white umbrella with ivory handle, raised over his head, looked exceedingly beautiful; and many great Rishis walked around the king[115] uttering words in his praise.  And many priests, and regenerate Rishis and Siddhas, uttering hymns in his praise[116] wished him, as they walked around, the destructions of his enemies, by the aid of Japas, and Mantras, efficacious drugs, and diverse propitiatory ceremonies.  That high-souled chief of the Kurus, then giving away unto the Brahmanas kine and fruits and flowers and golden coins along with cloths[117] proceeded like Sakra, the chief of the celestials.  The car of Arjuna, furnished with a hundred bells, decked with Jamvunada gold of the best kind, endued with excellent wheels, possessed of the effulgence of fire, and unto which were yoked white steeds, looked exceedingly brilliant like a thousand suns.[118] And on that ape-bannered car the reins of which were held by Kesava, stood Arjuna with Gandiva and arrows in hand—­a bowman whose peer exists not on earth, nor ever will.[119] For crushing thy sons’ troops he who assumeth the most awful form,—­who, divested of weapons, with only his bare hands, poundeth to dust men, horses, and elephants,—­that strong-armed Bhimasena, otherwise called Vrikodara, accompanied by the twins, became the protector of the heroic car-warriors (of the Pandava) army.  Like unto a furious prince of lions of sportive gait, or like the great Indra himself with (earthly) body on the Earth, beholding that invincible Vrikodara, like unto a proud leader of an elephantine herd, stationed in the van (of the army), the warriors on thy side, their strength weakened by fear, began to tremble like elephants sunk in mire.

“Unto that invincible prince Gudakesa staying in the midst of his troops, Janardana, O chief of Bharata’s race, said—­He, who scorching us with his wrath, stayeth in the midst of his forces, he, who will attack our troops like a lion, he, who performed three hundred horse-sacrifices,—­that banner of Kuru’s race, that Bhishma,—­stayeth yonder!  Yon ranks around him on all sides great warriors like the clouds shrouding the bright luminary.  O foremost of men, slaying yon troops, seek battle with yonder bull of Bharata’s race.”

SECTION XXIII

Sanjaya said,—­“Beholding the Dhartarashtra army approach for fight, Krishna said these words for Arjuna’s benefit.”

“The holy one said,—­’Cleansing thyself, O mighty-armed one, utter on the eve of the battle thy hymn to Durga for (compassing) the defeat of the foe.”

Sanjaya continued.—­Thus addressed on the eve of battle by Vasudeva endued with great intelligence, Pritha’s son Arjuna, alighting from his car, said the following hymn with joined hands.