Bhishma-Vadha Parva — General engagement

Sanjaya said At mid day, 0 mighty monarch, commenced a combat between the Somakas and Bhishma, that become dreadful and destructive of many creatures.

That foremost of car-warriors viz., the son of Ganga began to consume the ranks of the Pandava host, with his sharp shafts discharged by hundreds and thousands.

Then your father Devavrata crushed that army like a herd of heifer grinding (under their tread) a heap of paddy sheaves.

Then Dhrishtadyumna, Shikhandin, Virata and Draupada, encountering Bhishma in battle began to pierce that mighty car-warriors with numerous shafts.

Thereat, 0 Bharata, piercing Dhrishtadyumna and Virata with three shafts, Bhishma discharged a Naracha at Draupada.

Then those pierced by Bhishma that girder of foes, waxed worth, O king, in battle like a snake trampled under the feet.

Then Shikhandin pierced the grand father of the Bharatas, but the latter of undeteriorating renown struck him not, remembering his femininity.

Then Dhrishtadyumna blazing up with rage like fire, pierced the grandsire, with three shafts on the breast and the arms.

Drupada with twenty five, Virata with ten, Shikhandin with twenty five arrows pierced Bhishma.

That hero (Bhishma) thus deeply pierced, O mighty monarch, and bathed in copiously flowering blood, appeared beautiful like flowering red Ashoka tree in the spring.

Then the son of Ganga pierced them in return each with three straight going shafts; and O sire, he bust open the bow of Drupada with a broad headed arrow.

The latter then taking up another bow pierced Bhishma with five arrows and his charioteer with three whetted shafts on the field of battle.

Thereupon, O monarch, Bhima, the five sons of Draupadi, the five Kaikeya brothers, and Satyaki of the Satvata race,

Headed by king Yudhishthira himself rushed at the son of Ganga, desirous of rescuing the Panchalas headed by Dhrishtadyumna.

So also, O ruler of men, your warriors anxious for protecting Bhishma, rushed against the Pandava host, supported by their respective divisions.

Thereupon ensued a fierce and sanguinary engagement between your army and theirs both teeming with men, steeds chariots and elephants-engagement that considerably swelled the population of Death's domain.

Car-warriors meeting car-warriors dispatched them to the abode of Death; so also others, men, horse-soldiers, elephant riders encountering one another,

Conveyed one another to the abode of Death, with their straight knotted shafts; and in that field of battle, O ruler of men, many cars deprived of their riders with numerous dreadful arrows, and with their drivers slain, careered on the being dragged on all sides.

Crushing, O king, innumerable men and steeds in that battle, those cars of the velocity of wind appeared beautiful like aerial castles.

Many car-warriors deprived of their cars, clad in armour and possessed of strength all decked with ear-rings and turbans and with bracelets and garlands,

All resembling sons of the gods and equal to Shakra in prowess in battle, prosperous as Vaishravana himself and wise in polity as Brihaspati himself.

Ruling over vast dominions, and all heroic warriors, O ruler of men, flying hither and thither, were slain like ordinary men.

Huge tusked elephants also, O foremost of men, deprived of their excellent riders, fell down crushing their own ranks and uttering distressful cries,

With their armours, variegated standards, chamaras, white umbrellas with golden staves, and lances shattered, O sire,

The huge elephants ran in all the ten points of the compass, resembling newly-risen clouds.। and roaring also like them.

So also, O ruler of men, elephant riders, deprived of their elephants, were seen to run in all directions in that general engagement between your army and theirs.

We also beheld steeds born in various regions, decked with golden caparisons, and fleet as the wind itself, by hundreds and by thousands.

We also beheld horse soldiers, deprived of their charges chase and chased by, one another in that battle, with swords in their grasp.

An elephant meeting a flying compeer in that great battle, rushed with velocity crushing foot soldiers and steeds.

Also, o king, in that battle one elephant crushed many cars, and car also, passing over fallen steeds, crushed them in battle.

And also, O king, horses again crushed the foot-soldiers in that battle. Thus, o king, they crushed one another in various modes.

When that awful and fierce battle was thus raging, there started up into existence on the field of battle a hideous river, having blood for its stream,

Choked with piles of bones, and having the hair (of slain warriors) for its moss and weeds. It had cars for its lakes arrows for its eddies and horses for its fishers; and it was inaccessible.

It abounded in pebbles consisting of the heads of warrior; as also in sharks &c formed by the elephants. It had armours and headgears for its froth and bows for its current and swords for its tortoises;

The trees on its banks were formed of the numerous standards; it had men for its banks which it ate away constantly. It was infested by swans consisting of cannibals, and it considerably increased the population of Death's domain.

Many heroic Kshatriyas all mighty carwarriors crossed that river on their rafts consisting of cars, steeds and elephants, totally driving away fear their hearts.

Just as the river Vaitarani conveys all departed spirits to the dominions of the ruler of spirits, so, in that afternoon, that river carried away (with its bloody currents) all cowards that became overwhelmed with a swoon.

Then in that battle the Kshatriyas beholding that awful carnage, exclaimed saying. Through the folly of Duryodhana, Kshatriyas are being thus destroyed.

Why did Dhritarashtra of wicked soul, that ruler of men, infatuated by covetousness, harbor feelings of envy against the sons of Pandu, all endued with many virtues."

Various exclamations of this kind, purporting to be applause to the Pandavas and censures to your sons, were heard there addressed to one another.

Hearing these exclamations vociferated by all the warriors, your son Duryodhana, that offender of all men,

Addressing Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Shalya said, O Bharata “Do you go on fighting with self-confidence? Why do you tarry at all?”

Then ensued a battle between the Kurus and the Pandavas. O king, that owed its origin to that game at dice and that brought about awful carnage.

Now do you see, O son of Vichitravirya, the dreadful fruit of your refusal to accept the salutary advice (of your friends), though warned against it by many high souled heroes.

Neither the sons of Pandu, O king, with their soldiers and followers, nor the Kauravas pay any the least head to their lives in that battle.

For this reason, O foremost of men, a dreadful destruction of men is taking place, brought about by Destiny or by your wicked policy, O king.