DUHSASANA was leading the Kaurava
forces and Bhimasena did the same on the Pandava side. The noise of battle
rolled and rent the air. The kettledrums, trumpets, horns and conchs made the
sky ring with their clamor. Horses neighed, charging elephants trumpeted and
the warriors uttered their lion-roars. Arrows flew in the air like burning
meteors. Fathers and sons, uncles and nephews slew one another forgetful of old
affection and ties of blood. It was a mad and terrible carnage. In the forenoon
of the first day's battle the Pandava army was badly shaken. Wherever Bhishma's
chariot went, it was like the dance of the destroyer. Abhimanyu could not bear
this and he attacked the grandsire. When the oldest and the youngest warriors
thus met in battle, the gods came to watch the combat. Abhimanyu's flag,
displaying the golden karnikara tree brightly waved on his chariot. Kritavarma
was hit by one of his arrows and Salya was hit five times. Bhishma himself was
hit nine times by Abhimanyu's shafts. Durmukha's charioteer was struck by one
of Abhimanyu's sword-edge arrow and his severed head rolled on the ground.
Another broke Kripa's bow. Abhimanyu's feats brought down showers of flowers
from the gods who looked on. Bhishma and the warrior supporting him exclaimed:
"Indeed, a worthy son to Dhananjaya!" Then the Kaurava warriors made
a combined attack on the valiant youth. But he stood against them all. He
parried with his own all the shafts discharged by Bhishma. One of his
well-aimed arrows brought the grandsire's palm tree flag down. Seeing this,
Bhimasena was overjoyed and made a great lion-roar that further inspired the
valiant nephew. Great was the grandsire's joy, seeing the valor of the young
hero. Unwillingly, he had to use his full strength against the boy. Virata, his
son Uttara, Dhrishtadyumna, the son of Drupada and Bhima came to relieve the
young hero and attacked the grandsire who then turned his attentions on them.
Uttara, the son of Virata, rode an elephant and led a fierce charge on Salya.
Salya's chariot horses were trampled to death and thereupon he hurled a javelin
at Uttara. It went with unerring aim and pierced him in the chest.
The goad he had in his hand
dropped and he rolled down dead. But the elephant did not withdraw. It
continued charging until Salya cut off its trunk and hit it in many places with
his arrows. And then it uttered a loud cry and fell dead. Salya got into
Kritavarma's car. Virata's son Sveta saw Salya slay his younger brother. His
anger rose, like fire fed by libations of butter. And he drove his chariot
towards Salya. Seven chariot warriors at once came up in support of Salya and
protected him from all sides. Arrows were showered on Sveta and the missiles
sped across like lightning in clouds. Sveta defended himself marvelously. He
parried their shafts with his own and cut their javelins down as they sped
towards him. The warriors in both armies were amazed at the skill displayed by
Sveta. Duryodhana lost no time now and sent forces to relieve Salya. Whereupon
there was a great battle. Thousands of soldiers perished, and numerous were the
chariots broken and the horses and elephants killed. Sveta succeeded in putting
Duryodhana's men to flight and he pushed forward and attacked Bhishma.
Bhishma's flag was brought down by Sveta. Bhishma, in his turn, killed Sveta's
horses and charioteer. There upon, they hurled javelins at one another and
fought on.
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