them all in that dreadful battle.  Then like a fire in the forest consuming heaps of dry grass and straw, that mighty car-warrior, viz., Drona’s son, having showers of arrows for his flames, consumed the Pandava troops in that battle, who resembled a heap of dry grass and straw.  That army of Pandu’s son, thus scorched by the son of Drona, became exceedingly agitated, O chief of the Bharatas, like the mouth of a river by a whale.  People then, O monarch, beholding the prowess of Drona’s son, regarded all the Pandavas as already slain by him.  Then Yudhishthira, that great car-warrior and disciple of Drona, filled with rage and the desire to retaliate, addressed Drona’s son, saying “O tiger among men, thou hast no affection, thou hast no gratitude, since thou desirest to slay me today.  The duties of a Brahmana are asceticism and gift and study.  The bow should be bent by the Kshatriya only.  It seems, therefore, that thou art a Brahmana in name only.  In thy very sight, however.  O thou of mighty arms, I will vanquish the Kauravas in battle.  Do what thou canst in battle.  I tell thee that thou art a wretch amongst Brahmanas.”  Thus addressed, the son of Drona. smiling, and reflecting upon what was proper and true, gave no reply.  Without saying anything, he covered the son of Pandu in that battle with a shower of arrows like the destroyer himself in wrath while engaged in annihilating creatures.  Thus covered by Drona’s son.  O sire, the son of Pritha quickly went away from that spot, leaving that large division of his.  After Yudhishthira, the son of Dharma, had gone away, the high-souled son of Drona also, O king, left that spot.  Then Yudhishthira, O king, avoiding the son of Drona in that great battle proceeded against thy army, resolved to achieve the cruel task of slaughter.’”

56

“Sanjaya said, ’Meanwhile Vikartana himself, resisting Bhimasena supported by the Pancalas and the Cedis and the Kaikayas, covered him with many arrows.  In the very sight of Bhimasena, Karna, slew in that battle many mighty car-warriors among the Cedis, the Karushas, and the Srinjayas.  Then Bhimasena, avoiding Karna, that best of car-warriors, proceeded against the Kaurava troops like a blazing fire towards a heap of dry grass.  The Suta’s son also in that battle, began to slay the mighty bowmen amongst the Pancalas, the Kaikayas, and the Srinjayas, in thousands.  Indeed, the three mighty car-warriors viz., Partha and Vrikodara and Karna, began to exterminate the samsaptakas, the Kauravas, and the Pancalas, respectively.  In consequence of thy evil policy, O king, all these Kshatriyas, scorched with excellent shafts by those three great warriors, began to be exterminated in that battle.  Then Duryodhana, O chief of the Bharatas, filled with rage, pierced Nakula and his four steeds with nine arrows.  Of immeasurable soul, thy son next, O ruler of men, cut off the golden standard of Sahadeva with a razor-faced shaft.  Filled with wrath,