encounter with him (in the guise of) a hunter, still existeth with me.  Indeed, O tiger among men, that weapon which the Lord of all creatures useth at the end of Yuga for destroying created things, existeth with me.  Ganga’s son knoweth not that weapon; nor Drona nor Gautama (Kripa); nor Drona’s son, O king!  How, therefore, can the Suta’s son know it.  It is not, however, proper to slay ordinary men in battle by means of celestial weapons.  We shall (on the other band) vanquish our foes in a fair fight.  Then, these tigers among men, O king, are thy allies!  All of them are well-versed in celestial weapons, and all of them are eager for battle.  All of them after their initiation in the Vedas, have undergone the final bath in sacrifices.  All of them are unvanquished.  They are competent, O son of Pandu, to slay in battle the army of even the celestials.  Thou hast for thy allies Sikhandin, and Yuyudhana and Dhristadyumna of Prishata’s race; and Bhimasena, and these twins, and Yudhamanyu, and Uttamaujas, and Virata and Drupada who are equal in battle unto Bhishma and Drona; and the mighty-armed Sankha, and Hidimva’s son of great might; and this latter’s son Anjanparvan endued with great strength and prowess; and Sini’s descendant of mighty arms and well-versed in battle, and the mighty Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi!  Thou art thyself, again, competent to exterminate the three worlds!  O thou that art endued with effulgence equal unto that of Sakra himself, I know it, O Kaurava, for it is manifest, that that man upon whom thou mayest cast thy eyes in anger is sure to be annihilated!’”

SECTION CXCVIII

“Vaisampayana said, ’Next morning, under a cloudless sky, all the kings, urged by Dhritarashtra’s son, Duryodhana,—­set out against the Pandavas.  And all of them had purified themselves by baths, were decked in garlands, and attired in white robes.  And having poured libations on fire, caused Brahmanas to utter benedictions on them, they took up their weapons and raised their (respective) standards.  And all of them were conversant with the Vedas, and endued with great bravery, and had practised excellent vows.  And all of them were grantors of (other people’s) wishes, and all were skilled in battle.  Endued with great strength, they set out, reposing confidence on one another, and with singleness of purpose desiring to win in battle the highest regions.  And first Vinda and Anuvinda, both of Avanti, and Kekayas, and the Vahlikas, all set out with Bharadwaja’s son at their head.  Then came Aswatthaman, and Santanu’s son (Bhishma), and Jayadratha of the country of the Sindhu, and the kings of the southern and the western countries and of the hilly regions, and Sakuni, the ruler of the Gandharas, and all the chiefs of the eastern and the northern regions, and the Sakas, the Kiratas, and Yavanas, the Sivis and the Vasatis with their Maharathas at the heads of their respective divisions.  All these great car-warriors