the mighty Bhimasena as Death himself.  Then like the clouds pouring torrents of rain on the mountain breast, Drona in that battle covered with arrows from every side that hero who was thus consuming thy sons.  The prowess that we then beheld of Kunti’s son was exceedingly wonderful, for though held in check by Drona, he still slew thy sons.  Indeed, as a bull beareth a shower of rain falling from above.  Bhima cheerfully bore that shower of arrows shot by Drona.  Wonderful, O monarch, was the feat that Vrikodara achieved there, for he slew thy sons in that battle and resisted Drona the while.  Indeed, the elder brother of Arjuna sported amongst those heroic sons o thine, like a mighty tiger, O king, among a herd of deer.  As a wolf, staying in the midst of a herd of deer, would chase and frighten those animals, so did Vrikodara, in that battle chase and frighten thy sons.

“Meanwhile, Ganga’s son, and Bhagadatta, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., Gautama, began to resist Arjuna, that impetuous son of Pandu.  That Atiratha, baffling with his weapons the weapons of those adversaries of his in that battle, despatched many prominent heroes of thy army to the abode of Death.  Abhimanyu also, with his shafts, deprived that renowned and foremost of car-warriors, viz., king Amvashta, of his car.  Deprived of his car and about to be slain by the celebrated son of Subhadra, that king quickly jumped down from his car in shame, and hurled his sword in that battle at the high-souled Abhimanyu.  Then, that mighty monarch got up on the car of Hridika’s son, conversant with all movements in battle, Subhadra’s son, that slayer of hostile heroes, beholding that sword coursing towards him, baffled it by the celerity of his movements.  Seeing that sword thus baffled in that battle by Subhadra’s son, loud cries of ‘well done’ ‘well done’ were, O king, heard among the troops.  Other warriors headed by Dhrishtadyumna battled with thy troops, while thy troops, also, all battled with those of the Pandavas.  Then, O Bharata, fierce was the engagement that took place between thine and theirs, that combatants smiting one another with great force and achieving the most difficult feats.  Brave combatants, O sire, seizing one another by the hair, fought using their nails and teeth, and fists and knees, and palms and swords, and their well-proportioned arms.  And seizing one another’s laches, they despatched one another to the abode of Yama.  Sire slew son, and son slew sire.  Indeed, the combatants fought with one another, using every limb of theirs.  Beautiful bows with golden staves, O Bharata, loosened from the grasp of slain warriors, and costly ornaments, and sharp shafts furnished with wings of pure gold or silver and washed with oil, looked resplendent (as they lay scattered on the field), the latter resembling, in particular, snakes that had cast off their slough.  And swords furnished with ivory handles decked with gold, and the shield also of bowmen, variegated with gold, lay on the field,