d
those cars that sought to oppose him. And soon again hundreds of
thousands of cars and elephants and horses and horsemen and brave and
fierce bowmen were overthrown by Bhima in the very sight of Virata. And
the hostile infantry also began to be slaughtered by the illustrious
Bhima, mace in hand. And beholding that terrible onslaught, Susarman,
irrepressible in fight, thought within himself, 'My brother seems to
have already succumbed in the midst of his mighty host. Is my army going
to be annihilated?' And drawing his bow-string to his ear Susarman then
turned back and began to shoot keen-edged shafts incessantly. And seeing
the Pandavas return to the charge on their car, the Matsya warriors of
mighty host, urging on their steeds, shot excellent weapons for grinding
the Trigarta soldiers. And Virata's son also, exceedingly exasperated
began to perform prodigious fears of valour. And Kunti's son
Yudhishthira slew a thousand (of the foe), and Bhima showed the abode of
Yama unto seven thousand. And Nakula sent seven hundred (to their last
account) by means of his shafts. And powerful Sahadeva also, commanded
by Yudhishthira, slew three hundred brave warriors. And having slain
such numbers, that fierce and mighty warrior, Yudhishthira, with weapons
upraised, rushed against Susarman. And rushing impetuously at Susarman,
that foremost of car-warriors, king Yudhishthira, assailed him with
vollies of shafts. And Susarman also, in great rage, quickly pierced
Yudhishthira with nine arrows, and each of his four steeds with four
arrows. Then, O king, Kunti's son Bhima of quick movements, approaching
Susarman crushed his steeds. And having slain also those soldiers that
protected his rear, he dragged from the car his antagonist's charioteer
to the ground. And seeing the king of Trigarta's car without a driver,
the defender of his car-wheels, the famous and brave Madiraksha speedily
came to his aid. And thereat, leaping down from Susarman's car, and
securing the latter's mace the powerful Virata ran in pursuit of him.
And though old, he moved on the field, mace in hand, even like a lusty
youth. And beholding Susarman flee Bhima addressed him, saying, 'Desist,
O Prince! This flight of thine is not proper! With this prowess of
thine, how couldst thou wish to carry off the cattle by force? How also,
forsaking thy follower, dost thou droop so amidst foes?' Thus addressed
by Pritha's son, the mighty Susarman, that lord of countless cars s