Partha, even like Garuda seizing a snake.  Irresistible like fire, and fed by the fuel of swords, darts, and arrows, the blazing Pandava-fire that consumeth foes, will be extinguished even by myself who am like unto a mighty cloud incessantly dropping an arrowy shower,—­the multitude of cars (I will lead) constituting its thunder, and the speed of my horses, the wind in advance.  Discharged from my bow, my arrows like venomous snakes will pierce Partha’s body, like serpent penetrating through an ant-hill.  Pierced with well-tempered and straight shafts endued with golden wings and great energy, behold ye today the son of Kunti decked like a hill covered with Karnikara flowers.  Having obtained weapons from that best of ascetics—­the son of Jamadagni, I would, relying on their energy, fight with even the celestials.  Struck with my javelin, the ape stationed on his banner-top shall fall down today on the ground, uttering terrible cries.  The firmament will today be filled with the cries of the (super-human) creatures stationed in the flagstaff of the foe, and afflicted by me, they will fly away in all directions.  I shall today pluck up by the roots the long-existing dart in Duryodhan’s heart by throwing Arjuna down from his car.  The Kauravas will today behold Partha with his car broken, his horses killed, his valour gone, and himself sighing like a snake.  Let the Kauravas, following their own will go away taking this wealth of kine, or, if they wish, let them stay on their cars and witness my combat.’”

SECTION XLIX

“Kripa said, ’O Radheya, thy crooked heart always inclineth to war.  Thou knowest not the true nature of things; nor dost thou take into account their after-consequences.  There are various kinds of expedients inferrable from the scriptures.  Of these, a battle hath been regarded by those acquainted with the past, as the most sinful.  It is only when time and place are favourable that military operations can lead to success.  In the present instance, however, the time being unfavourable, no good results will be deprived.  A display of prowess in proper time and place becometh beneficial.  It is by the favourableness or otherwise (of time and place) that the opportuneness of an act is determined.  Learned men can never act according to the ideas of a car-maker.  Considering all this, an encounter with Partha is not advisible for us.  Alone he saved the Kurus (from the Gandharvas), and alone he satiated Agni.  Alone he led the life of a Brahmacharin for five years (on the breast of Himavat).  Taking up Subhadra on his car, alone he challenged Krishna to single combat.  Alone he fought with Rudra who stood before him as a forester.  It was in this very forest that Partha rescued Krishna while she was being taken away (by Jayadratha).  It is he alone that hath, for five years, studied the science of weapons under Indra.  Alone vanquishing all foes he hath spread the fame of the Kurus.