er the ground be smooth or uneven. I can pierce with my
winged arrows even the mountain of _Sumeru_ that stands touching the
very heavens. I slew of old, at Indra's command, hundreds and thousands
of _Paulomas_ and _Kalakhanjas_ in battle. I have obtained my firmness
of grasp from Indra, and my lightness of hand from _Brahman_, and I have
learnt various modes of fierce attack and defence amid crowds of foes
from _Prajapati_. I vanquished, on the other side of the great ocean,
sixty thousands of car-warriors--all fierce archers--residing in
_Hiranyapura_. Behold, now I defeat the multitudinous host of the Kurus
like a tempest scattering a heap of cotton. With my fiery arrows I shall
today set the _Kuru_-forest to fire, having banners for its trees, the
foot-soldiers for its shrubs, and the car-warriors for its beasts of
prey. Like unto the wielder of the thunderbolt overthrowing the Danavas,
alone I shall, with my straight arrows, bring down from the chambers of
their cars the mighty warrior of the Kuru army stationed therein and
struggling in the conflict to the best of their power. I have obtained
from _Rudra_ the _Raudra_, from _Varuna_ the _Varuna_, from _Agni_ the
_Agneya_, from the god of Wind the _Vayava_, and from Sakra the
thunderbolt and other weapons. I shall certainly exterminate the fierce
_Dhartarashtra-forest_ though protected by many leonine warriors.
Therefore, O Virata's son, let thy fears be dispelled.'"

Vaisampayana continued, "Thus assured by Savyasachin, the son of Virata
penetrated into that fierce array of cars protected by Bhishma. The son
of Ganga, however, of fierce deeds, cheerfully withstood the
mighty-armed hero advancing from desire of vanquishing the heroes in
battle. Jishnu, then, confronting Bhishma, cut off his standard clean
off at the roots by shooting a gold-decked arrow pierced by which it
fell to the ground. And at this, four mighty warriors, Duhsasana and
Vikarna and Dussaha and Vivingsati, skilled in weapons and endued with
great energy, and all decked with handsome garlands and ornaments,
rushed towards that terrible bowman. And advancing towards
Vibhatsu--that fierce archer, these all encompassed him around. Then the
heroic Duhsasana pierced the son of Virata with a crescent-shaped arrow
and he pierced Arjuna with another arrow in the breast. And Jishnu,
confronting Duhsasana, cut off by means of a sharp-edged arrow furnished
with vulturine wings his adversary's bow plaited wit