The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,886 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3.

57

“Sanjaya said, ’Duryodhana, with heart undepressed, beholding Bhimasena in that state, rushed furiously against him, uttering a loud roar.  They encountered each other like two bulls encountering each other with their horns.  The strokes of their maces produced loud sounds like those of thunderbolts.  Each longing for victory, the battle that took place between them was terrible, making the very hair stand on end, like that between Indra and Prahlada.  All their limbs bathed in blood, the two high-souled warriors of great energy, both armed with maces, looked like two Kinsukas decked with flowers.  During the progress of that great and awful encounter, the welkin looked beautiful as if it swarmed with fire-flies.  After that fierce and terrible battle had lasted for some time, both those chastisers of foes became fatigued.  Having rested for a little while, those two scorchers of foes, taking up their handsome maces, once again began to ward off each others’ attacks.  Indeed, when those two warriors of great energy, those two foremost of men, both possessed of great might, encountered each other after having taken a little rest, they looked like two elephants infuriated with passion and attacking each other for obtaining the companionship of a cow elephant in season.  Beholding those two heroes, both armed with maces and each equal to the other in energy, the gods and Gandharvas and men became filled with wonder.  Beholding Duryodhana and Vrikodara both armed with maces, all creatures became doubtful as to who amongst them would be victorious.  Those two cousins, those two foremost of mighty men, once again rushing at each other and desiring to take advantage of each other’s lapses, waited each watching the other.  The spectators, O king, beheld each armed with his uplifted mace, that was heavy, fierce, and murderous, and that resembled the bludgeon of Yama or the thunder-bolt of Indra.  While Bhimasena whirled his weapon, loud and awful was the sound that it produced.  Beholding his foe, the son of Pandu, thus whirling his mace endued with unrivalled impetuosity, Duryodhana became filled with amazement.  Indeed, the heroic Vrikodara, O Bharata, as he careered in diverse courses, presented a highly beautiful spectacle.  Both bent upon carefully protecting themselves, as they approached, they repeatedly mangled each other like two cats fighting for a piece of meat.  Bhimasena performed diverse kinds of evolutions.  He coursed in beautiful circles, advanced, and receded.  He dealt blows and warded off those of his adversary, with wonderful activity.  He took up various kinds of position (for attack and defence).  He delivered attacks and avoided those of his antagonist.  He ran at his foe, now turning to the right and now to the left.  He advanced straight against the enemy.  He made ruses for drawing his foe.  He stood immovable, prepared for attacking his foe as soon as the latter would expose himself to attack.  He circumambulated his foe, and prevented his foe

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 3 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.