surrounded, O king, on all sides, by thy sons, began to consume the Pandava host, like fire consuming a heap of cotton.  Beholding him radiant like the sun and endued with the splendour of a blazing fire, and fiercely and continually, O king, emitting his ray-like arrows, with bow incessantly drawn to a circle and scorching everything around like the sun himself, and consuming his foes, there was none in that army that could check him.  The shafts of Drona cutting off the head of all those that ventured to approach him in the face, penetrated into the earth.  Thus slaughtered by that illustrious warrior, the Pandava host, once more fled away in fear in the very sight of Arjuna.  Beholding that force, O Bharata, thus routed on that night by Drona, Jishnu asked Govinda to proceed towards Drona’s car.  Then he of Dasarha’s race urged those steeds, white as silver or milk or the Kunda flower, or the moon, towards the car of Drona.  Bhimasena also, beholding Phalguna proceed towards Drona, commanded his own charioteer, saying, ‘Bear me towards Drona’s division.’  Hearing those words of Bhima, his driver Visoka urged his steeds, following in the wake, O chief of the Bharatas, of Jishnu, of sure aim.  Beholding the two brothers resolutely proceeding towards Drona’s division, the mighty car-warriors among the Panchalas, the Srinjayas, the Matsyas, the Chedis, the Karushas, the Kosalas, and the Kaikeyas, O king, all followed them.  Then, O monarch, took place a terrible battle that made the hair stand on end.  With two mighty throngs of cars, Vibhatsu and Vrikodara attacked thy host; the former on the right and the latter in the front.  Seeing those tigers among men, viz., Bhimasena and Dhananjaya (thus engaged), Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, and Satyaki of great strength, rushed behind.  Then, O king, an uproar arose there in consequence of the two hosts striking each other, that resembled the noise made by many seas lashed into fury by a tempest.  Beholding Satyaki in battle, Aswatthaman, filled with rage at the slaughter of Somadatta’s son, rushed furiously against that Satwata hero at the van of battle.  Seeing him rush in that battle against the car of Sini’s grandson, Bhimasena’s son, the gigantic Rakshasa, Ghatotkacha, endued with great strength, rushed at him, riding on a huge and terrible car made of black iron covered with bear-skins.  Both the height and the width of that large car measured thirty nalwas.[197] Equipped with machines set in proper places it was; its rattle resembled that of a mighty mass of clouds.  No steeds or elephants were yoked unto it, but, instead, beings that looked like elephants.[198] On its tall standard perched a prince of vultures with outstretched wings and feet, with eyes wide-expanded, and shrieking awfully.  And it was equipped with red flags and decked with the entrails of various animals.  And that huge vehicle was furnished with eight wheels.  Riding on it, Ghatotkacha was surrounded by a full Akshauhini of fierce-looking Rakshasas armed with