03.166
Arjuna said.
Then, as I was being praised here and there by the great sages, I saw the dreadful, imperishable lord of waters—the ocean. (03-166-1)
Here, foam-crested, scattered, compact, and lofty waves are seen, moving like mountains. There, thousands of boats filled with jewels are all around. (03-166-2)
Huge timiṅgila fishes, tortoises, and gigantic whales, as well as crocodiles, are seen here in the water, submerged like mountains. (03-166-3)
Thousands of conch-shells, sunken in water all around, were seen, just as stars are seen at night covered by thin clouds. (03-166-4)
Thus, by the thousands, assemblies of jewels floated there. The wind also swirled fiercely, and it all appeared truly wondrous (03-166-5).
Having passed him with great speed and crossed the best of all oceans, I saw that place crowded with Dānavas near the city of the Daityas. (03-166-6)
Mātali, right there, swiftly descended to the earth's surface and, making the city resound with the noise of his chariot, quickly approached that city. (03-166-7)
When they heard that chariot-sound, which was like thunder in the sky, the Dānavas, thinking I was the king of the gods, became alarmed. (03-166-8)
All, with disturbed minds, stood bearing arrows and bows; similarly, others held spears, swords, axes, maces, and clubs in their hands. (03-166-9)
Then the Dānavas, their minds full of fear, closed the doors and arranged defenses in the city; not a single person was seen. (3-166-10)
Thereupon, I slowly took up the great-sounding conch Devadatta, encircled the city of the Asura, and first approached it. (03-166-11)
But that sound, having reached the sky, produced an echo. The creatures, even the very great ones, became terrified and hid. (03-166-12)
Then all the Nivātakavacas, on all sides, were armed with various protections and holding various weapons. (03-166-13)
O Bhārata, (they fought) with iron weapons and great spears, with clubs, pestles, lances, swords, and chariot wheels.
Holding battering weapons, maces, and ornamented, varied swords, the sons of Diti appeared by thousands. (03-166-15)
Then, O best of the Bharatas, Mātali, after considering in many ways upon the chariot-paths, urged the horses forward in the level region. (03-166-16)
By that, I saw nothing at all of those who had been set in motion and were moving quickly, due to their speed; to me, that seemed astonishing. (03-166-17)
Then those Dānavas, there, roused all the bands of warriors in many ways, using forms of strange and intense cries. (03-166-18)
By that great sound, mountain-like fishes numbering in hundreds of thousands, along with moving beings, leaped in the ocean. (03-166-19)
Then, with great speed, the Dānavas attacked me, releasing sharp arrows in hundreds and thousands. (03-166-20)
That tumultuous encounter, O Bhārata, very dreadful and destructive of the Nivātakavacas, took place between them and me. (03-166-21)
Then the divine sages, the groups of Dānava sages, the brahma sages, and the perfected beings all assembled in the great battle. (03-166-22)
Those sages indeed praised me with fitting and sweet words desiring victory, just as they praised Indra in the war against Tāraka. (03-166-23)
