beholding those feats of both Jishnu and his brother, Damodara (Krishna) of superhuman intelligence and inconceivable feats, addressing his brother, Halayudha (Valadeva) of fierce energy, said, ’That hero there, of tread like that of a mighty lion, who draweth the large bow in his hand four full cubits in length, is Arjuna!  There is no doubt, O Sankarshana, about this, if I am Vasudeva.  That other hero who having speedily torn up the tree hath suddenly become ready to drive off the monarchs is Vrikodara!  For no one in the world, except Vrikodara, could today perform such a feat in the field of battle.  And that other youth of eyes like unto lotus-petals, of full four cubits height, of gait like that of a mighty lion, and humble withal, of fair complexion and prominent and shining nose, who had, a little before, left the amphitheatre, is Dharma’s son (Yudhishthira).  The two other youths, like unto Kartikeya, are, I suspect, the sons of the twin Aswins.  I heard that the sons of Pandu along with their mother Pritha had all escaped from the conflagration of the house of lac.’  Then Halayudha of complexion like unto that of clouds uncharged with rain, addressing his younger brother (Krishna), said with great satisfaction, ’O, I am happy to hear, as I do from sheer good fortune, that our father’s sister Pritha with the foremost of the Kaurava princes have all escaped (from death)!’”

SECTION CLXLII

(Swayamvara Parva continued)

“Vaisampayana said, ’Then those bulls among Brahmanas shaking their deer-skins and water-pots made of cocoanut-shells exclaimed, ’Fear not, we will fight the foe!’ Arjuna smilingly addressing those Brahmanas exclaiming thus, said, ’Stand ye aside as spectators (of the fray) Showering hundreds of arrows furnished with straight points even I shall check, like snakes with mantras, all those angry monarchs.’  Having said this, the mighty Arjuna taking up the bow he had obtained as dower accompanied by his brother Bhima stood immovable as a mountain.  And beholding those Kshatriyas who were ever furious in battle with Karna ahead, the heroic brothers rushed fearlessly at them like two elephants rushing against a hostile elephant.  Then those monarchs eager for the fight fiercely exclaimed, ’The slaughter in battle of one desiring to fight is permitted.’  And saying this, the monarchs suddenly rushed against the Brahmanas.  And Karna endued with great energy rushed against Jishnu for fight.  And Salya the mighty king of Madra rushed against Bhima like an elephant rushing against another for the sake of a she-elephant in heat; while Duryodhana and others engaged with the Brahmanas, skirmished with them lightly and carelessly.  Then the illustrious Arjuna beholding Karna, the son of Vikartana (Surya), advancing towards him, drew his tough bow and pieced him with his sharp arrows.  And the impetus of those whetted arrows furnished with fierce energy made Radheya (Karna)