Chapter 78

Sanjaya said, “Then king Duryodhana, regaining his senses, once morebegan to resist Bhima with showers of arrows. And once more those mightycar-warriors viz., thy sons, united together, began to fight valiantlywith Bhimasena.And Bhimasena also of mighty arms during that battle,having got his car, ascended it and proceeded to the spot where thy sonswere. And taking up a strong and very tough bow adorned with gold andcapable of taking the lives of foes he pierced thy sons in that conflict,with his shafts. Then king Duryodhana struck the mighty Bhimasena at thevery vitals with a long shaft of exceeding sharpness. Then that mightybowman, pierced thus deeply by thy son, bow in hand, forcibly drawing hisown with eyes red in wrath, struck Duryodhana in his two arms and thebreast with three shafts. But struck thus, O king, he moved not, like aprince of mountains. Beholding then those two heroes excited with rageand smiting each other, the younger brothers of Duryodhana, all of whomwere heroes prepared to lay down their lives, remembering theirpreviously formed scheme of afflicting Vrikodara of terrible deeds, setabout firmly resolved, for smiting him down. And as they fell upon him inbattle, Bhimasena of great strength rushed against them, O king, like anelephant rushing against an attacking compeer. Excited with fury andendued with great energy, that celebrated hero then, O king, afflictedthy son Chitrasena with a long arrow. And as regards thy other sons, thatdescendant of Bharata smote them all in that battle, with diverse kindsof shafts furnished with wings of gold and endued with great impetus.Then king Yudhishthira the just, disposing all his own divisions properlydespatched twelve mighty car-warriors including Abhimanyu and others tofollow Bhimasena behind. Those, O king, all proceeded against thosemighty car-warriors, viz., thy sons. Beholding those heroes on theircars, resembling the Sun himself or the fire in splendour-those greatbowmen of blazing effulgence and superb beauty, looking resplendent inthat dreadful conflict with ornaments of gold,–thy mighty sons abandonedBhima (with whom they had been fighting). The sons of Kunti, however,could not bear the sight of their abandoning the conflict alive.”