accompanied by the planet Mars appeared in an unclouded sky. On entering, Bharadwaja performed timely worship, and caused Brahmanas versed in the mantras to celebrate the auspicious rites. And after auspicious sweet-sounding musicial instruments had struck up as a propitiatory ceremony, entered some persons equipped with various arms. And then having girt up their loins, entered those mighty warriors, he best of the Bharata race (the princes) furnished with the finger-protectors, and bows and quivers. And with Yudishthira at their head, the puissant princes entered in the order of age and began to show wonderful skill with their weapons. Some of the spectators lowered their heads, apprehending fall of arrows. While others fearlessly looked on with wonder. And swiftly riding on horses and managing them dexterously, the princes began to hit marks with shafts graced with their respective names. And seeing the prowess of the princes furnished with bows and arrows, the spectators thought that they were seeing the city of the Gandharvas, and became filled with amazement. And, O Bharata, all of a sudden some hundreds and thousands, with eyes expanded with wonder, exclaimed 'Well done! Well done!' And having repeatedly displayed their skill and dexterity in the use of the bow and arrow and in the management of cars, the mighty warriors took up their swords and bucklers, and began to range the lists, playing their weapons. The spectators saw (with wonder) their agility, the symmetry of their bodies, their grace, their calmness, the firmness of their grasp and their use of the sword and buckler. Then Vrikodara and Suyodbana internally delighted (at the prospect of fight) entered the arena, mace in hand, like two one-peaked mountains. And the mighty armed warriors braced their waist, and summoning up their energy, roared like two mad (male) elephants contending for a female one; and like two mad male elephants those mighty heroes faultlessly (in consonance with the dictates of the science of arms) went right and left, circling the lists. And Vidura described to Dhrita-rashtra and the mother of the Pandavas (Kunti) to Gandhari all the feats of the princes."
