sun and the cardinal and the subsidiary points of the compass.  And the splendour, like that of the blue lotus, of darts with polished points, of bearded lances hurled (at the foe), of well-tempered sabres and scimitars, of variegated coats of mail and of the ornaments (on the persons of the warriors), illumined the welkin and the cardinal and the subsidiary points with its effulgence.  And the field of battle in many places, O king, shone in consequence of the bodies of monarchs whose effulgence resembled that of the moon and the sun.  And brave car-warriors, tigers among men shone in that battle, O king, like the planets in the firmament.  And Bhishma, that foremost of car-warriors, excited with rage, checked the mighty Bhimasena in the very sight of the troops.  And the impetuous shafts shot by Bhishma, furnished with golden wings, and whetted on stone, and rubbed with oil pierced Bhima in that battle.  Then Bhimasena endued with great strength hurled at him, O Bharata, a dart of fierce impetuosity that resembled a wrathful snake.  But Bhishma in that combat cut off with straight shafts that dart with staff made of gold and difficult of being borne, as it coursed impetuously towards him.  And with another broad-headed shaft, sharp and well-tempered, he cut off Bhimasena’s bow, O Bharata, into two parts.  Then, O king, in that battle, Satyaki, coming quickly towards Bhishma, pierced thy sire with innumerable keen-edged and sharp-pointed shafts of fierce impetuosity shot from his bowstring drawn to the ear.  Then Bhishma, aiming an exceedingly fierce shaft, felled the charioteer of the Vrishni hero from his box in the car.  And when the charioteer of Satyaki’s car was thus slain, his steeds, O king, bolted away.  Endued with the speed of the tempest or the mind, they ran wild over the field.  Then cries were uttered by the whole army which became a loud uproar.  And exclamation of oh and alas arose from the high-souled warriors of the Pandava army.  And those cries-said—­Run, seize, check the horses, go in haste.  And this uproar followed Yuyudhana’s car.  Meanwhile, Bhishma the son of Santanu began to slay the Pandava forces like Indra slaying the Danavas.  But the Panchalas and the Somakas, though slain by Bhishma thus, forming yet a laudable resolution, rushed towards Bhishma.  And other warriors of the Pandava army, headed by Dhrishtadyumna, and desirous of slaughtering the ranks of thy son, rushed towards Santanu’s son in that battle.  And so also, O king, the warriors of thy army, headed by Bhishma and Drona, impetuously rushed towards their foes.  And thereupon another battle took place.”

SECTION LXXIII