impetuously towards Kripa, resembling Indra’s bolt in effulgence.  Thereupon that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Sini’s grandson, abandoning Gautama, rushed in battle towards Drona’s son like Rahu in the firmament against the Moon.  Drona’s son, however, O Bharata, cut Satyaki’s bow in twain.  After his bow had thus been cut off, the former began to strike the latter with his shafts.  Satyaki then, taking up another bow capable of bearing a great strain and slaughtering the foe, struck Drona’s son, O king, in the chest and arms with six shafts.  Pierced therewith and feeling great pain, for a moment he was deprived of his senses, and he sat down on the terrace of his car, catching hold of his flag-staff.  Regaining his consciousness then, the valiant son of Drona, excited with rage afflicted him of Vrishni’s race in that battle, with one long shaft.  That shaft, piercing Sini’s grandson through, entered the earth like a vigorous young snake entering its hole in the season of spring.  And with another broad-headed arrow, Drona’s son in that battle cut off the excellent standard of Satyaki.  And having achieved this feat he uttered a leonine roar.  And once more, O Bharata, he covered his adversary with a shower of fierce shafts like the clouds, O king covering the Sun after summer is past, Satyaki also, O monarch, baffling that arrowy shower, soon covered the son of Drona with diverse showers of arrows That slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the grandson of Sini, freed from that arrowy shower like the Sun from the clouds, began to scorch the son of Drona (with his energy).  Swelling with rage the mighty Satyaki once more covered his foe with a thousand arrows and uttered a loud shout.  Beholding his son then thus afflicted like the Moon by Rahu, the valiant son of Bharadwaja rushed towards the grandson of Sini.  Desirous, O king, of rescuing, his son who was afflicted by the Vrishni hero, Drona, in that great battle, pierced the latter with a shaft of exceeding sharpness.  Satyaki then, abandoning the mighty car-warrior Aswatthaman, pierced Drona himself in that battle with twenty arrows of exceeding sharpness.  Soon after, that scorcher of foes and mighty car-warrior, viz., Kunti’s son of immeasurable soul, excited with wrath, rushed in that battle against Drona.  Then Drona and Partha encountered each other in fierce combat like the planets Budha and Sukra, O king, in the firmament.[467]

SECTION CIII

Dhritarashtra said, “How did those bulls among men, viz., that great bowman Drona, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, encounter each other in battle?  The son of Pandu is ever dear to the wise son of Bharadwaja.  The preceptor also is ever dear to Pritha’s son, O Sanjaya.  Both of those car-warriors delight in battle, and both of them are fierce like lions.  How therefore, did Bharadwaja’s son and Dhananjaya, both fighting with care encounter each other in battle?”