elestials and the _Siddhas_, and all
the foremost of sages came there to behold that encounter between Arjuna
and the Kurus. And the sacred fragrance of celestial garlands filled the
air like that of blossoming woods at the advent of spring. And the red
and reddish umbrellas and robes and garlands and _chamaras_ of the gods,
as they were stationed there, looked exceedingly beautiful. And the dust
of the earth soon disappeared and (celestial) effulgence lit up
everything. And redolent of divine perfumes, the breeze began to soothe
the combatants. And the firmament seemed ablaze and exceedingly
beautiful, decked with already arrived and arriving cars of handsome and
various make, all illumined with diverse sorts of jewels, and brought
thither by the foremost of the celestials. And surrounded by the
celestials, and wearing a garland of lotuses and lilies the powerful
wielder of the thunderbolt looked exceedingly beautiful on his car. And
the slayer of Vala, although he steadfastly gazed at his son on the
field of battle, was not satiated with such gazing."

SECTION LVII

Vaisampayana said, "Beholding the army of the Kurus arrayed in order of
battle, that descendant of the Kuru race, Partha, addressing Virata's
son, said, 'Do thou proceed to the spot where Kripa, the son of
Saradwat, is going by the southern side of that car whose flag is seen
to bear the device of a golden altar.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Hearing these words of Dhananjaya, the son of
Virata urged, without a moment's delay, those steeds of silvery hue
decked in golden armour. And making them adopt, one after another, every
kind of the swifter paces, he urged those fiery steeds resembling the
moon in colour. And versed in horse-lore, Uttara, having approached the
Kuru host, turned back those steeds endued with the speed of the wind.
And skilled in guiding vehicles, the prince of Matsya, sometimes
wheeling about, and sometimes proceeding in circular mazes, and
sometimes turning to the left, began to be wilder than the Kurus. And
wheeling round, the intrepid and mighty son of Virata at last approached
the car of Kripa, and stood confronting him. Then announcing his own
name, Arjuna powerfully blew that best of conchs called _Devadatta_, of
loud blare. And blown on the field of battle by the mighty Jishnu, the
blare of that conch was heard like the splitting of a mountain. And
seeing that the conch did not break into a hundred fragments when blown
by Arj