and Vritra, and Prahrada, and Naraka. And mounted
on this car also Maghavan, had conquered in battle
many thousands and millions and hundreds of millions
of Daityas. And, O Kaunteya, thou also, riding
on this car, by thy prowess shalt conquer the Nivatha-Kavachas
in conflict, even as did the self-possessed Maghavan
in days of yore. And here is the best of shells;
by this also thou shalt defeat the Danavas And by this
it is that the high souled Sakra conquered the words.’
Saying this, the gods offered (unto me) this shell,
Devadatta, sprung in the deep; and I accepted it for
the sake of victory. And at this moment, the gods
fell extolling me. And in order to be engaged
in action, I proceeded to the dreadful abode of the
Danavas, furnished with the shell, the mail, and arrows,
and taking my bow.”
“Arjuna continued, ’Then at places eulogised
by the Maharshis, I (proceeded, and at length) beheld
the ocean—that inexhaustible lord of waters.
And like unto flowing cliffs were seen on it heaving
billows, now meeting together and now rolling away.
And there (were seen) all around barks by thousands
filled with gems. And there were seen timingilas
and tortoises and makaras like unto rock submerged
in water. And on all sides round thousands of
shells sunk in water appeared like star in the night
covered by light clouds. And thousands upon thousands
of gem were floating in heaps and a violent wind was
blowing about in whirls—and this was wonderful
to behold. And having beheld that excellent lord
of all waters with powerful tides, I saw at a short
distance the city of the demons filled with the Danavas.
And even there, eftsoons entering underneath the earth,
Matali skilled in guiding the car, sitting fast on
the chariot drove it with force; and he dashed on,
frightening that city with the rattling of his chariot.
And hearing that rattling of the chariot like unto
the rumbling of the clouds in the sky, the Danavas,
thinking me to be the lord of the celestials, became
agitated. And thereupon they all, frightened
at heart, stood holding in their hands bows and arrows
and swords and javelins and axes and maces and clubs.
Then having made arrangements for the defence of the
city, the Danavas, with minds alarmed, shut the gates,
so that nothing could be discovered. Thereupon
taking my shell, Devadatta, of tremendous roars, I
again and again winded it with exceeding cheerfulness.
And filling all the firmament, those sounds produced
echoes. Thereat mighty beings were terrified
and they hid (themselves). And then, O Bharata,
all of them adorned with ornaments, those offsprings
of Diti—the Nivata-Kavachas—made
their appearance by thousands, donning diverse mail
and taking in their hands various weapons and equipped
with mighty iron javelins and maces and clubs and
hatchets and sabres and discs and sataghnis and bhusundis
and variegated and ornamented swords. Then, after
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