SECTION LI

Sanjaya said, “Beholding the mighty and terrible array called Krauncha formed by Pandu’s son of immeasurable energy, thy son, approaching the preceptor, and Kripa, and Salya, O sire, and Somadatta’s son, and Vikarna, and Aswatthaman also, and all his brothers too, headed by Dussasana, O Bharata, and other immeasurable heroes assembled there for battle, said these timely words, gladdening them all, ’Armed with various kinds of weapons, ye all are conversant with the meaning of the scriptures.  Ye mighty car-warriors, each of you is singly capable of slaying in battle the sons of Pandu with their troops.  How much more then, when ye are united together.  Our host, therefore, which is protected by Bhishma, is immeasurable, while that host of theirs, which is protected by Bhima, is measurable.[359] Let the Samsthanas, the Surasenas, the Venikas, the Kukkuras, the Rechakas, the Trigartas, the Madrakas, the Yavanas, with Satrunjayas, and Dussasana, and that excellent hero Vikarna, and Nanda and Upanandaka, and Chitrasena, along with the Manibhadrakas, protect Bhishma with their (respective) troops,’—­Then Bhishma and Drona and thy sons, O sire, formed a mighty array for resisting that of the Parthas.  And Bhishma, surrounded by a large body of troops, advanced, leading a mighty army, like the chief of the celestials himself.  And that mighty bowman, the son of Bharadwaja, endued with great energy, followed him with the Kuntalas, the Dasarnas, and the Magadhas, O king, and with the Vidarbhas, the Melakas, the Karnas, and the Pravaranas also.  And the Gandharas, the Sindhusauviras, the Sivis and the Vasatis with all their combatants also, (followed) Bhishma, that ornament of battle, and Sakuni, with all his troops protected the son of Bharadwaja.  And then king Duryodhana, united with all his brothers, with the Aswalakas, the Vikarnas, the Vamanas, the Kosalas, the Daradas, the Vrikas, as also the Kshudrakas and the Malavas advanced cheerfully against the Pandava host.  And Bhurisravas, and Sala, and Salya, and Bhagadatta, O sire, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, protected the left flank.  And Somadatta, and Susarman, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas and Satayus, and Srutayus, were on the right flank.  And Aswatthaman, and Kripa, and Kritavarman of Satwata’s race, with a very large division of the troops, were, stationed at the rear of the army.  And behind them were the rulers of many provinces, and Ketumat, and Vasudana, and the powerful son of the king of Kasi.  Then all the troops on thy side cheerfully waiting for battle, O Bharata, blew their conches with great pleasure, and set up leonine roars.  And hearing the shouts of those (combatants) filled with delight the venerable Kuru grandsire, endued with great prowess, uttering a leonine roar, blew his conch.  Thereupon, conches and drums and diverse kinds of Pesis and cymbals, were sounded at once by others, and the noise made