energy.  Slay that car-warrior.”  Having said these words, Keshava, that slayer of hostile heroes, proceeded to his tent in the evening, worshipped by the Pandavas.  After Keshava had gone, king Yudhishthira the just, dismissing all his brothers and the Somakas, happily slept that night, like an elephant from whose body the darts have been plucked out.  All those great bowmen of the Pancalas and Pandavas, delighted in consequence of the fall of Karna, slept that night happily.  Its fever dispelled, the army of the Pandavas, abounding with great bowmen and mighty car-warriors having reached the shore as it were, became very happy that night, in consequence of the victory, O sire, it had won by the slaughter of Karna.’”

8

“Sanjaya said, ’After that night had passed away, king Duryodhana then, addressing all thy soldiers, said, “Arm, you mighty car-warriors!” Hearing the command of the king, the warriors began to put on their armour.  Some began to yoke their steeds to their cars quickly, others ran hither and thither.  The elephants began to be equipped.  The foot-soldiers began to arm.  Others, numbering thousands, began to spread carpets on the terraces of cars.  The noise of musical instruments, O monarch, arose there, for enhancing the martial enthusiasm of the soldiers.  Then all the troops, placed in their proper posts, were seen, O Bharata, to stand, clad in mail and resolved to make death their goal.  Having made the ruler of the Madras their leader, the great car-warriors of the Kauravas, distributing their troops, stood in divisions.  Then all thy warriors, with Kripa and Kritavarma and Drona’s son and Shalya and Subala’s son and the other kings that were yet alive, met thy son, and arrived at this understanding, that none of them would individually and alone fight with the Pandavas.  And they said, “He amongst us that will fight, alone and unsupported, with the Pandavas, or he that will abandon a comrade engaged in fight, will be stained with the five grave sins and all the minor sins.”  And they said, “All of us, united together, will fight with the foe.”  Those great car-warriors, having made such an understanding with one another placed the ruler of the Madras at their head and quickly proceeded against their foes.  Similarly, all the Pandavas, having arrayed their troops in great battle, proceeded against the Kauravas, O king, for fighting with them on every side.  Soon, O chief of the Bharatas, that host, whose noise resembled that of the agitated ocean, and which seemed to be wonderful in consequence of its cars and elephants, presented the aspect of the vast deep swelling with its surges.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ’I have heard of the fall of Drona, of Bhishma and of the son of Radha.  Tell me now of the fall of Shalya and of my son.  How, indeed, O Sanjaya, was Shalya slain by king Yudhishthira the just?  And how was my son Duryodhana slain by Bhimasena of great might?’