निवातकवचों से युद्ध का आरम्भ

Arjuna said ; Then praised by the great sages here and there, I (at length) beheld the dreadful oceanthe inexhaustible lord of waters.

(And) on it were visible, foamy and swelling waves scattered all over, dashing against each other and looking like moving rocks.

Ships full of gems were seen on it all around. Timingilas, tortoises, Timitimingilas,

And Makaras were seen here like submarine reefs. Thousands of submerged shells lying all around.

Looked like stars on a night covered with light clouds. Thousands of gems were floating in heaps.

And a dreadful wind was sweeping over it in whirls, which appeared wonderful to me. Behoiding that excellent lord of all waters with strong tides I saw very near, the city of the Daiytas full of the Danavas. There soon entering into the nether world, Matali,

Expert in driving the car and sitting steadily on it, drove it with force. And he drove onward making that city resound with the rattling sound of the car.

Hearing that rattling noise of the car as the roar of the clouds in the sky and taking me for the king of the gods, the Danavas became agitated.

(And) with their minds trembling with fear, they stood, holding in their hands arrows, bows, swords, javelins, axes, maces and clubs.

Then having made arrangements for the defence of their city, the Danavas. with hearts troubled with fear, closed the gates so that nothing could be seen.

Then taking my conch, Devadatta, emitting tremendous roars, I repeatedly blew it with great joy.

That sound, ringing through the heavens, sent forth echoes. Upon which, mighty creatures, greatly terrified, hid themselves.

Thereupon, O Bharata, all those sons of Ditithe Nivatakavachas-poured in thousands, adorned with ornaments, clad in various kinds of mails and holding in their hands various weapons, (such as) javelins, mighty maces, clubs, hatchets, Pattishas, Sabres, car-wheels, Shataghnis, Bhushundis and variegated and ornamented swords.

Then O best of the Bharatas, deliberately judging of the course the car should take, Matali began to drive the steeds on level grounds,

Then, on account of the rapid career of the horses, fleet as the wind and guided by him (Matali) I could perceive nothing-and this appeared wonderful to me.

Thereupon the Danavas vehemently began to sound thousands of musical instruments, discordant and of awkward shapes.

Stupefied at those sounds, hundreds and thousands of fishes (huge) as mountains began suddenly to fly away from the sea.

Then the Danavas rushed at me with tremendous force discharging hundreds and thousands of sharpened arrows.

(And), O Bharata, there took place between them and me a terrible fight destructive of the Nivatakavachas.

The Devarshis, the Danavarshis, the Brahinarshis and the Siddhas came there to witness that terrible encounter.

(And) those Munis, eager for my victory, began to eulogise me with sweet speeches as they did Indra, at the war which took place on account of Tara (the wife of Brihaspati).