up his mind for Sweta’s destruction, having heard the words of the celestial messenger.  Though baffled (by Sweta), thy sire Devavrata then that mighty car-warrior quickly taking up another bow that resembled the bow of Sakra himself in splendour, stringed it in a moment.  Then thy sire, O chief of the Bharatas, beholding that mighty car-warrior Sweta, though the latter was then surrounded by those tigers among men with Bhimasena at their head,—­(thy sire) the son of Ganga-advanced steadily for the sake of the generalissimo Sweta alone.  Beholding Bhishma advance, Bhimasena of great prowess pierced him with sixty shafts.  But that mighty car-warrior, thy sire Devavrata, checking both Bhimasena and Abhimanyu and other car-warriors with terrible shafts, struck him with three straight arrows.  And the grandsire of the Bharatas also struck Satyaki, in that combat, with a hundred arrows, and Dhrishtadyumna with twenty and the Kekaya brothers with five.  And checking all those great bowmen with terrible arrows, thy sire Devavrata advanced towards Sweta alone.  Then taking out an arrow resembling Death’s self and capable of bearing a great strain and incapable of being resisted, the powerful Bhishma placed it on his bowstring.  And that shaft, furnished with wings and duly endued with the force of the Brahma weapon, was seen by the gods and Gandharvas and Pisachas and Uragas, and Rakshasas.  And that shaft, of splendour like that of a blazing fire, piercing through his coat of mail (passed through his body and) struck into the earth, with a flash like that of heaven’s bolt.  Like the Sun when speedily retiring to his western chambers taking along with him the rays of light, even thus that shaft passed out of Sweta’s body, bearing away with itself his life.  Thus slain in battle by Bhishma, we beheld that tiger among men fall down like the loosened crest of a mountain.  And all the mighty car-warriors of the Kshatriya race belonging to the Pandava side indulged in lamentations.  Thy sons, however, and all the Kurus, were filled with delight.  Then, O king, beholding Sweta overthrown, Dussasana danced in joy over the field in accompaniment With the loud music of conches and drums.  And when that great bowman was slain by Bhishma, that ornament of battle, the mighty bowmen (of the Pandava side) with Sikhandin at their head, trembled in fear.  Then when their commander was slain, Dhananjaya, O king, and he of Vrishni’s race, slowly withdrew the troops (for their nightly rest).  And then, O Bharata, the withdrawal took place of both theirs and thine, while thine and theirs were frequently setting up loud roars.  And the mighty car-warriors of the Parthas entered (their quarters) cheerlessly, thinking, O chastiser of foes, of that awful slaughter in single combat (of their commander).”

SECTION XLIX