carless Srutarvan then, O king, took up a sword and shield.  As the prince, however, careered with his sword and bright shield decked with a hundred moons, the son of Pandu struck off his head from his trunk with a razor-headed arrow and felled it on the Earth.  The trunk of that illustrious warrior, rendered headless by means of that razor-headed arrow, fell down from his car, filling the Earth with a loud noise.  Upon the fall of that hero, thy troops, though terrified, rushed in that battle against Bhimasena from desire of fighting with him.  The valiant Bhimasena, clad in mail, received those warriors rushing quickly at him from among the unslain remnant of that ocean of troops.  Approaching him, those warriors encompassed that hero on all sides.  Thus surrounded by those warriors of thine, Bhima began to afflict them all with keen shafts like him of a 1,000 eyes afflicting the Asuras.  Having destroyed five hundred great cars with their fences, he once more slew seven hundred elephants in that battle.  Slaying next 10,000 foot-soldiers with his mighty shafts, as also 800 steeds, the son of Pandu looked resplendent.  Indeed, Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, having slain thy sons in battle, regarded his object achieved, O lord, and the purpose of his birth accomplished.  Thy troops, at that time, O Bharata, ventured to even gaze at that warrior who was battling in that fashion and slaying thy men in that way.  Routing all the Kurus and slaying those followers of theirs, Bhima then slapped his armpits, terrifying the huge elephants with the noise he produced.  Then thy army, O monarch, which had lost a very large number of men, and which then consisted of a very few soldiers, became exceedingly cheerless, O king!’”

27

“Sanjaya said, ’Duryodhana, O king, and thy son Sudarsa, the only two of thy children yet unslain, were at that time in the midst of the (Kaurava) cavalry.  Beholding Duryodhana staying in the midst of the cavalry, Devaki’s son (Krishna) said unto Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, “A large number of our foes, kinsmen that had received our protection, have been slain.  There, that bull of Sini’s race is returning, having taken Sanjaya captive!  Both Nakula and Sahadeva, O Bharata, are fatigued, having fought with the wretched Dhartarashtras and their followers!  Those three, Kripa and Kritavarma and the mighty car-warrior Ashvatthama, have left Duryodhana’s side and taken up their position elsewhere!  Having slain Duryodhana’s troops, the Pancala prince stayeth yonder, endued with great beauty, in the midst of the Prabhadrakas.  There, O Partha, Duryodhana stayeth in the midst of his cavalry, with the umbrella held over his head and himself flinging his glances all around!  Having rearrayed the (remnant of his) army, he stayeth in the midst of his forces.  Slaying this one with thy keen shafts, thou mayst achieve all thy objects!  As long as these troops do not fly away beholding thee, in their midst and witnessing also the destruction of their