of fierce prowess, encompassed Karna on all sides in that battle, and showered upon him diverse kinds of weapons, addressing him in harsh words and resolved to compass his destruction.  Cutting off that shower of weapons with his sharp shafts, Karna dispersed his assailants by the power of his weapons like the wind breaking down the trees that stand on its way.  Filled with wrath, Karna was seen to destroy car-warriors, and elephants with their riders, and horses with horse-men, and large bands of foot-soldiers.  Slaughtered by the energy of Karna’s weapons, almost the whole of that force of the Pandavas, deprived of weapons, and with limbs mangled and torn, retired from the field.  Then Arjuna, smiling the while, baffled with his own weapons the weapons of Karna and covered the welkin, the Earth, and all the points of the compass with dense shower of arrows.  The shafts of Arjuna fell like heavy clubs and spiked bludgeons.  And some amongst them fell like Sataghnis and some fell like fierce thunderbolts.  Slaughtered therewith, the Kaurava force consisting of infantry and horse and cars and elephants, shutting its eyes, uttered loud wails of woe and wandered senselessly.  Many were the steeds and men and elephants that perished on that occasion.  Many, again, struck with shafts and deeply afflicted fled away in fear.

“’Whilst thy warriors were thus engaged in battle from desire of victory, the Sun approaching the Setting Mountain, entered it.  In consequence of the darkness, O king, but especially owing to the dust, we could not notice anything favourable or unfavourable.  The mighty bowmen (amongst the Kauravas), fearing a night-battle, O Bharata, then retired from the field, accompanied by all their combatants.  Upon the retirement of the Kauravas, O king, at the close of the day, the Parthas, cheerful at having obtained the victory, also retired to their own encampment, jeering at their enemies by producing diverse kinds of sounds with their musical instruments, and applauding Acyuta and Arjuna.  After those heroes had thus withdrawn the army, all the troops and all the kings uttered benediction upon the Pandavas.  The withdrawal having been made, those sinless men, the Pandavas, became very glad, and proceeding to their tents rested there for the night.  Then rakshasas and pishacas, and carnivorous beasts, in large numbers came to that awful field of battle resembling the sporting ground of Rudra himself.’

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“Dhritarashtra said, ’It seems that Arjuna slew all of you at his will.  Indeed, the Destroyer himself could not escape him in battle, if Arjuna took up arms against Him.  Single-handed, Partha ravished Bhadra, and single-handed, he gratified Agni.  Single-handed, he subjugated the whole Earth, and made all the kings pay tribute.  Single-handed, with his celestial bow he slew the Nivatakavachas.  Single-handed, he contended in battle with Mahadeva who stood before him in the guise of a hunter.  Single-handed, he protected the Bharatas, and single-handed, he gratified Bhava.  Single-handed, were vanquished by him all the kings of the Earth endued with fierce prowess.  The Kurus cannot be blamed.  On the other hand, they deserve praise (for having fought with such a warrior).  Tell me now what they did.  Tell me also, O Suta, what Duryodhana did after that.’