are Atirathas.  Kripa and the son of Drona are invincible; these mighty warriors have been installed by Dhritarashtra’s son in the command of his army.  All these are versed in the Vedas, are heroic, and possessed of the knowledge of every weapon.  Endued with great strength, these always desire to encounter Arjuna in fight.  And Karna also of the Suta caste is a mighty warrior versed in celestial weapons.  In respect of the impetus of his weapons, he is endued with the strength of the Wind-god.  Himself like a flame of fire, the arrows (proceeding from him) constitute its tongues.  The slaps of his left hand cased in leathern fence constitute the crackling of that flame.  The dust of the battle-field is its smoke.  Urged by the sons of Dhritarashtra even as the wind urgeth the fire, Karna like unto the all-consuming fire at the end of the Yuga that is sent by Death himself, will, without doubt, consume my troops like unto a heap of straw.  Only that mighty mass of clouds called Arjuna, aided by Krishna like unto a powerful wind, with celestial weapon representing its fierce lightning, the white steeds, the rows of white cranes coursing underneath and the unbearable Gandiva, the rainbow ahead, is capable of extinguishing the blazing flame represented by Karna by means of its arrowy showers let off with unflagging steadiness.  That conqueror of hostile cities, Vibhatsu, will, without doubt, succeed in obtaining from Indra himself all the celestial weapons with their fullness and life.  Alone he is equal, I think, unto them all.  Otherwise it is impossible (for us) to vanquish in fight all those foes, who have attained to eminent success in all their purposes.  We shall behold Arjuna, that repressor of foes, fully equipped with celestial weapons, for Vibhatsu having once undertaken a task, never, droopeth under its weight.  Without that hero, however, that best of men, ourselves, with Krishna, cannot be at rest in Kamyaka.  Therefore, do thou mention some other wood that is sacred and delightful, and abounds in food and fruits, and that is inhabited by men of pious practices:—­where we may pass some time, expecting the warlike Arjuna of unbaffled prowess, like the Chataka in expectation of gathering clouds.  Do thou tell us of some asylums open to the regenerate ones, and lakes and streams and beautiful mountains.  O Brahmana, deprived of Arjuna, I do not like to stay in this wood of Kamyaka.  We wish to go somewhere else.’”

SECTION LXXXVII

Vaisampayana said, “Beholding the Pandavas afflicted with anxiety and depressed in spirits, Dhaumya, who resembled Vrihaspati, spake thus, comforting them, ’O bull of the Bharata race, O sinless one, listen to me as I mention certain sacred asylums and regions and tirthas and mountains that are approved of by Brahmanas.  O king, listen to me as I speak, thyself with the daughter of Drupada and thy brothers, wilt, O lord of men, be relieved from grief.  And, O