of illusion, confounded the son of Drona in that battle.  Then all thy troops, in consequence of that illusion, turned their backs upon the field.  They beheld one another cut down and lying prostrate on the surface of the earth, writhing convulsively, perfectly helpless, and bathed in blood.  Drona and Duryodhana and Salya and Aswatthaman, and other great bowmen that were regarded as foremost among the Kauravas, also seemed to fly away.  All the car-warriors seemed to be crushed, and all the kings seemed to be slain.  And horses and horse-riders seemed to be cut down in thousands.  Beholding all this, thy troops fled away towards their tents.  And although, O king, both myself and Devavrata cried out at the top of our voices, saying, ’Fight, do not fly away, all this is Rakshasa illusion in battle, applied by Ghatotkacha.’  Yet they stopped not, their senses having been confounded.  Although both of us said so, still struck with panic, they gave no credit to our words.  Beholding them fly away the Pandavas regarded the victory to be theirs.  With Ghatotkacha (among them) they uttered many leonine shouts.  And all around they filled the air with their shouts mingled with the blare of their conches and the beat of their drums.  It was thus that thy whole army, routed by the wicked Ghatotkacha, towards the hour of sunset, fled away in all directions.’”

SECTION XCVI

Sanjaya said, “After that great battle, king Duryodhana, approaching Ganga’s son and saluting him with humility, began to narrate to him all that had happened about the victory won by Ghatotkacha and his own defeat.  That invincible warrior, O king, sighing repeatedly, said these words unto Bhishma, the grandsire of the Kurus, ’O lord, relying upon thee, as Vasudeva hath been (relied upon) by the foe, a fierce war hath been commenced by me with the Pandavas.  These eleven Akshauhinis of celebrated troops that I have, are, with myself, obedient to thy command, O chastiser of foes.  O tiger among the Bharatas, though thus situated, yet have I been defeated into battle by the Pandava warriors headed by Bhimasena relying upon Ghatotkacha.  It is this that consumeth my limbs like fire consuming dry tree.  O blessed one, O chastiser of foes, I therefore, desire, through thy grace, O grandsire, to slay Ghatotkacha myself, that worst of Rakshasas, relying upon thy invincible self.  It behoveth thee to see that wish of mine may be fulfilled.’  Hearing these words of the king, that foremost one among the Bharatas, viz., Bhishma, the son of Santanu, said these words unto Duryodhana, ’Listen, O king, to these words of mine that I say unto thee, O thou of Kuru’s race, about the way in which thou, O chastiser of foes, shouldst always behave.  One’s own self, under all circumstances, should be protected in battle, O repressor of foes.  Thou shouldst always, O sinless one, battle with king Yudhishthira—­the Just, or with Arjuna, or with the twins, or with Bhimasena.