ith
them who had been deprived of his car, led him away from the vicinity of
Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti."

SECTION LVIII

Vaisampayana said, "After Kripa had thus been taken away, the invincible
Drona of red steeds, taking up his bow to which he had already stringed
an arrow, rushed towards Arjuna of white steeds. And beholding at no
great distance from him the preceptor advancing on his golden car,
Arjuna that foremost of victorious warriors, addressing Uttara, said,
'Blessed be thou, O friend, carry me before that warrior on whose high
banner-top is seen a golden altar resembling a long flame of fire and
decked with numerous flags placed around, and whose car is drawn by
steeds that are red and large, exceedingly handsome and highly-trained,
of face pleasant and of quiet mien, and like unto corals in colour and
with faces of coppery hue, for that warrior is Drona with whom I desire
to fight. Of long arms and endued with mighty energy possessed of
strength and beauty of person, celebrated over all the worlds for his
prowess, resembling Usanas himself in intelligence and Vrihaspati in
knowledge of morality, he is conversant with the four _Vedas_ and
devoted to the practice of _Brahmacharya_ virtues. O friend, the use of
the celestial weapons together with the mysteries of their withdrawal
and the entire science of weapons, always reside in him. Forgiveness,
self-control, truth, abstention from injury, rectitude of
conduct,--these and countless other virtues always dwell in that
regenerate one. I desire to fight with that highly-blessed one on the
field. Therefore, take me before the preceptor and carry me thither, O
Uttara.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus addressed by Arjuna, Virata's son urged
his steeds decked with gold towards the car of Bharadwaja's son. And
Drona also rushed towards the impetuously advancing Partha, the son of
Pandu,--that foremost of car-warriors,--like an infuriate elephant
rushing towards an infuriate compeer. And the son of Bharadwaja then
blew his conch whose blare resembled that of a hundred trumpets. And at
that sound the whole army become agitated like the sea in a tempest. And
beholding those excellent steeds red in hue mingling in battle with
Arjuna's steeds of swan-like whiteness endued with the speed of the
mind, all the spectators were filled with wonder. And seeing on the
field of battle those car-warriors--the preceptor Drona and his disciple
Partha--both endued with prowess