understand, O mighty-armed one, that the king acted wisely by begging of Suyodhana[457] only half the kingdom, or, instead, only five villages.  Alas, even that was not granted by that wicked-souled wight.  Beholding so many brave Kshatriyas lying (dead) on the field of battle, I censure myself, (saying) fie upon the profession of a Kshatriya.  The Kshatriyas will regard me powerless in battle.  For this alone, I am battling.  Else, O slayer of Madhu, this battle with kinsmen is distasteful to me.  Urge the steeds on with speed towards the Dhartarashtra army, I will, with my two arms, reach the other shore of this ocean of battle that is so difficult to cross.  There is no time, O Madhava, to lose in action’.  Thus addressed by Partha, Kesava, that slayer of hostile heroes, urged those steeds of white hue endued with the speed of the wind.  Then, O Bharata, loud was the noise that was heard among thy troops, resembling that of the ocean itself at full tide when agitated by the tempest.[458] In the afternoon, O king, the battle that ensued between Bhishma and the Pandavas was marked by noise that resembled the roar of the clouds.  Then, O king, thy sons, surrounding Drona like the Vasus surrounding Vasava, rushed in the battle against Bhimasena.  Then Santanu’s son, Bhishma, and that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Kripa, and Bhagadatta, and Susarman, all went towards Dhananjaya.  And Hridika’s son (Kritavarman) and Valhika rushed towards Satyaki.  And king Amvashta placed himself before Abhimanyu.  And other great car-warriors, O king, encountered other great car-warriors.  Then commenced a fierce battle that was terrible to behold.  Bhimasena then, I O king, beholding thy sons, blazed up with wrath in that battle, like fire with (a libation of) clarified butter.  Thy sons, however, O monarch, covered that son of Kunti with their arrows like the clouds drenching the mountain-breast in the season of rains.  While being (thus) covered in diverse ways by thy sons, O king, that hero, possessed of the activity of the tiger, licked the corners of his mouth.[459] Then, O Bharata, Bhima felled Vyudoroska with a sharp horse-shoe-headed arrow.  Thereupon that son of thine was deprived of life.  With another broad-headed arrow, well-tempered and sharp, he then felled Kundalin like a lion overthrowing a smaller animal.  Then, O sire, getting thy (other) sons (within reach of his arrows), he took up a number of shafts, sharp and well-tempered, and with careful aim speedily shot these at them.  Those shafts, sped by that strong bowman, viz., Bhimasena, felled thy sons, those mighty car-warriors, from their vehicles. (These sons of thine that were thus slain were) Anadhriti, and Kundabhedin, and Virata, and Dirghalochana, and Dirghavahu, and Suvahu, and Kanykadhyaja.  While falling down (from their cars), O bull of Bharata’s race, those heroes looked resplendent like falling mango trees variegated with blossoms in the spring.  Then thy other sons, O monarch, fled away, regarding