Sanjaya said Then again the Kurus and Srinjayas undauntedly encountered one another. The sons of Pritha were headed by Yudhishthira and our army was headed by the charioteer's son.

Then took place a dreadful and hair-stirring battle between Karna and the sons of Pandu which increased the territory of Yama.

After that dreadful battle, producing pools of blood, had taken place and when only a few of the brave Samsaptakas remained alive, Dhristadyumna, with all the kings and the mighty car-warrior Pandavas, rushed towards Karna.

As a mountain holds water so Karna alone received in battle those warriors filed with joy and longing for victory.

Encountering Karna those great carwarriors were scattered (by him) as a collection of water is dispersed on all sides while dashing against a huge mountain.

O great king, then took place a hair stirring encounter between them. With arrows Dhristadyumna struck the son of Radha exclaiming-"Wait! Wait!”

Boiling with rage the great car-warrior Karna shook the best of his bows, Vijaya. Then cutting off his bow and arrows like unto deadly serpents he struck Dhristadyumna with nine shafts.

Cutting through the golden armour of that high-souled hero they were covered with blood and looked like so many lady birds.

Then throwing off his broken bow the great car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna took up a fresh one and shafts resembling venomous snakes and struck Karna with seventy arrows.

Likewise Karna too covered Prishata's son, the scorcher of his enemies with arrows resembling deadly deadly serpents. The great bowman, the enemy of Drona, struck (Karna) with sharpened arrows.

Karna discharged at him in anger a golden arrow like the very rod of Death.

O king, the descendant of Sini, like an expert, sundered into seven pieces that dreadful arrow which was about to fall on him.

Seeing that arrow broken with his shafts, Karna, O king, covered Satyaki completely with a downpour of arrows.

He pierced him with seven arrows. The grandson of Sini, in return, struck him with golden-feathered arrows.

Then there took place an encounter wonderful and terrible striking terror to ears and eyes.

Hairs on the body of all creatures present there stood erect on beholding in that battle the wonderful feats of Karna and of the grandson of Sini.

In the meantime the highly powerful son of Drona approached Parshata, the subduer of his enemies and the destroyer of their prowess.

Drouni, the victor of hostile cities, said to him, in anger, "Wait, wait! O slayer of Brahmanas, you will not escape me today with your life.

Saying this he covered the great hero, Parshata, with dreadful, dreadful, sharpened and powerful arrows although that car-warrior tried his level best to thwart them.

As Drona, while he was alive, became dispirited on seeing the son of Prishata and took him for his death, so the son of Prishata, on seeing Drona's son in battle, regarded him as his death.

They immediately marched forward and accessed to Ashvatthama in battle-field considering themselves undefeated by the weapons and it appeared as if the god of death has attacked on god of death (time) at the time of great devastation (Maha Pralaya).

Seeing Dhristadyumna stand firm before him the heroic son of Drona, sighing in anger, rushed towards Parshata.

O king, both are very angry to see each other. Then, O king, the powerful son of Drona quickly said to Dhristadyumna who stood before him.

O wretch of a Panchala, I will dispatch you today to the abode of Death. Verily you committed a great sin by killing Drona before. You will meet with an evil turn in extenuation of that iniquity if you stand in battle without being protected by Partha or if you do not beat a retreat. O fool, I tell you the truth.

Thus addressed the powerful Dhristadyumna replied-What, I said to your father, while trying his best in battle, will serve as a reply to your words.

If Drona, who was a Brahmana in name, could have been killed by me, why should I not, by my power, kill you today in battle.

Having said this, O king, the revengeful commander (of Pandava's army) Parshata struck Drona's son with sharpened arrows.

Thereupon, worked up with anger Drona's son, O king, covered all sides of Dhristadyumna with arrows.

Covered with thousands of shafts neither the sky, nor the quarters, nor the warriors around could be seen.

Before the very eyes of the charioteer's son, O king, Parshata covered Drona's son, the ornament of the battle field, with arrows.

But the son of Radha alone, O king, visible on every side, withstood the Panchalas, Pandavas, the sons of Draupadi, Yudhamanyu and the great car-warrior Satyaki.

Dhristadyumna, again in battle, cut-off the dreadful bow of Drona's son and his arrows resembling venomous serpents. He, again, O king, in a moment struck with arrows Parshata's bow, Sakti, club, standard, horses, charioteer and car,

Having his bow and car broken and horses and charioteer slain, he took up a huge sword shining like a hundred moon.

O king, the great car-warrior, the heroic son of Drona, displaying light handedness and holding firm his weapon, quickly cut-off in battle with Bhallas, that weapon of his, before he could come down from the car. It was indeed wonderful.

O foremost of Bharatas, that great carwarrior, although striving hard, could not kill Dhristadyumna, who had his bow and car broken and horses slain and was wounded with various arrows.

O king, when the son of Drona could not kill him with arrows, that hero, laying aside his bow, quickly followed Parshata.

The motion of that high-souled one as he rushed on resembled that of Garuda, swooping down for catching a snake.

In the interval Madhava said to Arjuna-"See, O Partha, how Drona's son is proceeding quickly towards Parshata's car. Forsooth, he will kill the prince. There is no doubt.

O you of large arms, O subduer of enemies, rescue Prishata's son who is near the mouth of Drona's son as if he is within the jaws of Death."

Having said this, O king, the powerful son of Vasudeva drove the horses where Drona's son was staying

Urged on by the Keshava those horses, effulgent like the moon, ran towards the car of Drona's son as if devouring the very sky.

Seeing those two mighty heroes approach him, Ashvatthama set forth his exertions for killing Dhristadyumna soon.

O king, seeing Dhristadyumna dragged by his enemy, the powerful son of Pritha discharged many arrows at the son of Drona.

Those golden shafts, shot off his Gandiva, approached the son of Drona and wounded him deep like serpents entering into an ant hill.

Thus struck with dreadful shafts the powerful son of Drona left off the highly energetic Panchala Prince.

Thus wounded by Dhananjaya with arrows the hero got on his chariot. And taking up his bow he began to strike Partha with innumerabie arrows.

In the interval O king, the heroic Sahadeva carried away on his chariot Parshata the scorcher of his enemies.

Arjuna in return struck Drona's son with Winged arrows. Worked up Drona's son struck him on the arms and the chest.

with anger Filled with anger Partha discharged in that battle at Drona's son a Naracha like unto the very rod of Death.

O king, That highly effulgent arrow fell on Brahmana's shoulder, he was stupefied in the battle with the force of that arrow. He sat down exhausted on the car.

Then, O king, Karna took up his bow, Vijaya and filled with anger he again and again cast his looks on Arjuna desiring for a duel with him.

Seeing Drona's son senseless his charioteer quickly took him away on his car from the battle-field.

Seeing Prishata's son released and Drona's son wounded, the Panchalas, O king, jubilant over the victory, sent up loud war-cries.

Thousands of musical instruments of swell tune were struck. Seeing those wonderful feats the heroes sent up leonine shouts.

Subsequent to exhibit such valour, Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti said to Sri Krishna-"Sri Krishna! Move now towards Samsaptakas as it is my prime target this time.

Hearing those words of Arjuna Krishna drove his car adorned with many banners and fleet like the wind or the mind. Hearing those words of Arjuna Krishna drove his car adorned with many banners and fleet like the wind or the mind.