Chapter 13

Vaishampayana said, “Having said these words, that foremost of allwielders of weapons, that delighter of all the Yadavas, mounted upon hisexcellent car equipped with every kind of powerful weapons. Unto thatvehicle were yoked two pairs of foremost steeds of the Kamboja breed,that were adorned with garlands of gold. The dhur of that best of carswas of the hue of the morning sun. On the right was yoked the steed knownas Shaibya; on the left was placed Sugriva; the Parshni was borne by twoothers called Meghapushpa and Balahaka. There was seen on that car acelestial standard decked with gems and gold and created by the divineArtificer, and standing high like the Maya (of Vishnu himself). Upon thatstandard was Vinata’s son (Garuda) shining with great splendour. Indeed,that enemy of snakes perched on the standard-top of Keshava who is Truthembodied.

Then Hrishikesha, that foremost of all bowmen, mounted on that car. Afterhim Arjuna of irresistible feats and Yudhishthira, the king of the Kurus,ascended the same vehicle. Seated on that car, by the side of him ofDasharha’s race who wielded the bow called sharnga, the two sons of Pandulooked exceedingly beautiful, like the twin Ashvinis seated by the sideof Vasava. Causing them to ascend on that car of his which was adored byall the world, he of Dasharha’s race urged those foremost of steedsendued with great fleetness. Those steeds then suddenly flew, takingafter them that excellent vehicle ridden by the two sons of Pandu and bythat bull of Yadu’s race. Endued with great speed, as those animals boreaway the wielder of sharnga, loud became the noise caused by their rush,like that of birds coursing through the air.

Proceeding with great speed, they soon came up, O bull of Bharata’s race,with the mighty bowman Bhimasena in whose wake they had followed.Although those great car-warriors met Bhima, they failed however to stopthat son of Kunti, as filled with wrath he proceeded fiercely towards thefoe. In the very sight of those illustrious and firm bowmen, Bhima, bymeans of his very fleet steeds, proceeded towards the bank of the riverbrought down by Bhagiratha. He beheld the high-souled and illustrious anddark-complexioned and island-born Vyasa sitting near the edge of thewater in the midst of many rishis. And he also saw Drona’s son of wickeddeeds sitting beside them, covered with dust, attired in a piece of clothmade of kusha grass, and smeared all over with clarified butter. Themighty-armed Bhimasena, the son of Kunti, taking up his bow with shaftfixed on it, rushed towards Ashvatthama, and said, Wait, wait!’

Drona’s son, beholding that terrible bowman coming towards him bow inhand, and the two brothers on Janardana’s car, became exceedinglyagitated and thought his hour had come. Of soul incapable of beingdepressed, he called to his mind that high weapon (which he had obtainedfrom his sire). He then took up a blade of grass with his left hand.Fallen into great distress, he inspired that blade of grass with propermantras and converted it into that powerful celestial weapon. Unable tobrook the arrows (of the Pandavas) and the presence of those wielders ofcelestial weapons, he uttered in wrath these terrible words: For thedestruction of the Pandavas.’ Having said these words, O tiger amongkings, the valiant son of Drona let off that weapon for stupefying allthe worlds. A fire then was born in that blade of grass, which seemedcapable of consuming the three worlds like the all-destroying Yama at theend of the yuga.”