Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Colloquy between Duryodhana and Dusshasana

Sanjaya said Thereupon the high-souled Bhishma, thus deeply pierced by the dagger-like words of your son and overwhelmed with grief, spoke not even a single disagreeable word to your son.

Thus mutilated with those 'worldly daggers' and sighing like a snake, and meditating for a while, and possessed with rage and sorrow,

And raising, out of wrath, his two eyes, as if, O Bharata, desirous of consuming the universe with the celestial, the Gandharvas, and the Asuras, that foremost of those learned in the ways of the world (viz., Bhishma),

Coolly addressed these words to your son "Why, O Duryodhana, are you piercing me with these harrowing words of yours'

Me who ever endeavoring to the best of my abilities to accomplish what will be for your benefit, me who am ready to lay down my very life in battle, for doing good to you?

Is not this sufficient indication (of his invincibility) that heroic son of Pandavas and (Arjuna), gratified Agni by allowing it to consume the Khandava foremost, after having vanquished his opponents in battle?

When, O mighty-armed hero, that son of Pandu released, with force, you captured by the Gandharvas, that indeed, is indication enough (of his prowess)

On that occasion when your uterine brothers of great heroism, as also, O lord, Radha's son of Suta race had fled forsaking you, the rescue effected by Arjuna is indeed indication enough of his prowess.

That in the kingdom of Virata, singlehanded, he encountered our assembled host is indication enough.

That vanquishing the wrathful Drona and myself in battle, he succeeded in taking off our raiment's, is indication enough.

That he conquered the great bowman, the son of Drona as also the son of Sharadvata on the occasion of the capture of the capture of Virata's kine, is indeed indication enough.

That conquering Karna ever bragging of his manliness, he gave robes to Uttara is a sufficient indication.

That the son of Pritha vanquished in battle the Nivatakavacha brothers difficult of vanquishment by Indra himself is indication enough of his velour.

What man is capable of conquering the mighty son of Pandu, who is protected by the Protector of the worlds, the wielder of the conch, discus and the mace divine.

The son of Vasudeva is of infinite prowess, and is the Destroyer of this creation. He is the Lord of all, the God of Gods, the Supreme Soul and Eternal.

Diversely, O king, has He been described by Narada and other illustrious sages. But through your folly, O Suyodhana, you do not seem to recognise what you should do and what you should not.

A man on the brink of death sees everything to be made of gold; so also, O son of Gandhari, you see everything to be invested with a yellow hue.

You have yourself sowed implacably enmity between yourself on the one side and the Pandavas and Srinjayas on the other. Let us now see you fight with them in battle. Display your manliness.

I, however, O foremost of men, shall slay the assembled Panchalas and Somakas excepting only Shikhandin.

Either slain by them in battle, I shall go to the mansion of Death or slaying them I shall afford delight to you.

In the palace of Draupada, Shikhandin was first born as a woman; then through the virtue of a boon he became a male being. This one is the Shikhandin of old.

Even if I were to loose my life, O Bharata, I shall not slay him. This now is the same Shikhandin whom the creator made a female.

Pass the night in tranquil sleep, O son of Gandhari; tomorrow I shall fight a terrible fight, of which men shall speak so long as the earth will endure."

This spoken to, your son, O ruler of men, came out and saluting the reverend signor, with his head, he (your son) replied to his own tent.

Thereafter the king reaching his own tent, and ordering his illustrious officers to retire, that destroyer of foes entered his own camp.

There in his tent that ruler of men passed the night. When the night had passed away, the king, rising at the break of day,

Ordered, his royal warriors saying 'Arrange the forces in battle-order. Today, waxing irascible in battle, Bhishma shall slay the Somakas.'

Having heard those copious lamentation of Duryodhana in the night, and regarding them, O king, as commands to himself,

The son of Shantanu was greatly depressed; and he censored the life of dependency and reflected for a long time, desirous of encountering Arjuna in battle.

Coming to know from outward expressions what the son of Ganga had been thinking of, Duryodhana, O mighty monarch ordered Dushasana saying.

"O Dushasana, without delay draw up our chariots for protecting Bhishma. Urge to battle all our two and twenty divisions.

Even that for which we have been longing all these yards, have now come to pass, viz., the slaughter of the Pandavas with all their troops and the acquisition of the kingdom by ourselves.

Therefore, I now consider our highest duty to be the protection of Bhishma. Protected and assisted by us, he will slay the Parthas in battle.

That pure-souled one had said 'I will not slay Shikhandin; for this one was a female before, O king, so I should avoid him in battie.

All the world know, that to compass the pleasure of my father, O mighty armed one, I formerly relinquished a swelling kingdom and the company of woman.

Therefore, O foremost of men, I will not slay in battle females or those who were females before. I tell this truly.

Before the commencement of the battle I have told you, and you have heard that this Shikhandin was born formerly as a female and was called Shikhandin.

Born as a female child she has come to be a man. If now I am to fight with him I will sped my shafts towards him on no account.

I will, O sire, slay all other Kshatriyas in battle, who, desirous of victory to the Pandavas, shall happen to encounter me in the van of the battle.'

Thus did that foremost of the Bharatas, accomplished in the Vedas, namely the son of Ganga address me. So I consider our foremost duty to be the protection of Ganga's son to the best of our abilities.

If left unprotected, in a great forest, even a wolf can slay a lion. We should not allow Ganga's son to be slain by Shikhandi like a lion slain by a wolf.

Our maternal uncle Shakuni, Shalya, Kripa, Drona, and Vivingshati, should protect, putting forth their best energies, the son of Ganga. If he is duly protected, victory indubitably will be ours."

Hearing these words of Duryodhana, all those warriors surrounded on all sides with a host of cars, the son of Ganga.

Then your sons, surrounding Ganga's son, proceeded to battle shaking the earth and the heavens and agitating the Pandavas.

The mighty car-warriors of the Kurus, clad in Armour, and supported by those cars and many elephants formed themselves in battlearray encircling Bhishma.

Protecting that mighty car-warrior Bhishma, they stood like the celestial protecting the wielder of the thunder-bolt in the battle between themselves and the Asuras.

Thereafter king Duryodhana addressing his brothers once more said “Yudhamanyu protects the left wheel of Arjuna's chariot and Uttamaujas protects the right. Thus protected, Arjuna protects Shikhandin. O Dushasana, so arrange, that Shikhandin, thus protected by Arjuna, may not slay Bhishma left unprotected by ourselves.” Hearing the words of his brothers, your son Dushasana,

Placing Bhishma at the van proceeded to battle, surrounded by the troops. Beholding Bhishma thoroughly encompassed by a host of cars,

Arjuna, the foremost of car-warrior said to Dhrishtadyumna; Let, O Prince of the Panchalas, Shikhandin, that foremost of men be placed face to face with Bhishma. I myself will be his protector, O Prince.