the
three worlds. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Therefore, I do not see any
reason for despondency. You have the lord of the universe and the lord of the thirty
gods and because of this, you are assured of
victory.’”’
Chapter 882(22)
‘Sanjaya said, “O
bull among the Bharata lineage! Then King Yudhishthira arranged his soldiers in a
counter-formation against Bhishma’s and said, ‘O extenders of
the Kuru lineage! The Pandavas are arrayed in a counter-formation, in accordance
with the injunctions. Desiring to attain supreme heaven, fight well.’
Protected by Savyasachi, Shikhandi stood in the middle of the army. Protected by
Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna was in the front. O king! The southern segment was protected
by the handsome Yuyudhana, 66 foremost archer among the Satvatas and Shakra’s equal. Yudhishthira
was ona chariot that was like the great Indra’s
vehicle. It bore an excellent standard with gold and jewels and had a golden
harness. He was stationed in the midst of his array of elephants. An extremely white
and beautiful umbrella, with a handle made of tusks, was held aloft his head.
Maharshis circumambulated him and sung his praises. Priests, maharshis and aged ones
chanted his praises so that his enemies would be destroyed. They used meditation,
mantras and herbs and pronounced words of benediction. The supreme among Kurus gave
the great-souled brahmanas garments, cows, fruits, flowers and gold. He advanced
like Shakra of the immortals. Arjuna’s chariot possessed one hundred
bells. It was embellished with the best of gold and was as resplendent as the fire,
blazing like a thousand suns. It was yoked to white steeds and possessed excellent
wheels. It had an ape on its banner. It was driven by Keshava and he 67 was stationed on it, with the Gandiva and arrows in his hands. There was no
archer who was equal to him on earth. Nor will there ever be such a one. Bhimasena
assumes a terrible form for the destruction of your sons. Without any weapons and
with his bare hands, in a battle, he can reduce to ashes men, horses and elephants.
The twins were with Vrikodara and they protected the brave charioteers. In this
world, he 68 is like the great Indra himself. He was like an angry lion that was playing.
Vrikodara was as insolent as a king of elephants. On seeing him in the vanguard of
the army, the spirit of your soldiers was overcome by fear and anxiety and they
trembled, like elephants caught in the mud.
‘“O foremost among
the Bharata lineage! Janardana then spoke to Gudakesha, 69 the invincible prince who was stationed in the midst of the army. Vasudeva
said, ‘Bhishma will attack our soldiers like a lion. He will protect with
his power and strength. He is the flag of the Kuru lineage. That performer of three
hundred horse sacrifices is there. Other soldiers surround the illustrious one, like
clouds enveloping the one with the virtuous rays. O foremost among brave ones! Slay
those troops, wishing to fight with the bull among the Bharata
lineage.’”
‘Dhritarashtra asked,
“O Sanjaya! Which warriors from which side were delighted and advanced to
fight first? Who were confident in their minds and who were dejected and dispirited?
Who struck first in the battle that makes the heart tremble? Was it from my side or
that of the Pandavas? O Sanjaya! Tell me all this. Amidst whose soldiers were
garlands and pastes fragrant? 70 Whose warriors roared and uttered auspicious words?”
‘Sanjaya said, “At
that time, the soldiers from both sides were cheerful. The garlands and pastes of
both sides were equally fragrant. O bull among the Bharata lineage! The soldiers
were arrayed in battle formation and when they met each other, there was an
extremely terrible encounter. There was the tumultuous sound of musical instruments,
intermingled with that of conch shells and drums. There was the trumpeting of
three worlds. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Therefore, I do not see any
reason for despondency. You have the lord of the universe and the lord of the thirty
gods and because of this, you are assured of
victory.’”’
Chapter 882(22)
‘Sanjaya said, “O
bull among the Bharata lineage! Then King Yudhishthira arranged his soldiers in a
counter-formation against Bhishma’s and said, ‘O extenders of
the Kuru lineage! The Pandavas are arrayed in a counter-formation, in accordance
with the injunctions. Desiring to attain supreme heaven, fight well.’
Protected by Savyasachi, Shikhandi stood in the middle of the army. Protected by
Bhima, Dhrishtadyumna was in the front. O king! The southern segment was protected
by the handsome Yuyudhana, 66 foremost archer among the Satvatas and Shakra’s equal. Yudhishthira
was ona chariot that was like the great Indra’s
vehicle. It bore an excellent standard with gold and jewels and had a golden
harness. He was stationed in the midst of his array of elephants. An extremely white
and beautiful umbrella, with a handle made of tusks, was held aloft his head.
Maharshis circumambulated him and sung his praises. Priests, maharshis and aged ones
chanted his praises so that his enemies would be destroyed. They used meditation,
mantras and herbs and pronounced words of benediction. The supreme among Kurus gave
the great-souled brahmanas garments, cows, fruits, flowers and gold. He advanced
like Shakra of the immortals. Arjuna’s chariot possessed one hundred
bells. It was embellished with the best of gold and was as resplendent as the fire,
blazing like a thousand suns. It was yoked to white steeds and possessed excellent
wheels. It had an ape on its banner. It was driven by Keshava and he 67 was stationed on it, with the Gandiva and arrows in his hands. There was no
archer who was equal to him on earth. Nor will there ever be such a one. Bhimasena
assumes a terrible form for the destruction of your sons. Without any weapons and
with his bare hands, in a battle, he can reduce to ashes men, horses and elephants.
The twins were with Vrikodara and they protected the brave charioteers. In this
world, he 68 is like the great Indra himself. He was like an angry lion that was playing.
Vrikodara was as insolent as a king of elephants. On seeing him in the vanguard of
the army, the spirit of your soldiers was overcome by fear and anxiety and they
trembled, like elephants caught in the mud.
‘“O foremost among
the Bharata lineage! Janardana then spoke to Gudakesha, 69 the invincible prince who was stationed in the midst of the army. Vasudeva
said, ‘Bhishma will attack our soldiers like a lion. He will protect with
his power and strength. He is the flag of the Kuru lineage. That performer of three
hundred horse sacrifices is there. Other soldiers surround the illustrious one, like
clouds enveloping the one with the virtuous rays. O foremost among brave ones! Slay
those troops, wishing to fight with the bull among the Bharata
lineage.’”
‘Dhritarashtra asked,
“O Sanjaya! Which warriors from which side were delighted and advanced to
fight first? Who were confident in their minds and who were dejected and dispirited?
Who struck first in the battle that makes the heart tremble? Was it from my side or
that of the Pandavas? O Sanjaya! Tell me all this. Amidst whose soldiers were
garlands and pastes fragrant? 70 Whose warriors roared and uttered auspicious words?”
‘Sanjaya said, “At
that time, the soldiers from both sides were cheerful. The garlands and pastes of
both sides were equally fragrant. O bull among the Bharata lineage! The soldiers
were arrayed in battle formation and when they met each other, there was an
extremely terrible encounter. There was the tumultuous sound of musical instruments,
intermingled with that of conch shells and drums. There was the trumpeting of
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