the son of Pandu.  Nakula and Sahadeva were at the rear of king Yudhishthira the just.  The two Pancala princes, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja, became the protectors of (Arjuna’s) car wheels.  Protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna himself, they did not quit Arjuna for a moment.  The remaining kings, possessed of great courage, clad in mail, stood in the array, each in the position assigned to him, according to the measure of his enthusiasm and resolution, O Bharata.  Having thus formed their great array, O Bharata, the Pandavas, and the mighty bowmen of thy army set their hearts on battle.  Beholding thy army disposed into battle array by the Suta’s son in battle Duryodhana with all his brethren regarded the Pandavas to be already slain.  Similarly Yudhishthira, O king, beholding the Pandava army disposed in array, regarded the Dhartarashtras with Karna to be already slain.  Then conches, and kettle-drums, and tabours, and large drums, and cymbals, and Dindimas, and Jharjharas, were loudly blown and beaten on all sides!  Indeed, those loud-sounding instruments were blown and beaten, O king, among both the armies.  Leonine roars also arose, uttered by brave warriors for victory.  And there also arose, O king, the noise of neighing steeds and grunting elephants, and the fierce clatter of car-wheels.  None, O Bharata, (in the Kaurava army), at that time, felt the loss of Drona, seeing the great bowman Karna clad in mail and stationed at the head of the array.  Both armies, O monarch, teeming with joyous men, stood, eager for battle and (ready) to destroy each other without delay.  There, the two heroes, viz., Karna and the son of Pandu, excited with wrath at sight of each other, and both firmly resolved, stood or careered, O king, through their respective divisions.  The two armies, as they advanced to meet each other, seemed to dance (in joy).  From the wings and the side-wings of both, warriors desirous of battle came forth.  Then commenced the battle, O monarch, of men, elephants, steeds, and cars, engaged in destroying one another.’”

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“Sanjaya said, ’Then those two vast armies, teeming with rejoicing men and steeds and elephants, resembling in splendour the celestial and the Asura hosts, meeting together, began to strike each other.  Men, cars, steeds, elephants, and foot-soldiers of fierce prowess, made sturdy strokes destructive of bodies and sin.  Lion-like men strewed the Earth with the heads of lion-like men, each resembling the full moon or the sun in splendour and the lotus in fragrance.  Combatants cut off the heads of combatants, with crescent-shaped and broad-headed shafts and razor-faced arrows and axes, and battle-axes.  The arms of men of long and massive arms, cut off by men of long and massive arms, falling upon the Earth, shone, decked with weapons and bracelets.  With those writhing arms adorned with red fingers and palms, the Earth looked resplendent as if strewn with fierce five-headed snakes slain by Garuda.  From elephants and cars