slayer of foes, like insects impelled by fate unable to bear a blazing fire.  That mighty car-warrior and great bowman, having struck all the foes of the Pandavas, looked at that moment like Vasava himself armed with the thunder.  And his bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, as it moved on every side, seemed, O king, like the lightning’s flash as it spotted amid the clouds.  And well-tempered and sharp shafts came from his bow-string in that battle like flights of bees, O king, from blossoming trees in the forest.  And as the high-souled son of Subhadra careered on the field on his car whose limbs were decked with gold, people were incapable of finding an opportunity (for striking him).  Confounding Kripa and Drona and mighty son of Drona, as also the ruler of the Sindhus, the great bowman moved on the field of battle with great activity and skill.  As he consumed thy troops, O Bharata, I beheld his bow incessantly drawn to a circle and resembling on that account the circular halo of light that is sometimes seen around the Sun.  Brave Kshatriyas, beholding him endued with such activity and scorching the foe thus, thought, in consequence of those feats, that the world contained two Phalgunis.  Indeed, O king, the vast host of the Bharatas, afflicted by him, reeled hither and thither like a woman drunk with wine.  Routing that large army and causing many mighty car-warriors to tremble, he gladdened his friends (like Vasava gladdening the celestials) after vanquishing Maya.  And while being routed by him in that battle, thy troops uttered loud exclamations of woe that resembled the roar of the clouds.  Hearing that awful wail thy troops, O Bharata, that resembled the roar of the very sea at full tide when agitated by the winds, Duryodhana then, O king, addressed the son of Rishyasringa and said, ’This Abhimanyu singly, O thou of mighty arms, like a second Phalguni, routeth from rage (my) army like Vritra routing the celestial host.  I do not see any other efficacious medicine for him in battle than thyself, O best of Rakshasas, that art well-skilled in every science.  Therefore, go speedily and slay the heroic son of Subhadra in battle.  As regards ourselves, headed by Bhishma and Drona, we will slay Partha himself.’  Thus addressed, the mighty and valiant Rakshasa speedily went to battle at the command of thy son, uttering loud roars like the clouds themselves in the season of rains.  And in consequence of that loud noise, O king, the vast host of the Pandavas trembled throughout like the ocean when agitated by the wind.  And many combatants, O king, terrified by those roars, giving up dear life, fell prostrate on the earth.  Filled with joy and taking up his bow with arrow fixed on the string, and apparently dancing on the terrace of his car, that Rakshasa proceeded against Abhimanyu himself.  Then the angry Rakshasa, having in that battle got Arjuna’s son within reach, began to rout his ranks,—­even those that stood not far from him.  Indeed, the Rakshasa rushed in battle