And like a Makara entering the sea, the mighty-
armed Bhima, resembling a second Yama, mace in hand, entered the Panchala
ranks, fiercely roaring like the ocean in a tempest. And Bhima, mace in
hand, first rushed towards the array of elephants in the hostile force,
while Arjuna, proficient in battle, assailed that force with the prowess
of his arms. And Bhima, like the great Destroyer himself, began to slay
those elephants with his mace. Those huge animals, like unto mountains,
struck with Bhima's mace, had their heads broken into pieces. Covered with
stream of blood, they began to fall upon the ground like cliffs loosened
by thunder. And the Pandavas prostrated on the ground elephants and horses
and cars by thousands and slew many foot-soldiers and many car-warriors.
Indeed, as a herdsman in the woods driveth before him with his staff
countless cattle with ease, so did Vrikodara drive before him the chariots
and elephants of the hostile force.
"Meanwhile, Phalguna, impelled by the desire of doing good unto
Bharadwaja's son, assailed the son of Prishata with a shower of arrows and
felled him from the elephant on which he was seated. And, O monarch,
Arjuna, like unto the terrible fire that consumeth all things at the end
of the Yuga, began to prostrate on the ground horses and cars and
elephants by thousands. The Panchalas and the Srinjayas, on the other hand,
thus assailed by the Pandava, met him with a perfect shower of weapons of
various kinds.
Pages:
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569