exertion, blazing with resplendence, mighty-armed, and standing like another Meru.  With wrath ever kindled and longing for revenge, Bhima of great energy stands there desirous of victory in battle, and remembering all his injuries.  There that foremost of virtuous men, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, that subjugator of hostile towns, stands difficult of being resisted by foes in battle.  There stand those two tigers among men, the twin Ashvinis, the two uterine brothers Nakula and Sahadeva, both invincible in battle.  Yonder may be seen the five sons of Krishna, that have the features of Pancala princes.  All of them, equal to Arjuna in battle, are standing, desirous of fight.  There the sons of Drupada, headed by Dhristadyumna, swelling with pride and energy,—­heroes endued with great energy,—­have taken up their stand.  There, that foremost one among the Satwatas, viz., Satyaki, irresistible like Indra, advanceth against us, from desire of fight, like the destroyer himself in wrath before our eyes.”  While those two lions among men were thus addressing each other, the two armies mingled fiercely in battle, like the currents of the Ganga and Yamuna.’”

47

“Dhritarashtra said, ’When the two armies, duly arrayed, thus mingled with each other for battle, O Sanjaya, how did Partha assail the samsaptakas, and how Karna assail the Pandavas?  Tell me the incidents of the battle in detail, for thou art skilled in narration.  Listening to the accounts of the prowess of heroes in battle, I am never satiated.’

“Sanjaya said, ’Observing the vast hostile force stationed in that manner, Arjuna arrayed his troops in proper form, in consequence of the evil policy of thy son.  The vast Pandava force then, teeming with horsemen and elephants and foot-soldiers and cars, and headed by Dhrishtadyumna, looked exceedingly magnificent.  With his steeds white as pigeons, the son of Prishata, equal in splendour to the Sun or the Moon, armed with bow, looked resplendent like Death himself in embodied form.  The sons of Draupadi, desirous of battle, stood by the side of the son of Prishata.  They were clad in excellent coats of mail, and armed with excellent weapons, and all of them were endued with the prowess of tigers.  Possessed of effulgent bodies, they followed their maternal uncle like the stars appearing with the Moon.  Beholding the samsaptakas standing in array, Arjuna, with wrath excited, rushed against them, drawing his bow Gandiva.  The samsaptakas then, desirous of slaying Arjuna, rushed against Partha, firmly resolved on victory, and making death their goal.  That brave host of heroes, teeming with men, steeds, infuriate elephants, and cars, began very quickly to afflict Arjuna.  Their encounter with Kiritin (Arjuna) became exceedingly furious.  That encounter resembled the one that took place between Arjuna and the Nivatakavachas, as we have heard.  Partha cut off cars and steeds and standards and elephants and foot-soldiers engaged