"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 volleys 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.'"