SECTION –CLXIX
(Tirtha-yatra Parva Continued)
"Arjuna continued, 'Then, O Bharata,
vehemently rushed at me in battle in a body the Nivata-Kavachas, equipped with
arms. And obstructing the course of the car, and shouting loudly, those mighty
charioteers, hemming me in on all sides, covered me with showers of shafts.
Then other demons of mighty prowess, with darts and hatchets in their hands,
began to throw at me spears and axes. And that mighty discharge of darts, with
numerous maces and clubs incessantly hurled fell upon my car. And other
dreadful and grim-visaged smiters among the Nivata-Kavachas, furnished with
bows and sharpened weapons, ran at me in fight. And in the conflict, shooting
from the Gandiva sundry swift arrows coursing straight, I pierced each of them
with ten. And they were driven back by those stone-whetted shafts of mine. Then
on my steeds being swiftly driven by Matali, they began to display various
movements with the speed of the wind. And being skilfully guided by Matali,
they began to trample upon the sons of Diti. And although the steeds yoked unto
that mighty chariot numbered hundreds upon hundreds, yet being deftly conducted
by Matali, they began to move, as if they were only a few. And by their tread,
and by the rattling of the chariot wheels and by the vollies of my shafts, the
Danavas began to fall by hundreds. And others accoutred in bows, being deprived
of life, and having their charioteers slain, were carried about by the horses.
Then, covering all sides and directions, all (the Danavas) skilled in striking
entered into the contest with various weapons, and thereat my mind became
afflicted.
And I witnessed (this instance of) the marvellous
prowess of Matali, viz., that he guided those fiery steeds with ease. Then, O
king, in the conflict, with diverse fleet weapons I pierced by hundreds and by
thousands (demons) bearing arms. And, O slayer of foes, seeing me thus range
the field putting forth every exertion, the heroic charioteer of Sakra was
well-pleased. And oppressed by those steeds and that car, some (of them) met
with annihilation; and others desisted from fight; while (other)
Nivata-Kavachas, challenged by us in battle and being harassed with shafts
offered opposition unto me, by (discharging) mighty showers of arrows.
Thereupon, with hundreds and thousands of sundry fleet weapons inspired with
the mantras relating to Brahma's weapons, I swiftly began to burn them. And
being sore pressed by me, those mighty asuras waxing wroth afflicted me
together, by pouring torrents of clubs and darts and swords. Then, O Bharata, I
took up that favourite weapon of the lord of the celestials, Maghavan by name,
prime and of fiery energy and by the energy of that weapon I cut into a
thousand pieces the Tomaras, together with the swords and the tridents hurled
by them. And having cut off their arms I in ire pierced them each with ten
shafts. And in the field arrows were shot from the Gandiva like unto rows of
black-bees; and this Matali admired. And their shafts also showered upon me;
but those powerful (arrows) I cut off with my shafts. Then on being struck the
Nivata-Kavachas again covered me on all sides with a mighty shower of arrows.
And having neutralised the force of the arrows by excellent swift and flaming
weapons capable of baffling arms, I pierced them by thousands. And blood began
to flow from their torn frames, even as in the rainy season waters run down
from the summits of mountains. And on being wounded by my fleet and
straight-coursing shafts of the touch of Indra's thunder-bolt, they became
greatly agitated. And their bodies were pierced at hundreds of places; and the
force of their arms diminished. Then the Nivata-Kavachas fought me by (the help
of) illusion.'"
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