सौप्तिक पर्व — प्रकृतिका अद्भुत उत्पात; त्रिलोकको रक्षाका लागि नारद र व्यास दुवै अस्त्रको अग्निबीच उभिन्छन्

Vaishampayana said "In the very beginning the powerful hero of Dasharha's, race understood from sings the intention of Drona's son. He said to Arjuna, O son of Pandu, the time is come for the use of that celestial weapon, the use of which was given to you by Drona.

For protecting yourself as also your brothers, O Bharata, discharge in this battle that weapon which is capable of counteracting all other weapons.

Thus addressed by Keshava, Arjuna that destroyer of hostile heroes, quickly got down from the car, taking with him his bow with arrow fixed on string.

Wishing good to the preceptor's son of himself, and to all his brothers, that destroyer of foes then bowed to all the gods and all his superiors and discharged his weapon, thinking of the well-being of all the words and saying, 'Let this weapon neutralise Ashvatthaman's weapon.'

Quickly discharged by the wider of Gandiva, that weapon blazed up with fierce flames like the all-destroying fire that appears at the end of a cycle.

Likewise the weapon that had been discharged by Drona's energetic son, blazed up with dreadful flames within a huge sphere of fire.

Peals of thunder were heard; thousands of meteors, dropped down and all living creatures were filled with great fear.

The entire sky was filled with noise and put on a terrible appearance with those flames of fire. The entire earth shook with her mountains, rivers and trees.

Seeing those two weapons consuming the three worlds, the two great Rishis, viz., Narada who is the soul of every creature, and Vyasa, the grandfather of all the Bharata princes, came there. The two Rishis tried to pacify the two heroes, Ashvatthaman and Dhananjaya.

Cognizant of all duties and desirous of the well-being of all creatures, the two energetic sages, stood in the midst of those two blazing weapons.

Incapable of being moved by any force, those two great Rishis, placing themselves between the two weapons, stood like two burning fires.

Incapable of being checked by any living creatures, and worshipped of gods and Danavas, they two acted in this way, counteracting the power of the two weapons and doing good to all the world.

The two Rishis said Those great car-warriors who have died in this battle were masters of diverse kinds weapons. They, however, never shot such a weapon upon men. What rash act is this, O heroes, that you have done.