Sanjaya said Hearing those words of the Kuru king, the brave king (Shalya), O king, said these words to him

"O mighty-armed Duryodhana, listen to me, O foremost of orators. You consider the two Krishnas, when on their car, as the foremost of car-warriors. They are not, however, jointly equal to me in the strength of arms.

What shall I say of the Pandavas? When enraged, I can fight, at the van of battle, with the whole world consisting of the celestials, Asuras and men.

I will defeat the assembled Parthas and the Somakas in battle. Forsooth, I will become the leader of your army.

I will form such an array that our enemies will not be able to discomfit it. Truly do I say this to you, O Duryodhana."

Thus addressed (by Shalya), king Duryodhana joyfully poured sanctificd water, O best of the Bharatas, on the king of the Madras, in the midst of his soldiers, according to the rites ordained in the scriptures. O king.

After Shalya has been appointed the commander, leonine shouts arose among your soldiers and various musical instruments also, O Bharata, were struck.

The Kaurava warriors and the powerful carwarriors among the Madrakas became very cheerful. And all of them praised the royal Shalya, that ornament of battle, saying "Victory to you, O king! May you live long. Kill all the foes! Having obtained the strength of your arms, let the sons of Dhritarashtra, gifted with great strength, rule the wide Earth without an enemy.

You are capable of vanquishing in battle the three worlds consisting of the gods and Asuras, what to speak of the Somakas and the Shrinjayas."

Thus eulogised the power king of the Madrakas was filled with great joy that is unattainable by uncultured persons.

Shalya said Today, O King, I will either kill all the Panchalas with the Pandavas in battle or killed by them go to heaven.

Let the world behold me today moving about fearlessly in the field; let all the sons of Pandu and Vasudeva and Satyaki and the sons of Draupadi and Dhristadyumna, Shikhandhin and all the Prabhadrakas, witness my powers, the great power of my bow, my quickness, the energy of my weapons and the strength of my arms in battle.

Let the Parthas and all the Siddhas with the Charanas, witness today the strength of my arms and the precious weapons I possess.

Witness my prowess to-day let the mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas, desirous of counteracting it, adopt various measures.

Today I will disperse the troops of the Pandavas on all sides. Excelling Drona and Bhishma and the son of Suta, O lord, in battle, I will move about the field, O Kourava, for doing what pleases you.

Sanjaya said After Shalya had been appointed to the command, O giver of honours, no one among your soldiers, O foremost of Bharata's race, any longer felt sorrow for Karna.

Indeed your soldiers were filled with delight. They considered the Parthas as already slain and brought under the control of the king of Madras.

Delighted your soldiers, O best of Bharata's race, slept that night happily and became very cheerful.

Hearing the war-cries of your army king Yudhishthira, addressing the Vrishni heroes, said these words, before all the Kshatriyas.

"The ruler of he Madras, Shalya, that great bowman who is highly respected by all the warriors, has, O Madhava, been appointed the commander of his forces of Dhritarashtra's son.

Knowing this, do, O Madhava, that which is beneficial. You are our leader and protector. Do what should next be done."

Then Vasudeva, O monarch, said to that king-"I know Artayani, O Bharata, as truly illustrious, powerful and energetic.

He is accomplished, conversant with all the modes of warfare and possesses great lightness of hand.

I think that the ruler of Madras is in battle equal to Bhishma or Drona or Karna or perhaps superior to them.

O Bharata! O King of kings! My mind in course of searching in depth for the cominander of army, is not able to see any other warrior capable as Shalya in war-craft.

In battle, he is superior in power to Shikhandin and Arjuna and Bhima and Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, O Bharata.

The king of the Madras, O king, gifted with tlie prowess of a lion or an elephant, will move about fearlessly in battle, like the Destroyer himself enraged amongst creatures at the time of the universal dissolution.

I do not find a match for him in battle except you, O best of men, who are possessed of prowess equal to that of a tiger.

Except you there is no other person either in heaven or in the whole of this world, who, O best of Kurus, would be able to kill the king of the Madras while worked up with anger in battle.

Daily in fight, he agitates your troops. For this, kill Shalya in battle, like Mahgavan slaying Shambara.

Honoured by Dhritarashtra's son, that hero is invincible in battle. When the king of the Madras will be killed in battle, you will surely win victory. Upon his slaughter, Dhritarashtra's huge army will be slain.

Hearing, O king, these words of mind now, proceed, O Partha, against that great carwarrior, the king of the Madras.

Kill that hero, O you of great arms, like Vasava slaying the Asura Namuchi. There is no need of showing any compassion here, thinking that he is your maternal uncle. Observing the duties of a Kshatriya, slay the king of the Madras.

Having crossed the fathomless represented by Bhishma and Drona and Karna, do not sink, with your followers, in a pit dug by a cow's hoop represented by Shalya. ocean

Display in battle the whole of your ascetic power and Kshatriya energy. Slay that carwarrior."

Having said these words, Keshava, that slayer of hostile heroes, went to his tent in the evening adored by the Pandavas.

After Keshava had departed the righteous king Yudhishthira, sending away all his brothers and the Somakas, happily slept that night, like an elephant from whose body the darts have been plucked out.

All those great bowmen, viz., the Panchalas and the Pandavas, delighted at the fall of Karna, slept that night happily.

With their anxiety gone the army of the Pandavas, abounding with great bowmen and mighty car-warriors, having reached the shore as it were, became very happy that night on account of the victory, O sire, it had won by the destruction of Karna.