those steeds adorned with trappings of gold.
At that time many brave warriors deprived of elephants
and steeds and cars, and 25,000 foot-soldiers, O sire,
proceeded slowly (for battle). Then Bhimasena,
filled with wrath, and Dhrishtadyumna the son of Prishata,
encompassing those troops with the assistance of four
kinds of forces, destroyed them with shafts. All
of them fought vigorously with Bhima and Prishata’s
son. Many amongst them challenged the two Pandava
heroes, mentioning their names. Surrounded by
them in battle, Bhima became enraged with them.
Quickly descending from his car, he began to fight,
armed with his mace. Relying on the might of his
own arms, Vrikodara the son of Kunti, who was on his
car, observant of the rules of fair fight, did not
fight with those foes who were on the ground.
Armed then with that heavy mace of his that was made
entirely of iron and adorned with gold and equipped
with a sling, and that resembled the Destroyer himself
as he becomes at the end of Yuga, Bhima slew them
all like Yama slaughtering creatures with his club.
Those foot-soldiers, excited with great rage, having
lost their friends and kinsmen, were prepared to throw
away their lives, and rushed in that battle towards
Bhima like insects towards a blazing fire. Indeed,
those warriors, filled with rage and invincible in
battle, approaching Bhimasena, suddenly perished like
living creatures at the glance of the Destroyer.
Armed with sword and mace, Bhima careered like a hawk
and slaughtered those 25,000 warriors of thine.
Having slain that brave division, the mighty Bhima,
of prowess incapable of being baffled, once more stood,
with Dhrishtadyumna before him. Meanwhile, Dhananjaya
of great energy proceeded towards the car-division
(of the Kurus). The twin sons of Madri and the
mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all endued with great
strength, cheerfully rushed against Shakuni with great
speed from desire of slaying him. Having slain
with keen shafts the numerous cavalry of Shakuni, those
Pandava heroes quickly rushed against Shakuni himself,
whereupon a fierce battle was fought there. Then
Dhananjaya, O king, penetrated into the midst of the
car-division of the Kauravas, stretching his bow Gandiva
celebrated over the three worlds. Beholding that
car having white steeds yoked unto it and owning Krishna
for its driver coming towards them, with Arjuna as
the warrior on it, thy troops fled away in fear.
Deprived of cars and steeds and pierced with shafts
from every side, 25,000 foot-soldiers proceeded towards
Partha and surrounded him. Then that mighty car-warrior
amongst the Pancalas (Dhrishtadyumna) with Bhimasena
at his head, speedily slew that brave division and
stood triumphant. The son of the Pancala king,
the celebrated Dhrishtadyumna, was a mighty bowman
possessed of great beauty and a crusher of large bands
of foes. At sight of Dhrishtadyumna unto whose
car were yoked steeds white as pigeons and whose standard
was made of a lofty Kovidara, the troops fled away