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Duhsasana was leading the Kaurava forces and Bhimasena did the same onthe
Pandava side. The noise of battle rolled and rent the air. The kettledrums,trumpets, horns
and conchs made the welkin ringwith their clamour.
Horses neighed, charging elephants trumpeted and the warriors uttered
their "lion-roars." Arrows flew in the air like burning meteors. Fathers and
sons, uncles and nephews slew one another forgetful of old affection and ties of blood. It
was a mad and terrible carnage.
In the forenoon of the first day's battle the Pandavaarmy was badly
shaken.Wherever Bhishma's chariot went, it was like the dance of the destroyer. Abhimanyu
could not bear this and he attacked thegrandsire.
When the oldest and the youngest warriors thus met in battle, the gods
came to watch the combat. Abhimanyu's flag, displaying the golden karnikara tree brightly
waved on his chariot.
Kritavarma was hit by one of his arrows and Salya was hit five times.
Bhishma himself was hit nine times by Abhimanyu's shafts. Durmukha's charioteer was struck
by one of Abhimanyu's sword-edge arrow and his severed head rolled on theground.
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