द्रोणाभिषेक पर्व — शल्यको पराजय

Dhritarashtra said O Sanjaya, you have described to me various wonderful accounts of single combats; hearing them I envy those who are blessed with eyes.

In this world, all men will speak of this battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas, resembling that between the celestials and the Asuras, as very wonderful.

I am never satiated with the audition of this excellent fight; therefore do you recount to me the (details of the combat between Atrayan and the son of Subhadra.

Sanjaya said Seeing his charioteer overthrown, Shalya uplifting a mace wholly made of iron and in rage uttering a loud shout, jumped down from his excellent car.

Thereupon Bhima also grasping a mighty mace speedily encountered him (Shalya) who then resembled the all-destroying fire in effulgence and also the God of death wielding his bludgecn.

The son of Subhadra also grasping a huge mace that looked like the thunderbolt itself, called out to Shalya saying 'Come, Come'; but Bhima, with great efforts, prevented him (from joining in the fray).

Then having dissuaded the son of Subhadra, the puissant Bhimasena, meeting Shalya in battle, stood immovable like a mountain.

Also the mighty-powerful king of the Madras, beholding Bhima, rushed at him with impetuosity, like a tiger attacking an elephant.

Then there arose the blare of trumpets and conchs by thousands, as also leonine roars and deafening sounds of drums.

Loud shouts of Well-done' “Well-done' were uttered by hundreds of Kuru and Pandava warriors who had been looking on and rushing against one another.

Bharata, none among host of kings, except the ruler of the Madras, could withstand in battle, the impetuosity of the attack of Bhimasena.

Also, in this earth, none except Vrikodara, could bear the vehemence of the mace wielded by the king of the Madras, of illustrious soul attack of Bhimasena.

Then that huge mace, covered over with a 11C/-work composed of hempen strings and gold wires, imparted grcal delight into the hearts of the troops and being wielded by Bhima it seemed to blaze forth.

Similarly, the mace was getting grace like lightening in the hands of king Shalya when it was being played in orbits, circles and several trends as prescribed for truncheon-war.

The both Shalya and Vrikodara, whirling their maces and moving in various orders, began to course in various circles.

Whether as regards their circular movements and whirling motions or their wielding of the maces, the fight between those two foremost of men as equal in every respect.

The prodigious mace of Shalya being struck against that of Bhimasena, emitted dreadful flashes of fire and then quickly fell into fragments.

Similarly the mace of Bhimasena being struck against that of his adversary, resembled a tree lighted by fire-flies during the rainy season at night-fall.

The mace hurled by the king of the Madras in battle, O Bharata, illuminating the welkin, frequently emitted flashes of fires.

Similarly the mace hurled by Bhimasena at his foe, consumed the latter's troops like a dreadful meteor shooting down.

Then those two excellent of maces, clashing against each other, appeared like two fiercely breathing she-snakes and emitted flashes of fire.

Then like two mighty tigers attacking one another with their claws or like two infuriated elephants doing the same with their tusks, those two heroes, coursed (in the field), having grasped their two excellent maces.

Then both of them being simultaneously struck with those excellent of maces, were soon besmeared with blood and they resembled two Kinshuka trees decked with blossoms.

Then in all the points of the compass was heard, like the rumbling of Shakra's thunder, the sound generated by the clash of the maces wielded by those two foremost of men.

Struck with the mace of the ruler of the Madras both on the left and on the right side, Bhima did not tremble, even like a mountain cleft open (by the thunder-bolt).

Also the puissant king of the Madras being struck by impetus of the mace of Bhima, patiently stood immovable like a mountain riven by the thunder-bolt itself.

Upraising their maces, they assaulted one another with great impetus; they then again began to course in shorter circles.

Leaping over space measuring eight steps and falling upon one another like two rival elephants, they began to strike with vehemence, one another, with their iron bludgeons.

In consequence of their great impetus and being struck sorely with each other's mace, those two heroes simultaneously fell down on earth like two poles raised in honour of Indra.

Thereupon the mighty car-warrior Kritavarman speedily came to Shalya's rescue who was deprived of his senses and was breathing quickly.

Seeing Shalya crushed with the stroke of the mace and writhing like a snake and overwhelmed with a swoon, O monarch.

The mighty car-warrior car-warrior Kritavarman, speedily taking up the ruler of the Madras on his car carried him away from the field of battle.

Though unconscious like one drunk the mighty-armed and heroic Bhima rose up in a twinkling of the eye and was seen standing with his mace in his grost.

Thereupon your sons-seeing the king of the Madras turn back from the field of battle, O Sire, began to tremble supported though they were by elephant, infantry, cavalry and cars.

The warriors of your army being crushed by the Pandavas desirous of victory and struck with fear, fled in all directions like clouds driven by the storm.

The mighty warriors, Oking, of the Pandava host having vanquished, in battle, the army of Dhritarashtra, appeared effulgent like blazing fires.

Transported with joy, they blew their conchs and gave forth roars resembling those of the lions and struck up their drums along with Mridangas and cymbals.