[53] The Roy Press edition adds here a line which looks very
    much like an interpolation.

“Arjuna said, ’Firmly stand thou on the car, pressing thy feet on it, and tightly catch hold of the bridles, for I will blow the conch again.’”

Vaisampayana said, “Arjuna then blew his conch again, that conch which filled foes with grief and enhanced the joy of friends.  And the sound was so loud that it seemed to split hills and mountains, and pierce mountain-caves and the cardinal points.  And Uttara once again sat down on the car, clinging to it in fear.  And with the blare of the conch and the rattle of the car-wheels, and the twang of the Gandiva, the earth itself seemed to tremble.  And beholding Uttara’s fight, Dhananjaya began to comfort him again.’

“Meanwhile, Drona said, ’From the rattle of the car, and from the manner in which the clouds have enveloped the sky and the earth itself trembles, this warrior can be none else than Savyasachin.  Our weapons do not shine, our steeds are dispirited, and our fires, though fed with fuel, do not blare up.  All this is ominous.  All our animals are setting up a frightful howl, gazing towards the sun.  The crows are perching on our banners.  All this is ominous.  Yon vultures and kites on our right portend a great danger.  That jackal also, running through our ranks, waileth dismally.  Lo, it hath escaped unstruck.  All this portends a heavy calamity.  The bristles also of ye all are on their ends.  Surely, this forebodes a great destruction of Kshatriyas in battle.  Things endued with light are all pale; beasts and birds look fierce; and there are to be witnessed many terrific portents indicative of the destruction of Kshatriyas.  And these omens forebode great havoc among ourselves.  O king, thy ranks seem to be confounded by these blazing meteors, and thy animals look dispirited and seem to be weeping.  Vultures and kites are wheeling all around thy troops.  Thou shalt have to repent upon beholding thy army afflicted by Partha’s arrows.  Indeed, our ranks seem to have been already vanquished, for none is eager to go to fight.  All our warriors are of pale face, and almost deprived of their senses.  Sending the kine ahead we should stand here, ready to strike, with all our warriors arrayed in order of battle.’”

SECTION XLVII

Vaisampayana said, “King Duryodhana then, on the field of battle said unto Bhishma, and unto Drona—­that tiger among warriors, and unto Kripa—­that mighty car-warrior, these words, ’Both myself and Karna had said this unto the preceptors.[54] I refer to the subject again, for I am not satisfied with having said it once.  Even this was the pledge of the sons of Pandu that if defeated (at dice) they would reside to our knowledge in countries and woods for twelve years, and one more year unknown to us.  That thirteenth year, instead of being over, is yet running.  Vibhatsu, therefore, who is still to