Vaishampayana said “At the outset, O Janamejaya, a dreadful encounter of words took place between the two heroes. With respect to that, king Dhritarashtra, filled with grief, said thisधिगस्तु खलु मानुष्यं यस्य निष्ठेयमीदृशी।

Oh, fie, on man, who has such an end! My son, O sinless one, had been the master of eleven hosts of troops!

He had all the kings under his command and had enjoyed the sovereignty of the whole Earth! Alas, he that had been so, was now reduced to a warrior proceeding to battle, on foot, shouldering his mace.

My poor son, who had before been the lord of the universe, was now himself without help! Alas, he had, then, to proceed on foot, shouldering his mace! What can it be but Destiny? Alas, O Sanjaya, great was the grief that was felt by my son now! 'Having uttered these words, the king afflicted with great sorrow became silent.

Sanjaya said Having a voice deep like a cloud, Duryodhana then roared from joy like a bull. Possessed of great energy, he challenged the son of Pritha to battle.

When the great king of the Kurus thus summoned Bhima to the encounter, various awful portents appeared there.

Fierce winds began to blow with loud noises at intervals, and a shower of dust fell. All the points of the compass were covered with a thick darkness.

Thunder-bolts of loud noise dropped on all sides, causing a great confusion and making the very hair to stand on end. Hundreds of meteors fell, with a loud noise from the sky.

Rahu devoured the Sun most untimely, O king! The Earth with her forest and trees shook violently.

Hot winds blew, carrying showers of hard pebbles along the ground. The summits of mountains dropped down on the Earth's surfacc.

Various Animals were seen to run in various directions. Terrible and fierce jackals, with firing mouths, yelled piteously.

Loud and terrific hair-stirring sounds were heard on every side, the four quarters seemed to be on fire, and many animals of ill omen became visible.

The water in the wells on all sides swelled up. Loud sounds came from every side without, O king, none to utter them being visible.

Beholding these and other evil omens Vrikodara said to his eldest brother, king

This wicked Suyodhana is not able to defeat me in battle. I shall to-day vomit that vie, which I have been cherishing for a long time in the recesses of my heart, upon this lord of the Kurus like Arjuna throwing fire upon the forest of Khandava! To-day, O son of Pandu, I shall take out the dart that lies sticking to thy heart!

Killing with my mace this sinful wretch of Kuru's race, I shall to-day, place around your neck the garland of Fame!

Killing this sinful person with my mace on the field of battle, I shall to-day, with this very mace of mine, break his body into a hundred pieces! He shall not have again to enter the city of Hastinapur!

The setting of serpents at us while we were sleeping, the giving of venom to us while we were eating, the casting of our body into the water at Pramanakoti, the attempt to burn us at the house of lac, the insult given to us at the assembly, the robbing us of all our wealth, the whole year of our living in concealment, our exile into the forest, O sinless one, of all these misfortunes, O best of Bharata's race, I shall terminate to-day, O Bharata's chief! Killing this wretch, I shall, in one single day, pay off all the debts I owe him.

To-day the lease of life, of this wicked son of Dhritarashtra, of impure soul, has reached its end, O Bharata's chief. After this day he shall not again look at his father and mother!

To-day, O king, the happiness of this wicked king of the Kurus has terminated. After this day, O king, he shall not again see a beautiful damsel!

To-day this disgrace of Shantanu's race shall sleep on the naked Earth, his life, his prosperity, and his kingdom gone!

Hearing of the fall of his son to-day, king Dhritarashtra also shall recollect all those evil acts that were the creations of Shakuni!'

Having said these words, ( foremost of kings, the highly energetic, Vrikodara armed with mace, stood for fight, like Shakra challenging the Asura Vritra.

Seeing Duryodhana also standing with uplifted mace like mount Kailasa, Bhimasena, worked up with ire, once more addressed him, saying— 'Remember that misdeed of yourself and king Dhritarashtra that occurred at Varnavata!

Remember the ill-treatment of Draupadi, while in her season, in the midst of the assembly! Remember how yourself and Subala's son deprived the king at dice.

Remember the great misfortune suffered by L'S, for you, in the forest, as also in Virata's city, as if we had once more entered the womb! I shall avenge them all to-day. By good luck, I see you to-day!

It is for you that foremost of car-warriors, viz., the highly powerful son of Ganga, struck down by Yajnasena's son, sleep on a bed of arrows.

Drona also has been killed, and Karna, and Shalya of great prowess! Subala's son Shakuni too, that root of all this evil has been killed!

The wretched Pratikamin, who had seized Draupadi by her hair, has been killed! All your brave brothers also, who fought with great velour, have been killed!

These and many other kings have been killed through your fault! I shall kill you to-day with my mace! There is not the least doubt about it!'

While Vrikodara, O king, was uttering these words in a loud voice, your fearless son answered him, saying-'What is the use of bragging? Fight me, O Vrikodara! O wretch, to-day I shall satiate your desire of fight!

Mean as you are, know that Duryodhana is not capable, like an ordinary person, of being terrified by a person like you!

For a long time have I cherished this desire! For a long time I have been cherishing this desire! By good fortune the goods have at last brought it about!

What is the use of long talks and idle brag, O wicked man! Carry out these words of yours into acts! Do not delay at all!—Hearing these words of his, the Somakas and the other kings that were present there, all praised them highly.

Lauded by all, Duryodha's hair stood erect with joy, and he made of his mind for fight.

The kings present once again cheered your wrathful son with claps like persons exciting a mad elephant to a fight.

Then uplifting his mace, the great Vrikodara, the son of Pandu, rushed furiously at your high-souled son.

The elephants present there grunted aloud and the horses neighed repeatedly. The weapons of the Pandavas, who were eager for victory, shone resplendent with their own luster.