umbrella and standard and bow, he roared like a lion.  His standard and bow and umbrella thus cut off by Sahadeva, Subala’s son was pierced with many arrows in all his vital limbs.  Once again, O monarch, the valiant Sahadeva sped at Shakuni an irresistible shower of arrows.  Filled with rage, the son of Subala then, single-handed, rushed with speed against Sahadeva in that encounter, desirous of slaying the latter with a lance adorned with gold.  The son of Madri, however, with three broad-headed arrows, simultaneously cut off, without losing a moment, that uplifted lance as also the two well-rounded arms of his enemy at the van of battle, and then uttered a loud roar.  Endued with great activity, the heroic Sahadeva then, with a broad-headed arrow, made of hard iron, equipped with wings of gold, capable of penetrating every armour, and sped with great force and care, cut off from his trunk his enemy’s head.  Deprived of his head by the son of Pandu with that gold-decked arrow of great sharpness and splendour like the sun’s, Subala’s son fell down on the earth in that battle.  Indeed, the son of Pandu, filled with rage, struck off that head which was the root of the evil policy of the Kurus, with that impetuous shaft winged with gold and whetted on stone.  Beholding Shakuni lying headless on the ground and all his limbs drenched with gore, thy warriors, rendered powerless with fear, fled away on all sides with weapons in their hands.  At that time, thy sons, with cars, elephants, horse and foot entirely broken, heard the twang of Gandiva and fled away with colourless faces, afflicted with fear and deprived of their senses.  Having thrown down Shakuni from his car, the Pandavas, O Bharata, became filled with delight.  Rejoicing with Keshava among them, they blew their conchs in that battle, gladdening their troops.  All of them, with glad hearts, worshipped Sahadeva, and said, “By good luck, O hero, Shakuni of wicked soul, that man of evil course, hath, with his son, been slain by thee!’”

29

(Hrada-pravesa Parva)

“Sanjaya said, ’After this, the followers of Subala’s son, O monarch, became filled with rage.  Prepared to lay down their lives in that dreadful battle, they began to resist the Pandavas.  Resolved to aid Sahadeva in his victory, Arjuna, as also Bhimasena possessed of great energy and resembling an angry snake of virulent poison in aspect, received those warriors.  With his Gandiva, Dhananjaya baffled the purpose of those warriors, who, armed with darts and swords and lances, desired to slay Sahadeva.  Vibhatsu, with his broad-headed arrows, cut off the steeds, the heads, and the arms, with weapons in grasp of those rushing combatants.  The steeds of those foremost of heroes endued with activity, struck by Savyasaci, fell down on the earth, deprived of their lives.  King Duryodhana, beholding that carnage of his own troops, O lord, became filled with rage.  Assembling together the remnant of his cars which still