Indeed, our army is being dispersed like a risen mass
of clouds dispersed by the wind. Encountering
Arjuna, our host breaks like a boat on the ocean.
The loud wails, O king, of the foremost of warriors,
O monarch, flying away from the field, or falling
down in consequence of the arrows sped from Gandiva,
are being heard. Hear, O tiger among car-warriors,
the sound of drums and cymbals near Arjuna’s
car at dead of night, resembling the deep roll of
thunder in the welkin. Hear also the loud wails
(of afflicted combatants) and the tremendous leonine
shouts, and diverse other noises in the vicinity of
Arjuna’s car. Here, however, this Satyaki,
this foremost one of the Satwata race, stayeth amid
us. If this object of our aim can be struck down,
we can then vanquish all our foes. Similarly,
the son of the Panchala king is engaged with Drona.
He is encompassed on all sides by many heroic and
foremost of car-warriors. If we can slay Satyaki
and Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Prishata without doubt,
O king, victory will be ours. Surrounding these
two heroes, these two mighty car-warriors, as we did
the son of Subhadra we will strive, O king, to slay
them, viz., this son of Vrishni’s race and
this son of Prishata. Savyasachin, O Bharata,
is before us, coming towards this division of Drona,
knowing that Satyaki is engaged here with many chief
among the Kurus. Let a large number of our foremost
of car-warriors proceed thither, so that Partha may
not be able to come to the rescue of Satyaki, now
encompassed by many. Let these great heroes speedily
shoot clouds of shafts with great force, so that Satyaki
of Madhu’s race may by speedily despatched to
Yama’s abode.’ Ascertaining this to
be the opinion of Karna, thy son, addressing Suvala’s
son in the battle, like the illustrious Indra addressing
Vishnu, said these words, Surrounded by ten thousand
unretreating elephants and ten thousand cars also,
proceed against Dhananjaya! Duhsasana and Durvishaha
and Suvahu and Dushpradharshana—these will
follow thee, surrounded by a large number of foot-soldiers.
O uncle, slay those great bowmen, viz., the two
Krishnas, and Yudhishtira, and Nakula, and Sahadeva,
and Bhima, the son of Pandu My hope of victory resteth
on thee, like that of the gods on their chief Indra.
O uncle, slay the son of Kunti, like (Kartikeya) slaying
the Asuras.’ Thus addressed and urged by
thy son, Sakuni, clad in mail, proceeded against the
Parthas, accompanied by a large force as also by thy
sons, in order to consume the sons of Pandu. Then
commenced a great battle between the warriors of thy
army and the foe. When Suvala’s son, O
king, (thus) proceeded against the Pandavas, the Suta’s
son, accompanied by a large force, quickly advanced
against Satyaki, shooting many hundreds of shafts.
Indeed, thy warriors, combining together, encompassed
Satyaki. Then Bharadwaja’s son, proceeding
against the car of Dhrishtadyumna, fought a wonderful
and fierce battle at dead of night, O bull of Bharata’s
race, with the brave Dhrishtadyumna and the Panchalas.’”