Vaishampayana said Making Uttara his charioteer and going round the Shami tree the son of Pandu taking all his weapons set out.

Having taken down the banner with the lion's figure and placed it at the foot of the Shami tree the mighty car-warrior set out with Uttara as his charioteer,

He hoisted on his chariot the golden flag having the emblem of a monkey which was a celestials illusion created by Vishvakarman.

As soon as he thought of the favour of Agni in his mind the deity, knowing his desire, ordered the creatures (to sit) on the flag.

A celestial and charming flag-staff adorned with gold, furnished with a handsome banner and quivers attached to it, immediately fell on the car from the sky.

Seeing the banner reach his car the hero went round it reverentially. Then getting on his car, Bibhatsu, the son of Kunti, having white steeds and the emblem of a monkey on his banner, having his fingers protected by the gloves of Inguana skin, and taking up his bow and arrows, started in a northerly direction.

Then that highly powerful repressor of foes, energetically blew his large conch-shell of thundering sound, capable of making the hairs of the body of his enemies stand erect.

At that sound the quick-coursing horses dropped down their knees on earth. Uttara too, stricken with fear, sat down on the car.

Then raising the horses up with reins and keeping them in their proper places and embracing Uttara, Arjuna, the son of Kunti, consoled him.

Arjuna said O foremost of princes, O slayer of foes, be not afraid; you are a Kshatriya; why do you look sorry, O foremost of men, in the midst of enemies?

You have heard enough of the sound of my conch shells as well as that of trumpets and the roar of many elephants in the midst of soldiers arranged for battle.

Why are you therefore, so dispirited agitated and terrified by the sound of the conch like an ordinary man.

Uttara said I have heard the sound of many a conch and many a trumpet and the roar of many an elephant in the battle field but never have I heard the sound of such a conch. Never have I seen before a flag like this.

Never have I heard before the twang of such a bow. With the blowing of this conch, the twang of this bow, the superhuman cries of creatures placed on the banner, and with the rattle of this chariot my mind has been greatly agitated.

All the quarters have been agitated and my mind has been pained; all the quarters have been covered with flags and thus do not come to my view. With the twang of the Gandiva my ears have been deafened.

Arjuna said Stand you firmly on this chariot, pressing your feet on it. Get hold lightly of the reins for I will blow the conch again.

Vaishampayana said Arjuna blew the conch again which caused grief in the enemies and increased the delight of the friends.

(It seemed to rend) the caves of the mountains, hills and the quarters. Uttara too, clinging to it, sat on the car.

The earth shook with the sound of the conch, rattle of the car and the twang of the Gandiva. And Dhananjaya again consoled him.

Drona said From the rattle of the car, from the way in which the clouds have appeared, and in which the earth shakes he is none other than Savyasachin.

Our arms do not shine, our horses are dispirited and our fires, although fuel is added to them, do not blaze up.

All the animals, looking towards the sun, are yelling dreadfully and the crows are perching on our banners. This is not auspicious.

The vultures and kites are in the right path and presage a great danger. And the jackal too crying runs about in the midst of the army.

An they go out openly. It presages a great calamity. The hairs of your bodies are seen to stand on their ends.

Forsooth this presages a great destruction of the Kshatriyas in battle; the shining objects do not come in view and the birds and beasts appear frightful.

Many portents are seen presaging the destruction of the Kshatriyas. And this particularly portends a great havoc amongst ourselves.

Your army is assailed by these burning meteors and the animals, O king, seem to be shorn of cheerfulness and are as if weeping.

Vulture and kites are moving all around your army. You will repent when you will see your soldiers assailed by Partha's shafts.

Our army is already defeated for, none wishes to fight. All the soldiers appear pale and dispirited. Placing the kine before, we should all stand here arranged in battle array, and ready to strike.