Sanjaya said Hearing those words of the very virtuous king Yudhishthira, that foremost of the Sinis, became afraid of the reproach he would incur at Arjuna's hands, it he would leave the king.

But seeing certainly of an imputation of cowardice by the people (if he were to disobey the words of Yudhishthira), he thus thought within himself. “Let not men say that I am afraid of proceeding to the rescue of Arjuna.

Thus thinking over the matter in various ways, that foremost of men, the invincible Satyaki, spoke these words to the very virtuous king Yudhishthira.

May good betide you, O king. If you think that these arrangements will be sufficient to ensure your safety, O ruler of men, then I shall go towards Vibhatsu and carry out your command.

There is nothing dearer to my soul in the three worlds, then that son of Pandu (Arjuna). This I tell you in all earnestness.

O bestower of honor, with your permission, I will follow his track. There is nothing that I shall not do for your sake.

0 best of men, the commands of my preceptor are ever worthy of my attention. But your words are all the more so.

The brothers Krishna and Arjuna are ever engaged in achieving your good; O best of all kings, know me also to be devoted to your welfare.

Holding your behest on my head, I will, O lord, proceed piercing this impenetrable army, for rendering help, O best of men, to that son of Pandu.

Here shall, I plunge into the divisions of Drona, excited as I am with rage. I shall then dart through it like a fish through the ocean, O king, to the spot where king Jayadratha.

Stays, protected by his troops and trembling in fear of the son of Pandu and depending upon those feremost of car-warriors viz., Drona's son, Karna, Kripa and others.

This distance, O king, between this place and the spot where Arjuna is exerting himself for the slaughter of Jayadratha, measures full three Yojanas.

But through Partha is three Yojanas away from this place, yet I shall pursue his track with a firm heart and support him till the slaughter of Jayadratha in accomplished.

Unless commanded by his preceptors, what man goes to battle with his enemies? When again commanded, O king, like myself, by his preceptors, what man is there that would not fight?

I know the spot, O king, whither I have to go. Teeming as it does with plough-shares, lances, maces darts, bludgeons.

Arrows and other weapons, I shall still agitate this ocean-like host. This elephant division, numbering a thousand elephants strong, that you see.

All belonging to the breed known as Arjuna and all possessed of great prowess and ridden by numerous Mlechchas delighting in battle and skilled in smiting down.

These elephants shedding the temporal juice like clouds pouring rain, they never turn back when goaded on by those on their backs.

They cannot be defeated unless they are slaughtered, Oking. Then again you carwarriors thousands strong in number, whom you can see.

Are of royal extraction and are all recongnised as Maharathas. All of them are of golden chariots. They accomplished in the use of weapons, in fighting upon cars and on the backs of elephants, O king!

Masters in the art of bowmanship, they are well-skilled in fighting with their fist also. They are skilled in fighting with maces and also in close quarters.

They are equally active in fighting with the sword and falling upon the foe with sword and buckler. They are courageous, learned and inspired with a desire for outvieing one another. Owners are

O king, they every day conquer countless warriors. They are under Karna's commanded and devotedly follow Dushasana.

Even Vasudeva's son praises these men as mighty car-warriors. Always solicitous of doing good to the Kurus, they are obedient to Karna.

Returning, at Karna's command, from their pursuit of Arjuna of white steeds and so unfatigued and in-exhausted, those brave warriors, accoutered in impenetrable mail and armed with tough bows.

Are made to wait for me at Duryodhana's command. For your good, O foremost descendant of the Kuru race, crushing these warriors in battle.

I will follow from behind the track laid open by Savyasachin. Those other elephants, O monarch, full seven hundred in number.

That you can see, all covered with armours, ridden by Kiratas and adorned with ornaments, were formerly presented by the king of the Kiratas, together with many servants, to Savyasachin; O King these were at first engaged in doing your good.

Behold the changes brought about by time, in as mush as, they are now ranged to fight against you. The Kiratas indomitable, in battle are their guides. Skillful in guiding elephants and all sprung from fire, they were all unitedly defeated in battle by Savyasachin.

Obedient to the commands of Duryodhana, they are bow waiting unitedly to receive me, Slaying, O king, these Kiratas indomitable in battle, by means of these shafts.

I will follow in the track of Pandu's son intent on the slaughter of the Sindhu king. Those other elephants sprung from the race of the Anjanas.

Of tough hide, well-trained and shedding secretions from their temples and mouth and covered with armours made entirely of gold.

Those elephants are all very useful in battle and equal to Airavat himself. These have come from the northern hills and are mounted by fierce robbers.

Possessed of strong limbs, cased in armours and all excellent fighters. There are, amongst them persons born of the cow, of the ape, or of diverse other creatures, including those born of men; that division of the sinful Mlechchas assembled together and come from the strongholds of the Himavat hill, appear to be like volumes of smoke from this distance. Obtaining these and numerous other Kshatriyas.

As also Kripa and Somadatta's son and that foremost of car-warriors viz., Drona and the ruler of the Sindhus and Karna, as partisans, Duryodhana disregards the Pandavas.

He also thinks himself to be already crowned with success, being impelled by Fate. But today, all these warriors, coming within the reach of my Narachas.

Will not escape alive, O son of Kunti, even if they he gifted with the fleetness of the mind. Always held in honour by king Duryodhana ever-depending on the prowess of others.

They shall today meet with their destruction, being sorely afflicted by my arrowy showers. O king, those other warrior owning golden standards, whom you can see.

They are known the irresistible Kambojas. They are brave, learned and practised in the use of the bow;

They are arranged in serried file and are resolved to stand firmly by one another. These Akshauhini of troops belonging to the sons of Dhritarashtra, all inspired with rage. as are

And expectantly looking for me, awaiting my arrival, being supported by numerous Kuru heroes. They are all coolheaded, O monarch and long to receive me.

Them shall I consume, like fire consuming a heap of grass. Let, therefore, o king, those who are versed in equipping chariots, equip my chariot with numerous quivers and all other implements of war and let these weapons be placed in proper places. Weapons of diverse kinds will have to be used in the terrible fight that will commence, ere long.

Let the chariot be stuffed with necessaries, five times more then what the professors of military science direct, in as much as, I shall have to encounter the united Kambojas resembling fierce snakes of virulent poison.

I shall also have to engage with the Kiratas armed with various implements of war, who resemble virulent poison, who accomplished in striking down.

Who have been favoured by the king and who in consequence, ever desire to achieve the good of Duryodhana. I shall also encounter the Shakas who resemble Indra himself in prowess.

Who are fierce as fire and difficult of being repressed like a raging conflagration. I shall have also to meet numerous other warriors, all irresistible and resembling Death himself. are

I shall have to encounter, O king, countless indomitable warriors. For these reasons, let excellent steeds of the best breed and graced with auspicious marks be harnessed to my chariot, after they had drank their fill and been groomed properly.

Sanjaya said Then king Yudhishthira directed quivers full of shafts and various other kinds of weapons and all other necessaries, to be placed in the chariot of Satyaki.

Then people caused the four excellent steed yoked to his car to drink juicy and intoxicating liquors.

Having caused those four steeds to slake their thirsts and walk and bathe and eat and having decked them with garlands of gold, men plucked the arrows out of their bodies;

Those animals that had been unharnessed for these operations, that were of golden hue, well-trained, endued with great fleetness, cheerful and extremely docile, were gain properly yoked to his chariot.

On the top of that chariot was mounted a tall standard bearing the device of a lion of golden manes. The standard was decked with banners of the hue of white clouds and it was graced with golden circles and pearls and corals. An umbrella with a huge golden staff was also placed upon that car that was groaning under the burden of weapons. When those horses decked with golden caparisons had been yoked to the car, the younger brother of Daruka, who was Satyaki's friend and charioteer came and represented to him that the car was ready, even as Matali informs Indra about the equipment of his car.

Then Satyaki, having taken a bath and having purified himself and having under gone every auspicious ceremony gave away to the Snataka Brahmanas thousand of golden Nikshasas.

Then blessed with the benedictions the latter pronounced upon him, that foremost handsome looking men. That hero worthy of adoration, having drunk Kailataka honey, appeared exceedingly beautiful with reddened eyes rolling in intoxication. Having touched a brazen mirror and being highly delighted, he became filled the double his ordinary energy and looked like the blazing fire.

Taking upon his shoulder his bow and arrows that best of car-warriors, covered in mail and adorned with ornaments, made the twice-born perform the rites of propitiation on his behalf. ones

Handsome damsels then adored him by covering him with a shower of fried paddy, perfumes and garlands of flowers. Thereafter that brave warrior with folded palms worshipped Yudhishthira's feet; whereupon the latter smelt his head. Having undergone all these ceremonies he mounted his chariot. Thereafter those horses, cheerful, plump, of the fleetness of the wind. Invincible in battle and of the Sindhu breed, were on the point of dragging that excellent chariot of Satyaki. Bhimasena also similarly, honoured by the very virtuous king Yudhishthira.

Set out with Satyaki, after having duly saluted the king (Yudhishthira). Beholding these two scorchers of foes cast their glances on your army.

All your warriors ranged against them with Drona at their head, stood still and motionless. Then beholding Bhima accoutered in mail follow him from behind.

The heroic Satyaki saluting him said these delightful words. Then Satyaki with his person filled with delight, spoke these very words addressing Bhima-"O Bhima, do you protect the king, even this is your duty. I will proceed along penetrating through this host whose hour has come;

At present and in all future periods, it should be your first duty to protect the king. You know my prowess and I all know yours, O Subduer of foe.

Therefore, O Bhima, turn back, if you, desire to do my good.” Thus spoken to Bhima replied to Satyaki saying “Go you then and be victorious and successful!

O foremost of men, I will protect the king to the best of my prowess." "Being thus addressed he of Madhu's race, replied to Bhimasena sayingगच्छ गच्छ ध्रुवं पार्थ ध्रुवो हि विजयो मम।

"Turn back, turn back, O son of Pritha; my victory today is certain in as much as you, won over by my merits, are now intent to carry out my wishes.

These auspicious omens also indicate my victory. When the sinful ruler of the Sindhus will be slain by the high-souled son of Pandu (Arjuna).

I shall embrace the illustrious king viz., Yudhishthira.” Having thus spoken to Bhima, the high-famed Satyaki left him. He then cast his eyes on your troops like a tiger looking at herds of deer.

once more O ruler of men, beholding him look at your army, your soldiers became confounded and they began to tremble. Thereafter Satyaki suddenly assailed your troops, desirous of meeting Arjuna, commanded by the virtuous king Yudhishthira to do so. once more O ruler of men, beholding him look at your army, your soldiers became confounded and they began to tremble. Thereafter Satyaki suddenly assailed your troops, desirous of meeting Arjuna, commanded by the virtuous king Yudhishthira to do so.