like an amorous man clasping his mistress.  Beholding that brother-in-law of thine laid low and deprived of consciousness, O sinless one, his driver quickly bore him away from the van of battle.  The Parthas, then, and all their followers, uttered a loud roar.  Having vanquished his foes, Nakula, that scorcher of foes, addressing his driver, said, ‘Beat me to the host commanded by Drona.’  Hearing these words of Madri’s son, his driver proceeded to the spot, O king, where Drona was stationed.[226] Against mighty Sikhandin proceeding towards Drona, Kripa resolutely advanced with great impetuosity.  That chastiser of foes, viz., Sikhandin, then, smiling the while, pierced with nine arrows the son of Gotama thus advancing against him towards the vicinity of Drona.  Then the preceptor, Kripa, that benefactor of thy sons, piercing Sikhandin first with five arrows, once more pierced him with twenty.  The combat that took place, O monarch, between them, was exceedingly dreadful, like that between Samvara and the chief of the celestials in the battle between the gods and the Asuras.  Those heroic and mighty car-warriors, both invincible in battle, covered the welkin with their arrows, like clouds covering the welkin on the expiry or summer.  Terrible of itself, that night, O chief of the Bharatas, became more terrible still to the heroic combatants engaged in battle.  Indeed, of terrible aspects and inspiring all sorts of fear, that night became, as it were, death-night (of all creatures).  Then Sikhandin, O king, cut off, with a crescent-shaped arrow, the large bow of Gotama’s son and shot at the latter many whetted shafts.  Inflamed with wrath, O monarch, Kripa then sped at his antagonist a fierce dart, equipped with a golden shaft and keen point, and polished by the hands of the smith.  Sikhandin, however, cut it off with ten shafts as it coursed towards him.  That dart, then, decked with gold (thus cut off), fell down on the earth.  Then Gautama, foremost of men, taking up another bow, O king, covered Sikhandin with a large number of whetted shafts.  Thus covered in that battle by the illustrious son of Gotama, Sikhandin, that foremost of car-warriors sank on the terrace of his car.  Beholding him thus weakened, Kripa in that encounter, struck him with many arrows, from desire of slaying him, O Bharata! (Sikhandin then was borne away by his driver).  Beholding that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Yajnasena retreating from battle, the Panchalas and the Somakas surrounded him on all sides (for rescuing him).  Similarly, thy sons also surrounded that foremost of Brahmans, Kripa, with a large force.  Then commenced a battle once more, between car-warriors, O king, that struck one another.  The uproar that rose became loud as the roaring of clouds, O Bharata, caused by rushing horsemen and elephants, O monarch, smiting one another down.  Then, O king, the field of battle looked exceedingly fierce.  With the tread of rushing infantry the earth began to tremble, O