Chapter 98

“Sanjaya said, ‘O monarch! I beholding Vasudeva and Dhananjaya penetrateinto their host, having already pierced through many divisions, the kingsof the army, fled away in fear. A little while after, however, thosehigh-souled ones, filled with rage and shame, and urged on by theirmight, became cool and collected, and proceeded towards Dhananjaya. Butthose, O king, who filled with rage and vindictiveness, proceeded againstthe son of Pandu in battle, returned not, like rivers never returningfrom the ocean. Seeing this, many ignoble Kshatriyas incurred sin andhell by flying away from battle, like atheists turning away from theVedas.[144] Transgressing that throng of cars those two bulls among men,at last, issued out of it, and looked like the sun and the moon freedfrom the jaws of Rahu. Indeed, the two Krishnas, their fatigue dispelled,having pierced through that vast host, looked like two fishes that hadpassed through a strong net. Having forced through that impenetrabledivision of Drona, the way through which was obstructed by dense showersof weapons, those two high-souled heroes looked like Yuga-suns risen (onthe welkin). Piercing through those dense showers of weapons and freedfrom that imminent danger, those high-souled heroes, themselvesobstructing the welkin with thick clouds of weapons, seemed like personsescaped from a raging conflagration, or like two fishes from the jaws ofa makara. And they agitated the (Kuru) host like a couple of makarasagitating the ocean. Thy warriors and thy sons, while Partha and Krishnawere in the midst of Drona’s division, had thought that those two wouldnever be able to issue out of it. Beholding, however, those two heroes ofgreat splendour issue out of Drona’s division, they no longer, O monarch,hoped for Jayadratha’s life. Hitherto they had strong hopes ofJayadratha’s life, for they had thought, O king, that the two Krishnaswould never be able to escape from Drona and Hridika’s son. Frustratingthat hope, those two scorchers of foes had, O monarch, crossed thedivision of Drona, as also the almost uncrossable division of the Bhojas.Beholding them, therefore, ford through those divisions and look like twoblazing fires, thy men became possessed with despair and no longer hopedfor Jayadratha’s life. Then those two fearless heroes, viz., Krishna andDhananjaya, those enhancers of the fears of foes, began to conversebetween themselves about the slaughter of Jayadratha. And Arjuna said,’This Jayadratha hath been placed in their midst by six of the foremostcar-warriors among the Dhartarashtras. The ruler of the Sindhus, however,shall not escape me if once he is seen by me. If Sakra himself, with allthe celestials, become his protector in battle, yet shall we slay him.Thus did the two Krishnas talk. Even so, O mighty-armed one, did theyconverse amongst themselves, while looking after the ruler of theSindhus. (Having heard what they said), thy sons set up a loud wail.Those two chastisers of foes then looked like a couple of thirstyelephants of great quickness of motion, refreshed by drinking water,after having passed through a desert. Beyond death and above decrepitude,they then looked like two merchants that have passed over a mountainouscountry abounding with tigers and lions and elephants. Indeed, beholdingthem freed (from Drona and Kritavarman), thy warriors regarded the colourof Partha’s and Krishna’s face to be dreadful; and thy men then, from allsides, set up a loud wail. Freed from Drona who resembled a snake ofvirulent poison or a blazing fire, as also from the other lords of theearth, Partha and Krishna looked like two blazing suns. Indeed, those twochastisers of foes, freed from Drona’s division, which resembled the veryocean, seemed to be filled with joy like persons that have safely crossedthe vasty deep. Freed from those dense showers of weapons, from thosedivisions protected by Drona and Hridika’s son, Kesava and Arjuna lookedlike Indra and Agni, or blazing effulgence. The two Krishnas, piercedwith sharp shafts of Bharadwaja’s son, and with bodies dripping withbloods, looked resplendent like two mountains decked with floweringKarnikaras. Having forded that wide lake, of which Drona constituted thealligator, darts formed the fierce snakes, shafts, the Makaras, andKshatriyas, the deep waters, and having issued out of that cloud,constituted by Drona’s weapons, whose thunders were the twang of bows andthe sound of palms, and whose lightning flashes were constituted by macesand swords, Partha and Krishna looked like the sun and moon freed fromdarkness. Having crossed the region obstructed by the weapons of Drona,all creatures regarded those mighty and famous bowmen viz., the twoKrishnas, as persons who had forded, with the aid of their arms, the fiverivers, (viz., the Satadru, the Vipasa, the Ravi, the Chandrabhaga, andthe Vitasta) having the ocean for their sixth, when full of water duringthe season of rains, and abounding with alligators. Casting their eyes,from desire of slaughter, on Jayadratha who was not far off from them,the two heroes looked like two tigers waiting from desire of falling upona Ruru deer. Such was then the colour of their faces, that thy warriors,O monarch, regarded Jayadratha as one already slain. Possessed of redeyes, O mighty-armed one, and staying together, Krishna and the son ofPandu, at the sight of Jayadratha were filled with joy and roaredrepeatedly. Indeed, O monarch, the splendour then of Sauri, standing withreins in hand, and of Partha armed with bow, was like that of the sun orfire. Freed from the division of Drona, their joy, at sight of the rulerof the Sindhus, was like that of a couple of hawks at the sight of apiece of flesh. Beholding the ruler of the Sindhus not far off, theyrushed in wrath towards him like a couple of hawks swooping down towardsa piece of meat. Seeing Hrishikesa and Dhananjaya transgress (thedivisions of Drona), thy valiant son, king Duryodhana, whose armour hadbeen bound on his person by Drona, and who was well-versed in groomingand guiding horses, rushed, on a single car, O lord, for the protectionof the Sindhus. Leaving those mighty bowmen, viz., Krishna and Partha,behind, thy son, O king, turned back, facing Kesava of lotus-like eyes.When thy son thus outran Dhananjaya, diverse musical instruments werejoyfully blown and beat among all thy troops. And leonine roars wereuttered mingled with the blare of conchs, beholding Duryodhana staying inthe face of the two Krishnas. They also, O king, resembling blazingfires, that stood as the protectors of Jayadratha, were filled with joyupon beholding thy son in battle. Seeing Duryodhana transgress them withhis followers, Krishna, O monarch, said unto Arjuna these words suited tothe occasion.'”