Chapter 168

“Arjuna continued, ‘Then at places eulogised by the Maharshis, I(proceeded, and at length) beheld the ocean–that inexhaustible lord ofwaters. And like unto flowing cliffs were seen on it heaving billows, nowmeeting together and now rolling away. And there (were seen) all aroundbarks by thousands filled with gems. And there were seen timingilas andtortoises and makaras like unto rock submerged in water. And on all sidesround thousands of shells sunk in water appeared like star in the nightcovered by light clouds. And thousands upon thousands of gem werefloating in heaps and a violent wind was blowing about in whirls–andthis was wonderful to behold. And having beheld that excellent lord ofall waters with powerful tides, I saw at a short distance the city of thedemons filled with the Danavas. And even there, eftsoons enteringunderneath the earth, Matali skilled in guiding the car, sitting fast onthe chariot drove it with force; and he dashed on, frightening that citywith the rattling of his chariot. And hearing that rattling of thechariot like unto the rumbling of the clouds in the sky, the Danavas,thinking me to be the lord of the celestials, became agitated. Andthereupon they all, frightened at heart, stood holding in their handsbows and arrows and swords and javelins and axes and maces and clubs.Then having made arrangements for the defence of the city, the Danavas,with minds alarmed, shut the gates, so that nothing could be discovered.Thereupon taking my shell, Devadatta, of tremendous roars, I again andagain winded it with exceeding cheerfulness. And filling all thefirmament, those sounds produced echoes. Thereat mighty beings wereterrified and they hid (themselves). And then, O Bharata, all of themadorned with ornaments, those offsprings of Diti–theNivata-Kavachas–made their appearance by thousands, donning diverse mailand taking in their hands various weapons and equipped with mighty ironjavelins and maces and clubs and hatchets and sabres and discs andsataghnis and bhusundis and variegated and ornamented swords. Then, afterdeliberating much as to the course of the car, Matali began to guide thesteeds on a (piece of) level ground, O foremost of the Bharatas. Andowing to the swiftness of those fleet coursers conducted by him, I couldsee nothing–and this was strange. Then the Danavas there began to soundthousands of musical instruments, dissonant and of odd shapes. And atthose sounds, fishes by hundreds and by thousands, like unto hills,having their senses bewildered by that noise, fled suddenly. And mightyforce flew at me, the demons discharging sharpened shafts by hundreds andby thousands. And then, O Bharata, there ensued a dreadful conflictbetween me and the demons, calculated to extinguish the Nivata-Kavachas.And there came to the mighty battle the Devarshis and the Danavarshis andthe Brahmarshis and the Siddhas. And desirous of victory, the Muniseulogised me with the same sweet-speeches that (they had eulogised) Indrawith, at the war, (which took place) for the sake of Tara.'”