The ninth day of war

OM! Having bowed down to Narayana, and Nara, the most exalted of male beings, and also to the goddess Saraswati, must the word 'Jaya' be uttered.

Vyuha formations

When the night dawned, rising up, the king, ordered all the royal warriors, saying,

“Draw up the forces. Today Bhishma, excited with wrath, will slay all the Somakas.”

Hearing those copious lamentations of Duryodhana in the night, Bhishma regarded them as commands to himself. Filled with great grief and deprecating the status of servitude, Shantanu’s son reflected for a long time, thinking of an encounter with Arjuna in battle. Understanding from signs that Ganga's son had been thinking of that, Duryodhana, commanded Duhshasana, saying,

“O Duhshasana, let cars be quickly appointed for protecting Bhishma. Let all the two and twenty divisions (of our army) be urged on. That has now come about which we had been thinking for a series of years, viz., the slaughter of the Pandavas with all their troops and the acquisition (by ourselves) of the kingdom. In this matter, I think, the protection of Bhishma is our foremost duty. Protected by us, he will protect us and slay the Parthas in battle. Of cleansed soul, he said unto me,

“I will not slay Sikhandini. He was a female before, O king, and, therefore, should be avoided by me in battle. The world knows, O you of mighty arms, that from desire of doing good to my father, I formerly gave up a swelling kingdom. I will not, therefore, slay in battle, O foremost of men, any female or anybody that was a female before. This that I tell you is true. This Shikhandin, O king, was first born a female. You have heard that story. She was born as Sikhandini after the manner I told you before the battle began. Taking her birth as a daughter she has become a man. Indeed, she will fight with me, but I will never shoot my arrows at her. As regards all other Kshatriyas desirous of victory to the Pandavas, O sire, whom I may get within my reach on the field of battle, I will slay them.”

These were the words that Ganga's son acquainted with the scriptures, that chief of Bharata's race, said unto me. Therefore, with my whole soul I think that protecting the son of Ganga is our foremost duty. The very wolf may slay the lion left unprotected in the great forest. Let not Ganga's son be slain by Shikhandin like the lion slain by the wolf. Let our maternal uncle Shakuni, and Shalya, and Kripa, and Drona, and Vivimshati, carefully protect the son of Ganga. If he is protected, (our) victory is certain.”

Hearing these words of Duryodhana, all surrounded Ganga's son with a large division of cars. Dhritarashtra’s sons also, taking up their position around Bhishma, proceeded to battle. They all went, shaking the earth and the welkin, and causing fear in the hearts of the Pandavas. The mighty car-warriors (of the Kaurava army), supported by those cars and elephants, and clad in mail, stood in battle, surrounding Bhishma. All of them took up their positions for protecting that mighty car-warrior like the celestials in the battle between themselves and the Asuras for protecting the wielder of the thunder-bolt. Then king Duryodhana once more addressing his brother, said,

“Yudhamanyu protects the left wheel of Arjuna's car, and Uttamaujas his right wheel. And (thus protected) Arjuna protects Shikhandin. O Duhshasana, adopt such steps that, protected by Partha, Shikhandin may not be able to slay Bhishma left unprotected by us.”

Hearing these words of his brother, Dhritarashtra’s son Duhshasana, accompanied by the troops, advanced for battle, placing Bhishma in the forefront. Beholding Bhishma (thus surrounded by a large number of cars), Arjuna, that foremost of car-warriors, addressed Dhrishtadyumna and said,

“O prince, place that tiger among men, Shikhandin, today in front of Bhishma, I myself will be his protector, O prince of Panchala.”

Then Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, went out with the troops. He disposed his own troops in mighty array called Sarvatobhadra. Kripa, and Kritavarman, and that mighty car-warrior Shaibya, and Shakuni, and the ruler of the Sindhus, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kambojas, these all, together with Bhishma and Dhritarashtra’s sons took up their stations in the forefront of the whole army and in the very front of the (Kaurava) array. Drona and Bhurishravas and Shalya and Bhagadatta, clad in mail, took up their position in the right wing of that array. Ashwatthaman, and Somadatta, and those great car-warriors, viz., the two princes of Avanti, accompanied by a large force, protected the left wing. Duryodhana, surrounded on all sides by the Trigartas, took up, for encountering the Pandavas, a position in the midst of that array. That foremost of car-warriors, viz., Alambusha, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., Shrutayush, clad in mail, took up their position in the rear of that array, and therefore, of the whole army. Having, on that occasion formed their array thus, Dhritarashtra’s warriors, clad in mail, looked like scorching fires.

Then king Yudhishthira, and that son of Pandu, viz., Bhimasena, and the twin sons of Madri, viz., Nakula and Sahadeva, clad in mail, took up their position in the forefront of that array and therefore, at the very head of all their troops. Dhrishtadyumna, and Virata, and that mighty car-warrior, viz., Satyaki, these destroyers of hostile ranks, stood, supported by a large force. Shikhandin, and Vijaya (Arjuna), and the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Chekitana of mighty arms, and the valiant Kuntibhoja, stood for battle, surrounded by a large force. That great bowman Abhimanyu, and the mighty Drupada, and the (five) Kaikeya brothers, stood for battle, clad in mail. Having formed their mighty and invincible array thus, the Pandavas, endued with great courage in battle, stood for the fight, clad in mail.

The war commences on the ninth day

Then the kings of Dhritarashtra’s array exerting themselves at their best, accompanied by their forces, and placing Bhishma at their forefront, rushed against the Parthas in battle. Similarly the Pandavas also, headed by Bhimasena, and desirous of victory in battle proceeded, for battling with Bhishma. With leonine roars and confused cries, blowing their conches Krakachas, and cow-horns, beating their drums and cymbals and Pandavas in thousands. Uttering terrible shouts, the Pandavas advanced to battle. With the din of our drums and cymbals and conches and smaller drums, with loud leonine roars, and other kinds of shouts, ourselves also, replying to the cries of the foe, rushed against him with great impetuosity, inflamed with rage. Those sounds mingling with one another, produced a tremendous uproar. The warriors then, of the two armies, rushing at one another, began to strike.

In consequence of the din produced by that encounter, the earth seemed to tremble. Birds, uttering fierce cries, hovered in the air. The Sun, radiant as he was when he had risen, became dimmed. Fierce winds blew, indicating great terrors. Frightful jackals wandered, yelling terribly, and foreboding an awful carnage at hand. The quarters seemed to be ablaze, and showers of dust fell from the blue. A shower fell there, of pieces of bones mixed with blood. Tears fell from the eyes of the animals which were all weeping. Filled with anxiety, these began to urinate and eject the contents of their stomachs. The loud shouts of battle were rendered inaudible by the louder cries of Rakshasas and cannibals. Jackals and vultures and crows and dogs, uttering diverse kinds of cries, began to fall and swoop down on the field. Blazing meteors, striking against the Sun's disc, fell with great celerity on the earth, foreboding great terrors. Then those two vast hosts belonging to the Pandavas and the Dhartarashtras, in course of that awful encounter, shook in consequence of that tremendous uproar of conches and drums like forests shaken by the tempest. The noise made by the two armies, both of which abounded with kings, elephants, and steeds, and which encountered each other in an evil hour, resembled the noise made by oceans tossed by the tempest.

Abhimanyu fights Alambusha

Then the noble Abhimanyu of great energy, borne by his steeds of a tawny hue, rushed at the mighty host of Duryodhana, scattering his arrowy showers like the clouds pouring torrents of rain. Dhritarashtra’s warriors, in that battle, were unable to resist that slayer of foes, viz., Subhadra's son, who, excited with wrath and possessed of wealth of arms, was then immersed in that inexhaustible ocean of (Kaurava) forces. Death-dealing shafts shot by him in that battle, despatched many heroic Kshatriyas to the regions of the king of the departed spirits. Indeed, excited with wrath Subhadra's son in that battle shot fierce and blazing arrows in profusion that resembled snakes of virulent poison or rods of death himself. Phalguni's son speedily split into fragments car-warriors with their cars, steeds with their riders, and elephant-warriors along with the huge animals they rode. The rulers of the earth, filled with joy, applauded those mighty feats in battle and praised him also that achieved them. The son of Subhadra tossed those divisions (of the Kaurava army) like the tempest tossing a heap of cotton on all sides in the welkin. Routed by him, the troops failed to find a protector, like elephants sunk in a slough. Then, having routed all troops, Abhimanyu stood like a blazing fire without a curl of smoke. Indeed, Dhritarashtra’s warriors were incapable of bearing that slayer of foes, like insects impelled by fate unable to bear a blazing fire. That mighty car-warrior and great bowman, having struck all the foes of the Pandavas, looked at that moment like Vasava himself armed with the thunder. His bow, the back of whose staff was decked with gold, as it moved on every side, seemed like the lightning's flash as it spotted amid the clouds. Well-tempered and sharp shafts came from his bow-string in that battle like flights of bees from blossoming trees in the forest. As the high-souled son of Subhadra careered on the field on his car whose limbs were decked with gold, people were incapable of finding an opportunity (for striking him).

Confounding Kripa and Drona and mighty son of Drona, as also the ruler of the Sindhus, the great bowman moved on the field of battle with great activity and skill. As he consumed your troops, his bow was incessantly drawn to a circle and resembling on that account the circular halo of light that is sometimes seen around the Sun. Brave Kshatriyas, beholding him endued with such activity and scorching the foe thus, thought, in consequence of those feats, that the world contained two Phalgunis. Indeed, the vast host of the Bharatas, afflicted by him, reeled here and there like a woman drunk with wine. Routing that large army and causing many mighty car-warriors to tremble, he gladdened his friends (like Vasava gladdening the celestials) after vanquishing Maya. While being routed by him in that battle, your troops uttered loud exclamations of woe that resembled the roar of the clouds. Hearing that awful wail of Dhritarashtra’s troops that resembled the roar of the very sea at full tide when agitated by the winds, Duryodhana then addressed the son of Rishyasringa and said,

“This Abhimanyu singly, O you of mighty arms, like a second Phalguni, routs from rage (my) army like Vritra routing the celestial host. I do not see any other efficacious medicine for him in battle than yourself, O best of Rakshasas, that are well-skilled in every science. Therefore, go speedily and slay the heroic son of Subhadra in battle. As regards ourselves, headed by Bhishma and Drona, we will slay Partha himself.”

Thus addressed, the mighty and valiant Rakshasa speedily went to battle at the command of your son, uttering loud roars like the clouds themselves in the season of rains. In consequence of that loud noise, the vast host of the Pandavas trembled throughout like the ocean when agitated by the wind. Many combatants, terrified by those roars, giving up dear life, fell prostrate on the earth. Filled with joy and taking up his bow with arrow fixed on the string, and apparently dancing on the terrace of his car, that Rakshasa proceeded against Abhimanyu himself. Then the angry Rakshasa, having in that battle got Arjuna's son within reach, began to rout his ranks, even those that stood not far from him. Indeed, the Rakshasa rushed in battle against that mighty Pandava host which he began to slaughter, like Bala rushing against the celestial host. Attacked in battle by that Rakshasa of terrible mien, the slaughter was very great that took place amongst those troops. Exhibiting his prowess, the Rakshasa began to rout that vast force of the Pandavas, with thousands of arrows. Thus slaughtered by that Rakshasa of terrible visage, the Pandava army fled away from excess of fear. Grinding that army like an elephant grinding lotus-stalks, the mighty Rakshasa then rushed in battle against the sons of Draupadi. Then those great bowmen, accomplished in fighting, viz., the sons of Draupadi, rushed towards the Rakshasa in battle like five planets rushing against the Sun. That best of Rakshasa then was afflicted by those brothers endued with great energy, like the Moon afflicted by the five planets of the awful occasion of the dissolution of the world.

Then the mighty Prativindhya quickly pierced the Rakshasa with whetted shafts, sharp as battle-axes and furnished with points capable of penetrating every armour. Thereupon that foremost of Rakshasas, with his armour pierced through, looked like a mass of clouds penetrated by the rays of the Sun. Pierced with these shafts furnished with golden wings, Rishyasringa's son looked resplendent like a mountain with blazing crests. Then those five brothers in that great battle, pierced that foremost of Rakshasas with many whetted shafts of golden wings. Pierced with those terrible shafts resembling angry snakes, Alambusha became inflamed with rage like the king of the serpents himself. Deeply pierced within only a few moments by those great car-warriors, the Rakshasa, much afflicted, remained senseless for a long while. Regaining his consciousness then, and swelling through rage to twice his dimensions, he cut off their arrows and standards and bows. As if smiling the while he struck each of them with five arrows. Then that mighty Rakshasa and great car-warrior, Alambusha, excited with wrath, and as if dancing on the terrace of his car, quickly slew the steeds, and then the charioteers, of those five illustrious adversaries of his. Burning with rage he once more pierced them with sharp arrows of diverse shades by hundreds and thousands. Then that wanderer of the night, viz., the Rakshasa Alambusha, having deprived those great bowmen of their cars, rushed impetuously at them, wishing to despatch them to Yama's abode. Beholding them (thus) afflicted in battle by that wicked-souled Rakshasa, the son of Arjuna rushed at him. Then the battle that took place between him and the cannibal resembled that between Vritra and Vasava. The mighty car-warriors of your army, as also of the Pandavas, all became spectators of that engagement. Encountering each other in fierce battle, blazing with wrath, endued with great might, and with eyes red in rage, each beheld the other in that battle to resemble the Yuga fire. That engagement between them became fierce and awful like that between Shakra and Shambara in days of old in the battle between the gods and Asuras.

Alambusha, uttering loud shouts and repeatedly roaring at Abhimanyu, rushed impetuously against that mighty car-warrior in battle, saying, “Wait, Wait!” Abhimanyu also, repeatedly roaring like a lion, rushed with at great force at that mighty bowman, viz., the son of Rishyasringa, who was an implacable foe of the former's sire. Soon then those two foremost of car-warriors, man and Rakshasa, on their cars, encountered each other, like a god and Danava. That best of Rakshasa were endued with powers of illusion, while Phalguni's son was acquainted with celestial weapons. Then Abhimanyu pierced Rishyasringa's son in that battle with three sharp shafts and once more with five. Alambusha, also, excited with wrath, speedily pierced Abhimanyu in the chest with nine shafts like a guide piercing an elephant with hooks. Then, that wanderer of the night, endued with great activity, afflicted Arjuna's son in that combat with a thousand arrows. Then Abhimanyu excited with rage, pierced that prince of the Rakshasas in his wide chest with nine straight shafts of great sharpness. Piercing through his body these penetrated into his very vitals. That best of Rakshasas, his limbs mangled by them, looked beautiful like a mountain overgrown with flowering Kinshukas. Bearing those shafts of golden wings on his body, that mighty prince of Rakshasas looked radiant like a mountain on fire.

Then the vindictive son of Rishyasringa, inflamed with wrath, covered Abhimanyu, who was equal unto Mahendra himself, with clouds of winged arrows. Those sharp shafts resembling the rods of Yama himself, shot by him, pierced Abhimanyu through and entered the earth. Similarly the gold-decked arrows shot by Arjuna's son, piercing Alambusha through, entered the earth. The son of Subhadra then, in that battle, with his straight shafts, obliged the Rakshasa to turn his back upon the field, like Shakra repulsing Maya in days of old. That scorcher of foes, the Rakshasa, then, thus repulsed and struck repeatedly by his adversary, exhibited his great powers of illusion by causing a thick darkness to set in. Then all the combatants there were covered by that darkness. Neither could Abhimanyu be seen, nor could friends be distinguished from foes in that battle. Abhimanyu, however, beholding that thick and awful gloom, invoked into existence the blazing solar weapon. Thereupon, the universe once more became visible. Thus he neutralised the illusion of that wicked Rakshasa. Then that prince of men, excited with wrath and endued with great energy, covered that foremost of Rakshasa in that battle with many straight shafts. Diverse other kinds of illusion were conjured up there by that Rakshasa. Conversant with all weapons, the son of Phalguni however, neutralised them all.

The Rakshasa then, his illusions all destroyed, and himself struck with shafts, abandoned his car even there, and fled away in great fear. After that Rakshasa addicted to unfair fight had been thus vanquished, the son of Arjuna began to grind your troops in battle, like a juice-blind prince of wild elephants agitating a lake overgrown with lotus. Then Bhishma the son of Shantanu, beholding his troops routed, covered Subhadra's son with a thick shower of arrows. Then many mighty car-warriors of the Dhartarashtra army, standing in a ring round that single hero, began to strike him forcibly with their shafts. That hero then, who resembled his sire in prowess and who was equal to Vasudeva in valour and might, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, achieved diverse feats in that battle that were worthy of both his sire and maternal uncle. Then the heroic Dhananjaya, excited with wrath and desirous of rescuing his son, arrived at the spot where the latter was slaughtering your troops as he came along. Similarly, Dhritarashtra’s sire Devavrata in that battle approached Partha like Rahu approaching the sun. Then Dhritarashtra’s sons supported by cars, elephants, and steeds, surrounded Bhishma in that battle and protected him from every side. So also the Pandavas clad in mail and surrounding Dhananjaya, engaged in fierce battle. Then Sharadwat’s son (Kripa) pierced Arjuna who was staying in front of Bhishma, with five and twenty shafts. Thereupon, like a tiger attacking an elephant, Satyaki, approaching Kripa, pierced him with many whetted shafts from desire of doing what was agreeable to the Pandavas. Gautama in return, excited with wrath, quickly pierced him of Madhu's race in the chest with nine arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird. Shini's grandson also, excited with wrath, and forcibly drawing his bow, quickly sped at him an arrow capable of taking his life. The fiery son of Drona, however, excited with wrath, cut in twain that arrow as it coursed impetuously towards Kripa, resembling Indra's bolt in effulgence. Thereupon that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Shini's grandson, abandoning Gautama, rushed in battle towards Drona's son like Rahu in the firmament against the Moon.

Drona's son, however, cut Satyaki's bow in twain. After his bow had thus been cut off, the former began to strike the latter with his shafts. Satyaki then, taking up another bow capable of bearing a great strain and slaughtering the foe, struck Drona's son in the chest and arms with six shafts. Pierced therewith and feeling great pain, for a moment he was deprived of his senses, and he sat down on the terrace of his car, catching hold of his flag-staff. Regaining his consciousness then, the valiant son of Drona, excited with rage afflicted him of Vrishni's race in that battle, with one long shaft. That shaft, piercing Shini's grandson through, entered the earth like a vigorous young snake entering its hole in the season of spring. With another broad-headed arrow, Drona's son in that battle cut off the excellent standard of Satyaki. Having achieved this feat he uttered a leonine roar. Once more, he covered his adversary with a shower of fierce shafts like the clouds, covering the Sun after summer is past, Satyaki also baffling that arrowy shower, soon covered the son of Drona with diverse showers of arrows. That slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the grandson of Shini, freed from that arrowy shower like the Sun from the clouds, began to scorch the son of Drona (with his energy). Swelling with rage the mighty Satyaki once more covered his foe with a thousand arrows and uttered a loud shout.

Beholding his son then thus afflicted like the Moon by Rahu, the valiant son of Bharadwaja rushed towards the grandson of Shini. Desirous of rescuing, his son who was afflicted by the Vrishni hero, Drona, in that great battle, pierced the latter with a shaft of exceeding sharpness. Satyaki then, abandoning the mighty car-warrior Ashwatthaman, pierced Drona himself in that battle with twenty arrows of exceeding sharpness. Soon after, that scorcher of foes and mighty car-warrior, viz., Kunti's son of immeasurable soul, excited with wrath, rushed in that battle against Drona. Then Drona and Partha encountered each other in fierce combat like the planets Budha and Shukra in the firmament.

In battle Drona never recognises Partha as dear to himself. Partha also, keeping a Kshatriya's duty in view, recognises not in battle his preceptor. Kshatriyas, never avoid one another in battle. Without showing any regard for one another, they fight with sires and brothers. In that battle, Partha pierced Drona with three shafts. Drona, however, regarded not those shafts shot in battle from Partha's bow. Indeed, Partha once more covered the preceptor in the fight with a shower of arrows. Thereupon the latter blazed up with wrath like a conflagration in a deep forest. Then, Drona soon covered Arjuna in that combat with many straight shafts. Then king Duryodhana despatched Susharman for taking up the wing of Drona. Then the ruler of the Trigartas, excited with rage and forcibly drawing his bow, covered Partha with a profusion of arrows furnished with iron heads. Shot by those two warriors, the shafts looked beautiful in the welkin like cranes in the autumnal sky. Those shafts, reaching the son of Kunti, entered his body like birds disappearing within a tree bending with a load of tasteful fruits. Arjuna then, that foremost of car-warriors, uttering a loud roar in that battle pierced the ruler of the Trigartas and his son with his shafts. Pierced by Partha like Death himself at the end of the Yuga, they were unwilling to avoid Partha, resolved as they were on laying down their lives. And they shot showers on the car of Arjuna. Arjuna, however, received those arrowy showers with showers of his own, like a mountain receiving a downpour from the clouds. The lightness of hand that was beheld of Bibhatsu was exceedingly wonderful. For alone he baffled that unbearable shower of arrows shot by many warriors like the wind alone scattering myriads of clouds rushing upon clouds.

At that feat of Partha, the gods and the Danavas (assembled there for witnessing the fight) were highly gratified. Then, engaged with the Trigartas in that battle, Partha shot the Vayavya weapon against their division. Then arose a wind that agitated the welkin, felled many trees, and smote down the (hostile) troops. Then Drona, beholding the fierce Vayavya weapon, himself shot an awful weapon called the Shaila. When that weapon was shot by Drona in that battle, the wind abated and the ten quarters became calm. The heroic son of Pandu, however, made the car-warriors of the Trigarta division destitute of prowess and hope, and caused them to turn their backs on the field. Then Duryodhana and that foremost of car-warriors, viz., Kripa, and Ashwatthaman, and Shalya, and Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kambojas, and Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, and Bahlika supported by the Bahlikas, with a large number of cars surrounded Partha on all sides. Similarly Bhagadatta also, and the mighty Shrutayush, surrounded Bhima on all sides with an elephant division. Bhurishravas, and Shala, and Subala’s son began to check the twin sons of Madri with showers of bright and sharp arrows. Bhishma, however, in that battle, supported by the sons of Dhritarashtra with their troops, approaching Yudhishthira, surrounded him on all sides. Beholding that elephant division coming towards him, Pirtha's son Vrikodara, possessed of great courage, began to lick the corners of his mouth like a lion in the forest. Then Bhima, that foremost of car-warriors, taking up his mace in that great battle, quickly jumped down from his car and struck terror into the hearts of your warriors. Beholding him mace in hand, those elephant-warriors in that battle carefully surrounded Bhimasena on all sides. Stationed in the midst of those elephants, the son of Pandu looked resplendent like the Sun in the midst of a mighty mass of clouds. Then that bull among the sons of Pandu began with his mace to consume that elephant-division like the wind dispelling a huge mass of clouds covering the welkin. Those tuskers, while being slaughtered by the mighty Bhimasena, uttered loud cries of woe like roaring masses of clouds. With diverse scratches (on his person) inflicted by those huge animals with their tusks, the son of Pritha looked beautiful on the field of battle like a flowering Kinsuka. Seizing some of the elephants by their tusks, he deprived them of those weapons. Wrenching out the tusks of others, with those very tusks he struck them on their frontal globes and felled them in battle like the Destroyer himself armed with his rod. Wielding his mace bathed in gore, and himself bespattered with fat and marrow and smeared with blood, he looked like Rudra himself. Thus slaughtered by him, the few gigantic elephants that remained, ran away on all sides, crushing even friendly ranks. In consequence of those huge elephants fleeing away on all sides, Duryodhana's troops once more fled away from the field.

Bhishma fights

At mid-day happened a fierce battle, fraught with great carnage, between Bhishma and the Somakas. That foremost of car-warriors, viz., Ganga's son began to consume the ranks of the Pandavas with keen shafts by hundreds and thousands. Your sire Devavrata began to grind those troops like a herd of bulls grinding (with their tread) a heap of paddy sheaves. Then Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandin and Virata and Drupada, falling upon Bhishma in that battle, struck that mighty car-warrior with numerous arrows. Bhishma then, having pierced Dhrishtadyumna and Virata each with three arrows, sped a long shaft at Drupada. Thus pierced in battle by Bhishma, that grinder of foes, those great bowmen became filled with wrath, like snakes trod upon (by human feet). Then Shikhandin pierced the grandsire of the Bharatas (with many shafts). Of unfading glory, Bhishma, however, regarding his foe as a female struck him not. Dhrishtadyumna then, in that battle, blazing up with wrath like fire, struck the grandsire with three shafts in his arms and chest. Drupada pierced Bhishma with five and twenty shafts, and Virata pierced him with ten, and Shikhandin with five and twenty. Deeply pierced (with those shafts) he became covered with blood, and looked beautiful like a red Ashoka variegated with flowers.

Then the son of Ganga pierced, in return, each of them with three straight shafts. Then, he cut off Drupada's bow with a broad-headed arrow. The latter then, taking up another bow, pierced Bhishma with five shafts. He pierced Bhishma's charioteer also with three sharp shafts on the field of battle. Then the five sons of Draupadi, and the five Kaikeya brothers and Satyaki also of the Satwata race, headed by Yudhishthira, all rushed towards Ganga's son, desirous of protecting the Panchalas headed by Dhrishtadyumna. So all the warriors of your army also, prepared to protect Bhishma, rushed at the head of their troops against the Pandava host. Then happened there a fierce general engagement between Dhritarashtra’s army of men and steeds and theirs, that increased the population of Yama's kingdom. Car-warriors falling upon car-warriors despatched one another to Yama's abode. So men and elephant-riders and horse-riders, falling upon others (of their class), despatched them to the other world with straight shafts. Here and there on the field, cars, deprived of riders and charioteers by means of diverse kinds of fierce shafts, were in that battle dragged on all sides over the field. Those cars, crushing large numbers of men and steeds in battle, were seen to resemble the wind itself (in speed) and vapoury edifices in the firmament (for their picturesque forms). Many car-warriors cased in mail and endued with great energy, decked with ear-rings and head-gears and adorned with garlands and bracelets, resembling the children of the celestials, equal to Shakra himself for prowess in battle, surpassing Vaishravana in wealth and Brishaspati in intelligence, ruling over extensive territories, and possessed of great heroism, deprived of their cars, were seen to run here and there like ordinary men. Huge tuskers also, deprived of their skilled riders, ran, crushing friendly ranks, and fell down with loud shrieks. Prodigious elephants looking like newly-risen clouds and roaring also like the clouds, were seen to run in all directions, deprived of their coats of mail. Their Chamaras and variegated standards, their umbrellas with golden staves, and the bright lances (of their riders), lay scattered about. Elephant-riders,  deprived of their elephants, belonging both of Dhritarashtra’s army and theirs, were seen to run (on foot) amid that awful press.

Steeds from diverse countries, decked with ornaments of gold, were seen, by hundreds and thousands, to run with the speed of the wind. Horse-riders, deprived of their horses, and armed with swords were in that battle seen to run, or made to run (by others assailing them). Elephant, meeting with a flying elephant in that dreadful battle, proceeded, quickly crushing foot-soldiers and steeds. Similarly, those prodigious creatures crushed many cars in that battle, and cars also, coming upon fallen steeds crushed them (in their course). Steeds too, in the press of battle, crushed many foot-soldiers (with their hoofs). Thus, they crushed one another in diverse ways.

In that fierce and awful battle there flowed a terrible river of bloody current. Heaps of bows obstructed its straight course, and the hair (of slain warriors) formed its moss. (broken) cars formed its lakes, and arrows its eddies. Steeds formed its fishes. Heads (severed from trunks) formed its blocks of stone. It abounded with elephants that formed its crocodiles. Coats of mail and head-gears formed its froth. Bows (in the hands of the warriors) constituted the speed of its current, and swords its tortoises. Banners and standards in profusion formed the trees on its banks. Mortals constituted its banks which that river continually ate away. It abounded with cannibals that formed its swans. That stream (instead of swelling the ocean with its discharge) swelled the population of Yama's kingdom. Brave Kshatriyas, mighty car-warriors, casting off all fear, sought to cross that river with the aid of cars, elephants, and steeds that played the part of rafts and boats. As the river Vaitarani bears all departed spirits towards the domains of the King of the Dead, so that river of bloody current bore away all timid men deprived of their senses in a swoon. The Kshatriyas, beholding that awful carnage, all exclaimed, saying,

“Alas, through Duryodhana's fault the Kshatriyas are being exterminated. Why, Oh, Dhritarashtra of sinful soul, deluded by avarice, harboured envy for the sons of Pandu, who are graced with numerous virtues.”

Diverse exclamations of this kind were heard there, made by one another, fraught with the praises of the Pandavas and censure of your sons. Hearing then these words uttered by all the combatants, Duryodhana, that offender against all, addressed Bhishma and Drona and Kripa and Shalya, saying,

“Fight you without boastfulness. Why tarry you at all?”

Then the battle was resumed between the Kurus and the Pandavas, that fierce battle, caused by the match at dice and marked by an awful slaughter. Neither the sons of Pandu, nor their troops, nor they that follow them, nor the Kauravas, show the least regard for their lives in battle. For this reason, a dreadful destruction of kinsmen is taking place, caused either by Destiny or by Dhritarashtra’s evil policy.

Arjuna fights

Arjuna sent those Kshatriyas that followed Susharman to the abode of the King of the Dead by means of his whetted shafts. Susharman however, in that battle, pierced Partha with his shafts. He pierced Vasudeva with seventy, and Arjuna once more with nine shafts. Checking those shafts by means of his arrowy showers, that mighty car-warrior, viz., the son of Indra, despatched Susharman's troops unto Yama's abode. Those mighty car-warriors, while being slaughtered by Partha in that battle as if by Death himself at the end of the Yuga, all fled away from the field struck with panic, Some abandoning their steeds, some abandoning their cars, and others their elephants, fled away in all directions. Others taking with them their horses, elephants, and cars, fled away with great speed. Foot-soldiers in that dreadful battle, throwing aside their weapons, and without any regard for one another, fled away here and there. Though forbidden by Susharman the ruler of the Trigartas, and by other foremost of kings, they stayed not yet in battle. Beholding that host routed, Duryodhana himself at the head of the whole army and with Bhishma ahead, attacked Dhananjaya with all his vigour, for the sake of (protecting) the life of the ruler of the Trigartas. He stayed in battle, scattering diverse kinds of arrows, supported by all his brothers. The rest of the men all fled away. Similarly, the Pandavas, clad in mail and with all their vigour, proceeded, for the sake of Phalguni, to the spot where Bhishma was.

Although acquainted with the awful prowess, in battle of the wielder of Gandiva, these yet proceeded with loud cries and great bravery to the spot where Bhishma was and surrounded him on all sides. Then the palmyra-bannered hero covered the Pandava army, in that battle, with his straight shafts. The sun having reached the meridian, the Kauravas fought with the Pandavas in one confused mass. The heroic Satyaki, having pierced Kritavarman with five arrows, stayed in battle scattering his arrows by thousands. So king Drupada also, having pierced Drona with many whetted shafts, once more pierced him with seventy shafts and his charioteer with nine. Bhimasena also, having pierced his great grandsire king Bahlika uttered a loud roar like a tiger in the forest. Arjuna's son (Abhimanyu) pierced by Chitrasena with many shafts, deeply pierced Chitrasena in the chest with three arrows. Engaged with each other in battle, those two foremost of men looked resplendent on the field like the planets, Venus and Saturn in the firmament. Then that slayer of foes, viz., the son of Subhadra, having slain his antagonist's steeds and charioteer with nine arrows, uttered a loud shout. Thereupon that mighty car-warrior, (viz., Chitrasena), quickly jumping down from that car whose steed had been slain, mounted, without delay, the car of Durmukha.

The valiant Drona, pierced the latter's charioteer also, Then, Drupada, thus afflicted at the head of his troops, retreated by the aid of his fleet steeds, recollecting the hostility that existed from days of old (between himself and Drona). Bhimasena, within a moment, deprived king Bahlika of his steeds, car and charioteer, in the very sight of all the troops. Fallen into a situation of great danger and with fear in his heart, Bahlika, that best of men, jumping down from that vehicle, quickly mounted upon the car of Lakshmana in that battle. Satyaki, having checked Kritavarman in that dreadful battle, fell upon the grandsire and rained on him shafts of diverse kinds. Piercing the grandsire with sixty whetted shafts winged with feathers, he seemed to dance on his car, shaking his large bow. The grandsire then hurled at him a mighty dart made of iron, decked with gold, endued with great velocity, and beautiful as a daughter of the Nagas. Beholding that irresistible dart, resembling Death himself, coursing towards him, that illustrious warrior of the Vrishni race baffled it by the celerity of movements. Thereupon that fierce dart, unable to reach him of the Vrishni race, fell down on the earth like a large meteor of blazing splendour. Then he of Vrishni's race, taking up with a firm hand his own dart of golden effulgence, hurled it at the car of the grandsire. That dart, hurled in that dreadful battle with the strength of Satyaki's arms, coursed impetuously like the fatal night, coursing speedily towards a (doomed) man. As it coursed, however, towards him with great force, Bhishma cut it in twain, with a couple of horse-shoe-headed arrows of keen edge, and thereupon it fell down on the earth.

Having cut that dart, that grinder of foes, viz., Ganga's son, excited with wrath and smiling the while struck Satyaki in the chest with nine arrows. Then the Pandava warriors, with their cars, elephants, and steeds, surrounded Bhishma in that battle, for the sake of rescuing him of Madhu's race. Then commenced again a fierce battle, making the hair to stand on end, between the Pandavas and the Kurus both of whom were desirous of victory.

Beholding Bhishma excited with wrath in battle, surrounded on all sides by the Pandavas like the Sun in the firmament, by the clouds at the end of summer, Duryodhana addressed Duhshasana, saying,

“This heroic and great bowman Bhishma, this slayer of heroes, has, O bull of Bharata's race, been surrounded on all sides by the brave Pandavas. It is your duty, O hero, to protect that illustrious one. Protected by us in battle, our grandsire Bhishma will slay all the Panchalas along with the Pandavas. The protection of Bhishma. therefore, I think, is our highest duty, for this great bowman of his vows, viz., Bhishma, is our protector in return. Therefore, surrounding the grandsire with all our troops, do you protect him, who always achieves the most difficult feats in battle.”

Thus addressed by Duryodhana, Duhshasana, surrounding Bhishma with a large force on all sides took up his position. Then Subala’s son Shakuni, with hundreds and thousands of horsemen having bright spears and swords and lances in hand, and who formed a proud, well-dressed, and strong body bearing standards, and who were mingled with excellent foot-soldiers that were all well-trained and skilled in battle began to cheek Nakula, and Sahadeva, and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, surrounding those foremost of men on all sides. Then king Duryodhana despatched ten thousand (other) brave horsemen for resisting the Pandavas. When these rushed like so many Garudas towards the enemy with great impetuosity, the earth struck with their horse-hoofs, trembled and uttered a loud noise. The loud clatter of their hoofs was heard resembling the noise made by a large forest of bamboos, in conflagration on a mountain. As these dashed over the field, there rose a cloud of dust, which rising to the welkin shrouded the very Sun. In consequence of those impetuous steeds, the Pandava army was agitated like a large lake with a flight of swans suddenly alighting on its bosom. In consequence of their neighing, nothing else could be heard there. Then king Yudhishthira, and the two sons of Pandu by Madri, quickly checked the charge of those horsemen in battle, like the continent, bearing the force, at full tide, of the surging sea swollen with the waters of the rainy season. Then those (three) car-warriors, with their straight shafts, cut off the heads of those horse-riders. Slain by those strong bowmen, they fell down, (on the earth), like mighty elephants tumbling into mountain caves, slain by huge compeers. Indeed, coursing all over the field, those warriors (of the Pandavas army) cut off the heads of those cavalry soldiers with sharp-bearded darts and straight shafts. Struck with swords, those horsemen suffered their heads to drop like tall trees, dropping their fruits. All over the field, steeds along with their riders were seen fallen or falling, deprived of life. While being (thus) slaughtered, the steeds, affected with panic, fled away like smaller animals desirous of saving their lives at sight of the lion. The Pandavas, having vanquished their foes in that great battle, blew their conches and beat their drums.

Shalya fights

Then Duryodhana, filled with grief on seeing his troops vanquished, addressed the ruler of the Madras, and said,

“There, the eldest son of Pandu, accompanied by the twins in battle, in your very sight, O you of mighty arms, routs our troops, O lord. O mighty-armed one, resist him like the continent resisting the ocean. You are exceedingly well-known as possessed of might and prowess that are irresistible.”

Hearing these words of Dhritarashtra’s son, the valiant Shalya proceeded with a large body of cars to the spot where Yudhishthira was. Thereupon, the son of Pandu began to resist in battle that large host of Shalya rushing impetuously towards him with the force of a mighty wave. That mighty car-warrior, viz., king Yudhishthira the just, in that battle quickly pierced the ruler of the Madras in the centre of the chest with ten shafts. Nakula and Sahadeva struck him with seven straight shafts. The ruler of the Madras then struck each of them with three arrows. Once more he pierced Yudhishthira with sixty sharp-pointed arrows. Excited with wrath he struck each of the sons of Madri also with two shafts. Then that vanquisher of foes, the mighty-armed Bhima, beholding the king, in that great battle, staying within reach of Shalya's car as if within the very jaws of Death, quickly proceeded to Yudhishthira's side. Then when the Sun, having passed the meridian, was sinking, there commenced a fierce and terrible battle (on that part of the field).

Krishna takes up weapon against Bhishma

Then Dhritarashtra’s sire, excited with wrath, began to strike the Parthas and their troops all round, with excellent shafts of great sharpness. He pierced Bhima with twelve shafts, and Satyaki with nine. Having pierced Nakula with three shafts, he pierced Sahadeva with seven. He pierced Yudhishthira in the arms and the chest with twelve shafts. Piercing Dhrishtadyumna also, that mighty warrior uttered a loud roar. Him Nakula pierced (in return) with twelve shafts, and Satyaki with three. Dhrishtadyumna pierced him with seventy shafts, and Bhimasena with seven. Yudhishthira pierced the grandsire in return with twelve shafts. Drona (on the other hand), having pierced Satyaki, pierced Bhimasena next. He pierced each of them with five sharp shafts, each of which resembled the rod of Death. Each of those two, however, pierced Drona, that bull among Brahmanas, in return, with three straight shafts. The Sauviras, the Kitavas, the Easterners, the Westerners, the Northerners, the Malavas, the Abhishahas, the Shurasenas, the Shibis, and the Vasatis, did not avoid Bhishma in battle although they were incessantly slaughtered by him with sharp shafts. Similarly kings coming from diverse countries and armed with diverse weapons, approached the Pandavas (without seeking to avoid them in battle). The Pandavas, surrounded the grandsire on all sides. Surrounded on all sides, yet unvanquished by that large body of cars, Bhishma blazed up like a fire in the midst of a forest, and consumed his foes. His car was his fire-chamber; his bow constituted the (flames of that fire); swords, darts, and maces, constituted the fuel; his shafts were the sparks (of that fire); and Bhishma was himself the fire that consumed the foremost of Kshatriyas. Indeed, with shafts furnished with golden wings and vulturine feathers and endued with great energy, with barbed arrows, and nalikas, and long shafts, he covered the hostile host. He felled elephants and car-warriors also with his sharp shafts. He made that large body of cars resemble a forest of palmyras shorn of their leafy heads. That mighty armed warrior, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, deprived cars and elephants and steeds of their riders in that conflict. Hearing the twang of his bow-string and the noise of his palms, loud as the roar of the thunder, all the troops trembled. Indeed, shot from Bhishma's bow they did not strike the coats of mail only (but pierced them through). Many cars destitute of their brave riders dragged over the field of battle, by the fleet steeds yoked unto them. Fourteen thousand car-warriors, belonging to the Chedis, the Kashis, and the Karushas, of great celebrity and noble parentage, prepared to lay down their lives, unretreating from the field, and owning excellent standards decked with gold, having met with Bhishma in battle who resembled the Destroyer himself with wide-open mouth, all went to the other world along with their cars, steeds, and elephants. Cars by hundreds and thousands, some with their axles and bottoms broken, and some with broken wheels were seen. The earth was strewn with cars broken along with their wooden fences, with the prostrate forms of car-warriors, with shafts, with beautiful but broken coats of mail, with axes with maces and short arrows and sharp shafts, with bottoms of cars, with quivers and broken wheels, with innumerable bows and scimitars and heads decked with ear-rings; with leathern fences and gloves and overthrown standards, and with bows broken in various parts. Elephants, destitute of riders, and slain horsemen (of the Pandava army), lay dead. The valiant Pandavas notwithstanding all their efforts, could not rally those car-warriors, who, afflicted by the shafts of Bhishma, were flying away from the field. Indeed, that mighty host while being slaughtered by Bhishma endued with energy equal to that of Indra himself, broke so completely that no two persons fled together. With its cars, elephants, and steeds overthrown, and with its standards laid low in profusion, the army of the sons of Pandu, deprived of senses, uttered loud exclamations of woe. At that time, sire slew son, and son slew sire, and friend smote dear friend, impelled by fate. Many combatants of the Pandavas army, throwing aside their armour, were seen flying in all directions with dishevelled hair. Indeed, the Pandava troops looked like bulls running wild in fear, and no longer restrained by the yoke. Indeed, loud were the exclamations, we heard of woe that they uttered.

Then that delighter of the Yadavas, beholding the Pandava army breaking, reined the excellent car (that he guided), and addressing Bibhatsu the son of Pritha, said,

“That hour is come, O Partha, which you had hoped for. Strike now, O tiger among men, or you will be deprived of your senses. Formerly, O hero, you said, O Partha, in that conclave of kings in Virata's city, in the presence also of Sanjaya, these words,

“I will slay all the warriors of Dhritarashtra's son, all of them with their followers, including, Bhishma and Drona, that would fight with me in battle.”

O son of Kunti, O chastiser of foes, make those words of yours true. Remembering the duty of a Kshatriya, fight, without any anxiety.”

Thus addressed by Vasudeva, Arjuna hung down his head and looked askance at him. Bibhatsu replied very unwillingly, saying,

“To acquire sovereignty with hell in the end, having slain those who should not be slain, or the woes of an exile in the woods, (these are the alternatives). Which of these should I achieve? Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesha, I will do your bidding. I will overthrow the Kuru grandsire Bhishma, that invincible warrior.”

Thus asked, Madhava urged those steeds of a silvery hue, to the spot where Bhishma, incapable of being looked at like the Sun himself, was staying. Then that large host of Yudhishthira rallied and came again to the fight, beholding the mighty-armed Partha proceeding for an encounter with Bhishma. Then Bhishma that foremost one among the Kurus, repeatedly roared like a lion. He soon covered Dhananjaya's car with a shower of arrows. Within a trice that car of his with its steeds and charioteer, became entirely invisible in consequence of that thick shower of arrows. Vasudeva, however, without fear, mustering patience, and endued with great activity, urged those steeds mangled with Bhishma's shafts. Then Partha, taking up his celestial bow of twang loud as the roar of the clouds, caused Bhishma's bow to drop from his hands, cutting it (into fragments) by means of his sharp shafts. Then Dhritarashtra’s sire, the Kuru hero, whose bow had thus been cut off, stringed another large bow within the twinkling of the eye. Arjuna, however, excited with wrath, cut that bow also of his. The son of Shantanu applauded that lightness of hand displayed by Arjuna, saying,

“Well done, Well done, O mighty-armed one. Well done, O son of Kunti.”

Having addressed him thus, Bhishma took up another beautiful bow in that battle, and shot many arrows at Partha's car. Vasudeva showed great skill in the management of steeds, for, displaying the circling motion he baffled all those arrows (of Bhishma). Mangled with the arrows of Bhishma, those two tigers among men looked beautiful like two angry bulls marked with scratches of horns. Then that slayer of hostile heroes, viz., the mighty-armed Vasudeva of Madhu's race beholding that Partha was fighting mildly and that Bhishma was incessantly scattering his arrowy showers in battle, and that stationed between the two hosts, he latter was scorching everything like the Sun himself, smiting down the foremost of Yudhishthira's combatants, and, in fact, achieving feat on Yudhishthira's army like unto what happened at the end of the Yuga, could not any longer bear it. Abandoning then, Partha's steeds that looked like silver, and filled with wrath, that great lord of Yoga powers jumped down from that great car. Repeatedly roaring like a lion, the mighty Krishna of great energy and immeasurable splendour, the Lord of Universe, with eyes red as copper from rage, and having his bare arms alone for his weapons, rushed towards Bhishma, whip in hand, desirous of slaying him and seeming to split the universe itself with his tread. Beholding Madhava in the vicinity of Bhishma and about to fall upon him in that furious battle, the hearts of all the combatants seemed to be in a stupor. “Bhishma is slain, Bhishma is slain.” - These loud exclamations were heard there, caused by the fear inspired by Vasudeva. Robed in yellow silk, and himself dark as the lapis lazuli, Janardana, when he pursued Bhishma, looked beautiful as a mass of clouds charged with lightning. Like a lion towards an elephant, or the leader of a bovine herd upon another of his species, that bull of Madhu's race, with a loud roar, impetuously rushed towards Bhishma. Beholding him of eyes like lotus petals (thus) rushing towards him in that battle, Bhishma began to fearlessly draw his large bow. With a fearless heart he addressed Govinda, saying,

“Come, come, O you of eyes like lotus petals. O God of the gods, I bow to you. O best of the Satwatas, throw me down today in this great battle. O god, slain by you in battle, O sinless one, great will be the good done to me, O Krishna, in every respect in the world. Amongst all, in the three worlds, great is the honour done to me today in battle, O Govinda. Strike me as you please, for I am your slave, O sinless one.”

Meanwhile, the mighty-armed Partha. quickly following Keshava behind, seized him by encircling him with his two arms. That best of male beings, viz., Krishna, of eyes like lotus petals, seized by Partha, still proceeded with great speed, bearing the latter away with him. The mighty Partha, that slayer of hostile heroes, however, forcibly catching hold of his legs, stopped Hrishikesha with great difficulty at the tenth step. Then Arjuna his dear friend, filled with sorrow, affectionately addressed Keshava, who was then sighing like a snake and whose eyes were troubled in wrath, saying,

“O you of mighty arms, stop, O Keshava, it befits you not to make those words false which you had spoken before, viz., I will not fight. O Madhava, people will say that you are a liar. All this burden rests upon me. I will slay the grandsire. I swear, O Keshava, by my weapons, by truth, and my good deeds, that, O slayer of foes, I will do all by which the destruction of my foes may be achieved. Behold this very day that invincible and mighty car-warrior in the act of being thrown down by me, with the greatest ease, like the crescent moon at the end of the Yuga (when the destruction of the universe comes).”

Madhava, however, hearing these words of the high-souled Phalguni, spoke not a word, but in anger once more mounted upon the car. Then upon those two tigers among men, when stationed on their car, Bhishma the son of Shantanu, once more poured his arrowy showers like the clouds pouring rain upon the mountain-breast. Dhritarashtra’s sire Devavrata took the lives of the (hostile) warriors like the Sun sucking with his rays the energies of all things during summer. As the Pandavas had been breaking the ranks of the Kurus in battle, so Dhritarashtra’s sire broke the Pandava ranks in battle. The routed soldiers, helpless and heartless, slaughtered in hundreds and thousands by Bhishma, were unable to even look at him in that battle, him who resembled the mid-day Sun blazing in his own splendour. Indeed, the Pandavas afflicted with fear, timidly gazed at Bhishma who was then achieving super-human feats in that battle. The Pandava troops, thus fleeing away, O Bharata, failed to find a protector, like a herd of kine sunk in a shoal of ants while being trod down by a strong person. Indeed, the Pandavas could not look at that mighty car-warrior incapable of being shaken, who, furnished with a profusion of shafts, was scorching the kings (in the Pandava army), and who in consequence of those shafts looked like the blazing Sun shedding his fiery rays. While he was thus grinding the Pandava army, the thousand-rayed maker of day repaired to the setting hills, and the troops, worn with fatigue, set their hearts on withdrawal (from the field).

While they were battling, the Sun set, and there came the dreadful hour of twilight and the battle could no longer be seen. Then king Yudhishthira, seeing that twilight had come and that his own troops, slaughtered by Bhishma, had thrown aside their weapons, and that stricken with fear, and turned off the field, they were seeking to flee away, and beholding Bhishma also, that mighty car-warrior, excited with wrath and afflicting everybody in fight, and noticing that the mighty car-warriors of the Somakas, having been vanquished, had all become cheerless, reflected a little, and then ordered the troops to be withdrawn. Then king Yudhishthira withdrew his forces. Similarly, the withdrawal of Dhritarashtra’s forces also took place at the same time. Then those mighty car-warriors, having withdrawn their forces, entered their tents, themselves mangled in battle. Afflicted by the shafts of Bhishma and reflecting upon that hero's feats in battle, the Pandavas obtained no peace of mind. Bhishma also, having vanquished the Pandavas and the Srinjayas in battle, was worshipped by Dhritarashtra’s sons and glorified by them. Accompanied by the rejoicing Kurus, he then entered his tent. Night then set in, that deprives all creatures of their senses.

Yudhishthira asks Bhishma how to defeat him

Then in that fierce hour of night, the Pandavas, the Vrishnis and the invincible Srinjayas sat down for a consultation. All those mighty persons, skilled in arriving at conclusions in council, coolly deliberated about that which was beneficial for them in view of their immediate circumstances. Then king Yudhishthira, having reflected for a long while, said these words, casting his eyes on Vasudeva,

“Behold, O Krishna, the high-souled Bhishma of fierce prowess. He crushes my troops like an elephant crushing a forest of reeds. We dare not even look at that high-souled warrior. Like a raging conflagration he licked up my troops. The valiant Bhishma of keen weapons, when excited with wrath in battle and bow in hand shooting his shafts, becometh as fierce as the mighty Naga Takshaka of virulent poison. Indeed, the angry Yama is capable of being vanquished, or even the chief of the celestials armed with the thunder, or Varuna himself, noose in hand, or the Lord of the Yakshas armed with mace. But Bhishma, excited with wrath, is incapable of being vanquished in battle. When this is the case, O Krishna, I am, through the weakness of my understanding, plunged in an ocean of grief having got Bhishma (as a foe) in battle. I will retire into the woods, O invincible one. My exile there would be for my benefit. Battle, O Krishna, I no longer desire. Bhishma slays us always. As an insect, by rushing into a blazing fire meets only with death, even so do I rush upon Bhishma. In putting forth prowess, O you of Vrishni's race, for the sake of my kingdom, I am, alas, led to destruction. My brave brothers have all been exceedingly afflicted with arrows. In consequence of the affection they bear to myself their (eldest) brother they had to go into the woods, deprived of kingdom. For myself alone, O slayer of Madhu, has Krishna been sunk into such distress. I regard life to be of high value. Indeed, even life now seemed to be difficult of being saved. (If I can save that life), its latter remnant will I pass in the practice of excellent virtue. If, with my brothers, O Keshava, I am worthy of your favour, tell me, O Krishna, what is for my benefit, without contravening the duties of my order.”

Hearing these words of his, and (describing the situation) in detail, Krishna, from compassion, said these words in reply for comforting Yudhishthira,

“O son of Dharma, O you that are firm in truth, do you not indulge in sorrow, you that has these invincible heroes, these slayers of foes, for your brothers. Arjuna and Bhimasena are each endued with the energy of the Wind and the Fire. The twin sons of Madri also are each as valiant as the Chief of the celestials himself. From the good understanding that exists between us, do you set me also to this task. Even I, O son of Pandu, will fight with Bhishma. Directed by you, O great king, what is there that I may not do in great battle. Challenging that bull among men, viz., Bhishma, I will slay him in battle, in the very sight of the Dhartarashtras, if Phalguni does not wish to slay him. If, O son of Pandu, you see victory to be certain on the slaughter of the heroic Bhishma, even, I, on a single car, will slay that aged grandsire of the Kurus. Behold, O king, my prowess, equal to that of the great Indra in battle. I will overthrow from his car that warrior who always shoots mighty weapons. He that is an enemy of the sons of Pandu, without doubt, is my enemy also. They, that are yours, are mine, and so they, that are mine, are yours. Your brother (Arjuna) is my friend, relative, and disciple. I will, O king, cut off my own flesh and give it away for the sake of Arjuna. And this tiger among men also can lay down his life for my sake. O sire, even this is our understanding, viz., that we will protect each other. Therefore, command me, O king, in what way I am to fight.

Formerly, at Upaplavya, Partha had, in the presence of many persons, vowed, saying, “I will slay the son of Ganga.” These words of the intelligent Partha should be observed (in practice). Indeed, if Partha requests me without doubt I will fulfill that vow. Or, let it be the task of Phalguni himself in battle. It is not heavy for him. He will slay Bhishma, that subjugator of hostile cities. If excited in battle, Partha can achieve feats that are incapable of being achieved by others. Arjuna can slay in battle the very gods exerting themselves actively, along with the Daityas and the Danavas. What need be said of Bhishma, therefore, O king? Endued with great energy, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, is now of perverted judgment, of intelligence decayed, and of little sense, without doubt, he knows not what he should do.”

Hearing these words of Krishna, Yudhishthira said,

“It is even so, O you of mighty arms, even as you say, O you of Madhu's race. All these together are not competent to bear your force. I am sure of always having whatever I desire, when, O tiger among men, I have yourself staying on my side. O foremost of victorious persons, I would conquer the very gods with Indra at their head, when, O Govinda, I have you for my protector. What need I say, therefore, of Bhishma, though he is a mighty car-warrior? But, O Krishna, I dare not, for my own glorification, falsify your words. Therefore, O Madhava, as promised before by you, render me aid without fighting for me. In this battle an agreement was made by me with Bhishma. He said, “I will give you counsel, but fight I shall never for you, since I shall have to fight for Duryodhana's sake. Know this for truth.”

Therefore, O Lord, Bhishma may give me sovereignty by giving me good counsel, O Madhava. Therefore, O slayer of Madhu, all of us accompanied by you, will once more repair unto Devavrata, for asking him about the means of his own death. All of us then, O best of persons, together going to Bhishma without delay, will speedily ask him of Kuru's race his advice. O Janardana, he will truly give us beneficial counsel, and O Krishna, I will do in battle what he will say. Of austere vows, he will give us counsel, as also victory. We were children and orphans. By him were we reared. O Madhava, him, our aged grandsire, I wish to day, him, the sire of our sire. Oh, fie upon the profession of a Kshatriyas.”

Hearing these words, he of Vrishni's race said unto Yudhishthira,

“O you of great wisdom, these words of yours, O king, are to my taste. Bhishma, otherwise called Devavrata, is skilled in weapons. With only his glances he can consume the foe. Repair unto that son of the Ocean-going (Ganga), for asking him about the means of his death. Asked by you, in particular, he will certainly say the truth. We will, therefore, proceed for questioning the Kuru grandsire. Repairing unto the reverend son of Shantanu, we will, O Bharata, ask him his advice and according to the advice that he will give us we will fight with the foe.”

Having thus deliberated, the heroic sons of Pandu, and the valiant Vasudeva, all proceeded together towards the abode of Bhishma, casting aside their coats of mail and weapons and entering then his tent, they all bowed to him, bending their heads. The sons of Pandu, worshipping that bull of Bharata's race, and bowing unto him with their heads, sought his protection. The Kuru grandsire, the mighty-armed Bhishma, then addressed them, saying,

“Welcome are you, O you of Vrishni's race. Welcome are you, O Dhananjaya. Welcome to you, O king Yudhishthira the just, Ad to you, O Bhima. Welcome to you also, you twins. What am I to do now for enhancing your joy? Even if it be exceedingly difficult of achievement, I will yet do it with all my soul.”

Unto the son of Ganga who thus repeatedly spoke unto them with such affection, king Yudhishthira, with a cheerful heart, lovingly said, these words,

“O you that are conversant with everything, how shall we obtain victory, and how shall we acquire sovereignty? How also may this destruction of creatures be stopped? Say all these unto me, O lord. Tell us the means of your own death. How, O hero, shall we be able to bear you in battle? O grandsire of the Kurus, you give not your foes even a minute hole to pick in you. You are seen in battle with your bow ever drawn to a circle. When you take your shafts, when aim them, and when draw the bow (for letting them off), no one is able to mark. O slayer of hostile heroes, constantly smiting (as you do) cars and steeds and men and elephants, we behold you on your car, O mighty-armed one, to resemble a second Sun. What man is there, O bull of Bharata's race, who can venture to vanquish you, scattering showers of arrows in battle, and causing a great destruction. Tell me, O grandsire, the means by which we may vanquish you in battle, by which sovereignty may be ours, and lastly, by which my army may not have to undergo such destruction.”

Hearing these words, Shantanu’s son said unto the son of Pandu,

“As long as I am alive, O son of Kunti, victory cannot be yours in battle, O you of great wisdom. Truly do I say this unto you. After, however, I am vanquished in fight, you may have victory in battle, you sons of Pandu. If, therefore, you desire victory in the battle, smite me down without delay. I give you permission, you sons of Pritha, strike me as you please. I am thus known to you in what I regard to be a fortunate circumstance. After I am slain, all the rest will be slain. Therefore, do as I bid.”

Yudhishthira said,

“Tell us the means by which we may vanquish you in battle, you that are, when excited with wrath in the fight, like unto the Destroyer himself armed with mace. The wielder of the thunder-bolt may be vanquished or Varuna, or Yama. You, however, are incapable of being defeated in battle by even the gods and Asuras united together, with Indra at their head.”

Bhishma said,

“That, O son of Pandu, is true, which you say. O you, of mighty arms. When with weapons and my large bow in hand I contend carefully in battle, I am incapable of being defeated by the very gods and the Asuras with Indra at their head. If, however, I lay aside my weapons, even these car-warriors can slay me. One that has thrown away his weapons, one that has fallen down, one whose armour has slipped off, one whose standard is down, one who is flying away, one who is frightened, one who says “I am yours,” one who is a female, one who bears the name of a female, one no longer capable of taking care of one's self, one who has only a single son, or one who is a vulgar fellows, with these I do not like to battle. Hear also, O king, about my resolve formed before. Beholding any inauspicious omen I would never fight. That mighty car-warrior, the son of Drupada, O king, whom you have in your army, who is known by the name of Shikhandin, who is wrathful in battle, brave, and ever victorious, was a female before but subsequently obtained manhood. How all this took place, you all know it truly. Brave in battle and clad in mail, let Arjuna, keeping Shikhandin before him, attack me with his sharp shafts. When that inauspicious omen will be there, especially in the form of one that was a female before, I will never seek, though armed with bow and arrow, to strike him. Obtaining that opportunity, let Dhananjaya the son of Pandu quickly pierce me on every side with his shafts, O bull of Bharata's race. Except the highly blessed Krishna, and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu, I do not behold the person in the three worlds who is able to slay me while exerting myself in battle. Let Bibhatsu, therefore, armed with weapons, struggling carefully in battle, with his excellent bow in hand, placing (Shikhandin or) something else before, throw, me down (from my car). Then the victory will be certain. Do this, O great king, even this that I have said unto you, O you of excellent vows. You will then be able to slay all Dhartarashtras assembled together in battle.”

The Parthas then, having ascertained all this went back to their tents, saluting the Kuru grandsire, viz., the high-souled Bhishma. After Ganga's son, prepared to go to the other world, had said this, Arjuna. burning with grief and his face suffused in shame, said these words,

“How, O Madhava, shall I fight in battle with the grandsire who is my senior in years, who is possessed of wisdom and intelligence, and who is the oldest member of our race? While sporting in days of childhood, O Vasudeva, I used to smear the body of this high-souled and illustrious one with dust by climbing on his lap with my own filthy body. O elder brother of Gada, he is the sire of my sire Pandu. While a child, climbing on the lap of this high-souled one I once called him father, “I am not your father but your father's father, O Bharata!” This is what he said to me (in reply) in my childhood. He who said so, Oh, how can he be slain by me. O, let my army perish. Whether, it is victory or death that I obtain I will never fight that high-souled person. (Even this is what I think). What do you think, O Krishna!”

Vasudeva said,

“Having vowed the slaughter of Bhishma before, O Jishnu, how can you abstain from slaying him, agreeably to the duties of a Kshatriya? Throw down from his car, O Partha, that Kshatriya who is invincible in battle. Victory can never be yours without slaying Ganga's son. Even thus shall he go to the abode of Yama. This has been settled before by the gods. That which has been destined before, O Partha, must happen. It cannot be otherwise. None save you, O invincible one, not even the wielder of the thunder-bolt himself, would be capable of fighting with Bhishma, who is like the Destroyer with wide-open mouth. Slay Bhishma, without any anxiety. Listen also to these words of mine that are what Brihaspati of great intelligence had said unto Shakra in days of old. One should slay even an aged person endued with every merit and worthy of reverence if he cometh as a foe, or, indeed any other who approaches for destroying one's self, O Dhananjaya, this is the eternal duty sanctioned for the Kshatriya, viz., that they should fight, protect subjects, and perform sacrifices, all without malice.”

Arjuna said,

“Shikhandin, O Krishna, will certainly be the cause of Bhishma's death, for Bhishma, as soon as he beholds the prince of the Panchalas, abstains from striking. Therefore, keeping Shikhandin before him and at our head, we will, by that means, overthrow the son of Ganga. Even this is what I think. I will hold in check other great bowmen with my shafts. As regards Shikhandin, he will fight with Bhishma alone, that foremost of all warriors. I have heard from that chief of the Kurus that he would not strike Shikhandin, for having been born before as a woman he subsequently became a male person.”

Having settled this with Bhishma's permission, the Pandavas, along with Madhava, went away with rejoicing hearts. Then those bulls among men retired to their respective beds.