terrible fear possessed me.  And then in a hurry, he spake unto me, saying, “O Partha, for the sake of nectar, there had taken place a mighty conflict between the gods and the demons.  I had seen that (encounter), O sinless one.  And on the occasion of the destruction of Samvara, there had occurred a dreadful and mighty contest.  Nevertheless I had acted as charioteer to the lord of the celestials.  In the same way, on the occasion of the slaying of Vritra, the steeds had been conducted by me.  And I had also beheld the high and terrific encounter with Virochana’s son, and, O Pandava, with Vala, and with Prahrada and with others also.  In these exceedingly dreadful battles, I was present; but, O Pandu’s son, never (before) had I lost my senses.  Surely the Greatfather hath ordained the destruction of all creatures; for this battle cannot be for any other purpose than destruction of the universe.”  Having heard these words of his, “pacifying my perturbation by my own effort, I will destroy the mighty energy of the illusion spread by the Danavas” quoth I unto the terrified Matali.  “Behold the might of my arms, and the power of my weapons and of the bow, Gandiva.  To-day even by (the help of) illusion-creating arms, will I dispel this deep gloom and also this horrible illusion of theirs.  Do not fear, O charioteer.  Pacify thyself.”  Having said this, O lord of men, I created for the good of the celestials, an illusion of arms capable of bewildering all beings.  And when (their) illusion had been dispelled, some of the foremost amongst the Asuras, of unrivalled prowess, again spread diverse kinds of illusion.  Thereupon, now (the world) displayed itself, and now it was devoured by darkness; and now the world disappeared from view and now it was submerged under water.  And when it had brightened up, Matali, sitting in front of the car, with the wellconducted steeds, began to range that hair-erecting field.  Then the fierce Nivata-Kavachas assailed me.  And finding my opportunity, I began to send them to the mansion of Yama.  Thereupon, in that conflict then raging, calculated to annihilate the Nivata-Kavachas on a sudden, I could not see the Danavas concealed by illusion.’”

SECTION CLXXI

“Arjuna continued, ’Remaining invisible the Daityas began to fight with the help of illusion.  And I too fought with them, resorting to the energy of visible weapons.  And the shafts duly discharged from the Gandiva, began to sever their heads at those different places where they were respectively stationed.  And thus assailed by me in the conflict, the Nivata-Kavachas, all on a sudden withdrawing the illusion, entered into their own city.  And when the Daityas had fled, and when all had become visible, I there discovered hundreds and thousands of the slain.  And there I saw by hundreds their shivered weapons,