Chapter 137

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘Day by day, O Sanjaya, my blazing fame is beingdarkened. A great many warriors of mine have fallen. I think, all this isdue to the reverse brought about by time. Dhananjaya, excited with rage,hath penetrated into my host which is protected by Drona’s son, and Karnaand which, therefore, is incapable of being penetrated by the very gods.United with those two of blazing energy viz., Krishna and Bhima, as alsowith that bull among the Sinis, his prowess hath been increased. Since Ihave heard of Dhananjaya’s entry, grief is consuming my heart, like fireconsuming a heap of dry grass, I see that all the kings of the earth withthe ruler of the Sindhus amongst them, are affected by evil destiny.Having done a great wrong to the diadem-decked (Arjuna), how can theruler of the Sindhus, if he falls within Arjuna’s sight, save his life?From circumstantial inference, I see, O Sanjaya, how can the ruler of theSindhus, if he falls within Arjuna’s sight, save his life? Fromcircumstantial inference, I see, O Sanjaya, that the ruler of the Sindhusis already dead. Tell me, however, truly how the battle raged. Thou artskilled in narration, O Sanjaya, tell me truly how the Vrishni heroSatyaki fought, who striving resolutely for Dhananjaya’s sake, aloneentered in rage the vast force, disturbing and agitating it repeatedly,like an elephant plunging into a lake overgrown with lotuses.’

“Sanjaya said, ‘Beholding that foremost of men, viz., Bhima, to proceed,afflicted with Karna’s shafts in the midst, O king, or many heroes, thatforemost warrior amongst the Sinis followed him on his car. Roaring likethe clouds at the close of summer, and blazing like the autumnal sun, hebegan to slaughter with his formidable bow the host of thy son, causingit to tremble repeatedly. And as the foremost one of Madhu’s race, OBharata, thus proceeded along the field on his car, drawn by steeds ofthe hue of silver and himself roaring terribly, none amongst thy warriorscould check his progress. Then that foremost of kings, viz., Alamvusha,full of rage, never retreating from battle, armed with bow, and clad in agolden coat of mail rushing quickly, impeded the progress of Satyaki,that foremost warrior of Madhu’s race. The encounter, then, O Bharata,that took place between them was such that its like had never been. Allthy warriors and the enemy, abstaining from the fight, became spectatorsof that engagement between those two ornaments of battle. Then thatforemost of kings, viz., Alamvusha forcibly pierced Satyaki with tenarrows. That bull of Sini’s race, however, with shafts, cut all thosearrows before they could reach him. And once more, Alamvusha struckSatyaki with three sharp arrows equipped with beautiful wings, blazing asfire, and shot from his bow drawn to the ear. Those piercing throughSatyaki’s coat of mail, penetrated into his body. Having piercedSatyaki’s body with those sharp and blazing arrows, endued with the forceof fire or the wind, Alamvusha forcibly struck the four steeds ofSatyaki, white as silver, with four other arrows. The grandson of Sini,endued with great activity and prowess like that of (Kesava himself), thebearer of the discus, thus struck by him, slew with four shafts of greatimpetuosity the four steeds of Alamvusha. Having then cut off the head,beautiful as the full moon and decked with excellent car-rings with abroad-headed arrow, fierce as the Yuga-fire. Having slain that descendantof many kings in battle, that bull among the Yadus, that hero capable ofgrinding hostile hosts, proceeded towards Arjuna, O king, resisting, ashe went, the enemy’s troops. Indeed, O king, thus careering in the midstof the foe, the Vrishni hero, while proceeding in the wake (of Arjuna),was seen repeatedly to destroy with his shafts the Kuru host, like thehurricane dispersing gathering masses of clouds. Whithersoever that lionamong men desired to go, thither he was borne by those excellent steedsof his, of the Sindhu breed, well-broken, docile, white as milk of theKunda flower or the moon or snow, and adorned with trappings of warriors,viz., Duhsasana,–their commander. Those leaders of divisions,encompassing the grandson of Sini on all sides in that battle, began tostrike him. That foremost one among the Satwatas, that hero, viz.,Satyaki also, resisted them all with showers of arrows. Quickly checkingall of them by means of his fiery shafts, that slayer of foes, viz., thegrandson of Sini, forcibly uplifting his bow, O Ajamida, slew the steedsof Duhsasana. Then, Arjuna and Krishna, beholding that foremost of men,(viz., Satyaki) in that battle, became filled with joy.”‘