it, having effected a junction (with a smaller planet).  The white planet (Ketu), blazing up like fire mixed with smoke, stayeth, having attacked the bright constellation Jeshtha that is sacred to Indra.  The constellation Dhruva, blazing fiercely, wheeleth towards the right.  Both the Moon and the Sun are afflicting Rohini.  The fierce planet (Rahu) hath taken up its position between the constellations Chitra and Swati.[13] The red-bodied (Mars) possessed of the effulgence of fire, wheeling circuitously, stayeth in a line with the constellation Sravana over-ridden by Vrihaspati.  The earth that produceth particular crops at particular seasons is now covered with the crops of every season.[14] Every barley-stalk is graced with five ears, and every paddy-stalk with a hundred.  They that are the best of creatures in the worlds and upon whom depends the universe, viz., kine, when milked after the calves have their suck, yield only blood.  Radiant rays of light emanate from bows, and swords blaze forth brilliantly.  It is evident that the weapons behold (before them) the battle, as if it were already arrived.  The hue of weapons and the water, as also of coats of mail and standards, is like that of fire.  A great slaughter will take place.  In this battle,[15] O Bharata, of the Kurus with the Pandavas, the earth, O monarch, will be a river of blood with the standards (of warriors) as its rafts.  Animals and birds on all sides, with mouths blazing like fire, uttering fierce cries, and displaying these evil omens, are foreboding terrible consequences.  A (fierce) bird with but one wing, one eye, and one leg, hovering over the sky in the night, screameth frightfully in wrath, as if for making the hearers vomit blood?  It seemeth, O great king, that all weapons are now blazing with radiance.  The effulgence of the constellation known by the name of the seven high-souled Rishis, hath been dimmed.  Those two blazing planets, viz., Vrihaspati and Sani, having approached the constellation called Visakha, have become stationary there for a whole year.  Three lunations twice meeting together in course of the same lunar fortnight, the duration of the latter is shortened by two days.[16] On the thirteenth day therefore, from the first lunation, according as it is the day of the full moon or the new moon, the moon and the sun are afflicted by Rahu.  Such strange eclipses, both lunar and solar, forebode a great slaughter.[17] All the quarters of the earth, being overwhelmed by showers of dust, look inauspicious.  Fierce clouds, portentous of danger, drop bloody showers during the night.  Rahu of fierce deeds is also, O monarch, afflicting the constellation Kirtika.  Rough winds, portending fierce danger, are constantly blowing.  All these beget a war characterised by many sad incidents.[18] The constellations are divided into three classes.  Upon one or another of each class, a planet of evil omen has shed its influence, foreboding terrible dangers.[19] A lunar fortnight