beheld a _Nakula_ or Mungoose destroy a hundred
snakes. This is very ominous, _Nakula_ being one of the Pandavas, and
the sons of Kuru amounting to a hundred. Duryodhana overhears part of
the story, and at first imagines the hostile prince is the hero of the
vision. He is about to burst upon her, full of rage, and when he catches
the true import of the tale, he is at first disposed to be alarmed by
it, but at last wisely determines to disregard it.

For, by Angira it is sung, the aspect of the planets, dreams and signs,
meteors and portents, are the sports of accident, and do not move the
wise. Bhanumati offers an _arghya_ of sandal and flowers to the rising
sun to avert the ill omen, and then the king appears and soothes her.

Their dialogue is disturbed by a rising whirlwind from which they take
shelter in a neighbouring pavilion. The mother of Jayadratha, the king
of Sindhu, then appears, and apprises Duryodhana that Arjuna has vowed,
if sunset finds Jayadratha alive, he will sacrifice himself in the
flames. His wrath is especially excited by the death of his son
Abhimanyu, in which that chieftain had borne a leading part. Duryodhana
laughs at her fears and those of his wife, and despises the resentment
of the Pandavas. He observes, that this was fully provoked by the
treatment which Draupadi received by his command, when in the presence
of the court and of the Pandavas, she called out in vain for mercy.
Duryodhana then orders his war-chariot and goes forth to the battle. Up
to the period of the contest, the following chiefs have fallen,
Bhagadatta, Sindhuraja, Angadhipa, Drupada, Bhurisravas, Somadatta, and
Bahlika.

Ghatotkacha is also slain, and Bhima is about to avenge his fall, on
which account Hirimba, the queen of the Rakshasas and mother of
Ghatotkacha, has ordered goblins to be ready to assist Bhimasena.

Drona is seized by Dhrishtadyumna and slain. Aswatthama, the son of
Drona, appears armed and is overtaken by his father's charioteer who
tells him of the treachery by which Drona was slain, having been induced
to throw away his arms by a false report that his son Aswatthama had
perished, and been then killed at a disadvantage. Aswatthama's distress
is assuaged by his maternal uncle Kripa, who recommends him to solicit
the command of the host from Duryodhana.

In the meantime, proud Kerna, the friend and ally of Duryodhana, fills
the mind of the Kuru chief with impressions hostile to Drona and his
son,