O monarch and brought under the influence of Kripa, he, with his sword, advanced like a sick man advancing towards death.

O king, Chitraketu's son Suketu quickly proceeded towards the highly powerful (Shikhandin) who was thus distressed and assailed by the son of Sharadvata.

Having covered in battle the Brahmana with sharp arrows, that one of immeasurable energy, advanced towards the car of Gautama's son.

Beholding that Brahmana, observant of vows thus engaged in battle, Shikhandin, O king, quickly proceeded there.

O king, having pierced the son of Gautama with nine arrows Suketu once more pierced him with seventy and again with three.

He then cut-off his bow and arrows; then with another he pierced greatly his driver to the very vitals.

Thereupon worked up with anger Gautama took up a fresh and strong bow and cut-off Suketu to the very vital part with thirty arrows.

All his limbs were weakened and he shook on that best of cars as a tree trembles greatly during an earth quake.

Then with a razor-sharpened arrow he sundered from body his head still trembling with shining ear-rings, crown and headprotector.

His head fell down on the earth like a piece of meant stolen away by a hawk, afterwards his body, O Eternal one, fell down on the earth.

O Emperor, when he was slain, all his followers, leaving behind the son of Gautama in the battle-field fled, away in ten directions.

Encircling the highly powerful Dhristadyumna in the battle-field Kritavarma said to him-"Wait! wait!"

Then there took place a terrible and wonderful encounter between the Vrishnis and Parsatas like that of two angry hawks, O king, for a piece of meat.

Worked up with anger, Dhristadyumna, in that battle, assailed Hridika's son violently and struck him on the chest with nine arrows.

Thus Assailed by a Parohata in battle Kritavarma covered him, his chariot and horses with arrows.

O king, thus covered along with his car Dhristadyumna became invisible like the sun enshrouded by clouds surcharged with water.

Withstanding him with gold feathered arrows, O king, Dhristadyumna appeared in battle with wounds.

Obtaining Kritavarma, Parsata, the commander of the forces, worked up with anger, made a terrible downpour of arrows.

In that battle Hridika's son with many thousand arrows, all on a sudden, dispelled that highly dreadful shower of arrows that was about to fall on him.

Beholding in that battle that fearful downpour of arrows thus dispelled by him Prishata's son, approaching Kritavarma, withstood him.

With a sharpened spike he dispatched his charioteer to the abode of Death. Slain he fell down from the chariot.

Having vanquished his highly powerful enemy, the mighty Dhristadyumna speedily withstood the Kauravas in battle with arrows.

Thereupon emitting leonine roars your warriors ran towards Dhristadyumna and again an encounter took place.