the Pandava army in several parts of the field.  The battle at that place was dreadful and cruel and the carnage that occurred was very great.  Similarly the Pandava heroes, Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi and the (five) sons of Draupadi, filled with rage, slaughtered thy host.  Even thus a great destruction took place among the Pandavas everywhere on the field, and even thus thy army also suffered great loss at the hands of the mighty Bhima.’”

79

“Sanjaya said, ’Meanwhile Arjuna, O monarch, having slain the four kinds of forces (of the enemy), and having obtained a sight of the angry son of the Suta in that dreadful battle, caused a river of blood to flow there that was tawny with flesh and marrow and bones.  Human heads constituted its rocks and stones.  Elephants and steeds formed its banks.  Full of the bones of heroic combatants, it resounded with the cries of ravens and vultures.  Umbrellas were its swans or rafts.  And that river ran, bearing away heroes like trees along its current. (Even) necklaces constituted its assemblage of lotuses, and head-gears formed its excellent foam.  Bows and shafts constituted its fishes; and the crowns of crushed men floated on its surface.  Shields and armour were its eddies, and cars were the rafts with which it teemed.  And it could be easily forded by persons desirous of victory, while to those that were cowards it was unfordable.  Having caused that river to flow, Vibhatsu, that slayer of hostile heroes and bull among men, addressing Vasudeva said, “Yonder, O Krishna, the standard of the Suta’s son is visible.  There, Bhimasena and others are fighting with that great car-warrior.  There, the Pancalas, afraid of Karna, are flying away, O Janardana.  Yonder, king Duryodhana, with the white umbrella over his head, along with Karna, looketh exceedingly resplendent as he is engaged in routing the Pancalas.  There Kripa, and Kritavarma, and Drona’s son, that mighty car-warrior, are protecting king Duryodhana, themselves protected by the Suta’s son.  There, O Krishna, Shalya, well conversant with holding the reins, looketh exceedingly resplendent as, seated on the terrace of Karna’s car, he guideth that vehicle.  Bear me to that mighty car-warrior, for even such is the wish cherished by me.  Without slaying Karna in this battle I will never return.  Otherwise, the son of Radha, O Janardana, will, in my sight, exterminate the mighty car-warriors of the Parthas and the Srinjayas.”  Thus addressed, Keshava quickly proceeded on his car, towards the mighty bowman Karna, for causing a single combat to take place between Karna and Savyasaci.  Indeed, the mighty-armed Hari, at the command of Pandu’s son, proceeded on his car, assuring (by that very act) all the Pandava troops.  The rattle then of Arjuna’s vehicle rose loud in that battle, resembling, O sire, the tremendous peal of Vasu’s thunder.  Beholding Arjuna of white steeds and having Krishna for his driver thus advance, and seeing the standard of that