forward leaps of the warriors for its tempest, resembled the din made by the (actual) ocean when agitated.  And kings in thousands, commanded by Yudhishthira, with their (respective) troops fell upon the ranks of thy son.  And the encounter between the combatants of the two hosts was fierce in the extreme.  And no difference could be perceived between the combatants of our side or that of the foe, while battling, or retreating in broken array or rallying again to the fight.  In that terrific and awful battle, thy father (Bhishma) shone, transcending that countless host.

SECTION XLV

Sanjaya said, “On the forenoon of that awful day, O king, the terrible battle that mangled the bodies of (so many) kings commenced.  And the loud shouts, resembling leonine roars of the Kurus and the Srinjayas, both desirous of victory in battle, made both the welkin and the earth resound therewith.  And a tumultuous uproar was heard mingled with the flaps of leathern fences and the blare of conches.  And many were the leonine roars that rose there of men shouting against one another.  And, O bull of Bharata’s race, the sound of bowstrings stretched by (hands cased in) fences, the heavy tread of infantry, the furious neigh of chargers, the falling of sticks and iron hooks (on the beads of elephants), the clash of weapons, the jingle of bells of elephants rushing against one another, and the clatter of cars resembling the roar of clouds, mingled together, produced a loud uproar making one’s hair stand on end.  And all the Kuru warriors, reckless of their very lives and with cruel intentions, rushed, with standards upraised, against the Pandavas.  And Santanu’s son himself, taking up a terrible bow that resembled the rod of Death, rushed, O king, on the field of battle, against Dhananjaya.  And Arjuna also, endued with great energy, taking up the bow Gandiva celebrated overall the world, rushed, on the field of battle, against Ganga’s son.  And both those tigers among the Kurus became desirous of slaying each other.  The mighty son of Ganga however, piercing in battle the son of Pritha could not make him waver.  And so, O king, the son of Pandu also could not make Bhishma waver in battle.  And the mighty bowman Satyaki rushed against Kritavarman.  And the battle between these two was fierce in the extreme and made the hair (of onlookers) stand on end.  And Satyaki afflicted Kritavarman, and Kritavarman afflicted Satyaki, with loud shouts and each weakened the other.  And pierced all over with arrows those mighty warriors shone like two blossoming Kinsukas in spring adorned with flowers.  And the mighty bowman Abhimanyu battled with Vrihadvala.  Soon, however, in that encounter, O king, the ruler of Kosala cut off the standard and overthrew the charioteer of Subhadra’s son.  The son of Subhadra then upon the overthrow of his charioteer, was filled with wrath and pierced Vrihadvala, O king, with nine shafts, and with a couple