r the moon, and who with his helmet of gold striketh
terror into my heart, is Bhishma, the son of Santanu and the grandsire
of us all. Entertained with regal splendour by Duryodhana, he is very
partial and well-affected towards that prince. Let him be approached
last of all, for he may, even now, be an obstacle to me. While fighting
with me, do thou carefully guide the steeds.' Thus addressed by him,
Virata's son, O king, guided Savyasachin's car with great alacrity
towards the spot where Kripa stood anxious to fight."

SECTION LVI

Vaisampayana said, "And the ranks of those fierce bowmen, the Kurus,
looked like masses of clouds in the rainy season drifting before a
gentle wind. And close (to those ranks of foot-soldiers) stood the
enemy's horses ridden by terrible warriors. And there were also
elephants of terrible mien, looking resplendent in beautiful armour,
ridden by skilled combatants and urged on with iron crows and hooks.
And, O king, mounted on a beautiful car, Sakra came there accompanied by
the celestials,--the _Viswas_ and _Maruts_. And crowded with gods,
_Yakshas, Gandharvas_ and _Nagas_, the firmament looked as resplendent
as it does when bespangled with the planetary constellation in a
cloudless night. And the celestials came there, each on his own car,
desirous of beholding the efficacy of their weapons in human warfare,
and for witnessing also the fierce and mighty combat that would take
place when Bhishma and Arjuna would meet. And embellished with gems of
every kind and capable of going everywhere at the will of the rider, the
heavenly car of the lord of the celestials, whose roof was upheld by a
hundred thousand pillars of gold with (a central) one made entirely of
jewels and gems, was conspicuous in the clear sky. And there appeared on
the scene three and thirty gods with Vasava (at their head)--and (many)
_Gandharvas_ and _Rakshasas_ and _Nagas_ and _Pitris_, together with the
great _Rishis_. And seated on the car of the lord of the celestials,
appeared the effulgent persons of kings, Vasumanas and Valakshas and
Supratarddana, and Ashtaka and Sivi and Yayati and Nahusha and Gaya and
Manu and Puru and Raghu and Bhanu and Krisaswa and Sagara and Nala. And
there shone in a splendid array, each in its proper place the cars of
Agni and Isa and Soma and Varuna and Prajapati and Dhatri and Vidhatri
and Kuvera and Yama, and Alamvusha and Ugrasena and others, and of the
_Gandharva_ Tumburu. And all the c