Bhishma-Vadha Parva — The encounter between Arjuna and Dushasana

Sanjaya said Then, O king, Arjuna beholding Bhishma's prowess in battle, addressed Shikhandin saying "Confront the grandsire.

You should entertain no fear from Bhishma today, I will dislodge him from his excellent car with sharp arrows."

Thus spoken to by Partha, and having listened to the former's worlds, Shikhandin, O foremost of the Bharatas, rushed against the son of Ganga.

Then also, O king, Dhrishtadyumna and the mighty car-warrior the son of Subhadra, filled with delight at having heard Arjuna's word, rushed against Bhishma.

Also the two aged warriors Virata and Drupada, and Kuntibhoja each protected with an armour, rushed against Ganga's son before the very eyes of your son.

Nakula, and Sahadeva, and the highly powerful Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, as also the other inferior soldiers, O ruler of men,

All advanced against the son of Ganga. As to your warriors who comforted, to the best of their abilities and to the best of their energies, hose united and mighty car-warriors of the enemy, hear me speak.

Chitrasena, O king, confronted in battle Chekitana who had been proceeding against Bhishma in battle like a tiger cub rushing against a bull.

Kritavarma checked Dhrishtadyumna, O king, who having speedily approached Bhishma was then displaying his prowess in battle.

O monarch, then with great activity Somadatta's encountered Bhimasena inflamed with rage and exerting for the slaughter of Ganga's son.

Then Vikarna, desirous of protecting the life of Bhishma checked the heroic Nakula who had been shooting myriads of shafts.

Then Kripa, the son of Sharadvata, wrought up with rage, checked, in battle, Sahadeva proceeding towards the car of Bhishma.

Then the powerful Durmukha rushed against the highly powerful Rakshasa of fearful deeds, that son of Bhimasena who was desirous of slaying Bhishma. son

Your son (Duryodhana) resisted Satyaki proceeding to battle. Sudakshina, the ruler of the Kamvojas, checked, O king, Abhimanyu as he was rushing against the car of Bhishma. Ashvathama inflamed with wrath, O Bharata, checked the two aged warriors, those crushers of foes, Virata and Drupada. Then the son of Bharadvaja carefully, fighting checked the son of Pandu (Yudhishthira), as he was proceeding desirous of slaying Bhishma. Then, O king, the fierce bow-man Dushasana checked in battle, Arjuna himself, who desirous of reaching near Bhishma was advancing, placing Shikhandin before him, and illumining the ten points of the compass.

Other warriors of your host resisted in that battle the mighty car-warriors of the Pandava host as they were proceeding towards Bhishma in battle.

Then excited to the highest pitch of fury, the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtadyumna rushed against Bhishma, repeatedly addressing the troops thus in a laud voice,

“You delighter of the Kurus Arjuna himself is rushing towards Bhishma. Rush you then upon the latter, and be not afraid. Bhishma will never be able to assail you.

Even Vasava himself is not capable of withstanding Arjuna in battle, what to speak of the heroic Bhishma whose energy is gone and life is exhausted?”

Hearing these words of their generallissimo, the mighty car-warriors.of the Pandava host, with delighted hearts, rushed against the car of the son of Ganga.

Then those warriors of your army, all foremost of men, cheerfully resisted that onslaught of the Pandavas that looked like a furiously advancing mass of living energy.

Then, O mighty monarch, the great carwarrior Dushasana, desirous of saying Bhishma's confronted Dhananjaya, dismissing all fear from his mind.

So also the heroic Pandavas rushing towards the car of Ganga's son, assailed your sons, all mighty car-warriors.

Then, O monarch, we beheld a wonderful incident, namely that reaching Dushasana's car Partha could not advance further.

Just as the banks resist the mighty main with its waters agitated, so did your son resist that son of Pandu inflamed with rage. life,

Both of them were excellent car-warriors, both were invincible, O Bharata, and both resembled the moon and the sun in splendor and beauty.

Then like Maya and Shakra encountering each other in the days of yore, those two heroes encountered each other in battle, highly excited with wrath, and desirous of slaying one another.

Then, O monarch, Dushasana wondered the son of Pandu with three shafts in battle, and the soli of Vasudeva with twenty.

Thereat Arjuna waxing wroth upon beholding him of the Vrishni race afflicted with arrows, sped hundred long shafts at Dushasana in that encounter.

Those shafts, penetrating through the letters armour's drank his life-blood. Thereupon, inflamed with rage, Dushasana pierced Pritha's Sual with three shafts. Then again, O foremost of the Bharata, he pierced Arjuna with three shafts of exceeding sharpness, on the forehead. Then with those arrows, struck on the forehead, Pandu's son appeared beautiful like.

The mount Meru with its crests towering high in the heavens. Pierced deeply by your son wielding the bow, that mighty bowman.

Partha appeared beautiful like the flowering Kinshuka tree. Then that son of Pandu, greatly excited afflicted Dushasana,

Like the enraged Rahu afflicting the full moon on the fifteenth day of the light half of a month. Then thus afflicted by the powerful Partha, your son, O ruler of men,

Pierced the former with arrows winged with the feathers of the Kanka bird and whetted on stone. Then Partha bursting open Dushasana's bow and shattering his car with his three arrows. Then he pierced many sharpened arrows on him.

Then he took another shaft and stood before Bhishma. He pierced twentyfive shafts on the chaste of Arjuna

Then Arjuna, the afflicter of foes, with enger, O king! shot at him numerous dreadful arrows resembling the mace of Death himself. Then your son cut off those arrows before they could reach him.

Sped though they were by Partha excreting his best in battle. Indeed this appeared to be marvelous. Once more your son pierced the son of Pritha with shafts of exceedingly ! sharpness.

Thereupon, wrought up with rage Partha fixing on his bow-string arrows full finished with gold wings and whetted on stone, discharged them at your son.

These shafts, O monarch, entered into the body of the illustrious Dushasana, like swans, O Bharata, diving into the waters of a lake.

Thus your son sorely afflicted by the illustrious son of Pandu, quickly avoiding him proceeded towards the chariot of Bhishma.

Then indeed Bhishma was like an island to him who was sinking into the fathomless deep (of pain): Then, O ruler of men, regaining his senses, your son,

Endued with bravery, and prowess, again began to check Partha with well-sharpened shafts, like Indra resisting Vritra. Your son of huge stature, penetrated Arjuna through and through but the latter did feel no pain at all.