And one of those streams, O bull among men, proceeded towards Drona, and the other with loud cries, proceeded towards Duryodhana.  Then a thick dust arose and covered all the troops.  We could not then see Arjuna.  Only the twang of Gandivas was heard by us from off the field.  Indeed, the twang of Gandiva was heard, rising above the blare of conchs and the beat of drums and the noise of other instruments.  Then on the southern part of the field took place a fierce battle between many foremost warriors on the one side and Arjuna on the other.  I, however, followed Drona.  The various divisions of Yudhishthira’s force smote the foe on every part of the field.  The diverse divisions of thy son, O Bharata, Arjuna smote, even as the wind in the summer season destroys masses of clouds in the welkin.  Indeed, as Arjuna came, scattering clouds of arrows, like Vasava pouring thick showers of rain, there was none in thy army who could resist that great fierce bowman, that tiger among men.  Struck by Partha, thy warriors were in great pain.  They fled away, and in flying killed many among their own number.  The arrows shot by Arjuna, winged Kanka feathers and capable of penetrating into every body, fell covering all sides, like flights of locusts.  Piercing steeds and car-warriors and elephants and foot-soldiers, O sire, like snakes through ant-hills, those shafts entered the earth.  Arjuna never shot arrows, at any elephant, steed or man.  Struck with only one arrow, each of these, severely afflicted, fell down deprived of life.  With slain men and elephant and shaft-struck steeds lying all about, and echoing with yells of dogs and jackals, the field of battle presented a variegated and awful sight.  Pained with arrows, sire forsook son, and friend forsook friend and son forsook sire.  Indeed, every one was intent upon protecting his own self.  Struck with Partha’s shafts, many warriors abandoned the very animals that bore them.’”

SECTION XXIX

“Dhritarashtra said, ’When those divisions (of mine), O Sanjaya, were broken and routed, and all of you retreated quickly from the field, what became the state of your minds?  The rallying of ranks when broken and flying away without beholding a spot whereon to stand, is always exceedingly difficult.  Tell me all about it, O Sanjaya!’

“Sanjaya said, [Although thy troops were broken], yet, O monarch, many foremost of heroes in the world, inspired by the desire of doing good to thy son and of maintaining their own reputation, followed Drona.  In that dreadful pass, they fearlessly followed their commander, achieving meritorious feats against the Pandava troops with weapons upraised, and Yudhishthira within accessible distance.[58] Taking advantage of an error of Bhimasena of great energy and of heroic Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, O monarch, the Kuru leaders fell upon the Pandava Army.[59] The Panchalas urged their troops, saying, ‘Drona, Drona!’ Thy