Parva 9

9.1.1 Janamejaya said: When Karṇa had thus been struck down in battle by Savyasācin, and the Kurus were left but few, what then did they do, O brāhmaṇa?

9.1.2 Seeing the host of the Pāṇḍavas surging upward and the hour come upon him, what course did King Suyodhana, the Kaurava, resolve upon?

9.1.3 This I wish to hear; tell it to me, O best of the twice-born, for I am never sated hearing of the mighty deeds of the ancients.

9.1.4 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then, when Karṇa had been slain, O king, Suyodhana the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra sank deep in an ocean of grief and grew hopeless on every side.

9.1.5 Crying again and again "Alas, Karṇa! Alas, Karṇa!" in his sorrow, he made his way with difficulty to his own camp, together with the kings who survived the slaughter.

9.1.6 Though consoled by the kings with reasonings settled in the śāstras, he found no peace, remembering the slaying of the Sūta's son.

9.1.7 Deeming fate all-powerful and what must be inevitable, that prince made his resolve for battle and went forth once more to fight.

9.1.8 Having made Śalya commander of his army with due rites, that bull among kings went forth to war, together with the kings who survived the slaughter.

9.1.9 Then a most tumultuous battle arose between the armies of the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, O best of the Bhāratas, like the war of gods and asuras.

9.1.10 Then, O great king, Śalya, after wreaking havoc in battle among the Pāṇḍava host, was struck down at midday by the King of Righteousness.

9.1.11 Then King Duryodhana, his kinsmen slain, withdrew from the field of battle and entered a dreadful lake out of fear born of his enemies.

9.1.12 Then in the afternoon of that day, surrounded by the great car-warriors and called forth from the lake by a stratagem, he was struck down by Bhīmasena.

9.1.13 When that mighty bowman had been slain, the three car-warriors who remained, in their fury, slew the Pāñcāla soldiers by night, O lord of kings.

9.1.14 Then in the forenoon Saṃjaya, coming from the camp, entered the city wretched, filled with sorrow and grief.

9.1.15 Having swiftly entered the city, grief-stricken, raising up his arms and trembling, he then entered the dwelling of the king.

9.1.16 And he wept aloud, O tiger among men, crying "Alas, O king!" in his grief: "Ah, woe, we are stricken with anguish by the destruction of the great-souled ones."

9.1.17 "Ah, how mighty is Time, and how supreme its course, where all those kings, equal in strength to Śakra, were slain!"

9.1.18 And the moment they saw Saṃjaya before them, O king, all the people, sorely agitated, wailed loudly, crying "Alas, O king!"

9.1.19 That whole city, O tiger among men, down to its children, raised on every side a great cry of anguish when it heard the king had been slain.

9.1.20 And he saw there three bulls among men running about, like men robbed of their senses, like madmen, sorely afflicted with grief.

9.1.21 Then that overwhelmed sūta, entering the dwelling of the king, beheld the best of kings, the lord whose eye was wisdom.

9.1.22 And he saw the sinless one seated, surrounded on every side by his daughters-in-law, by Gāndhārī, and by Vidura, O best of the Bhāratas,

9.1.23 and by other friends and kinsmen who wished him well, while he brooded upon that very matter — the death of Karṇa.

9.1.24 Weeping still, the sūta, his mind far from glad, addressed these words to the king, O Janamejaya, in a voice choked with tears:

9.1.25 "I am Saṃjaya, O tiger among men; homage to you, O bull of the Bhāratas. Śalya, lord of the Madras, is slain, and Śakuni, son of Subala, and Ulūka, O tiger among men, the son of the gambler, of steadfast valor."

9.1.26 "The saṃśaptakas are all slain, and the Kāmbojas together with the Śakas; the mlecchas too, the mountain-dwellers, and the Yavanas have been struck down."

9.1.27 "The men of the east are slain, O great king, and those of the south entirely; all those of the north are killed, and those of the west, O lord of men; kings and princes have been slain on every side, O king."

9.1.28 "Duryodhana is slain, O king, as foretold by the Pāṇḍava; his thighs broken, O great king, he lies in the dust, smeared over with it."

9.1.29 "Dhṛṣṭadyumna is slain, O king, and the unconquered Śikhaṇḍin, Uttamaujas and Yudhāmanyu too, O king, and the Prabhadrakas."

9.1.30 "The Pāñcālas, those tigers among men, and the Cedis are destroyed; all your sons are slain, and the sons of Draupadī, O Bhārata; the heroic son of Karṇa, the mighty Vṛṣasena, is slain."

9.1.31 "All the foot-soldiers are slain and the elephants struck down; the car-warriors too, O tiger among men, and the horses have been killed in the battle."

9.1.32 "Little is left of the camp of your men, O lord, nor of the heroes of the Pāṇḍavas, after they clashed with one another."

9.1.33 "The world, deluded by Time, has come down well-nigh to women alone; seven remain on the Pāṇḍava side, and of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's, three."

9.1.34 "Those are the five brothers, then Vāsudeva and Sātyaki; and Kṛpa, Kṛtavarman, and Droṇa's son, best of the victorious."

9.1.35 "These car-warriors are yours, O great king, O best of kings; of all the akṣauhiṇīs gathered together, O lord of men, these alone remain, O great king; all the others have gone to destruction."

9.1.36 "By Time the whole world has been slain, O bull of the Bhāratas, with Duryodhana set foremost in the enmity, O Bhārata."

9.1.37 Hearing these cruel words, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of men, fell to the ground, O great king, his spirit gone.

9.1.38 When he had fallen to the earth, Vidura too, of great renown, fell down, O great king, worn with grief at the king's calamity.

9.1.39 And Gāndhārī, O best of kings, and all the women of the Kurus fell suddenly to the earth on hearing those cruel words.

9.1.40 That whole royal circle then lay senseless, fallen to the earth, like a great tale full of lamentation set down upon a painted scroll.

9.1.41 Then with much difficulty King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of the earth, slowly regained his breath, worn with grief at the loss of his sons.

9.1.42 Having regained his senses, that king, trembling and sorely grieved, looked toward all the quarters and spoke these words to the Steward:

9.1.43 "O learned Steward, of great wisdom, you are my refuge, O bull of the Bhāratas — mine, who am forlorn, utterly bereft of all my sons." Having spoken thus, he again fell down senseless.

9.1.44 Seeing him thus fallen, such kinsmen of his as were near sprinkled him with cool waters and fanned him with fans.

9.1.45 After a long while that lord of the earth, regaining his composure, brooded in silence, the king worn with grief at the loss of his sons, hissing like a serpent thrust into a jar, O lord of peoples.

9.1.46 Saṃjaya too wept there, seeing the king so stricken, as did all the women, and the illustrious Gāndhārī.

9.1.47 Then after a long while Dhṛtarāṣṭra, that tiger among men, swooning again and again, spoke these words to Vidura:

9.1.48 "Let all the women go, and the illustrious Gāndhārī, and likewise all these friends; my mind is utterly giving way."

9.1.49 Thus addressed, the Steward, O bull of the Bhāratas, gently dismissed those women, himself trembling again and again.

9.1.50 Then all those women went out, O bull of the Bhāratas, and all the friends as well, having seen the king so stricken.

9.1.51 Then, O scorcher of foes, Saṃjaya, wretched, looking upon that lord of men who had regained his senses there, weeping and sorely afflicted,

9.1.52 with joined palms — and the Steward too — comforted with gentle words that lord of men, who sighed again and again.

9.2.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: When the women had been dismissed, Dhṛtarāṣṭra, son of Ambikā, lamented, O great king, passing from grief to deeper grief.

9.2.2 Sighing as if with smoke, wringing his hands again and again, and reflecting, O great king, he then spoke these words:

9.2.3 "Ah, woe, this is great sorrow, that I hear from you, O sūta, that the Pāṇḍavas are safe and unscathed in the battle."

9.2.4 "Surely my heart is most hard, made of the very stuff of adamant, since on hearing my sons slain it does not burst into a thousand pieces."

9.2.5 "Recalling their speech and their childhood play, O Saṃjaya, now on hearing my sons slain, my mind is utterly torn asunder."

9.2.6 "Though through my blindness I had no sight of their forms, yet the affection born of a father's love for them I held ever in my heart."

9.2.7 "As they passed beyond childhood, and stood in youth, and came to the prime of life, on hearing of it I rejoiced, O sinless one."

9.2.8 "Hearing them now slain, their sovereignty stripped away, their splendor stripped away, I find no peace anywhere, overwhelmed by sorrow for my sons."

9.2.9 "Come, come, my son, O lord of kings, to me who am now forlorn; bereft of you, O mighty-armed one, to what refuge shall I go?"

9.2.10 "Having been the refuge, O great king, of kinsmen and friends alike, where do you go, O hero, abandoning me, blind and old?"

9.2.11 "That tenderness of yours, that affection, and that high honor you bore, O king — how were you, unconquered in battles, slain by the Pārthas?"

9.2.12 "How is it that you, having enjoyed the homage of the assembled lords of the earth, my child, now lie slain upon the ground like some common, paltry king?"

9.2.13 "Who now, when I rise at dawn, will say to me 'Father, father,' and ever 'Great king,' and again and again 'Lord of the world'?"

9.2.14 "Embracing me about the neck, his eyes moist with affection, who will say 'Command me,' O Kaurava — speak to me that good word!"

9.2.15 "Did I not surely hear your word, my dear son: 'This earth of mine is greater than the Pārtha's, not theirs'?"

9.2.16 "Bhagadatta, Kṛpa, Śalya, the lord of the Avantis, and Jayadratha; Bhūriśravas, Somadatta, and the great king Bāhlika;"

9.2.17 "Aśvatthāman, and the Bhoja, and the mighty king of Magadha; Bṛhadbala, the lord of Kāśi, and Śakuni the son of Subala;"

9.2.18 "The mlecchas in their many thousands, the Śakas together with the Yavanas, and Sudakṣiṇa the Kāmboja, and the lord of the Trigartas;"

9.2.19 "Bhīṣma the grandsire, and Bhāradvāja, and the Gautama; Śrutāyus and Acyutāyus, and the valiant Śatāyus;"

9.2.20 "Jalasaṃdha, then Ārśyaśṛṅgi, and the rākṣasa Alāyudha; the mighty-armed Alambusa, and Subāhu the great car-warrior —"

9.2.21 "These and many other kings, O best of kings, all stood ready for my sake, giving up their lives in battle, O lord."

9.2.22 "'Standing in their midst in the war, surrounded by my brothers, I shall make battle against the Pārthas and against all the Pāñcālas,'"

9.2.23 "'and the Cedis, O tiger among kings, and the sons of Draupadī in the encounter, Sātyaki and Kuntibhoja, and the rākṣasa Ghaṭotkaca' —

9.2.24 "'Even one of these, O great king, is able to ward off in battle the Pāṇḍava host charging in fury; how much more these heroes together, sworn in enmity to the Pāṇḍavas!'"

9.2.25 "'Or else all of these will fight against the followers of the Pāṇḍava, O lord of kings, and will slay them in the fray.'"

9.2.26 "'Karṇa alone, together with me, will slay the Pāṇḍavas; then the heroic kings will abide under my command.'"

9.2.27 "'And he who is their leader, the mighty Vāsudeva, does not gird himself for arms, O king' — such was the word he spoke to me."

9.2.28 "As he spoke thus to me many times in my presence, O sūta, by his reasoning I did indeed foresee the Pāṇḍavas slain in the fray."

9.2.29 When my dear sons, standing in their very midst and struggling hard in battle, are slain there—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.30 When Bhīṣma too, lord of the world and full of valor, was struck down there—meeting Śikhaṇḍin as a lion might meet a jackal—what is this but fate?

9.2.31 When Droṇa too, the brāhmaṇa, master of every weapon and missile, was slain by the Pāṇḍavas in the fray—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.32 When Bhūriśravas was slain there, and Somadatta in the combat, and Bāhlika too, O great king—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.33 When Sudakṣiṇa was slain there, and Jalasaṃdha the Kaurava, and Śrutāyus and Acyutāyus—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.34 When Bṛhadbala was slain there, and the mighty king of Magadha, when the lord of Avanti fell, and the Trigarta ruler of men, and the many Saṃśaptakas—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.35 And Alaṃbusa likewise, O king, and the rākṣasa Alāyudha, and Ārśyaśṛṅga slain—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.36 When the Nārāyaṇa cowherds, frenzied for battle, were slain there, and the mlecchas in their many thousands—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.37 When Śakuni, Subala's son, and the mighty hero, son of the gambler, were slain there together with their host—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.38 When kings and princes, valiant men with arms like iron bars, were slain there in their numbers—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.39 When the kṣatriyas gathered from many lands, O Saṃjaya, were all slain there in the battle—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.40 When my sons have been struck down, and my mighty grandsons too, and my companions and brothers—what is this but the working of fate?

9.2.41 Surely a man is born endowed with his own portion of fate; and the man who is blessed with good fortune attains what is auspicious.

9.2.42 But I am sundered from my own good fortune and from my sons, O Saṃjaya. How shall I live on now, an old man fallen into the power of my foes?

9.2.43 I can think of nothing better in this, my lord, than to dwell in the forest. So I shall go to the forest, kinless now that my kinsmen are destroyed.

9.2.44 For nothing else could be better for me than to retire to the forest, fallen as I am into this plight, my wings shorn away, O Saṃjaya.

9.2.45 When Duryodhana has been slain there, and Śalya struck down in the fight, and Duḥśāsana hacked apart, and the mighty Vikarṇa as well—

9.2.46 how shall I bear to hear the boastful cry of Bhīmasena, by whom alone in battle my hundred sons were slain?

9.2.47 As he proclaims it again and again, with the slaying of Duryodhana too, scorched by grief and sorrow I shall not be able to endure his harsh words.

9.2.48 Thus the king, scorched by sorrow, his kinsmen slain, swooning again and again, overwhelmed by anguish for his sons,

9.2.49 Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the son of Ambikā, having lamented for a long while, drawing long and burning sighs and brooding upon his defeat,

9.2.50 the king, scorched by great sorrow, O bull of the Bhāratas, once more questioned in due order Saṃjaya, the son of Gavalgaṇa, the bard:

9.2.51 "Having heard that Bhīṣma and Droṇa were slain, and that the charioteer's son was brought down, what commander, what leader did my men then appoint?

9.2.52 Whomever my men make leader of the host in battle, him in but a little while the Pāṇḍavas strike down.

9.2.53 At the head of the battle Bhīṣma was slain by the Diademed One before your very eyes; in just the same way Droṇa too was slain before the eyes of all.

9.2.54 And in just the same way Karṇa, the valiant son of the charioteer, was slain by the Diademed One before the eyes of all you princes.

9.2.55 Long ago I was told by the great-souled Vidura: through the wrongdoing of Duryodhana this people shall be destroyed.

9.2.56 Some, being deluded, do not see rightly, while others see rightly; and for me, deluded as I was, that very word of his has come to pass just so.

9.2.57 What the righteous, far-seeing Vidura spoke to me—that word of the truth-teller has now come to pass exactly so.

9.2.58 Of the wrong I did of old, my mind undone by fate—of that misrule tell me the fruit once more, O son of Gavalgaṇa.

9.2.59 Who stood at the forefront of the armies when Karṇa had fallen? And what warrior went forth to meet Arjuna and Vāsudeva?

9.2.60 Who guarded the right wheel of the king of Madra in the combat, and who the left, and who stood at the back of that hero eager to fight?

9.2.61 And how, when you were all gathered together, was the mighty king of Madra slain by the Pāṇḍavas in the fray—and how my son, O Saṃjaya?

9.2.62 Tell me all according to the truth, the great ruin of the Bhāratas, and how my son Duryodhana was slain in the battle;

9.2.63 and how all the Pāñcālas were slain together with their followers, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin and the five sons of Draupadī;

9.2.64 and how the Pāṇḍavas escaped, and likewise the two Sātvatas in the fight, and Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman and the son of Bharadvāja.

9.2.65 What befell, how, and of what kind the recent battle was—I wish to hear it all in full, for you are skilled in the telling, O Saṃjaya."

9.3.1 Saṃjaya said: Hear attentively, O king, how the great destruction came to pass when the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas met one another in battle.

9.3.2 When the charioteer's son had been slain by the great-souled Pāṇḍava, and the armies, scattered, had been rallied again and again,

9.3.3 and your son had turned away, his mind stricken with grief, and the troops were sorely shaken at the sight of Pārtha's prowess,

9.3.4 the troops brooding and sunk in misery, O Bhārata, and hearing the dreadful uproar of the hosts being churned to ruin,

9.3.5 beholding the ensigns of the kings ravaged in the combat, and the fallen chariot-frames and chariots of the great-souled ones,

9.3.6 seeing the elephants slain in the fray and the foot-soldiers too, O venerable one, and the battlefield most terrible, like the playground of Rudra,

9.3.7 as kings by the hundreds of thousands passed into oblivion—then Kṛpa, O king, filled with compassion, endowed with age and good character,

9.3.8 that man of splendor, skilled in speech, approaching the lord of men, spoke these words to Duryodhana, moved by sorrow:

9.3.9 "Duryodhana, mark this that I shall say to you, O Kaurava; having heard it, act upon it, O great king, if it pleases you, O blameless one.

9.3.10 There is no path better than the law of battle, O lord of kings—the path upon which kṣatriyas rely when they fight, O bull among kṣatriyas.

9.3.11 Son, brother, even father, sister's son and maternal uncle alike, kinsmen and relatives all—these must be fought by one who lives by the warrior's calling.

9.3.12 In slaying lies the highest duty, and in flight the gravest wrong; we who long to live have entered upon a grim way of life.

9.3.13 And so I shall offer you a word of counsel for your good: with Bhīṣma slain, and Droṇa, and Karṇa too, that great chariot-warrior,

9.3.14 and Jayadratha struck down, and your brothers, O blameless one, and Lakṣmaṇa your son—what remnant is left to us to rely upon?

9.3.15 Those upon whom we laid our burden and set our hopes of sovereignty—those heroes, casting off their bodies, have gone to the goal of the knowers of Brahman.

9.3.16 But we, here bereft of those gifted great chariot-warriors, shall lead a wretched existence, having brought down many kings.

9.3.17 Even were they all yet living, Bībhatsu remains unconquered—dark-eyed, mighty-armed, hard to assail even by the gods—

9.3.18 and confronting that ape-bannered standard, raised on high like Indra's banner and gleaming like Indra's bow and thunderbolt, the great host has trembled.

9.3.19 At the lion's roar of Bhīma, at the blast of the Pāñcajanya, and at the thunder of the Gāṇḍīva, our hearts stand on end with dread.

9.3.20 The Gāṇḍīva, like a great lightning ranging the sky, robs the eyes of their light, and is seen whirling like a brandished firebrand.

9.3.21 That great bow, adorned with gold and shaken in his grip, is seen in every quarter like lightning amid massed clouds.

9.3.22 Borne along by Kṛṣṇa as a cloud is borne by the wind, Arjuna, O king, the foremost of those who know weapons, consumed that army of yours as a fire risen up devours dense, dry brushwood in the cold season.

9.3.23 We beheld Dhanaṃjaya, splendid as great Indra, plunging through the ranks like a four-tusked elephant.

9.3.24 We beheld Dhanaṃjaya throwing your army into turmoil and terrifying the kings, like an elephant ravaging a lotus-pond.

9.3.25 Again we beheld that Pāṇḍava terrifying the warriors with the twang of his bow, as herds of deer behold a lion.

9.3.26 Those two great archers of all the world, those bulls among all bowmen, the two dark heroes clad in their armor, shone forth in the midst of the host.

9.3.27 This is now the seventeenth day, O Bhārata, of this most terrible battle that wears on, as men are slain on every side in the fighting.

9.3.28 Your armies, scattered on every hand as if by the wind, have been broken apart all around like a web of autumn clouds.

9.3.29 Like a ship overturned and storm-tossed upon the great sea, the Ambidextrous One set your army shuddering, O great king.

9.3.30 Where then was the charioteer's son for you, and where Droṇa with his followers? Where was I, and where your own self, and where the son of Hṛdika? And where Duḥśāsana your brother, together with your brothers—where were they all?

9.3.31 For seeing Jayadratha come within range of his arrows, and your kinsmen and brothers, your allies and your maternal uncles,

9.3.32 overpowering them all and treading upon the worlds before our very eyes, Jayadratha was slain, O king—what remnant then do we rely upon?

9.3.33 What man is there here who shall vanquish that Pāṇḍava? The manifold divine weapons of that great-souled one, and the thunder of the Gāṇḍīva, rob us of our valor.

9.3.34 Like a night whose moon has vanished is this army, its leaders slain; like a dried-up river whose trees are broken by elephants, it has fallen into disarray.

9.3.35 With our banner-host bereft of its leaders, the mighty-armed warrior of the white steeds will range at will, like a fire blazing through the brushwood.

9.3.36 The onrush of both Sātyaki and Bhīmasena could rend asunder all the mountains and dry up the very seas.

9.3.37 The vow that Bhīma uttered in the midst of the assembly, O lord of peoples—the whole of it he has fulfilled, and yet more will he do.

9.3.38 With Karṇa once stationed in the van, the army the Pāṇḍavas guarded was unassailable—warded and hidden as it was by the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva.

9.3.39 Those evil deeds that you wrought against the good, done without cause—the fruit of them has now come upon you.

9.3.40 For your own sake you gathered the whole world by every effort; yet now that world, and your own life as well, are in peril, my son, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.3.41 Guard your own self, Duryodhana, for the self is the vessel of all; for once the vessel is broken, my son, that which it held flows away to every quarter.

9.3.42 He who is waning, or equal in strength, should seek a treaty; he who is growing in power may make war—such is the policy of Bṛhaspati.

9.3.43 We, then, are inferior to the sons of Pāṇḍu in the strength of our own forces; herein I judge a treaty with the Pāṇḍavas to be the fitting course, my lord."

9.3.44 The man who does not know where his good lies, and who scorns it even when it is shown to him, swiftly falls from his kingdom and never attains the good.

9.3.45 If by bowing before the king we might regain the kingdom, that would be the better course, O king; to go down to ruin through sheer folly is not.

9.3.46 At a word from the son of Vicitravīrya, and at a word from Govinda, the compassionate Yudhiṣṭhira would install you in your kingdom.

9.3.47 Whatever Hṛṣīkeśa should bid the unvanquished king, and Arjuna, and Bhīmasena—all of it they would do, without a doubt.

9.3.48 Kṛṣṇa, I think, will not transgress the word of the Kaurava Dhṛtarāṣṭra; nor will the son of Pāṇḍu transgress the word of Kṛṣṇa.

9.3.49 I hold a peace with the sons of Pṛthā to be the fitting course for you. I do not speak to you out of weakness, nor to save my own life; I speak to you what is wholesome, O king—and when your breath has fled, you will remember it.

9.3.50 Having lamented thus, the aged Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat, drew a long, hot sigh, and grieved, and swooned away.

9.4.1 Saṃjaya said: Thus addressed by the illustrious son of Gautama, the king, O lord of peoples, drew a long, hot sigh and fell silent.

9.4.2 Then, having pondered a while, the high-minded son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, that scorcher of foes, spoke these words to Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat.

9.4.3 All that a friend should say, I have indeed been made to hear; and all has been done by you, who fought while ready to lay down your very life.

9.4.4 The world has beheld you plunging into the enemy hosts, doing battle with the great chariot-warriors, the Pāṇḍavas of surpassing might.

9.4.5 This counsel, which a friend should give, you have made me hear; yet none of it pleases me, as medicine pleases not a man about to die.

9.4.6 This excellent and salutary speech, furnished with reasons and grounds, though it is spoken, O mighty-armed, foremost of brahmins, finds no favor with me.

9.4.7 Cheated by us of his kingdom, how should that king trust us? At the game of dice that king of great wealth was beaten by us; how, then, should he ever again put faith in my words?

9.4.8 And Kṛṣṇa, who came as an envoy, intent on the welfare of the sons of Pṛthā—Hṛṣīkeśa too was deceived, and that deed of mine bred enmity; how then, O brahmin, will he ever heed a word of mine?

9.4.9 What Kṛṣṇā lamented when she came into the midst of the assembly hall, that Kṛṣṇa does not forgive, nor likewise the seizure of the kingdom.

9.4.10 The two Kṛṣṇas are bound to each other as a single life, joined together as one; what once I had only heard, that, O lord, I now behold.

9.4.11 Hearing that his sister's son was slain, Keśava sleeps in sorrow; we have done him grievous wrong—how should he forgive it for my sake?

9.4.12 Through the destruction of Abhimanyu, Arjuna finds no peace; how, though entreated, should he exert himself for my welfare?

9.4.13 The middle son of Pāṇḍu, the fierce Bhīmasena of mighty strength, has sworn a dreadful oath; he would break sooner than he would bend.

9.4.14 Both have girded on their swords, both have buckled on their mail; both heroes have made themselves my foes—the twins too, who are like unto Yama.

9.4.15 Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin have both made themselves my enemies; how, O best of the twice-born, should those two exert themselves for my good?

9.4.16 How Kṛṣṇā, clad in a single garment, in her courses, was tormented by Duḥśāsana in the midst of the assembly, before the eyes of all the people—

9.4.17 remembering her thus, half-stripped and wretched, even now the Pāṇḍavas, those scorchers of foes, cannot be turned back from battle.

9.4.18 And when Draupadī Kṛṣṇā, grieving, performed fierce austerities for my undoing—Kṛṣṇā, for the fulfillment of her husbands' cause, lies ever upon the bare ground, so long as the requital of the feud endures.

9.4.19 Casting aside pride and arrogance, the sister of Vāsudeva, become as a serving-maid, ever waits in attendance upon Kṛṣṇā.

9.4.20 Thus all is inflamed, and in no wise can it be quenched; through the slaying of Abhimanyu, how is peace to be made by me with him?

9.4.21 And how, having enjoyed this earth girdled by the seas, should I enjoy a petty kingdom by the grace of the Pāṇḍavas?

9.4.22 I who blazed above all kings, one above another, like the radiant sun—how should I now follow behind Yudhiṣṭhira like a slave?

9.4.23 Having myself enjoyed all delights and bestowed lavish gifts, how should I lead a beggarly livelihood in the company of the wretched?

9.4.24 I find no fault with your words, spoken in affection and for my good; yet in no wise do I deem this peace to be timely.

9.4.25 By a good fight I foresee good policy, O scorcher of foes; this is no time to play the coward—now is our time for battle.

9.4.26 I have sacrificed with many sacrifices, bestowed largesse upon brahmins, gained the Vedas heard in due succession, and trodden upon the heads of my foes.

9.4.27 My dependents have been well maintained, dear sir, and the wretched folk uplifted; the realms of enemies have been overrun, and my own realm protected.

9.4.28 Manifold pleasures have been enjoyed, and the threefold aim of life pursued by me; the debt to the ancestors is discharged, and likewise the duty of the warrior—both.

9.4.29 No happiness is lasting here below—whence then a kingdom, whence renown? Fame is to be won in this world, and that by battle and no otherwise.

9.4.30 Even for a warrior, death within his house is a thing condemned; a most grievous unrighteousness is this—to die in bed at home.

9.4.31 The man who lays down his body in the wilderness or in battle, having offered great sacrifices, attains to glory.

9.4.32 He who, wailing piteously and afflicted, overwhelmed by old age, dies amid weeping kinsmen—that man is no man at all.

9.4.33 Having forsaken manifold delights, may I even now, by a good fight, attain that supreme goal which they have reached—the realm of the righteous.

9.4.34 For heroes of noble conduct, who never turn back in battle, wise men true to their word, all of them performers of sacrifice—

9.4.35 for those who have attained the final ablution of weapons, a sure dwelling is in heaven; surely the radiant troops of apsarases behold them with joy.

9.4.36 Surely the ancestors behold them honored in the assembly of Śakra, encircled by apsarases, rejoicing in heaven.

9.4.37 The path trodden by the immortals and by heroes who never turn back—that road which they have joined, may we too ascend.

9.4.38 By the aged grandsire, and by the wise preceptor, by Jayadratha and by Karṇa, and likewise by Duḥśāsana—

9.4.39 those heroes, those lords of men, striving in this cause of mine, lie slain, their limbs smeared with blood, mangled by arrows upon the earth.

9.4.40 Those heroes, masters of the highest weapons, who sacrificed with rites as enjoined, having laid down their lives according to the law, are stationed in the halls of Indra.

9.4.41 By them has this path been laid out—a path that would be hard to tread again—by those who fell with mighty speed and went hence to the goal of the good.

9.4.42 Remembering the deeds of those heroes who were slain in my cause, and seeking to discharge that debt to them, I set not my mind upon the kingdom.

9.4.43 Having brought down my comrades, my brothers, and my grandsires, were I to guard my own life, the world would surely revile me.

9.4.44 And what manner of kingdom would it be for me, bereft of kinsmen, of companions and of friends, and won by bowing before the son of Pāṇḍu?

9.4.45 I, then, having wrought such ruin upon this world, shall thereafter by a good fight attain to heaven, and not otherwise.

9.4.46 When Duryodhana had spoken thus, all the warriors honored that speech and addressed the king, crying, "Well said, well said!"

9.4.47 Grieving not over their defeat, and resolved upon valor, all were firmly determined to fight, and grew exalted in spirit.

9.4.48 Then, having refreshed their mounts, all the Kauravas, rejoicing in the prospect of battle, having gone a little less than two yojanas, halted and took their stand.

9.4.49 On a clear and holy, coral-hued tableland of Himavat, fair to behold, reaching the red Sarasvatī, they drank and bathed in its waters.

9.4.50 Your sons, their resolve renewed, then turned about; and steadying themselves once more, the one through the other, all the warriors, O king, urged on by fate, returned again.

9.5.1 Saṃjaya said: Now, halting upon that tableland of Himavat, all the warriors, rejoicing in battle, O great king, gathered together there.

9.5.2 Śalya and Citrasena, and Śakuni the great chariot-warrior, Aśvatthāman too, and Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarman of the Sātvatas—

9.5.3 Suṣeṇa and Ariṣṭasena, and the valiant Dhṛtasena, and king Jayatsena—these spent the night there.

9.5.4 When the hero Karṇa had been slain in battle, terrified by the foes who bore the marks of victory, your sons found no refuge save the mountain Himavat.

9.5.5 Gathered together there, they spoke to the king before the army; having striven in battle, O king, and having honored him then with due ceremony, they said:

9.5.6 "Having appointed a leader of the host, you should do battle with the foe, under whose protection in the fray we may conquer our enemies."

9.5.7 Then Duryodhana, standing upon his chariot, looked upon that foremost of chariot-warriors, versed in every division of warfare, the very likeness of Death in battle—

9.5.8 fair of limb, his head well-covered, his neck shapely as a conch, gracious in speech, his face like an opened lotus, tiger-mouthed, weighty as Meru—

9.5.9 in shoulders, eyes, gait, and voice like the bull of the Steadfast One, his arms full, firm, and long, his chest broad and massive—

9.5.10 in speed and in strength like the younger brother of Aruṇa and like the Wind, in radiance equal to the Sun, and in wisdom the peer of Uśanas—

9.5.11 in loveliness, beauty, and the majesty of his countenance—these three—comparable to the moon, like a mass of golden stone, his joints well-knit—

9.5.12 with shapely thighs, hips, and legs, fair feet, and comely fingers and nails, fashioned with care by the Creator, who called to mind virtue upon virtue—

9.5.13 endowed with every auspicious mark, skilled, an ocean of sacred lore, a conqueror of foes by his swiftness, himself unconquerable by enemies through force—

9.5.14 him who knows in truth the science of archery with its ten branches and four feet, and the four Vedas with their auxiliaries, with the sacred narratives as a fifth—

9.5.15 the great ascetic who, having earnestly propitiated the Three-Eyed One with fierce vows, was begotten by Droṇa, himself not born of a womb, upon a woman not born of a womb—

9.5.16 him of matchless deeds, in beauty unequaled upon earth, master of all the sciences, an ocean of virtues, the blameless one—approaching that Aśvatthāman, O king, your son spoke to him:

9.5.17 "With whom set at our head, united, we may vanquish the Pāṇḍavas in battle—the preceptor's son this day is the supreme refuge of us all. By your appointment, then, who shall be commander of my host?"

9.5.18 The son of Droṇa said: "This Śalya, endowed in birth, in valor, in energy, in renown, in splendor, in every virtue—let him be the leader of our army."

9.5.19 "Forsaking his own sisters' sons, in gratitude he came over to us—lord of a great army, mighty-armed, like a second Mahāsena."

9.5.20 "Having made this king commander of the host, O best of kings, victory may be won by us, as the gods won it through the unconquered Skanda."

9.5.21 When the son of Droṇa had spoken thus, all the lords of men stood encircling Śalya and raised shouts of victory; they set their minds upon battle and passed into the highest fervor.

9.5.22 Then Duryodhana, standing upon the ground, with joined palms addressed Śalya, who stood upon his chariot, the equal in battle of Rāma and of Bhīṣma:

9.5.23 "This is that hour come round, O lover of friends, the hour of friends, wherein wise men put to the test whether one be a friend or no friend."

9.5.24 Be you then our hero, our leader at the head of the host; and when you have entered the battle, the Pāṇḍavas will grow faint of heart, and the Pāñcālas too, with their counsellors, will be robbed of their resolve.

9.5.25 Śalya said: Whatever you would have of me, O king of the Kurus, that I will do; for your pleasure all that is mine — my life, my kingdom, my wealth — is yours.

9.5.26 Duryodhana said: I choose you, my peerless uncle, for the command of the army. Guard us, O best of warriors, as Skanda guards the gods in battle.

9.5.27 Be consecrated, O lord of kings, as the son of Fire was consecrated by the gods; slay the foes in battle, O hero, as great Indra slew the Dānavas.

9.6.1 Saṃjaya said: Having heard these words of the king, the mighty lord of the Madras then, O king, spoke this speech to Duryodhana.

9.6.2 O mighty-armed Duryodhana, hear, best of those skilled in speech: these two Kṛṣṇas whom you reckon, the foremost of chariot-warriors mounted on their car — neither of them is in any way my equal in the prowess of arm.

9.6.3 Roused to wrath, I would do battle at the front of the fray with the whole earth in arms, with its gods and Asuras and men — how much more the Pāṇḍavas! I shall conquer in the field the sons of Pṛthā and the Somakas gathered together.

9.6.4 I will be the leader of your army, of that there is no doubt; and I will array such a battle-formation as the enemy shall not cross. This I tell you truly, Duryodhana, beyond all doubt.

9.6.5 Thus addressed, the king straightway consecrated the lord of the Madras in the midst of the army, O best of the Bhāratas, by the rite ordained in scripture, his countenance full of joy, O lord of peoples.

9.6.6 When he had been consecrated, a great lion-roar arose throughout your forces, O Bhārata, and the instruments of music were sounded.

9.6.7 The warriors then were filled with gladness, and the mighty car-warriors of the Madras, and they praised king Śalya, the splendour of the battlefield.

9.6.8 Conquer, O king! Live long! Slay the foes assembled! Having gained the strength of your arms, may the mighty sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, their enemies slain, rule over the whole of this entire earth.

9.6.9 For you are able to vanquish in battle the gods, Asuras, and men together; how much more these Somakas and Sṛñjayas, who are but mortal in their nature.

9.6.10 Thus extolled, the mighty lord of the Madras, that hero, felt then a joy hard for the unrestrained of soul to attain.

9.6.11 Śalya said: This very day, O lord of kings, I shall slay in battle all the Pāñcālas together with the Pāṇḍavas, or, slain myself, shall go to heaven.

9.6.12 This day let all the worlds behold me roaming fearless; this day let all the sons of Pāṇḍu, and Vāsudeva with Sātyaki,

9.6.13 the Pāñcālas and the Cedis, and the sons of Draupadī one and all, Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin and all the Prabhadrakas as well —

9.6.14 let them behold my valour, the great power of my bow, my swiftness of hand, the force of my weapons, and the strength of my arms in the fray.

9.6.15 This day let the sons of Pṛthā behold, and the Siddhas with the Cāraṇas, what is the strength of my arms and what mastery is mine in weapons.

9.6.16 This day, beholding my valour, let the mighty car-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas, bent on resistance, attempt their manifold counter-measures.

9.6.17 This day I shall scatter the armies of the Pāṇḍus on every side, O lord, surpassing Droṇa and Bhīṣma and the son of the charioteer in the encounter; fighting in battle I shall range about for your pleasure, O Kaurava.

9.6.18 Saṃjaya said: When Śalya had thus been consecrated, O giver of honour, your forces no longer reckoned the loss of Karṇa as any calamity at all, O Bhārata.

9.6.19 Glad and good of heart the soldiers there became; they reckoned the sons of Pṛthā as already slain, fallen into the power of the king of the Madras.

9.6.20 Having gained delight, your army, O bull of the Bhāratas, slept happily through that night, and became as one whose mind was at ease.

9.6.21 Hearing that clamour of your host, king Yudhiṣṭhira spoke these words to the scion of the Vṛṣṇis, within hearing of all the warrior-kind.

9.6.22 Śalya, king of the Madras, has been made commander by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O Mādhava — that mighty archer, honoured throughout all the forces.

9.6.23 Having heard this as it truly is, do, O Mādhava, what is fitting. You are our guide and our protector; ordain what should next be done.

9.6.24 To him, O great king, spoke Vāsudeva, the lord of men: I know the son of Ṛtāyana truly as he is, O Bhārata.

9.6.25 He is valiant and of great splendour, and high-souled above the rest; accomplished and varied in the modes of combat, and endowed with swiftness of hand.

9.6.26 Such as Bhīṣma was, and Droṇa, and such as Karṇa was in the encounter — such, or even greater, do I deem the king of the Madras to be.

9.6.27 Pondering on him as he fights in the field, O Bhārata, I can find no warrior of equal stature to oppose him, O lord of men.

9.6.28 In strength he surpasses, in battle, Śikhaṇḍin, Arjuna, and Bhīma, and the Sātvata too, O Bhārata, and likewise Dhṛṣṭadyumna.

9.6.29 The king of the Madras, O great king, with the prowess of a lion and an elephant, will range about fearless when the hour comes, like wrathful Death among living creatures.

9.6.30 For him this day I see no fit antagonist in battle save you, O tiger among men, you whose valour is like a tiger's.

9.6.31 In all this world of the gods there is no man but you, O joy of the Kurus, who could slay in battle the king of the Madras when roused — him who, fighting day after day, throws your host into turmoil.

9.6.32 Therefore slay Śalya in battle as Maghavat slew Śambara. That hero has, at this last, been honoured by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.6.33 Surely the victory is yours alone, once the lord of the Madras is slain in the fight; when he is slain, the whole great host of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son is slain.

9.6.34 Having heard, O great king, this my timely counsel, go forth in battle, O son of Pṛthā, against the mighty king of the Madras, and slay him, O mighty-armed one, as Vāsava slew Namuci.

9.6.35 And here let no pity be shown, with the thought 'this is my uncle'; setting the law of the warrior foremost, slay the lord of the Madra folk.

9.6.36 Having crossed the ocean of Bhīṣma and Droṇa, with the abyss that was Karṇa, do not, with your followers, sink in coming upon Śalya, who is but a puddle in a cow's hoof-print.

9.6.37 Whatever is the power of your austerity, and whatever your warrior strength, show it all forth in the battle, and slay that mighty car-warrior.

9.6.38 Having spoken these words, Keśava, the slayer of hostile heroes, went at evening to his camp, honoured then by the Pāṇḍavas.

9.6.39 When Keśava had departed, Yudhiṣṭhira the king of righteousness dismissed all his brothers and the Pāñcālas and the Somakas, and slept through that night like an elephant from whom the dart has been drawn.

9.6.40 And all those mighty archers, the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas alike, rejoicing in the death of Karṇa, slept through that night.

9.6.41 Its fever gone, having reached the farther shore — that host of the Pāṇḍavas, of mighty archers and great car-warriors, was filled with delight in the night, having won victory in the slaying of the charioteer's son, O sire.

9.7.1 Saṃjaya said: When the night had passed, king Duryodhana then said to all your men: Let the mighty car-warriors arm themselves.

9.7.2 Knowing the king's intent, that army armed itself; some yoked the chariots in haste, while others ran about on every side.

9.7.3 The elephants were caparisoned, the foot-soldiers donned their armour, and others by the thousand made ready the horses with their housings.

9.7.4 The din of musical instruments arose, O lord of peoples, to rouse the warriors and to stir up the troops as they marshalled.

9.7.5 Then all the forces, what remained of the army, O Bhārata, fully armed, were seen having made death their place of return.

9.7.6 Having made Śalya, king of the Madras, their commander, the great car-warriors apportioned the whole host and took their stations in the divisions.

9.7.7 Then all the warriors, gathering together with your son — Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman, the son of Droṇa, Śalya, and the son of Subala —

9.7.8 and the other kings who remained, then made this compact: that not one of them should ever fight singly against the Pāṇḍavas in any way.

9.7.9 For whoever should fight singly against the Pāṇḍavas, or should abandon a comrade who was fighting, he would be joined to the five great sins together with the lesser sins; we must fight together, guarding one another.

9.7.10 Having thus made their compact, all those great car-warriors there, placing the king of the Madras at their head, swiftly rushed against the foe.

9.7.11 Even so the Pāṇḍavas, O king, having arrayed their host for the great battle, advanced against all the Kauravas, ready to do combat on every side.

9.7.12 That host, O best of the Bhāratas, roared like a tossing sea; with its uplifted chariots and elephants it had the very semblance of a heaving ocean.

9.7.13 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: Of the fall of Droṇa and of Bhīṣma and of the son of Rādhā I have heard; tell me now further of the fall of Śalya, and of my son.

9.7.14 How was Śalya slain in battle by the king of righteousness, O Saṃjaya? And how was my mighty-armed son Duryodhana slain by Bhīma?

9.7.15 Saṃjaya said: The destruction of human bodies, the ruin of chariots, elephants, and horses — hear it, O king, with steady mind, as I recount the battle.

9.7.16 A strong hope then arose, O king, in your sons, even when Bhīṣma was slain and Droṇa and the charioteer's son struck down: that Śalya would slay all the sons of Pṛthā in battle, O sire.

9.7.17 Holding that hope in his heart, and taking comfort, O Bhārata, and leaning in the fray upon the king of the Madras, that great car-warrior, your son deemed himself to have a protector.

9.7.18 When, Karṇa being slain, the sons of Pṛthā raised their lion-roar, then, O king, a great fear entered the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.7.19 But the valiant king of the Madras, having reassured them, then arrayed, O great king, the prosperous Sarvatobhadra formation.

9.7.20 The valiant king of the Madras went forth in battle against the sons of Pṛthā, brandishing his bright bow, crushing of burdens and exceedingly swift.

9.7.21 That great car-warrior, mounting his foremost chariot drawn by horses of the Sindhu, had its banner-pole, O great king, set upon the car, adorning it.

9.7.22 Encompassed by that chariot, the hero, scourge of foes, stood firm, O great king — that warrior who dispelled the fear of your sons.

9.7.23 On the march the king of the Madras, armoured, formed the front of the formation, together with the heroic Madrakas and the invincible sons of Karṇa.

9.7.24 On the left was Kṛtavarman, surrounded by the Trigartas; the son of Gautama held the right flank, with the Śakas and the Yavanas.

9.7.25 Aśvatthāman was at the rear, surrounded by the Kāmbojas; Duryodhana was in the centre, guarded by the bulls of the Kurus.

9.7.26 With a great body of horse the son of Subala too, surrounded, marched forth with all his troops, and the prince of the Kaitavyas, that great car-warrior.

9.7.27 And the Pāṇḍavas, those mighty archers and tamers of foes, having arrayed their host and divided it into three, O great king, fell upon your army.

9.7.28 Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin and Sātyaki, that great car-warrior, swiftly charged against the host of Śalya in the battle.

9.7.29 Then king Yudhiṣṭhira, surrounded by his own division, charged straight at Śalya, seeking to slay him, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.7.30 But Arjuna, slayer of hosts of foes, swiftly charged against Hārdikya, that mighty archer, and against the bands of the Saṃśaptakas.

9.7.31 Bhīmasena and the Somaka great car-warriors charged against the son of Gautama, O lord of kings, seeking to slay the foe in the fight.

9.7.32 And the two sons of Mādrī, those great car-warriors, with their troops and forces, stood up in battle against Śakuni and Ulūka.

9.7.33 Even so your warriors by tens of thousands rushed against the Pāṇḍavas in the battle, full of wrath, with manifold weapons in their hands.

9.7.34 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: When Bhīṣma the mighty archer was slain, and Droṇa, and Karṇa the great car-warrior, when the Kurus were left but few, and the Pāṇḍavas too, in the war —

9.7.35 when the sons of Pṛthā were sorely roused and pressing on, O Saṃjaya, what strength remained, of mine and of the foe?

9.7.36 Saṃjaya said: How we and the foe were arrayed for battle, O king, and what strength yet remained to us in the fray — learn that from me.

9.7.37 Eleven thousand chariots, O bull of the Bhāratas, and ten thousand and seven hundred elephants.

9.7.38 Two full hundred thousand horses, O bull of the Bhāratas, and three crores of foot-soldiers — such was the force that remained to you.

9.7.39 Six thousand chariots, six thousand elephants, ten thousand horses, and one crore of foot, O Bhārata —

9.7.40 this was the strength of the Pāṇḍavas that remained in the battle; these very ones came together for the fight, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.7.41 Having thus divided our forces, O lord of kings, and standing by the counsel of the king of the Madras, we advanced against the Pāṇḍavas, greedy for victory and filled with wrath.

9.7.42 In like manner the valiant Pāṇḍavas, those tigers among men wearing the look of victors in battle, advanced, and with them the glorious Pāñcālas.

9.7.43 Thus these tigers among men, each seeking the other's death, advanced with their flood of forces toward the eastern twilight, O lord.

9.7.44 Then began a battle of dreadful aspect and terrifying, as your men and the enemy slew one another.

9.8.1 Saṃjaya said: Then began a battle that swelled the terror of the Kurus, fought against the Sṛñjayas, O lord of kings — a dreadful one, like that of the gods and the asuras.

9.8.2 Men, chariots, droves of elephants, horsemen by the thousands, and valiant steeds came together against one another.

9.8.3 The great roar of the charging elephants of dreadful form was heard, like that of rain-clouds in the sky at the appointed season.

9.8.4 Struck by the elephants, some chariot-warriors fell together with their cars, and heroes fled in the battle, driven before the rut-maddened beasts.

9.8.5 There the trained chariot-warriors with their arrows dispatched whole troops of horses and the foot-guards to the other world, O Bhārata.

9.8.6 The skilled horsemen, O king, surrounding the great chariot-warriors and ranging through the battle, struck them with lances, spears, and double-edged swords.

9.8.7 Certain bowmen, beating back the great chariot-warriors, many of them closing upon a single foe, would send him to the abode of Yama.

9.8.8 Other great chariot-warriors, surrounding an elephant with its fighters above, slew it as it charged with a mighty trumpeting.

9.8.9 And likewise the elephants, O great king, encircling on every side an enraged chariot-warrior who scattered many shafts, slew him.

9.8.10 Elephant rushing against elephant, and chariot-warrior against chariot-warrior in the battle, they slew one another here and there with darts, javelins, and iron shafts.

9.8.11 Chariots, elephants, and horses were seen in the midst of the battle, trampling down the foot-soldiers and wreaking great confusion.

9.8.12 The horses, adorned with yak-tail whisks, raced about as though they were swans drinking up the earth on a tableland of the Himālaya.

9.8.13 The ground, dappled by the hooves of those steeds, O lord of peoples, gleamed like a woman scored and marked by the scratches of nails.

9.8.14 With the clatter of the horses' hooves, the rumble of the chariot-wheels, the shouting of the foot-soldiers, and the trumpeting of the elephants —

9.8.15 with the din of the war-drums and the blare of the conches, the earth was made to resound as if by thunderclaps, O Bhārata.

9.8.16 From the twanging of the bows, the flashing of the swords, and the glare of the armor, nothing at all could be discerned.

9.8.17 Many severed arms, like the trunks of lordly elephants, writhed and twisted and jerked with a dreadful violence.

9.8.18 And the sound of the heads falling to the earth, O great king, was heard like that of fruits dropping from palm-trees.

9.8.19 With the fallen heads, drenched in blood and gleaming like burnished gold, the earth shone as though strewn with lotuses in their season, O Bhārata.

9.8.20 With those heads, their eyes upturned, their life gone, sorely gashed, the earth blazed forth, O great king, as if covered with white lotuses.

9.8.21 With the arms anointed with sandal-paste, decked with armlets and rich ornaments, fallen there, the earth shone, O lord of kings, as though set with the banners of Indra.

9.8.22 And with the thighs of the lords of men, hewn off in that great battle, and with others like the trunks of elephants, that battlefield was strewn over.

9.8.23 Thronged with hundreds of headless trunks, adorned with parasols and whisks, that forest of armies shone like a wood heaped with blossoms.

9.8.24 There the warriors, O great king, ranging about fearlessly, their limbs smeared with blood, were seen like kiṃśuka trees in full bloom.

9.8.25 The elephants too were seen, tormented by arrows and javelins, falling here and there in the battle like sundered clouds.

9.8.26 The host of elephants, O great king, slaughtered by the great-souled warriors, broke and scattered to every quarter like clouds driven by the wind.

9.8.27 Those elephants, resembling clouds, fell upon the earth on every side, looking like mountains shattered by the thunderbolt at the dissolution of an age.

9.8.28 Heaps of horses fallen upon the ground together with their riders were seen here and there, each great as a hill.

9.8.29 On the field of battle there arose a river bearing men to the other world: its water was blood, its whirlpools were chariots, its trees were banners, its gravel was bones.

9.8.30 Its crocodiles were arms, its current was bows, its rocks were elephants, its pebbles were horses; its mire was marrow and fat, its swans were parasols, its rafts were maces.

9.8.31 It was covered over with armor and turbans, its lovely trees were the banners, it teemed with rings of chariot-wheels, and it was strewn with the three-fold poles and shafts of the cars.

9.8.32 Gladdening to the brave and swelling the terror of cowards, that fearsome river flowed on, crowded with Kurus and Sṛñjayas.

9.8.33 That most terrible river, bearing men to the realm of the fathers, those heroes with arms like iron bars crossed by the boats of their mounts.

9.8.34 As that battle without bounds raged on, O lord of peoples, in the dreadful destruction of the four arms of the host, like the war of old between the gods and the asuras —

9.8.35 some there cried out to their kinsmen here and there, O scorcher of foes, while others, called to by their kinsmen, were so stricken with fear that they did not turn back.

9.8.36 As that terrible battle without bounds raged on, Arjuna and Bhīmasena threw the enemy into bewilderment.

9.8.37 That great host of yours, being slaughtered, O lord of men, swooned away here and there, like a woman overcome by drink.

9.8.38 And having confounded that army, Bhīmasena and Dhanaṃjaya blew their conches there and roared their lion-roars.

9.8.39 No sooner had they heard that mighty sound than Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, placing the King of Righteousness at their head, rushed upon the king of the Madras.

9.8.40 There we beheld a wonder of dreadful aspect, O lord of peoples — how those heroes, met with Śalya, fought him each in his own division.

9.8.41 The two sons of Mādrī, impetuous, accomplished in arms, drunk with the lust of war, advanced in haste, eager to overcome your force.

9.8.42 Then your army turned back, O bull of the Bhāratas, driven in many directions by the arrows of the Pāṇḍavas who wore the look of victors.

9.8.43 That host, cut down while your sons looked on, fled to every quarter, O great king, driven before the stout bowmen; and a great cry of woe arose among your warriors, O Bhārata.

9.8.44 "Stand, stand!" was the cry of the great-souled kṣatriyas who were put to flight, each desiring victory over the other in the fray; yet your soldiers, broken by the Pāṇḍavas, only fled the faster.

9.8.45 Abandoning in the battle their dear sons, brothers, grandsires, maternal uncles, sisters' sons, and kinsmen and friends as well,

9.8.46 your warriors fled in every direction, urging on their horses and elephants, bent only upon the saving of their own lives, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.9.1 Saṃjaya said: Seeing that force shattered, the valorous king of the Madras swiftly said to his charioteer: "Urge on the horses of great speed!

9.9.2 Yonder stands the king Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Pāṇḍu, resplendent beneath a white parasol held aloft over him.

9.9.3 Bear me thither at once; behold my strength, O charioteer — the sons of Pṛthā are not able to stand before me in battle this day."

9.9.4 Thus addressed, the charioteer of the king of the Madras set forth toward where the truthful King of Righteousness, Yudhiṣṭhira, stood.

9.9.5 And the great host of the Pāṇḍavas rushing suddenly on, Śalya alone in the battle held back, as a shore holds back the heaving ocean.

9.9.6 The flood of the Pāṇḍava force, coming upon Śalya, O honored sir, was stayed in the battle, like the current of the Indus against a mountain.

9.9.7 Beholding the king of the Madras stationed for battle in the fray, the Kurus rallied back, making of death itself their turning-point.

9.9.8 When they had rallied, O king, their ranks arrayed in their several divisions, a most dreadful combat began, its water blood; and Nakula, drunk with the frenzy of war, closed with Citrasena.

9.9.9 Those two, closing upon each other, each bearing a gleaming bow, were like two upreared clouds pouring rain from the south and the north.

9.9.10 With showers of arrows for their rain they drenched each other in the battle; I could mark no difference there between the Pāṇḍava and the other.

9.9.11 Both were accomplished in arms, both mighty, both skilled in the maneuvering of chariots, both intent upon slaying the other and eager to spy out his opening.

9.9.12 But Citrasena, with a yellow, whetted, broad-headed shaft, severed Nakula's bow, O great king, at the place of the grip.

9.9.13 Then, his bow cut away, unflinching Citrasena planted three arrows with golden shafts, sharpened on stone, full upon his brow.

9.9.14 And with sharp arrows he sent his horses to their death, and with three shafts each he brought down his banner and his charioteer.

9.9.15 With those three arrows loosed from the enemy's arm and lodged in his brow, Nakula shone, O king, like a three-peaked mountain.

9.9.16 His bow cut, his chariot lost, the hero took up sword and shield and leapt down from his car, like a lion from a mountain-peak.

9.9.17 As he came on afoot, Citrasena loosed a rain of arrows upon him; but Nakula, swift in his prowess, swallowed it up with his shield.

9.9.18 Reaching Citrasena's chariot, that wondrous fighter, mighty-armed and unwearied, mounted it as the whole army looked on.

9.9.19 With its earrings, its diadem, its shapely nose, and its long fine eyes, the Pāṇḍava struck Citrasena's head from his body; and he fell from the floor of the car, radiant as the sun.

9.9.20 Seeing Citrasena slain there, the great chariot-warriors raised shouts of approval and many a lion-roar.

9.9.21 Seeing their brother slain, the two sons of Karṇa, those great chariot-warriors Suṣeṇa and Satyasena, loosing whetted arrows,

9.9.22 thereupon rushed swiftly against the Pāṇḍava, that best of chariot-warriors, longing to slay him, as two tigers fall upon an elephant, O king, in a great forest.

9.9.23 Those two fierce ones, both of them, charged that great chariot-warrior, pouring forth floods of arrows aright, as two storm-clouds pour down rain.

9.9.24 Pierced on every side by their arrows, the Pāṇḍava, as though delighted, took up another bow, and the valiant hero, mounting his chariot, stood in the battle like Death himself in the form of wrath.

9.9.25 The two brothers, O king, with arrows whose joints were well-knit, set about to break his chariot to pieces, O lord of peoples.

9.9.26 Then Nakula, laughing, slew with four keen, sharp arrows the four horses of Satyasena in the battle.

9.9.27 Then, fitting to his bow an iron shaft, gold-feathered and whetted on stone, the son of Pāṇḍu, O lord of kings, cut asunder the bow of Satyasena.

9.9.28 Then mounting another chariot and taking up another bow, Satyasena and Suṣeṇa together rushed upon the son of Pāṇḍu.

9.9.29 Unflinching, the valiant son of Mādrī pierced them both, O great king, with two arrows each at the head of the battle.

9.9.30 Then Suṣeṇa, enraged, that mighty car-warrior, laughing, cut the great bow of the son of Pāṇḍu in the fight with a razor-edged arrow.

9.9.31 Then, taking up another bow, Nakula, beside himself with rage, pierced Suṣeṇa with five arrows and cut down his banner with one.

9.9.32 And the bow of Satyasena and his leather hand-guard, O sire, he swiftly cut through in the fight; thereupon the people raised a shout.

9.9.33 Then, taking up another bow that could break the onrush and bear a heavy strain, he covered the son of Pāṇḍu with arrows on every side.

9.9.34 But Nakula, slayer of hostile heroes, having warded off those arrows, pierced Satyasena and Suṣeṇa with two shafts each.

9.9.35 Those two pierced him in return, each separately, with straight-flying shafts, and they wounded his charioteer, O lord of kings, with whetted arrows.

9.9.36 And Satyasena, valiant and deft of hand, cut with two separate arrows the chariot-pole and the bow of Nakula.

9.9.37 That foremost of car-warriors, standing in his chariot, laid hold of a chariot-lance with a golden shaft, of unblunted point, oil-washed and gleaming clean.

9.9.38 Resembling, O lord, a serpent-maiden of deadly venom flickering her tongue, he raised it high and hurled it at Satyasena in the encounter.

9.9.39 It split his heart asunder a hundredfold in the battle, O king; bereft of life and barely conscious, he fell from his chariot to the ground.

9.9.40 Seeing his brother slain, Suṣeṇa, beside himself with rage, swiftly rained arrows upon the son of Pāṇḍu, who was now on foot.

9.9.41 Seeing Nakula deprived of his chariot, the mighty Sutasoma, son of Draupadī, rushed forward, eager to save his father in the battle.

9.9.42 Then mounting that chariot of Sutasoma, Nakula, foremost of the Bhāratas, shone like a lion upon a mountain; taking up another bow, he gave battle to Suṣeṇa.

9.9.43 Those two mighty car-warriors, closing upon each other with showers of arrows, each strove hard to slay the other.

9.9.44 Then Suṣeṇa, enraged, planted three shafts in the son of Pāṇḍu and twenty in the arms and chest of Sutasoma.

9.9.45 Then, enraged, O great king, the valiant Nakula, slayer of hostile heroes, covered all the quarters about him with arrows.

9.9.46 Then, taking up a keen-pointed, well-sharpened crescent-headed arrow, he hurled it with great force at the son of Karṇa in the encounter.

9.9.47 With it he severed his head from his body, O best of kings, before the eyes of all the troops; that was as a thing of wonder.

9.9.48 Slain by the great-souled Nakula, O king, he fell down like a great tree growing on a bank, uprooted by the river's flood.

9.9.49 Seeing the slaying of Karṇa's son and the prowess of Nakula, your army fled in terror, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.9.50 But that army, O great king, the valiant king of the Madras, the heroic commander and tamer of foes, protected in the battle.

9.9.51 Fearless he stood, O great king, having rallied the host, raising a great lion's roar and a terrible twang of his bow.

9.9.52 Your men in the battle, O king, guarded by that firm-bowed warrior, advanced against their foes on every side, their anguish gone.

9.9.53 Surrounding the great archer, the king of the Madras, on every side, the mighty host stood, O king, eager for battle all around.

9.9.54 Sātyaki and Bhīmasena, and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas, placing at their head Yudhiṣṭhira, the tamer of foes who shrank from no shameful deed—

9.9.55 those heroes, ranging themselves about him in the battle, raised a lion's roar and uttered fierce twangs of bowstrings and shouts of many kinds.

9.9.56 Even so all your men, gathering swiftly about the lord of the Madras, full of fury, longed once more for the fight.

9.9.57 Then began a battle that swelled the terror of the timid, in which both your men and the foe made death their only turning-back.

9.9.58 As of old, O lord of peoples, was the battle of gods and asuras, so was this fight of fearless men, O king, that swelled the realm of Yama.

9.9.59 Then the ape-bannered son of Pāṇḍu, O king, having slain the saṃśaptakas in the battle, charged against that Kaurava army.

9.9.60 Even so the remaining Pāṇḍavas, with Dhṛṣṭadyumna at their head, rushed against that army, loosing whetted arrows.

9.9.61 Among those scattered by the Pāṇḍavas a great bewilderment arose; they could no longer tell their own divisions, nor the cardinal points, nor the quarters between.

9.9.62 Filled with whetted arrows sped by the Pāṇḍavas, its foremost warriors slain, shattered and scattered on every side, the Kaurava host was slaughtered by the mighty car-warriors, the sons of Pāṇḍu.

9.9.63 Even so the Pāṇḍava army, O king, was struck with arrows on every side in the battle by your sons, by hundreds and by thousands.

9.9.64 Those two armies, sorely afflicted and slaughtering each other, fell into confusion, like two rivers in the rainy season.

9.9.65 Then a sharp and mighty terror entered both your men and the Pāṇḍavas, O lord of kings, in that great battle so engaged.

9.10.1 Saṃjaya said: When that host was thrown into disorder and the warriors slew one another, the fighters fleeing and the elephants trumpeting—

9.10.2 the foot-soldiers wailing and groaning in that great battle, and the horses, O great king, scattering in all directions then—

9.10.3 a terrible destruction having arisen, a slaughter of all embodied beings, with a clash of weapons of every kind, the chariots and elephants entangled together—

9.10.4 a thing of joy to those drunk with war, and of swelling terror to the timid, as the warriors plunged in, each seeking to slay the other—

9.10.5 while that most dreadful taking of life went on, like a desperate game of dice, in a battle of terrible aspect that swelled the realm of Yama—

9.10.6 the Pāṇḍavas scattered your host with whetted arrows, and even so your warriors slew the soldiers of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.10.7 While that battle, striking terror into the fearful, was thus being waged, and the forenoon had come, near the rising of the sun—

9.10.8 the foes, sure of their aim and guarded by that great-souled one, gave battle to your forces, making death their only turning-back.

9.10.9 Before the strong, proud, sure-aiming, hard-striking Pāṇḍavas, the Kaurava army sank down, distraught like a doe in a forest fire.

9.10.10 Seeing that army sinking like a feeble cow in the mire, Śalya, wishing to rescue it, then advanced against the host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.10.11 And the king of the Madras, greatly enraged, taking up his excellent bow, rushed in the battle against the Pāṇḍavas with bows drawn for the kill.

9.10.12 And the Pāṇḍavas, O great king, wearing the look of conquerors in the battle, closing upon the king of the Madras, pierced him with whetted arrows.

9.10.13 Then with hundreds of keen arrows the mighty king of the Madras tormented that army, while the King of Righteousness looked on.

9.10.14 Then, O king, portents of many kinds appeared in their multitudes, and the earth with its mountains trembled, giving forth a roar.

9.10.15 With trailing shafts like spears and blazing tips, breaking apart on every side, meteors fell from the sky to the earth, striking the disk of the sun.

9.10.16 And deer and buffaloes and birds, O lord of peoples, then circled the army, keeping it on their left, again and again, O king.

9.10.17 Then most fierce grew the battle of those who moved in massed array; and all the divisions joining together, O lord of men, the Kauravas, O king, advanced against the host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.10.18 And Śalya, of undaunted soul, raining a shower of arrows like the thousand-eyed Indra pouring rain, deluged Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī.

9.10.19 And with arrows gold-feathered and whetted on stone he struck Bhīmasena, and all the sons of Draupadī, and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas.

9.10.20 And Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and the grandson of Śini, and Śikhaṇḍin too—each one the mighty warrior pierced with ten arrows; then he loosed a shower of arrows, as Maghavan pours rain at the end of the hot season.

9.10.21 Then the Prabhadrakas, O king, and the Somakas by the thousand were seen fallen and falling beneath the shafts of Śalya.

9.10.22 Like swarms of bees, like flights of locusts, like lightnings from the clouds, the arrows of Śalya fell down.

9.10.23 Elephants and horses in distress, and foot-soldiers and car-warriors alike, fell beneath the arrows of Śalya, reeled, and cried aloud.

9.10.24 As if possessed, the lord of the Madras, with wrath and manly might, covered his foes in the battle like the Ender sent forth by Time; roaring like a thunder-cloud, mighty was the lord of the Madras.

9.10.25 That host of the Pāṇḍavas, slaughtered by Śalya, ran toward Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī, whose foe was yet unborn.

9.10.26 Having flung that host upon him in the battle, the deft-handed one with whetted arrows, with a great shower of shafts, afflicted Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.10.27 As he bore down with foot and horse, the enraged king Yudhiṣṭhira held him back with keen arrows, as one checks a rutting elephant with goads.

9.10.28 At him Śalya loosed a dreadful arrow like a venomous serpent; it pierced the great-souled one and then with force buried itself in the earth.

9.10.29 Then Vṛkodara, enraged, pierced Śalya with seven arrows, and Sahadeva with five, and Nakula with ten.

9.10.30 And the sons of Draupadī rained arrows upon the foe-slaying hero, the illustrious son of Ṛtāyana, as clouds upon a mountain.

9.10.31 Then, seeing Śalya being struck by the sons of Pṛthā on every side, Kṛtavarman and Kṛpa, both greatly enraged, rushed forward.

9.10.32 And Ulūka and Patatrin, and Śakuni the son of Subala, and Aśvatthāman the mighty car-warrior, smiling softly, and your sons in their entirety, guarded Śalya in the battle.

9.10.33 Kṛtavarman, having pierced Bhīmasena with three sharp arrows, held him back, wrath-faced as he was, with a great shower of shafts.

9.10.34 Kṛpa, enraged, afflicted Dhṛṣṭadyumna with showers of arrows; Śakuni assailed the sons of Draupadī, and the son of Droṇa fell upon the twins.

9.10.35 Duryodhana of fierce energy advanced against those two foremost of warriors in the battle, Keśava and Arjuna, and the mighty one struck them with arrows.

9.10.36 Thus there were hundreds of single combats between your men and the foe, of terrible aspect and wondrous to behold, here and there, O lord of peoples.

9.10.37 The Bhoja slew the antelope-colored horses of Bhīma in the encounter; and the son of Pāṇḍu, his horses slain, descending from the floor of his chariot, mace in hand, raising it like Death lifting his rod, fought on.

9.10.38 Before the face of Sahadeva the king of the Madras slew his horses; thereupon Sahadeva slew the son of Śalya with his sword.

9.10.39 The preceptor of Gautama's line again gave battle to Dhṛṣṭadyumna—the unflinching against the unflinching, the diligent against the more diligent still.

9.10.40 And the heroic sons of Draupadī—each one with ten arrows the son of the preceptor pierced, not greatly enraged, as though with a smile.

9.10.41 Śalya too, O king, in fury slaying the Somakas and Pāṇḍavas, once more harried Yudhiṣṭhira with whetted arrows.

9.10.42 At this the valiant Bhīma, enraged in battle, biting his lip, resolved upon his destruction and took up his mace.

9.10.43 It was like the rod of Yama, raised aloft like the Night of Doom, the bringer of death to elephants, horses, and men.

9.10.44 Wound about with bands of gold, like a blazing meteor, like a most fierce serpent slung in a cord, hard as the thunderbolt and wrought of iron.

9.10.45 Smeared with paste of sandal and aloe like a desired young woman, yet daubed with fat, marrow, and blood like the tongue of Yama, son of the Sun.

9.10.46 Ringing with a hundred shrill bells like the thunderbolt of Vāsava, shaped like a venomous serpent freed from its skin, and slick with the ichor of elephants.

9.10.47 The terror of the enemy's hosts, the delight of his own troops, renowned in the world of men, the shatterer of mountain peaks.

9.10.48 With which the mighty son of Kuntī, in the dwelling on Kailāsa, had challenged in his wrath the lord of Alakā, the friend of Maheśvara.

9.10.49 With which the mighty one, enraged, slew in the abode of the Lord of Wealth many haughty Guhyakas skilled in illusion, for the sake of the mandāra blossoms, though warned off by many, intent upon Draupadī's pleasure.

9.10.50 Raising that mace, set with masses of diamonds and gems, eight-sided and heavy as the thunderbolt, the mighty-armed one rushed upon Śalya in battle.

9.10.51 Skilled in combat, with that mace of terrible roar he crushed the four swift-coursing horses of Śalya.

9.10.52 Then Śalya, enraged in battle, with a roar drove a lance into Bhīma's broad chest, and the hero's weapon pierced through the armor and entered deep.

9.10.53 But Vṛkodara, unshaken, plucked out that very lance and with it pierced the charioteer of the king of the Madras through the heart.

9.10.54 His armor cleft, vomiting blood, his spirit unnerved, the charioteer fell forward in his misery, and the king of the Madras drew back.

9.10.55 Seeing the blow returned for blow, Śalya, his mind amazed, the steadfast one, leaning on his mace, looked upon his foe.

9.10.56 Then the sons of Pṛthā, glad at heart, honored Bhīmasena, beholding that terrible deed in battle wrought by him whose works are tireless.

9.11.1 Saṃjaya said: Seeing his charioteer fallen, Śalya, O king, swiftly took up his mace all of iron and stood firm as an unmoving mountain.

9.11.2 Upon him, who was like the blazing fire of Doom, like Death with noose in hand, like Kailāsa with its peak, like Vāsava with his thunderbolt—

9.11.3 like the three-eyed Hari with his trident, like a rutting elephant in the forest—Bhīma rushed at speed, gripping his great mace.

9.11.4 Then arose the blare of conches and of trumpets in their thousands, and the lions' roar of the heroes, swelling their joy.

9.11.5 Watching from every side those two warriors, the great war-elephants among fighters, your men and the foe alike cried, 'Well done! Well done!'

9.11.6 For none save the lord of the Madras, or Rāma the delight of the Yadus, could endure in combat the onset of Bhīmasena.

9.11.7 And likewise no other warrior in battle save Vṛkodara could endure the force of the great-souled lord of the Madras's mace.

9.11.8 Bellowing like two bulls, the king of the Madras and Vṛkodara, maces in hand, ranged in wheeling circles, leaping and bounding.

9.11.9 In the wheeling, turning paths and in the flourishing of maces, the combat of those two lions among men was without distinction between them.

9.11.10 Wound about with bright bands of refined gold, that mace of Śalya grew terror-spreading, as though girt with tongues of fire.

9.11.11 And likewise, as the great-souled Bhīma ranged his paths in circles, his mace shone forth like lightning against a cloud.

9.11.12 Struck by the king of the Madras, Bhīma's mace, as if ablaze, O king, gave off flashes of fire.

9.11.13 And likewise Śalya's mace, struck by Bhīma's mace, scattered a rain of embers, and it seemed a marvel.

9.11.14 As two great elephants with their tusks, as two mighty bulls with their horns, as with goads, so then did they smite each other with the heads of their maces.

9.11.15 Their limbs battered by the maces and in a moment drenched with blood, the two grew yet fairer to behold, like two kiṃśuka trees in flower.

9.11.16 Struck on left and right by the king of the Madras's mace, the mighty-armed Bhīmasena did not waver, like a mountain unmoved.

9.11.17 And likewise Śalya, battered again and again by the force of Bhīma's mace, did not flinch, O king, like a hill struck by a tusker.

9.11.18 In all directions was heard the crash of the falling maces of those two lions among men, like the clap of two thunderbolts.

9.11.19 Then those two of mighty valor, drawing back, both with maces uplifted, taking up positions on inner paths, ranged once more in wheeling circles.

9.11.20 Then, advancing eight paces, those two of superhuman deeds came together in collision, raising their iron clubs.

9.11.21 Each seeking the other's life, they ranged in circles, and those two adepts then displayed their special skill.

9.11.22 Then, raising their terrible maces, like two mountains with their peaks, they smote each other as two hills in an earthquake.

9.11.23 By each other's force and grievously struck by the maces, both heroes fell together at once, like two banners of Indra.

9.11.24 The heroes of both armies then raised a cry of dismay; both, struck hard in their vitals, lay sorely stricken.

9.11.25 Then Kṛpa, lifting onto his chariot, mace and all, that bull of the Madras, swiftly bore Śalya away from the battle.

9.11.26 But, swaying as if drunk in his daze, Bhīmasena rose again in a twinkling and, mace in hand, summoned the lord of the Madras.

9.11.27 Then your heroes, furnished with weapons of every kind, with the din of many instruments did battle against the host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.11.28 Raising their arms and weapons, with a mighty shout, O great king, they charged, with Duryodhana at their head.

9.11.29 Beholding that host, the sons of Pāṇḍu then advanced with a lion's roar, eager to slay Duryodhana.

9.11.30 As they rushed swiftly on, your son, O bull of the Bhāratas, with a barbed dart pierced Cekitāna sorely in the heart.

9.11.31 Struck by your son, he fell upon the floor of his chariot, drenched in a flood of blood, sinking into deep darkness.

9.11.32 Seeing Cekitāna slain, the great car-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas poured down, each in his quarter, unbroken showers of arrows.

9.11.33 Amid the ranks of your men the Pāṇḍavas, flushed with victory, ranged about, O great king, a sight to behold on every side.

9.11.34 Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarman, and the mighty son of Subala did battle against the King of Righteousness, with the king of the Madras at their fore.

9.11.35 Duryodhana, O great king, did battle against Dhṛṣṭadyumna, slayer of the son of Bharadvāja, a man of abounding valor and prowess.

9.11.36 Three thousand chariots, O king, urged on by your son and led by Droṇa's son, did battle against the Conqueror.

9.11.37 Fixed in their resolve for victory, having wholly cast away their lives, your men plunged in, O king, like swans into a great lake.

9.11.38 Then there was a terrible battle between those who craved each other's death, a slaughter of one another that yet swelled their mutual delight.

9.11.39 When that battle was joined, O king, that destroyer of the best of heroes, a terrible dust of the earth, stirred by the wind, arose.

9.11.40 By the hearing of their names and by the proclaiming of the Pāṇḍavas' names we knew one another, and those who fought on without fear.

9.11.41 That dust, O tiger among men, was laid by blood, and when the dust was stilled the quarters of the sky grew clear.

9.11.42 As that battle raged on, of terrible form and dreadful, among your men and the foe there was not one who turned his back.

9.11.43 Setting Brahmā's world above all, seeking victory in battle, men strove valiantly by fair fighting, longing for heaven.

9.11.44 To discharge the debt of their lord's bread, resolved upon their lord's cause, their minds fixed on heaven, the warriors fought on then.

9.11.45 Loosing weapons of many forms, the great car-warriors roared at one another and struck each other.

9.11.46 'Strike! Pierce! Seize! Smite! Cut him down!'—such cries were heard in your host and in theirs.

9.11.47 Then Śalya, O great king, longing to slay him, pierced the King of Righteousness Yudhiṣṭhira, that great car-warrior, with whetted arrows.

9.11.48 At him the son of Pṛthā, O great king, knowing the vital points, drove fourteen iron shafts, aiming at those points, as if with a smile.

9.11.49 Checking the Pāṇḍava with arrows and longing to slay him, the man of great renown, enraged, pierced him in battle with many heron-feathered shafts.

9.11.50 Then again, O great king, with a smooth-jointed arrow he struck Yudhiṣṭhira hard, before the eyes of all the host.

9.11.51 The King of Righteousness too, of great renown, in fury pierced the king of the Madras with whetted arrows fledged with heron and peacock feathers.

9.11.52 That great car-warrior struck down Candrasena with seventy arrows, the charioteer with nine, and Drumasena with sixty-four.

9.11.53 His wheel-guards slain by the great-souled Pāṇḍava, Śalya then, O king, struck down five-and-twenty of the Cedis.

9.11.54 He pierced Sātyaki with five-and-twenty, Bhīmasena with five, and the two sons of Mādrī in battle with a hundred whetted arrows.

9.11.55 As he ranged thus in the battle, O best of kings, the son of Pṛthā sent forth whetted arrows like venomous serpents.

9.11.56 And the son of Kuntī, Yudhiṣṭhira, with a broad-headed shaft struck the crest of his banner from his chariot as he stood at the forefront of battle.

9.11.57 We saw his standard, cut down by the great-souled son of Pāṇḍu, falling like a mountain peak struck asunder.

9.11.58 Seeing his banner fallen and the Pāṇḍava holding firm, the king of the Madras grew enraged and loosed a rain of arrows.

9.11.59 Śalya, that bull among Kṣatriyas of measureless soul, rained down with a shower of arrows upon that Kṣatriya, as the rain-cloud pours its showers.

9.11.60 Piercing Sātyaki, Bhīmasena, and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas, each with five arrows, he harried Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.11.61 Then we saw a net of arrows spread over the breast of the Pāṇḍava, O great king, like a mass of clouds risen up.

9.11.62 Śalya, that great car-warrior, enraged in battle, with his smooth-jointed arrows covered over the quarters and the intermediate quarters of the sky.

9.11.63 Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, oppressed by the net of arrows, was robbed of his valor, as Jambha was by the slayer of Vṛtra.

9.12.1 Saṃjaya said: When the King of Righteousness was hard-pressed by the king of the Madras, O honored one, Sātyaki and Bhīmasena and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas, surrounded Śalya with their chariots and beset him in the battle.

9.12.2 Seeing him, one man, beset by many great chariot-warriors, a vast cry of approval arose, and the Siddhas were thrilled; the sages too, gathered there, exclaimed, "A wonder!"

9.12.3 In the battle Bhīmasena, having pierced Śalya—who was like a barb in his valor—with a single arrow, struck him again with seven.

9.12.4 And Sātyaki, longing to protect the son of Dharma, overwhelmed the lord of the Madras with a hundred shafts and then let loose a lion's roar.

9.12.5 Nakula pierced him with five and Sahadeva with seven, and then swiftly struck him once more with seven.

9.12.6 But that hero, intent in the fray and hard-pressed by those great chariot-warriors, drew his dreadful bow—deadly in its speed, equal to its heavy task.

9.12.7 Śalya pierced Sātyaki with twenty-five arrows, O lord, Bhīmasena with seventy-three, and Nakula with seven.

9.12.8 Then, cutting the bow of the archer Sahadeva together with its nocked arrow by a broad-headed shaft in the battle, he pierced him with twenty-one.

9.12.9 But Sahadeva in the fray, stringing another bow, struck his uncle of abundant splendor with five arrows shaped like venomous serpents, blazing like flaming fire.

9.12.10 And in the battle, exceedingly enraged, he pierced his charioteer with a smooth-jointed arrow, and the man again with three more shafts.

9.12.11 Bhīmasena with seventy-three, Sātyaki with nine arrows, and the king of righteousness with sixty planted their shafts in Śalya's body.

9.12.12 Then, O great king, Śalya, pierced through by those great chariot-warriors, streamed blood from his limbs as a mountain streams red ochre.

9.12.13 And he pierced all those mighty archers, five arrows to each, with such force, O king, that it seemed a marvel.

9.12.14 Then with another broad-headed shaft, O lord, that mighty chariot-warrior cut apart the strung bow of the son of Dharma in the battle.

9.12.15 Then, taking up another bow, the son of Dharma, that great chariot-warrior, covered Śalya over with arrows—horses, charioteer, banner, and car alike.

9.12.16 Being so covered in the fray by the shafts of Dharma's son, he in turn pierced Yudhiṣṭhira with ten sharp arrows.

9.12.17 Then Sātyaki, enraged when the son of Dharma was sore wounded by arrows, held off the valiant lord of the Madras with floods of shafts.

9.12.18 He cut apart Sātyaki's great bow with a razor-tipped shaft, and struck those warriors led by Bhīmasena, three arrows to each.

9.12.19 Enraged at him, O great king, Sātyaki of true valor hurled a lance, gold-shafted and of great worth.

9.12.20 Bhīmasena then an iron shaft blazing like a serpent, Nakula a spear in the fray, Sahadeva a fair mace, and the king of righteousness a hundred-slayer—each bent on slaying Śalya in the battle.

9.12.21 As these missiles, loosed from the arms of the five, came hurtling swiftly down, Śalya cut the lance flung by Sātyaki to pieces with his broad-headed shafts.

9.12.22 And the gold-adorned arrow sped by Bhīma, that deft-handed and glorious warrior cut in two within the battle.

9.12.23 The dreadful, gold-shafted spear sent by Nakula, and the mace by Sahadeva, he warded off with floods of arrows.

9.12.24 And with two arrows he cut apart that hundred-slayer of the king, O Bhārata, before the eyes of Pāṇḍu's sons, and roared a lion's roar; but the grandson of Śini could not endure the foe's triumph in the battle.

9.12.25 Then, seizing another bow, Sātyaki, swooning with rage, pierced the lord of the Madras with two arrows and his charioteer with three.

9.12.26 Then Śalya, O great king, exceedingly wrathful, pierced them all with ten arrows each, as one goads great elephants with prods.

9.12.27 Held back in the fray by the king of the Madras, those great chariot-warriors, slayers of foes though they were, could not stand before his face.

9.12.28 Then King Duryodhana, beholding Śalya's prowess, deemed the Pāṇḍavas, the Pāñcālas, and the Sṛñjayas already slain.

9.12.29 Then, O king, the mighty-armed and glorious Bhīmasena, resigning his very life in his heart, gave battle to the lord of the Madras.

9.12.30 Nakula and Sahadeva, and Sātyaki the great chariot-warrior, surrounding Śalya then, covered him on every side with arrows.

9.12.31 Encircled by those four mighty archers, the great chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas, the glorious king of the Madras gave them battle.

9.12.32 In that great battle, O king, the son of Dharma with a razor-tipped shaft swiftly slew the wheel-guard of the king of the Madras, O lord of the earth.

9.12.33 But when that valiant wheel-guard, a great chariot-warrior, was slain, the exceedingly mighty king of the Madras strewed down the soldiers with his arrows.

9.12.34 Then, O king, beholding those soldiers overwhelmed in the fray, the king of righteousness, Yudhiṣṭhira, fell to pondering.

9.12.35 "How shall that great word of Mādhava not prove true? Surely this king, enraged in battle, will not consume my host!"

9.12.36 Then, O elder-born of Pāṇḍu's line, the Pāṇḍavas with their chariots, elephants, and horses closed upon the lord of the Madras, beleaguering him on every side.

9.12.37 The rain of weapons, swollen with floods of manifold arms, that rose against him, he scattered in the fray, O king, as the wind scatters great clouds.

9.12.38 Then we beheld that rain of gold-feathered arrows, loosed by Śalya and gone aloft into the sky, like an extending swarm of locusts.

9.12.39 Those arrows sped by the king of the Madras at the battle's front were seen falling together like flocks of locusts.

9.12.40 By the gold-adorned arrows loosed from the bow of the king of the Madras, the very sky became, as it were, without a gap, O ruler of men.

9.12.41 Neither of the Pāṇḍavas nor of our own host could anyone there be seen, so great and dreadful was the darkness of arrows wrought in that place of terror.

9.12.42 Beholding the ocean-like host of the Pāṇḍavas churned thus by the mighty king of the Madras with his swift rains of arrows, the gods, gandharvas, and dānavas fell into the utmost wonder.

9.12.43 But he, beleaguering with arrows those who pressed from every side, O lord, and covering over the king of righteousness, roared again and again like a lion.

9.12.44 Covered over by him in the fray, those great chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas could not then come forth against that great car-warrior in the battle.

9.12.45 Yet those car-warriors, led by the king of righteousness and headed by Bhīmasena, did not forsake the fray against the valiant Śalya, the splendor of the battle.

9.13.1 Saṃjaya said: Arjuna, pierced in the fight by Droṇa's son with many iron shafts, and by his valiant followers, the great chariot-warriors of the Trigartas, pierced Droṇa's son in the battle with but three sharp-pointed arrows.

9.13.2 And the other mighty archers Dhanaṃjaya pierced, two arrows to each, and the mighty-armed one moreover overwhelmed them with showers of shafts.

9.13.3 But your men, O bull of the Bhāratas, bristling with arrows like thorns, did not forsake Pārtha in the fray, though slain by his keen shafts.

9.13.4 With a line of chariots, led by the son of Droṇa, those great car-warriors surrounded Arjuna and gave him battle in the fray.

9.13.5 The arrows hurled by them, O king, adorned with gold, straightway filled the floor of Arjuna's chariot.

9.13.6 And the two Kṛṣṇas, those mighty archers, bulls among all bowmen, beholding their limbs pierced through with arrows, grew exultant, irresistible in battle.

9.13.7 The pole, the chariot-wheels, the shaft, the harness-cords, O lord, the yoke and the under-pole—all then became, as it were, made of arrows.

9.13.8 Never before, O king, had we seen or heard such a feat as your men there wrought upon Pārtha.

9.13.9 That chariot shone on every side with keen, bright-feathered arrows, like a celestial car ablaze upon the earth with a hundred meteors.

9.13.10 Then Arjuna, O great king, overwhelmed that host with smooth-jointed arrows, as a cloud overwhelms a mountain with rain.

9.13.11 Slain in the fray by arrows marked with Pārtha's name, they, seeing him on every side, deemed all the world become Pārtha.

9.13.12 Then the fire that was Pārtha, with a wondrous flame of arrows and a great wind that was the twang of his bow, swiftly burned up your army as its fuel.

9.13.13 Of wheels and yokes falling to the earth, of quivers, pennons, and banners together with the chariots,

9.13.14 of shafts and under-poles and triple bamboo frames, O Bhārata, and of axles, harness-cords, and goads on every side,

9.13.15 and of falling heads still wearing their earrings and turbans, and of arms and shoulders, O great king, on every side—

9.13.16 heaps of parasols together with fans, and of crowns, were seen along the path of Pārtha's chariot, O Bhārata.

9.13.17 The earth became impassable, a mire of flesh and blood, O best of the Bhāratas, like the playground of Rudra—begetting terror in the timid, swelling the joy of the brave.

9.13.18 Having slain in the fray, O scorcher of foes, two thousand car-warriors together with their chariot-guards, Pārtha blazed like a smokeless fire.

9.13.19 For as the blessed Fire, having burned up the world of things moving and unmoving, is seen smokeless, O king, so was Pārtha, that great chariot-warrior.

9.13.20 But the son of Droṇa, beholding the Pāṇḍava's prowess in the fray, withstood the Pāṇḍava with his chariot of towering banners.

9.13.21 Those two tigers among men, both with white horses, foremost of bowmen, then closed swiftly together, each seeking the other's death.

9.13.22 Between them, O great king, there fell a most dreadful rain of arrows, like the downpour of rain-clouds at the close of the hot season, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.13.23 Contending each with the other, the two gashed one another in the fray with smooth-jointed arrows, as two bulls gore each other with their horns.

9.13.24 Their battle, O great king, for a long while was as if evenly matched, and there was a clash of weapons there, dreadful and great.

9.13.25 Then the son of Droṇa pierced Arjuna with twelve well-sharpened, gold-feathered shafts, and Vāsudeva with ten, O Bhārata.

9.13.26 Then Bībhatsu, laughing, drew his Gāṇḍīva bow, having for a moment honored the teacher's son in that great battle.

9.13.27 Savyasācin, the great car-warrior, made him bereft of horses, charioteer, and chariot, and then, after first sparing him, pierced him with three arrows.

9.13.28 Standing in his chariot whose horses were slain, the son of Droṇa hurled at Pāṇḍu's son an iron pestle, like an iron bludgeon.

9.13.29 As it came hurtling suddenly down, adorned with bands of gold, the hero Pārtha, crusher of foes, cut it into seven pieces.

9.13.30 Seeing the pestle cut apart, the son of Droṇa, in extreme wrath, took up a dreadful iron bludgeon like the peak of a lordly mountain; and Droṇa's son, skilled in war, hurled it at Pārtha.

9.13.31 Beholding that bludgeon, wrathful as Death itself, the Pāṇḍava Arjuna swiftly struck it down with five excellent arrows.

9.13.32 Severed by Pārtha's arrows, it fell to the earth in that great battle, rending the hearts of the kings of the earth with its crash, O Bhārata.

9.13.33 Then the Pāṇḍava pierced the son of Droṇa with three more arrows; yet, though sore wounded by the mighty Pārtha, the exceedingly powerful son of Droṇa was not dismayed, but stood firm in his own manliness.

9.13.34 Then Sudharman, O king, overwhelmed the great chariot-warrior, son of Bharadvāja, with clusters of arrows, before the eyes of all the warriors.

9.13.35 Then Suratha too, a great chariot-warrior of the Pāñcālas, charged in the fight upon the son of Droṇa with his thunder-roaring chariot.

9.13.36 Drawing his finest bow, firm and able to bear every strain, he overwhelmed him with arrows like blazing venomous serpents.

9.13.37 Then, as the wrathful Suratha, that mighty car-warrior, came rushing upon him, the son of Droṇa blazed with rage in the battle, like a serpent struck with a staff.

9.13.38 Knitting his brow into a triple furrow and licking the corners of his mouth, glaring at Suratha in his fury and drawing back his bowstring, he loosed a keen iron shaft that shone like the rod of Yama.

9.13.39 Cleaving through his heart, it sank in with tremendous speed, like the thunderbolt of Śakra hurled down to rend the surface of the earth.

9.13.40 Then he fell to the ground, smitten by that iron shaft, like the precious peak of a mountain struck down by the thunderbolt.

9.13.41 When that hero had been slain, the valiant son of Droṇa, foremost of car-warriors, swiftly mounted that very chariot.

9.13.42 Then, made ready, O great king, the son of Droṇa, frenzied in battle, fought against Arjuna, surrounded by the saṃśaptakas in the fray.

9.13.43 There a great battle was fought between Arjuna and his foes, while the sun stood at midday—a battle that swelled the realm of Yama.

9.13.44 There we beheld a marvel, witnessing their prowess: that Arjuna alone fought against those heroes all at once.

9.13.45 And great was the clash between Arjuna and his foes, as of old between Śatakratu and the vast host of the Daityas.

9.14.1 Saṃjaya said: Duryodhana, O great king, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the son of Pṛṣata waged a tremendous battle, thick with arrows and spears.

9.14.2 Between the two, O great king, the streams of arrows flowed by thousands on every side, as the showers of rain from the clouds in their season.

9.14.3 The king, piercing the son of Pṛṣata, the slayer of Droṇa, with five iron arrows, that fierce archer then struck him again with seven.

9.14.4 But Dhṛṣṭadyumna, mighty and firm in valor, sorely afflicted Duryodhana in battle with seventy shafts.

9.14.5 Seeing the king hard pressed, his own brothers, O bull of the Bhāratas, together with a great host surrounded the son of Pṛṣata.

9.14.6 Hemmed in on all sides by those heroes, those mighty car-warriors, he ranged through the battle, O king, displaying the lightness of his hand.

9.14.7 Śikhaṇḍin, joined by the Prabhadrakas, fought against Kṛtavarman and the descendant of Gotama, that mighty car-warrior—both of them archers.

9.14.8 There too, O lord of the people, a tremendous and terrible battle was fought by men casting away their lives, as in a gambling-match with life itself for the stake.

9.14.9 And Śalya, loosing showers of arrows in every direction, sorely pressed the Pāṇḍavas, together with Sātyaki and Vṛkodara.

9.14.10 And the two twins as well, whose prowess equalled Yama's, he fought in battle, O lord of kings, with valor and with might.

9.14.11 For the Pāṇḍavas, driven back by Śalya's arrows in that great fray, certain of their mighty car-warriors could find no protector there.

9.14.12 Then the heroic Nakula, the son of Mādrī, when the King of Righteousness was hard pressed, rushed with speed against his maternal uncle.

9.14.13 Veiling Śalya in battle, Nakula, slayer of hostile heroes, smiling as he did so, pierced him with ten shafts in the breast.

9.14.14 They were arrows all of iron, burnished by the smith, golden-feathered, whetted on stone, sped by the engine of his bow.

9.14.15 But Śalya, sorely pressed by that high-souled son of his sister, in turn afflicted Nakula with feathered shafts smoothed at the joints.

9.14.16 Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, and Bhīmasena, and Sātyaki, and Sahadeva the son of Mādrī rushed upon the King of the Madras.

9.14.17 As they came swiftly on, filling the quarters and the intermediate quarters with the rattle of their chariots and making the earth tremble, the commander, conqueror of his foes, received them in battle.

9.14.18 Piercing Yudhiṣṭhira with three shafts, and Bhīmasena with seven, and Sātyaki with a hundred in the fight, and Sahadeva with three arrows—

9.14.19 Then the lord of the Madras, with a razor-edged arrow, cut through the bow of the high-souled Nakula together with the shaft set to it, O sire; and so, severed by Śalya's arrows, that bow fell to pieces.

9.14.20 Then, taking up another bow, the son of Mādrī, that mighty car-warrior, swiftly covered the chariot of the Madra king with feathered shafts.

9.14.21 And Yudhiṣṭhira and Sahadeva, O sire, each pierced the lord of the Madras in the breast with ten arrows apiece.

9.14.22 Then Bhīmasena with sixty and Sātyaki with nine arrows, rushing upon the Madra king, struck him with heron-feathered shafts.

9.14.23 Then the Madra king in wrath pierced Sātyaki with nine arrows, and again with seventy shafts smoothed at the joints.

9.14.24 Then he cut through his bow, shaft and all, at the grip, O sire, and dispatched his four horses to death in the encounter.

9.14.25 Having made Sātyaki carless, the mighty Madra king smote him on every side with a hundred shafts.

9.14.26 And the two enraged sons of Mādrī, and Bhīmasena the Pāṇḍava, and Yudhiṣṭhira, O Kaurava, he pierced each with ten arrows.

9.14.27 There we beheld the wondrous manhood of the Madra king, in that the sons of Pṛthā, even united, could not overcome him in the encounter.

9.14.28 Then, mounting another chariot, Sātyaki of true valor, seeing the Pāṇḍavas hard pressed and fallen into the power of the Madra king, rushed with speed, mighty as he was, upon the lord of the Madras.

9.14.29 As his chariot came rushing on, Śalya, the splendor of assemblies, advanced against it with his own chariot, as one furious elephant against another.

9.14.30 That tumultuous collision between the heroic Sātyaki and the lord of the Madras was a wondrous sight to behold, even such as once befell between Śambara and the king of the immortals.

9.14.31 Sātyaki, beholding the Madra king arrayed against him in battle, pierced him with ten arrows and cried, 'Stand, stand!'

9.14.32 And the Madra king, sorely wounded by that high-souled one, in turn pierced Sātyaki with sharp shafts of variegated feathering.

9.14.33 Then the sons of Pṛthā, those great archers, swiftly rushed in their chariots upon the king beset by the Sātvata—their uncle—eager to slay him.

9.14.34 Then there arose a tumultuous clash, its waters of blood, among those battling heroes, like lions roaring in their rage.

9.14.35 Their hurling of weapons against one another, O great king, was like the snarling of lions that crave the flesh of prey in the fray.

9.14.36 With the flooding thousands of their arrows the earth grew thickly strewn, and the very sky became, all at once, a thing made wholly of arrows.

9.14.37 A darkness of arrows was wrought there manifoldly on every side; like the shadow of a cloud it gathered from the shafts loosed by those high-souled ones.

9.14.38 There, O king, with the loosed arrows—golden-feathered and gleaming, like serpents sloughed of their skins—the quarters of the sky were made to shine.

9.14.39 There Śalya, crusher of foes, performed a surpassing marvel, in that that hero alone fought against many in the battle.

9.14.40 With the dreadful arrows let fly by the arm of the Madra king, fledged with heron and peacock feathers, raining down, the earth was overspread.

9.14.41 There we beheld the chariot of Śalya, O king, ranging through that great battle, even as of old that of Śakra in the destruction of the Asuras.

9.15.1 Saṃjaya said: Then your troops, O mighty lord, with the Madra king at their head, again rushed upon the sons of Pṛthā with great speed in the battle.

9.15.2 All your men, though hard pressed, charging on, frenzied for battle, in but a moment routed the sons of Pṛthā by their numbers.

9.15.3 The Pāṇḍavas, cut down by the Kurus, could not hold their ground, though restrained by Bhīma, while Kṛṣṇa and Pārtha looked on.

9.15.4 Then Dhanaṃjaya in wrath overwhelmed Kṛpa, together with his foot-followers, and Kṛtavarman as well, with a flood of arrows.

9.15.5 Sahadeva held back Śakuni together with his host, while Nakula, standing at his side, kept his eye upon the Madra king.

9.15.6 The sons of Draupadī held back most of the kings, and Śikhaṇḍin the Pāñcāla held back the son of Droṇa.

9.15.7 Bhīmasena, mace in hand, held back the king, while Yudhiṣṭhira the son of Kuntī held back Śalya together with his host.

9.15.8 Then a battle close-locked arose, here and there, between your men and the foe, who never turned back from the fight.

9.15.9 There we beheld the surpassingly mighty deed of Śalya in the battle, in that he alone fought against all the hosts of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.15.10 Śalya then appeared close beside Yudhiṣṭhira in the battle, like the planet Śanaiścara near the moon.

9.15.11 Having afflicted the king with arrows like venomous serpents, he rushed again upon Bhīma and covered him with showers of shafts.

9.15.12 Beholding that lightness of his hand and his mastery of weapons, the ranks of both the foe and your own men honored him.

9.15.13 And the Pāṇḍavas, hard pressed by Śalya and sorely wounded, fled, abandoning the battle, while Yudhiṣṭhira cried out to them.

9.15.14 As his ranks were being cut down by the Madra king, the Pāṇḍava Yudhiṣṭhira, the King of Righteousness, gave way to indignation, and then, summoning his manhood, sorely pressed the Madra king.

9.15.15 Resolved in mind that it should be either victory or death, that mighty car-warrior summoned all his brothers and Kṛṣṇa the Mādhava, and spoke.

9.15.16 Bhīṣma and Droṇa and Karṇa, and whatever other rulers of the earth strove for the cause of the Kauravas, have met their death in battle.

9.15.17 Each according to his portion and his zeal, you have shown your manhood; one portion alone remains for me—Śalya, the mighty car-warrior.

9.15.18 I therefore hope this day to conquer the lord of the Madrakas in combat; and all that is in my mind concerning this I now declare to you.

9.15.19 Let these two heroes, the sons of Mādravatī, be the guards of my chariot-wheels—men unconquerable even by Vāsava in battle, honored among the brave.

9.15.20 Worthily let these two, holding the warrior's law foremost, deserving of honor and true to their plighted word, fight against their uncle in battle for my sake.

9.15.21 Either Śalya shall slay me in battle, or I shall slay him—good fortune be yours! Mark, O heroes of the world, this true word of mine.

9.15.22 This day, O princes, I myself, having so resolved, shall fight with my uncle by the law of the warrior—for victory or for the other.

9.15.23 Let the yokers of chariots quickly furnish me, for this battle, with surpassing weaponry and all its appurtenances, according to the rule.

9.15.24 Let the grandson of Śini guard my right wheel and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the left, and let Pārtha Dhanaṃjaya be the guardian of my rear this day.

9.15.25 Let Bhīma, foremost of weapon-bearers, be my vanguard this day; thus shall I prove superior to Śalya in the great fray.

9.15.26 Thus addressed, all those who sought the king's good did accordingly; and then, O king, joy arose once more among the troops.

9.15.27 Of the Pāñcālas, the Somakas, and the Matsyas especially, fulfilling that vow of the King of Righteousness in the battle—

9.15.28 Then the Pāñcālas sounded conches and kettledrums and tabors by the hundred, and roared their lion-roars.

9.15.29 Enraged and swift, those bulls among the Kurus charged upon the Madra king with a great cry born of their gladness.

9.15.30 With the clangor of the bells of elephants, and with the blare of conches, and with the mighty din of trumpets, they made the earth resound.

9.15.31 Your son and the valiant king of the Madras received those onrushing warriors, the two of them standing firm like the mountains of the eastern and western horizons confronting a host of great storm-clouds.

9.15.32 Śalya, glorying in battle, rained showers of arrows upon Yudhiṣṭhira, that tamer of foes, even as Maghavan pours down the rain.

9.15.33 In like manner the high-souled king of the Kurus too, taking up his splendid bow, displayed the manifold lessons taught him by Droṇa.

9.15.34 He poured forth showers of arrows, wondrously, swiftly, and well; and as he ranged across the field of battle none could mark an opening in his guard.

9.15.35 With their various shafts the two of them wounded each other, like two valiant tigers in combat, each greedy for the flesh of its prey.

9.15.36 Bhīma closed with your son, that drunkard of battle; and the prince of the Pāñcālas, and Sātyaki, and the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī received from every side the heroes led by Śakuni.

9.15.37 Then once again, O king, fierce grew the battle between your men and the foe, both eager for victory—the fruit of your evil counsels.

9.15.38 Duryodhana, taking deliberate aim, with a smooth-jointed arrow cut down in the fight Bhīma's banner adorned with gold.

9.15.39 Fair to behold, with its great net of little bells, the splendid lion that was Bhīmasena's emblem fell roaring to the ground.

9.15.40 And again the king severed with a sharp-edged razor-shaft his brilliant bow, which was thick as the trunk of a lordly elephant.

9.15.41 His bow thus cut, the fiery Bhīma, advancing with a car-borne lance, pierced your son in the breast, and Duryodhana sank down upon the floor of his chariot.

9.15.42 While your son lay swooning, Vṛkodara then with a razor-headed shaft struck the head of his driver from his body.

9.15.43 Their charioteer slain, his horses, O Bhārata, bearing the car away, fled in all directions, O king, and a cry of dismay arose.

9.15.44 To his rescue rushed the mighty car-warrior, the son of Droṇa, and Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarman, all bent on saving your son.

9.15.45 As that host was thrown into confusion, his foot-soldiers fled in terror; but the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, twanging his bow, struck them down with his shafts.

9.15.46 And Yudhiṣṭhira, filled with wrath, charged upon the lord of the Madras, himself urging on his horses, ivory-white and swift as thought.

9.15.47 There we beheld a marvel in Kuntī's son Yudhiṣṭhira: he who before had been gentle and self-controlled had now grown terrible.

9.15.48 With eyes wide open and trembling with fury, the son of Kuntī cut down warriors by hundreds of thousands with his whetted shafts.

9.15.49 Whatever host advanced to meet him, that host the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas brought down with his arrows, O king, as great mountains are shattered by thunderbolts.

9.15.50 Felling many car-warriors with their horses, drivers, banners, and cars, the mighty one sported there alone, like the wind scattering the clouds.

9.15.51 Horses with their riders, and foot-soldiers by the thousand, he crushed in the battle, as Rudra in his wrath crushes the beasts.

9.15.52 Having swept the field empty on every side with his showers of arrows, he charged upon the lord of the Madras and cried, "Stand, Śalya!"

9.15.53 Beholding this exploit of him whose deeds were dreadful in battle, all your men were seized with terror; but Śalya advanced to meet him.

9.15.54 Then the two of them, swollen with fury, blew their conches born of the waters, and, challenging and defying one another, closed in combat.

9.15.55 Śalya overwhelmed Yudhiṣṭhira with a shower of arrows, and the son of Kuntī in turn overwhelmed the king of the Madras with showers of arrows.

9.15.56 Then, O king, the two heroes, the king of the Madras and Yudhiṣṭhira, were seen in the fight bristling with heron-feathered shafts, their blood gushing forth.

9.15.57 The two high-souled warriors shone like a flowering śalmali and a kiṃśuka tree in the forest, ablaze with splendor, frenzied in their battle for life itself.

9.15.58 Beholding them, none of all the armies could foretell which of the two would win: "Once he has slain the lord of the Madras, Pārtha shall this day enjoy the earth;

9.15.59 "or else Śalya, having slain the Pāṇḍava, shall bestow the earth on Duryodhana"—thus, O Bhārata, no certainty came to the warriors there.

9.15.60 Yet for Yudhiṣṭhira, as he fought, every omen turned auspicious.

9.15.61 Then Śalya swiftly loosed a hundred arrows at Yudhiṣṭhira, and with a sharp-pointed shaft he cut his bow asunder.

9.15.62 Taking up another bow, Yudhiṣṭhira pierced Śalya with three hundred arrows and severed his bow with a razor-shaft.

9.15.63 Then with smooth-jointed shafts he slew Śalya's four horses, and with two sharp-pointed ones the two drivers who guarded his flanks.

9.15.64 Then, as Śalya stood before him, with a blazing, golden, whetted broad-headed shaft he struck down his banner; and thereupon, O tamer of foes, that host of Duryodhana was broken.

9.15.65 Then the son of Droṇa rushed to the lord of the Madras, brought thus to such a pass, and lifting him into his own chariot bore him swiftly away.

9.15.66 Having gone but a little way, while Yudhiṣṭhira roared aloud, the lord of the Madras halted and mounted another chariot,

9.15.67 a gleaming car duly equipped, that rumbled like a great rain-cloud, furnished with all its gear in readiness—a thing to make the foe's hair stand on end.

9.16.1 Saṃjaya said: Then, taking up another bow, mightier and swifter still, the lord of the Madras pierced Yudhiṣṭhira and roared like a lion.

9.16.2 Then that bull among warriors, immeasurable of soul, rained down a shower of arrows upon the kṣatriyas, like Parjanya pouring forth the rain.

9.16.3 Piercing Sātyaki with ten shafts, Bhīmasena with three, and Sahadeva with three, he then pressed hard upon Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.16.4 That foremost of car-warriors slew sundry other mighty bowmen together with their horses, chariots, and elephants—elephants with their riders, horses with their cavalrymen, and chariots together with their warriors.

9.16.5 He severed arms still grasping their weapons, and banners as well, and made the earth thickly strewn with warriors as an altar is strewn with kuśa grass.

9.16.6 As he slaughtered the hostile hosts like Death the all-ender himself, the Pāṇḍavas, Pāñcālas, and Somakas, exceedingly enraged, surrounded him on every side.

9.16.7 Bhīmasena, and the grandson of Śini, and the two sons of Mādrī, foremost of men, came upon him as he closed with their king of dreadful might; and, calling upon one another, they hemmed him in.

9.16.8 Then those heroes, having reached that king, the lord of the Madras, best of fighters, and having hemmed him about in the battle, those manly warriors struck him with feathered shafts of terrible speed.

9.16.9 Guarded by Bhīmasena, by the two sons of Mādrī, and by Mādhava, the son of Dharma struck the lord of the Madras between the breasts with feathered shafts of terrible speed.

9.16.10 Then in the battle the throngs of your car-warriors, the foremost among them, seeing the lord of the Madras sore beset with arrows, surrounded him on all sides, with Duryodhana's consent.

9.16.11 Then swiftly the king of the Madra folk pierced Yudhiṣṭhira in the fight with seven shafts; and the high-souled Pārtha in turn pierced him with nine arrows, O king, amid that tumult.

9.16.12 With arrows drawn back to the ear, oil-washed and well-aimed, the two great car-warriors—the lord of the Madras and Yudhiṣṭhira—then veiled each other from sight in the battle.

9.16.13 Then swiftly those two great car-warriors, those best of kings, mighty in strength and unassailable by their foes, watching for each other's opening, pierced one another sorely with their shafts.

9.16.14 As those two high-souled heroes, the Madra warrior and the son of Pāṇḍu, rained masses of arrows upon each other, the great twang of their bowstrings against their wrist-guards rang out like the crash of great Indra's thunderbolt.

9.16.15 The two ranged the field, bright as tiger-cubs greedy for flesh in the great forest, and like two tusked lordly elephants they gashed each other, their pride born of the combat.

9.16.16 Then the high-souled lord of the Madras, overpowering Yudhiṣṭhira of terrible might, pierced that hero with great force in the heart, with a shaft bright as the sun and as fire.

9.16.17 Then, sorely wounded, the high-souled Yudhiṣṭhira too, O king, struck the lord of the Madras with a well-aimed shaft, and that bull of the Kurus took joy thereat.

9.16.18 Then, after a moment, that lord of kings, recovering his senses, his eyes red with wrath, his might like that of the thousand-eyed one, swiftly struck Pārtha with a hundred shafts.

9.16.19 Then the high-souled son of Dharma in haste and wrath, with nine shafts piercing Śalya's breast and his golden mail, smote him again with six other arrows.

9.16.20 Then the lord of the Madras, full of joy, drawing his bow, let fly his shafts, and with two razor-headed arrows cut the bow of the king, that bull among the Kurus.

9.16.21 Then in the battle the high-souled king, taking up another bow, yet more terrible, pierced Śalya on every side with whetted shafts, as great Indra pierced Namuci with his sharp-pointed bolts.

9.16.22 Then the high-souled Śalya, with nine shafts, having cut through the stout golden corslets of both Bhīma and king Yudhiṣṭhira, tore open their arms.

9.16.23 Then with another razor-shaft, blazing with the sun's splendor, he shattered the king's bow; and Kṛpa with six arrows slew the king's charioteer, who fell forward upon his face.

9.16.24 And the lord of the Madras with four arrows slew the horses of Yudhiṣṭhira; and having slain them, that high-souled one wrought havoc among the warriors of king Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma.

9.16.25 When the king was thus served, the high-souled Bhīmasena swiftly cut the bow of the lord of the Madras with a fast-flying shaft and pierced that king sorely with two arrows.

9.16.26 Then with another shaft he struck the head of his driver from his body, from the midst of his armor; and the sorely enraged Bhīmasena swiftly slew his four horses as well.

9.16.27 As that foremost of all bowmen ranged the battle alone with great swiftness, Bhīma covered him with a hundred arrows, and so too did Sahadeva, the son of Mādrī.

9.16.28 Seeing Śalya dazed by those shafts, Bhīma with his arrows cut through his armor; and his corslet thus rent by Bhīmasena, the lord of the Madras seized a shield set with a thousand stars.

9.16.29 And taking up a sword, the high-souled one leapt down from his chariot and rushed upon the son of Kuntī; having cut the chariot-pole of Nakula, that one of dreadful might bore down upon Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.16.30 And as that king sprang forward, wrathful, swooping like Death the all-ender, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the sons of Draupadī, Śikhaṇḍin, and the grandson of Śini suddenly surrounded him.

9.16.31 Then the high-souled Bhīma cut his peerless shield to pieces with ten shafts, and with broad-headed arrows severed his sword at the hilt, roaring with joy in the midst of your host.

9.16.32 Beholding that deed of Bhīma, the foremost throngs of the Pāṇḍavas' car-warriors, rejoicing, raised a mighty shout, laughing aloud, and blew their conches white as the moon.

9.16.33 At that terrible din your army was sore afflicted and joyless, overcome with sweat, its limbs drenched in blood, half-senseless and downcast.

9.16.34 That king of the Madras, suddenly hemmed in by the chief Pāṇḍava warriors led by Bhīma, sped swiftly straight toward Yudhiṣṭhira, as a lion makes for its prey.

9.16.35 And Yudhiṣṭhira, beholding the lord of the Madras, his horses and driver slain, blazing with wrath like a kindled fire, swiftly rushed upon that foe with all his might.

9.16.36 Calling swiftly to mind the words of Govinda, he set his heart upon the slaying of Śalya; and Yudhiṣṭhira, standing in his chariot whose horses and driver were slain, longed for his spear.

9.16.37 And, marking that deed of the high-souled Śalya, and remembering the portion of doom that yet remained for him, the self-controlled king bent his mind upon Śalya's slaying, even as Viṣṇu, the younger brother of Indra, had bidden him.

9.16.38 Then Yudhiṣṭhira seized a spear, golden of sheen, its shaft set with gems and gold; and opening wide his blazing eyes, with mind enraged he gazed upon the lord of the Madras.

9.16.39 Gazed upon, O king of men, by that pure-souled monarch whose sins were purged away, that the king of the Madras was not reduced to ashes—this seems to me a marvel, O king.

9.16.40 Then that high-souled and foremost of the Kurus hurled with great force and swiftness at the lord of the Madras the blazing spear, its splendid fierce shaft alight with gems and coral.

9.16.41 As it sped down blazing, hurled with mighty strength, scattering sparks, all the assembled Kurus gazed upon it as upon a great meteor at the ending of an age.

9.16.42 That spear, like the Night of Doom with her noose in hand, like the dread nurse of Yama, terrible of aspect, unfailing, the very likeness of Brahmā's rod, Yudhiṣṭhira, intent, let fly in the battle.

9.16.43 That spear, worshipped with diligence by the sons of Pāṇḍu with perfumes and garlands, with the choicest seats, drink, and food, blazed like the fire of universal dissolution, terrible as a destroying spell of the Atharvan and Aṅgiras seers.

9.16.44 That spear had been forged by Tvaṣṭṛ for Īśāna's sake, a devourer of the lives and bodies of foes, with power to slay by force the beings that dwell in earth, in the sky, in the waters, and elsewhere.

9.16.45 It was hung with bells and banners, set with gems and adamant, gleaming with cat's-eye, its shaft of refined gold; fashioned by Tvaṣṭṛ with effort and due rite, it was unfailing, the bringer of death to the haters of Brahman.

9.16.46 Charged with momentum by force and effort, hallowed with terrible mantras, he then loosed it along that surpassing course for the slaying of the lord of the Madras.

9.16.47 "You are slain!" the King of Righteousness roared aloud, as Rudra lets fly the death-dealing shaft against Death himself, stretching forth his firm, fair-handed arm, all but dancing in his wrath.

9.16.48 That spear, hurled by Yudhiṣṭhira with all his might, its force not to be turned aside, Śalya roared out to receive, as fire roars to welcome a stream of butter rightly poured in oblation.

9.16.49 Cleaving his vital parts and his broad bright chest, and likewise his armor, it sank in as water sinks unhindered into the earth, consuming the king's wide-spread glory.

9.16.50 With the blood that streamed from his nose, eyes, ears, and mouth, and that welled forth from the wound, his limbs were drenched—like the great mountain Krauñca smitten by Skanda.

9.16.51 His armor cleft asunder by the joy of the Kurus, the great-souled one, who matched the mount of mighty Indra, flung wide his arms and fell from his chariot to the earth, like the peak of a mountain struck by the thunderbolt.

9.16.52 Stretching out his arms, the king of the Madras, facing the King of Righteousness, then fell to the ground like an upraised banner of Indra.

9.16.53 With every limb thus rent and bathed in blood, that bull among men seemed as if the earth herself had risen up in love to meet him.

9.16.54 Like a lover sinking upon the breast of his cherished beloved, having long enjoyed the bountiful earth as a man enjoys his dear and lovely wife, that lord, embracing her with all his limbs, seemed as one fallen asleep.

9.16.55 Slain in righteous battle by the righteous-souled son of Dharma, he was like a fire well-fed with rightful oblation, grown calm at the close of the sacrifice.

9.16.56 Though his heart was riven by the spear, his weapons and banner cast away, and though the lord of the Madras lay stilled in death, splendor would not forsake him.

9.16.57 Then Yudhiṣṭhira, taking up his bow bright as Indra's rainbow, scattered his foes in the fight as the king of birds scatters serpents, in an instant destroying with his keen broad-headed shafts the bodies and the lives of his enemies.

9.16.58 Then your soldiers, enveloped by the floods of the Pārtha's arrows, their eyes shut fast, sorely afflicted, wasting one another grievously, cast off their mail, their bodies stripped of weapons, of armor, and of life.

9.16.59 Then, when Śalya had fallen, the young brother of the Madra king, a charioteer the equal of his brother in every quality, rushed upon the Pāṇḍava.

9.16.60 And that best of men, frenzied with battle, eager to avenge his slain brother, swiftly pierced him with many iron shafts.

9.16.61 The King of Righteousness, moving as if in haste, pierced him with six swift arrows and, with two razor-edged shafts, cut apart his bow and his banner too.

9.16.62 Then, with a blazing, firm, and whetted broad-headed shaft, he struck off the head of that warrior who stood there before him.

9.16.63 That head, still wearing its earrings, was seen to fall from the chariot, like a dweller in heaven plummeting down upon the exhaustion of his merit.

9.16.64 Seeing his headless body, fallen from the chariot, its limbs drenched with blood, the army broke and fled.

9.16.65 When that brother of the Madra king, clad in many-hued armor, was slain, the Kurus, raising cries of woe, scattered in flight.

9.16.66 Seeing Śalya's younger brother slain, your men, ready to lay down their lives, covered thickly with dust, trembled exceedingly in their dread of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.16.67 Upon those Kauravas thus broken and terrified, O bull of the Bhāratas, Sātyaki, grandson of Śini, advanced, showering them with arrows.

9.16.68 As that mighty bowman came on, irresistible and hard to withstand, Hārdikya, O king, swiftly and without fear received him.

9.16.69 Those two great-souled and unconquered scions of the Vṛṣṇis came together, Hārdikya and Sātyaki, like two lions maddened with rut.

9.16.70 With arrows of spotless luster they veiled each other, bright as the sun's own beams, each rivaling the day-maker in radiance.

9.16.71 The shafts of those two Vṛṣṇi lions, sped by the force of their bowstrings' course, we beheld in the sky moving swift as flights of birds.

9.16.72 Hārdikya pierced Sātyaki with ten arrows and his horses with three, and with a single keen-jointed shaft cut asunder his bow.

9.16.73 Casting aside that fine bow now severed, the bull of the Śinis swiftly took up another weapon, mightier still in force.

9.16.74 Taking up that excellent bow, the foremost of all archers struck Hārdikya in return, full upon the breast, with ten arrows.

9.16.75 Then, cutting apart his chariot, yoke, and pole with well-aimed broad-headed shafts, he swiftly slew his horses and both his flanking charioteers.

9.16.76 With the king of the Madras slain, O king, and Kṛtavarman robbed of his chariot, the whole host of Duryodhana once again turned its back in flight.

9.16.77 The enemy did not perceive it, the field being shrouded by the army's dust; yet that force, the greater part of it slain, had then turned away in retreat.

9.16.78 Then in a moment they saw the dust that had risen from the earth laid to rest by the manifold streams of blood, O bull among men.

9.16.79 Then Duryodhana, seeing his own force shattered close at hand, alone held back all the Pārthas as they swiftly bore down upon him.

9.16.80 Seeing the Pāṇḍavas with their chariots, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna son of Pṛṣata, and the unassailable man of Ānarta, he overwhelmed them with whetted arrows.

9.16.81 The foe did not close with him, as mortals shun Death come near; and Hārdikya too, mounting another chariot, returned to the fight.

9.16.82 Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, that great chariot-warrior, in haste slew Kṛtavarman's horses with four feathered shafts, and pierced Gautama too with six keen broad-headed arrows.

9.16.83 Then Aśvatthāman bore Hārdikya away from Yudhiṣṭhira upon his own chariot, since the king had killed his horses and left him without a car.

9.16.84 Then the son of Śaradvat struck Yudhiṣṭhira in return with eight arrows, and pierced his horses with eight keen shafts.

9.16.85 Thus it was, O great king, that this remnant of the battle came to pass, through your evil counsel, O Bhārata, yours and your son's together.

9.16.86 When that foremost of mighty bowmen had been laid low in the midst of battle by the bull of the Kurus, the Pārthas, gathered together and filled with utmost joy, blew their conches at the sight of Śalya slain.

9.16.87 And they praised Yudhiṣṭhira in the fray as of old the gods praised Indra at the slaying of Vṛtra, and they raised the sounds of instruments of every kind, making the earth resound on every side.

9.17.1 Saṃjaya said: When Śalya had been slain, O king, the followers of the Madra king, seven hundred heroic chariot-warriors, sallied forth from the great host.

9.17.2 But Duryodhana, mounted upon an elephant like a mountain, the parasol held above him and the yak-tail whisks fanning him, restrained the Madras, crying, "You must not go! You must not go!"

9.17.3 Though held back again and again by Duryodhana, those heroes, longing to slay Yudhiṣṭhira, plunged into the host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.17.4 Those heroes, O great king, their minds resolved upon battle, raising a mighty twang of bowstrings, fought all together against the Pāṇḍavas.

9.17.5 But hearing that Śalya was slain and that the son of Dharma was hard pressed by the great chariot-warriors of the Madras, who were intent upon their king's pleasure—

9.17.6 —the Pārtha then came on, drawing his bow Gāṇḍīva, that great chariot-warrior filling all the quarters with the thunder of his car.

9.17.7 Then Arjuna and Bhīma, and the two sons of Mādrī, the Pāṇḍavas, and Sātyaki, that tiger among men, and the sons of Draupadī, every one—

9.17.8 —Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, and the Pāñcālas together with the Somakas, seeking to protect Yudhiṣṭhira, ringed him about on every side.

9.17.9 Those bulls among men, surrounded on all sides by the Pāṇḍavas, set that army churning as sea-monsters churn the ocean.

9.17.10 Like the great river Gaṅgā lashed into turmoil by a head-on gale, the banner-host of the Pāṇḍavas was once again, O king, thrown into uproar.

9.17.11 Storming into that great army, the great chariot-warriors who held their lives as nothing made your men quake as mighty winds shake the trees.

9.17.12 Many cried out there, "Where is that king Yudhiṣṭhira? Nor are any of his heroic brothers to be seen here at all."

9.17.13 "The mighty warriors of the Pāñcālas, and Śikhaṇḍin that great chariot-fighter, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna, and the grandson of Śini, and the sons of Draupadī, all of them—"

9.17.14 As they spoke thus, the heroic sons of Draupadī, great chariot-warriors, and Yuyudhāna, smote those followers of the Madra king.

9.17.15 Some with their wheels crushed, some with their tall banners cut down, your men were seen in the battle, slain by the foe.

9.17.16 Beholding the Pāṇḍavas in the battle, your warriors, O king, though restrained by your son, rushed forth with violence on every side, O Bhārata.

9.17.17 Duryodhana sought to restrain those heroes, soothing them with gentle words, yet not one of those great chariot-warriors there obeyed his command.

9.17.18 Then the son of the Gāndhāra king, Śakuni, skilled in speech, spoke these words to Duryodhana, O great king:

9.17.19 "Why is the force of the Madras being cut down before our very eyes? This is not fitting, O Bhārata, while you stand fast in the battle.

9.17.20 "That we should fight in concert—such a compact was made; then why, O king, do you suffer the foe to go on slaying?"

9.17.21 Duryodhana said: "Restrained by me before, these men would not heed my word; for all these who have been slain plunged headlong into the host of the Pāṇḍavas."

9.17.22 Śakuni said: "Heroes in their wrath heed not their lord's command in battle. Enough of being angered at them; this is no time to stand aloof.

9.17.23 "Let us all here join together, with our horse and chariots and elephants, and go to rescue those mighty bowmen, the followers of the Madra king.

9.17.24 "Let us guard one another with great effort, O king." So, all taking thought together, they set out to where the soldiers were.

9.17.25 Saṃjaya said: Thus addressed, the king, encircled by a great host, advanced, making the earth tremble with his lion's roar.

9.17.26 "Strike! Pierce! Seize! Smite! Cut them down!"—such was the tumultuous cry of your army, O Bhārata.

9.17.27 But the Pāṇḍavas, seeing in the battle the followers of the Madra king joined together, advanced upon them, taking up a central formation.

9.17.28 In a moment, O lord of peoples, those heroes, the followers of the Madra king, were seen slain in the battle, hand to hand.

9.17.29 Then, as we pressed forward, the swift foe, their enemies slain, exultant and gathered together, raised shouts of triumph.

9.17.30 Then headless trunks were seen rising up on every side, and a great meteor fell straight through the disk of the sun.

9.17.31 With chariots shattered, with their yokes and axles broken, with great warriors slain, and with horses fallen, the earth was covered over.

9.17.32 Borne along by horses swift as the wind, by steeds still fastened to their yokes, warriors were seen there, O great king, upon that field of battle.

9.17.33 In the battle some horses dragged chariots with broken wheels; some, bearing off half a car, wandered to the ten quarters; and here and there were seen steeds still tangled in their harness.

9.17.34 And chariot-warriors were seen falling, O best of men, like Siddhas cast down from heaven at the exhaustion of their merits.

9.17.35 And when the heroes, the followers of the Madra king, had been slain, and the Pārthas, those great chariot-warriors, saw us bearing down upon them as well—

9.17.36 —those smiters, greedy for victory, advanced with violence, raising the din of their arrows mingled with the blare of conches.

9.17.37 But falling upon us once more, those striking warriors, sure of their aim, brandished their bows and raised great lion-roars.

9.17.38 Then, beholding the great host of the king of the Madras struck down, and seeing the valiant king of the Madras laid low in battle, the whole army of Duryodhana once again turned its face away.

9.17.39 Cut down, O great king, by the Pāṇḍavas flushed with victory, terrified and bewildered, it scattered to all directions, driven in panic by those firm-bowed warriors.

9.18.1 Saṃjaya said: When the unassailable king of the Madras, that great chariot-warrior, was felled in battle, your men and your sons for the most part turned their backs.

9.18.2 With that great-souled hero slain, they were like merchants whose ship has broken apart upon a bottomless, boatless, shoreless sea, longing for the farther bank.

9.18.3 When the king of the Madras fell, O great king, terrified and torn by arrows, defenseless and longing for a protector, they were like deer harried by a lion.

9.18.4 Like bulls with broken horns, like elephants with shattered tusks, at midday we withdrew, vanquished by the son of Dharma.

9.18.5 When Śalya was slain, O king, not one of your warriors had the mind either to rally the ranks or to display valor.

9.18.6 O Bhārata, the grief and the fear that came upon your warriors when Bhīṣma and Droṇa and the son of the sūta were slain, O lord of peoples — that fear and that sorrow now returned upon us even more greatly.

9.18.7 Despairing now of victory, with Śalya the great chariot-warrior slain, their champions dead, scattered and gashed by sharp arrows — when the king of the Madras fell, O king, your warriors fled in fear.

9.18.8 Some mounting horses, some elephants, some chariots, those great warriors, and the foot-soldiers too, swift of foot, fled in fear.

9.18.9 And two thousand war-elephants, mountainous and battle-ready, fled together when Śalya fell, goaded by the hook and the thumb.

9.18.10 O best of the Bharatas, your men fled from the battlefield in every direction, and even as they ran they were seen gasping, tormented by arrows.

9.18.11 Seeing them broken, fleeing, their spirit gone, defeated, the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas, eager for victory, rushed upon them.

9.18.12 And there arose a fearsome din — the twang and whistle of arrows, abundant lion-roars, and the blare of the conches of the heroes.

9.18.13 Seeing the Kaurava army fear-stricken and fleeing in all directions, the Pāñcālas, together with the Pāṇḍavas, spoke to one another.

9.18.14 Today King Yudhiṣṭhira, steadfast in truth, has conquered his foes; today Duryodhana is stripped of his blazing royal splendor.

9.18.15 Today, hearing that his son is slain, may King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of men, fall senseless to the ground and reap the fruit of his sin.

9.18.16 Today let him know the son of Kuntī to be the equal of all bowmen; today that evil-minded doer of wrong shall reproach himself; today let him remember the true and salutary words once spoken by Vidura.

9.18.17 From this day, reduced to a servant and waiting upon the sons of Pṛthā, let the king know the sorrow that has befallen the joys of Pāṇḍu's sons.

9.18.18 Today let that lord of the earth know the greatness of Kṛṣṇa; today let him know the dread thunder of Arjuna's bow in battle.

9.18.19 Today he shall know in battle the full power of his weapons and the strength of his arms — the terrible might of the great-souled Bhīma.

9.18.20 When Duryodhana is slain in battle — as the demon Maya was slain by Śakra — that deed which Bhīmasena wrought in the killing of Duḥśāsana, no other in the world but Bhīma of mighty strength could have done.

9.18.21 Today let them know the valor of the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, hearing that the king of the Madras — hard to withstand even for the gods — has been slain.

9.18.22 Today he shall know in battle the two mighty sons of Mādrī, when the valiant son of Subala is slain and the Gāndhāras are slaughtered to the last.

9.18.23 How could victory not be theirs, whose warriors are Dhanaṃjaya, Sātyaki, Bhīmasena, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the grandson of Pṛṣata?

9.18.24 The five sons of Draupadī, the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī, Śikhaṇḍin the great archer, and King Yudhiṣṭhira himself —

9.18.25 and whose protector is Kṛṣṇa Janārdana, the lord of the worlds — how could victory not be theirs, whose refuge is righteousness?

9.18.26 Bhīṣma and Droṇa and Karṇa, and the king of the Madras too, and other heroic kings besides, by the hundreds and the thousands —

9.18.27 who else but Pṛthā's son Yudhiṣṭhira could vanquish them in battle, he whose protector is Hṛṣīkeśa, the everlasting treasury of righteousness and fame?

9.18.28 Speaking thus and filled with great joy, the Sṛñjayas, O king, pursued your broken men from behind.

9.18.29 The valiant Dhanaṃjaya bore down upon the chariot-host, while the two sons of Mādrī and Sātyaki the great chariot-warrior fell upon Śakuni.

9.18.30 Beholding them all fleeing, tormented by fear of Bhīmasena, Duryodhana then spoke to his charioteer, smiling as it were.

9.18.31 "The son of Pṛthā shall not pass beyond me while I stand bow in hand. Drive my horses to the rear of all the troops."

9.18.32 "With me fighting at the rear, Dhanaṃjaya the son of Kuntī shall no more dare to pass beyond me than the great ocean dares overstep its shore."

9.18.33 "Behold, O charioteer, the great army overrun by the Pāṇḍavas; look upon the dust of the host raised up on every side."

9.18.34 "Hear the many lion-roars, dreadful and terrifying. Therefore go slowly, O charioteer, and guard the rear."

9.18.35 "With me standing firm in battle and the Pāṇḍavas held in check, my host will swiftly rally and return in full force."

9.18.36 Hearing those words of your son, worthy of a foremost hero, the charioteer gently urged on the horses adorned with gold.

9.18.37 Bereft of elephants, horses, and chariots, having forsaken all care for their lives, twenty-one thousand foot-soldiers stood ready for battle.

9.18.38 Sprung from many lands, clad in garments of many hues, those warriors took their stand, seeking great glory.

9.18.39 As they rushed upon one another there, exultant, a mighty clash arose, dreadful of form and terrifying.

9.18.40 Then, O king, men of many lands held back Bhīmasena and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the grandson of Pṛṣata with a fourfold force.

9.18.41 But other foot-soldiers bore down upon Bhīma alone in battle — roaring and slapping their arms, exultant, eager to attain the world of heroes.

9.18.42 Falling upon Bhīmasena, furious and maddened with the lust of battle, the followers of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son roared aloud and spoke of nothing else; surrounding Bhīma in the fray, they struck at him from every side.

9.18.43 Though assailed in battle, hemmed in by the throng of foot-soldiers, he did not stir from his chariot-seat, like Maināka the mountain.

9.18.44 Enraged, O great king, they set themselves to seize that great chariot-warrior of the Pāṇḍavas, and held off the other warriors.

9.18.45 Bhīma grew wrathful in battle at those who beset him; quickly descending from his chariot, he took his stand on foot.

9.18.46 Grasping his great mace plated with gold, he slew your warriors like Death with his staff in hand.

9.18.47 Mighty Bhīma, with his mace, crushed those twenty-one thousand foot-soldiers, bereft of chariots, horses, and elephants.

9.18.48 Having destroyed that host of men, Bhīma of true valor, placing Dhṛṣṭadyumna before him, soon came again into view.

9.18.49 The slain foot-soldiers lay upon the ground, drenched in blood, like karṇikāra trees in full bloom broken down by the wind.

9.18.50 Wearing garlands of varied flowers and earrings of varied kinds, of varied birth and gathered from varied lands, they lay there slain.

9.18.51 That great host of foot-soldiers, covered with banners and standards, cut down, appeared there dreadful of aspect and terrifying.

9.18.52 Then, with Yudhiṣṭhira at their head, the great chariot-warriors of the whole army charged against your great-souled son Duryodhana.

9.18.53 But all of them, seeing your great archers turned away in flight, did not press upon your son, as the shore does not encroach upon the abode of sea-monsters.

9.18.54 We beheld that marvel — the manhood of your son — that the sons of Pṛthā united could not overpass him, one though he was.

9.18.55 Duryodhana then spoke to his own army — sorely wounded, fled not far off, and bent upon flight —

9.18.56 "I see no place on earth or among the mountains where the Pāṇḍavas would not slay you once you fled there. What use is flight to you?"

9.18.57 "Small is their force, and the two Kṛṣṇas are sorely wounded. If we all stand firm here, our victory is assured."

9.18.58 "But if you flee, scattered and guilty of wrong, the Pāṇḍavas will follow and slay you. Better for us to stand firm in battle."

9.18.59 "Hear me, all you Kṣatriyas, as many as are gathered here: since Death ever slays alike the brave and the coward, what fool of a man who calls himself a Kṣatriya would not fight?"

9.18.60 "It is better for us to stand before the wrathful Bhīmasena. Death in battle is a blessing for those who fight by the law of the Kṣatriya: victorious, one wins happiness here; slain, one wins a great reward hereafter."

9.18.61 "There is no path to heaven better than the law of battle, O Kauravas. Slain in war, a man soon attains the worlds he has won."

9.18.62 Hearing his words and honoring them, the kings once more, with bows drawn to slay, turned upon the Pāṇḍavas.

9.18.63 As those striking warriors swiftly fell upon them in arrayed ranks, the striking sons of Pṛthā, greedy for victory, then went forth to meet them.

9.18.64 The valiant Dhanaṃjaya advanced into the fray upon his chariot, drawing wide the bow Gāṇḍīva, renowned throughout the three worlds.

9.18.65 And the two sons of Mādrī and the mighty Sātyaki, exultant, swiftly fell upon Śakuni, there where your host stood.

9.19.1 Saṃjaya said: When the flood of the host had turned back, Śālva, lord of the throngs of Mlecchas, in great fury advanced upon the very great army of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.19.2 Mounted upon a mighty elephant in rut, like a mountain, proud, resembling Airāvata, a crusher of throngs of foes —

9.19.3 that elephant sprung of a great and noble breed, ever honored by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, well caparisoned by those skilled in the rules of the science, and always ridden into battle, O king —

9.19.4 Mounted upon it, that foremost of kings shone like the sun risen at the dawning. Upon that excellent elephant, O king, he advanced against the sons of Pāṇḍu on every side, and tore through them with sharp, dreadful arrows that were like the thunderbolt of great Indra.

9.19.5 As he loosed his arrows in that great battle, O king, and led warriors to Yama, neither friend nor foe could find a chink in him — as of old the Daityas could find none in the wielder of the thunderbolt.

9.19.6 The Pāṇḍavas, the Somakas, and the Sṛñjayas saw that single elephant on every side, ranging as though it were a thousand, like the elephant of great Indra close at hand.

9.19.7 The army of the foe, driven in rout, appeared on every side as if encircled; in their great fear it stood no longer firm in battle, but trampled one upon another.

9.19.8 Then that great Pāṇḍava host, suddenly broken by that lord of men, fled at once to the four quarters, unable to withstand the onset of that lord of elephants.

9.19.9 And seeing it broken by that swift charge, all your foremost warriors in the battle there honored that lord of men, and blew their conches white as the moon.

9.19.10 Then, hearing the shout of the Kauravas let loose in joy together with the blare of conches, the commander of the Pāṇḍavas and Sṛñjayas, the son of Pāñcāla, could not endure it for wrath.

9.19.11 Then that great-souled one, hastening for victory, went forth to meet that elephant, as Jambha of old, in his clash with Śakra, met Airāvaṇa, lord of elephants, the mount of Indra.

9.19.12 Seeing the king of the Pāñcālas suddenly rushing upon him in battle, that lion among kings swiftly sent forth that elephant, O king, to slay the son of Drupada.

9.19.13 As that elephant came rushing suddenly upon him, he pierced it with arrows bright as the sun—three foremost iron shafts, keen, blazing, burnished by the smith, and terrible in their speed.

9.19.14 Then the great-souled one loosed five more sharpened iron shafts into the beast's frontal lobes; and that foremost of elephants, sorely struck by them in battle, wheeled about and fled away in haste.

9.19.15 But Śālva, seizing that lord of elephants as it was suddenly driven back and put to flight, with goad and hook urged it swiftly forward, directing it against the chariot of the Pāñcāla king.

9.19.16 Seeing the elephant suddenly bearing down on him, the hero Dhṛṣṭadyumna swiftly seized his mace and leapt down at once from his own chariot, his limbs trembling with fear, and set foot upon the ground.

9.19.17 That mighty elephant crushed in an instant the chariot adorned with gold, together with its horses and driver, and lifting it up with its trunk dashed it down upon the surface of the earth.

9.19.18 Seeing the son of the Pāñcāla king thus hard-pressed by that foremost of elephants, Bhīma, Śikhaṇḍin, and the grandson of Śini rushed upon it at once with great speed.

9.19.19 Checking with their arrows the onrushing charge of the elephant that bore down upon them, those chariot-warriors held the beast in their grip; and so beset and stayed by them in battle, it staggered.

9.19.20 Then the king rained down his shafts on every side, as the sun pours forth its web of rays; and the hosts of chariots, smitten by those swift arrows, fled away in all directions.

9.19.21 Beholding that feat of Śālva, O king, all the Pāñcālas, Matsyas, and Sṛñjayas—foremost of men—filling the battle with cries of dismay, hemmed in the elephant on every side.

9.19.22 But the valiant king of the Pāñcālas, slayer of foes, swiftly grasping a mace like the peak of a mountain, O descendant of Bharata, pursued the elephant with speed, the hero unshaken and unafraid.

9.19.23 Then the swift son of the Pāñcāla king, whirling his mace, struck mightily that elephant which was like a mountain bearing the earth, dark as a rain-cloud, and streaming with rut.

9.19.24 Its frontal lobes shattered, the elephant, vast as a mountain, suddenly bellowed and, vomiting a great gush of blood from its mouth, fell to earth like a peak shaken loose by an earthquake.

9.19.25 As that lordly elephant was being brought down, and your son's host raised its cry of dismay, the hero of Śini's line struck off, with a keen broad-headed shaft, the head of King Śālva.

9.19.26 His head struck off in battle by the Sātvata, he fell to the ground together with the lordly elephant, like a great mountain-peak shattered and hurled down by the thunderbolt sped by the lord of the gods.

9.20.1 Saṃjaya said: When that valiant Śālva, the ornament of the assembly of battle, was slain, your host broke apart in headlong flight, as a great tree is shattered by the wind.

9.20.2 Seeing that host put to rout, the great chariot-warrior Kṛtavarman, valiant and of mighty strength, held back the army of the foe in battle.

9.20.3 Then those warriors turned back, beholding the Sātvata standing firm in the fray like a mountain, O king, though showered over with arrows in the fight.

9.20.4 Then the battle was joined afresh between the Kurus and the Pāṇḍavas, O great king—the Kurus who had turned back, having made death itself the price of their return.

9.20.5 Wondrous there was the battle of the Sātvata with the foe, in that he alone held back the invincible army of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.20.6 When that hard deed was done by him, the lion-roar of those exultant comrades, fond friends each of the other, rose vast enough to touch the heavens.

9.20.7 The Pāñcālas, terrified by that sound, O bull of the Bhāratas, the mighty-armed Sātyaki, grandson of Śini, came up in support of.

9.20.8 Closing with the mighty king Kṣemadhūrti, he sent him with seven keen arrows to the abode of Yama.

9.20.9 As that mighty-armed bull of Śini's line came on, scattering sharp arrows, the sagacious son of Hṛdika fell upon him with speed.

9.20.10 Those two bowmen, foremost of chariot-warriors, roaring like lions and bearing the choicest of weapons, rushed each upon the other.

9.20.11 The Pāṇḍavas with the Pāñcālas, and the other warriors, those best of kings, became spectators of those two lions among men.

9.20.12 With iron shafts and calf-toothed arrows the two great chariot-warriors of the Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas struck at each other, like two rutting elephants in their joy of battle.

9.20.13 Ranging through manifold courses of fight, the son of Hṛdika and the bull of Śini's line again and again hid each other from view beneath a rain of arrows.

9.20.14 We saw the shafts of those two lions of the Vṛṣṇis, driven up by the force and might of their bows, speeding swift as locusts through the sky.

9.20.15 Closing with that lone hero of true deeds, the son of Hṛdika pierced his four horses with four keen arrows.

9.20.16 Then that long-armed hero, enraged like an elephant stung by the goad, pierced Kṛtavarman with eight excellent shafts.

9.20.17 Then Kṛtavarman, with arrows whetted on stone and loosed from a fully drawn bow, struck Sātyaki with three and with one severed his bow.

9.20.18 Casting aside that excellent bow now cut asunder, the bull of Śini's line, the grandson of Śini, swiftly took up another bow with an arrow already fitted.

9.20.19 Taking up that excellent bow, the best of all bowmen, of mighty valor, mighty wisdom, and mighty strength, strung it.

9.20.20 Unable to brook the cutting of his bow by Kṛtavarman, that surpassing chariot-warrior, in his wrath, swiftly bore down upon Kṛtavarman.

9.20.21 Then with ten well-sharpened arrows the bull of Śini's line slew the driver, the horses, and the banner of Kṛtavarman.

9.20.22 Then, O king, the great bowman Kṛtavarman, that mighty chariot-warrior, beheld his chariot wrought with gold, its horses and driver slain.

9.20.23 Seized by great wrath, O sire, he raised a lance and hurled it with the force of his arm, eager to slay the bull of Śini's line.

9.20.24 But the Sātvata in battle, splitting that lance with keen arrows, brought it down shattered to pieces, as though to confound the Mādhava; and then with another broad-headed shaft he struck him upon the breast.

9.20.25 His horses slain and his charioteer slain in battle by Yuyudhāna, accomplished in arms, Kṛtavarman sank down upon the earth.

9.20.26 When that hero was unhorsed by Sātyaki in their single chariot-duel, a very great fear came upon all the host.

9.20.27 And exceeding great was the despondency that came upon your son when Kṛtavarman, his driver slain and his horses slain, was robbed of his chariot.

9.20.28 Marking that tamer of foes with his horses slain and his driver slain, Kṛpa rushed forward, O king, eager to slay the bull of Śini's line.

9.20.29 Lifting him up into the seat of his chariot, before the eyes of all the bowmen, the mighty-armed one swiftly bore him away even from the field of battle.

9.20.30 When the grandson of Śini held the field, O king, and Kṛtavarman was bereft of his chariot, the whole host of Duryodhana once more turned its face away in flight.

9.20.31 The foe did not perceive it, the host being veiled in dust; and your men fled away, O king, save only King Duryodhana.

9.20.32 But Duryodhana, beholding his own host broken close at hand, dashed forward swiftly with speed and alone held back them all.

9.20.33 In wrath he checked all the Pāṇḍavas, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna son of Pṛṣata, and Śikhaṇḍin, and the sons of Draupadī, and the bands of the Pāñcālas,

9.20.34 and the Kekayas and the Somakas and the Pāñcālas too, O sire; unflinching and unassailable, he held them back with keen weapons.

9.20.35 Your mighty son stood intent in the fray, blazing forth like the great fire of the sacrifice, hallowed by sacred chants.

9.20.36 The foe could not stand against him in battle, as mortals cannot stand against death; and meanwhile the son of Hṛdika, mounting another chariot, came up once more.

9.21.1 Saṃjaya said: Your son, O great king, foremost of chariot-warriors, standing in his car, shone irresistible in battle like the glowing Rudra.

9.21.2 By his thousands of arrows the earth was covered over, and he drenched the foe with shafts as rain-streams drench the mountains.

9.21.3 There was no man among the Pāṇḍavas in that great battle, nor horse, nor elephant, nor chariot, that was left unwounded by his arrows.

9.21.4 Whatever warrior I beheld in the fight, O lord of peoples, that one was found covered over with arrows by your son, O descendant of Bharata.

9.21.5 As an army appears veiled in the dust raised by its own host, so did the host appear shrouded by the arrows of that great-souled one.

9.21.6 We saw the earth become all arrows, O lord of the earth, made so by Duryodhana, that bowman of nimble hand.

9.21.7 Among those thousands of warriors, your own and the foe's alike, Duryodhana alone was a man indeed—such is my judgment.

9.21.8 There we beheld the wondrous prowess of your son, in that the sons of Pṛthā, all united, could not overcome him single-handed, O descendant of Bharata.

9.21.9 He pierced Yudhiṣṭhira in battle with a hundred shafts, O bull of the Bhāratas, and Bhīmasena with seventy, and Sahadeva with seven,

9.21.10 and Nakula with sixty-four, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna with five, and the sons of Draupadī with seven, and Sātyaki with three; and with a broad-headed shaft he cut asunder the bow of Sahadeva, O sire.

9.21.11 Casting aside that broken bow, the valiant son of Mādrī took up another great bow and rushed upon the king; then in the fight he pierced Duryodhana with ten arrows.

9.21.12 And then the hero Nakula, that great bowman, pierced the king with nine arrows of dreadful form, and raised a shout.

9.21.13 Sātyaki too struck the king with a smooth-jointed shaft, and the sons of Draupadī with seventy-three, and the king of righteousness with seven, and Bhīmasena tormented the king with eighty arrows.

9.21.14 Though showered on every side with masses of arrows by those great-souled ones, he did not waver, O great king, while all the host looked on.

9.21.15 The deftness, the dexterity, and the valor of that great-souled one—all beings, all men, beheld them surpassing all.

9.21.16 But the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O lord of kings, having gone but a little way, and seeing not their king, turned back, clad once more in their mail.

9.21.17 As they came rushing on, a terrible tumult arose, like that of the troubled ocean by night in the season of rains.

9.21.18 Rejoining the unconquered king in battle, those great bowmen advanced to meet the Pāṇḍavas, who came on with weapons raised to slay.

9.21.19 The son of Droṇa held back Bhīmasena, enraged in battle; and then, O great king, by the arrows loosed on every side, neither the heroes nor the quarters nor the intermediate points could be discerned in the fray.

9.21.20 Those two, both grim in their deeds, both hard to bear, O descendant of Bharata, fought in dreadful fashion, each seeking to repay blow with blow, terrifying the whole world, the skin of their forearms torn by the lashing of their bowstrings.

9.21.21 But the hero Śakuni in battle pressed Yudhiṣṭhira hard; and the mighty lord, the son of Subala, having slain his four horses, raised a roar that made all the hosts tremble.

9.21.22 In that interval the valiant Sahadeva bore away the unconquered king, the hero, from the battle upon his own chariot.

9.21.23 Then Yudhiṣṭhira, king of righteousness, mounting another chariot, pierced Śakuni with nine shafts and again with five, and that foremost of all bowmen sent forth a mighty roar.

9.21.24 Wondrous was that battle, and dreadful of form, O sire, delighting the hearts of the onlookers, and graced by the presence of the Siddhas and Cāraṇas.

9.21.25 But Ulūka, of measureless spirit, rushed upon the great bowman Nakula, that frenzied warrior, with showers of arrows on every side.

9.21.26 And in like manner the valiant Nakula, in battle, hemmed in the son of Subala on every side with a great shower of arrows.

9.21.27 Those two heroes there in battle, scions of noble houses and mighty chariot-warriors, were seen fighting on, each having wronged the other.

9.21.28 And so too Kṛtavarman, fighting the grandson of Śini, that scorcher of foes, shone resplendent, O king, like Śakra contending with Bala in battle.

9.21.29 Duryodhana, having cut the bow of Dhṛṣṭadyumna in the fight, then pierced him, his bow severed, with keen arrows.

9.21.30 Dhṛṣṭadyumna too, taking up a supreme weapon in the battle, gave fight to the king before the eyes of all the bowmen.

9.21.31 Great was the combat between those two in the fray, O bull of the Bhāratas, like the clash of two rut-maddened lordly elephants with temples streaming.

9.21.32 But the descendant of Gautama, enraged in the battle, that hero pierced the mighty sons of Draupadī with many keen-jointed shafts.

9.21.33 His battle with them was like that of an embodied soul with its senses—terrible in aspect, irresistible, and utterly without bounds.

9.21.34 They harried him as the senses harry a foolish man, while he, roused to fury, fought them back in the encounter.

9.21.35 Thus wondrous, O Bhārata, was his battle with them, surging up again and again, O lord, like a man's strife with his senses.

9.21.36 Foot soldiers locked with foot soldiers, tuskers with tuskers, horses with horses, and chariot warriors with chariot warriors; and once more, O lord of peoples, the tumult grew terrible in aspect.

9.21.37 "This is wondrous, this is terrible, this is fierce!"—thus, O lord, were the combats, O great king, dreadful and many.

9.21.38 Those tamers of foes, closing upon one another in the fray, pierced and slew as they met in the great encounter.

9.21.39 A fierce dust, raised by their weapons, was seen, O king, whirled up by the gusting wind and by the galloping horsemen.

9.21.40 Stirred up by the chariot wheels and by the breathing of the elephants, the dust, tawny as a cloud at twilight, rose to the path of the sun.

9.21.41 When the sun was shrouded by that dust and robbed of its brightness, the earth was overspread, and so too those heroes, the mighty chariot-warriors.

9.21.42 In but a moment all around grew free of dust, O best of the Bhāratas, for upon the earth, drenched with the blood of heroes, that fierce and dreadful-looking dust then was laid.

9.21.43 Then, O great king, I beheld the single combats, O Bhārata, ranged by foremost and by eldest, at that most dreadful noontide; and there, O lord of kings, the blazing gleams of the armor were seen.

9.21.44 A roaring tumult arose in the battle from the falling shafts, like that of a great bamboo forest burning on every side.

9.22.1 Saṃjaya said: As that battle, terrible in aspect and fearsome, went on, the army of your son was there broken by the Pāṇḍavas.

9.22.2 But your son, checking with great effort those mighty chariot-warriors, set them to fight the host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.22.3 Suddenly the warriors who sought your son's welfare turned back to the fight, and when they had thus turned, the battle grew most dreadful.

9.22.4 Of your men and of the foe it was like the war of gods and demons; neither among the enemy nor in your host was there a single one who turned his back.

9.22.5 They fought one another by guesswork and by signals, and great was the slaughter among them as they battled each against each.

9.22.6 Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, filled with mighty wrath, longing to conquer in the fray the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra together with their king—

9.22.7 having pierced the son of Śaradvat with three gold-feathered, stone-whetted shafts, with four he struck down the goodly horses of Kṛtavarman.

9.22.8 But Aśvatthāman bore away the illustrious son of Hṛdika; then the son of Śaradvat struck Yudhiṣṭhira back with eight shafts.

9.22.9 Then King Duryodhana sent forth in the battle seven hundred chariots to where that king, Yudhiṣṭhira the son of Dharma, stood.

9.22.10 Those chariots, manned by their warriors and swift as mind and wind, rushed in the fray against the chariot of Kuntī's son.

9.22.11 On every side, O great king, surrounding Yudhiṣṭhira, they made him invisible with their arrows, as clouds make the sun.

9.22.12 The chariot-warriors led by Śikhaṇḍin, greatly enraged, brooked it not, and with chariots yoked to swiftest steeds and hung about with nets of little bells they came to guard Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Kuntī.

9.22.13 Then there arose a fierce combat between the Pāṇḍavas and the Kurus, its waters of blood, swelling the realm of Yama.

9.22.14 Having slain the seven hundred chariots of the assailant Kurus, the Pāṇḍavas together with the Pāñcālas once again held the foe at bay.

9.22.15 There was a great battle of your son with the Pāṇḍavas, the like of which we had never seen, nor ever heard tell.

9.22.16 As that boundless battle raged on every side, while warriors of your side and of the other were being slain—

9.22.17 while the warriors shouted, and the finest conches were blown, and lion-roars were raised on high, and the bowmen thundered—

9.22.18 as the battle swelled beyond measure, while vital points were being pierced, and warriors greedy for victory ran to and fro, O sir—

9.22.19 when destruction had arisen on every side upon the earth, the spring of grief, and the partings were stripped from the hair of many noble women—

9.22.20 as that boundless and most dreadful battle went on, then portents most dreadful appeared, foreboding ruin, and the earth, with its mountains and forests, shook, sounding aloud.

9.22.21 Meteors with trails and firebrands, O king, shattering on every side, fell from the sky to the earth, striking the orb of the sun.

9.22.22 Winds blew from every quarter, raining gravel low to the ground; the elephants shed tears, and a violent trembling seized them.

9.22.23 Heedless of these terrible and most dreadful portents, the warriors, having taken counsel together, stood unshaken for battle once more, on the fair and holy field of Kurukṣetra, eager to attain heaven.

9.22.24 Then Śakuni, son of the king of Gāndhāra, said: "Fight you in front, while I strike the Pāṇḍavas from behind."

9.22.25 Then, as we set forth, the impetuous warriors of the Madras, exultant, raised a cry of triumph, and so did the others.

9.22.26 But coming again upon us, those unassailable ones, sure of their aim, shaking their bows, overwhelmed us with showers of arrows.

9.22.27 Then, seeing there the army of the Madra king slain by the foe, the host of Duryodhana once more turned its back.

9.22.28 But the mighty king of Gāndhāra then spoke again these words: "Turn back, you who know not righteousness! Fight! What good is flight to you?"

9.22.29 A division of ten thousand horse, O bull of the Bhāratas, belonged to the king of Gāndhāra, fighting with gleaming lances.

9.22.30 Charging with that force amid the carnage of men, they struck the Pāṇḍava host from behind with whetted shafts.

9.22.31 Driven on all sides like a cloud by the wind, the very great army of the Pāṇḍavas was broken, O great king.

9.22.32 Then Yudhiṣṭhira, seeing his own army broken close at hand, unflustered, urged on the mighty Sahadeva:

9.22.33 "Yonder son of Subala, in his mail, pressing upon our rear, is slaughtering the army. Behold him, O Pāṇḍava, that evil-minded one!

9.22.34 Go you and the sons of Draupadī, and slay Śakuni the son of Subala; I, with the Pāñcālas, shall guard the chariot division, O sinless one.

9.22.35 Let all the elephants and the horses go with you, and three thousand foot soldiers; slay Śakuni the son of Subala."

9.22.36 Then seven hundred elephants, mounted by bow-bearing men, and five thousand horse, and the valiant Sahadeva,

9.22.37 and three thousand foot soldiers, and the sons of Draupadī—all of them in the battle rushed upon Śakuni, frenzied for combat.

9.22.38 But the son of Subala, O king, pressing past the Pāṇḍavas, the glorious one, greedy for victory, struck the army from behind.

9.22.39 But the impetuous horsemen of the swift Pāṇḍavas, in fury, passing those chariots, entered the host of Subala's son.

9.22.40 Those heroic horsemen there, taking their stand amid the elephants, overwhelmed with showers of arrows the great host of Subala's son.

9.22.41 That great battle, with maces and lances upraised, the resort of no coward, broke out, O king, through your evil counsel.

9.22.42 The twang of bowstrings ceased; the chariot-warriors became mere onlookers, for no difference could be seen between one's own and the foe.

9.22.43 The Kurus and Pāṇḍavas beheld the lances loosed by heroes' arms, O bull of the Bhāratas, fall like a shower of shooting stars.

9.22.44 With bright pikes flying here and there, O lord of peoples, the sky, overspread, shone exceedingly.

9.22.45 The aspect of the falling lances, O king, was on every side like that of locusts in the sky, O best of the Bhāratas.

9.22.46 Their every limb sprinkled with blood, their riders flung off, the horses fell down by hundreds and by thousands.

9.22.47 Crushed against one another as they met, some were seen unwounded yet vomiting blood from their mouths.

9.22.48 Then there fell a terrible darkness as the army was shrouded in dust; I saw those tamers of foes withdrawing from that place—the horses, O king, and the men, when all was wrapped in dust.

9.22.49 Others, fallen upon the earth, vomiting much blood, locked hair to hair, the men could not so much as stir.

9.22.50 Dragging one another from the backs of their horses, the mighty men, closing like wrestlers, slew each other; and many here, their lives fled, were dragged along by the horses.

9.22.51 Many others, who had longed for victory, fallen upon the earth, were seen here and there—men who had thought themselves heroes.

9.22.52 With men blood-bespattered, their arms hewn off, their hair torn away, the earth was seen strewn by hundreds and by thousands.

9.22.53 There it was not possible for any horse to go far, for the floor of the earth was covered with slain horses and their riders.

9.22.54 With their armor drenched in blood, their weapons seized and upraised, with diverse and dreadful arms, seeking each other's death, drawn close together in the fray, their soldiery for the most part slain—

9.22.55 having fought thus for a while, the son of Subala, O lord of peoples—Śakuni—then withdrew with six thousand horse that remained.

9.22.56 In like manner the Pāṇḍava force, bathed in blood, withdrew with six thousand horse that remained, their mounts spent.

9.22.57 But the horsemen of the Pāṇḍavas, blood-bespattered, drawn close together in the fray, for the most part with lives cast aside, said:

9.22.58 "Here one cannot fight with chariots, how much less with great elephants! Let chariots go against chariots, and elephants against elephants.

9.22.59 Śakuni has gone back and taken his stand within his own division; King Subala's son will not come again to battle."

9.22.60 Then the sons of Draupadī and those rut-maddened great elephants went to where the Pāñcāla Dhṛṣṭadyumna, the mighty chariot-warrior, was.

9.22.61 Sahadeva too, O scion of Kuru, when the cloud of dust had risen, went alone to where King Yudhiṣṭhira was.

9.22.62 Then, when they had gone, Śakuni the son of Subala, enraged, once more struck the host of Dhṛṣṭadyumna upon its flank.

9.22.63 Then once again a tumultuous battle broke forth, with lives cast aside, between your men and the foe, each seeking the other's death.

9.22.64 For they glared at one another in that meeting of heroes, and the warriors fell, O king, by hundreds and by thousands.

9.22.65 As heads were severed by swords in that destruction of the world, there arose a great noise, like that of palmyra fruits falling.

9.22.66 From bodies sundered and falling to the earth, and from arms still grasping their weapons, and from thighs, O lord of peoples, there arose a great rattling, crackling sound that made the hair stand on end.

9.22.67 Striking down brothers, sons, and even friends with their sharpened weapons, the warriors fell upon one another like birds contending over a scrap of flesh.

9.22.68 Enraged against each other, closing in man to man, crying "I first! I first!" they slew by the thousand.

9.22.69 With their riders flung from the saddle and lifeless, the horses too fell in heaps by the hundred and by the thousand.

9.22.70 From the swift-coursing horses, twitching and crushed, and from the armored men groaning aloud, O lord of peoples,

9.22.71 there arose a tumultuous din of lances, swords, and javelins, as they pierced one another's vital points—O king, the fruit of your evil counsel.

9.22.72 Overcome by exhaustion, frenzied, their mounts worn out, parched with thirst, and torn by sharpened weapons, your men yet pressed on into battle.

9.22.73 Maddened by the smell of blood, many here lost their senses and struck down foe and kinsman alike, whoever came next within reach.

9.22.74 And many warriors, greedy for victory, their lives gone out, fell to the earth, O king, enveloped in showers of arrows.

9.22.75 On that day of riotous feasting for wolves, vultures, and jackals, a fearful destruction of the host came to pass before your son's very eyes.

9.22.76 The ground, O lord of peoples, lay strewn with the bodies of men and horses and dappled with streams of blood, deepening the dread of the faint-hearted.

9.22.77 Hewn again and again by swords, pikes, and spears, neither your men nor the Pāṇḍavas turned back, O Bhārata.

9.22.78 Striking with all their might so long as breath held within them, the warriors fell, vomiting blood from their wounds.

9.22.79 A headless trunk was seen, gripping a head by its hair and raising a keen sword drenched in blood.

9.22.80 And as many headless trunks rose up, O ruler of men, and from the reek of blood, the warriors sank into a swoon.

9.22.81 Then, as the clamor died down, Saubala, with the few horses that remained to him, advanced against the great host of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.22.82 Thereupon the Pāṇḍavas, greedy for victory, rushed swiftly upon him—footmen and elephants and horsemen with weapons upraised.

9.22.83 Hemming him in within an enclosure and surrounding him on every side, they struck at him with weapons of every kind, eager to reach the farther shore of the war.

9.22.84 But your men, seeing them charging in from every quarter, rushed against the Pāṇḍavas with horse, foot, elephants, and chariots.

9.22.85 Some footmen, brave men with their weapons spent, struck at one another in the fray with feet and fists, and so fell.

9.22.86 Charioteers fell from their chariots and elephant-riders from their elephants, like Siddhas cast down from their celestial cars when their merit is exhausted.

9.22.87 Thus, straining against one another in the great battle, the warriors slew—fathers, brothers, comrades, and others their very sons.

9.22.88 So lawless was that battle, O best of the Bhāratas, as the dreadful welter of javelins, swords, and arrows raged on.

9.23.1 Saṃjaya said: When the clamor had grown faint and the host lay slaughtered by the Pāṇḍavas, Saubala turned about with the seven hundred horses that remained.

9.23.2 Riding swiftly to the army, that tamer of foes urged it on, crying again and again to the joyous men, "Fight on!"—and he asked the warriors there, "Where now is the king, the great chariot-hero?"

9.23.3 Hearing Śakuni's words, they answered, O bull of the Bhāratas: "Yonder stands the Kaurava, the great chariot-hero, in the midst of the battle—

9.23.4 there where that vast parasol shines bright as the full moon, where these armored chariots stand with their guards and finger-shields ready.

9.23.5 Where this tumultuous roar resounds like the thundering of a storm-cloud, go thither swiftly, O king, and there you shall behold the Kaurava."

9.23.6 Thus addressed by those brave men, Śakuni Saubala then set forth to where your son stood, O ruler of men, encircled on all sides by heroes who never turned back in battle.

9.23.7 Then, beholding Duryodhana stationed amid the array of chariots, Śakuni heartened all your chariot-warriors,

9.23.8 and with a joyful air, O lord of peoples, deeming his task all but accomplished, spoke this word to King Duryodhana:

9.23.9 "Slay the chariot-host, O king! All the horsemen have been vanquished by me. Yet Yudhiṣṭhira cannot be conquered in battle without staking one's very life.

9.23.10 When that chariot-host guarded by the Pāṇḍava is destroyed, we shall slay these elephants and the footmen and the rest as well."

9.23.11 Hearing his words, your men, greedy for victory, fell joyfully and at speed upon the army of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.23.12 All with quivers thrown open and bows seized fast, brandishing their bows, they raised a lion's roar.

9.23.13 Then once more, O lord of peoples, arose the din of bowstrings and palm-guards, and a most terrible noise of well-loosed arrows.

9.23.14 Seeing them drawn near at speed with bows upraised, Dhanaṃjaya, the son of Kuntī, said to the son of Devakī:

9.23.15 "Urge on the horses without fear and plunge into this ocean of armies. Today I shall make an end of my enemies with sharpened arrows.

9.23.16 Eighteen days, O Janārdana, has this great war now lasted, as the hosts have closed against each other.

9.23.17 The banner-host of these great-souled men, once seeming endless, has come to destruction in the battle this day—behold how fate works its will!

9.23.18 The army of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, vast as the sea, O Mādhava, on meeting us has become like the print of a cow's hoof, O undecaying one.

9.23.19 Had he made peace when Bhīṣma fell, well would it have been, O Mādhava; but that fool, the witless son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, did not do so.

9.23.20 The word that Bhīṣma spoke, salutary and wholesome, O Mādhava, that too senseless Suyodhana did not heed.

9.23.21 When Bhīṣma had fallen, struck down upon the face of the earth, I know not what cause it was for which the war went on.

9.23.22 Wholly deluded and utterly foolish I deem the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who, when the son of Śaṃtanu had fallen, yet renewed the battle.

9.23.23 And thereafter, when Droṇa, best of those versed in the Veda, was slain, and Rādheya and Vikarṇa, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.24 When this army had but little left, and the son of the charioteer, that tiger among men, was struck down together with his son, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.25 When the hero Śrutāyus was slain, and Jalasaṃdha of the Pauravas, and King Śrutāyudha, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.26 When Bhūriśravas and Śalya and Śālva too, O Janārdana, and the heroes of the Avantis fell, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.27 When Jayadratha was slain, and the rākṣasa Alāyudha, and Bāhlika and Somadatta, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.28 When the brave Bhagadatta was slain, and Sudakṣiṇa of the Kāmbojas, and Duḥśāsana laid low, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.29 And though he saw brave warriors slain, the kings of many provinces one by one, and the mighty fallen in battle, O Kṛṣṇa, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.30 Seeing the commanders of whole armies struck down by Bhīmasena, whether from delusion or from greed, still the slaughter did not cease.

9.23.31 What other man born in a royal house, a Kaurava above all, would wage so great and so fruitless a feud, save Suyodhana?

9.23.32 Knowing his foe the greater in worth, in strength, and in valor, what man not deluded, what wise man who discerns his good from his harm, would still make war?

9.23.33 Since his mind would not bend even when you spoke the salutary word of peace with the Pāṇḍavas, how should he hearken to any other?

9.23.34 He by whom Bhīṣma the son of Śaṃtanu, and Droṇa, and Vidura too were rebuffed when they pleaded for peace—what cure is there for him today?

9.23.35 He who in his folly, O Janārdana, spurned his aged father, and who slighted and rejected his mother as she spoke the salutary word out of love for his welfare—to whose counsel would such a man ever incline?

9.23.36 Plainly this man was born to be the ruin of his line, O Janārdana; so do his conduct and his policy appear, O lord of peoples. He will never yield us our kingdom—such is my conviction, O undecaying one.

9.23.37 Many a time, my friend, the great-souled Vidura told me: while he lives, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra will in no wise grant you your portion.

9.23.38 "So long as breath stirs within the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O giver of honor, so long will he work his wickedness against you who are sinless."

9.23.39 "He cannot be overcome by any means save war," O Mādhava—thus Vidura, the seer of truth, said to me ever again.

9.23.40 All that resolve of the wicked one I now perceive this day to be true, even as it was spoken by the great-souled Vidura.

9.23.41 For that fool who, having heard the wholesome and faithful counsel of the son of Jamadagni, made light of it, stands surely at the threshold of his ruin.

9.23.42 For it was foretold by many Siddhas at the very birth of Suyodhana: "On this wicked one's coming, the warrior race shall go to its destruction."

9.23.43 And that word of theirs has now come true, O Janārdana, for kings in multitudes have gone to their destruction for Duryodhana's sake.

9.23.44 This day, O Mādhava, I shall slay all his warriors in battle; and when the warriors are swiftly slain and his camp left empty,

9.23.45 he will choose, to his own undoing, to do battle with us; and so, by my reckoning, this feud shall come to its end, O Mādhava.

9.23.46 Thus do I see it, O Vārṣṇeya, reflecting with my own understanding, by the word of Vidura and by the conduct of that wicked one.

9.23.47 Drive on into the Bhārata host, O hero, that I may slay with sharpened arrows the wicked Duryodhana and his army in the fray.

9.23.48 This day I shall secure the welfare of the Dharma King, O Mādhava, by destroying this feeble army of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son before his very eyes."

9.23.49 Saṃjaya said: Thus addressed by Savyasācin, the Dāśārha, reins in hand, fearlessly entered amid the flood of the enemy's host in battle.

9.23.50 That dreadful army—where the choicest bows were thorny thickets bristling with lances, its pathways maces and iron clubs, its great trees the chariots and elephants—

9.23.51 strewn over with creepers of horse and foot—Govinda of great renown, plunging into it, ranged through it there on his banner-decked chariot.

9.23.52 Those white horses, O king, bearing Arjuna into battle and urged on by the Dāśārha, were seen ranging in all directions.

9.23.53 Then Savyasācin, scorcher of foes, advanced on his chariot into the fight, scattering keen arrows by the hundred like a cloud pouring down its torrents of rain.

9.23.54 A great noise arose from the smooth-jointed arrows as the field was covered over with shafts by Savyasācin.

9.23.55 Without lodging in the armor, the floods of arrows fell to the ground—shafts loosed from the Gāṇḍīva, whose touch was like the thunderbolt of Indra.

9.23.56 Striking down men, elephants, and horses too, O lord of peoples, the arrows fell upon the field like swarms of humming locusts.

9.23.57 All was overspread with the shafts loosed from the Gāṇḍīva, and in the battle neither the quarters nor the intermediate quarters could be discerned.

9.23.58 The whole world seemed filled with arrows graven with Pārtha's name—gold-feathered, washed in oil, and burnished by the smith.

9.23.59 Scorched by Pārtha as elephants are scorched by fire, the Kauravas, struck down by his whetted arrows, sank to the ground.

9.23.60 Bearing his bow and arrows, Pārtha, blazing as it were, O Bhārata, burned up the warriors in battle as a flaming fire consumes dry brushwood.

9.23.61 As at the forest's edge a roaring blaze, set loose by the woodsmen and leaving a black trail, would burn the thicket thick with trees and canopied with withered creepers—a fierce conflagration grown mightily in strength—

9.23.62 even so did he, blazing with his volleys of iron shafts, his arrows for flames and his fierce radiance flaring high and low, in his impetuous fury, brooking nothing, the swift one, burn up the whole army of your sons.

9.23.63 His life-taking arrows, well loosed and golden-feathered, were not stayed by any armor; nor did he loose a second shaft upon a man, a horse, or a mighty elephant.

9.23.64 For with arrows of many shapes and forms he penetrated the host of great chariot-warriors, and he alone slew the army of your sons as the Wielder of the Thunderbolt slew the Daityas.

9.24.1 Saṃjaya said: Of those heroes who hurled their weapons and strove and would not turn back, Dhanaṃjaya with the Gāṇḍīva made every resolve come to nothing.

9.24.2 He was seen loosing arrows whose touch was like Indra's thunderbolt, unbearable and of vast power, as a thundercloud pours down its torrents.

9.24.3 That army, O best of the Bhāratas, being slaughtered by the Diademed One, fled from the battle before the very eyes of your son.

9.24.4 Some chariots had their draught-horses slain, others their charioteers killed, and some, O lord of peoples, had their axles, yokes, wheels, and poles shattered.

9.24.5 Others had their arrows spent, and others were tormented by shafts; and some, though unwounded, fled all together, oppressed by fear.

9.24.6 Some, taking up their sons, their mounts for the most part slain, cried aloud; others called upon their fathers, and yet others upon their comrades.

9.24.7 And some, O tiger among men, abandoning their kinsmen, their brothers and their relations here and there, took to flight, O lord of peoples.

9.24.8 Many great chariot-warriors there, grievously pierced and swooning, were seen groaning—men struck down by Pārtha's arrows.

9.24.9 Others, mounting them upon a chariot and reviving them for a while, once rested and their thirst quenched, went again to the fight.

9.24.10 Some, having set them aside and gone, returned once more eager to fight, frenzied for battle, carrying out the command of your son.

9.24.11 Others, having drunk water and refreshed their mounts and donned their armor again, O best of the Bhāratas—

9.24.12 and others, having revived their brothers and set them down in the camp—some their sons and some their fathers—once more longed for battle.

9.24.13 Some, having made ready their chariots each in due order, O lord of peoples, and charging upon the Pāṇḍava host, once more longed for battle.

9.24.14 Those heroes, covered over with nets of little bells, shone forth like the Daityas and Dānavas bent upon the conquest of the three worlds.

9.24.15 Some, coming on suddenly in chariots adorned with gold, fought against Dhṛṣṭadyumna amid the ranks of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.24.16 And Dhṛṣṭadyumna the Pāñcāla, and Śikhaṇḍin the great chariot-warrior, and Śatānīka the son of Nakula did battle against that host of chariots.

9.24.17 Then the Pāñcāla, enraged and surrounded by a great force, charged in fury, eager to slay your men.

9.24.18 Then, as he rushed on, your son, O ruler of men, sent forth against him many a volley of arrows, O Bhārata.

9.24.19 Then, O king, Dhṛṣṭadyumna was swiftly struck in the arms and the breast by your son the archer with many iron shafts.

9.24.20 That mighty archer, deeply pierced like an elephant goaded by the hook, sent his four horses to their death with his arrows, and with a broad-headed shaft swept the head of his charioteer from its body.

9.24.21 Then King Duryodhana, his chariot destroyed, mounted upon the back of a horse and withdrew a little way, that subduer of foes.

9.24.22 But seeing his own host broken in prowess, your mighty son, O great king, went to where the son of Subala was.

9.24.23 Then, when the chariots were broken, three thousand great elephants surrounded on every side the five Pāṇḍava chariot-warriors.

9.24.24 Those five, encircled in battle by the host of elephants, O Bhārata, those tigers among men shone like planets veiled in clouds.

9.24.25 Then Arjuna, O great king, the mighty-armed, a sure marksman, with his white horses and Kṛṣṇa for his charioteer, sallied forth in his chariot.

9.24.26 Surrounded on all sides by those elephants like mountains, he crushed that host of elephants with his bright, sharp iron shafts.

9.24.27 There we saw great elephants slain each by a single arrow, fallen and falling and torn asunder by Savyasācin.

9.24.28 But Bhīmasena, beholding those elephants—he, the mighty one, like a maddened elephant himself—seized his great mace in his hand and, leaping swiftly down from his chariot, fell upon them like Death with his rod in hand.

9.24.29 Seeing that great chariot-warrior of the Pāṇḍavas with his mace upraised, your soldiers trembled and voided their dung and urine; and the whole host was thrown into terror when Vṛkodara held his mace in hand.

9.24.30 We saw elephants like mountains, their frontal globes split by Bhīmasena's mace, covered with dust and running wildly.

9.24.31 Those elephants, having charged forth and been struck by Bhīmasena's mace, fell with a cry of anguish like mountains whose wings had been clipped.

9.24.32 Beholding those many elephants with their temples split, fleeing this way and that and falling, your soldiers were seized with terror.

9.24.33 Yudhiṣṭhira too, in great wrath, and the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī slew the elephant-fighters with their whetted, vulture-feathered arrows.

9.24.34 But Dhṛṣṭadyumna, having vanquished the king in battle—when your son had withdrawn and taken refuge upon the back of a horse—

9.24.35 and seeing all the Pāṇḍavas surrounded by the elephants, Dhṛṣṭadyumna, O great king, the son of the Pāñcāla king, together with all the Prabhadrakas, went forth eager to slay those elephants.

9.24.36 But not seeing Duryodhana the subduer of foes among the host of chariots, Aśvatthāman and Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman the Sātvata asked the warriors there: "Where now has Duryodhana gone?"

9.24.37 Not seeing the king while the slaughter of men went on, those great chariot-warriors, thinking your son slain there, with downcast faces asked after your son.

9.24.38 Some said, "His charioteer being slain, he has gone where the son of Subala is"; but others among the sorely wounded warriors said otherwise.

9.24.39 "What need have you of Duryodhana? You shall see him if he lives. Fight, all of you together! What will the king do for you?"

9.24.40 Those warriors, their limbs wounded and their mounts for the most part slain, and themselves tormented by arrows, spoke as it were indistinctly.

9.24.41 "Let us slay this whole force by which we have been surrounded. These Pāṇḍavas, having slain our elephants, are all advancing upon us."

9.24.42 But hearing their words, the mighty Aśvatthāman, leaving behind that irresistible host of the Pāñcāla king—

9.24.43 and Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman—those heroes of the firmest bows, abandoning the host of chariots, went to where the son of Subala was.

9.24.44 Then, when they had gone, the Pāṇḍavas, with Dhṛṣṭadyumna at their head, came on, O king, slaughtering your men.

9.24.45 Seeing those great chariot-warriors rushing on, exultant and bold, those heroes who had then given up all hope of life, your host became for the most part pale of face.

9.24.46 Seeing them surrounded, their weapons spent, I, O king, with a force of two divisions, having staked my own life—

9.24.47 myself the fifth, fought against the host of the Pāñcāla, taking my stand in that place where the son of Śaradvat stood.

9.24.48 We five joined battle, tormented by the arrows of the Diademed One, against Dhṛṣṭadyumna and his great host; there was a mighty struggle there for us. Vanquished by him, we all withdrew thereupon from the fight.

9.24.49 Then I saw Sātyaki, that great chariot-warrior, coming on with four hundred chariots, and the hero charged at me in the battle.

9.24.50 Hardly escaped from Dhṛṣṭadyumna, my mounts wearied, I fell upon the host of the Mādhava as an evildoer falls into hell. There the battle was dreadful for a while, exceedingly terrible.

9.24.51 But the mighty-armed Sātyaki, having slain my retinue, took me captive alive as I lay swooning, fallen upon the ground.

9.24.52 Then in but a moment that host of elephants was destroyed—by the mace of Bhīmasena and by the iron shafts of Arjuna.

9.24.53 With the great elephants like mountains crushed all around, the passage of the Pāṇḍavas became, as it were, not easily made.

9.24.54 Then the mighty Bhīmasena cleared paths for the chariots of the Pāṇḍavas, O great king, by dragging away the great elephants.

9.24.55 Aśvatthāman and Kṛpa and Kṛtavarman the Sātvata, not seeing Duryodhana the subduer of foes among the host of chariots, went searching for the king, your son, that great chariot-warrior.

9.24.56 And leaving the Pāñcāla behind, they went to where the son of Subala was, distraught at not seeing the king while the slaughter of men went on.

9.25.1 Saṃjaya said: When that host of elephants had been destroyed by the son of Pāṇḍu, O Bhārata, and the army was being slaughtered by Bhīmasena in the battle,

9.25.2 and seeing Bhīmasena the subduer of foes ranging thus, like wrathful, life-taking Death with his rod in hand—

9.25.3 the surviving sons of yours, O king, gathering together in the battle—since the Kaurava, your son Duryodhana, was nowhere to be seen—those brothers of one womb, joining as one, rushed upon Bhīmasena.

9.25.4 Durmarṣaṇa, O great king, Jaitra, Bhūribala, and Ravi—these your sons, joining as one, charged upon Bhīmasena from every side and hemmed him in on all quarters.

9.25.5 Then Bhīma, O great king, mounting once more upon his own chariot, loosed whetted arrows into the vital parts of your sons.

9.25.6 Your sons, overwhelmed by Bhīma in that great battle, sought to drive Bhīmasena back as one might turn an elephant back from a slope.

9.25.7 Then Bhīma, enraged in the fight, swiftly struck off the head of Durmarṣaṇa with a razor-edged arrow and brought it down to the ground.

9.25.8 Then with another broad-headed shaft that pierced through every armor, Bhīma the great chariot-warrior slew your son Śrutānta.

9.25.9 Then, piercing Jayatsena with an iron shaft as if in mirth, the subduer of foes felled that Kaurava from the floor of his chariot; and he fell from the car, O king, to the earth, and swiftly died.

9.25.10 Then Śrutarvan, in wrath, pierced Bhīma, O honored one, with a hundred straight-jointed arrows fledged with vulture feathers.

9.25.11 Then Bhīma, enraged in the fight, struck these three—Jaitra, Bhūribala, and Ravi—with three arrows like poison and fire.

9.25.12 Those great chariot-warriors, slain, fell from their chariots to the ground like kiṃśuka trees in springtime, dappled with blossoms, cut down.

9.25.13 Then that scorcher of foes, striking Durvimocana with another sharp iron shaft, sent him to his death.

9.25.14 Slain, that foremost of chariot-warriors fell to the ground from his own car, like a tree growing on a mountain peak broken by the wind.

9.25.15 Then he slew Duṣpradharṣa and Sujāta, two of your sons, each with two arrows apiece in the battle, at the head of the host; and those two foremost of chariot-warriors fell, their limbs pierced by his shafts.

9.25.16 Then, marking another of your sons striving in the fight, Bhīma, hard to withstand in battle, pierced him with a broad-headed shaft; and he fell slain from his mount before the eyes of all the archers.

9.25.17 But seeing his many brothers slain by one man in the battle, Śrutarvan, overcome with indignation, advanced upon Bhīma.

9.25.18 Drawing his very great bow adorned with gold and loosing many arrows like poison and fire,

9.25.19 But he, O king, having cut apart the bow of the Pāṇḍava in that great battle, then covered him, now bowless, with twenty arrows.

9.25.20 Then, taking up another bow, Bhīmasena the mighty chariot-warrior overwhelmed your son with shafts and cried, "Stand! Stand!"

9.25.21 Great was the combat between those two, wondrous in form and terrible, such as once raged in olden days between Jambha and Vāsava.

9.25.22 By the bright arrows loosed by those two, arrows like the rod of Yama, the whole earth was veiled, and the sky, and all the quarters likewise.

9.25.23 Then Śrutarvan, swollen with wrath, drawing his bow, struck Bhīmasena in battle, O king, upon the arms and the breast with his shafts.

9.25.24 Pierced deep, O great king, by your bow-wielding son, Bhīma, enraged, heaved like the great ocean at the turning of the moon.

9.25.25 Then Bhīma, seized by fury, O lord, sent your son's charioteer and his four horses with his arrows to the abode of Yama.

9.25.26 Marking him robbed of his chariot, that hero of measureless spirit covered him with feathered shafts, displaying the swiftness of his hand.

9.25.27 Śrutarvan, his chariot lost, O king, took up sword and shield; but even as he seized the sword and the gleaming shield bright with a hundred moons, the Pāṇḍava with a razor-edged shaft struck his head from his body.

9.25.28 Then, his head severed by the razor-shaft, the body of that great-souled warrior fell from the chariot, making the earth resound.

9.25.29 When that hero had fallen, your warriors, bewildered with fear yet eager to fight, rushed upon Bhīmasena in the battle.

9.25.30 As they swiftly charged from that ocean of host left over from the slain, the mailed and valiant Bhīmasena received them; and they, closing upon him, encircled him on every side.

9.25.31 Then Bhīma, hemmed in by your men with their whetted arrows, harried them all as the thousand-eyed one harried the Asuras.

9.25.32 Then, having slain five hundred great chariot-warriors with their car-guards, he struck down in the fight a host of elephants, seven hundred more.

9.25.33 Having slain ten thousand foot-soldiers with his supreme shafts, and eight hundred horse, the Pāṇḍava shone resplendent.

9.25.34 And Bhīmasena, son of Kuntī, having slain your sons in battle, deemed his purpose fulfilled and his birth made fruitful, O lord.

9.25.35 As he thus fought on, cutting down your men, your troops could not bear even to look upon him, O Bhārata.

9.25.36 Having routed all the Kurus and slain their foot-followers, he made a din with his two arms, terrifying the great elephants.

9.25.37 With the greater part of its warriors slain, your army, O lord of peoples, was reduced to a wretched remnant, O great king.

9.26.1 Saṃjaya said: Duryodhana, O great king, and Sudarśana too, your son, the survivors then of the slaughter, stood firm amid their horsemen on the field.

9.26.2 Then, beholding Duryodhana posted among his horse, the son of Devakī spoke to Dhanaṃjaya, the son of Kuntī.

9.26.3 "The foes are slain for the most part, our kinsmen are kept safe; and yonder bull of Śini's line has turned back, having taken Saṃjaya captive."

9.26.4 "And Nakula is worn out, and Sahadeva too, O Bhārata, having fought in battle against the wicked retainers of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son."

9.26.5 "Forsaking Suyodhana, these three stand apart: Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarman, and Droṇa's son, the great chariot-warrior."

9.26.6 "Yonder stands the prince of Pāñcāla, endowed with surpassing splendor, having slain Duryodhana's host together with all the Prabhadrakas."

9.26.7 "Yonder is Duryodhana, O Pārtha, posted amid his horsemen, the parasol held above him, gazing about again and again."

9.26.8 "Having marshalled his whole force, he stands in the midst of the field; slay him with your whetted arrows, and you shall have accomplished your end."

9.26.9 "Seeing the elephant-host destroyed and you come upon them, O subduer of foes, slay Suyodhana before these others scatter in flight."

9.26.10 "Let someone go to the prince of Pāñcāla, bidding him come at once; for with his force worn out, this sinful one shall not escape, my friend."

9.26.11 "Having slain your whole force in the battle, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, deeming the sons of Pāṇḍu vanquished, bears himself with a great show of pride."

9.26.12 "Seeing his own host slain and hard-pressed by the Pāṇḍavas, the king will surely come into the battle, even unto his own destruction."

9.26.13 Thus addressed, Phalguna spoke this word to Kṛṣṇa: "All the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra have been slain by Bhīma, O giver of honor; and these two who yet stand, O Kṛṣṇa, this day shall be no more."

9.26.14 "Bhīṣma is slain, Droṇa is slain, Karṇa son of Vikartana is slain; the king of the Madras is slain, Śalya is slain, and Jayadratha is slain, O Kṛṣṇa."

9.26.15 "Five hundred horse remain to Śakuni, son of Subala; and of chariots but two hundred remain, O Janārdana, and a full hundred of tusked elephants, and three thousand foot-soldiers."

9.26.16 "Aśvatthāman and Kṛpa, and the lord of the Trigartas likewise, Ulūka and Śakuni, and Kṛtavarman of the Sātvatas—"

9.26.17 "—this is the force left to Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son, O Mādhava; for surely from Time there is no deliverance upon the earth for any one."

9.26.18 "His army thus destroyed, behold Duryodhana standing firm; this very day shall the great king be left without a friend."

9.26.19 "For none of the foe shall escape me, so I resolve; and those fierce in battle, O Kṛṣṇa, who this day shall not abandon the fight—all of them I shall slay, even were they more than human."

9.26.20 "This day in battle, sore enraged, I shall take away the long sleeplessness of the king, by felling the Gāndhāra prince with my whetted arrows."

9.26.21 "Those jewels which the evil-doing son of Subala, by his cheating, won from us at the dicing in the assembly hall—those I shall this day win back."

9.26.22 "This day too shall all the women of the City of the Elephant learn, hearing that their husbands and their sons have been slain by the Pāṇḍavas in the fight."

9.26.23 "This day shall all the work be brought to its end, O Kṛṣṇa; this day shall Duryodhana give up his blazing fortune and his life together."

9.26.24 "If, O Kṛṣṇa, he does not flee from the battle in fear of me, then know the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, that great fool, as already slain, O Vārṣṇeya."

9.26.25 "For this throng of horses cannot bear the twang of my bowstring and the slap of my palm-guard, O subduer of foes; drive on, that I may slay them."

9.26.26 Thus addressed by the illustrious Pāṇḍava, the Dāśārha urged on the horses, O king, toward Duryodhana's host.

9.26.27 Beholding that array, three great chariot-warriors ready for battle—Bhīmasena and Arjuna and Sahadeva, O lord—advanced with a lion's roar, eager to slay Duryodhana.

9.26.28 Seeing them all together, sweeping on at speed with bows uplifted, the son of Subala charged in battle against the Pāṇḍavas, those bringers of doom.

9.26.29 Sudarśana, your son, advanced against Bhīmasena; Suśarman and Śakuni did battle with the Diademed One; and your son, mounted upon a horse's back, advanced against Sahadeva.

9.26.30 Then swiftly and without effort, your son, O lord of men, smote Sahadeva hard upon the head with a javelin.

9.26.31 Struck down by your son, he sank upon the floor of his chariot, all his limbs bathed in blood, hissing like a venomous serpent.

9.26.32 Then, regaining his senses, Sahadeva, O lord of peoples, in his wrath covered Duryodhana with sharp arrows.

9.26.33 Pārtha too, displaying his prowess in the fight—Dhanaṃjaya, son of Kuntī—struck the heads of the brave warriors from off their horses' backs.

9.26.34 Then Pārtha scattered that array with his many arrows, and felling all the horses, drove against the chariots of the Trigartas.

9.26.35 Then the great chariot-warriors of the Trigartas, joining together, overwhelmed Arjuna and Vāsudeva with showers of arrows.

9.26.36 Assailing Satyakarman, the greatly renowned son of Pāṇḍu cut apart with a razor-shaft the pole of his chariot.

9.26.37 And with a razor-shaft honed upon stone, O lord, that greatly renowned one, smiling, severed his head, adorned with burnished earrings.

9.26.38 Then, before the very eyes of the warriors, he seized upon Satyeṣu, as a lion in the forest, O king, seizes a deer in its hunger.

9.26.39 Having slain him, Pārtha then pierced Suśarman with three arrows, and struck down all those chariots adorned with gold.

9.26.40 Then, pressing swiftly on, Pārtha loosed the keen venom of a wrath long gathered up against the lord of Prasthala.

9.26.41 Arjuna, O bull of the Bhāratas, having filled him with a hundred shafts, then slew the horses of that bowman.

9.26.42 Then, taking up a whetted arrow like the rod of Yama, he aimed at Suśarman and loosed it swiftly, as though in mirth.

9.26.43 That arrow, sped by that bowman blazing with wrath, reached Suśarman and clove his heart in the battle.

9.26.44 Lifeless, O great king, he fell upon the surface of the earth, gladdening all the Pāṇḍavas and grieving your men.

9.26.45 Having slain Suśarman in battle, he brought to destruction with his shafts the sons of that warrior, great chariot-fighters, five and forty in number.

9.26.46 Then, having slain all his foot-followers with his whetted arrows, that great chariot-warrior advanced upon the remnant of the Bhārata host.

9.26.47 But Bhīma, wrathful in the battle, made your son Sudarśana invisible with his arrows, O lord of men, as though smiling the while.

9.26.48 Then, smiling in his wrath, he struck his head from his body with a keen razor-shaft; slain, he fell to the earth.

9.26.49 When that hero had been slain, his foot-followers then encircled Bhīma in the battle, scattering their whetted shafts.

9.26.50 Then Vṛkodara with his whetted arrows, whose touch was like the thunderbolt of Indra, covered that array on every side; and in a moment, O bull of the Bhāratas, Bhīma cut it down.

9.26.51 As these were being destroyed, the mighty captains of the host closed with Bhīmasena and gave battle, O Bhārata; and the Pāṇḍava covered them all with his terrible arrows.

9.26.52 In like manner your men, O king, hemmed in on every side the great chariot-warriors of the Pāṇḍavas with a mighty rain of arrows.

9.26.53 All was thrown into confusion—the Pāṇḍavas locked with the foe, and your men in the battle striving against the followers of Pāṇḍu.

9.26.54 There the warriors then fell, smiting one another down, in both the armies, O king, grieving for their kinsmen.

9.27.1 Saṃjaya said: As that battle, the destroyer of men and horses and elephants, raged on, Śakuni, son of Subala, O king, advanced against Sahadeva.

9.27.2 Then, as he charged swiftly on, the valiant Sahadeva sent forth floods of arrows, swift-flying like locusts; and Ulūka in the battle pierced Bhīma with ten shafts.

9.27.3 And Śakuni, O great king, having pierced Bhīma with three arrows, then covered Sahadeva with ninety shafts.

9.27.4 Those heroes, O king, closing with one another in the battle, pierced each other with whetted arrows fledged with heron and peacock feathers, golden-nocked, honed upon stone, and drawn back to the ear before they were loosed.

9.27.5 The shower of arrows loosed from their bow-arms, O lord of peoples, veiled all the quarters, as a rain-cloud veils them with its torrents.

9.27.6 Then Bhīma, wrathful in the battle, and Sahadeva, O Bhārata, those two of exceeding might, ranged the field, working havoc in the fray.

9.27.7 Shrouded by their hundreds of arrows, that host of yours, O Bhārata, became here and there as dark as a sky filled with gloom.

9.27.8 By horses galloping wildly in every direction, riddled with arrows, O lord of the people, paths were carved here and there as they dragged along the many slain.

9.27.9 With slaughtered horses together with their riders, with shattered coats of mail and broken lances, O venerable one, the earth became so covered that it seemed dappled, as if strewn with blossoms.

9.27.10 The warriors there, O great king, closing upon one another, ranged across the battlefield in fury, striking each other down.

9.27.11 With faces whose eyes were rolled upward in rage and whose lips were bitten through, still wearing their earrings and resembling the filaments of lotuses, the earth was covered over.

9.27.12 With severed arms, O great king, that resembled the trunks of lordly elephants, still bearing their armlets and gauntlets and still grasping sword, lance, and battle-axe,

9.27.13 with headless trunks that had risen up though severed, and others dancing on the field, thronged with hosts of carrion-eaters, the earth became a thing of horror, O lord.

9.27.14 When the army was reduced to a remnant, the Pāṇḍavas, grown exultant in that great battle, dispatched the Kauravas to the abode of Yama.

9.27.15 In that interval the valiant, mighty son of Subala struck Sahadeva hard upon the head with a lance; and he, O great king, reeling and stunned, sank down upon the floor of his chariot.

9.27.16 Seeing Sahadeva thus, the mighty Bhīmasena, blazing with wrath, held back all the enemy hosts, O Bhārata.

9.27.17 He pierced them through with iron shafts by the hundreds and the thousands, and having pierced them, he sent up a lion's roar, O subduer of foes.

9.27.18 Terrified by that sound, the followers of Śakuni, together with their horses and elephants, all at once fled in sudden fear.

9.27.19 Seeing them broken in rout, King Duryodhana cried out: "Turn back, you who know not righteousness! Fight! What good is your flight to you?

9.27.20 The hero who wins renown here and yields up his life in battle without showing his back attains the higher worlds after death."

9.27.21 Thus addressed by the king, the followers of the son of Subala turned again upon the Pāṇḍavas, making death itself their refuge from retreat.

9.27.22 By those rushing onward, O lord of kings, a most terrible roar was raised, like the tumult of a churning ocean, and it surged up on every side.

9.27.23 Beholding the followers of the son of Subala bearing down upon them, the Pāṇḍavas, intent upon victory, advanced to meet them, O great king.

9.27.24 And the unassailable Sahadeva, having regained his breath, O lord of the people, pierced Śakuni with ten shafts and his horses with three, and as if smiling cut through the bow of the son of Subala with his arrows.

9.27.25 Then taking up another bow, Śakuni, drunk with the frenzy of battle, pierced Nakula with sixty shafts and Bhīmasena with seven.

9.27.26 Ulūka too, O great king, seeking to shield his father in the fight, pierced Bhīma with seven shafts and Sahadeva with seventy.

9.27.27 Bhīmasena in that combat pierced him with sharpened shafts, and Śakuni with sixty-four, and those who stood at their flanks with three apiece.

9.27.28 Though struck by Bhīma with oil-tempered iron shafts, they in their wrath covered Sahadeva in battle with showers of arrows, as lightning-charged clouds drench a mountain with torrents of rain.

9.27.29 Then, as Ulūka bore down upon him, the valiant and mighty Sahadeva struck off his head with a broad-headed shaft, O great king.

9.27.30 Cast down by Sahadeva, he fell from his chariot to the ground, his every limb bathed in blood, gladdening the Pāṇḍavas in the battle.

9.27.31 But seeing his son slain there, O Bhārata, Śakuni, his throat choked with tears, sighed deeply, recalling the words of Vidura.

9.27.32 Having brooded a moment, his eyes brimming with tears and sighing, he closed upon Sahadeva and pierced him with three arrows.

9.27.33 Warding off those loosed shafts with volleys of his own arrows, the mighty Sahadeva, O great king, cut through his bow in the encounter.

9.27.34 His bow being severed, O lord of kings, Śakuni the son of Subala then seized a broad sword and hurled it at Sahadeva.

9.27.35 As that sword of dreadful form came rushing upon him, O lord of the people, he cut the weapon of the son of Subala in two in the fray, as if in mockery.

9.27.36 Seeing his sword cleft in two, he took up a great mace and hurled it at Sahadeva; but it fell vainly to the ground.

9.27.37 Then the son of Subala, blazing with rage, flung at the Pāṇḍava a most fearful spear, upraised like the Night of Doom.

9.27.38 As it came hurtling upon him, Sahadeva, as if smiling, cut it in three with gold-adorned shafts upon the field.

9.27.39 Severed in three, that gold-wrought spear fell to the earth, crumbling as it dropped, like a blazing flash of lightning falling from the sky.

9.27.40 Seeing the spear struck down and the son of Subala stricken with fear, all your men, the son of Subala among them, fled as terror seized them.

9.27.41 Then a great shout went up from the Pāṇḍavas, radiant with the look of victory, and thereupon the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra for the most part turned their faces away.

9.27.42 Seeing them downcast, the valiant son of Mādrī held them back in the battle with many thousands of arrows.

9.27.43 Then Sahadeva fell upon the son of Subala in the fight as he rode away, guarded by the Gāndhāras and seated upon swift, fine-backed horses, bent upon victory.

9.27.44 Recalling that Śakuni remained as the share allotted to him, O king, Sahadeva bore down upon him in his gold-bodied chariot, having strung and drawn back his great bow with main force.

9.27.45 Rushing upon the son of Subala, he struck him hard in his wrath with stone-whetted, vulture-feathered shafts, as one goads a great elephant with hooks.

9.27.46 And the wise one, checking him as though to remind him, said: "Standing firm in the duty of a warrior, fight! Be a man!

9.27.47 That gladness you felt then, you fool, when you cast the dice in the assembly hall — receive now the fruit of that deed, O evil-minded one!

9.27.48 Slain are those wicked men who once mocked us; Duryodhana, the firebrand of his line, remains, and you, his maternal uncle.

9.27.49 Today I will strike off your head, churned from your shoulders by a razor-shaft, as one plucks down a fruit from a tree with a crushing cudgel."

9.27.50 Having spoken thus, O great king, the mighty Sahadeva, that tiger among men, blazing with wrath, advanced upon him with a rush.

9.27.51 Closing in, the unassailable Sahadeva, that lord of warriors, drew his bow with might, as if laughing in his anger,

9.27.52 and having pierced Śakuni with ten shafts and his horses with four, and cut down his parasol, his banner, and his bow, he roared like a lion.

9.27.53 His banner, bow, and parasol cut away by Sahadeva, the son of Subala was then pierced in all his vital points by many arrows.

9.27.54 Then once more, O great king, the valiant Sahadeva sent against Śakuni an irresistible shower of arrows.

9.27.55 Then the son of Subala, in his fury, single-handed and seeking to slay Sahadeva, the son of Mādrī, swiftly rushed upon him in the press of battle with a gold-decked lance.

9.27.56 At the forefront of the fight the son of Mādrī, with three broad-headed shafts at a single stroke, severed that upraised lance together with both his shapely arms, and shouted aloud, sweeping through the middle of the field.

9.27.57 Then, acting in an instant, with a well-aimed broad shaft of hard iron, gold-feathered and able to pierce every guard, he wrenched the head from his body.

9.27.58 His head struck off in battle by the Pāṇḍava with that gold-adorned, keen-whetted shaft bright as the sun, the son of Subala fell to the earth.

9.27.59 That head, which was the very root of the ruin of the Kurus, the son of Pāṇḍu in his wrath sent flying with a swift, gold-feathered, stone-whetted shaft.

9.27.60 Beholding Śakuni with his head struck off, lying upon the earth, his limbs drenched with blood, your warriors, their spirit shattered by terror, fled in every direction, still grasping their weapons.

9.27.61 Routed, their mouths dry, their senses gone, stunned by the twang of Gāṇḍīva and tormented by fear, their chariots, horses, and elephants broken, the foot-soldiers too, along with the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, fled away.

9.27.62 Then, having cast Śakuni down from his chariot, the sons of Pāṇḍu, filled with joy, O Bhārata, blew their conches in the battle in their exultation, gladdening their soldiers, with Keśava among them.

9.27.63 And all of them, doing honor to Sahadeva, said to him in their gladness upon the field: "By good fortune, O hero, the deceitful and wicked one, together with his son, has been slain by you in battle."

9.28.1 Saṃjaya said: Then, O great king, the followers of the son of Subala, enraged and giving up their lives amid the wailing, hemmed in the Pāṇḍavas on every side.

9.28.2 Them Arjuna received in battle, bent upon Sahadeva's victory, and Bhīmasena too, blazing with energy, his aspect like that of an enraged venomous serpent.

9.28.3 The resolve of those who, spear, pike, and lance in hand, sought to slay Sahadeva, Dhanaṃjaya rendered vain with Gāṇḍīva.

9.28.4 The arms that grasped weapons, of the warriors who rushed forward, Bībhatsu cut away with broad-headed shafts, and their heads as well, and their horses too.

9.28.5 Struck down and bereft of life, they sank to the earth, swiftly smitten by Savyasācin, that hero of the world.

9.28.6 Then King Duryodhana, beholding the destruction of his host, in his wrath, O lord, gathered together the hundreds of chariots that survived the slaughter,

9.28.7 and the elephants and horses and foot-soldiers, O scorcher of foes; and the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra spoke to them all assembled these words:

9.28.8 "Closing upon all the Pāṇḍavas in battle, together with their bands of friends, and the Pāñcāla prince too with his force, slay them and swiftly turn back."

9.28.9 Receiving his word upon their heads, those drunk with the frenzy of battle advanced to meet the sons of Pṛthā in the fight, at your son's command.

9.28.10 As they who had survived the slaughter rushed swiftly forward in that great battle, the Pāṇḍavas covered them over with shafts shaped like venomous serpents.

9.28.11 That army, O best of the Bhāratas, was in a moment slain by those great-souled ones once it joined the battle, and found no protector; yet though it sought to stand firm, for fear it could not hold its ground, armored though it was.

9.28.12 With horses galloping wildly and the host wrapped in dust, neither the quarters nor the intermediate quarters could be discerned in the battle.

9.28.13 Then many men, sallying forth from the Pāṇḍava ranks, struck down your men in the fight in but a moment, O Bhārata; and so that army of yours was left without a remnant, O Bhārata.

9.28.14 The eleven full armies assembled for your son, O Bhārata — those, O lord, were slain in battle by the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas.

9.28.15 Amid those thousands of great-souled kings of your side, Duryodhana alone, O king, was seen, sorely wounded.

9.28.16 Then, gazing about him in all directions and seeing the earth made empty, bereft of all his warriors, and beholding the Pāṇḍavas in the field —

9.28.17 exultant, all their aims fulfilled, roaring on every side — and hearing too the sound and clamor of the arrows of those great-souled ones,

9.28.18 Duryodhana, O great king, overcome by despair, his forces and his mount gone, set his mind upon flight.

9.28.19 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: My army slain and left without remnant, my camp made desolate — what then, O charioteer, was the strength of the Pāṇḍavas that remained? Tell me this, who ask it of you, for you are skilled, Saṃjaya.

9.28.20 And what did my dull-witted son Duryodhana do, that lord of the earth, alone, having beheld the ruin of his host in this way?

9.28.21 Saṃjaya said: Two thousand chariots, and seven hundred elephants, and five thousand horse, and ten thousand foot —

9.28.22 this was the great force of the Pāṇḍavas that remained, O king, having taken command of which Dhṛṣṭadyumna stood arrayed in the battle.

9.28.23 Then King Duryodhana, alone, O best of the Bhāratas, that foremost of chariot-warriors, saw no comrade anywhere in the battle.

9.28.24 Beholding the foes roaring and the destruction of his own host, he abandoned his slain horse and fled eastward in fear.

9.28.25 Your son Duryodhana, lord of eleven armies, blazing with energy, took up his mace and set out on foot toward the lake.

9.28.26 When the king had gone but a little way on foot, he remembered the words of Vidura, that wise man of righteous conduct.

9.28.27 "Surely the deeply wise Vidura foresaw this long ago—this great slaughter of ours and of the kṣatriyas in battle."

9.28.28 Brooding thus, his heart scorched with grief at the sight of his army's destruction, O king, the lord wished to enter the lake.

9.28.29 And the Pāṇḍavas, great king, with Dhṛṣṭadyumna at their head, enraged, rushed against your forces, O king.

9.28.30 As the host roared, brandishing spears, swords, and lances in their hands, Dhanaṃjaya with his Gāṇḍīva brought their resolve to nothing.

9.28.31 Slaying them with his keen shafts, together with their counselors and kinsmen, Arjuna, standing in his chariot drawn by white horses, shone in great splendor.

9.28.32 When Subala's son fell with his horses, chariots, and elephants, your army became like a vast forest hewn down.

9.28.33 In the host of Duryodhana, many hundreds of thousands strong, no other great warrior, O king, was seen to be left alive—

9.28.34 save the heroic son of Droṇa, and likewise Kṛtavarman, and Kṛpa of Gautama's line, O king, and your son the prince.

9.28.35 But Dhṛṣṭadyumna, seeing me, laughed and said to Sātyaki: "Why take this man captive? There is no use in his living."

9.28.36 Hearing Dhṛṣṭadyumna's words, Śini's grandson, that mighty warrior, raised his sharp sword and made ready to slay me then.

9.28.37 But the deeply wise Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana came up and said: "Let Saṃjaya be released alive; he must by no means be slain."

9.28.38 Hearing Dvaipāyana's words, Śini's grandson joined his palms, then released me and said: "Fare well, Saṃjaya; go your way."

9.28.39 Dismissed by him, I laid aside my armor and weapons and set out toward the city at evening, drenched in blood.

9.28.40 Having withdrawn about a krośa, I saw, O king, Duryodhana standing alone, mace in hand, grievously wounded.

9.28.41 His eyes brimming with tears, he could not gaze upon me; yet, seeing me standing there wretched, he looked toward me.

9.28.42 And I too, seeing him grieving and alone upon the field, was so overwhelmed with sorrow that for a moment I could say nothing.

9.28.43 Then I told him all of it—how I had been taken captive, and how by the grace of Dvaipāyana I had been released alive from the battle.

9.28.44 After brooding for a moment and recovering his senses, he then asked me about his brothers and all his armies.

9.28.45 To him I, who had seen it with my own eyes, told everything: that all his brothers were slain and his army cut down.

9.28.46 "Three warriors of your host are left, it is said, O lord of men"—so Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana had told me at the time of my departure.

9.28.47 Sighing as if from the depths, and gazing about him again and again, your son touched me on the shoulder with his hand and spoke.

9.28.48 "Save you, Saṃjaya, no one else here lives through this battle; I see no second man—while the Pāṇḍavas have their allies still."

9.28.49 "Tell the king, Saṃjaya—the lord whose eye is wisdom—that your son Duryodhana has entered the lake."

9.28.50 "Bereft of such friends, of sons and of brothers, and with the kingdom seized by the Pāṇḍavas, what man like me would go on living?"

9.28.51 "Tell him all of this—and that I, escaped from the great battle, lie sleeping alive in this lake of water, sorely wounded."

9.28.52 Having spoken thus, great king, the lord entered that lake, and by his magic power the king of men froze its waters firm.

9.28.53 When he had entered the lake, I, alone, saw three warriors with their teams worn out coming together to that place—

9.28.54 Kṛpa, the hero of Śaradvat's line, and Droṇa's son, best of warriors, and Kṛtavarman of the Bhojas, together, all torn by arrows.

9.28.55 All of them, catching sight of me, swiftly urged on their horses, and drawing near they said: "By good fortune you live, Saṃjaya!"

9.28.56 And they all asked me about your son, the lord of men: "Does our king Duryodhana yet live, Saṃjaya?"

9.28.57 I told them then that the king was unharmed, and I recounted all that Duryodhana had said to me, and I pointed out the lake into which the king of men had entered.

9.28.58 But Aśvatthāman, O king, hearing my words and gazing upon that broad lake, lamented piteously.

9.28.59 "Alas, shame! The king does not know that we still live—for together with him we are enough to fight the foe."

9.28.60 Those great warriors, foremost of charioteers, lamented there a long while, then fled away, having seen Pāṇḍu's sons upon the field.

9.28.61 Mounting me on Kṛpa's well-furnished chariot, those three warriors, the survivors of the slaughter, came to the army's encampment.

9.28.62 There the terror-stricken guard-posts, as the sun went down, all cried aloud when they heard of the destruction of your sons.

9.28.63 Then the aged men who guarded the women, great king, taking up the royal consorts, set out toward the city.

9.28.64 There arose on every side a mighty clamor of women shrieking and weeping, when they heard of that destruction of the army.

9.28.65 Then those women, O king, wailing again and again, made the earth resound with their cries like ospreys.

9.28.66 They beat their heads with their nails and with their hands, and tore their hair, crying out here and there.

9.28.67 Wailing their cries of woe and beating their breasts, they shrieked and wept there, lamenting, O lord of peoples.

9.28.68 Then Duryodhana's counselors, their throats choked with tears and sorely stricken, taking up the royal women, set out toward the city.

9.28.69 And the gatekeepers, O lord of peoples, with worn canes in their hands, the guardians of the women, gathered up the gleaming couches with their costly coverlets and went swiftly toward the city.

9.28.70 Other men, mounting chariots yoked with she-mules, taking up each his own womenfolk, set out toward the city.

9.28.71 Those women whom even the sun had never before beheld within their chambers, men now saw, great king, as they went toward the city.

9.28.72 Those tender, delicate women, O best of the Bhāratas, their own kinsmen and relations slain, hastened toward the city.

9.28.73 Down to the very cowherds and shepherds, the people fled in confusion toward the city, tormented by fear of Bhīmasena.

9.28.74 And a fierce, most dreadful fear of the Pārthas was upon them; gazing at one another, they ran toward the city.

9.28.75 While that most terrible rout was taking place, Yuyutsu, bewildered with grief, pondered what the hour demanded.

9.28.76 "Duryodhana, lord of eleven armies, is vanquished in battle by the Pāṇḍavas of fearsome valor; his brothers are slain, and all the Kurus, with Bhīṣma and Droṇa at their head, are dead."

9.28.77 "I alone have escaped, by the working of fortune and by chance, while all the camps are scattered on every side."

9.28.78 "Whatever of Duryodhana's ministers are left, they have taken up the royal women and are running toward the city."

9.28.79 "I think the hour has come for me to enter the city along with them, O lord—once I have taken leave of Yudhiṣṭhira and of Bhīmasena as well."

9.28.80 The mighty-armed one set this matter before the two of them; the king, ever moved by compassion, was pleased with him, and the strong-armed one, embracing the son of the vaiśya woman, gave him leave to go.

9.28.81 Then, mounting his chariot, he swiftly urged on his horses, and, overtaking the royal women unlooked-for, set off toward the city.

9.28.82 Together with them he swiftly entered Hāstinapura as the sun was setting, his throat choked with tears and his eyes streaming.

9.28.83 He saw the deeply wise Vidura, his eyes too wet with tears, coming out from the king's presence, his mind stricken with grief.

9.28.84 To him, who stood bowing before him, the steadfast-in-truth one said: "Now that this destruction of the Kurus has come to pass, by good fortune, my son, you are alive."

9.28.85 "Yet without the king's own entry, how is it that you have come here? Tell me the whole reason of this in full."

9.28.86 Yuyutsu said: "When Śakuni was slain, dear sir, with his kinsmen, sons, and relations, then King Duryodhana, with but the remnant of his retinue left, abandoned his own horse and, turning eastward, fled in fear."

9.28.87 "When the king had withdrawn from the encampment of the host, all the people, distraught with fear, fled toward the city."

9.28.88 "Then the keepers of the women, mounting upon the carriages the consorts of the king and of all his brothers, fled in fear."

9.28.89 "Then I, having taken leave of the king together with Keśava, entered Hāstinapura, to guard against the world's reproach."

9.28.90 Hearing these words spoken by the son of the vaiśya woman, and knowing them timely, Vidura, knower of all that is right, of immeasurable soul, honored the eloquent Yuyutsu.

9.28.91 "All this of yours is timely amid the ruin of the Bhāratas; today rest here, and tomorrow you shall go to Yudhiṣṭhira."

9.28.92 Having spoken these words, Vidura, knower of all that is right, dismissed Yuyutsu and entered the king's dwelling; and Yuyutsu too passed that night in his own house.

9.29.1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: When all my armies had been slain by Pāṇḍu's sons on the field of battle, what did those survivors of my host do, Saṃjaya?

9.29.2 Kṛtavarman and Kṛpa, and the valiant son of Droṇa—and King Duryodhana of feeble mind—what did he do then?

9.29.3 Saṃjaya said: When the women of the great-souled kṣatriyas had fled away and the camp lay empty and abandoned, the three warriors, deeply distraught,

9.29.4 hearing the shouts of the victorious sons of Pāṇḍu and seeing the camp deserted at evening, longing for their king, found that place no longer to their liking, and so they went toward the lake.

9.29.5 Yudhiṣṭhira too, the righteous-souled, together with his brothers, ranged exultant over the field, O king, eager to slay Duryodhana.

9.29.6 Enraged and bent on victory, they searched for your son, seeking him out with all their effort, yet nowhere did they see the lord of men.

9.29.7 For he, mace in hand, had withdrawn with swift speed and had entered that lake, holding back its waters by his own magic.

9.29.8 When at last all the Pāṇḍavas found their teams quite spent, they returned to their own camp and halted there with their soldiers.

9.29.9 Then Kṛpa and Droṇa's son and Kṛtavarman the Sātvata, while the Pārthas were encamped, set out slowly toward that lake.

9.29.10 Reaching the lake where the lord of men lay, they addressed the unassailable king as he slept within the waters.

9.29.11 "Rise, O king, and fight beside us! Conquer Yudhiṣṭhira and enjoy the earth, or, slain, attain to heaven."

9.29.12 "Their whole force too, Duryodhana, has been struck down by you, and most of those soldiers who remain there are sorely beset."

9.29.13 They will not be able to withstand your onslaught, O lord of peoples, when you are shielded by us. Therefore rise, O Bhārata.

9.29.14 Duryodhana said: By good fortune I see you delivered from such a slaughter of men, surviving still, O bulls among men, from the deadly clash of Pāṇḍava and Kaurava.

9.29.15 We shall conquer them all once we are rested and our weariness has passed. But you are exhausted, and I am gravely wounded, while their force is at its height; for that reason I do not favor battle now.

9.29.16 It is no marvel, O heroes, that your spirit is so great and your devotion to us so supreme; yet this is not the hour for valor.

9.29.17 Having rested this one night, I shall tomorrow give battle to the enemy at your side; of this I have no doubt.

9.29.18 Saṃjaya said: Thus addressed, the son of Droṇa spoke to the king, frenzied for battle: Rise, O king—good fortune to you—we shall conquer the foe in war.

9.29.19 By my sacrifices and pious works, by charity, by truth, and by my prayers I swear, O king, that this very day I shall slay the Somakas.

9.29.20 May I never attain the joy fitting for the virtuous that belongs to those who have performed sacrifices, if, when this night has passed, I do not slay the enemy in battle.

9.29.21 Until I have slain all the Pāñcālas I shall not loosen my armor, O lord; this I declare as truth—hear it from me, O ruler of men.

9.29.22 While they were thus conversing, certain hunters came by chance to that place, weary beneath their loads of meat, seeking water.

9.29.23 For these hunters, O great king, were ever in Bhīmasena's service, bringing him their loads of meat with the deepest devotion, O lord.

9.29.24 Halting there, gathered together among themselves, they overheard in secret all that the warriors said, and Duryodhana's words as well.

9.29.25 And all those mighty bowmen, longing for battle, pressed the Kaurava with the utmost insistence, though he had no wish to fight.

9.29.26 Watching thus those great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas, and the king who lingered in the waters with no mind for battle—

9.29.27 having heard their conversation and the words of the king who lay within the water, the hunters came to know, O lord of kings, that Suyodhana was hidden in the lake.

9.29.28 These men had earlier been questioned by the son of Pāṇḍu about your son; coming there by chance, they had been seeking the king.

9.29.29 Then, recalling what the son of Pāṇḍu had said, the deer-hunters spoke softly to one another, O king, in this wise:

9.29.30 "Let us reveal Duryodhana; the Pāṇḍava will give us wealth. Plainly enough, King Duryodhana has been disclosed to us in the lake."

9.29.31 "Therefore let us all go to where King Yudhiṣṭhira is, to tell him that the wrathful Duryodhana lies asleep in the water."

9.29.32 "Let us all tell the wise Bhīmasena, the wielder of the bow, that the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra lies hidden in the water."

9.29.33 "Well pleased, he will give us abundant riches. What use to us is this dry, withered, shriveled meat?"

9.29.34 Having spoken thus, the hunters, greatly delighted and eager for wealth, took up their loads of meat and set out toward the camp.

9.29.35 And the Pāṇḍavas, O great king, sure-aimed and hard-striking warriors, not seeing Duryodhana standing on the field of battle,

9.29.36 and longing to reach the end of that wicked deceiver's trickery, sent out scouts in every direction across the field of war.

9.29.37 Returning, all the soldiers together reported to the Dharma-king that King Duryodhana had vanished.

9.29.38 Hearing those words of the scouts, O bull of the Bhāratas, the king fell into bitter brooding and drew a heavy sigh.

9.29.39 Then, O bull of the Bhāratas, while the Pāṇḍavas stood there dejected, the hunters, hastening away from that place, O lord,

9.29.40 came joyfully to the camp, having seen King Duryodhana; and though held back, they pressed in within sight of Bhīmasena.

9.29.41 Coming before the Pāṇḍava Bhīmasena of mighty strength, they told him all that had happened and all that they had heard.

9.29.42 Then Vṛkodara, O king, the scorcher of foes, having given them abundant wealth, related the whole matter to the Dharma-king.

9.29.43 "That Duryodhana, O king, has been discovered for me by the hunters; he for whose sake you grieve lies asleep, having stilled the waters about him."

9.29.44 Hearing those welcome words of Bhīmasena, O lord of peoples, Ajātaśatru, the son of Kuntī, rejoiced together with his brothers.

9.29.45 And learning that the great bowman had entered the watery lake, he set out at once, placing Janārdana at the fore.

9.29.46 Then there arose a tumult of glad shouting, O lord of peoples, from the exultant Pāṇḍavas and Pāñcālas on every side.

9.29.47 They raised lion-roars and battle-cries, O bull of the Bhāratas; and the warriors hastened, O king, to the lake of Dvaipāyana.

9.29.48 "The wicked son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra is found, he is seen!"—again and again in the fray the Somakas cried out there on all sides, their faces glad.

9.29.49 From their swift-moving, speeding chariots there arose a tumultuous din that touched the heavens, O lord of the earth.

9.29.50 Eager to lay hold of Duryodhana, they followed King Yudhiṣṭhira here and there in haste, their mounts worn out.

9.29.51 Arjuna and Bhīmasena, and the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna the Pāñcāla, and the unvanquished Śikhaṇḍin,

9.29.52 Uttamaujas, Yudhāmanyu, and the unconquered Sātyaki, and those Pāñcālas who remained, and the sons of Draupadī, O Bhārata, and all the horses and elephants, and foot-soldiers by the hundred—

9.29.53 then, O great king, the son of Dharma, Yudhiṣṭhira, reached the famed lake of Dvaipāyana, where Duryodhana was.

9.29.54 Its waters cool and clear and pleasing, like a second ocean—there your son had taken his stand, having stilled the waters by his magic.

9.29.55 By a most wondrous device, through the working of fate, O Bhārata, he lay sunk within the water, hard for any man to behold, O lord—the ruler of men, club in hand, O sovereign of men.

9.29.56 Then King Duryodhana, dwelling sunk within the water, heard the tumultuous din, loud as a thundercloud's roar.

9.29.57 And Yudhiṣṭhira, O lord of kings, came to that lake with his brothers, O great king, to slay your son.

9.29.58 With the great blast of conch-shells and the rumble of chariot-wheels, raising up a vast cloud of dust and making the earth tremble,

9.29.59 the great chariot-warriors Kṛtavarman, Kṛpa, and the son of Droṇa, hearing the din of Yudhiṣṭhira's army, spoke thus to the king:

9.29.60 "Here come the Pāṇḍavas, exultant and flushed with victory. We shall withdraw for now—give us leave, O lord."

9.29.61 Duryodhana, hearing this from those glorious men, said "So be it," and by his magic stilled that lake, O lord.

9.29.62 Having taken leave of the king, deeply sunk in grief, those chariot-warriors led by Kṛpa went far off, O great king.

9.29.63 Having traveled a long way, they spied a banyan tree, O venerable one, and sat down, sorely wearied, brooding upon the king.

9.29.64 The mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra slept, having stilled the water; and the Pāṇḍavas too had reached that place, eager for battle.

9.29.65 "How then will the battle come about? What will become of the king? How, O king, will the Pāṇḍavas deal with the Kaurava?"

9.29.66 Brooding thus, those chariot-warriors led by Kṛpa unyoked their horses from the chariots and took their rest there, O king.

9.30.1 Saṃjaya said: Then, when those three chariot-warriors had departed, the Pāṇḍavas drew near to the lake where Duryodhana was.

9.30.2 Reaching the lake of Dvaipāyana, O best of the Kurus, and seeing that body of water held fast by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the delight of the Kurus spoke these words to Vāsudeva:

9.30.3 "Behold this magic the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra has worked upon the waters! Having stilled the water, he lies there; he has no fear of any man."

9.30.4 "Having wrought this divine illusion, he has sunk himself within the water; yet that knower of trickery shall not escape me alive through his deceit."

9.30.5 "Even if the wielder of the thunderbolt himself should lend him aid in battle, still the world shall see him slain in war, O Mādhava."

9.30.6 The illustrious Vāsudeva said: Destroy this illusion of the illusionist by illusion, O Bhārata. The trickster must be slain by trickery—this is the truth, Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.30.7 By many ways and means working an illusion upon the waters, slay the wicked-souled Suyodhana, O best of the Bhāratas.

9.30.8 By ways and means Indra slew the Daityas and Dānavas; by manifold ways and means the great-souled one bound Bali.

9.30.9 By ways and means of old the great Asura Hiraṇyākṣa, and Hiraṇyakaśipu too, were destroyed by stratagem; and Vṛtra was slain, O king, by stratagem alone—of this there is no doubt.

9.30.10 So too the rākṣasa named Rāvaṇa, son of Pulastya's line, was slain by Rāma, O king, together with his kin and his followers, through resort to a contrived design; therefore do you also show your prowess thus.

9.30.11 By ways and means, O king, in olden time were slain by me the great Daitya Tāraka and the valorous Vipracitti.

9.30.12 Vātāpi and Ilvala, and Triśiras as well, O lord, and the asuras Sunda and Upasunda—all were destroyed by stratagem alone.

9.30.13 By ways and means does Indra enjoy the threefold heaven, O lord. Stratagem is mighty, O king; there is nothing else like it, Yudhiṣṭhira.

9.30.14 Daityas and Dānavas, rākṣasas and kings alike, have been slain by ways and means; therefore put a stratagem into practice.

9.30.15 Saṃjaya said: Thus addressed by Vāsudeva, the Pāṇḍava of firm vows, the son of Kuntī, O great king, spoke to your mighty son who stood within the water, smiling as it were, O Bhārata:

9.30.16 "Suyodhana, to what end is this resort to the waters made by you, after you have brought to ruin all the warrior-folk and your own kin as well, O lord of peoples?"

9.30.17 "Today you have entered the water, craving your own life. Rise, O king, and do battle with us, Suyodhana!"

9.30.18 "Where, O best of men, has that pride of yours gone, and where that arrogance—you who, having stilled the water, stand there in fear, O king?"

9.30.19 "All men proclaim you a hero in the assembly; but I deem that valor of yours, who lie hidden in the water, to be in vain."

9.30.20 "Rise, O king, and fight! You are a warrior, born of noble line, a Kaurava above all—remember your birth in that house."

9.30.21 "How is it that you, vaunting your birth in the Kaurava line, now in terror of battle have entered the water and there take your stand?"

9.30.22 "To refuse battle and to abandon one's post—this is not the eternal law. Flight from the field, O king, is the practice of the ignoble and bars the way to heaven."

9.30.23 "How, without having reached the far shore of battle, can you wish to live, having seen these fallen—sons and brothers and fathers alike?"

9.30.24 "Having brought to death your kinsmen and your comrades, your uncles and your relations, how, my friend, do you now linger in this lake?"

9.30.25 "You fancy yourself a hero, but a hero you are not. Falsely you speak, O Bhārata—'I am a hero!'—you fool, in the hearing of all the world."

9.30.26 "For heroes never flee, in any wise, at the sight of foes. Tell us, then, O hero, by what resolve you forsake the fray."

9.30.27 So rise up, you, and fight, casting off the fear within you—having destroyed your whole army and your brothers too, O Suyodhana.

9.30.28 It is no time now to set your mind on life out of a wish to act righteously, O Suyodhana; rather, one of your kind should hold fast to the warrior's duty.

9.30.29 Leaning upon Karṇa and upon Śakuni the son of Subala, you understood not your own self, deluded as though you were immortal.

9.30.30 Having wrought that exceedingly great evil, fight back, O Bhārata; for how should one of your kind, out of folly, find flight pleasing?

9.30.31 Where has that manhood of yours gone, and where your pride, O Suyodhana? Where has your valor gone, and where your great thundering boast?

9.30.32 Where has your skill in arms gone, and why do you lie down in this pool of water? Rise up, you, and fight by the warrior's duty, O Bhārata.

9.30.33 Either conquer us and rule this earth, or, slain by us, you shall sleep upon the ground, O Bhārata.

9.30.34 This is your foremost duty, ordained by the great-souled Creator; fulfill it truly and become a king, O mighty chariot-warrior.

9.30.35 Duryodhana said: It is no wonder, great king, that fear should enter a living being; yet it is not from fear for my life, O Bhārata, that I withdrew in dread.

9.30.36 Without a chariot and without a quiver, my flanking driver slain, alone and without a host in the battle, I chose to take a moment's rest.

9.30.37 Not for the sake of my life, nor from fear, nor from despair, O lord of peoples, have I entered these waters; this I have done out of exhaustion.

9.30.38 Take rest yourself, O son of Kuntī, and those who follow you; I shall rise and fight you all in the battle.

9.30.39 Yudhiṣṭhira said: We are all well rested indeed, and long have we been seeking you; so rise up now and fight here, O Suyodhana.

9.30.40 Either slay the sons of Pṛthā in battle and win a flourishing kingdom, or, slain by us in the fight, you shall attain the world of heroes.

9.30.41 Duryodhana said: Those for whose sake I desired the kingdom of the Kurus, O delight of the Kurus—they, all my brothers, lie slain, O lord of men.

9.30.42 This earth, stripped of her jewels, her bull-like warriors slain, I have no heart to enjoy—as one would not a widowed woman.

9.30.43 Yet even now I hope to vanquish you, Yudhiṣṭhira, breaking the spirit of the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.30.44 But now I think there is no longer any purpose at all in fighting, with Droṇa and Karṇa stilled in death and the grandsire slain.

9.30.45 Let this whole earth be yours alone now, O king; for what king, bereft of helpers, would wish to rule a kingdom?

9.30.46 Having lost such friends, sons, brothers, and fathers, with the kingdom seized by you, who like me would care to live?

9.30.47 I shall go to the forest, clothed in deerskins; for I, whose side has been slain, take no joy in a kingdom, O Bhārata.

9.30.48 Her kinsmen for the most part slain, her horses slain, her elephants slain—this earth is yours, O king; enjoy her, your fever gone.

9.30.49 To the forest I shall go, clad in two deerskins; for I, vanquished, have no longing for life this day, O mighty one.

9.30.50 Go, you, and enjoy the earth at your ease, O lord of kings—her rulers slain, her warriors slain, her jewels lost, her ramparts crumbled.

9.30.51 Yudhiṣṭhira said: Do not, dear sir, standing there in the water, utter the wailings of one in distress; this prattle of yours, like Śakuni's, finds no place in my mind, O king.

9.30.52 And even were you able to make a gift of it, O Suyodhana, I would not wish to rule an earth bestowed by you.

9.30.53 By unrighteousness I would not take this earth given by you; for the acceptance of gifts is not held to be the duty of a warrior, O king.

9.30.54 I would not desire the whole earth given by you; rather, having vanquished you in battle, I shall enjoy this realm.

9.30.55 And being no longer her lord, how do you wish to give the earth away? Why, O king, did you not give this earth even then?

9.30.56 When we sought it rightfully, for the sake of peace within our line, you first rebuffed the mighty scion of the Vṛṣṇis, O king.

9.30.57 What now do you give? What madness has seized your mind? For what king, once assailed, would wish to give away the earth?

9.30.58 You have no power today to give the earth, O delight of the Kurus, nor to wrest her away by force, O king; so how do you wish to give? Vanquish me in battle, then rule this earth.

9.30.59 Even so much of the land as could be held on the tip of a needle—not even that much would you give us before, O Bhārata.

9.30.60 How then do you give away this whole earth, O lord of peoples? You who once would not yield a needle's point, how do you now relinquish the land?

9.30.61 Having attained such lordship and ruled this earth, what fool would resolve to give the realm to his enemy?

9.30.62 But you, deluded by sheer folly, do not understand: though you wish to give the earth, this day you shall be parted from your life.

9.30.63 Either conquer us and rule this earth, or, slain by us, go to the most exalted worlds.

9.30.64 While the two of us yet live, O king—both I and you—a doubt about the victory of either will surely remain among all beings.

9.30.65 Your life, O evil-minded one, rests now in my hands; I could, if I wished, let you live—but you are not fit to live.

9.30.66 For you made every effort to burn us, above all, and with venomous serpents, with poisons, and with drownings in water; you wronged us, O king, by the seizure of our kingdom too.

9.30.67 For this reason, O wicked one, there is no life left for you; rise up, rise up and fight—that shall be the better course for you.

9.30.68 Saṃjaya said: Thus did those heroes proclaim, again and again, manifold words ringing with victory, here and there, O lord of men.

9.31.1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: Thus reviled, my son, the lord of the earth, a hero wrathful by nature, a scorcher of foes—how did he bear it?

9.31.2 For never before had he heard such reviling, and through his kingly state he had been honored by all the world.

9.31.3 And this entire earth, thronged with barbarians and forest dwellers, was upheld by his grace, as you yourself witnessed, Saṃjaya.

9.31.4 He, thus reviled in particular by the sons of Pāṇḍu, bereft of his own servants and wholly hemmed in a desolate place—

9.31.5 hearing those bitter words ringing with victory again and again, what did he say to the Pāṇḍavas? Tell me that, Saṃjaya.

9.31.6 Saṃjaya said: Reviled then, O king, your son standing in the water—reviled by Yudhiṣṭhira together with his brothers, O lord of kings—

9.31.7 hearing those bitter words, the lord of men in his dire plight sighed long and hot, again and again, as he stood there in the water.

9.31.8 Submerged within the water, the king, wringing his hands again and again, set his mind upon battle and addressed the king.

9.31.9 You, the sons of Pṛthā, are all with your friends, all with your chariots and mounts; I am but one, worn down, chariotless, my mounts slain.

9.31.10 Surrounded by many who bear their weapons and ride their chariots—how, being one man on foot and unarmed, can I dare to fight?

9.31.11 But let each of you fight me one by one, O Yudhiṣṭhira; for it is not just that one man should be made to fight against many heroes in battle.

9.31.12 all the more so when I am without armor, exhausted, taking refuge in the water, my limbs sorely wounded, my mounts and men worn out.

9.31.13 I have no fear of you, O king, nor of Pārtha, nor of Vṛkodara, nor of Phalguna, nor of Vāsudeva, nor again of the Pāñcālas;

9.31.14 nor of the twins, nor of Yuyudhāna, nor of whatever other warriors you have; alone and enraged, I could well dare to fight them all here.

9.31.15 The fame of the good among men is rooted in righteousness, O lord of men; guarding both righteousness and renown here, I declare it.

9.31.16 I shall rise and fight you all in the battle, meeting each in turn as the year meets all the seasons that come round one after another.

9.31.17 Today, though unarmed and chariotless, I shall destroy you with your chariots and steeds by my splendor, as the sun at the ebbing of night destroys all the stars; stand firm, O Pāṇḍavas.

9.31.18 Today I shall discharge my debt to the illustrious warriors—to Bāhlika, Droṇa, and Bhīṣma, and to the great-souled Karṇa,

9.31.19 to brave Jayadratha and to Bhagadatta, to both of them, to Śalya the king of the Madras, and to Bhūriśravas as well,

9.31.20 to my sons, O best of the Bhāratas, and to Śakuni the son of Subala, to my allies and friends and kinsmen likewise.

9.31.21 Today I shall discharge my debt by slaying you together with your brothers. Having spoken this much, the lord of men fell silent.

9.31.22 Yudhiṣṭhira said: By good fortune you too know the warrior's duty, O Suyodhana; by good fortune your mind turns toward battle alone, O mighty-armed one.

9.31.23 By good fortune you are a hero, O Kaurava; by good fortune you know warfare, you who, alone, wish to fight us all in the battle.

9.31.24 Meeting one against one, whatever weapon is approved by you, take that up and fight; we will stand as your onlookers.

9.31.25 And this, your cherished wish, O hero, I grant you further: slay any one of us and the kingdom is yours, or, slain, attain heaven.

9.31.26 Duryodhana said: If the choice is granted me this day to fight one in single combat, then of weapons this mace is the one I choose, with your consent.

9.31.27 Whichever one of your brothers thinks he can withstand me, let him fight me in battle on foot with the mace.

9.31.28 Chariot-battles, wondrous at every step, have run their course; let this one great and marvelous mace-duel come to pass today.

9.31.29 Even with their foods do men wish to make a change in turn; let there be a change of battles too, with your assent.

9.31.30 With the mace, O mighty-armed one, I shall vanquish you together with your younger brothers, the Pāñcālas and the Sṛñjayas, and whatever other warriors are yours.

9.31.31 Yudhiṣṭhira said: Rise up, rise up, O son of Gāndhārī, and do battle with me, O Suyodhana, meeting one against one in the fight, mace to mace, you mighty one.

9.31.32 Be a man, O son of Gāndhārī, and fight with full resolve; this day there is no life left for you, even were you swift as thought.

9.31.33 Saṃjaya said: This your son, that tiger among men, could not endure, submerged within the water and hissing like a great serpent in its hole.

9.31.34 Thus goaded again and again by the lash of those words, the wise one could not brook that speech, as a noble steed cannot brook the whip.

9.31.35 Churning the water with force, the valorous one took up his mace—heavy, wrought of mountain-iron, adorned with golden bands—and rose up from beneath the water, hissing like the lord of serpents.

9.31.36 Cleaving the spellbound water and laying the iron mace upon his shoulder, your son rose up, blazing like the radiant sun.

9.31.37 Then the wise and mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra grasped the heavy mace of tempered iron, embellished with gold.

9.31.38 Beholding him mace in hand, like a peaked mountain, standing there like the trident-bearer enraged against his creatures, the Bhārata with his mace shone, blazing like the sun.

9.31.39 As that mighty-armed subduer of foes rose up from the water, mace in hand, all beings beheld him as Death himself, the rod of doom in his grasp.

9.31.40 Like Śakra with the thunderbolt in his hand, like Hara with the trident in his, all the Pāñcālas, O lord of men, gazed upon your son.

9.31.41 But seeing him risen from the water, the Pāñcālas and the sons of Pāṇḍu thrilled with joy on every side and struck their palms against one another.

9.31.42 But taking that for mockery, your son Duryodhana, enraged, rolled his eyes wide as though he would burn the Pāṇḍavas to ash.

9.31.43 Knitting his brow into a threefold furrow and biting his lip, he then made answer to the Pāṇḍavas and Keśava among them.

9.31.44 "This mockery of yours I shall answer this very day, O Pāṇḍavas. Slain on the instant, you and the Pāñcālas with you shall go to the abode of Yama."

9.31.45 Risen from those waters, your son Duryodhana stood firm, mace in hand, drenched and bespattered with blood.

9.31.46 His body, smeared with gore and sprinkled with water, shone then like a mountain streaming with red ochre.

9.31.47 Beholding that hero with mace upraised, the Pāṇḍavas there took him for the wrathful son of Vivasvat, his attendants standing with weapons lifted.

9.31.48 Roaring like a thundercloud, bellowing in his joy like a mighty bull, that valiant one then summoned the Pārthas to battle with his mace.

9.31.49 Duryodhana said: Come against me one by one, O Yudhiṣṭhira; for it is not right, O hero, that one should be made to fight against many in battle.

9.31.50 And the more so when one has laid aside his armour, is weary and drenched in the waters, his limbs sorely gashed, his mounts and soldiers slain.

9.31.51 Yudhiṣṭhira said: Where was this wisdom of yours, Suyodhana, when many great chariot-warriors together slew Abhimanyu in the fight?

9.31.52 Put on your armour, O hero, and bind up your hair; and whatever else you lack, take that too, O Bhārata. This one wish besides, O hero, I now grant you.

9.31.53 Of the five sons of Pāṇḍu, choose whomever you wish to fight here; having slain him you shall be king, or being slain attain heaven. What, O hero, save your life itself, can we do to please you in this combat?

9.31.54 Saṃjaya said: Then your son, O king, took up his golden armour and a wondrous helmet adorned with the gold of the Jambū river.

9.31.55 With his helmet fastened on and wearing his fair golden mail, your son shone, O king, like a golden mountain-king.

9.31.56 Armed and mace in hand, made ready at the forefront of battle, your son Duryodhana spoke, O king, to all the Pāṇḍavas:

9.31.57 "Let one of you brothers fight with me, mace to mace. I will fight with Sahadeva, or with Bhīma, or with Nakula,

9.31.58 or with Phalguna this day, or with you yourself, O bull of the Bhāratas. Joining battle, I shall conquer on the field of war.

9.31.59 This day, O tiger among men, I shall reach the far and hardly-won end of this enmity, with my mace bound about with bands of gold.

9.31.60 Be sure of this: in mace-combat there is none my equal. With my mace I shall slay you all, even should you come together. Let him who will fight with me this day take up his mace."

9.32.1 Saṃjaya said: As Duryodhana roared thus again and again, O king, Vāsudeva, wroth with Yudhiṣṭhira, spoke these words:

9.32.2 "If indeed, O Yudhiṣṭhira, he should choose for combat you, or Arjuna, or Nakula, or even Sahadeva—

9.32.3 what is this rashness, O king, that you have uttered, saying, 'Slay but one of us in the fight and be king among the Kurus'?

9.32.4 For thirteen years has he practised here, O king, upon a man of iron, in his longing to slay Bhīmasena.

9.32.5 How then shall our purpose be accomplished, O bull of the Bhāratas? Out of compassion, O best of kings, you have done a rash thing.

9.32.6 I see no other fit to meet him in battle save Vṛkodara, son of Pṛthā—and even he is not greatly practised.

9.32.7 So this gambling-match is begun again as of old, the same crooked game of Śakuni's and of yours, O lord of peoples.

9.32.8 Bhīma is strong and able, but King Suyodhana is skilled. Between strength and skill, O king, the skilled man prevails.

9.32.9 Thus, O king, you have set the enemy upon even ground and staked yourself upon a perilous one; you have brought us into sore distress.

9.32.10 What man, having vanquished all his foes, would choose to gamble it all on a single throw with one remaining adversary, and so take pleasure in such a fight?

9.32.11 For I see not in the world that best of men, mace in hand, who could fight Duryodhana in battle and by his skill surpass him—

9.32.12 neither Phalguna, nor yourself, nor the two sons of Mādrī do I deem a match for that mace-wielder in the fray.

9.32.13 How then, O Bhārata, do you tell the foe, 'Fight with the mace, and having slain but one of us in battle be king'?

9.32.14 Even when Vṛkodara meets him, our victory is in doubt should they fight by the rules; for this man is skilled and of great might."

9.32.15 Bhīma said: O slayer of Madhu, give way to no despair, O joy of the Yadus. This day I shall reach the farther shore of this enmity, so hard to cross.

9.32.16 I shall slay Suyodhana in battle, of that there is no doubt. Victory for the King of Righteousness, O Kṛṣṇa, is seen for certain.

9.32.17 This mace of mine is heavier by half again than that of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son. Be not troubled, O Mādhava.

9.32.18 The three worlds with the gods themselves, bearing weapons of every kind, would I gladly fight in battle—how much more, this day, Suyodhana!

9.32.19 Saṃjaya said: As Vṛkodara spoke thus, Vāsudeva, rejoicing, honoured him and spoke these words:

9.32.20 "Leaning upon you, O mighty-armed one, the King of Righteousness Yudhiṣṭhira, his foes slain, shall surely regain his own resplendent fortune, of that there is no doubt.

9.32.21 By you have all the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra been laid low in battle, and kings and princes and elephants struck down.

9.32.22 The Kaliṅgas, the Māgadhas, the Easterners, the Gāndhāras, and the Kurus, meeting you in the great battle, were slain, O joy of Pāṇḍu.

9.32.23 Having slain Duryodhana too, O son of Kuntī, give over the sea-girt earth to the King of Righteousness, as Viṣṇu gave it to the lord of Śacī.

9.32.24 Meeting you in battle, the wicked son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra shall perish; breaking both his thighs, you shall fulfil your vow.

9.32.25 Yet the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra must ever be fought with care, O Pārtha; he is skilled and strong, and at all times a connoisseur of battle."

9.32.26 Then Sātyaki, O king, honoured the son of Pāṇḍu, and with words of many kinds Mādhava too honoured him.

9.32.27 The Pāñcālas and the sons of Pāṇḍu, with the King of Righteousness at their head, all alike applauded those words of Bhīmasena.

9.32.28 Then Bhīma of terrible strength spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, who stood amid the Sṛñjayas, blazing like the sun:

9.32.29 "Joining with him, I am eager to fight in this combat. This basest of men is not able to vanquish me in battle.

9.32.30 This day I shall loose upon Suyodhana, son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the wrath long pent and brooding in my heart, as Arjuna loosed the fire upon the Khāṇḍava forest.

9.32.31 This day I shall draw forth the dart that lies in your heart, O son of Pāṇḍu. Having slain the wicked one with my mace, be happy this day, O king.

9.32.32 This day I shall set upon you a garland woven of glory, O sinless one; this day Suyodhana shall let go of his life, his fortune, and his kingdom.

9.32.33 And King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing this day that his son is slain by me, shall remember that evil deed which was born of Śakuni's counsel."

9.32.34 Having spoken thus, that best and most valiant of the Bhāratas raised his mace and rose up for the fight, as Śakra rose to challenge Vṛtra.

9.32.35 Coming upon the mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, who stood alone like an elephant strayed from its herd, the Pāṇḍavas thrilled with joy.

9.32.36 Seeing him with mace upraised, peaked like Kailāsa, Bhīmasena then, O king, spoke to Duryodhana:

9.32.37 "Recall that evil deed which King Dhṛtarāṣṭra and you wrought against us—what came to pass at Vāraṇāvata.

9.32.38 Recall how Draupadī, in her courses, was tormented in the midst of the assembly, when the king was won at dice by the settled cunning of Śakuni.

9.32.39 And whatever other sins, O evil-souled one, you have wrought against the blameless sons of Pṛthā—behold now the great fruit thereof.

9.32.40 For your sake the son of Gaṅgā, the glorious best of the Bhāratas, the grandsire of us all, lies slain upon a bed of arrows.

9.32.41 Slain is Droṇa, and Karṇa, and slain is the mighty Śalya; and Śakuni, the first author of this enmity, has been slain in battle.

9.32.42 Slain are your valiant brothers, and your sons together with their soldiers; slain too are the brave kings who never turned back in battle.

9.32.43 These and many other bulls among the kṣatriyas have been slain; and the wicked Prātikāmin too, who wrought Draupadī's affliction, has been slain.

9.32.44 You alone are left, destroyer of your line, basest of men; and you too this day shall I slay with my mace—herein is no doubt.

9.32.45 This day, O king, in battle I shall destroy all your pride, and your vast hope of kingdom, and the wrong you did the Pāṇḍavas."

9.32.46 Duryodhana said: What use this boasting in so many ways? Fight with me now. This day, O Vṛkodara, I shall take from you all appetite for battle.

9.32.47 Do you not see me, O sinner, standing ready for the mace-fight, gripping a mighty mace shaped like a Himālayan peak?

9.32.48 What foe, O sinner, dares this day hope to vanquish me, mace in hand and fighting by the rules—not even Purandara among the gods?

9.32.49 Roar not in vain, O son of Kuntī, like a rainless autumn cloud. Show in battle what strength is yours this day.

9.32.50 Hearing those words of his, the Pāñcālas together with the Sṛñjayas, all longing for victory, applauded that speech.

9.32.51 As one rouses a maddened elephant, the men, O king, with the clapping of their hands urged King Duryodhana on yet more.

9.32.52 There the elephants trumpeted, the horses neighed again and again, and the weapons of the victory-seeking Pāṇḍavas blazed forth.

9.33.1 Saṃjaya said: When that most terrible combat had begun, O great king, and all the high-souled Pāṇḍavas had taken their seats,

9.33.2 then Rāma of the palm-tree banner, the bearer of the plough, hearing that combat between his two pupils was at hand, came near, O king.

9.33.3 Seeing him, the kings, well pleased, did him honour and said, "Behold, O Rāma, the skill of your two pupils in battle."

9.33.4 And then Rāma, beholding Kṛṣṇa and the son of Pāṇḍu, and Duryodhana of the Kuru line standing with mace in hand, spoke:

9.33.5 "Forty days and two are gone this day since I set forth; I departed under the asterism Puṣya and am returned under Śravaṇa. I long, O Mādhava, to see the mace-combat of my two pupils."

9.33.6 Then King Yudhiṣṭhira, embracing the bearer of the plough, bade him welcome and duly enquired after his well-being.

9.33.7 The two Kṛṣṇas as well, those mighty archers, saluted Halāyudha; greatly delighted and full of affection, the two glorious ones embraced him.

9.33.8 The two valiant sons of Mādrī, and the five sons of Draupadī, having saluted the mighty son of Rohiṇī, stood waiting, O king.

9.33.9 Then the powerful Bhīmasena, and your son too, O lord of men, both with maces upraised, paid honour to the strong one.

9.33.10 Honouring him there again and again with words of welcome, the kings said to Rāma, "Behold the combat, O mighty-armed one!" — thus did the rulers of men address the great-souled son of Rohiṇī.

9.33.11 Then Rāma, embracing the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas as well, asked after the welfare of all those Pāṇḍavas of measureless might; and they in turn, approaching him, inquired after his good health.

9.33.12 The plough-bearer, great of mind, returned the honour to all the kṣatriyas, exchanging cordial greetings of welfare each according to his age.

9.33.13 Janārdana and Sātyaki he embraced with love, and kissing the two upon the head, he inquired after their welfare.

9.33.14 And those two, O king, honoured him in due form as their elder, as Indra and Upendra, filled with joy, would honour Brahmā, the lord of the gods.

9.33.15 Then the son of Dharma said to the son of Rohiṇī, that tamer of foes, "Behold this great combat of the two brothers, O Rāma!" — so he spoke, O Bhārata.

9.33.16 In their midst the mighty-armed and illustrious elder brother of Keśava took his seat, supremely pleased, honoured by the great chariot-warriors.

9.33.17 Seated amid the kings, clad in dark blue and of fair complexion, he shone like the moon in the sky, ringed about by the hosts of stars.

9.33.18 Then the clash of those two grew tumultuous and hair-raising, O king — a clash that would put an end to the enmity of your sons.

9.34.1 Janamejaya said: Earlier, when that war was at hand, the lord Rāma, having taken leave of Keśava, departed together with the Vṛṣṇis.

9.34.2 "I shall give no aid to the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O Keśava, nor to the sons of Pāṇḍu; I shall go my way as I came."

9.34.3 Having said this, Rāma, the crusher of foes, departed then. Of his return now, O brāhmaṇa, you should tell me once more.

9.34.4 Recount to me in full how Rāma came to be present, and how he beheld the combat; for you are skilled, O most excellent one.

9.34.5 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: While the great-souled Pāṇḍavas were encamped at Upaplavya, the slayer of Madhu was sent to the presence of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, in the cause of peace, O mighty-armed one, for the good of all living beings.

9.34.6 Having gone to Hāstinapura and met with Dhṛtarāṣṭra, he spoke words that were true and especially salutary; but the king did not act upon them, just as has been told you before.

9.34.7 Failing to win peace there, Kṛṣṇa, that best of men, the mighty-armed one, came back to Upaplavya, O lord of men.

9.34.8 Then Kṛṣṇa, having returned, dismissed by the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra with nothing accomplished, O tiger among men, said this to the Pāṇḍavas:

9.34.9 "The Kurus, driven on by fate, will not heed my word. March forth, O Pāṇḍavas, together with me, under the constellation Puṣya."

9.34.10 Then, as the forces were being marshalled, the best of the mighty, the great-souled son of Rohiṇī, spoke to his brother Kṛṣṇa:

9.34.11 "To those others too, O mighty-armed slayer of Madhu, let aid be given"; but Kṛṣṇa did not then act upon that word of his.

9.34.12 Then, his heart overcome with displeasure, the delight of the Yadus, the plough-bearer of great renown, set out on a pilgrimage to the sacred fords along the Sarasvatī, under the conjunction of the Maitra constellation, accompanied by all the Yādavas.

9.34.13 The Bhoja, that tamer of foes, gave his allegiance to Duryodhana, while Vāsudeva, together with Yuyudhāna, supported the Pāṇḍavas.

9.34.14 When the valiant son of Rohiṇī had departed, the slayer of Madhu, under the star Puṣya, placing the Pāṇḍavas at the fore, marched forth to face the Kurus.

9.34.15 As he journeyed, while still upon the road, Rāma said to his attendants: "Bring from Dvārakā the provisions for the pilgrimage and all the requisites — the sacred fires and the officiating priests as well."

9.34.16 "Gold and silver, milch cows, garments, horses, elephants and chariots, mules and camels and beasts of burden — let all the equipage for the sake of the pilgrimage be brought quickly."

9.34.17 "Travel swiftly, upstream along the Sarasvatī; and bring the officiating priests and bulls among the twice-born by the hundred."

9.34.18 Having thus instructed his attendants, the mighty Baladeva set forth on the pilgrimage, O king, during the slaughter of the Kurus, journeying upstream along the Sarasvatī from the sea.

9.34.19 Surrounded by officiating priests and friends and other most excellent of the twice-born, by chariots, elephants and horses and attendants, O bull of the Bharatas, and by many conveyances drawn by oxen, mules and camels.

9.34.20 For the weary and worn of body, for children and for the long-lived, those conveyances waited in their several places, O Bhārata; and food was made ready on every side for the sake of the hungry.

9.34.21 Whatever twice-born one wished, wherever, to take his food, to that very one, just there, they brought it then, O king.

9.34.22 The men stationed there, O king, by the command of the son of Rohiṇī, made heaps of food and drink everywhere about.

9.34.23 And costly garments, couches and spreadings were arranged there for the honouring of the brāhmaṇas who sought comfort.

9.34.24 Wherever a brāhmaṇa, or a kṣatriya too, lay down to sleep, O Bhārata, there for that very one was everything seen ready prepared.

9.34.25 All the folk then rested or journeyed at their ease — conveyances for one who wished to travel, and drink for one who thirsted,

9.34.26 and savoury foods for one who hungered, O bull of the Bhāratas; there the men brought garments and ornaments besides.

9.34.27 That road shone forth, O king, bringing comfort to every one; it was then like heaven, O hero, for the men who travelled there.

9.34.28 Filled with unending joy, abounding in delicacies, attended by auspicious things, thronged with hundreds of diverse folk trading their wares in shops and markets, set about with many trees and creepers, and adorned with jewels of every kind.

9.34.29 Then the great-souled one, his self set firm in vows, at the holy fords, O king, gave wealth to the twice-born and the sacrificial fees — that foremost hero of the Yadus, the renowned plough-bearer.

9.34.30 Milk-giving cows by the thousand, draped in fine cloth, their horns bound with gold, and horses born in lands of many kinds, conveyances and serving-women — these he gave to the twice-born.

9.34.31 Jewels — pearls, gems and coral — and horned gold and bright silver, and vessels of iron and of copper, Rāma bestowed upon the foremost of the twice-born.

9.34.32 Thus did the great-souled one bestow abundant wealth at the excellent fords of the Sarasvatī; then he of incomparable might and noble conduct came by stages to Kurukṣetra.

9.34.33 Janamejaya said: Tell me of the origin of the virtues of the fords along the Sarasvatī, and their fruit, O best of two-footed beings, and the accomplishment of rites there.

9.34.34 And in due order, O blessed one, of the fords one after another, O brāhmaṇa, O best of the knowers of brahman; for great is my curiosity.

9.34.35 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hear, O king, the full account of the fords and the origin of their virtues in every part, the holy tale told by me, O lord of kings, in its entirety.

9.34.36 First, O great king, that foremost hero of the Yadus, together with hosts of officiating priests, friends and brāhmaṇas, came to the holy Prabhāsa — where the lord of the stars was being afflicted by consumption.

9.34.37 There, freed from the curse and regaining his splendour, he lights up the whole world, O lord of men. Thus this foremost ford upon the earth, from his shining forth, is therefore called Prabhāsa.

9.34.38 Janamejaya said: For what reason was the blessed Soma seized by consumption? And how did the moon plunge himself into that foremost of fords?

9.34.39 And how, having bathed therein, was the hare-marked moon replenished once more? Tell me all of this in full, O great sage.

9.34.40 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Those who were the daughters of Dakṣa came into being, O lord of peoples; and Dakṣa gave twenty-seven maidens to Soma.

9.34.41 Devoted to the conjunctions of the constellations and serving for the reckoning of time, O Bhārata, they were the wives of that Soma, O lord of kings, marked with auspicious signs.

9.34.42 All of them were wide-eyed and unequalled in beauty upon the earth; yet among them Rohiṇī surpassed the rest in the fullness of her beauty.

9.34.43 Therefore the blessed maker of the night set his love upon her; she became dear to his heart, and so he ever resorted to her.

9.34.44 For in olden time, O lord of kings, Soma dwelt long with Rohiṇī; and at this the constellations, wives of the great-souled one, grew wroth.

9.34.45 They went to their father, the Lord of Creatures, and without delay declared: "Soma dwells not with us; he resorts ever to Rohiṇī."

9.34.46 "We all, gathered together, will dwell in your presence, O lord of creatures, with restricted food, intent upon the practice of austerities."

9.34.47 Having heard their words, Dakṣa then said to Soma: "Behave equally toward your wives, lest a great unrighteousness touch you."

9.34.48 And to all of them Dakṣa said: "Go to Soma's side; by my command the moon shall dwell equally with all of you."

9.34.49 Dismissed, they then went to the dwelling of the cool-rayed one; yet even so the blessed Soma, O lord of the earth, dwelt still with Rohiṇī, delighting in her again and again.

9.34.50 Then all of them together spoke again to their father: "Engaged in serving you, we shall dwell in your hermitage; Soma dwells not with us, he has not done your bidding."

9.34.51 Having heard those words of theirs, Dakṣa then said to Soma: "Behave equally toward your wives, lest I curse you, O shining one."

9.34.52 But disregarding that word of Dakṣa, the blessed hare-marked one dwelt with Rohiṇī; then once more those wives grew wroth.

9.34.53 And going to their father, bowing then with their heads, they said: "Soma dwells not with us; therefore be you our refuge."

9.34.54 "With Rohiṇī alone, O blessed one, the moon dwells ever; therefore protect us all, that Soma may come to us."

9.34.55 Hearing this, the blessed one, wrathful, O lord of the earth, in his anger let loose consumption against Soma; and it entered the lord of the stars.

9.34.56 His being overcome by the consumption, the hare-marked one waned day by day; and he made effort, O king, to be freed of that consumption.

9.34.57 Though the maker of the night performed sacrifices of many kinds, O great king, he was not released from the curse, and indeed came to wasting away.

9.34.58 Then, as Soma wasted away, the herbs no longer grew; all of them were robbed of savour and wholly stripped of their potency.

9.34.59 When the wasting of the herbs had come about, there was wasting of living beings too; and all creatures grew gaunt as the maker of the night waned away.

9.34.60 Then the gods, having assembled, said to Soma, O lord of the earth: "What is this? Your form does not shine forth as it once did."

9.34.61 "Tell us all the cause, whereby this great peril has come upon you; and having heard the word from you, we shall then provide a remedy."

9.34.62 Thus addressed, the hare-marked one answered all of them — the curse, and its cause, and the consumption that had come upon himself.

9.34.63 The gods, hearing his words, went to Dakṣa and said: "Be gracious, O blessed one, toward Soma, and let this curse be turned back."

9.34.64 "For yonder moon is wasted, and but a little of him is seen remaining; and through his wasting, O lord of the gods, the creatures too have come to ruin."

9.34.65 "The plants and herbs and the seeds of many kinds, and we ourselves, O teacher of the world — you should show us grace."

9.34.66 Thus addressed, the Lord of Creatures pondered and spoke this word: "This word of mine cannot be turned otherwise; yet, O illustrious ones, by some means it shall be reversed."

9.34.67 "Let the hare-marked one behave equally toward all his wives evermore; and emerging at the excellent ford of the Sarasvatī, the hare-marked one shall grow full again, O gods — that word of mine is true."

9.34.68 "For half a month Soma shall ever pass to waning, and for half a month always to waxing — this word of mine is true."

9.34.69 Then, by the seer's command, Soma went to the Sarasvatī; he came indeed to Prabhāsa, the supreme tīrtha upon the Sarasvatī.

9.34.70 On the new-moon day the mighty-splendored one, rising up there in great brilliance, illumined the worlds and regained his cool-rayed nature.

9.34.71 And all the gods, O lord of kings, having reached abundant Prabhāsa and joined together with Soma, stood before Dakṣa.

9.34.72 Then the Lord of Creatures dismissed all the deities, and the blessed one, pleased, spoke once more to Soma these words:

9.34.73 "Despise not women, my son, nor ever the brāhmaṇas. Go now, and being ever diligent, carry out my command."

9.34.74 Dismissed thus, O great king, he went to his own abode, and the creatures grew glad, partaking of nourishment as before.

9.34.75 All this I have told you—how the night-maker was cursed, and how Prabhāsa came to be the foremost among tīrthas.

9.34.76 On every new-moon day, O great king, the hare-marked one, the glorious Moon, bathing at the supreme tīrtha of Prabhāsa, is replenished.

9.34.77 Therefore men know it as Prabhāsa, O lord of the earth; for the Moon, rising up there, attained his supreme radiance (prabhā).

9.34.78 Then the unfallen, mighty one went on to Camasodbheda—that which men speak of as Camasodbheda.

9.34.79 There Halāyudha, having bestowed choice gifts, stayed a single night and bathed according to the prescribed rite.

9.34.80 Then the elder brother of Keśava went swiftly to Udapāna, gaining there too the foremost benediction and great reward.

9.34.81 For by the moistness of the herbs and of the earth, O Janamejaya, the perfected ones, O lord of kings, discern the Sarasvatī even where she has vanished.

9.35.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: From there Halāyudha went on, O great king, to the Udapāna—the river-sunk well of the illustrious Trita.

9.35.2 There the wielder of the pestle, well pleased, bestowed much wealth and honored the brāhmaṇas, and touched the water in that very place.

9.35.3 There it was that Trita dwelt, devoted to dharma, of mighty austerity; and that great soul, while abiding in the well, drank the soma.

9.35.4 And there, abandoning him, his two brothers went home; whereupon Trita, that best of brāhmaṇas, laid a curse upon them both.

9.35.5 Janamejaya said: How came the well to be, O brāhmaṇa, and how did that one of great austerity, that best of the twice-born, fall in, and why was he forsaken by his brothers?

9.35.6 And how, leaving him in the well, did the two brothers go home? Tell me this, O brāhmaṇa, if you think it fit to be heard.

9.35.7 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: In a former age, O king, there were three brother-sages, Ekata, Dvita, and Trita, resembling the sun.

9.35.8 All were like Prajāpati, blessed with offspring, all winners of the world of Brahman by austerity, all expounders of the Veda.

9.35.9 Their father Gautama, ever devoted to dharma, was always pleased by their austerity, their discipline, and their self-restraint.

9.35.10 And in the course of long time, having gained their devotion, the blessed one departed to the abode befitting himself.

9.35.11 Those kings who before had been the patrons of that great soul, when he had gone to heaven, all honored his sons.

9.35.12 By his works and by his study, O king, Trita attained pre-eminence, even as his father had done.

9.35.13 All the blessed sages of holy mark honored that illustrious one for his learning as well.

9.35.14 Now once, O king, the two brothers Ekata and Dvita set their minds upon a sacrifice, and especially upon gaining wealth thereby.

9.35.15 This thought arose in the two, O scorcher of foes: to take Trita with them, to gather all their patrons, and to receive cattle from them.

9.35.16 "Joyfully we shall drink the soma, having gained a sacrifice of great fruit." And so, O great king, the three brothers performed it.

9.35.17 Going about thus among all their patrons for the sake of cattle, they performed sacrifices for them, and so obtained from those patrons very many beasts.

9.35.18 Having received their due by that priestly office according to rule, those great-souled seers came toward the eastern quarter.

9.35.19 Trita walked before them, O great king, gladly, while Ekata and Dvita came behind, driving the cattle.

9.35.20 Seeing the great herd of cattle, a thought arose in the two: "How might these cows be ours, the two of us, without Trita?"

9.35.21 Conferring with one another, Ekata and Dvita—the two sinners—spoke together; hear what they said, O lord of men.

9.35.22 "Trita is skilled in sacrifices, Trita is grounded in the Vedas; Trita will obtain still other and far more numerous cows."

9.35.23 "Therefore let the two of us, joined together, drive off the cows and go; and let Trita too go where he will, parted from us."

9.35.24 As they came on by night, a wolf appeared in their path; and not far off, on the bank of the Sarasvatī, there was a great well.

9.35.25 Then Trita, seeing the wolf standing before him in the path, recoiled in fear of it and fell into that well—bottomless, most terrible, dreadful to all beings.

9.35.26 Then the illustrious Trita, that best of sages, fallen within the well, raised a cry of distress, and the two sages heard it.

9.35.27 Knowing him fallen into the well, the brothers Ekata and Dvita, out of fear of the wolf and out of greed, abandoned him and went on.

9.35.28 Forsaken by his two brothers, greedy for cattle, that one of great austerity lay, O great king, in the well, waterless and choked with dust.

9.35.29 Trita beheld himself sunk in the well overgrown with creepers and grass, O best of Bhāratas, as a sinner sunk in hell.

9.35.30 Wise as he was, fearing death and yet undrinker of soma, he reckoned in his mind: "How might the soma be drunk by me, while I bide here?"

9.35.31 Pondering thus in that well, the one of great austerity saw a creeper hanging there by chance.

9.35.32 Then in that dust-clogged well the sage, imagining the water, conceived the sacrificial fires, and himself as the hotṛ-priest.

9.35.33 Then, conceiving that creeper to be the soma, the sage of mighty austerity, calling to mind in thought the Ṛcs, the Yajuses, and the Sāmans, and making the pebbles into the pressing-stones, performed the pressing, O king.

9.35.34 He made the water into clarified butter and the portions for the dwellers of the threefold heaven; and having pressed the soma, he raised a tumultuous sound.

9.35.35 And that trained, well-pitched chant of Trita pierced heaven, O king; and he accomplished that sacrifice as it is prescribed by the expounders of the Veda.

9.35.36 As the sacrifice of the great-souled Trita went forward, all the threefold heaven was thrown into agitation, and none could fathom the cause.

9.35.37 Then Bṛhaspati heard that most tumultuous sound, and hearing it, the chaplain of the gods spoke to all the deities:

9.35.38 "The sacrifice of Trita is in progress; let us go thither, O gods. For that one of great austerity, if angered, might create other gods as well."

9.35.39 Hearing that word of his, all the deities together set forth to the place where that sacrifice of Trita was being performed.

9.35.40 The gods, having gone there to the well where Trita was, beheld that great soul consecrated for the sacrificial rites.

9.35.41 And seeing that great soul endowed with surpassing splendor, they said to the illustrious one: "We have come, seeking our portions."

9.35.42 Then the seer said to the gods: "Behold me, O dwellers of heaven, sunk in this fearful well and well-nigh out of my senses."

9.35.43 Then Trita, O great king, gave them their portions according to rule, accompanied by the sacred formulas; and they were well pleased thereat.

9.35.44 Then the dwellers of heaven, having received the portions duly obtained, glad at heart, granted him the boons that he desired in his mind.

9.35.45 And he chose this boon: "You ought to deliver me from here; and whoever touches the water in this well, let him attain the state of the soma-drinkers."

9.35.46 Thereupon, O king, the Sarasvatī surged up there full of waves, and Trita, lifted by her, stood honoring the dwellers of heaven.

9.35.47 Saying "So be it," the gods went, O king, as they had come; and Trita too, well pleased, then went to his own abode.

9.35.48 But that one of great austerity, having reached his two brother-sages, then in anger spoke harsh words to them and cursed them:

9.35.49 "Since the two of you, greedy for cattle, forsook me and ran away, therefore in the form of fanged beasts you shall roam about,

9.35.50 cursed by me for this evil deed; and your offspring shall be langurs, bears, and monkeys."

9.35.51 And when this was spoken by him, that very instant, O lord of peoples, the two were seen so transformed by the word of the truth-speaker.

9.35.52 There too Halāyudha of boundless valor touched the water, bestowed gifts of many kinds, and honored the brāhmaṇas.

9.35.53 And having seen that river-sunk well and praised it again and again, the undaunted one then reached Vinaśana.

9.36.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then, O king, Halāyudha came to Vinaśana, where the Sarasvatī vanished out of loathing for the Śūdras and the Ābhīras.

9.36.2 Because she, the Sarasvatī, O best of Bhāratas, vanished out of loathing, therefore the seers ever call that place Vinaśana.

9.36.3 And there too Bala of mighty strength touched the waters of the Sarasvatī, and then went on to Subhūmika upon the fair bank of the Sarasvatī.

9.36.4 There the radiant apsarases, ever unwearied, of unblemished countenance, sport at all times with pure and lovely games.

9.36.5 There, O lord of men, the gods together with the gandharvas come month after month to that holy tīrtha frequented by brāhmaṇas.

9.36.6 There the gandharvas and likewise the throngs of apsarases were seen, gathered and joined together, O king, each as it chanced and at their ease.

9.36.7 There the gods and the ancestors rejoice amid the herbs, ever showered again and again with holy, heavenly blossoms.

9.36.8 That fair playground of those apsarases, O king, is renowned as Subhūmika, upon the lovely bank of the Sarasvatī.

9.36.9 There the Mādhava, having bathed and bestowed wealth upon the brāhmaṇas, and having heard that heavenly song and the sound of the instruments—

9.36.10 and having seen the broad shadows of the gods, gandharvas, and rākṣasas—the son of Rohiṇī then came to the tīrtha of the gandharvas.

9.36.11 There the gandharvas led by Viśvāvasu, endowed with austerity, make most delightful dance, music, and song.

9.36.12 There the plough-bearer bestowed upon the brāhmaṇas manifold wealth—goats and sheep, cattle, asses and camels, gold and silver as well—

9.36.13 and having fed the twice-born with all they desired and gratified them with great riches, the Mādhava went onward in the company of the brāhmaṇas, being praised by them.

9.36.14 And from that gandharva-tīrtha the mighty-armed subduer of foes, wearing a single earring, came to the great tīrtha of Gargasrotas.

9.36.15 There it was that the aged Garga, his soul refined by austerity, attained the science of the reckoning of time and of the courses and transits of the heavenly bodies.

9.36.16 There too, O Janamejaya, the dread and the auspicious portents were determined by that great soul at the holy ford of the Sarasvatī; and after his name that ford is remembered as Gargasrotas.

9.36.17 There, O king, the sages of firm vows constantly waited upon the illustrious Garga, O lord, to learn from him the science of time.

9.36.18 Having gone there, O great king, Bala, anointed with white sandal paste, duly bestowed wealth upon the sages whose souls were refined.

9.36.19 And having given to the brāhmaṇas foods of every kind, high and humble, that hero of great renown, clad in dark blue, then proceeded to the Śaṅkha ford.

9.36.20 There the mighty Bala, the palmyra-bannered, beheld a great conch-tree, lofty as Mount Meru, resembling a white mountain, frequented by hosts of sages, a tree grown upon the bank of the Sarasvatī.

9.36.21 There were yakṣas and vidyādharas and rākṣasas of boundless energy, and piśācas of measureless strength, and siddhas by the thousand.

9.36.22 All of them, forsaking other food, would from time to time eat only the fruit of that lord of the forest, observing their vows and restraints.

9.36.23 Keeping each his own appointed observances, they roamed about apart, one and all, and ranged there unseen by men, O bull among men.

9.36.24 Thus famed in this world, O ruler of men, was that lord of the forest; and there upon the Sarasvatī is a purifying ford renowned throughout the world.

9.36.25 At that ford the tiger of the Yadus bestowed upon the renowned sages vessels of copper and of iron and garments of every kind.

9.36.26 Having honored the brāhmaṇas and being himself honored by those rich in austerity, Halāyudha came, O king, to the holy Dvaitavana.

9.36.27 Having gone there and beheld the sages wearing garbs of many kinds, Bala bathed in the water and paid honor to the brāhmaṇas.

9.36.28 And having likewise given the brāhmaṇas ample objects of enjoyment, Bala then set forth, O king, along the southern bank of the Sarasvatī.

9.36.29 And that mighty-armed one of great renown, righteous of soul and unfailing, having gone no great distance, came to the ford named Nāgadhanvan.

9.36.30 There, O great king, was the abode of Vāsuki, king of serpents, of mighty splendor, surrounded by many serpents; and there dwelt fourteen thousand sages who had attained perfection.

9.36.31 There the gods, having assembled, duly consecrated Vāsuki, foremost of serpents, as king over all the serpents; and there, O Kaurava, no fear of serpents is to be found.

9.36.32 There too, having duly bestowed heaps of jewels upon the brāhmaṇas, he proceeded toward the east, O king, blazing with his own splendor.

9.36.33 Bathing again and again with delight in those fords, the plough-bearer gave wealth to the twice-born and passed on, surpassingly given to austerity.

9.36.34 Having saluted the hosts of sages who abode there, Halāyudha—Rāma—then went to a great ford frequented by sages.

9.36.35 There the Sarasvatī once again turned back and flowed eastward, for the sake of the great-souled sages of the Naimiṣa forest.

9.36.36 Beholding that best of rivers there turned back upon her course, Bala the plough-bearer, anointed with white sandal, was filled with wonder, O king.

9.36.37 Janamejaya said: Why, O brāhmaṇa, did the Sarasvatī turn back and flow eastward? I wish to hear all this explained, O best of priests.

9.36.38 And for what cause was the joy of the Yadus filled with wonder there, and how did that best of rivers turn back? Tell me this, O most excellent of the twice-born.

9.36.39 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Of old, in the Kṛta age, O king, the ascetics of the Naimiṣa forest were holding a vast sacrificial session lasting twelve years; and many sages, O king, assembled there together.

9.36.40 And when those illustrious ones had dwelt at that session according to the ordinance, and the twelve-year session of the Naimiṣa sages had come to its close, many sages came thither for the sake of the holy fords.

9.36.41 And by reason of the multitude of sages, O lord of peoples, the fords along the southern bank of the Sarasvatī then took on the likeness of cities.

9.36.42 As far as Samantapañcaka, O tiger among men, those most excellent of the twice-born, longing for the holy fords, took their stand along the river's shore.

9.36.43 As those sages of refined souls offered their oblations, the quarters of the sky were filled with the mighty sound of their study of the sacred texts.

9.36.44 Then, with the fire-oblations of those great souls being offered and blazing on every side, the best of rivers shone resplendent.

9.36.45 There were the Vālakhilyas, O great king, and ascetics who ground their food with stones, and others who used their teeth for a mortar, and still others who washed clean all they ate.

9.36.46 And ascetics who fed on air, who took only water, who ate but leaves, who kept observances of many kinds, and who lay upon the bare ground.

9.36.47 Such sages dwelt there beside the Sarasvatī, gracing that best of rivers as the dwellers of heaven grace the Gaṅgā.

9.36.48 Thereafter came other sages, performers of sacrificial sessions; but those keepers of mighty vows found no open room for them in Kurukṣetra.

9.36.49 Then with their sacred threads they measured out a ford for themselves, offered their fire-oblations, and performed rites of many kinds.

9.36.50 Then, O lord of kings, the Sarasvatī showed herself for their sake to that company of sages who were dejected and sunk in anxious thought.

9.36.51 Then, out of compassion for the sages of holy austerities, the best of rivers turned back her course, forming many bowers, O Janamejaya.

9.36.52 Then, having turned back for their sake, O lord of kings, the Sarasvatī, best of rivers, flowed once more toward the west.

9.36.53 "Not in vain shall my coming be: for their sake I flow back again,"—and so, O king, the great river wrought a great marvel.

9.36.54 Thus, O lord of kings, that bower in Kurukṣetra is remembered as Naimiṣeya; there, O best of the Kurus, perform great rites.

9.36.55 Beholding there the many bowers and that river turned back upon her course, wonder then came over the great-souled Rāma.

9.36.56 There too the joy of the Yadus touched the water according to the rite, and bestowed gifts upon the twice-born—vessels of many kinds and food and drink of every sort he supplied to the brāhmaṇas.

9.36.57 Then Bala set forth, O king, honored by the twice-born, to an excellent ford of the Sarasvatī thronged with hosts of birds of many kinds.

9.36.58 It was adorned with jujube and iṅguda, kāśmarya and plakṣa, fig-tree and vibhītaka, with breadfruit and palāśa, with karīra and pīlu trees.

9.36.59 And with trees grown on the Sarasvatī's bank—the bandhana and the syandana, with groves of parūṣaka, and with bilva and āmrātaka trees.

9.36.60 It was graced with thickets of atimuktaka and with pārijāta trees, abounding most in groves of plantain—a place beloved, lovely, and delightful to the heart.

9.36.61 It was peopled by many forest sages who fed on air, on water, on fruit, and on leaves, who used their teeth for a mortar, and who ground their food with stones.

9.36.62 It resounded with the chant of sacred study, was thronged with hundreds of herds of deer, and was much frequented by men who did no harm and held righteousness supreme.

9.36.63 To the ford named Saptasārasvata Halāyudha came, where the great sage Maṅkaṇaka, who had won perfection, had performed his austerities.

9.37.1 Janamejaya said: Why is it called Saptasārasvata, and who was the sage Maṅkaṇaka? How did the venerable one win perfection, and what was the observance he kept?

9.37.2 In whose lineage was he born, and what did he learn, O most excellent of the twice-born? All this I wish to hear in due order, O best of brāhmaṇas.

9.37.3 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: O king, there are seven Sarasvatīs, by whom this world is pervaded; for, summoned by the mighty here and there, the Sarasvatī came.

9.37.4 They are Suprabhā and Kāñcanākṣī, Viśālā and Mānasahradā, the Sarasvatī known as Oghavatī, Suveṇu, and Vimalodakā.

9.37.5 While a sacrifice of the mighty Grandsire was in progress upon the earth, the sacrificial enclosure spread wide and the twice-born assembled there—

9.37.6 with the pure proclamations of the holy day and the resounding of the Vedas, while the gods themselves were intent upon that sacrificial rite—

9.37.7 there, O great king, when the great-grandsire had been consecrated and was offering a session that fulfilled every desire,

9.37.8 whatever things the twice-born, skilled in righteousness and worldly gain, conceived in their minds, those things, O lord of kings, came to them there of their own accord.

9.37.9 There the gandharvas sang, and the troops of apsarases danced, and divine instruments of music were straightway sounded.

9.37.10 At the perfection of that sacrifice even the gods were delighted and fell into the utmost wonder—how much more, then, those of mortal birth?

9.37.11 As the sacrifice went forward thus, with the Grandsire abiding at Puṣkara, the sages said, O king: "This sacrifice cannot bear great fruit, since the best of rivers, the Sarasvatī, is nowhere seen here."

9.37.12 Hearing this, the venerable one was pleased and called the Sarasvatī to mind; and being summoned by the sacrificing Grandsire, the Sarasvatī came to Puṣkara, there bearing the name Suprabhā, O lord of kings.

9.37.13 Beholding the swift-flowing Sarasvatī, who came to do honor to the Grandsire, the sages were gladdened and held that sacrifice in high esteem.

9.37.14 Thus this best of rivers, the Sarasvatī, came into being at Puṣkara for the Grandsire's sake and for the delight of the wise.

9.37.15 At the Naimiṣa forest, O king, the sages assembled and sat together; and there, O lord of peoples, wondrous discourses arose concerning the Veda.

9.37.16 There were sages versed in the recitation of various branches of sacred lore; and those sages, having gathered, called the Sarasvatī to mind.

9.37.17 Thus meditated upon, O great king, by the sages who were performing the session, the illustrious and holy Sarasvatī came thither, O lord of kings, to aid those great souls who had assembled.

9.37.18 At the Naimiṣa forest the best of rivers came as Kāñcanākṣī, and there, O Bhārata, she was worshipped by the sages who performed the session.

9.37.19 When Gaya was offering a great sacrifice at Gayā, the best of rivers, the Sarasvatī, was summoned to the sacrifice of Gaya.

9.37.20 At Gayā the sages of strict vows call her Viśālā—that swift-flowing river, born from the side of Himavat.

9.37.21 And at the sacrifice of Auddālaka, when he was offering it, O Bhārata, with a great circle of sages assembled there from every side,

9.37.22 in the northern region of Kosala, O king, the holy place of that great soul, the Sarasvatī was first called to mind by the sacrificing Auddālaka.

9.37.23 The best of rivers came to that country for the sages' sake, honored by hosts of sages clad in bark and deerskin; and because she was drawn thither by their minds, she became famed as Mānasahradā.

9.37.24 As Suveṇu the illustrious best of rivers, the Sarasvatī, came to the holy isle of Ṛṣabha, frequented by royal sages, and to Kurukṣetra when the great-souled Kuru was sacrificing there.

9.37.25 As Oghavatī too, O lord of kings, the Sarasvatī of divine waters was summoned at Kurukṣetra by the great soul Vasiṣṭha.

9.37.26 And summoned by Dakṣa when he sacrificed at Gaṅgādvāra, the divine Sarasvatī came as Vimalodā; and again, summoned by Brahmā at his sacrifice, she went thither to the holy mountain of Himavat.

9.37.27 Then those seven, gathered together at that ford, became one; and thus that ford became renowned upon the earth as Saptasārasvata.

9.37.28 Thus the seven Sarasvatīs have been proclaimed by name, and thus too the holy ford of Saptasārasvata is remembered.

9.37.29 Hear now of the great sport of Maṅkaṇaka also, who had kept the vow of celibacy from his boyhood, when he had plunged into the river, O king.

9.37.30 Beholding by chance there in the water, O Bhārata, a woman bathing—fair of glance, clad only in the quarters of the sky, and blameless—his seed, O great king, fell into the waters of the Sarasvatī.

9.37.31 That seed the great ascetic gathered into a jar; and there within the jar it split into seven parts, and from it were born seven sages, the hosts of the Maruts.

9.37.32 Vāyuvega and Vāyubala, Vāyuha and Vāyumaṇḍala, Vāyujvāla, Vāyuretas, and the valiant Vāyucakra — thus were these born, the begetters of the hosts of the Maruts.

9.37.33 And hear now, O lord of kings, another wonder more marvellous still upon this earth — such a deed of that great seer as is renowned throughout the three worlds.

9.37.34 Of old, Maṅkaṇaka the perfected one — so we have heard — wounded his hand upon the tip of a kuśa-blade, O king, and from it flowed a sap like vegetable juice; and beholding that sap, he was seized with joy and fell to dancing.

9.37.35 Then as he danced, all that was unmoving and all that moves — both alike, O hero — fell to dancing, bewildered by the force of his power.

9.37.36 Then the gods led by Brahmā, O king, and the seers rich in penance besought Mahādeva on the seer's behalf, O lord of men: 'Bring it to pass, O god, that this one dance no longer.'

9.37.37 Then the god, seeing the sage utterly transported with joy, Mahādeva, desiring the welfare of the gods, addressed him thus:

9.37.38 'Ho there, Brāhmaṇa, knower of dharma, why do you dance on so? What cause for joy is this of yours, O best of sages — for one given to penance and set upon the path of dharma, O best of the twice-born?'

9.37.39 The seer said: 'Do you not see, O brahman, the sap that has flowed from my hand? Beholding it I fell to dancing in great joy, O mighty one.'

9.37.40 Laughing, the god said to the sage thus bewildered by passion: 'I, O brahman, am not moved to wonder by such a thing — look upon me.'

9.37.41 Having so spoken to the best of sages, the wise Mahādeva, O lord of kings, struck his own thumb with the tip of his finger.

9.37.42 Then from the cut, O king, came forth ash white as snow; and seeing it, O king, the sage was abashed and fell at his feet.

9.37.43 The seer said: 'I deem none greater, none mightier, than the god Rudra; you, wielder of the trident, are the refuge of the world of gods and demons alike.'

9.37.44 'By you was this universe created, so the wise declare here; and into you alone does all enter again at the ending of the age.'

9.37.45 'Not even by the gods can you be fully known — how then by me? In you are all the gods beheld, beginning with Brahmā, O sinless one.'

9.37.46 'You are all things; you are of the gods the doer and the cause of doing; by your grace all the gods rejoice here, freed from every fear.'

9.37.47 Having thus praised Mahādeva, the seer bowed low and said: 'O Lord, by your grace may my penance never wane.'

9.37.48 Then the god, well pleased in heart, spoke again to that seer: 'May your penance increase a thousandfold by my grace, O brahman; and here in this hermitage I shall ever dwell together with you.'

9.37.49 'And whatever man shall worship me here at this Seven-Sarasvatī, nothing shall be hard for him to win, in this world or the next; and they shall go to the Sārasvata world, of this there is no doubt.'

9.37.50 Such was the deed of Maṅkaṇaka of abundant splendour; for he was a son begotten upon Sajanyā by Mātariśvan, the Wind.

9.38.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having dwelt there and honoured the dwellers of the hermitage, Rāma the plough-wielder showed too his gracious favour toward Maṅkaṇaka.

9.38.2 Having given gifts to the twice-born and passed that night in fasting, honoured by the throngs of sages, the plough-bearer rose at dawn.

9.38.3 Having taken leave of all the sages and touched water, O Bhārata, mighty Rāma set forth in haste for the sake of the sacred fords.

9.38.4 Then the plough-wielder came to the ford of Uśanas, called Kapālamocana, the Skull-Release, where the great sage was set free.

9.38.5 There, O king, Mahodara had had his leg gripped by a great head — the head of a rākṣasa hurled of old by Rāma, O mighty monarch.

9.38.6 There of old the great-souled Kāvya practised penance, and there the whole of his statecraft came forth for that high-souled one; abiding there he pondered the warfare of the Daityas and Dānavas.

9.38.7 And having reached that most excellent of fords, O king, Bala duly bestowed wealth upon the great-souled Brāhmaṇas.

9.38.8 Janamejaya said: How, O brahman, came it to be the Skull-Release, where the great sage was freed? How did the head cleave to him, and for what cause?

9.38.9 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Of old, in the Daṇḍaka forest, by the great-souled Rāghava dwelling there, O tiger among kings, were the rākṣasas slain.

9.38.10 At Janasthāna the head of an evil-souled rākṣasa was severed with a keen-edged shaft, and it fell within the great forest.

9.38.11 That head, by chance, fastened upon the shin of Mahodara as he wandered in the forest, O king, piercing the bone and there it stuck fast.

9.38.12 With that thing clinging to him the twice-born one, wise though he was, could no longer make his way to the fords and holy places.

9.38.13 Tormented with pain by the foul stuff that oozed from it, the great sage went, so we have heard, to all the sacred fords upon the earth.

9.38.14 Having gone to all the rivers and to the seas, that great ascetic told all this to the seers of purified souls.

9.38.15 Bathing in all the fords, he yet won no release; but that lord of brahmans heard a weighty word of the sages.

9.38.16 That on the Sarasvatī there was a renowned excellent ford of Uśanas, dispeller of all sins, an unsurpassed field of the perfected ones.

9.38.17 And the twice-born one, going thither to the ford of Uśanas, as he touched the water at the ford of Uśanas, that head let go his foot and fell down into the depths of the water.

9.38.18 Then Mahodara, freed of pain, O king, his soul made pure and his stain gone, came back glad to his hermitage, his purpose fulfilled.

9.38.19 And the great ascetic, set free and come to the holy hermitage, told all this to the seers of purified souls.

9.38.20 Hearing his words, O giver of honour, the assembled sages gave to that ford the name Kapālamocana, the Skull-Release.

9.38.21 There Mādhava, the foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, having given many gifts and honoured the brahmans, went then to the hermitage of Ruṣaṅgu.

9.38.22 Where Ārṣṭiṣeṇa had practised dread penance, O Bhārata, and where the great sage Viśvāmitra had won the estate of a brāhmaṇa.

9.38.23 Thence the glorious plough-bearer, surrounded by brahmans, went, O lord of kings, to the place where Ruṣaṅgu had laid down his body.

9.38.24 Ruṣaṅgu, an aged brāhmaṇa ever devoted to penance, O Bhārata, set his mind upon laying down his body, having pondered the matter long and in many ways.

9.38.25 Then the great ascetic Ruṣaṅgu, gathering all his sons, said to them: 'Lead me to Pṛthūdaka.'

9.38.26 Knowing Ruṣaṅgu, rich in penance, to be far advanced in years, those ascetics led him to that ford of the Sarasvatī.

9.38.27 Brought then by his sons, that wise one came to the Sarasvatī, holy, endowed with a hundred fords, frequented by throngs of brahmans.

9.38.28 There, O king, having bathed according to rite, that great ascetic, knowing the virtues of the ford, the best of seers, well pleased, O tiger among men, spoke thus to all his sons who attended upon him:

9.38.29 'Whoever on the northern bank of the Sarasvatī, at Pṛthūdaka, intent upon prayer, lays down his body — him the morrow's death shall not afflict.'

9.38.30 There the righteous plough-bearer bathed and touched the water, and gave many gifts, fond as he was of the brahmans.

9.38.31 Where the Lord, the Grandsire of the worlds, brought forth the worlds; where, O Kaurava, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa of firm vows, the best of seers, attained brāhmaṇa-hood through mighty penance, O king.

9.38.32 And where the royal seer Sindhudvīpa, and Devāpi of great penance, and the great sage Viśvāmitra — that mighty ascetic, the lord of fierce splendour and great penance — won brāhmaṇa-hood.

9.38.33 Thither came the mighty and majestic Balabhadra.

9.39.1 Janamejaya said: How did the lord Ārṣṭiṣeṇa practise his vast penance, and how too did Sindhudvīpa then win brāhmaṇa-hood?

9.39.2 And how Devāpi, O brahman, and how Viśvāmitra, O best of men? Tell me this, O lord, for great is my curiosity.

9.39.3 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Of old, in the Kṛta age, O king, Ārṣṭiṣeṇa, best of the twice-born, dwelling ever in his teacher's house, was ever devoted to study.

9.39.4 Yet for him, O king, dwelling ever in his teacher's house, his learning came to no completion, nor did the Vedas, O lord of peoples.

9.39.5 Then, grown weary, O king, that great ascetic practised penance; and by that penance he won the supreme Vedas.

9.39.6 Learned and endowed with the Vedas and perfected, the best of seers, that great ascetic bestowed three boons there at the ford.

9.39.7 'At this ford of the great river, from this day forth, the man who bathes shall win the abundant fruit of the horse-sacrifice.'

9.39.8 'From this day forth there shall be here no fear from beasts of prey, and even with little effort one shall win abundant fruit.'

9.39.9 Having so spoken, the sage of great splendour went to the third heaven; thus did the majestic lord Ārṣṭiṣeṇa attain perfection.

9.39.10 At that very ford then the majestic Sindhudvīpa, and Devāpi, O mighty king, attained the high estate of brāhmaṇa-hood.

9.39.11 And likewise Kauśika, my son, ever devoted to penance, his senses subdued, attained brāhmaṇa-hood through well-practised penance.

9.39.12 There was a great kṣatriya named Gādhi, renowned upon the earth; his son, O king, was the majestic Viśvāmitra.

9.39.13 That king Kauśika, my son, became a great yogin, it is said; and the great ascetic, having consecrated his son Viśvāmitra,

9.39.14 set his mind upon laying down his body; but his subjects, bowing low, said to him: 'You must not go, O wise one; save us from this great peril.'

9.39.15 Thus addressed, Gādhi then answered his subjects: 'My son shall be the protector of the whole world.'

9.39.16 Having so spoken, Gādhi, having established Viśvāmitra in his place, went to the third heaven, O king; and Viśvāmitra became king, yet for all his effort he could not protect the earth.

9.39.17 Then that king heard of a great peril from the rākṣasas, and went forth from the city attended by his fourfold army.

9.39.18 Having gone a long road, he came upon the hermitage of Vasiṣṭha; and his soldiers, O king, wrought there many wrongs.

9.39.19 Then the lordly brahman Vasiṣṭha came to his hermitage and saw the whole great forest being broken to pieces.

9.39.20 Wrathful at this, O mighty king, Vasiṣṭha, the best of sages, said to his cow: 'Bring forth dread Śabaras.'

9.39.21 Thus bidden, the cow brought forth men of terrible aspect; and they, falling upon that army, scattered it in every direction.

9.39.22 Seeing his army put to flight, Viśvāmitra the son of Gādhi, deeming penance the higher power, set his mind upon penance alone.

9.39.23 At this excellent ford of the Sarasvatī, O king, with mind composed, he wasted his own body with vows and fasts.

9.39.24 He became one who fed on water, who fed on air, who fed on leaves; one who lay upon the bare ground, and observed whatever other separate vows there are.

9.39.25 Again and again the gods set obstacles to his vow, yet the resolve of that great soul would not turn aside from his observance.

9.39.26 Then, having practised manifold penance with the utmost effort, the son of Gādhi grew in splendour like unto the sun.

9.39.27 Viśvāmitra being thus endowed with penance, the Grandsire of mighty splendour, the giver of boons, deemed him worthy of that boon.

9.39.28 And he chose his boon, O king, saying: 'May I become a brāhmaṇa'; and Brahmā, the Grandsire of all the worlds, said, 'So be it.'

9.39.29 Having won brahminhood by fierce austerity, that man of great renown, his desire fulfilled and god-like in his splendour, roamed across the whole earth.

9.39.30 At that excellent sacred ford Rāma bestowed wealth of many kinds — milk-giving cows, draught animals, and couches —

9.39.31 and garments too, and ornaments, and fine food and drink. Gladly, O king, he gave these gifts, having honoured the foremost of the twice-born.

9.39.32 Then, O king, Rāma went on from there to the hermitage of Baka close by, where, as tradition tells, Baka the son of Dalbha had performed fierce austerity.

9.40.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: The delight of the Yadus went to that place thronged with men of brahmin lineage, where, O king, Baka the son of Dalbha, of mighty austerity, for the sake of cattle once offered up into the fire the kingdom of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, son of Vicitravīrya.

9.40.2 Wasting his own body with austerity of dreadful aspect, that righteous and mighty sage was seized by a great anger.

9.40.3 For long ago, when the twelve-year sacrificial session of the seers of Naimiṣa had been completed, at the close of the Viśvajit rite the sages went to the Pāñcālas.

9.40.4 There those wise men asked the lord of that land for a sacrificial fee: twenty-one strong young calves, free of disease.

9.40.5 To them aged Baka said: 'Divide these cattle among yourselves; for my part, leaving these beasts aside, I shall beg of the best of kings.'

9.40.6 Having spoken thus to all the seers, O king, that mighty and foremost of brahmins went to the dwelling of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.40.7 Drawing near to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of men, the son of Dalbha begged him for cattle; but that king answered him in anger:

9.40.8 'Look on these cows that have died of their own accord, O best of kings' — so the king said — 'take these beasts at once, you wretched excuse for a brahmin, if you wish.'

9.40.9 The seer, knower of dharma, hearing these words, fell to thinking: 'Alas, cruel indeed is the speech with which I have been addressed in the assembly!'

9.40.10 Having pondered a while, that foremost of the twice-born, seized by wrath, set his mind upon the destruction of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.40.11 That best of the twice-born, cutting the flesh from the dead cattle, then offered up into the fire the kingdom of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.40.12 At a secluded ford of the Sarasvatī, having kindled the sacred fire, Baka the son of Dalbha, O great king, took up a most rigorous vow; and that sage of mighty austerity offered up his kingdom with those very pieces of flesh.

9.40.13 When that most terrible sacrificial session had been duly begun, the kingdom of Dhṛtarāṣṭra began to waste away, O king.

9.40.14 Like a boundless forest hewn down by the axe, O lord, that kingdom became ruined, scattered, and bereft of sense.

9.40.15 Seeing his kingdom so laid waste, that lord of men grew downcast, O king, and the sovereign fell to brooding.

9.40.16 He strove together with his brahmins to win release from it; yet that king remained distressed, O king, and so too were those learned men.

9.40.17 And when he could not free his kingdom, O king, he then questioned the readers of omens there, O Janamejaya.

9.40.18 Then the readers of omens declared: 'The sage Baka, slighted by you in the matter of cattle, is offering up your kingdom with flesh as oblation.'

9.40.19 'By his oblation this great ruin has come upon your kingdom; this is the working of his austerity, by which this great calamity has fallen upon you. In a watery thicket of the Sarasvatī, O king, win his favour.'

9.40.20 Then the king went to the Sarasvatī and, prostrating with his head to the ground, his palms joined, said to Baka, O bull of the Bhāratas:

9.40.21 'I beseech your favour, O holy one; forgive my offence — wretched, greedy, and bereft of sense through my own folly that I am. You are my refuge, you are my protector; deign to show me grace.'

9.40.22 Seeing him lamenting thus, his mind overwhelmed with grief, the sage was moved to pity, and he set that kingdom free.

9.40.23 The seer became gracious toward him and, laying aside his fury, offered up another oblation for the release of that kingdom.

9.40.24 Having freed the kingdom and received many head of cattle, with a glad heart he went back once more to the Naimiṣa forest.

9.40.25 And the righteous, high-minded king Dhṛtarāṣṭra, now easy in mind, returned to his own most prosperous city.

9.40.26 At that ford, O great king, Bṛhaspati of noble intellect — for the undoing of the Asuras and the flourishing of the dwellers in heaven —

9.40.27 performed a sacrifice with offerings of flesh as well; and thereupon the Asuras began to waste away, shattered too in battle by the gods, who shone with the look of victors.

9.40.28 There too that man of great renown duly gave to the brahmins horses and elephants and chariots yoked with mules,

9.40.29 and gems of great worth, and wealth and abundant grain; then that mighty-armed one went to the ford of Yayāti, O lord of the earth.

9.40.30 There, O great king, at the sacrifice of Yayāti, the great-souled son of Nahuṣa, the Sarasvatī flowed forth with ghee and milk.

9.40.31 Having there performed sacrifice, Yayāti, tiger among men and lord of the earth, ascended on high rejoicing, and won abundant worlds.

9.40.32 Where, O king, for Yayāti as he sacrificed, the Sarasvatī streamed forth and granted the desires of the great-souled brahmins —

9.40.33 for wherever any brahmin wished for whatever he desired, there and there that best of rivers poured forth manifold flavours.

9.40.34 There the gods along with the Gandharvas were delighted at the splendour of the sacrifice, and the mortals too were amazed to behold that perfection of the rite.

9.40.35 Then he of the palm-tree banner, a great bulwark of dharma, high-souled and perfected in spirit, ever devoted to lavish giving, steadfast and self-mastered, came to the place of Vasiṣṭha's carrying-off, where the river had run with mighty and terrible force.

9.41.1 Janamejaya said: How came that carrying-off of Vasiṣṭha, of fearful swiftness, to be? And why did that best of rivers bear the seer away?

9.41.2 And with whom did he have this enmity, and what was its cause, O lord? Being asked, O most wise one, tell it; for I am not sated — let it be told.

9.41.3 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Between the seer Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, O Bhārata, there arose a fierce and mighty enmity, O king, born of their rivalry in austerity.

9.41.4 The great hermitage of Vasiṣṭha stood at the ford of Sthāṇu on the eastern side, while that of the wise Viśvāmitra lay to the west.

9.41.5 There, O great king, Sthāṇu performed exceedingly great austerity, and there, as the wise relate, he wrought that dreadful deed.

9.41.6 Where the lord Sthāṇu, having sacrificed and worshipped the Sarasvatī, established that ford, which is therefore called Sthāṇutīrtha, O lord.

9.41.7 There, O ruler of men, all the gods consecrated Skanda, slayer of the foes of the gods, with the great office of commander of their host.

9.41.8 At that ford of the Sarasvatī, the great sage Viśvāmitra unsettled Vasiṣṭha by fierce austerity — hear how it was.

9.41.9 Day after day, O Bhārata, those two — Viśvāmitra and Vasiṣṭha, both rich in austerity — carried on their fierce contest born of penance.

9.41.10 There the great sage Viśvāmitra, burning all the more, seeing the splendour of Vasiṣṭha, fell into deep thought; and this was the resolve that came to that ever-righteous one, O Bhārata:

9.41.11 'This Sarasvatī shall swiftly bring near to me, by the force of her current, Vasiṣṭha rich in austerity, that best of those who chant the sacred words; and when that foremost of the twice-born is brought hither, I shall slay him — of this there is no doubt.'

9.41.12 Having so resolved, the lord Viśvāmitra, that great sage, his eyes red with anger, called to mind the best of rivers.

9.41.13 Summoned by the sage's thought, she fell into agitation, for the fair one knew him to be of great might and great wrath.

9.41.14 Then, trembling and pale, her palms joined, the Sarasvatī came and stood before that best of sages, Viśvāmitra.

9.41.15 Like a woman whose husband has been slain, she was sorely grieved, and she said to that best of sages: 'Tell me — what shall I do?'

9.41.16 The angry sage said to her: 'Bring Vasiṣṭha quickly, that I may slay him this very day.' Hearing this, the river was stricken with dread.

9.41.17 Then she, whose eyes were like lotus-petals, joining her palms, trembled like a well-grown creeper shaken by the wind.

9.41.18 Seeing her come thus, trembling, with palms joined, Viśvāmitra in anger said: 'Bring Vasiṣṭha quickly!'

9.41.19 Then that best of rivers, afraid, fell to thinking, O Bhārata, dreading the curse of both: 'How shall this come about?'

9.41.20 And going to Vasiṣṭha, she set forth this matter — all that the best of rivers had been told by the wise Viśvāmitra —

9.41.21 trembling again and again in fear of the curse of both, brooding upon the dread curse, sorely terrified by the seers.

9.41.22 Seeing her wasted and pale and filled with anxiety, the righteous Vasiṣṭha, best of men, O king, said to her:

9.41.23 'Save yourself, O best of rivers; swift-flowing one, carry me away — for else Viśvāmitra will curse you. Do not hesitate.'

9.41.24 Hearing that word of the compassionate sage, the river pondered, O Kaurava: 'What course, if taken, would be well done?'

9.41.25 This thought arose in her: 'Vasiṣṭha has ever shown me great kindness; surely his good must be wrought by me.'

9.41.26 Then, O king, beholding upon her own bank the son of Kuśika, that best of seers, as he chanted and offered oblation, the Sarasvatī reflected:

9.41.27 'This is the moment.' And so that best of rivers tore away her own bank with the force of her current.

9.41.28 By that carrying-away of the bank the son of Mitra and Varuṇa was borne off; and as he was borne along, O king, he then praised the Sarasvatī:

9.41.29 'From the lake of the Grandsire have you sprung forth, O Sarasvatī, and all this world is pervaded by your most excellent waters.'

9.41.30 'You, O goddess, moving through the sky, release your waters in the clouds; you alone are all the waters, and from you do we draw our sustenance.'

9.41.31 'You are nourishment, radiance, and renown, attainment, increase, and Umā; you alone are Speech, you are Svāhā; upon you this world depends, and you dwell here in all beings in your fourfold form.'

9.41.32 Thus praised by the great seer, O king, the Sarasvatī bore that brahmin swiftly toward the hermitage of Viśvāmitra, and again and again she presented the sage to Viśvāmitra.

9.41.33 Seeing him brought by the Sarasvatī, filled with rage, Viśvāmitra then sought out a weapon to make an end of Vasiṣṭha.

9.41.34 But seeing him enraged, the river, from fear of the slaying of a brahmin, carried Vasiṣṭha off untiringly toward the eastern quarter — thus obeying the word of both, yet outwitting the son of Gādhi.

9.41.35 Then, seeing Vasiṣṭha, that best of seers, borne away, the wrathful and unforgiving Viśvāmitra said:

9.41.36 'Since you, O best of rivers, having deceived me, have slipped away again — flow with blood, fair one, the kind that demon-chiefs delight in!'

9.41.37 Then the Sarasvatī, cursed by the wise Viśvāmitra, carried water mingled with blood for a whole year thereafter.

9.41.38 And the seers and the gods, the Gandharvas and the Apsarases, seeing the Sarasvatī in such a state, were sorely grieved.

9.41.39 Thus came the carrying-off of Vasiṣṭha to be famed in the world, O ruler of men; and that best of rivers came again to her own course.

9.42.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: She, cursed by the wrathful and wise Viśvāmitra, carried blood at that bright and excellent ford.

9.42.2 Then, O king, the Rākṣasas came thither, O Bhārata, and there they all dwelt at ease, drinking the blood.

9.42.3 Sated to the full by that blood, contented and freed of fever, they danced and laughed like those who had conquered heaven.

9.42.4 After some time, O lord of earth, the sages rich in austerity came together on a pilgrimage to the sacred fords along the Sarasvatī.

9.42.5 Bathing at all those fords, those bulls among sages—learned men eager for further penance—won the highest joy; and then, O king, they proceeded onward to that very ford.

9.42.6 Then, O best of kings, when those greatly blessed ones reached that dreadful ford, they beheld the water of the Sarasvatī flooded with blood and being drunk by a host of rākṣasas.

9.42.7 Seeing those rākṣasas, O king, the sages of firm vows made the utmost effort to rescue the Sarasvatī.

9.42.8 Those greatly blessed ones, men of mighty vows, all gathered together, and summoning the best of rivers, they spoke these words.

9.42.9 "Tell us the cause, O blessed one: why has this pool of yours fallen into such a troubled state? When we have heard it, we shall set it right."

9.42.10 Then, trembling, she told them all that had come to pass; and beholding her in her grief, those sages rich in penance spoke.

9.42.11 "We have heard the cause, O sinless one, and we have heard of the curse as well; now all these sages rich in penance shall do what is needful."

9.42.12 Having spoken thus to the best of rivers, they said one to another, "Let us all release this Sarasvatī from the curse."

9.42.13 At their word alone the Sarasvatī was restored to her natural state, her waters grown clear as before; and freed, that best of rivers shone forth as she had of old.

9.42.14 Beholding the water of the Sarasvatī thus made pure by those sages, the rākṣasas, tormented by hunger, O king, with hands joined in reverence, spoke again and again to all those merciful sages.

9.42.15 "We are famished, and fallen away from the eternal law; yet this is no doing of our own desire, that we have become workers of evil."

9.42.16 "It is through your displeasure and through evil deeds that our number swells; for from such causes do we become brahma-rākṣasas."

9.42.17 "For thus it is: among vaiśyas and śūdras, and among kṣatriyas likewise, those who hate the brāhmaṇas become rākṣasas here."

9.42.18 "Those creatures who slight the teacher, the officiating priest, the elder, and the aged become rākṣasas here; and the breed grows too through the taint in the wombs of sinful women."

9.42.19 "Therefore show us your compassion here, O best of the twice-born; you have the power to deliver even all the worlds."

9.42.20 Hearing their plea, those sages praised that great river; and for the deliverance of those rākṣasas they spoke, their minds intent.

9.42.21 "Food into which an insect has fallen, or that is left as another's leavings, into which a hair has dropped, or that is shaken about, or sickened, or touched by dogs—that is the portion of the rākṣasas here."

9.42.22 "Therefore the wise man, knowing this, should ever shun such food; for whoever eats food of that kind eats the food of rākṣasas."

9.42.23 Then, having purified that ford, those sages rich in penance urged the river onward for the deliverance of the rākṣasas.

9.42.24 Knowing the will of the great sages, that best of rivers, O bull among men, brought forth her own stream as the Aruṇā.

9.42.25 Bathing in her, those rākṣasas cast off their bodies and went to heaven; for the Aruṇā, O great king, washes away the slaying of a brāhmaṇa.

9.42.26 Knowing this virtue of it, the king of the gods, Lord of a Hundred Sacrifices, bathed at that excellent ford and was freed, indeed, from his sin.

9.42.27 Janamejaya said: For what cause did the blessed Śakra incur the guilt of slaying a brāhmaṇa, and how, by bathing at this ford, did he become free of stain?

9.42.28 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hear this tale as it came to pass, O lord of men—how of old Vāsava broke his compact with Namuci.

9.42.29 Namuci, in dread of Vāsava, entered into a ray of the sun; with him Indra made friendship, and spoke this compact.

9.42.30 "Not with anything wet nor dry, not by night nor yet by day shall I slay you, O best of asuras; I swear it to you, my friend, in truth."

9.42.31 Having made this compact, the Lord conjured up a mist, and with the foam of the waters, O king, Vāsava severed his head.

9.42.32 That severed head of Namuci followed close behind Śakra, crying out hard upon him, "O slayer of a friend! O sinner!"

9.42.33 Thus driven on again and again by that head, sorely tormented, he laid the matter before the Grandsire.

9.42.34 The Teacher of the worlds said to him: "At the Aruṇā, O lord of gods, offer sacrifice according to rule and touch its waters; for it washes away the slaying of a brāhmaṇa."

9.42.35 Thus addressed, O Janamejaya, the Slayer of Bala, in a bower of the Sarasvatī, sacrificed as ordained and touched the waters of the Aruṇā.

9.42.36 Freed of that sin wrought by the slaying of a brāhmaṇa, the lord of the thirty gods went to heaven with gladdened heart.

9.42.37 And that head of Namuci too, bathing there, O Bhārata, attained the worlds that grant every wish and never wane, O best of kings.

9.42.38 There too the great-souled Bala touched the waters, and bestowing gifts of many kinds, that doer of noble deeds won the highest merit; then he went on to the great ford of Soma.

9.42.39 There, O lord of kings, Soma himself had of old performed the Rājasūya sacrifice duly; and at that foremost of rites the wise Atri, chief of brāhmaṇas, that great soul, served as the invoking priest.

9.42.40 At whose close there arose a tremendous battle—the gods against the dānavas, the daityas, and the rākṣasas—the fierce war called Tāraka's, wherein Skanda slew the asura named Tāraka.

9.42.41 There Mahāsena, slayer of the daityas, won the command of the armies of the gods; and there in person dwelt Kārttikeya—where the youth Kumāra abides forever, that lord of the Plakṣa king.

9.43.1 Janamejaya said: This glory of the Sarasvatī you have told, O best of the twice-born; but now, O brāhmaṇa, you ought to relate the consecration of Kumāra.

9.43.2 At what time and in what place, and in what manner, O best of speakers, and by whom and by what rite the blessed lord was consecrated—

9.43.3 and how Skanda wrought the great slaughter of the daityas—tell me all of it, for my curiosity is very great.

9.43.4 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: This curiosity of yours is worthy of the line of Kuru; this word of yours gives me joy, O Janamejaya.

9.43.5 Come then, I shall tell you, as you listen, O ruler of men, the consecration of Kumāra and the glory of that great soul.

9.43.6 Of old, the seed of Maheśvara, spilled and fallen into the fire—that imperishable splendour the blessed All-devourer could not consume.

9.43.7 By it the bearer of oblations grew exceedingly bright and blazing; yet he could not hold that embryo made of splendour.

9.43.8 Then the lord, at the command of Brahmā, drew near to Gaṅgā and placed in her the divine embryo, splendid as the sun.

9.43.9 But Gaṅgā too, unable to bear the burden of that embryo, cast it off upon the lovely mountain Himavat, honoured by the immortals.

9.43.10 There the son of the Fire grew, filling the worlds; and then the Kṛttikās beheld that embryo in the likeness of flame.

9.43.11 That great soul, the son of Fire, the lord, lying in a thicket of reeds—they all approached him, each longing for a son, crying, "He is mine!"

9.43.12 Knowing that longing of those mothers, the blessed lord then drank with six mouths the milk that flowed from them.

9.43.13 Beholding that power of the child, the Kṛttikās, goddesses bearing forms divine, fell into the utmost amazement.

9.43.14 There, on the mountain's crest, where the blessed one was cast off by Gaṅgā, that whole peak turned to gold and shone, O best of the Kurus.

9.43.15 By that growing embryo the earth itself was made radiant, and thus all the mountains became mines of gold.

9.43.16 And Kumāra of mighty valour came to be known as Kārttikeya; first he was Gāṅgeya, the son of Gaṅgā, endowed with the great power of yoga.

9.43.17 That god, possessed of penance and of valour, grew exceedingly, O lord of kings, fair to look upon as the moon.

9.43.18 There in that golden, divine thicket of reeds, wrapped in splendour, he lay while gandharvas and sages sang his praises.

9.43.19 And so before him danced the daughters of the gods by the thousand—skilled in heavenly music and dance, lovely to behold, hymning his praise.

9.43.20 The river Gaṅgā, best of streams, waited upon the god, and the earth, taking on her fairest form, bore him up.

9.43.21 Bṛhaspati performed for him the birth-rite and the rest of the ceremonies; and the Veda in fourfold form attended him with hands joined in reverence.

9.43.22 The science of archery in its four divisions, the whole array of weapons with their lore, and Speech herself, all alone, in person stood there to serve him.

9.43.23 He beheld the god of mighty valour, the god of gods, the lord of Umā, seated together with the Daughter of the Mountain and surrounded by hundreds of throngs of spirits.

9.43.24 The hosts of those spirit-throngs were most wondrous to look upon—misshapen, of distorted form, with distorted ornaments and banners.

9.43.25 Some had the faces of tigers, lions, and bears; some the visages of cats and crocodiles; others bore the muzzles of bulls and rats, and yet others the faces of elephants and camels.

9.43.26 Some had the faces of owls, some the look of vultures and jackals, and some with faces like the krauñca and the dove, or like the antelope.

9.43.27 Others, here and there, bore bodies resembling those of porcupines, hedgehogs, and monitor lizards, of asses, rams, and cattle.

9.43.28 Some were like mountains or rain-clouds, armed with discus, firebrand, and mace; some shone like heaps of collyrium, and some gleamed like a white mountain.

9.43.29 The bands of the Seven Mothers too came together, O lord of peoples, and the Sādhyas, the Viśvedevas, the Maruts, the Vasus, and the fathers as well.

9.43.30 The Rudras and Ādityas, the siddhas, serpents, dānavas, and birds; and the blessed self-born Brahmā with his sons, together with Viṣṇu.

9.43.31 Śakra too came to look upon that noblest and imperishable Kumāra, as did the best of the divine gandharvas, led by Nārada.

9.43.32 The divine sages and the siddhas, led by Bṛhaspati, and the boon-giving ones called Ṛbhus, gods even of the gods—they too gathered there, the Yāmas and the Dhāmas, all of them.

9.43.33 And the blessed one, though but a child, endowed with the great power of yoga, drew near to the lord of gods, the trident-bearer, the wielder of the Pināka.

9.43.34 As they marked him drawing near, a thought arose at one and the same moment in the minds of Śiva, of the Daughter of the Mountain, of Gaṅgā, and of the Fire.

9.43.35 "To which of us first will this child come out of reverence—will it be to me?"—such was the thought in the mind of each of them.

9.43.36 Perceiving this intent of those four, he at once resorted to yoga and put forth bodies of various kinds.

9.43.37 Then in an instant the blessed lord became fourfold in form: Skanda, Śākha, and Viśākha, and Naigameṣa behind them.

9.43.38 Thus having made himself fourfold, the blessed lord—as Skanda, wondrous to behold—went to where Rudra was.

9.43.39 Viśākha went to where the goddess, daughter of the best of mountains, was; and the blessed Śākha, in the form of the Wind, went to the Fire; while Naigameṣa, the youth bright as flame, went to Gaṅgā.

9.43.40 All four of them, with shining bodies and alike in form, drew near them unhurried; and this was as a wonder to behold.

9.43.41 A great cry of wonder arose from the gods, dānavas, and rākṣasas as they beheld that mighty marvel, wondrous and hair-raising.

9.43.42 Then Rudra, and the Goddess, and Pāvaka, together with Gaṅgā—all of them bowed down before the Grandsire, the Lord of the world.

9.43.43 Having made their obeisance in due form, O bull among kings, they then spoke these words, O king, in their wish to secure a boon for Kārttikeya:

9.43.44 "For this boy, O Lord, for our gratification, O Lord of the gods, it is fitting that you grant a sovereignty befitting him, such as he may desire."

9.43.45 Then that wise and blessed Grandsire of all the worlds pondered in his mind: "What should be bestowed upon him?"

9.43.46 For all the lordships of the gods, the gandharvas and the rākṣasas, of the spirits, the yakṣas, and the birds, and of the serpents in their entirety,

9.43.47 he had already ordained among the hosts of the great-souled ones; yet that one of vast wisdom deemed the boy fit for sovereignty.

9.43.48 Then, having reflected for a moment, intent upon the welfare of the gods, he bestowed upon him the office of commander over all beings, O Bhārata.

9.43.49 All those who were renowned as kings among the several hosts of the gods—the Grandsire of all beings appointed them, every one, to his command.

9.43.50 Then the gods, led by Brahmā, taking the prince with them, came together to the king of mountains for the consecration.

9.43.51 They came to the holy goddess sprung from Himavat, Sarasvatī, the best of rivers, who at Samantapañcaka is renowned throughout the three worlds.

9.43.52 There upon the holy bank of the Sarasvatī, endowed with every excellence, the gods and gandharvas all took their seats, their hearts filled with contentment.

9.44.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then, having gathered together all the materials of the consecration according to scripture, Bṛhaspati poured clarified butter into the kindled fire as the rite ordained.

9.44.2 Then, seated upon a divine throne supreme, given by Himavat, gleaming with the choicest gems and studded with celestial jewels,

9.44.3 the hosts of the gods, taking up the materials of the consecration with all auspicious appurtenances, attended by the proper rites and sacred formulas,

9.44.4 Indra and Viṣṇu of mighty valour, the Sun and the Moon, Dhātṛ and Vidhātṛ likewise, and Anila and Anala,

9.44.5 with Pūṣan, Bhaga, and Aryaman, with Aṃśa and Vivasvat, and the wise Rudra together with Mitra and Varuṇa—

9.44.6 the Lord surrounded by the Rudras, the Vasus, the Ādityas, and the two Aśvins, by the Viśvedevas and the Maruts, and by the Sādhyas together with the Fathers,

9.44.7 by gandharvas and apsarases, by yakṣas, rākṣasas, and serpents, by countless divine sages and by the foremost brahmin sages,

9.44.8 by the Vaikhānasas and the Vālakhilyas, by those who feed on air and those who drink the rays of the sun, by the Bhṛgus and the Aṅgirases and the great-souled ascetics, and surrounded by all the holy vidyādharas perfected in yoga,

9.44.9 the Grandsire, and Pulastya, and Pulaha of great austerity, Aṅgiras, Kaśyapa, and Atri, Marīci and Bhṛgu,

9.44.10 Kratu, Hara, and Pracetas, Manu and Dakṣa likewise, and the seasons, the planets, and the heavenly luminaries, O lord of peoples,

9.44.11 the rivers in embodied form, and the eternal Vedas, the seas and the lakes and the various sacred fords, the Earth, the Sky, and the quarters, and the trees, O ruler of men,

9.44.12 Aditi the mother of the gods, and Hrī, Śrī, Svāhā, and Sarasvatī, Umā, Śacī, Sinīvālī, and Anumati, Kuhū, and Rākā, and Dhiṣaṇā, and the other wives of the dwellers of heaven,

9.44.13 Himavat, and Vindhya, and Meru of many peaks, Airāvata with his followers, the moments and the divisions of time, the months and half-months, the seasons, and Night and Day, O king,

9.44.14 Uccaiḥśravas, the best of horses, and Vāmana, the king of elephants, Aruṇa and Garuḍa, and the trees together with the healing herbs,

9.44.15 and the divine Lord Dharma—all these assembled and came together, and Time, and Yama, and Death, and those who are Yama's followers.

9.44.16 And the manifold hosts of deities not named here on account of their multitude came together from this place and that for the prince's consecration.

9.44.17 Then, O king, all those dwellers of heaven took up the vessels of consecration and every auspicious object.

9.44.18 With golden jars filled with divine appurtenances, O king, and with the holy waters of the Sarasvatī, waters indeed celestial,

9.44.19 the dwellers of heaven, greatly rejoicing, consecrated the prince, the great-souled commander, the terror of the asuras.

9.44.20 As of old, O great king, Varuṇa the lord of waters was consecrated, even so did the blessed Brahmā, the Grandsire of the world, consecrate him, and Kaśyapa of great splendour, and the others not here recounted.

9.44.21 To him Brahmā, well pleased, the Lord gave mighty attendants swift as the wind, perfected beings who bore valour at will, great companions of his retinue:

9.44.22 Nandiṣeṇa, Lohitākṣa, and the esteemed Ghaṇṭākarṇa, and as his fourth follower, the renowned Kumudamālin.

9.44.23 Then, O lord of kings, Sthāṇu gave to Skanda the great companion Kratu of mighty force, and Kāma, wielder of a hundred illusions, endowed with strength and valour at will, the destroyer of the foes of the gods.

9.44.24 For he, in the war of the gods and the asuras, in his wrath slew with his two arms fourteen million of the daityas of dreadful deeds.

9.44.25 Likewise the gods gave him an army teeming with rākṣasas, that wrought the destruction of the gods' enemies, unconquerable and of every shape.

9.44.26 Then all the gods together with Vāsava raised the cry of victory, and the gandharvas, yakṣas, and rākṣasas, the sages, and the Fathers as well.

9.44.27 Yama gave two followers, both like Yama and Time themselves, Unmātha and Pramātha, of mighty valour and great splendour.

9.44.28 Subhrāja and Bhāskara, the two who attend upon the Sun—those the glorious Sūrya, well pleased, gave to Kārttikeya.

9.44.29 Resembling the peak of Kailāsa, garlanded and anointed with white, Soma too gave two followers, Maṇi and Sumaṇi.

9.44.30 Jvālājihva and Jyoti—these the Fire-god gave to his own son as followers, two heroes who crushed the armies of the foe.

9.44.31 Parigha and Vaṭa, and the mighty Bhīma, and Dahati and Dahana, fierce and esteemed for valour—these five followers Aṃśa too gave to the wise Skanda.

9.44.32 Utkrośa and Paṅkaja, both bearing the thunderbolt and the rod, Vāsava the slayer of enemy heroes gave to the son of Agni; for these two had slain in battle many of great Indra's foes.

9.44.33 Cakra and Vikramaka, and the mighty Saṃkrama—these three followers Viṣṇu of great renown gave to Skanda.

9.44.34 Vardhana and Nandana, both skilled in all the sciences, the two Aśvins, well pleased, gave to Skanda, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.44.35 Kundana and Kusuma and Kumuda, and Ḍambara and Āḍambara—these the illustrious Dhātṛ gave to the great-souled one.

9.44.36 Vakra and Anuvakra, two mighty ones with ram-faces, swollen with strength and full of great illusion—Tvaṣṭṛ gave these excellent followers to Skanda.

9.44.37 Suvrata and Satyasaṃdha, two great-souled bearers of austerity and sacred knowledge—the Lord Mitra gave to the great-souled prince.

9.44.38 Fair to look upon, granters of boons, renowned throughout the three worlds—the great-souled Suprabhā and Śubhakarman, famed in the worlds, Vidhātṛ bestowed upon Kārttikeya.

9.44.39 Pālitaka and Kālika, both masters of great illusion—these two attendants Pūṣan gave to Kārttikeya, O Bhārata.

9.44.40 Bala and Atibala, both great of mouth and great of strength, Vāyu gave to Kārttikeya, O best of the Bhāratas.

9.44.41 Ghasa and Atighasa, two of mighty strength with the faces of sea-monsters, Varuṇa, true to his pledge, gave to Kārttikeya.

9.44.42 The great-souled Suvarcas, and likewise Ativarcas, Himavat gave, O king, to the son of the Fire-god.

9.44.43 The great-souled Kāñcana and Meghamālin—these two followers Meru gave to the son of Agni, O Bhārata.

9.44.44 Sthira and Atisthira—two more Meru gave likewise to the great-souled son of Agni, both of great strength and prowess.

9.44.45 Ucchrita and Atiśṛṅga, two warriors who fought with great boulders, Vindhya gave to the son of Agni as his attendants.

9.44.46 Saṃgraha and Vigraha, both bearers of the mace, the Ocean too gave to the son of Agni, two great companions of his retinue.

9.44.47 Unmāda, Puṣpadanta, and Śaṅkukarṇa likewise—these Pārvatī, fair of aspect, gave to the son of Agni.

9.44.48 Jaya and Mahājaya, two serpents, O tiger among men, Vāsuki the lord of serpents gave to the son of Fire.

9.44.49 Thus the Sādhyas and the Rudras, the Vasus and the Fathers, the seas and the rivers, and the mighty mountains,

9.44.50 gave him captains over the hosts of his army, bearers of the lance and the spear, furnished with divine weapons and adorned in manifold guise.

9.44.51 Hear now the names of the others, those who were Skanda's soldiers, furnished with manifold weapons and bright ornaments and armour:

9.44.52 Śaṅkukarṇa and Nikumbha, Padma and Kumuda, Ananta of twelve arms, and Kṛṣṇa and Upakṛṣṇaka,

9.44.53 Droṇaśravas, Kapiskandha, Kāñcanākṣa, Jalaṃdhama, Akṣasaṃtarjana, O king, Kunadīka, and Tamobhrakṛt,

9.44.54 Ekākṣa and Dvādaśākṣa, and Ekajaṭa the lordly, Sahasrabāhu, Vikaṭa, Vyāghrākṣa, and Kṣitikampana,

9.44.55 Puṇyanāman and Sunāman, Suvaktra and Priyadarśana, Pariśruta, Kokanada, and Priyamālyānulepana,

9.44.56 Ajodara, Gajaśiras, Skandhākṣa, Śatalocana, Jvālājihva, Karāla, Sitakeśa, Jaṭin, and Hari,

9.44.57 Caturdaṃṣṭra and Aṣṭajihva, Meghanāda, Pṛthuśravas, Vidyudakṣa, Dhanurvaktra, Jaṭhara, and Mārutāśana,

9.44.58 Udarākṣa and Jhaṣākṣa, Vajranābha, Vasuprabha, Samudravega, O lord of kings, and Śailakampin likewise,

9.44.59 Putrameṣa and Pravāha, and Nanda and Upanandaka, Dhūmra, Śveta, and Kaliṅga, Siddhārtha, and Varada,

9.44.60 Priyaka and Nanda, and the valorous Gonanda, Ānanda and Pramoda, Svastika, and Dhruvaka likewise,

9.44.61 Kṣemavāpa and Sujāta, and Siddhayātra, O Bhārata, Govraja, Kanakāpīḍa, the great lord of the retinue,

9.44.62 Gāyana and Hasana, Bāṇa and the valiant Khaḍga, Vaitālin and Atitālin, and Katika and Vātika,

9.44.63 Haṃsaja, Paṅkadigdhāṅga, and Samudronmādana, Raṇotkaṭa and Prahāsa, Śvetaśīrṣa, and Nandaka,

9.44.64 Kālakaṇṭha and Prabhāsa, and the other Kumbhāṇḍaka, Kālakākṣa and Sītā, and Bhūtalonmathana likewise,

9.44.65 Yajñavāha and Pravāha, Devayājin and Somapa, the mighty Sajāla, and Krātha and Krātha, O Bhārata,

9.44.66 Tuhana and Tuhāna, and the valiant Citradeva, Madhura and Suprasāda, and the mighty Kirīṭin,

9.44.67 Vasana and Madhuvarṇa, and Kalaśodara, Dhamanta, Manmathakara, and the valiant Sūcīvaktra,

9.44.68 Śvetavaktra and Suvaktra, and Cāruvaktra, Pāṇḍura, Daṇḍabāhu and Subāhu, Rajas, and Kokilaka likewise,

9.44.69 Acala and Kanakākṣa, and the lordly protector of children, Saṃcāraka, Kokanada, Gṛdhravaktra, and Jambuka.

9.44.70 Iron-horse-faced Jaṭhara, and Kuṇḍaka with a face like a pot, and Madgugrīva the diver-necked, and Kṛṣṇaujas of dark might, and goose-faced Candrabhās of moonlike sheen.

9.44.71 And Śambūka with hands like a tortoise, and Śikṣaka the five-faced, and Jambūka with the face of a blue jay, and Kuṇḍaka of the herb-leaf countenance.

9.44.72 Yoked in yoga, great of soul, ever dear to the brāhmaṇas, descended from the Grandsire, lofty-spirited, mighty attendants — youths in their prime, and children, and the aged too, O Janamejaya.

9.44.73 By the thousand the attendants drew near to wait upon the Prince; and those who bore faces of every kind — hear of them now, O Janamejaya.

9.44.74 With faces of tortoise and cock, and others with the muzzles of hare and owl, and some with the faces of ass and camel, and others with the snouts of boars.

9.44.75 With the faces of men and rams, and others with the muzzles of jackals, and terrible ones with the maws of sea-monsters, and faces like the river-dolphin's.

9.44.76 With the faces of cat and hare, and long-faced ones, O Bhārata, with the faces of mongoose and owl, and yet others dog-faced.

9.44.77 With the faces of mouse and ichneumon, and the countenances of peacocks, and others fish-faced and ram-faced, and some bearing the faces of goat, sheep, and buffalo.

9.44.78 With the faces of bear and tiger, and the countenances of leopard and lion, and terrible ones with the faces of elephants, and others with the maws of crocodiles.

9.44.79 With the faces of the eagle and the rhinoceros, and the faces of wolf and crow, and others with the faces of ox, ass, and camel, and some with the muzzles of the wildcat.

9.44.80 With huge bellies, feet, and limbs, and eyes like stars, O Bhārata, and others with the faces of doves, and yet others with the faces of bulls.

9.44.81 And others with the faces of cuckoos, and countenances of hawk and partridge, and some with the faces of chameleons, clad in spotless garments.

9.44.82 Serpent-faced, with faces like spear-points, fierce-faced, hundred-faced, venomous as fanged snakes, clad in bark, and shrouded like the bull-nosed cobra.

9.44.83 With swollen bellies yet slender limbs, and bulky limbs yet lean bellies, short-necked, large-eared, adorned with serpents of every kind.

9.44.84 Robed in the hides of lordly elephants, and clad in black antelope-skins, some with faces set in their shoulders, O great king, and some with faces set in their bellies.

9.44.85 Some with faces in their backs, some with faces upon their jaws, and some with faces upon their shanks, and many with faces in their flanks, with faces set in every region of the body.

9.44.86 And there were troop-lords with mouths like those of worms and winged insects, and others with the faces of sundry beasts of prey, bearing many arms and heads.

9.44.87 Some with arms like the branches of various trees, others with heads set at their hips, with faces like the coils of serpents, dwelling among the many thickets.

9.44.88 With bodies wrapped in bark, and clothed in plates of wood, wearing garb of every fashion, and some clad only in hides.

9.44.89 Wearing turbans and diadems, with necks ringed like the conch, of radiant splendor, crowned, some with five locks of hair, and others with stiff, bristling hair.

9.44.90 With three locks, with two locks, and others with seven locks, some with crests, some crowned, some shaven bald, and others with matted hair.

9.44.91 Some bearing wreaths of many hues, and some with hairy faces, wearing divine garlands and raiment, ever pleasing in their forms.

9.44.92 Dark of hue, with fleshless faces, long-backed and belly-less, some thick-backed, some short-backed, with dangling bellies and pendulous parts.

9.44.93 Great-armed and short-armed, with stunted bodies, dwarfish, hunchbacked, with long shanks, and bearing the ears and heads of elephants.

9.44.94 With the noses of elephants, of tortoises, and others with the noses of wolves, with long lips and long tongues, ghastly, and downward-faced.

9.44.95 With great tusks and small tusks, and others with four tusks, some like lordly elephants, terrible, O king, by the thousand.

9.44.96 With shapely, well-proportioned bodies, blazing, finely adorned, tawny-eyed, with pointed ears and crooked noses, O Bhārata.

9.44.97 With broad fangs and great tusks, thick-lipped, with tawny lion-hair, having feet, lips, and tusks of every kind, and hands and heads of every kind, sheathed in armor of every sort, and speaking tongues of every kind, O Bhārata.

9.44.98 Skilled in the speech of every land, these lordly ones chattered to one another; and so the mighty attendants leapt about in their delight.

9.44.99 Long-necked, long-nailed, with long feet, heads, and arms, tawny-eyed and blue-throated, and with drooping ears, O Bhārata.

9.44.100 Some with bellies like wolves', some dark as collyrium, with white bodies and crimson necks, others tawny-eyed, and many of mottled and motley hue, O king, of dappled colors, O Bhārata.

9.44.101 Resembling clusters of yak-tail plumes, streaked with white and crimson, of varied hues and of single hue, with a luster like the peacock's.

9.44.102 Hear now once more as I tell of their weapons; for the remaining attendants had taken up arms as their own.

9.44.103 Some with hands raised aloft bearing nooses, with gaping maws and ass-faces, broad-eyed and blue-throated, and with arms like iron clubs.

9.44.104 Bearing in their hands the śataghnī and the discus, and grasping pestles, holding spears and swords, of huge frame and mighty strength.

9.44.105 Bearing maces and the bhuśuṇḍi in their hands, and grasping lances, holding swords and mallets, and wielding staves, O Bhārata.

9.44.106 With dread weapons of every kind, lofty of spirit, swift of pace, mighty in strength and impetus — such were these great attendants.

9.44.107 Beholding the consecration of the Prince, those lovers of battle rejoiced, and with their limbs bound about with nets of bells, those puissant ones fell to dancing.

9.44.108 These and many other mighty attendants, O king, drew near to wait upon the great-souled and glorious Kārttikeya.

9.44.109 Heavenly and aerial and earthly, swift as the wind, those heroes, appointed by the gods, became the followers of Skanda.

9.44.110 Of such as these, by the thousands, the millions, and the hundred-millions, they surrounded the consecrated great-souled one and stood in attendance upon him.

9.45.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hear now, O king, of these troops of mothers, the followers of the Prince, whom I shall celebrate, O hero — destroyers of the hosts of his foes.

9.45.2 Hear the names of the glorious mothers, O Bhārata, by whom — auspicious ones — the three worlds, with all that moves and is unmoving, are pervaded.

9.45.3 Prabhāvatī, Viśālākṣī, Palitā, and Gonasī, Śrīmatī, and Bahulā, and likewise Bahuputrikā.

9.45.4 And Apsujātā and Gopālī, and Bṛhadambālikā, Jayāvatī, Mālatikā, Dhruvaratnā, Bhayaṃkarī.

9.45.5 Vasudāmā and Sudāmā, Viśokā, and Nandinī, Ekacūḍā, Mahācūḍā, and Cakranemi, O Bhārata.

9.45.6 Uttejanī, Jayatsenā, then Kamalākṣī and Śobhanā, and Śatruṃjaya likewise, Krodhanā, Śalabhī, Kharī.

9.45.7 Mādhavī and Śubhavaktrā, and Tīrthanemi, O Bhārata, Gītapriyā and Kalyāṇī, Kadrulā, and Amitāśanā.

9.45.8 Meghasvanā, Bhogavatī, and Subhrū, and Kanakāvatī, Alātākṣī, Vīryavatī, and Vidyujjihvā, O Bhārata.

9.45.9 Padmāvatī, Sunakṣatrā, Kaṇḍarā, Bahuyojanā, and Saṃtānikā, O Kaurava, and Kamalā the mighty.

9.45.10 Sudāmā and Bahudāmā, and Suprabhā the glorious, and Nṛtyapriyā, O lord of kings, and Śatolūkhalamekhalā, girt with a hundred mortars.

9.45.11 Śataghaṇṭā, Śatānandā, and Bhaganandā the comely, Vapuṣmatī, Candraśītā, and Bhadrakālī, O Bhārata.

9.45.12 Saṃkārikā, Niṣkuṭikā, Brahmā, Catvaravāsinī, Sumaṅgalā, Svastimatī, Vṛddhikāmā, Jayapriyā.

9.45.13 Dhanadā and Suprasādā, and Bhavadā, and Jaleśvarī, Eḍī, Bheḍī, and Sameḍī, and Vetālajananī, mother of the ghoul, and Kaṇḍūti, and Kālikā, and Devamitrā, O Bhārata.

9.45.14 Lambasī and Ketakī, and Citrasenā, and Balā, Kukkuṭikā, Śaṅkhanikā, and Jarjarikā, O king.

9.45.15 Kuṇḍārikā, Kokalikā, and Kaṇḍarā, and Śatodarī, Utkrāthinī, and Jareṇā, and Mahāvegā, and Kaṅkaṇā.

9.45.16 Manojavā, Kaṇṭakinī, Praghasā, and Pūtanā, Khaśayā, Curvyuṭi, Vāmā, Krośanā, and Taḍitprabhā, bright as the lightning.

9.45.17 Mandodarī and Tuṇḍā, and Koṭarā, Meghavāsinī, Subhagā, Lambinī, Lambā, Vasucūḍā, Vikatthanī.

9.45.18 And Ūrdhvaveṇīdharā, who wears her braid upturned, tawny-eyed Lohamekhalā girt with iron, broad-faced Pṛthuvaktrā, Madhurikā, and Madhukumbhā likewise.

9.45.19 Pakṣālikā, Manthanikā, Jarāyu, Jarjarānanā, and she renowned as Dahadahā, and likewise Dhamadhamā, O king.

9.45.20 And Khaṇḍakhaṇḍā, O lord of kings, Pūṣaṇā, Maṇikuṇḍalā, and Amocā, O Kaurava, and Lambapayodharā with pendulous breasts.

9.45.21 And Veṇuvīṇādharā, bearing flute and lute, tawny-eyed Lohamekhalā girt with iron, hare-and-owl-faced, dark of hue, with ass's shanks, and very swift.

9.45.22 Śiśumāramukhī with the face of a river-dolphin, Śvetā the white, Lohitākṣī the red-eyed, Vibhīṣaṇā the terrible, Jaṭālikā, Kāmacarī who roves at will, Dīrghajihvā the long-tongued, and Balotkaṭā of surpassing strength.

9.45.23 Kāleḍikā, Vāmanikā, and Mukuṭā, O Bhārata, Lohitākṣī the red-eyed, Mahākāyā of huge frame, and Haripiṇḍī, O lord of the earth.

9.45.24 Ekākṣarā, Sukusumā, and Kṛṣṇakarṇī the dark-eared, O Bhārata, Kṣurakarṇī the razor-eared, Catuṣkarṇī the four-eared, and Karṇaprāvaraṇā who is mantled in her ears.

9.45.25 Catuṣpathaniketā who dwells at the crossroads, Gokarṇī the cow-eared, Mahiṣānanā the buffalo-faced, Kharakarṇī the ass-eared, Mahākarṇī the great-eared, and she whose voice resounds like the kettledrum.

9.45.26 And she whose voice is like conch and pot, Bhaṅgadā the mighty, Gaṇā and Sugaṇā, and Abhīti the fearless, and Kāmadā the granter of desires.

9.45.27 And Catuṣpatharatā who delights in the crossways, Bhūtitīrthā, Anyagocarā, Paśudā giver of cattle, and Vittadā giver of wealth, and Sukhadā of great fame, giver of joy, Payodā giver of milk, Gomahiṣadā giver of cow and buffalo, and Suviṣāṇā the fair-horned, O Bhārata.

9.45.28 Pratiṣṭhā and Supratiṣṭhā, Rocamāna, Surocanā, Gokarṇī and Sukarṇī, Sasirā, and Stherikā likewise, Ekacakrā, Megharavā whose roar is the thundercloud, Meghamālā garlanded with clouds, and Virocanā.

9.45.29 These and many other mothers, O bull of the Bhāratas, followers of Kārttikeya, of every form, by the thousand.

9.45.30 Long-nailed, long-toothed, and long-snouted, O Bhārata, yet upright and sweet, in the bloom of youth and finely adorned.

9.45.31 Endowed with grandeur of soul, able to take any shape at will, some with fleshless bodies and white of hue, and others gleaming like gold.

9.45.32 Others like the black thundercloud, and some smoke-gray, O bull of the Bhāratas, some glowing like the dawn, the highly blessed, long-haired and white-robed.

9.45.33 And some wearing their braids upturned, tawny-eyed, with pendant girdles, with hanging bellies, with drooping ears, and likewise with pendulous breasts.

9.45.34 With copper-red eyes and copper hue, and others tawny-eyed, granters of boons, roving at will, and ever joyous.

9.45.35 Some belonging to Yama, some to Rudra, and some to Soma, those of Kubera, and the mighty, those of Varuṇa, and those of great Indra, and those of Agni, O scorcher of foes.

9.45.36 And those of Vāyu, and those of Kumāra, and those of Brahmā, O bull of the Bhāratas, equal to the apsarases in beauty, and like the wind in swiftness.

9.45.37 In speech like the cuckoo, and in abundance like Kubera the lord of wealth, in valor the equals of Śakra, and in radiance like the fire.

9.45.38 Dwelling among trees and at the crossroads, making their abodes at the meeting of four ways, dwelling in caverns and burning-grounds, and lodging by mountains and waterfalls.

9.45.39 Wearing ornaments of every kind, garlanded and robed in every fashion, in garb of manifold and wondrous sorts, and speaking tongues of every kind as well.

9.45.40 These and many other hosts, terror to their foes, followed the great-souled one, with the consent of Indra, lord of the thirty gods.

9.45.41 Then the blessed Pākaśāsana bestowed the spear-weapon upon Guha, O tiger among kings, for the destruction of the enemies of the gods.

9.45.42 And a banner, loud-resounding, hung with a great bell, blazing, of white radiance and the hue of the young sun, O bull of the Bhāratas—

9.45.43 Paśupati gave him that, and a mighty army of all the spirits, fierce, bearing weapons of every kind, endowed with the power of austerity, valor, and strength.

9.45.44 Viṣṇu gave the Vaijayantī garland that swells one's strength; Umā gave two spotless garments, gleaming bright as the sun.

9.45.45 Gaṅgā with love gave the prince a divine, supreme water-pot born of the nectar, and Bṛhaspati gave a staff.

9.45.46 Garuḍa gave his beloved son the peacock with its dappled plumage, and Aruṇa gave the red-crested cock, that creature whose weapons are its feet.

9.45.47 King Varuṇa gave a noose endowed with strength and valor; and Brahmā the Lord, maker of the worlds, gave a black antelope skin to the devout one, and bestowed victory in battles as well.

9.45.48 Having attained command over the host of the gods, Skanda shone forth, blazing and flaming like a second fire, surrounded then by his attendants and by the Mothers.

9.45.49 That dreadful army of spirits, with bells and uplifted banners, with kettledrums, conches, and tabors, with weapons and standards, shone like the autumn sky adorned with its stars.

9.45.50 Then those companies of the gods and the throngs of the spirit-army, unhurried, sounded their drums and abundant conches,

9.45.51 war-drums and rattles, saws and ox-horns, kettledrums and cow-faced trumpets, and tabors of mighty sound.

9.45.52 All the gods with Vāsava praised the prince, the celestial gandharvas sang, and the troops of apsarases danced.

9.45.53 Then the great-armied one, well pleased, granted a boon to the thirty gods: "I shall slay in battle those foes who seek your destruction."

9.45.54 Receiving the boon from that best of the wise, the great-souled gods, glad at heart, counted their foes as already slain.

9.45.55 When the boon was granted by the great-souled one, a roar of joy arose from all the assembled spirits and filled the three worlds.

9.45.56 Then the great-armied one set forth, encircled by his vast army, to slay the daityas in battle and to protect the dwellers of heaven.

9.45.57 Resolve, Victory, Righteousness, Success, Fortune, Constancy, and Memory marched before the armies of the great-armied one, O lord of men.

9.45.58 With that terrible host—weapons of pike and mace, of club and pestle, of iron shaft, spear, and lance in its hands—roaring like a proud lion, the god Guha bellowed and went forth.

9.45.59 Seeing him, all the daiteyas, rākṣasas, and dānavas fled in every direction, agitated with fear on every side; and the gods, weapons of every kind in hand, rushed upon them.

9.45.60 And the blessed Skanda, beholding this, was enraged; endowed with splendor and strength, he hurled the dreadful spear-weapon again and again, kindling his own brilliance like a fire fed with oblation.

9.45.61 As the spear-weapon was being hurled by Skanda of measureless brilliance, blazing meteors fell, O great king, upon the surface of the earth.

9.45.62 And crashing thunderbolts fell upon the ground, as fearsome as those at the hour of the world's end, O king.

9.45.63 A single spear was hurled by the dread son of fire, and from it sprang forth tens of millions of spears, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.45.64 With that spear-weapon the blessed Lord slew in battle the daitya-king named Tāraka, of mighty strength and prowess, surrounded by a hundred thousand valiant daityas and by ten mighty warriors, O king.

9.45.65 He smote down Mahiṣa, encircled in battle by eight hundred billion, and slew Tripāda, surrounded by ten times a million times a hundred thousand.

9.45.66 And the Lord slew Hradodara, encircled by ten hundred billion, together with his followers bearing weapons of every kind.

9.45.67 There, as the foes were being slain, the prince's followers raised a mighty roar, O king, filling the ten directions.

9.45.68 By the flames of the spear-weapon on every side, O lord of kings, the daityas were burned by the thousand, and others by the war-cries of Skanda.

9.45.69 Some enemies of the gods, struck down by the lashing of the banner, were slain; some, terrified by the clang of the bell, fell upon the earth; and some, cleft by weapons, dropped down lifeless.

9.45.70 Thus the heroic Kārttikeya, mighty and strong, slew in battle many a powerful and aggressive foe of the gods.

9.45.71 Now a daiteya named Bāṇa, the son of Bali, of mighty strength, took to Mount Krauñca and harassed the hosts of the gods.

9.45.72 The great-armied one, lofty of mind, advanced upon that enemy of the gods; and out of fear of Kārttikeya he took refuge in Krauñca.

9.45.73 Then the blessed Kārttikeya, full of great wrath, clove Krauñca—resounding with the cry of the krauñca-bird—with the spear given by Agni.

9.45.74 With its sāl trunks and pines, with elephants of the forest in panic, with birds startled from its riverbanks and serpents tumbling forth,

9.45.75 echoing with troops of fleeing langurs and bears, loud with the rush of running deer, thronged with bewildered wild oxen,

9.45.76 with śarabhas and lions suddenly bursting forth and fleeing—though fallen into a pitiable state, that mountain still shone in splendor.

9.45.77 The vidyādharas who dwelt upon its peaks flew up, and the kiṃnaras too, terrified and startled by the roar of the falling spear.

9.45.78 Then the daityas, in their hundreds and thousands, decked in gleaming ornaments and garlands, rushed forth from that blazing best of mountains.

9.45.79 The prince's followers overtook and slew them in the fray, and the son of fire, slayer of hostile heroes, clove Krauñca with his spear.

9.45.80 Making itself now manifold, now single, the spear hurled in battle by the great-souled one returned to his hand again and again.

9.45.81 Of such power was the blessed son of fire, and greater still: by him Krauñca was riven asunder and the daityas were slain by the hundred.

9.45.82 Then the blessed god, having slain the enemies of the gods, honored by the gods, attained the highest joy.

9.45.83 Then the kettledrums sounded, O king, and the conches, O Bhārata, and the women of the gods let fall an incomparable rain of flowers.

9.45.84 A holy breeze blew, bearing a celestial fragrance, and the gandharvas praised him, as did the sacrificing great seers.

9.45.85 Some declare him to be the Lord, the son of the Grandsire, Sanatkumāra, the first-born of all, sprung from Brahman;

9.45.86 some the son of Maheśvara, some the son of Vibhāvasu; and they speak of him also as the son of Umā, of the Kṛttikās, and of Gaṅgā.

9.45.87 The mighty one, lord of yogins, that god—one and twofold and fourfold, and in his hundreds and thousands of forms.

9.45.88 Thus has the consecration of Kārttikeya been told to you, O king; now hear the holiness of the lineage of fords of the Sarasvatī.

9.45.89 When the enemies of the gods had been slain by the prince, there arose a most excellent ford, O great king, like a second heaven.

9.45.90 And dwelling there, the Lord, the son of fire, then bestowed dominions, each in turn, upon the chief spirits throughout the three worlds.

9.45.91 Thus was the blessed one, the ender of the daitya race, consecrated at that ford by the gods as commander of the host of heaven, O great king.

9.45.92 That ford is named Aujasa, where of old the lord of waters, Varuṇa, was consecrated by the hosts of the gods, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.45.93 Having bathed at that most excellent ford and worshipped Skanda, the Plough-bearer gave gold, garments, and ornaments to the brāhmaṇas.

9.45.94 Having passed the night there, Mādhava, slayer of hostile heroes, the Plough-bearer, worshipped that excellent ford and touched its waters; and that best of the Mādhavas became glad and joyful at heart.

9.45.95 All this has been told to you, that which you asked of me—how the blessed Skanda was consecrated by the assembled gods.

9.46.1 Janamejaya said: Most wondrous is this, O brāhmaṇa; I have heard truly and in full detail the consecration of the prince, just as it was ordained.

9.46.2 Hearing it, I know my very self to be purified, O treasury of austerity; the hairs of my body stand thrilled, and my mind is serene.

9.46.3 At hearing the consecration of the prince and the slaying of the daityas, my joy is supreme—and my curiosity is greater still.

9.46.4 How was the lord of waters consecrated here by gods and asuras? Tell me that, O greatly wise one, for you are skilled, O best of men.

9.46.5 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Hear, O king, this marvel just as it was in a former age. Of old, while that first age, the Kṛtayuga, ran its course in due order, all the deities came together and spoke thus to Varuṇa:

9.46.6 "As Śakra, king of the gods, ever guards us from dangers, so do you too become the lord of all the rivers.

9.46.7 And your dwelling shall ever be, O god, in the ocean, abode of the sea-monsters; this sea, lord of streams, shall be under your sway.

9.46.8 And with Soma your waning and waxing shall come to pass." "So be it," said Varuṇa in answer to those gods.

9.46.9 Then all of them, coming together, made Varuṇa, dweller in the ocean, the lord of waters, by rites prescribed in the ordinance.

9.46.10 Having consecrated Varuṇa as lord of the water-creatures and honored the lord of waters, the gods then went each to his own abode.

9.46.11 Consecrated by the gods, the greatly glorious Varuṇa governed the rivers and seas, the streams and the lakes, by rule, even as the Lord of a Hundred Sacrifices governs the gods.

9.46.12 Then, having touched the water there too and given wealth of many kinds, the greatly wise slayer of Pralamba went to the Agni-tīrtha, where the oblation-eater, hidden in the heart of the śamī tree, had vanished and could not be seen.

9.46.13 And when the destruction of light and darkness throughout the worlds had come to pass, O sinless one, the gods drew near the great-souled Grandsire of all the worlds.

9.46.14 "The blessed fire has vanished, and we do not know the cause; let there be no destruction of all the worlds—restore the fire to us."

9.46.15 Janamejaya said: Why did the blessed fire, sustainer of the worlds, vanish, and how was it found out by the gods? Tell me that truly.

9.46.16 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Sorely afraid by reason of the curse of Bhṛgu, the mighty Jātavedas, entering the heart of the śamī tree, the blessed one thereupon vanished.

9.46.17 When the fire had thus vanished, all the gods with Vāsava, sorely grieved, then searched for the lost flame.

9.46.18 Then, reaching the Agni-tīrtha, they beheld the flame there dwelling, after its own manner, within the heart of the śamī tree.

9.46.19 All the gods, O tiger among men, with Bṛhaspati at their head and with Vāsava, drew near that flame and were gladdened; they returned each as they had come, and that fire became the devourer of all.

9.46.20 By the curse of Bhṛgu, O guardian of the earth, that which was spoken by the knower of Brahman came to pass; and having bathed there too, the wise one went to the source of Brahman.

9.46.21 There, where the blessed Grandsire of all the worlds had brought forth creation, having bathed, the Lord Brahmā with the gods of old created the foods of the deities, each in due order.

9.46.22 Having bathed there and bestowed wealth of many kinds, he went on to the tīrtha of Kubera, where, having performed great austerity, the Lord, son of Ilabilā, attained the sovereignty over riches, O king.

9.46.23 Even as he abode there, O king, riches and treasures waited upon him, O best of men; and the Plough-bearer, having gone to that tīrtha and bathed according to rule, gave wealth to the brāhmaṇas.

9.46.24 There in Kubera's domain, in that loveliest of forests, he beheld that place where of old great austerity had been performed by the exalted one.

9.46.25 There it was that King Kubera obtained abundant boons, and from Rudra of measureless splendour he won lordship over wealth and friendship besides.

9.46.26 There, O mighty-armed one, the lord of riches readily gained godhood, the office of world-guardian, and a son, Nalakūbara.

9.46.27 There too he was consecrated, having assembled with the hosts of the Maruts; and to him was given that lovely conveyance yoked with swans, the celestial Puṣpaka chariot, and the sovereignty over the Nairṛtas as well.

9.46.28 Having bathed there, O king, and bestowed lavish gifts, Bala — Rāma, smeared with white unguents — went on in haste to the next holy ford.

9.46.29 It was frequented by all living beings, Badarapācana by name, graced with groves of every season, ever blossoming and fruitful and fair.

9.47.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then Rāma proceeded to the excellent ford named Badarapācana, hallowed by the deeds of ascetics and adepts, where a maiden, firm in her vows, once dwelt.

9.47.2 She was the daughter of Bharadvāja, peerless in beauty upon the earth, O lord, a maiden named Srucāvatī, who lived in chastity.

9.47.3 She practised the fiercest austerity through many observances, O king, that lovely woman, having resolved within herself, 'May the king of the gods become my husband.'

9.47.4 Many years passed over her, O upholder of the Kuru line, as she kept those several vows, severe and most hard for women to fulfil.

9.47.5 By that conduct of hers, by her austerity, O lord of peoples, and by her supreme devotion, the divine Punisher of Pāka was well pleased.

9.47.6 The lord and sovereign of the thirty gods came to her hermitage, having assumed the form of the brahmin sage, the great-souled Vasiṣṭha.

9.47.7 Seeing him of dread austerity, Vasiṣṭha, foremost among those who do penance, she honoured him with the rites prescribed by the sages, O Bhārata.

9.47.8 And that auspicious maiden, versed in observances and sweet of speech, said: 'Reverend one, tiger among sages, what do you command, O lord?'

9.47.9 'All that lies in my power I will give you this day, O firm in vows; yet out of my devotion to Śakra I will in no wise give you my hand.'

9.47.10 'By vows and observances and by austerity, O wealth of penance, it is Śakra, lord of the three worlds, whom I must satisfy.'

9.47.11 Thus addressed, the divine lord, gazing upon her as though with a smile, spoke to her who knew the observances, soothing her as it were, O Bhārata.

9.47.12 'Fierce is the austerity you practise; well do I know you, O firm in vows. The purpose for which this endeavour lies in your heart, O auspicious one —'

9.47.13 '— all that shall come to pass even as it is, O fair-faced one. By austerity all things are won; all things rest upon austerity.'

9.47.14 'Those celestial realms that belong to the gods, O fair of face, are to be attained by austerity; great bliss is rooted in austerity.'

9.47.15 'Having performed dread austerity here and laid aside the body, mortals attain godhood, O auspicious one. Now hear this word of mine.'

9.47.16 'Cook these jujubes, O fortunate one, O fair in vows — cook them,' said that divine slayer of Bala, and departed.

9.47.17 Having taken leave of that auspicious maiden, he then murmured his sacred recitation not far from that hermitage, at the excellent ford, the Indratīrtha, O great king, renowned throughout the three worlds.

9.47.18 To put her to the test, the divine Punisher of Pāka, lord of the gods, caused the jujubes not to cook.

9.47.19 Then, O king, with self restrained, speech curbed, and weariness gone, intent upon her task and clad in spotless raiment, she set them on the fire; she of mighty vows cooked the jujubes, O tiger among kings.

9.47.20 As she cooked, a very long while passed, O bull among men, yet the fruits would not soften, and the day drew toward its close.

9.47.21 When the fire had consumed her store of firewood, seeing the flame bereft of fuel, she then set her own body to burn.

9.47.22 Casting first her two feet into the flame, that fair maiden, the blameless one, turned her feet back ever again into it as they burned and burned.

9.47.23 Though her feet were being consumed, the irreproachable one, lotus-petal-eyed, gave no thought to her pain, longing only to please the great sage.

9.47.24 Then, beholding this deed of hers, the lord of the three worlds was well pleased, and thereupon revealed to the maiden his own true form.

9.47.25 And the foremost of the gods said to that maiden of unbending vows: 'I am pleased with you, O fair one, by your devotion, your austerity, and your observance.'

9.47.26 'Therefore whatever desire is dear to you shall be fulfilled, O fair one; and laying aside your body, O greatly blessed, you shall dwell with me in heaven.'

9.47.27 'And this excellent ford of yours shall stand abiding in the world, washing away all sins, O fair-browed one — Badarapācana by name, renowned throughout the three worlds, frequented by brahmin sages.'

9.47.28 'For at this excellent and auspicious ford, O greatly blessed one, the Seven Sages of old once departed and went to the Himālaya, leaving Arundhatī behind.'

9.47.29 'Then those greatly blessed and well-disciplined sages, having gone thither, set forth, it is said, to gather fruits and roots for their sustenance.'

9.47.30 'As they dwelt there seeking their livelihood in the Himālayan forest, a drought set in then that lasted twelve years.'

9.47.31 'Those ascetics, having made a hermitage there, took up their abode; and the auspicious Arundhatī too was at that time ever steadfast in austerity.'

9.47.32 'Then beholding Arundhatī engaged in fierce observance, the three-eyed god, bestower of boons, came to her, greatly pleased.'

9.47.33 'Then Mahādeva of great renown, having assumed the form of a brahmin, approached her and said: "I wish for alms, O fair one."'

9.47.34 'Then that fair maiden answered the brahmin: "Our store of food is spent, O brahmin; eat these jujubes here." Thereupon Mahādeva said: "Cook these, O firm in vows."'

9.47.35 'Thus addressed, that illustrious woman, wishing to please the brahmin, set the jujubes upon the kindled fire and cooked them.'

9.47.36 'Meanwhile she listened to divine, delightful, and holy tales; and so passed away that dreadful drought of twelve years.'

9.47.37 'As she fasted and cooked and hearkened to those auspicious tales, that most grievous span of time passed for her as though it were a single day.'

9.47.38 'Then those sages arrived, bringing fruits from the mountain; and thereupon the pleased lord spoke to Arundhatī.'

9.47.39 '"Draw near, O knower of duty, to these sages as before. I am pleased with you, O knower of duty, by your austerity and your observance."'

9.47.40 'Then the lord Hara revealed his own true form, and thereupon recounted to them that great deed of hers.'

9.47.41 '"The austerity that you gained upon the slopes of the Himālaya, O brahmins, and the austerity of this woman — these I deem not equal."'

9.47.42 '"For by this ascetic woman austerity most hard to perform was practised; fasting and cooking, she has carried through twelve full years."'

9.47.43 'Then the lord again spoke to that same Arundhatī: "Choose a boon, O auspicious one, whatever you desire in your heart."'

9.47.44 'She of wide coppery eyes said to the god in the assembly of the Seven Sages: "If, O lord, you are pleased with me, may this become an excellent ford, dear to the Siddhas, gods, and sages, Badarapācana by name."'

9.47.45 '"And, O lord of the lords of gods, may one who dwells here in purity for three nights gain by his fasting the fruit of twelve years." Saying to her, "So be it," Hara then departed to heaven.'

9.47.46 'The sages were filled with wonder, beholding Arundhatī unwearied and unfaded, the chaste one who had borne hunger and thirst.'

9.47.47 'Thus did the pure Arundhatī attain supreme perfection — even as you, O greatly blessed one of unbending vows, have done for my sake.'

9.47.48 'For a still greater devotion, O gentle one, have you given to this vow; and so this day, well pleased by your observance, I grant you this.'

9.47.49 'A special boon I grant you, O auspicious and excellent one, beyond that boon which the great-souled god bestowed upon Arundhatī.'

9.47.50 'And by his grace and by your own splendour, O auspicious one, I shall now declare here yet another boon in due form.'

9.47.51 'Whoever shall dwell at this ford for a single night with mind well composed, having bathed, shall upon the laying aside of his body attain worlds hard to win.'

9.47.52 Having so spoken to the holy Srucāvatī, the mighty thousand-eyed god then returned again to heaven.

9.47.53 When the wielder of the thunderbolt had gone, O king, a rain of celestial flowers fell there, sweet with celestial fragrance, O best of the Bhāratas.

9.47.54 Kettledrums of mighty sound resounded on every side, and a fragrant, gentle breeze blew fittingly, O lord of peoples.

9.47.55 And casting off her fair body, she passed to the state of Indra's consort, having won it by fierce austerity, and rejoiced together with that imperishable lord.

9.47.56 Janamejaya said: Who, O reverend one, was her mother, and where was that lovely maiden reared? I wish to hear, O brahmin, for great is my curiosity.

9.47.57 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: When the great-souled brahmin sage Bharadvāja beheld the wide-eyed apsaras Ghṛtācī approaching, his seed was shed.

9.47.58 That foremost of those who murmur prayers caught the seed in his hand and cast it into a cup of leaves; and therein that fair maiden came into being.

9.47.59 Having performed for her all the birth-rites and the rest, the great sage Bharadvāja, that wealth of penance, bestowed upon her a name.

9.47.60 'Srucāvatī' — so the righteous one named her in the assembly of the sages; and leaving her in the hermitage, he went to the Himālayan forest.

9.47.61 There too the high-souled foremost of the Vṛṣṇis, having touched the waters and given wealth to the great brahmins, went with well-composed soul to the ford of Śakra at that time.

9.48.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having then gone to the Indratīrtha, the mighty foremost of the Yadus, after bathing in due form, gave wealth and jewels to the brahmins.

9.48.2 For there that king of the immortals worshipped with a hundred sacrifices, and the lord of the gods bestowed abundant wealth upon Bṛhaspati.

9.48.3 Unhindered rites, attended by the jārūthya offerings, all with manifold sacrificial fees, he performed there as prescribed, with priests deeply versed in the Vedas.

9.48.4 Those sacrifices, O best of the Bhāratas, the one of great splendour duly accomplished a hundred times over, and thence became renowned as Śatakratu, 'lord of a hundred rites.'

9.48.5 And by his name that ford, blessed, holy, and eternal, became famed as the Indratīrtha, the deliverer from all sins.

9.48.6 Having there too touched the waters in due form, the wielder of the pestle honoured the brahmins with drink, raiment, and food, and from that excellent and auspicious ford went on to Rāmatīrtha.

9.48.7 There the greatly blessed Rāma, scion of Bhṛgu, of mighty austerity, again and again rid the whole earth of its foremost warriors of the Kṣatriya race.

9.48.8 Setting at the fore his preceptor Kaśyapa, best of sages, he worshipped with the Vājapeya rite and with a hundred horse-sacrifices, and gave away as the sacrificial fee the whole earth with its seas.

9.48.9 Rāma, having given wealth there to the brahmins, O Janamejaya, touched the waters according to rule and likewise honoured the twice-born,

9.48.10 and at that holy ford, in that auspicious place, the fair-faced one bestowed wealth and saluted the sages, and then came to the Yamunātīrtha.

9.48.11 There it was that the greatly blessed son of Aditi, Varuṇa of white radiance, once conducted the Rājasūya sacrifice, O lord of the earth.

9.48.12 There, having vanquished in battle both men and gods, Varuṇa, slayer of hostile heroes, performed that excellent sacrifice.

9.48.13 When that excellent sacrifice was concluded, a war arose between the gods and the dānavas, bringing destruction upon the three worlds.

9.48.14 When the Rājasūya, that foremost of sacrifices, is brought to its close, O Janamejaya, a most terrible war arises that falls upon the Kṣatriyas.

9.48.15 Then Rāma, the plough-armed, the Mādhava, having bathed at that finest of fords and bestowed wealth upon the twice-born,

9.48.16 the lotus-eyed one, garlanded with woodland flowers, gladdened then and praised by the twice-born, went on from there to the Āditya ford.

9.48.17 There, O best of kings, the radiant Lord Bhāskara, the maker of light, by sacrificing won lordship over the luminaries and his splendor.

9.48.18 On the bank of that river, all the gods with Vāsava, the Viśvedevas together with the Maruts, the Gandharvas and Apsarases,

9.48.19 Dvaipāyana and Śuka too, and Kṛṣṇa the slayer of Madhu, the Yakṣas and the Rākṣasas and the Piśācas, O lord of peoples,

9.48.20 these and many others, perfected in yoga by the thousands, abode at that holy and auspicious ford of the Sarasvatī, O scorcher of foes.

9.48.21 There, O best of the Bhāratas, Viṣṇu of old, having slain the Asuras Madhu and Kaiṭabha, bathed at that highest and most excellent of fords.

9.48.22 And the righteous-souled Dvaipāyana, O Bhārata, having bathed there, attained the supreme yoga and reached the highest perfection.

9.48.23 And Asita Devala too, of great austerities, taking his stand there in supreme yoga, that sage attained the yoga.

9.49.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: There indeed of old dwelt the righteous-souled Asita Devala, rich in austerities, holding to the householder's duty.

9.49.2 Ever devoted to dharma, pure, self-controlled, one who had laid down the rod of punishment, of great austerities, even toward all creatures in deed, in mind, and in word;

9.49.3 free of anger, O great king, regarding alike blame and what is dear and not dear, of great austerities, looking with even eye upon gold and upon a clod of earth;

9.49.4 ever worshipping the gods and his guests together with the twice-born, ever delighting in chastity, always devoted to dharma.

9.49.5 Then, O great king, having drawn near and taken his stand in yoga, the mendicant, the wise sage Jaigīṣavya, came composed to that ford.

9.49.6 In the hermitage of Devala, O king, that one of great splendor dwelt, ever steadfast in yoga, O great king, who had attained perfection through his great austerities.

9.49.7 Yet Devala, though he beheld the great sage Jaigīṣavya dwelling there, did not address him in the manner that righteousness required.

9.49.8 Thus, O great king, a long time passed for the two of them, and Devala did not see the sage Jaigīṣavya.

9.49.9 At mealtime, O Janamejaya, the wise wandering ascetic, knower of dharma, would present himself before Devala at the hour of begging.

9.49.10 Seeing the great sage come there in the guise of a beggar, Devala showed him the highest reverence and great affection.

9.49.11 And Devala, O Bhārata, honored him to the best of his power according to the rite as seen by the seers, attentively, for many years.

9.49.12 Once, O king, a very great wonder arose in the great-souled Devala as he beheld that sage of great splendor.

9.49.13 "Many years have passed while I have honored him, yet this listless mendicant has never spoken a word to me."

9.49.14 Pondering thus, the illustrious Devala, a traveler through the sky, took up his water-jar and set out for the great ocean.

9.49.15 As that righteous-souled one was going toward the ocean, lord of rivers, he then saw Jaigīṣavya, who had already arrived there before him, O Bhārata.

9.49.16 Then the powerful Asita, filled with amazement, fell to wondering: "How has this mendicant arrived at the ocean and already bathed?"

9.49.17 Thus did the great seer Asita ponder; and then, having bathed in the ocean according to rule and being pure, he murmured his prayer.

9.49.18 His muttered prayer and daily rites performed, the illustrious one went back to his hermitage, taking up his jar filled with water, O Janamejaya.

9.49.19 Then, as he was entering his own hermitage-ground, the sage saw Jaigīṣavya seated there within the hermitage.

9.49.20 And Jaigīṣavya did not speak to him in any way at all; like a block of wood that one of great austerities dwelt upon the hermitage-ground.

9.49.21 He had seen him bathed in the waters of the ocean—that one like the ocean itself—and now he saw him already entered into the hermitage before him.

9.49.22 Asita Devala, O king, the wise one, fell to pondering, having seen the power of Jaigīṣavya's austerity born of yoga.

9.49.23 That best of sages pondered, O lord of kings: "How is it that I have seen this one both at the ocean and in the hermitage?"

9.49.24 Pondering thus, that sage who had mastered the sacred formulas rose up from the hermitage into the sky, O lord of peoples—Devala then, to learn the truth about the mendicant Jaigīṣavya.

9.49.25 He beheld the Siddhas who traverse the sky, composed in meditation, and he saw Jaigīṣavya being honored by those Siddhas.

9.49.26 Then Asita Devala, deeply intent, resolute, firm in his vows, saw Jaigīṣavya passing on into heaven.

9.49.27 And from there he saw him going to the world of the ancestors; and from the world of the ancestors he saw him passing on to the world of Yama.

9.49.28 And rising up even from there, he watched the great sage Jaigīṣavya going on to the much-praised world of Soma.

9.49.29 He watched him rise to the blessed worlds of those who sacrifice in solitary devotion, and thence to the worlds of those who keep the fire-oblation, and from those too he rose.

9.49.30 The wise one beheld him pass beyond the worlds of those rich in austerity who offer the new-moon and full-moon sacrifices, and beyond the worlds of those who sacrifice with animals; and he saw him going to a spotless world honored by the gods.

9.49.31 He saw him passing likewise to the station of those rich in austerity who sacrifice with the manifold four-monthly rites, and so to that of those who offer the Agniṣṭoma.

9.49.32 And Devala watched him reach the station of those rich in austerity who sacrifice with the Agniṣṭut as well.

9.49.33 He saw him in the worlds of those very wise ones who perform the Vājapeya, the finest of rites, abounding in gold.

9.49.34 And Devala saw Jaigīṣavya in the worlds of those who sacrifice with the Puṇḍarīka and with the Rājasūya.

9.49.35 He saw him in the worlds of those best of men who perform the Aśvamedha, the finest of rites, and the Naramedha as well.

9.49.36 And Devala saw Jaigīṣavya in the worlds of those who perform the hard-to-attain Sarvamedha and the Sautrāmaṇī.

9.49.37 And in the worlds of those who sacrifice with the various twelve-day sacrificial sessions, O king, Devala saw Jaigīṣavya.

9.49.38 Then Asita saw him having attained shared dwelling in the worlds of Mitra and Varuṇa, and so too of the Ādityas.

9.49.39 And then Asita saw him having passed beyond the station of the Rudras and of the Vasus, and that of Bṛhaspati—all of them.

9.49.40 And having ascended the world of cattle, Asita then saw Jaigīṣavya going on to the worlds of those who keep the Brahmā-session.

9.49.41 He watched that brāhmaṇa rise by his own splendor to three further worlds, and pass on to the worlds of women faithful to their husbands.

9.49.42 Then Asita no longer saw that best of sages, Jaigīṣavya, fixed in yoga and vanished from sight, O subduer of foes.

9.49.43 The greatly fortunate Devala reflected upon the power of Jaigīṣavya, his excellence in vows, and the matchless perfection of his yoga.

9.49.44 Then Asita, steadfast and self-restrained, with palms joined, asked the most excellent Siddhas in those worlds, those keepers of the Brahmā-session:

9.49.45 "I do not see Jaigīṣavya; tell me of that mighty one. This I wish to hear, for my curiosity is very great."

9.49.46 The Siddhas said: "Hear, O Devala, firm in your vows, the truth of the matter as we tell it. Jaigīṣavya has gone to the eternal, imperishable world of Brahmā."

9.49.47 Hearing the words of those Siddhas, keepers of the Brahmā-session, Asita Devala swiftly soared upward—and then fell back down.

9.49.48 Then those Siddhas spoke again to Devala: "You have no power to go there, O Devala, rich in austerity—to reach, O brāhmaṇa, the abode of Brahmā that Jaigīṣavya has attained."

9.49.49 Hearing those words of the Siddhas, Devala descended again, in due order, through all those worlds.

9.49.50 He came to his own holy hermitage-ground like a bird alighting, and as he entered Devala saw Jaigīṣavya there.

9.49.51 Then Devala reckoned with a mind grounded in righteousness, having beheld the power of Jaigīṣavya's austerity, born of yoga.

9.49.52 Then Devala, O king, bowed in humility, drew near the great sage and said to the great-souled Jaigīṣavya: "I would wish, O blessed one, to take up the dharma of liberation."

9.49.53 Hearing those words of his, the other gave instruction—the supreme method of yoga, and what should and should not be done according to scripture.

9.49.54 Then, seeing that one whose mind was set upon renunciation, the great ascetic performed all his rites for him with the rite as ordained.

9.49.55 Seeing him with his mind set upon renunciation, the beings together with the ancestors wept aloud: "Who now will share his portion with us?"

9.49.56 But Devala, hearing the piteous words of the beings as they cried out through the ten directions, set his mind upon abandoning liberation.

9.49.57 And then, O Bhārata, the fruits and roots, the sacred grasses, the flowers and the herbs cried out aloud by the thousands:

9.49.58 "Surely the base, ill-minded Devala will cut us down again—he who, having granted safety to all beings, takes no heed of it!"

9.49.59 Then once more that best of sages reckoned with his own mind: "In liberation or in the householder's dharma—which would bring the greater good?"

9.49.60 Having so resolved in mind, O best of kings, Devala abandoned the householder's dharma and chose the dharma of liberation.

9.49.61 Reflecting upon these things and the like, Devala by his resolve then attained the supreme perfection and the highest yoga, O Bhārata.

9.49.62 Then the gods, the ascetics led by Bṛhaspati, came together and praised Jaigīṣavya and his austerity.

9.49.63 Then the best of seers, Nārada, said to the gods: "There is no austerity in Jaigīṣavya, who only astonishes Asita."

9.49.64 To that steadfast one who spoke thus the dwellers of heaven replied, "Not so!"—and they praised the great sage Jaigīṣavya.

9.49.65 There too the great-souled plough-bearer touched the water, and having bestowed wealth upon the twice-born and gained the highest merit, that doer of noble deeds went on to the great ford of Soma.

9.50.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Where Soma, lord of the stars, sacrificed of old with the Rājasūya, O Bhārata—when that was done, there arose the great battle called Tārakāmaya.

9.50.2 There too Bala touched the water, and the self-possessed, righteous-souled one, having given gifts, went on to the ford of the sage Sārasvata.

9.50.3 There, in a twelve-year drought of old, the sage Sārasvata taught the Vedas to the best of the twice-born.

9.50.4 Janamejaya said: How was it that in a twelve-year drought of old the ascetic sage Sārasvata taught the Vedas?

9.50.5 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: There was of old, O great king, a wise sage of great austerities, renowned as Dadhīca, a celibate who had conquered his senses.

9.50.6 Of him and his surpassing austerity Śakra was ever afraid, O lord; nor could he be tempted by rewards of every kind.

9.50.7 Then, to tempt him, the Chastiser of Pāka sent forth a celestial apsaras, holy and fair to behold, named Alambusā.

9.50.8 As that great-souled one was offering libations to the gods upon the Sarasvatī, O great king, the lovely woman drew near and stood close beside him.

9.50.9 Beholding her of celestial form, the seed of that contemplative sage spilled forth into the Sarasvatī, and the river took it up.

9.50.10 Seeing that seed, O bull among men, she received it into her womb; and that great river bore the embryo for the sake of a son.

9.50.11 In due time that best of rivers gave birth to a son, and taking the child she went to that sage, O lord.

9.50.12 Seeing that most excellent of sages in the assembly of seers, the river, O lord of kings, spoke thus as she handed over his son: 'O brahmā-seer, this is your son, borne by me out of devotion to you.'

9.50.13 'When at the sight of the apsaras Alambusā your seed was once spilled, that, O brahmā-seer, I held within my womb out of devotion to you.'

9.50.14 'Resolved that this radiance of yours should not perish, I bore it; receive now your own blameless son, given to you by me.'

9.50.15 Thus addressed, that best of twice-born accepted him and felt the highest delight; with mantras and with love he kissed the boy upon the head.

9.50.16 Embracing him a long while, O best of the Bhāratas, the great sage, well pleased, then granted a boon to the Sarasvatī.

9.50.17 'The Viśvedevas together with the fathers, and the hosts of gandharvas and apsarases, shall attain satisfaction, O fortunate one, when honored with libations of your waters.'

9.50.18 Having spoken thus, pleased and supremely joyful in heart, he praised the great river with these words; hear them duly, O king.

9.50.19 'O greatly blessed one, you flowed forth of old from the lake of Brahmā; the sages of strict vows know you, O best of rivers.'

9.50.20 'And you have ever done me kindness, O lovely to behold; therefore great shall be your son Sārasvata, O fair-complexioned one.'

9.50.21 'Renowned by your very name, your son, a benefactor of the worlds, shall become famed as Sārasvata, great in austerity.'

9.50.22 'During a drought of twelve years, O greatly blessed one, this Sārasvata shall teach the Vedas to the bulls among the twice-born.'

9.50.23 'And of all holy rivers you shall ever be the most holy, O auspicious one, O greatly blessed Sarasvatī, by my grace.'

9.50.24 Thus praised by him, the great river, having received her boon, took her son and went away rejoicing, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.50.25 At that very time, in the strife between the gods and the dānavas, Śakra, seeking a weapon, ranged through the three worlds.

9.50.26 Yet the lord Śakra found then no weapon that would be fit to slay those foes of the gods.

9.50.27 Then Śakra said to the gods: 'These mighty asuras, foes of the thirty, cannot be slain by me save with the bones of Dadhīca.'

9.50.28 'Therefore go, O best of gods, and let that foremost of sages be entreated: "Give the bones of Dadhīca"—with them we shall slay our enemies.'

9.50.29 Earnestly entreated by the gods to give up his bones—to lay down his very life—that best of sages did so without a moment's hesitation; and having done the gods this kindness, he won then the imperishable worlds.

9.50.30 From his bones, then, Śakra, with greatly delighted heart, had fashioned divine weapons of many kinds—thunderbolts, discuses, maces, and ample heavy staves.

9.50.31 For he, the benefactor of the worlds, had been begotten through fierce austerity by the supreme sage Bhṛgu, son of Prajāpati.

9.50.32 Vast of body, full of splendor, fashioned from the essence of the worlds, he was born—heavy as a mountain, towering, renowned for his might, a lord; ever did the Chastiser of Pāka tremble at his radiance.

9.50.33 With that thunderbolt, charged with mantras, O Bhārata, hurled in furious wrath and sprung from the power of brahman, the lord slew nine times ninety of the daitya and dānava heroes.

9.50.34 Then, when a long and most terrible span of time had passed, a drought of twelve years came on, O king.

9.50.35 In that twelve-year drought the great seers, afflicted by hunger, fled in every direction in search of livelihood, O king.

9.50.36 Seeing them scattered to the quarters, the sage Sārasvata then made up his mind to depart; but the Sarasvatī spoke to him.

9.50.37 'You must not go from here, my son; I shall always give you food—the choicest of fishes; dwell here, O Bhārata.'

9.50.38 Thus addressed, he made offering to the fathers and to the gods, took his food daily, and so preserved both his life and the Vedas.

9.50.39 Then, when that drought had passed, the great seers questioned one another concerning the recitation of their sacred study once more.

9.50.40 For all of them, gripped by hunger and wandering about, the Vedas had been lost, O lord of kings; not one of them had any recollection left.

9.50.41 Then a certain one of the seers came upon Sārasvata, that most excellent and disciplined of sages, engaged in his sacred recitation.

9.50.42 Going back, he told them of the brilliant Sārasvata, godlike in his luster, performing his sacred recitation in a solitary place.

9.50.43 Then all the great seers gathered there, O king, and, assembled before Sārasvata, that best of sages, said this:

9.50.44 'Teach us,' they said; and the sage replied to them: 'Become my pupils duly, sirs, according to the rule.'

9.50.45 Then the company of seers said: 'You are but a boy, dear child.' He answered the sages again: 'So that my dharma not be lost.'

9.50.46 'He who teaches against right, or who receives teaching against right—let both of them swiftly perish, or both become foes to each other.'

9.50.47 'Not by years, nor by grey hairs, nor by wealth, nor by kinsmen did the seers determine eminence in dharma: he who is learned in the sacred lore is great among us.'

9.50.48 Hearing these words of his, those sages duly received the Vedas from him and re-established their dharma anew.

9.50.49 Sixty thousand sages became the pupils of the brahmā-seer Sārasvata for the sake of recovering the recitation of the Vedas.

9.50.50 Then each of them brought handful upon handful of darbha grass for the seat of that brahmā-seer; though he was but a boy, they remained obedient to him.

9.50.51 There too the son of Rohiṇī, the mighty elder brother of Keśava, having bestowed wealth, then went on rejoicing, in due course, to that great and famed sacred ford where the Aged Maiden once dwelt.

9.51.1 Janamejaya said: How, O reverend one, did that maiden of old come to be devoted to austerity? For what purpose did she practice penance, and what was her vow?

9.51.2 Most arduous and unsurpassed is this that I have heard from you, O brāhmaṇa; tell me the whole truth, how she stood firm in austerity.

9.51.3 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: There was a sage of great vigor and great fame, Kuṇi of the line of Garga; having performed vast austerity, O king, that best of ascetics, the mighty one, brought forth from his mind a fair-browed daughter.

9.51.4 And beholding her, Kuṇi of Garga's line, of great fame, was exceedingly pleased; then, O king, casting off his body here, he went to heaven.

9.51.5 That fair-browed and lovely maiden, blameless, with eyes like lotus-petals, having built a hermitage, gave herself to fierce and mighty austerity.

9.51.6 Honoring with fasts the fathers and the gods of old, she passed a great span of time in fierce austerity, O king.

9.51.7 Though offered by her father to a husband, that blameless one would not consent, for she saw no husband worthy of herself.

9.51.8 Then, mortifying her own body with fierce austerity, she remained intent upon the worship of the fathers and the gods in a solitary forest.

9.51.9 Though she deemed herself to have fulfilled her purpose, she grew worn with toil, O lord of kings, wasted by old age and by penance alike.

9.51.10 When she could no longer walk even a single step by herself, she then set her mind upon passing to the other world.

9.51.11 But seeing her wishing to release her body, Nārada said: 'Whence are there worlds for you, O sinless maiden, when you are unconsecrated by marriage?'

9.51.12 'For thus have we heard in the world of the gods, O woman of great vows: supreme austerity you have attained, but the worlds you have not won.'

9.51.13 Hearing those words of Nārada, she said in the assembly of seers: 'I will give half of my austerity to him who takes my hand, O most excellent ones.'

9.51.14 When she had thus spoken, a sage sprung from Gālava, named Śṛṅgavān, took her hand and laid down this condition:

9.51.15 'On this condition shall I touch your hand today, O fair one: that you must dwell with me for a single night.'

9.51.16 'So be it,' she promised, and gave her hand to him then; and the son of Gālava took her hand and wedded her.

9.51.17 In the night she became, O king, a young woman of godlike complexion, adorned with celestial ornaments and raiment, with celestial garlands and unguents.

9.51.18 Beholding her, who seemed to shine with her own radiance, the son of Gālava was delighted, and dwelt with her one night; at dawn she said to him:

9.51.19 'The condition you made with me, O brāhmaṇa, best of ascetics—by it I have dwelt with you; blessings upon you, may all be well with you; now I depart.'

9.51.20 Granted leave, she spoke once more: 'Whoever, intent in spirit, shall dwell one night at this ford, having made offering to the dwellers of heaven—'

9.51.21 '—he shall obtain the fruit of one who duly observes chastity for eight-and-forty and for two-and-eight years.' Having spoken thus, the virtuous woman then cast off her body and went to heaven.

9.51.22 The sage too grew downcast, brooding on her beauty; and by the terms of the pact he had with difficulty received half her austerity.

9.51.23 Then, having perfected himself, he followed in her course, grief-stricken, O best of the Bhāratas, overpowered by her beauty. This great tale of the Aged Maiden has now been told to you.

9.51.24 While he abode there, the Plough-armed one heard that Śalya had been slain; and there too, having bestowed gifts upon the twice-born, O scorcher of foes, he grieved for Śalya, then slain in battle by the Pāṇḍavas.

9.51.25 Then, passing out from the gate of Samantapañcaka, Rāma the Mādhava asked the company of seers what was the fruit of Kurukṣetra.

9.51.26 Questioned by the lion of the Yadus about the fruit of Kurukṣetra, O lord, those great-souled ones recounted it all to him exactly as it was.

9.52.1 The seers said: Samantapañcaka is called, O Rāma, the eternal northern altar of Prajāpati, where of old the gods of heaven, the great bestowers of boons, worshipped with an excellent sacrifice.

9.52.2 And of old this field was ploughed through many years by the wise and best of royal seers, the great-souled Kuru of measureless splendor; thence it became famed in the world as Kurukṣetra.

9.52.3 Rāma said: For what purpose was this field ploughed by the great-souled Kuru? This I wish to hear told, O you whose wealth is austerity.

9.52.4 The seers said: Of old, O Rāma, as Kuru was ploughing, ever unwearied, Śakra came down from heaven, approached him, and asked the reason.

9.52.5 'What is this you are about, O king, with such utmost effort? O royal seer, what is your aim, that you plough this earth?'

9.52.6 Kuru said: 'Those men who die upon this field, O Hundred-Sacrificer, shall go to the worlds of the virtuous, free from all sin.'

9.52.7 Then, laughing in derision, the lord Śakra went back to heaven; but the royal seer, undaunted, kept on ploughing the earth.

9.52.8 Coming again and again, and mocking him again and again, the Hundred-Sacrificer, questioning him over and over, would each time depart, while Kuru remained undaunted.

9.52.9 But when the king ploughed the earth with fierce austerity, then Śakra told the gods what the royal seer was minded to do.

9.52.10 Hearing this, the gods spoke these words to the thousand-eyed one: "Let the royal sage be appeased with a boon, O Śakra, if it can be done."

9.52.11 "For if men who die in this place go straight to heaven without honoring us through sacrifices, then no share of the offerings will be left for us."

9.52.12 So Śakra came and spoke then to the royal sage: "Enough of your toil! Let my word be carried out."

9.52.13 "Those men who, forgoing food, untiringly cast off the body, or who are duly slain in battle, even those gone to the state of beasts, O king—"

9.52.14 "—let them become partakers of heaven, O lord of kings, O great-minded one." "So be it," said King Kuru then to Śakra in reply.

9.52.15 Then, having taken his leave, the slayer of Bala, his inmost soul rejoicing, swiftly returned once more to the realm of heaven.

9.52.16 Thus it was, O best of the Yadus, that this field was plowed of old by the royal sage, and Śakra too granted that it should be holy for those who release their breath here.

9.52.17 And here Śakra himself, the lord of the gods, sang a verse composed about Kurukṣetra; hear it, O wielder of the plow.

9.52.18 "Even the dust-grains from Kurukṣetra, stirred up by the wind, lead even the doer of evil deeds to the supreme goal."

9.52.19 Bulls among the gods and the most excellent of brāhmaṇas, and Nṛga and other chiefs among god-like kings, O lion among men, having worshiped with costly sacrifices and laid down their bodies, attained the blessed goal.

9.52.20 That which lies between Tarantuka and Arantuka, and between the lakes of Rāma and Macakruka—this Samantapañcaka of Kurukṣetra is called the upper altar of Prajāpati.

9.52.21 Auspicious, great, and holy is this place, honored by the dwellers of heaven, endowed with the virtues of the celestial realm; and therefore all the lords of the earth, when slain here, shall go to the goal of great souls.

9.53.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having then beheld Kurukṣetra and bestowed gifts, the Sātvata went on to a very great and divine hermitage, O Janamejaya.

9.53.2 It was furnished with groves of madhūka and mango, thick with plakṣa and banyan trees, holy, set about with ciribilva, and crowded with panasa and arjuna trees.

9.53.3 Beholding it, foremost in holy marks, the best of the Yādavas asked all those sages: "Whose excellent hermitage is this?"

9.53.4 And they all said to the great-souled wielder of the plow, O king: "Hear in full, O Rāma, whose hermitage this was of old."

9.53.5 "Here in days past the god Viṣṇu performed supreme austerity; here all his eternal sacrifices were duly carried out."

9.53.6 "Here too a brāhmaṇa woman, perfected, chaste from girlhood, joined to yoga and accomplished in austerity, the ascetic went to heaven."

9.53.7 "She was the illustrious daughter of the great-souled Śāṇḍilya, O king—firm in her vows, virtuous, disciplined, and chaste."

9.53.8 "Having attained the highest yoga, she went to the supreme heaven; the blessed one, having enjoyed in that hermitage the fruit of the horse-sacrifice among those who reap reward, the highly fortunate one went to heaven, honored by the self-controlled."

9.53.9 Having approached and beheld the holy hermitage, the bull of the Yadus, that unfailing one, then saluting those sages, sent back all his encampments and ascended the mountain on the slope of the Himavat.

9.53.10 Going not far thence up the mountain, the mighty one whose banner bears the palm beheld a holy and excellent ford, and was filled with utmost wonder.

9.53.11 And Bala reached the source of the Sarasvatī, the spring of the plakṣa tree, and Kārapacana, the foremost and most excellent of fords.

9.53.12 There too the mighty wielder of the plow bestowed gifts, bathed in the cold water, and thence, greatly pleased, went on to the hermitage of Mitra and Varuṇa.

9.53.13 To that region where Indra, Agni, and Aryaman of old found their delight, on the Yamunā, he went from Kārapacana.

9.53.14 Bathing there too, the righteous one attained supreme contentment; and the mighty bull of the Yadus, seated together with sages and perfected ones, listened to glorious tales.

9.53.15 And while they were tarrying thus, the blessed sage Nārada came to that region where Rāma was stationed.

9.53.16 Wrapped in a coil of matted locks, clad in golden bark, of great austerity, bearing a golden staff, O king, and carrying a water-pot as well,

9.53.17 holding that lovely lute named Kacchapī of sweet sound, skilled in dance and song, honored by gods and brāhmaṇas,

9.53.18 a stirrer-up of quarrels and ever fond of strife, he came to that region where the illustrious Rāma was stationed.

9.53.19 Rising up, they all paid honor to that one of restrained vows, and questioned the divine sage about what had befallen the Kurus.

9.53.20 Then, O king, Nārada, knower of all dharmas, recounted to him all just as it had happened—the past destruction of the Kurus.

9.53.21 Then the son of Rohiṇī said to Nārada in a sorrowful voice: "In what state now is that warrior caste, and the kings who were there?"

9.53.22 "All this I have heard before, O wealth of austerity, yet a great eagerness has arisen in me to hear it in full."

9.53.23 Nārada said: Bhīṣma was slain at the very first, and Droṇa, and the lord of the Sindhus likewise; Karṇa, son of Vikartana, was slain, and his sons, the great chariot-warriors.

9.53.24 Bhūriśravas, O son of Rohiṇī, and the valiant king of the Madras—these and many other mighty ones, here and there,

9.53.25 kings and princes who never turned back in battles, laid down their own dear lives for the sake of the Kaurava's pleasure.

9.53.26 But hear from me, O mighty-armed Mādhava, who there are not slain: those remaining in the host of Dhṛtarāṣṭra's son—Kṛpa, the valiant Bhoja, and the mighty Aśvatthāman—their army broken, have scattered to the directions.

9.53.27 His army slain, and Kṛpa and the others fled, Duryodhana, sorely grieved, entered the lake named Dvaipāyana.

9.53.28 As the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra lay there, the waters frozen still, the Pāṇḍavas, together with Kṛṣṇa, tormented him with fierce words.

9.53.29 Goaded on every side by their words, O Rāma, the mighty hero rose up at last from the lake, seizing his great mace.

9.53.30 And even now he has come to combat with Bhīma; and forthwith, O Rāma, a most terrible fight between the two shall take place.

9.53.31 If you have any curiosity, go, O Mādhava, without delay; behold the most dreadful fight of your two pupils, if you are so inclined.

9.53.32 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Having heard Nārada's words and honored those bulls among brāhmaṇas, he dismissed all who had come there with him, and commanded his followers, "Let us go to Dvārakā."

9.53.33 Descending from the best of mountains, from the auspicious spring of the plakṣa tree, then Rāma, glad of heart, having heard of the great fruit of the ford, sang in the presence of the brāhmaṇas this verse, that unfailing one:

9.53.34 "Where is delight to equal dwelling by the Sarasvatī? Where are virtues to equal dwelling by the Sarasvatī? Men who have gained the Sarasvatī and gone to heaven shall ever remember the river Sarasvatī."

9.53.35 "The Sarasvatī is holy among all rivers; the Sarasvatī ever brings happiness to the world. Men, even doers of grievous deeds, having gained the Sarasvatī, never grieve, in the world beyond or here."

9.53.36 Then, gazing again and again with affection upon the Sarasvatī, the scorcher of foes mounted his gleaming chariot yoked with horses.

9.53.37 With that swift-going chariot the bull of the Yadus, eager to see, arrived where the combat of his pupils was at hand.

9.54.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Thus did that tumultuous combat come about, O Janamejaya, concerning which the grief-stricken King Dhṛtarāṣṭra spoke these words.

9.54.2 "When the mace-combat was at hand and Rāma seen present, how did my son fight back against Bhīma, O Saṃjaya?"

9.54.3 Saṃjaya said: Coming into Rāma's presence, your son Duryodhana, mighty-armed and valiant, eager for combat, rejoiced greatly.

9.54.4 Beholding the plow-bearer, the king rose up, O descendant of Bharata, and, filled with utmost joy, then said to Yudhiṣṭhira:

9.54.5 "Let us go swiftly from here to Samantapañcaka, O lord of peoples—that renowned upper altar of Prajāpati in the world of the gods."

9.54.6 "In that most holy and eternal place of the three worlds, one who meets his death in battle shall surely attain heaven."

9.54.7 Saying "So be it," O great king, the heroic lord Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, set out facing toward Samantapañcaka.

9.54.8 Then King Duryodhana, the resplendent one, seizing his great mace, went on foot in his wrath along with the Pāṇḍavas.

9.54.9 As he went thus, mace in hand and clad in armor, the gods who move in the sky honored him crying "Well done! Well done!"; and what men of the air there were, beholding him, were filled with joy.

9.54.10 Surrounded by the Pāṇḍavas, the Kuru king, your son, went forward, assuming the gait of a rutting lordly elephant.

9.54.11 Then with the blare of conches, the great din of kettledrums, and the lion-roars of the heroes, all the directions were filled.

9.54.12 Having gone to the westward-facing region as designated by your son, it was encircled by them on every side, in all directions.

9.54.13 To the south of the Sarasvatī lay an excellent ford named Samanta; in that region, on ground free of barren salt, they resolved to do battle.

9.54.14 Then Bhīma, clad in armor, taking up his mace of vast bulk, bore a form, O great king, like unto Garutmat.

9.54.15 His helm bound on, wearing golden armor in the fray, your son shone forth, O king, like a golden king of mountains.

9.54.16 Both heroes, Bhīma and Duryodhana, encased in their armor, shone in the combat like two enraged elephants.

9.54.17 Standing in the midst of the battle-circle, those two bulls among men, the kinsmen, shone, O great king, like the risen moon and sun.

9.54.18 They glared at each other like two angry mighty elephants, burning each other with their eyes, O king, each seeking the other's death.

9.54.19 With exultant heart, O king, the Kaurava took up his mace, licking the corners of his mouth, his eyes red with wrath, breathing hard.

9.54.20 Then the valiant King Duryodhana, taking up his mace and looking toward Bhīmasena, challenged him as one elephant challenges another.

9.54.21 Likewise the valiant Bhīma, taking up his mace forged of the essence of the mountains, challenged the king as one lion challenges another in the forest.

9.54.22 With maces raised in their hands, Duryodhana and Wolf-belly shone in the fray like two mountains crowned with peaks.

9.54.23 Both were exceedingly enraged, both of terrible prowess, both pupils in mace-combat of the wise son of Rohiṇī.

9.54.24 Both were alike in their deeds, like Yama and Vāsava, and likewise the two mighty ones matched the deeds of Varuṇa.

9.54.25 Those two, O great king, were the equals of Vāsudeva, of Rāma, and of Vaiśravaṇa, and of Madhu and Kaiṭabha in combat.

9.54.26 Both were alike in their deeds in battle to Sunda and Upasunda, and the two scorchers of foes were equal as well to Time and to Death.

9.54.27 They rushed upon each other like two great elephants in rut, frenzied as in autumn, proud at the meeting over a she-elephant.

9.54.28 Those two bulls of the Bhāratas, eager for victory like two maddened elephants, spat forth the blazing venom of their wrath like two serpents.

9.54.29 Furious at each other, those two tamers of foes glared, both tigers among the Bhāratas, endowed with valor.

9.54.30 Unassailable as two lions, those scorchers of foes in mace-combat, the heroes were hard to withstand as two tigers armed with claws and fangs.

9.54.31 They were like two oceans hard to cross, churned at the destruction of all creatures; and the two great chariot-warriors blazed in their fury like two angry red-bodied planets of Mars.

9.54.32 Radiant and great-souled, blazing and of mighty strength, the two foremost of the Kurus were beheld, like twin suns of doom risen at once.

9.54.33 Furious as two tigers, roaring like rain-clouds, the mighty-armed pair bristled with delight like a pair of maned lions.

9.54.34 Enraged like two elephants, ablaze like two fires, those great-souled ones were beheld like two peaked mountains.

9.54.35 Their lips quivering with wrath, gazing upon each other, the two great-souled best of men came together, maces in hand.

9.54.36 Both supremely exultant, both held in highest honor, neighing like two fine stallions, trumpeting like two elephants—

9.54.37 bellowing like two bulls, Duryodhana and Vṛkodara, drunk with strength like two Daityas, those best of men shone forth.

9.54.38 Then, O king, Duryodhana spoke these words to Yudhiṣṭhira, who stood among the Sṛñjayas blazing like the sun:

9.54.39 "This combat between us two, between Bhīma and myself, is resolved upon. Be seated, O best of kings, and watch the clash."

9.54.40 Then that vast circle of kings, seated all around and resplendent, appeared like the orb of the sun shining in the sky.

9.54.41 In their midst, O great king, the mighty-armed and glorious elder brother of Keśava sat, honored on every side.

9.54.42 Clad in dark blue and of fair radiance, set amid the kings, he shone like the full moon ringed by the stars at night.

9.54.43 And so those two, O great king, maces in hand and hard to assail, stood facing each other, hewing one another with fierce words.

9.54.44 Having spoken bitter taunts to each other, those two bulls of the Kurus stood glaring, like Vṛtra and Śakra upon the field of battle.

9.55.1 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: Then arose a tumultuous war of words, O Janamejaya, whereupon the grief-stricken king Dhṛtarāṣṭra spoke thus:

9.55.2 "Fie indeed upon mortal life, whose end is such as this—where my son, master of eleven armies, was the overlord!"

9.55.3 "Having commanded all the kings and enjoyed this earth, taking up his mace he now sets out on foot, in haste, to battle."

9.55.4 "Having been lord of the world, my son now goes forth like one bereft of a protector, mace raised aloft—what is this but the working of fate?"

9.55.5 "Ah, great is the sorrow my son has come to, Saṃjaya!" Having spoken thus, the lord of men, stricken with grief, fell silent.

9.55.6 Saṃjaya said: With a voice like thunder, roaring in his joy like a great bull, the valiant one then summoned Pārtha to combat in the fray.

9.55.7 As the great-souled king of the Kurus called forth Bhīma, manifold and most fearful portents appeared.

9.55.8 Winds blew with crashing thunderbolts, a rain of dust fell down, and all the quarters became veiled in darkness.

9.55.9 Loud-roaring, thunderous, tumultuous, and hair-raising, meteors then fell by the hundreds, splitting open the vault of heaven.

9.55.10 And Rāhu swallowed the sun though it was no eclipse-time, O lord of peoples, and the earth with its forests and trees shook with a mighty trembling.

9.55.11 Harsh winds blew low, raining down gravel, and the very peaks of mountains crashed down upon the surface of the earth.

9.55.12 Beasts of manifold forms came rushing from the ten directions, and blazing jackals of dreadful aspect, most terrible, set up their howling.

9.55.13 Most fearful, hair-raising thunder-crashes resounded, and in the blazing quarter, O lord of kings, beasts cried out their ill-boding cries.

9.55.14 The waters in the wells swelled up on every side, and great bodiless voices were heard then, O king.

9.55.15 Having beheld these and like portents, Vṛkodara spoke to his eldest brother, Yudhiṣṭhira the King of Righteousness:

9.55.16 "This dull-witted Suyodhana cannot vanquish me in battle. Today I shall loose upon Suyodhana, lord of the Kauravas, the wrath long hidden in my heart—as the fire upon the Khāṇḍava forest."

9.55.17 "This day, O Pāṇḍava, I shall draw out the dart lodged in your heart, slaying with my mace this wicked one, the basest of the Kuru line."

9.55.18 "This day I shall fasten a garland woven of glory upon you, when I have slain this doer of evil deeds with my mace at the forefront of battle."

9.55.19 "This day I shall shatter his body into a hundred pieces with this mace; never again shall he enter the city called Vāraṇasāhvaya."

9.55.20 "For the loosing of serpents upon my bed, for the giving of poison in my food, for the hurling down at Pramāṇakoṭi, for the burning in the house of lac;"

9.55.21 "for the mockery in the assembly-hall, for the seizing of all our wealth, for the year spent in hidden exile and the years dwelt in the forest, O sinless one—"

9.55.22 "this day, O best of the Bhāratas, I shall reach the end of all these sorrows; slaying him in a single day, I shall be free of my debt to myself."

9.55.23 "This day, O best of the Bhāratas, the life-span of the evil-minded, unrestrained son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra is at an end—and the sight of his mother and father with it."

9.55.24 "This day this disgrace of the line of the Kuru king Śaṃtanu, abandoning life and fortune and kingdom, shall lie stretched upon the ground."

9.55.25 "And King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, hearing this day that his son has been slain by me, will recall that inauspicious deed born of Śakuni's counsel."

9.55.26 Having spoken thus, O tiger among kings, the valiant one took up his mace and stood ready for battle, like Śakra challenging Vṛtra.

9.55.27 Seeing him with mace upraised, peaked like Mount Kailāsa, Bhīmasena, wrathful once more, spoke thus to Duryodhana:

9.55.28 "Call to mind, then, that evil deed of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra's, and of yourself as well—what was done at Vāraṇāvata."

9.55.29 "And how Draupadī was tormented in the assembly-hall, though she was in her season; and how the king was cheated at dice by you and by the son of Subala."

9.55.30 "And the great grief we suffered in the forest through your doing, and in the city of Virāṭa, as though we had entered the wombs of others—for all of that I take requital this day. By good fortune you are now in my sight, O evil-minded one!"

9.55.31 "Through your doing the majestic son of Gaṅgā, foremost of chariot-warriors, lies slain upon a bed of arrows, struck down by the son of Yajñasena."

9.55.32 "Droṇa is slain, and Karṇa, and the majestic Śalya too; and Śakuni, son of Subala, the kindler of the fire of this enmity, lies slain."

9.55.33 "The wicked herald who wrought Draupadī's torment is slain; and all your brothers, heroes and valiant fighters, are slain."

9.55.34 "These and many other kings have been slain because of you; and you too I shall slay this day with my mace—of this there is no doubt."

9.55.35 As Vṛkodara spoke thus aloud, O lord of kings, your son of unfailing prowess answered him without fear, O king:

9.55.36 "What use is all this boasting? Fight, Vṛkodara! This day I shall drive out of you your appetite for battle, O disgrace of your line!"

9.55.37 "Duryodhana, O base one, is not to be frightened with words by any of your sort, as some common man might be."

9.55.38 "By good fortune the gods have brought to pass this thing long desired and set in my heart—this mace-combat with you."

9.55.39 "What use is much talk and boasting, O evil-minded one? Let this speech of yours be made good by deeds—do not delay any longer."

9.55.40 Hearing those words of his, all the kings and the Somakas who had gathered and were present there acclaimed him.

9.55.41 Then, honored by all, his body-hairs bristling with delight, the delight of the Kurus once more set his mind, resolute, upon battle.

9.55.42 With clapping of palms the lords of men spurred on once more that wrathful Duryodhana, like a maddened elephant.

9.55.43 Then the great-souled Pāṇḍava Vṛkodara, raising his mace, rushed with great speed upon the great-souled son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.55.44 There the elephants trumpeted and the horses neighed again and again, and the weapons of the Pāṇḍavas, eager for victory, blazed forth.

9.56.1 Saṃjaya said: Then Duryodhana, seeing Bhīmasena come on in this wise, undismayed in spirit, rushed to meet him with great speed, roaring aloud.

9.56.2 Bellowing, the two closed upon each other like a pair of horned bulls, and their clash arose with the din of a great thunderbolt.

9.56.3 And there arose between them a tumultuous, hair-raising combat, each seeking to vanquish the other in battle, like Indra and Prahrāda of old.

9.56.4 Their every limb drenched in blood, maces in hand, those resolute and great-souled ones appeared like two kiṃśuka trees in full bloom.

9.56.5 As that great and most terrible combat went on, the field shone lovely to behold, as though the sky were thronged with fireflies.

9.56.6 As that fierce and tumultuous melee raged on, both of those tamers of foes, fighting hard, grew weary.

9.56.7 Having rested for a moment, those two scorchers of foes, gripping fast their gleaming maces, once again fell to striking each other there.

9.56.8 Beholding those two bulls among men of mighty valor, rested and rejoined, like two powerful elephants frenzied with rut for the sake of a cow-elephant—

9.56.9 gazing upon those two of boundless valor, both with maces upraised, the gods, Gandharvas, and Dānavas fell into utmost wonder.

9.56.10 Seeing Duryodhana and Vṛkodara with maces upraised, doubt arose in all beings as to which should win.

9.56.11 Closing once more, those two kinsmen, the foremost of the strong, each seeking an opening in the other, maneuvered for an opening against the other.

9.56.12 The onlookers beheld, O king, the heavy mace, like the staff of Yama, raised on high like the thunderbolt of Indra—fierce and death-dealing.

9.56.13 As Bhīmasena whirled his mace in the encounter, a most tumultuous and dreadful sound arose for a moment.

9.56.14 Watching the Pāṇḍava as he whirled that mace of no slight force, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra was filled with wonder.

9.56.15 And weaving through manifold movements and circling figures, O Bhārata, the hero Vṛkodara then shone forth all the more.

9.56.16 Closing with one another, each warding off the other, those two hacked away again and again, like two cats fighting over a morsel.

9.56.17 And Bhīmasena ranged through movements of many kinds, and varied circlings, and stances of every sort.

9.56.18 the zigzag steps, the varied passes, the advance and retreat, the parrying of blows, the evasion, and the circling run;

9.56.19 the charge, the feint, the firm stand with its grapple, the wheeling and the closing, the leap aside and the leap forward, the laying on of the mace and the drawing of it back—so skilled were the two in mace-combat.

9.56.20 Thus ranging about, those two best of the Kurus struck at each other, and feinting again, the two moved on.

9.56.21 Disporting themselves, the two mighty ones wheeled through their circling figures; then those two strong ones, maces in hand, took their stand in the circle.

9.56.22 To the rightward circle, O king, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra moved, while Bhīmasena there moved to the leftward circle.

9.56.23 And as Bhīma moved thus at the forefront of battle, Duryodhana, O great king, struck him upon the region of his flank.

9.56.24 Struck thus by your son, O Bhārata, Bhīma, heedless of the blow, whirled his heavy mace aloft.

9.56.25 Terrible as Indra's thunderbolt, lifted like the rod of Yama, that mace of Bhīmasena, O great king, the onlookers beheld.

9.56.26 Seeing Bhīmasena whirling his mace, your son, that tamer of foes, raised his own dreadful mace and whirled it back in answer.

9.56.27 From the wind-swift sweep of your son's mace, O Bhārata, a tremendous roar arose, and a blaze of splendor was kindled.

9.56.28 Ranging through manifold paths and tracing his circling figures one by one, the radiant Suyodhana shone forth even more brilliantly than Bhīma.

9.56.29 Whirled with all his might by Bhīma, that great and fearsome mace, loud-roaring, shot forth fire wreathed in smoke and flame.

9.56.30 Seeing the mace brandished by Bhīmasena, Suyodhana, whirling his own heavy mace hard as the heart of a mountain, shone resplendent.

9.56.31 Beholding the wind-swift speed of that great soul's mace, fear entered all the Pāṇḍavas together with the Somakas.

9.56.32 Displaying on every side their battle-sport upon the field, those two tamers of foes struck at each other all at once with their maces.

9.56.33 Closing upon each other like two tuskers clashing with their tusks, the pair, O great king, drenched in blood, shone splendidly.

9.56.34 Thus did that battle rage, dreadful of aspect and unrestrained, savage as the day declined, like the war of Vṛtra and Vāsava.

9.56.35 Seeing Bhīma standing firm, your mighty son, ranging through ever more wondrous paths, rushed upon the son of Kuntī.

9.56.36 As that furious one charged, the enraged Bhīma struck down his mace, swift-driven and adorned with gold.

9.56.37 From the clash of the two there arose a roar shot through with sparks, O great king, as of two thunderbolts hurled together.

9.56.38 As that swift mace, loosed by Bhīmasena, came hurtling down, O great king, the earth itself trembled.

9.56.39 The Kaurava brooked not the parrying of his mace in battle, enraged like a maddened elephant at the sight of a rival bull.

9.56.40 Wheeling to the left, O king, his purpose set, he smote the son of Kuntī upon the head with his fearsomely swift mace.

9.56.41 Yet struck by it, the Pāṇḍava Bhīma, smitten by your son, did not waver, O great king — a thing well-nigh marvelous.

9.56.42 And all the armies, O king, applauded that wonder — that Bhīma, struck by the mace, did not stir a single step.

9.56.43 Then Bhīma of terrible prowess hurled at Duryodhana his blazing, gold-wrought mace, heavier still.

9.56.44 Unflustered, the mighty Duryodhana by his nimbleness made that blow miss its mark, and great was the wonder thereat.

9.56.45 That mace, O king, gone wide as it fell, driven by Bhīma, shook the earth with a sound like a mighty thunderclap.

9.56.46 Taking to the Kauśika maneuvers, leaping up again and again, and foreseeing the descent of the mace, he eluded Bhīmasena.

9.56.47 Having thus baffled Bhīma, that best of the Kurus, mighty and enraged, struck him with his mace upon the chest.

9.56.48 Struck by the mace and reeling in that great battle, Bhīma, smitten by your son, could not for the moment think what next to do.

9.56.49 As things so stood, O king, the Somakas and the Pāṇḍavas, their hopes sorely shaken, grew downcast at heart.

9.56.50 But he, goaded by that blow like a maddened elephant, rushed elephant-like upon your son, himself like an elephant.

9.56.51 Then the impetuous Bhīma, with his mace, charged your son at full speed, as a lion charges a wild forest elephant.

9.56.52 Closing in upon the king, skilled in the casting of the mace, he whirled it, O king, aiming straight at your son.

9.56.53 Bhīmasena struck Duryodhana then upon the flank, and he, staggered by the blow, sank to the earth upon his knees.

9.56.54 When that best of the Bhāratas had sunk to the ground upon his knees, a great shout went up from the Sṛñjayas, O lord of the world.

9.56.55 Hearing that roar of the Sṛñjayas, that bull among men, your son, O best of the Bhāratas, blazed up in fury.

9.56.56 Rising up, the mighty-armed one, enraged and hissing like a serpent, gazed upon Bhīmasena as though to burn him with his eyes.

9.56.57 Then that best of the Bhāratas, mace in hand, rushed forward as if to crush Bhīmasena's head in the fray.

9.56.58 That great soul, of terrible prowess, struck the great-souled Bhīma upon the temple, yet, mountain-like, Bhīma only swayed.

9.56.59 Struck by the mace in battle, the son of Pṛthā shone all the more, O king, his blood gushing forth, like a rutting elephant whose temples flow.

9.56.60 Then, seizing his hero-slaying mace of iron, roaring like the thunderbolt, the elder brother of Dhanaṃjaya, grinder of foes, sprang forth with all his might and smote his enemy.

9.56.61 Struck by Bhīmasena, your son fell, the very knitting of his frame shaken loose, like a great flowering sāla tree in a vast forest, reeling under the force of the storm-wind.

9.56.62 Then the Pāṇḍavas roared and rejoiced, beholding your son fallen to the earth; but your son, regaining his senses, sprang up again like an elephant rising from a lake.

9.56.63 That king, ever brooking no defeat, the great chariot-warrior, wheeling about with the grace of one well-schooled, struck the Pāṇḍava who stood before him; and Bhīma, his limbs faltering, touched the ground.

9.56.64 The Kaurava raised a lion's roar, having felled Bhīma to the ground in battle by his might, and with a mace-blow blazing like the thunderbolt he split asunder Bhīma's body-armor.

9.56.65 Then in the sky a great clamor arose from the dwellers of heaven and the apsarases as they cried out, and from on high, sent down by the immortals, there fell a glorious rain, a shower of heaped and wondrous blossoms.

9.56.66 Then the utmost fear seized the foe, beholding that best of men fallen to the ground, and the Kaurava in no wise diminished in his strength, and hearing how the stout armor had been cloven.

9.56.67 Then in a moment Vṛkodara recovered his senses, wiped his own face wet with blood, gathered his resolve, and, his eyes rolling, steadied himself by main strength and stood firm.

9.57.1 Saṃjaya said: Then, beholding the battle of the two foremost Kurus swelling to its height, Arjuna spoke to the illustrious Vāsudeva.

9.57.2 "Of these two heroes in combat, which do you deem the greater? And in which is the larger merit? Tell me this, Janārdana."

9.57.3 Vāsudeva said: "The training of the two is equal, yet Bhīma is the stronger; but this son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra is more practiced in his art than Vṛkodara."

9.57.4 "Bhīmasena, fighting by the rules, will not prevail; but fighting by unfair means, he may yet slay Suyodhana."

9.57.5 "By guile the gods overcame the asuras — so have we heard; and Virocana too was overcome by Śakra through guile, my friend. By guile, moreover, the slayer of Bala wrested away the energy of Vṛtra."

9.57.6 "And Bhīma vowed at the time of the dicing, O Dhanaṃjaya, saying to Suyodhana: 'In battle I will shatter your thighs with the mace.'"

9.57.7 "Let this grinder of foes, then, make good that vow, and cut down by guile this guileful king."

9.57.8 "For if, relying on his strength, he strikes by fair means, then King Yudhiṣṭhira will be left in dire straits."

9.57.9 "And once more I tell you, O Pāṇḍava — mark this from me: through the fault of the Dharma-king, peril has come upon us again."

9.57.10 "Having wrought a most mighty deed, having slain the Kurus led by Bhīṣma, you have won victory and foremost fame, and the feud is requited; yet now that very victory, once gained, has been cast again into doubt."

9.57.11 "This was a great folly of the Dharma-king, O Pāṇḍava — that he staked the whole on a single combat of this kind; for Suyodhana is skilled and valiant, a man with nothing to lose, brought to his last resort."

9.57.12 "Moreover, there is heard an ancient verse sung by Uśanas, freighted with the truth of things — hear it as I recite it to you."

9.57.13 "Of broken foes who turn back again, clinging to life, the last remnant must be feared, for they are come to their final stand."

9.57.14 "This Suyodhana — broken, his army slain, gone to take refuge in the lake, defeated, longing for the forest, despairing of regaining his kingdom —"

9.57.15 "what man of sense would summon him afresh to single combat in battle? Might not Suyodhana yet snatch back from you the kingdom already won?"

9.57.16 "For thirteen years has he labored with the mace, and he ranges high and crosswise in his eagerness to slay Bhīmasena."

9.57.17 "And so, if the mighty-armed one slay him not by unfair means, this Kaurava, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, will yet become your king."

9.57.18 And Dhanaṃjaya, hearing this from the great-souled Keśava, struck his own thigh with his hand within Bhīmasena's sight.

9.57.19 Taking the sign, Bhīma then ranged the battlefield with his mace, tracing wondrous circling figures, both paired and single.

9.57.20 The rightward circle, the leftward, and the zigzag course as well, the Pāṇḍava traced, O king, as though to bewilder his foe.

9.57.21 In like manner your son too, skilled in the ways of the mace, ranged nimbly and intricately in his eagerness to slay Bhīmasena.

9.57.22 Brandishing their dreadful maces, smeared with sandal and aloe, seeking to make an end of their enmity, the two were in battle like Death himself enraged.

9.57.23 Seeking each the other's death, those two foremost heroes, bulls among men, fought like two Garuḍas striving after the flesh of serpents.

9.57.24 As the king and Bhīma traced their wondrous circling figures, there sprang up from the clashing of their maces tongues of fire.

9.57.25 As the two valiant and mighty ones struck alike in the fray, they were, O king, like two oceans churned up by the wind.

9.57.26 As the two struck evenly, like a pair of rutting elephants, there arose a crashing thunder of mace-strokes from their blows.

9.57.27 In that fierce and tumultuous combat, both those tamers of foes, fighting on, grew sorely spent.

9.57.28 Resting a moment, those two scorchers of foes, enraged once more, gripped their great maces and fell upon each other again.

9.57.29 There arose between them a battle dreadful of aspect and unrestrained, O lord of kings, as with falling maces they hewed at one another.

9.57.30 Hurtling forward in their exertion, those two swift and bull-eyed heroes smote at each other like buffaloes mired in the mud.

9.57.31 Their every limb battered and bruised, drenched all over in blood, the two appeared like a pair of kiṃśuka trees in bloom upon the Himālaya.

9.57.32 When Duryodhana had laid open an opening, the son of Pṛthā, smiling a little, all at once sprang forward.

9.57.33 Seeing him come within reach in the battle, the wise and mighty Vṛkodara hurled his mace down at him with tremendous force.

9.57.34 But seeing that descending stroke, your son, O lord of peoples, slipped aside from his place, and the mace fell wide upon the ground.

9.57.35 Having made that blow miss in his swift recovery, your son, that best of the Kurus, struck Bhīmasena in turn with his mace.

9.57.36 With the blood streaming from him and from the heavy fall of that blow, a swoon, as it were, came over the immeasurably mighty Bhīma.

9.57.37 Duryodhana knew that the Pāṇḍava had been wounded in the battle; yet Bhīma too held up his sorely battered body.

9.57.38 Your son thought him to be standing ready and about to strike in the fray, and for that reason he did not smite him again.

9.57.39 Then, after recovering for a moment, O king, the valiant Bhīmasena rushed with great speed upon Duryodhana, who stood his ground.

9.57.40 Seeing him of measureless might charging in fury, O bull of the Bhāratas, your son wished to make that blow of his fall in vain.

9.57.41 Setting his mind firmly in his stance, your high-souled son resolved to leap upward, O king, meaning to outwit Vṛkodara.

9.57.42 Bhīmasena perceived the king's intent, and so, rushing upon him and bounding forward like a lion,

9.57.43 as the king deceived him by his footwork and was again about to spring up, the Pāṇḍava hurled his mace with great force at his thighs, O king.

9.57.44 Cast by him of dreadful deeds, that mace, like the crash of a thunderbolt, shattered both the comely thighs of Duryodhana.

9.57.45 That tiger among men fell, making the earth resound, his thighs broken by Bhīmasena—your son, O lord of the earth.

9.57.46 Winds blew with thunderclaps, a rain of dust fell, and the earth trembled with its trees, shrubs, and mountains.

9.57.47 When that hero fell, the lord of all earthly kings, a great blazing meteor, loud-roaring, attended by thunderclaps and terrible to behold, fell as the master of the earth went down.

9.57.48 So too, O Bhārata, Maghavan rained down a rain of blood and a rain of dust there, when your son was struck down.

9.57.49 A great roar of Yakṣas, of Rākṣasas, and of Piśācas as well was heard in the sky, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.57.50 At that dreadful sound there arose from many beasts and birds a still more dreadful cry on every side.

9.57.51 Those horses and elephants that remained there, together with the men, let loose a mighty clamor when your son fell.

9.57.52 And a great sound of kettledrums, conches, and tabors arose, even from beneath the earth, when your son was struck down.

9.57.53 The quarters were then filled, O king, with headless trunks—many-footed, many-armed, fearful to behold—that danced about and spread terror.

9.57.54 Those bearing standards, those bearing missiles, and those bearing weapons all began to tremble then, O king, when your son was struck down.

9.57.55 Lakes and wells vomited forth blood, O best of kings, and rivers of mighty current began to flow backward against their streams.

9.57.56 Women took on, as it were, the marks of men, and men the marks of women, when your son Duryodhana fell, O king.

9.57.57 Beholding those wondrous portents, the Pāñcālas together with the Pāṇḍavas all became troubled in mind, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.57.58 The gods departed at their pleasure, and the Gandharvas and Apsarases likewise, recounting the wondrous combat of your sons, O Bhārata.

9.57.59 So too the Siddhas, O king of kings, and the wandering Cāraṇas, praising those two lions among men, departed each the way he had come.

9.58.1 Saṃjaya said: Seeing him laid low, like a towering sāla tree felled, all the Pāṇḍavas there became glad at heart.

9.58.2 Like a maddened elephant struck down by a lion they beheld him; and all those Somakas too, their hair bristling with joy, looked on.

9.58.3 Then, having struck down Duryodhana, the valiant Bhīmasena drew near to the fallen lord of the Kauravas and spoke these words:

9.58.4 "'Cow! Cow!'—O fool, when of old in the assembly you laughed and mocked us and Draupadī clad in a single garment, O wicked-minded one: of that mockery receive this day the fruit!"

9.58.5 Having spoken thus, with his left foot he touched the diadem, and with that foot he spurned the head of the lion among kings.

9.58.6 And then, red with wrath, Bhīma the crusher of hostile hosts spoke once more these words; hear them, O ruler of men.

9.58.7 "Those who once danced before us crying again and again 'Cow! Cow!'—those we now dance against, crying once more 'Cow! Cow!'"

9.58.8 "In us there is no treachery, no fire of arson, no dicing, no deceit; relying on the strength of our own arms, we crush our foes."

9.58.9 Having reached the far shore of his supreme enmity, Vṛkodara, laughing softly, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, to Keśava and the Sṛñjayas, to Dhanaṃjaya, and to the two sons of Mādrī:

9.58.10 "Those who dragged Draupadī in while she was in her courses, and those who in the assembly stripped her of her garment—behold those sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, slain in battle by the Pāṇḍavas through the ascetic merit of the daughter of Yajñasena!"

9.58.11 "Those cruel sons of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra who once called us barren sesame seeds—they are slain by us with their followers and kin; now let us go, if it must be, to heaven or to hell."

9.58.12 And again, as the king lay fallen on the ground, he—gazing at the mace resting on his shoulder, and crushing the head with his left foot—called Duryodhana a worker of deceit.

9.58.13 But when, O king, they saw the foot set upon the head of the Kuru king by the exultant, base-minded Bhīmasena, the righteous chiefs of the Somakas did not rejoice.

9.58.14 As Vṛkodara, having thus slain your son, boasted and danced about again and again, the Dharma King spoke these words:

9.58.15 "Crush not his head with your foot, lest your great righteousness pass away. He is a king and a kinsman, and now slain; this is not seemly for you, O blameless one."

9.58.16 "He is undone, his counselors slain, his brothers slain, his offspring slain, his line's oblations cut off—and he is our brother; this you have done is not seemly."

9.58.17 "'This Bhīmasena is a righteous man,' so people once spoke of you. Why then, Bhīmasena, do you set your foot upon a king?"

9.58.18 Seeing Duryodhana brought to such a state, King Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī, with eyes brimming with tears spoke these words:

9.58.19 "Surely this was ordained by the mighty, high-souled Ordainer—that we should seek to slay you, and you us, O best of the Kurus."

9.58.20 "For through your own fault you have met with so great a calamity, born of greed, of pride, and of folly, O Bhārata."

9.58.21 "Having caused the death of your companions, your brothers, your fathers, your sons, your grandsons, and your teachers, you have come at last to your own destruction."

9.58.22 "Through your fault we have slain your brothers, those great chariot-warriors, and your other kinsmen too; I deem destiny hard to overcome."

9.58.23 "The daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, distraught and widowed, wasted with grief, will surely reproach us."

9.58.24 Having spoken thus, that king, sore afflicted with grief, sighed deeply; and Yudhiṣṭhira, the son of Dharma, lamented long.

9.59.1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: Seeing the king slain by unrighteous means, what then, O bard, did the foremost of the Mādhavas, the mighty Baladeva, say?

9.59.2 He who knew the finer points of mace-combat, skilled in mace-combat—the son of Rohiṇī—what he did, that recount to me, Saṃjaya.

9.59.3 Saṃjaya said: Seeing your son struck on the head by Bhīmasena, Rāma, the strongest of strikers and mighty himself, blazed up in great wrath.

9.59.4 Then in the midst of the kings, the plough-wielder, raising his arms aloft and uttering a fierce cry of anguish, said: "Shame, shame upon you, Bhīma!"

9.59.5 "Alas, shame, that a blow was struck below the navel in a contest of pure valor! Never has it been seen in mace-combat, this which Vṛkodara has done."

9.59.6 "'One must not strike below the navel'—such is the ruling of the treatises; but this fool, ignorant of the treatises, acts after his own willful pleasure."

9.59.7 As he spoke thus again and again, a great fury arose in him; then, raising his plough, the mighty one rushed upon Bhīma.

9.59.8 With his arms raised aloft, the form of that high-souled one was like a great white mountain, gleaming with manifold mineral hues.

9.59.9 As he sprang forward, Keśava, bowed in humility yet powerful and strong, caught hold of him with effort in his round, brawny arms.

9.59.10 The two best of the Yādavas, the fair one and the dark, shone forth then exceedingly, O king, like the moon and the sun risen together in the sky at the day's end.

9.59.11 And Keśava, as if to calm that infuriated one, said to him: "One's own increase, the increase of one's friend, and the rising of one's friend's friend—and the reverse of these among one's foes: such is the sixfold increase of one's own self."

9.59.12 "When in oneself and in one's friends the contrary should come to pass, one should recognize the decline of one's purpose and quickly become a maker of peace."

9.59.13 "The Pāṇḍavas, of pure manhood, are our natural friends; they are our own, the sons of our father's sister, and they have been grievously wronged by their foes."

9.59.14 "The fulfillment of a vow is the duty of a Kṣatriya—this you know. 'I shall shatter Suyodhana's thighs with my mace in the great battle'—this was vowed of old by Bhīma upon the floor of the assembly."

9.59.15 "And he was cursed long before by the great seer Maitreya: 'Bhīma shall break your thighs with his mace,' O scorcher of foes. Therefore I see no fault here; be not wroth, O slayer of Pralamba."

9.59.16 "By ties of marriage and of the heart we are bound here to the Pāṇḍavas; in their prosperity is our own prosperity. Be not wroth, O bull among men."

9.59.17 Rāma said: "Righteousness, well practiced by the good, keeps in check the other two—wealth in the case of one too greedy for gain, and pleasure in the case of one too much addicted to it."

9.59.18 "He who pursues righteousness and wealth, righteousness and pleasure, pleasure and wealth—nay, righteousness, wealth, and pleasure together—without letting one injure another, attains supreme happiness."

9.59.19 "But all this has been thrown into disorder by the injury done to righteousness by Bhīmasena, O Govinda—however much you may speak to me as you do."

9.59.20 Vāsudeva said: "Free from anger, righteous of soul, ever cherishing righteousness—so are you renowned in the world. Therefore grow calm; be not wroth."

9.59.21 "Know that the Kali age has come, and remember the Pāṇḍava's vow; let the Pāṇḍava be quit of his debt of enmity and of his vow alike."

9.59.22 Saṃjaya said: Hearing even this quibble upon righteousness from Keśava, O lord of peoples, Rāma, his mind not at all pleased, spoke these words in the assembly:

9.59.23 "Having slain by unrighteousness the king Suyodhana, a man of righteous soul, the Pāṇḍava will gain renown in this world as a crooked fighter."

9.59.24 "Duryodhana too, a righteous soul, will attain the everlasting goal—a king who fought straight, slain though he was, the son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, ruler of men."

9.59.25 "Having entered upon the consecration of battle, having spread out the sacrifice of war, and having offered himself as oblation in the fire of his foes, he has won the glory of the final ablution."

9.59.26 Having spoken thus, the valiant son of Rohiṇī, in form like the peak of a white cloud, mounted his chariot and set out toward Dvārakā.

9.59.27 And the Pāñcālas with the Vārṣṇeyas, and the Pāṇḍavas, O lord of peoples, when Rāma had departed for Dvāravatī, were not greatly pleased at heart.

9.59.28 Then Vāsudeva spoke these words to Yudhiṣṭhira, who was downcast, sunk in thought, his face bent low, his resolve stricken by grief:

9.59.29 "O Dharma King, why do you countenance this unrighteousness—done to this man whose kin are slain, who lies fallen and bereft of sense?"

9.59.30 "Why do you look on, knowing righteousness as you do, O ruler of men, while Duryodhana's head is crushed by Bhīma's foot?"

9.59.31 Yudhiṣṭhira said: "This is not pleasing to me, Kṛṣṇa, that Vṛkodara in his wrath touched a king's head with his foot; nor do I rejoice in the ruin of our house."

9.59.32 "By deceit were we ever deceived by the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra; with many a harsh word spoken, we were sent away into the forest."

9.59.33 "That grief of Bhīmasena's dwells exceedingly in his heart; reflecting upon this, O Vārṣṇeya, I overlooked this deed."

9.59.34 Therefore, now that this man of feeble wits, greedy and a slave to his desires, has been slain, let the Pāṇḍava have his heart's wish—whether what was done was righteous or unrighteous.

9.59.35 Saṃjaya said: When the King of Righteousness had spoken thus, Vāsudeva, the upholder of the Yadu line, said only with difficulty, "So be it; let it be as you wish."

9.59.36 Thus addressed by Vāsudeva, who sought Bhīma's welfare and delight, Yudhiṣṭhira approved of all that Bhīma had done in the battle.

9.59.37 And Bhīmasena, the wrathful one, having slain your son in battle, stood before Yudhiṣṭhira, saluted him, and, filled with joy, folded his palms in reverence.

9.59.38 O lord of peoples, that hero of mighty splendour, his eyes wide with gladness and wearing the look of a victor, spoke to Yudhiṣṭhira, the King of Righteousness.

9.59.39 "Today the earth is yours, O king, made secure and freed of every thorn. Govern it, O great king, upholding your own sacred duty."

9.59.40 "He who was the author of this enmity, the lover of deceit who delighted in treachery—he now lies slain upon the earth, O lord of the earth."

9.59.41 "Duḥśāsana and all the rest, those harsh of speech, Rādheya too, and Śakuni—all your foes have been struck down."

9.59.42 "This earth, strewn with jewels, with its forests and its mountains, has this day returned to you, O great king, now that your enemies are slain."

9.59.43 Yudhiṣṭhira said: The end of the feud has come; King Suyodhana is slain. Following the counsel of Kṛṣṇa, this earth has been won.

9.59.44 By good fortune you have discharged your debt both to our mother and to her wrath; by good fortune you are victorious, O unassailable one; by good fortune the enemy has been cast down.

9.60.1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: When they beheld Duryodhana slain by Bhīmasena in the combat, what did the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas do, O Saṃjaya?

9.60.2 Saṃjaya said: When they beheld Duryodhana slain by Bhīmasena in the combat, O great king, as a lion slays a rutting wild elephant in the forest—

9.60.3 there, with their hearts rejoicing, the Pāṇḍavas together with Kṛṣṇa, and the Pāñcālas and the Sṛñjayas, when the joy of the Kurus had been slain—

9.60.4 whirled their upper garments and roared their lion-roars; so filled with joy were they that the earth itself could scarcely bear them.

9.60.5 Some brandished their bows, and others twanged their bowstrings; some blew their great conches, and others beat their kettledrums.

9.60.6 Still others sported and laughed, those foes of yours, and again and again the heroes spoke these words to Bhīmasena:

9.60.7 "A hard deed, a very great deed, have you accomplished in battle this day, slaying with your mace the lord of the Kauravas, worn out as he was by his exertions."

9.60.8 As Indra slew Vṛtra in the supreme combat, so the people deemed this slaying of the foe to have been wrought by you.

9.60.9 "This brave Duryodhana, who ranged through manifold paths and wheeled in every circling movement—who other than Vṛkodara could have slain him?"

9.60.10 "You have reached the far shore of this enmity, a shore beyond the reach of others here; such a feat as this no other could have brought to pass."

9.60.11 "As by a rutting tusker, O hero, at the head of the fray, by good fortune Duryodhana's head has been crushed by your foot."

9.60.12 "As a lion does with a buffalo, having waged a wondrous battle, by good fortune the blood of Duḥśāsana was drunk by you, O blameless one."

9.60.13 "Those who wronged King Yudhiṣṭhira, the soul of righteousness—upon their heads, by your own deeds and by good fortune, your foot has been set."

9.60.14 "By the overthrow of your enemies and by the slaying of Duryodhana, O Bhīma, by good fortune your vast renown is spread abroad over the earth."

9.60.15 "Surely, as the bards rejoiced over Śakra when Vṛtra was slain, so we rejoice over you, your foe destroyed, O descendant of Bharata."

9.60.16 "The hairs upon our bodies that bristled with joy at the slaying of Duryodhana—know, O descendant of Bharata, that even now they will not lie down again." So the praise-singers gathered there spoke to Bhīmasena.

9.60.17 To those exultant tigers among men, the Pāñcālas together with the Pāṇḍavas, who spoke words befitting the moment, Madhusūdana then said:

9.60.18 "It is not fitting, O lords of men, to slay again and again an enemy already slain. This dullard has indeed already been struck down by your harsh words."

9.60.19 "This wicked man was slain at that very moment when, shameless, greedy, the companion of the wicked, he transgressed the counsel of his friends."

9.60.20 "Though urged again and again by Vidura, Droṇa, Kṛpa, the son of Gaṅgā, and the Sṛñjayas, he would not grant the Pāṇḍavas their ancestral share."

9.60.21 "This basest of men is no longer fit to be reckoned friend or foe. What use is it to keep reviling with words one who has become as a senseless log of wood?"

9.60.22 "Mount your chariots swiftly; let us depart, O lords of the earth. By good fortune this evil-souled one is slain, together with his counsellors, his kinsmen, and his allies."

9.60.23 But hearing this reproach from Kṛṣṇa, King Duryodhana, overcome with indignation, raised himself up, O lord of peoples.

9.60.24 Seated upon his haunches, propping himself against the earth with both arms, he knit his brows into a frown and cast his gaze upon Vāsudeva.

9.60.25 The form of the king, his body half upraised, was then like that of an angered venomous serpent whose tail had been severed, O descendant of Bharata.

9.60.26 Heedless of the dreadful, life-ending agony, Duryodhana assailed Vāsudeva with savage words:

9.60.27 "O heir of the slave of Kaṃsa, have you no shame for this, that by unrighteous means I have been brought down in the mace-duel?"

9.60.28 "Do you think I did not perceive how, treacherously prompting Bhīma's memory, you said to Arjuna, 'Smash his thighs'?"

9.60.29 "Having caused thousands of kings who fought fairly to be slain by many crooked devices—have you no shame, no remorse?"

9.60.30 "Day after day, as he wrought great slaughter among heroes, your grandsire was made to be slain by you, with Śikhaṇḍin set in the forefront."

9.60.31 "By slaying the elephant that bore the same name as Aśvatthāman, O most wicked one, the preceptor was made to lay down his weapons—do you think this is unknown to me?"

9.60.32 "And when that valiant one was being struck down by this cruel Dhṛṣṭadyumna, you looked on and did not restrain him."

9.60.33 "The very spear that was begged for, meant for the slaying of the son of Pāṇḍu, you caused to be wasted upon Ghaṭotkaca. Who is a greater doer of evil than you?"

9.60.34 "His arm severed, set upon the vow of fasting unto death, the mighty Bhūriśravas was slain at your bidding by the vile descendant of Śini."

9.60.35 "And Karṇa, performing a deed of the highest valour in his longing to vanquish Pārtha, was thwarted through the wasting of the arrow that was Aśvasena, son of the lord of serpents—"

9.60.36 "and again, when his chariot wheel sank down, that foremost of men, Karṇa, struck by calamity and overcome, distracted with his wheel, was cast down in the combat."

9.60.37 "Had you fought fairly against me and against Karṇa, against Bhīṣma and Droṇa in battle, victory would surely never have been yours."

9.60.38 "But by you, ignoble one, through crooked ways were we and other kings, who kept to our own sacred duty, brought to destruction."

9.60.39 Vāsudeva said: O son of Gāndhārī, you have been slain together with your brothers, your sons, and your kinsmen, your followers and your friends, because you trod the path of wickedness.

9.60.40 It was by your own misdeeds that the heroes Bhīṣma and Droṇa were laid low, and Karṇa too, who followed your ways, was slain in the encounter.

9.60.41 Though entreated by me, O fool, you would not give the Pāṇḍavas their ancestral share, the half of their own kingdom, out of greed and at Śakuni's resolve.

9.60.42 You administered poison to Bhīmasena, and all the Pāṇḍavas, together with their mother, you sought to burn in the house of lac, O most wicked one.

9.60.43 And the daughter of Yajñasena, in her courses, was dragged into the assembly hall at the dicing—even then, O evil-souled and shameless one, you deserved to be killed.

9.60.44 Because, with the dice-cunning son of Subala, you by treachery defeated one who knew righteousness but knew nothing of the dice—for that you have been slain in battle.

9.60.45 Because, when they had gone hunting, Kṛṣṇā was tormented in the forest by the wicked Jayadratha at the hermitage of Tṛṇabindu—

9.60.46 and because Abhimanyu, a mere boy, alone amid many in the fray, was slain through your misdeeds, O wicked one—for that you have been slain in battle.

9.60.47 Duryodhana said: I have studied as the rule prescribes, I have given gifts duly, I have ruled the earth with its girdling seas, I have stood upon the heads of my enemies—who then has come to a happier end than I?

9.60.48 That very death which is the wish of warriors who keep their own sacred duty in view—that death I have now attained. Who then has come to a happier end than I?

9.60.49 Pleasures worthy of the gods, such mortal joys as kings can scarcely win, I have enjoyed; sovereignty supreme I have attained. Who then has come to a happier end than I?

9.60.50 With my friends and my followers I shall go to heaven, O Acyuta; while you, your purposes shattered, shall live on in grief.

9.60.51 Saṃjaya said: At the close of this speech of the king of the Kurus, O descendant of Bharata, a great shower of sweet-scented flowers fell down.

9.60.52 The Gandharvas made music and the throngs of Apsarases sang, and the Siddhas uttered their voices, crying "Well done! Well done!", O descendant of Bharata.

9.60.53 And a fragrant breeze blew, holy-scented, gentle and pleasant, and the spotless sky shone forth, gleaming like a sapphire.

9.60.54 Beholding these wondrous portents, and seeing the honour shown to Duryodhana, those led by Vāsudeva were overcome with shame.

9.60.55 And hearing that they had been slain unrighteously, they grieved, stricken with sorrow, for Bhīṣma and Droṇa, for Karṇa, and for Bhūriśravas.

9.60.56 But seeing the Pāṇḍavas sunk in thought and downcast in spirit, Kṛṣṇa, whose voice was as the thunder of the clouds, spoke these words:

9.60.57 "This swift-handed warrior, and all those great chariot-heroes, valiant as they were, could not have been slain by you in fair fight upon the field."

9.60.58 "These stratagems were therefore devised by me, O lords of men; otherwise the sons of Pāṇḍu would never anywhere have won the victory."

9.60.59 "For those four great-souled warriors, mightiest of charioteers upon the earth, could not by righteous means have been slain even by the guardians of the worlds themselves."

9.60.60 "And likewise this son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, mace in hand and unwearied, could not by righteous means have been slain even by Death himself, the wielder of the rod."

9.60.61 "Nor should you take it to heart that this king was struck down. When the enemies are many and overpowering, they must be slain by stratagem and craft."

9.60.62 "This is the path followed of old by the gods who slew the Asuras; the road that the good have trodden is the road that all men follow."

9.60.63 "Our task is accomplished; let us settle upon our lodging now in the evening. Let us all rest, O lords of men, with our horses, elephants, and chariots."

9.60.64 Hearing the words of Vāsudeva, the Pāñcālas together with the Pāṇḍavas, exceedingly gladdened, then roared like a pride of lions.

9.60.65 Then those bulls among men, rejoicing to see Duryodhana slain, blew their conches, and Mādhava blew the Pāñcajanya.

9.61.1 Saṃjaya said: Then all those rulers of the earth set forth toward their lodging, blowing their conches in their joy, their arms like iron bludgeons.

9.61.2 And as the Pāṇḍavas were going to our camp, O lord of peoples, the great archer Yuyutsu followed behind them, and Sātyaki as well.

9.61.3 Dhṛṣṭadyumna and Śikhaṇḍin, and the sons of Draupadī, one and all, and all the other great archers, went each to his own encampment.

9.61.4 Then the sons of Pṛthā entered the camp of Duryodhana, its splendour quenched and its lord slain, like a theatre when the people have dispersed.

9.61.5 It was like a city whose festival had ended, like a pool from which the elephant had been carried off—thronged for the most part with women, and watched over by aged ministers.

9.61.6 There, O king, those who had once gone before Duryodhana waited upon them, their palms joined in supplication, clad in soiled ochre garments.

9.61.7 Having reached the camp of the Kuru king, the Pāṇḍavas, those foremost of chariot-warriors, descended from their chariots, O great king.

9.61.8 Then Keśava, ever devoted to his welfare and his good, addressed the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.61.9 "Lay down the Gāṇḍīva and the two inexhaustible great quivers; afterward I too shall descend, O best of the Bhāratas."

9.61.10 "And do you yourself dismount; this is for your good, O blameless one." And so the hero Dhanaṃjaya, son of Pāṇḍu, did just that.

9.61.11 Then afterward the wise Kṛṣṇa, releasing the reins of the horses, descended from the chariot of the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva.

9.61.12 And when the lord of beings, that great-souled one, had stepped down, the divine ape-banner of the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva vanished from sight.

9.61.13 That mighty chariot, scorched by Droṇa and Karṇa with their divine weapons, then, kindled by fire, blazed up at once, O lord of the earth.

9.61.14 With its quivers, its reins, its horses, its yoke and chariot-pole, the chariot of the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, reduced to ashes, fell to the ground.

9.61.15 Seeing it thus turned to ashes, the sons of Pāṇḍu were filled with wonder, O lord; and Arjuna, O king, spoke these words.

9.61.16 With joined palms, affectionately bowing down and saluting him: "Govinda, blessed lord, why was this chariot consumed by fire?"

9.61.17 "What is this great marvel that has come to pass, O delight of the Yadus? Tell me of it, mighty-armed one, if you deem it fit for me to hear."

9.61.18 Vāsudeva said: This chariot had already been burned by weapons of many kinds, O Arjuna; yet because I occupied it, it did not break apart in battle, O scorcher of foes.

9.61.19 But now, scorched by the fiery power of the Brahmā-weapon, it has crumbled, for I have released it today, O son of Kuntī, now that your task is accomplished.

9.61.20 Saṃjaya said: And the blessed Keśava, slayer of foes, smiling faintly, embraced King Yudhiṣṭhira and spoke to him.

9.61.21 "By good fortune you are victorious, O son of Kuntī; by good fortune your foes are conquered; by good fortune the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva and Bhīmasena the Pāṇḍava are well."

9.61.22 "And you too are safe, O king, and the two Pāṇḍava sons of Mādrī; delivered from this slaughter of heroes, your enemies slain, swiftly perform the rites that now remain to be done, O Bhārata."

9.61.23 "When I came to Upaplavya together with the wielder of the Gāṇḍīva, and you brought me the honey-offering, what you then said to me—"

9.61.24 "'This Dhanaṃjaya is your brother and your friend, O Kṛṣṇa; he is to be guarded, mighty-armed one, in every peril, O lord'—and to you who spoke thus I answered, 'So be it.'"

9.61.25 "That ambidextrous archer has been guarded for you and is victorious, O lord of men; together with his brothers, O king of kings, that valiant one of truthful prowess is delivered from this slaughter of heroes, from this hair-raising battle."

9.61.26 Thus addressed by Kṛṣṇa, the Dharma-king Yudhiṣṭhira, the hair of his body bristling with joy, O great king, replied to Janārdana.

9.61.27 "The Brahmā-weapon let loose by Droṇa and by Karṇa, O crusher of foes—who other than you could withstand it, even Purandara the wielder of the thunderbolt in person?"

9.61.28 "By your grace many have been conquered in battle, and Pārtha, plunged into the great fray, never turned his face away."

9.61.29 "And likewise, mighty-armed one, through many turns of fortune I have seen the unbroken succession of deeds and the auspicious course of your splendor."

9.61.30 "At Upaplavya the great sage Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana said to me: 'Where there is righteousness, there is Kṛṣṇa; where Kṛṣṇa is, there is victory.'"

9.61.31 When this had been said, those heroes, having entered your camp, O Bhārata, took possession of the stores of treasure, jewels, and riches.

9.61.32 Silver and gold, gems and pearls, the finest ornaments, woolen blankets and deerskins, slave-women and slaves beyond counting, and the appurtenances of kingship.

9.61.33 Having obtained your inexhaustible wealth, O bull of the Bhāratas, those great archers, their foes conquered, raised a shout of triumph, O lord of men.

9.61.34 Then those heroes, having taken rest and unyoked their mounts, halted there awhile—all the Pāṇḍavas, and Sātyaki likewise.

9.61.35 Then, O great king, the illustrious Vāsudeva said: "For the sake of auspiciousness we must lodge outside the camp."

9.61.36 Saying "So be it," all the Pāṇḍavas, and Sātyaki as well, together with Vāsudeva, went outside for the sake of auspiciousness.

9.61.37 Reaching the holy river Oghavatī, O king, the Pāṇḍavas, their enemies slain, passed that night there.

9.61.38 Then they dispatched the Yādava to the city named after the elephant; and the mighty Vāsudeva, mounting Dāruka upon his chariot, set out swiftly with all speed toward where the king, son of Ambikā, was.

9.61.39 As he was about to set forth, his steeds Sainya and Sugrīva yoked, they said to him: "Console Gāndhārī, the illustrious lady whose sons are slain."

9.61.40 Bidden by the Pāṇḍavas, that best of the Sātvatas set out for that city, eager to reach without delay Gāndhārī, whose sons had been slain.

9.62.1 Janamejaya said: For what reason did that tiger among kings, the Dharma-king Yudhiṣṭhira, send Vāsudeva, scorcher of foes, to Gāndhārī?

9.62.2 When Kṛṣṇa had earlier gone for the sake of peace to the Kauravas and had not won that desire, then this war came to pass.

9.62.3 But now that the warriors were slain and Duryodhana likewise killed, and the earth made rivalless for the son of Pāṇḍu by the war,

9.62.4 the camp scattered and emptied, and the highest glory attained—what then was the reason, O brāhmaṇa, for which Kṛṣṇa went forth once more?

9.62.5 And this reason does not seem to me a small one, O brāhmaṇa, since the immeasurable Janārdana himself went there in person.

9.62.6 Recount it all to me truly, O best of officiating priests—the reason, O brāhmaṇa, that determined this undertaking.

9.62.7 Vaiśaṃpāyana said: This further question that you ask of me is worthy of you, O prince; I shall declare it to you duly, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.62.8 Seeing Duryodhana, the mighty son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, slain by Bhīmasena in the duel in transgression of the agreed rule, O king—

9.62.9 seeing him slain unfairly in the mace-combat, O Bhārata, a great fear then entered Yudhiṣṭhira, O great king.

9.62.10 For he thought of the illustrious Gāndhārī, endowed with austerity—armed with dreadful penance, she could burn even the three worlds.

9.62.11 As he pondered, this thought then arose in him: the wrath of Gāndhārī, blazing with anger, must first be pacified.

9.62.12 "For she, hearing of such a slaying of her sons as we have wrought, will in her wrath reduce us to ashes with the fire of her mind."

9.62.13 "How will Gāndhārī endure this fierce grief, when she hears that her son, who fought without guile, was killed by a trick?"

9.62.14 Having pondered thus in many ways, filled with fear and grief, the Dharma-king addressed these words to Vāsudeva.

9.62.15 "By your grace, Govinda, the kingdom, its thorns destroyed—a thing unattainable even in thought—has here been won by us, O imperishable one."

9.62.16 "Before my own eyes, mighty-armed one, in that hair-raising battle, a most mighty struggle was undertaken by you, O delight of the Yādavas."

9.62.17 "As of old in the war of the gods and demons you lent your aid for the slaying of the foes of the immortals, and the enemies of the gods were destroyed,"

9.62.18 "so too, mighty-armed and imperishable one, you lent your aid to us; and by your charioteering, O Vārṣṇeya, we were upheld."

9.62.19 "Had you not been Phalguna's protector in the great battle, how could this ocean of armies have been conquered in the fray?"

9.62.20 "Vast blows of maces, and battering with iron bludgeons, with lances, slings, javelins, and battle-axes—"

9.62.21 "and harsh words too were endured by you who sought our good; and all these have borne fruit for you, now that Duryodhana is slain, O imperishable one."

9.62.22 "Be mindful, mighty-armed Mādhava, of the wrath of Gāndhārī; for that illustrious lady is ever wasted thin by fierce austerity."

9.62.23 "Hearing of the slaughter of her sons and grandsons, she will surely burn us up; her appeasement, O hero, is in my judgment now timely."

9.62.24 "And what man, save you, O best of men, is able even to look upon her, her eyes blazing with anger, worn thin by the calamity of her sons?"

9.62.25 "To me it seems fitting that you go there, O Mādhava, if it please you, to pacify Gāndhārī, who is ablaze with wrath, O subduer of foes."

9.62.26 "For you are the maker and unmaker of the worlds, their origin and dissolution; with words joined to motive and cause and fitted to the occasion,"

9.62.27 "swiftly, O greatly wise one, will you calm Gāndhārī; and the venerable grandfather Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana too will be there."

9.62.28 "By every means, mighty-armed best of the Sātvatas, the quelling of Gāndhārī's wrath must be accomplished by you who seek the welfare of the Pāṇḍavas."

9.62.29 Hearing the words of the Dharma-king, the upholder of the Yadu line summoned Dāruka and said: "Let the chariot be made ready."

9.62.30 Hearing the words of Keśava, Dāruka then in haste reported to the great-souled Keśava that the chariot was ready.

9.62.31 Mounting that chariot, the best of the Yādavas, the scorcher of foes, the all-pervading Keśava, set out in haste for Hāstinapura.

9.62.32 Then, O great king, the blessed Mādhava, that chariot-warrior, set forth; and reaching the city named after the elephant, the valiant one entered it.

9.62.33 Entering the city, the hero, making it resound with the thunder of his chariot, and announced to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, descended from his splendid chariot.

9.62.34 With undejected spirit he approached the dwelling of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, and there he saw the best of sages, who had come before.

9.62.35 Clasping the feet of Kṛṣṇa Dvaipāyana and of the king as well, Janārdana, unperturbed, paid his respects; and Keśava saluted Gāndhārī too.

9.62.36 Then the best of the Yādavas, Adhokṣaja, taking hold of the king Dhṛtarāṣṭra's hand, wept aloud.

9.62.37 After shedding for a moment the tears born of grief, washing his eyes with water and sipping water as enjoined, the subduer of foes spoke humble words to Dhṛtarāṣṭra.

9.62.38 "There is nothing of past or future unknown to you, O Bhārata; and how the working of time has come to pass is well known to you, O lord."

9.62.39 "This was the very thing all the Pāṇḍavas, deferring to your wishes, strove for—that there might be no destruction of the lineage, nor of the warrior class, O Bhārata."

9.62.40 "Making a compact with his brothers, that lover of righteousness forbore; defeated by the trickery of the dice though they were able men, he submitted to dwelling in the forest."

9.62.41 "And the practice of living in concealment, cloaked in various disguises, and many other hardships besides, were borne ever, as though by men without power."

9.62.42 "And by me, coming in person when the hour of war was at hand, in the presence of all the world, you were asked for five villages."

9.62.43 "By you, smitten by time, out of greed they were not granted; and through your fault, O king, the whole warrior race has gone to destruction."

9.62.44 "By Bhīṣma, by Somadatta, by Bāhlika and Kṛpa, by Droṇa together with his son, and by the wise Vidura, you were ever entreated for peace; yet you did not make it."

9.62.45 For every man whose mind is overthrown by Time grows bewildered, O Bhārata, even as you yourself, deluded before, rose up in this very matter.

9.62.46 What else is there but the working of Time? Destiny alone is the final refuge. Lay not the blame, O great king, upon the Pāṇḍavas.

9.62.47 Not the slightest transgression is there in the great-souled Pāṇḍavas, neither in righteousness, nor in justice, nor in affection, O scorcher of foes.

9.62.48 Knowing all this to be the fruit wrought by your own fault, you ought not to harbor resentment against the sons of Pāṇḍu.

9.62.49 Your lineage, your line of descent, the funeral offering, and the fruit that a son procures — for both you and Gāndhārī all of these now rest upon the Pāṇḍavas.

9.62.50 Reflecting upon all this, and upon your own offense, turn your thoughts toward the Pāṇḍavas with goodwill. Homage to you, O bull of the Bhāratas.

9.62.51 You know full well, O mighty-armed one, O tiger of the Bhāratas, what devotion the Dharmarāja bears toward you, and what natural affection too.

9.62.52 Even having wrought this slaughter of the offending foe, he burns with grief day and night, and finds no peace at all.

9.62.53 Grieving for you, O tiger among men, and for the renowned Gāndhārī, O best of the Bhāratas, he finds no calm.

9.62.54 Overcome by the deepest shame, he dares not approach you — you who are consumed by sorrow for your sons, your senses confounded in mind.

9.62.55 Having spoken thus to Dhṛtarāṣṭra, O great king, the foremost of the Yadus addressed these supreme words to Gāndhārī, wasted with grief.

9.62.56 O daughter of Subala, hear what I shall say to you, O woman of noble vows. There is no woman equal to you this day in all this world, O auspicious one.

9.62.57 I know, O queen, how in the assembly, in my presence, you spoke a word fraught with righteousness and gain, beneficial to both parties, O gracious lady — yet it was not heeded by your sons.

9.62.58 To Duryodhana, hungry for victory, you spoke a stern word: 'Hear my word, O fool — where righteousness is, there is victory.'

9.62.59 That word of yours, O daughter of a king, has now come wholly true. Knowing this, O gracious one, set not your mind upon grief, and let your thought never turn to the destruction of the Pāṇḍavas.

9.62.60 For you are able, O greatly blessed one, by the power of your austerities, to burn up the earth with all that moves and is unmoving, with an eye kindled by wrath.

9.62.61 Hearing the words of Vāsudeva, Gāndhārī spoke: 'It is even so, O mighty-armed one, as you say, O Keśava.'

9.62.62 My mind, scorched by anguish, had been set trembling; but now, hearing your word, O Janārdana, it has grown steadfast.

9.62.63 For this old, blind king, bereft of his sons, O Keśava, you are now the refuge, together with those heroes, the Pāṇḍavas, O best of men.

9.62.64 Having spoken only this much, covering her face with her garment, Gāndhārī, consumed with sorrow for her sons, broke into loud weeping.

9.62.65 Then the mighty-armed lord Keśava consoled her, wasted with grief, with words fraught with reason and argument.

9.62.66 And having comforted Gāndhārī and Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Mādhava, Keśava, perceived the resolve that the son of Droṇa had conceived.

9.62.67 Then, rising in haste and bowing his head to the feet of Dvaipāyana, O lord of kings, he spoke thus to the Kaurava:

9.62.68 'I take my leave of you, O best of the Kurus; do not set your mind on grief. The son of Droṇa harbors an evil purpose, and for that reason have I risen up in haste; this night his mind has shown itself bent on the slaughter of the Pāṇḍavas.'

9.62.69 Hearing this word, the mighty-armed Dhṛtarāṣṭra, together with Gāndhārī, spoke to Keśava, the slayer of Keśin:

9.62.70 'Go swiftly, O mighty-armed one, and guard the Pāṇḍavas; I shall meet with you again right soon, O Janārdana.' Then Acyuta set forth in haste, together with Dāruka.

9.62.71 When Vāsudeva had departed, O king, Vyāsa of measureless soul, revered by all the worlds, consoled Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the lord of men.

9.62.72 And Vāsudeva too, the righteous-souled, his purpose accomplished, set out from Hāstinapura toward the camp, desiring to behold the Pāṇḍavas, O king.

9.62.73 Reaching the camp by night, he came to the Pāṇḍavas, and having reported all to them, he settled down in their company.

9.63.1 Dhṛtarāṣṭra said: My son, his thighs shattered, fallen to the earth, his head trodden under foot, proud of his might — what words did he utter, O Saṃjaya?

9.63.2 That king, exceedingly prone to wrath and bearing inveterate enmity against the sons of Pāṇḍu, having met with utter ruin in that supreme combat — what did he say?

9.63.3 Saṃjaya said: Hear, O king; I shall relate it as it befell, O ruler of men — what was spoken by the broken king when that calamity had come upon him.

9.63.4 With his thighs shattered, the king, O monarch, was covered over with dust; gathering up his hair, and gazing about at the ten directions,

9.63.5 binding up his hair with effort, hissing like a serpent, with eyes brimming with tears of fury he looked upon me,

9.63.6 and pounding his arms upon the ground again and again, like an elephant in rut, shaking his scattered locks, grinding tooth against tooth, reviling the eldest of the Pāṇḍavas, he sighed and then spoke thus:

9.63.7 'With Bhīṣma, son of Śaṃtanu, as my protector, with Karṇa, foremost of those who bear arms, with Gautama and Śakuni too, and with Droṇa, foremost of those who bear arms —

9.63.8 with Aśvatthāman likewise, and Śalya, and the valiant Kṛtavarman — yet to this state have I come; for Time is hard indeed to overpass.'

9.63.9 'I, the lord of eleven armies, have come to this plight! When Time comes upon him, O mighty-armed one, no one prevails against it.'

9.63.10 'It must be told to those of my own who yet live in this battle — how I was slain by Bhīmasena in violation of the rules of fair fight.'

9.63.11 'Many most cruel deeds have indeed been done by the Pāṇḍavas — against Bhūriśravas, against Karṇa, against Bhīṣma, and against the illustrious Droṇa.'

9.63.12 'And this infamous deed too has been wrought by the cruel Pāṇḍavas, whereby, among the good, they shall come to be despised — such is my conviction.'

9.63.13 'What joy can there be for a man of true worth in a victory won by trickery? And what wise man would deign to commend the breaker of compacts?'

9.63.14 'What learned man would rejoice at a victory gained by unrighteousness, as that wicked son of Pāṇḍu, Vṛkodara, rejoices?'

9.63.15 'And what wonder is there in this — that today, my thighs being broken, my head was crushed with his foot by the enraged Bhīmasena?'

9.63.16 'Against one resplendent, blessed with fortune, and moving honorably among his kin — the man who would act thus, O Saṃjaya, is he then to be esteemed?'

9.63.17 'My mother and my father both know well the duty of the warrior caste; those two, O Saṃjaya, stricken with grief, are to be informed in my words.'

9.63.18 'Sacrifices have I performed, my servants well maintained, the sea-girt earth duly ruled; while my foes yet lived, I stood upon their heads, O Saṃjaya.'

9.63.19 'Gifts have I bestowed according to my power, and kindness done to friends; all my enemies have been crushed — who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.20 'The realms of others have I overrun, and kings I have made to serve me like slaves; good have I done to those dear to me — who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.21 'All my kinsmen have I honored, every worthy person duly revered; the threefold ends of life have all been pursued — who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.22 'My command has held sway over the chief among kings, and honor most hard to win was mine; borne I was by steeds of noble breed — who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.23 'The Veda I have studied, gifts duly bestowed, a span of life free from disease attained; by my own duty I have won the higher worlds — who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.24 'By good fortune I was not vanquished in battle so as to depend upon foes like a menial; by good fortune my ample royal splendor has passed, at my death, to another, O lord.'

9.63.25 'That death which is the desire of warriors who hold fast to their own duty — that very death I have attained; who then has come to a better end than I?'

9.63.26 'By good fortune I never turned back from enmity to be vanquished like a common man; by good fortune I was overthrown without ever stooping to any baseness.'

9.63.27 'As one might slay a man asleep, or off his guard, or by poison — even so, by one who had cast off righteousness, was I slain through the breaking of the compact.'

9.63.28 'The greatly blessed Aśvatthāman, and Kṛtavarman of the Sātvata clan, and Kṛpa, son of Śaradvat — these are to be told in my words:'

9.63.29 'In the Pāṇḍavas, who have so many times acted by unrighteousness and broken their compacts, you must place no trust.'

9.63.30 And the king, your son of truthful valor, spoke also to the messengers: 'Tell them how I was slain in battle by Bhīmasena through unrighteousness.'

9.63.31 'I shall follow after Droṇa, gone to heaven, and both Śalya and Karṇa likewise, and the mighty Vṛṣasena, and Śakuni too, the son of Subala,'

9.63.32 'Jalasaṃdha of great valor, and king Bhagadatta, the son of Somadatta, mighty archer, and Jayadratha the lord of the Sindhus,'

9.63.33 'and my brothers, with Duḥśāsana at their head, equal to my very self, and the valiant son of Duḥśāsana, and Lakṣmaṇa — my own two sons —'

9.63.34 'these and very many others of mine by the thousand I shall follow from behind, like a traveler bereft of his caravan.'

9.63.35 'How, on hearing of her slain brothers and her slain husband, will my sister Duḥśalā fare, wailing aloud, stricken with grief?'

9.63.36 'And my aged father the king, together with Gāndhārī, with his daughters-in-law and their daughters-in-law, lamenting — what refuge shall he find?'

9.63.37 'Surely Lakṣmaṇa's mother too, her son slain and her lord slain, the gracious, large-eyed lady, will swiftly go to her destruction.'

9.63.38 'If Cārvāka the wandering ascetic, that master of speech, comes to know of this, the greatly blessed one will surely exact requital for me.'

9.63.39 'At holy Samantapañcaka, renowned throughout the three worlds, having met my death, I shall attain the everlasting worlds.'

9.63.40 Then thousands of people, their eyes brimming with tears, O honored one, hearing the lament of the king, fled away in all ten directions.

9.63.41 The dread earth, with its seas and forests, with all that moves and is unmoving, then trembled with a roar, and the quarters of the sky grew turbid.

9.63.42 They, coming to the son of Droṇa, reported all as it had befallen — the manner of the mace-duel and the slaying of the king.

9.63.43 Having related this to the son of Droṇa, O Bhārata, they all, brooding for a long while, departed grief-stricken by the way they had come.

9.64.1 Saṃjaya said: Having heard from the messengers that Duryodhana was slain, the great chariot-warriors of the Kauravas who survived the slaughter, O king —

9.64.2 pierced through by sharp arrows, by maces, javelins, and spears — Aśvatthāman, and Kṛpa, and Kṛtavarman of the Sātvatas — came in haste upon swift horses to the field of battle.

9.64.3 There they beheld the great-souled son of Dhṛtarāṣṭra struck down, broken as a mighty sāla tree in the forest is broken by the force of the wind.

9.64.4 writhing upon the ground, drenched with blood, like a great elephant in the wild brought down by a hunter,

9.64.5 rolling about again and again, awash in a flood of blood, fallen as if by chance — like the disk of the sun cast down from the sky,

9.64.6 like an ocean dried up by a mighty gale, like the full moon in the heavens with its orb veiled in mist,

9.64.7 begrimed with dust, long-armed, of prowess equal to an elephant's, that best of kings encircled on every side by dreadful hosts of spirits and flesh-eating beasts, as though by servants greedy to seize his wealth,

9.64.8 his brows knit at the corners of his face, his eyes rolled upward in wrath — that tiger among men still full of fury, like a tiger struck down.

9.64.9 But when those great archers saw the king fallen to the earth, all the chariot-warriors, Kṛpa and the rest, were overcome with a swoon.

9.64.10 Descending from their chariots, they ran to where the king lay, and gazing upon Duryodhana, they all sank down upon the ground.

9.64.11 Then, O great king, the son of Droṇa, his eyes brimming with tears and breathing hard, spoke to that foremost of the Bhāratas, the lord of all the lords of the world.

9.64.12 Surely there is nothing unendurable in the lot of mortals, when you, O tiger among men, lie here smeared with dust.

9.64.13 Having once been a king, having ruled over the whole earth, how is it, O lord of kings, that today you lie alone in a desolate wood?

9.64.14 I do not see Duḥśāsana, nor Karṇa the mighty charioteer, nor all those dear friends—what does this mean, O bull of the Bhāratas?

9.64.15 Hard indeed it is, by any means, to know the course of fate, when you, the lord of the worlds, lie here smeared with dust.

9.64.16 This scorcher of foes, who marched at the head of the anointed kings, now swallows dust along with grass—behold the reversal wrought by time!

9.64.17 Where is that spotless parasol of yours, where the fan, O prince? Where has that mighty army of yours gone, O best of kings?

9.64.18 Hard to fathom, surely, is the course of events when the cause is otherwise than it seems, for you, who were once the teacher of the world, have come to this pass.

9.64.19 Among all mortals fortune is shown to be unstable indeed, now that we behold the grievous calamity of you who once rivalled Indra himself.

9.64.20 Hearing that speech of the deeply grieving man, O king, your son spoke these words befitting the hour.

9.64.21 Wiping his eyes with both hands and shedding the tears born of sorrow, that ruler of men then addressed all those heroes, Kṛpa and the rest:

9.64.22 "Such, men say, is this law of mortals ordained by the Creator: the destruction of all beings, brought about by the turning of time.

9.64.23 This destruction has now overtaken me before your very eyes—I who once protected the earth have come to this end.

9.64.24 By good fortune I never turned my back in battle in any peril; by good fortune I have been slain by the wicked, and that especially through treachery.

9.64.25 By good fortune I, ever eager to fight, kept my resolve unflagging; by good fortune I am slain in battle, my kinsmen and friends already fallen.

9.64.26 And by good fortune I see you delivered from this slaughter of men, safe and sound and whole—that is to me a joy beyond all others.

9.64.27 Let none of you grieve out of affection at my death; if the Vedas are an authority for you, then the imperishable worlds have been won by me.

9.64.28 Though I knew well the might of Kṛṣṇa of boundless splendour, not even by him was I made to fall away from the warrior's law well observed.

9.64.29 That end has been attained by me, and in no way am I to be mourned. You have acted in a manner worthy of yourselves and true to your nature; you strove ever for victory—but fate is hard to overcome."

9.64.30 Having spoken thus far, his eyes troubled with tears, he fell silent, O lord of kings, overwhelmed grievously by his pain.

9.64.31 But seeing the king thus filled with tears and grief, the son of Droṇa blazed up with wrath, like the fire at the dissolution of the world.

9.64.32 And he, possessed by anger, wringing one hand within the other, spoke to the king in a voice broken by tears:

9.64.33 "My father was slain by base men through a most cruel deed; yet I do not grieve so much for that, O king, as I grieve this day for you.

9.64.34 Hear now this word of mine, O lord, as I speak in truth—by my sacrifices and works of merit, by my gifts, by my righteousness, and by my good deeds:

9.64.35 This very day, before the eyes of Vāsudeva himself, I will by every means lead all the Pāñcālas to the dwelling-place of the king of the dead. But you, O great king, must grant me your leave."

9.64.36 Hearing this speech of Droṇa's son, which gladdened his heart, the Kaurava spoke this word to Kṛpa: "Teacher, bring quickly a pitcher filled with water."

9.64.37 Understanding that command of the king, the best of brāhmaṇas took up a brimming pitcher and drew near to the king.

9.64.38 Then your son spoke to him, O great king, O lord of peoples: "By my command, O foremost of the twice-born, let the son of Droṇa be consecrated to the office of commander-in-chief—blessings upon you—if you wish to do what pleases me."

9.64.39 At the king's command a brāhmaṇa too must fight, and especially one who walks in the law of the warriors—so the knowers of dharma have declared.

9.64.40 Hearing then the king's word, Kṛpa, the son of Śaradvat, by the king's command consecrated the son of Droṇa to the command of the army.

9.64.41 Once consecrated, O great king, he embraced that best of kings and set forth, making all the quarters resound with his lion's roar.

9.64.42 And Duryodhana too, O lord of kings, drenched in a flood of blood, then passed into that night which struck terror into all beings.

9.64.43 Then, withdrawing swiftly from that field of battle, O king, their minds shaken with grief, they sank into the helplessness of brooding thought.