“The mighty Dhrishtaketu, excited with wrath, speedily pierced the son of Somadatta, O king, with ninety shafts in the chest.  And the son of Somadatta looked highly resplendent with those shafts on his chest, like the sun, O king, with his rays at mid-day.  Bhurisravas, however, in that battle, with his excellent shafts, deprived Dhrishtaketu, that mighty car-warrior, of his car, slaying his charioteer and steeds.  And beholding him deprived of his car, and his steeds and charioteer slain, Bhurisravas covered Dhrishtaketu in that combat with a thick shower of arrows.  The high-souled Dhrishtaketu then.  O sire, abandoning that car of his, mounted upon the vehicle of Satanika.  Chitrasena, and Vikarna, O king, and also Durmarshana,—­these car-warriors cased in golden mail,—­all rushed against the son of Subhadra.  Then a fierce battle took place between Abhimanyu and those warriors, like the battle of the body, O king, with wind, bile, and phlegm.[419] That tiger among men, however, (viz., Abhimanyu), having, O king, deprived thy sons of their cars, slew them not, remembering Bhima’s words.[420] Then during the progress of the fight, Kunti’s son (Arjuna), of white steeds, beholding Bhishma, who was incapable of being vanquished by very gods, proceeding to rescue thy sons in view of Abhimanyu—­a boy and alone though a mighty car-warrior, addressed Vasudeva and said these words, ’Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesa, to that spot where are those numerous car-warriors.  They are many in number, brave, accomplished in arms, invincible in battle.  Guide the horses so, O Madhava, that the foe may not be able to slay our troops.’  Thus urged by Kunti’s son of immeasurable energy, he of Vrishni’s race then drove that car, unto which were yoked white steeds, to battle.  When Arjuna, excited with rage, thus proceeded towards thy army, a loud uproar, O sire, arose among thy troops.[421] The son of Kunti then, having come up to those kings that were protecting Bhishma, (first) addressed Susarman, O king, and said these words, ’I know thee to be foremost in battle, and a dire enemy (of ours) of old.  Behold to-day the terrible fruit of that evil behaviour (of thine).[422] I will today cause thee to visit the manes of thy ancestors.’  That leader of car-divisions, Susarman, however, hearing these harsh words uttered by that slayer of foes viz., Vibhatsu, told him nothing (in reply), well or ill. (But) approaching the heroic Arjuna, with a large number of kings in his train, and surrounding him in that battle, he covered him aided by thy sons, O sinless one, with arrows from all sides, viz., front, rear, and flanks, like the clouds covering the maker of day.  Then, O Bharata, a dreadful battle took place between thy army and the Pandavas, in which blood ran like water.”

SECTION LXXXVI