The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.
of diverse weapons, began to move from one point to another.  Struck by one another, they reeled or uttered wails of woe in affliction or fell down deprived of life.  When such was the state of affairs, thy son Duhshasana, the younger brother of the king, fearlessly advanced against Bhima, shooting showers of shafts.  Vrikodara also rushed impetuously against him, like a lion springing towards a large Ruru deer.  The encounter then that took place between those two heroes incensed with each other and who engaged in battle’s sport making life itself the stake, became exceedingly fierce, resembled that between Samvara and Sakra in days of old.  They struck each other deeply with shafts possessed of great energy and capable of piercing each other’s body, like two mighty elephants excited with lust and with juicy secretions incessantly trickling down their bodies, fighting with each other in the vicinity of a she-elephant in her season.  Vrikodara, with great speed, cut off, with a couple of razor-headed arrows, the bow and the standard of thy son.  With another winged arrow he pierced his antagonist’s forehead and then (with a fourth) cut off from his trunk the head of the latter’s driver.  Prince Duhshasana, taking up another bow, pierced Vrikodara with a dozen shafts.  Himself holding the reins of his steeds, he once more poured over Bhima a shower of straight arrows.  Then Duhshasana sped a shaft bright as the rays of the sun, decked with gold, diamonds, and other precious gems, capable of piercing the body of his assailant, and irresistible as the stroke of Indra’s thunder.  His body pierced therewith, Vrikodara fell, with languid limbs and like one deprived of life and with outstretched arms, upon his own excellent car.  Recovering his senses, however, he began to roar like a lion.’”

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“Sanjaya said, ’Fighting fiercely, prince Duhshasana achieved the most difficult feats in that encounter.  With a single shaft he cut off Bhima’s bow, and then with six shafts he pierced his foe’s driver.  Having achieved those feats, the prince, endued with great activity, pierced Bhima himself with nine shafts.  Indeed the high-souled warrior, without losing a moment, then pierced Bhimasena with many shafts of great energy.  Filled with rage at this, Bhimasena, endued with great activity, sped at thy son a fierce dart.  Beholding that terrible dart impetuously coursing towards him like a blazing brand, thy high-souled son cut it off with ten shafts shot from his bow drawn to its fullest stretch.  Seeing that difficult feat achieved by him, all the warriors, filled with joy, applauded him highly.  Thy son then once more pierced Bhima deeply with another shaft.  Blazing with wrath at sight of Duhshasana, Bhima then addressed him, saying, “Pierced I have been, O hero, quickly and deeply, by thee.  Bear now, however, once more, the stroke of my mace.”  Having said this, the enraged Bhima took up that terrible mace of his for Duhshasana’s slaughter. 

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.