a comet risen for consuming a constellation, rushed against him.  And Bhurisravas hurled at Arjuna seven javelins furnished with wings of gold, and Duryodhana a lance of fierce impetuosity, and Salya a mace, and Santanu’s son a dart.  Thereupon, Arjuna, baffling with seven shafts the seven javelins, fleet as arrows, shot by Bhurisravas, cut off with another keen-edged shaft the lance hurled from Duryodhana’s arm.  And the blazing dart coming towards him—­effulgent as lightning—­hurled by Santanu’s son, and the mace hurled from the arm of the ruler of the Madras, that hero cut off with two (other) shafts.  Then drawing with his two hands and with great force his beautiful bow Gandiva of immeasurable energy, he invoked with proper mantras the highly wonderful and terrible Mahendra weapon and caused it to appear in the welkin.  And with that mighty weapon producing profuse showers of arrows endued with the effulgence of the blazing fire, that high-souled and mighty bowman, decked with diadem and garland of gold, checked the entire Kaurava host.  And those shafts from Partha’s bow, cutting off the arms, bows, standard-tops, and cars, penetrated into the bodies of the kings and of the huge elephants and steeds of the foe.  And filling the cardinal and the subsidiary directions with those sharp and terrible shafts of his, Pritha’s son decked with diadem and garland of gold, agitated the hearts of his foes by means of the twang of Gandiva.  And in that awful passage at arms, the blare of conches and beat of drums and the deep rattle of cars were all silenced by the twang of Gandiva.  And ascertaining that twang to be of Gandiva, king Virata and other heroes among men, and the brave Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, all proceeded to that spot with undepressed hearts.  And all thy combatants stood, struck with fear, each at the spot where he heard that twang of Gandiva.  And none amongst them ventured to proceed to that place whence that sound was heard.  And in that awful slaughter of kings, heroic combatants were slain and car-warriors with those that guided their cars.  And elephants with resplendent housings of gold and gorgeous standards (on their backs), afflicted with broad-headed shafts failing upon them, suddenly fell down, deprived of life and their bodies mangled by Kiritin.  And forcibly struck by Partha with his winged arrows of great impetuosity and broad-headed shafts of keen-edge and points, the standards of innumerable kings stationed at the heads of their yantras and Indrajalas were cut off.[372] And bands of infantry and car-warriors, in that battle, and steeds and elephants, fell fast on the field, their limbs paralysed, or themselves speedily deprived of life, affected by Dhananjaya with those shafts.  And, O king, many were the warriors who in that terrible conflict had their coats of mail and bodies cut through by that mighty weapon called after the name of Indra.  And with those terrible and sharp shafts of his, Kiritin caused an