Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Single-combats between the hostile heroes

Sanjaya said The son of Rishyashringa, that fierce bowman resisted in battle Satyaki, who clad in mail was rushing towards Bhishma in battle.

Thereupon, O king, he of Madhu's race, wrought up with rage, wounded the Rakshasa with nine shafts, as if smiling.

So also, O king, the enraged Rakshasa with nine shafts afflicted the illustrious grandson of Shini of the race of Madhu.

Then that slayer of hostile heroes that descendant of Madhu race viz., the grandson of Shini, excited to the highest pitch of fury, shot numerous shafts at the Rakshasa in battle.

Then the mighty-armed Rakshasa, O you uf prowess incapable of being baffled, pierced Satyaki with sharp arrows and uttered aloud his war-cry.

Then that powerful descendant of Madhu's race also, though deeply pierced by Rakshasa, depending on his own energy, smiled and uttered his war-cry.

Then, Bhagadatta, wrought up with wrath in battle, pierced with whetted shafts that descendant of Madhu's race, like a guide piercing a huge elephant with a hook.

Then leaving alone the Rakshasa in battle, that foremost of car-warriors namely the grandson of Shini, hurled dares of depressed knots against the ruler of the Pragjyotishas.

Then the ruler of the Pragjyotishas with a sharp-edged broad headed shaft cut off the mighty bow of the descendant of Madhu's race, displaying great lightness of hand.

Thereupon, that slayer of hostile heroes, taking up another bow of great toughness, pierced the enraged Bhagadatta with sharp shafts in battle.

Thus deeply pierced, that mighty bow man, licking the corners of his mouth, hurled at Satyaki an iron lance decked with gold and lapises, of great toughness, and terrible like the mace of Death. Then Satyaki with his arrows cut off that lance, O king, that had been coursing swiftly towards him, being shot by the force of Bhagadatta's arm. Then that lance fell down with force on the ground like a large meteor shorn of its splendour.

Beholding that lance to be baffled, your son, O ruler of men, checked him of Madhu's race, surrounding him with a large number of cars,

Then seeing that mighty car-warrior of the Vrishni race thus surrounded, king Duryodhana highly excited with rage, thus spoke to his brothers.

“Do you all so strive, O Kurus, that this Satyaki may not return back with his life from this mighty host of chariots.

If he be slain, I may then consider the whole host of the Pandavas as nothing more than slain.” Then accepting his words by saying 'yea', the mighty car-warriors,

Stationed in front of Bhishma began to fight with the grandson of Shini. Then the powerful ruler of the Kambojas checked, in battle, Abhimanyu who had been vigorously advancing against Bhishma. Then the son of Arjuna having pierced the king with arrows of depressed knots,

Once more wounded the king with sixty four arrows. Thereupon Sudakshina also, desirous of saving Bhishma's life in battle, pierced Abhimanyu with five shafts and the latter's charioteer with nine arrows. Then the battle that ensued consequent upon the encounter of those two heroes, exceedingly pierce.

Shikhandin that grinder of foes rushed against the son of Ganga. The two old mighty car-warriors, Draupada and Virata, inflamed with rage, rushed to fight with Bhishma, holding at bay the army of the Kauravas as was they advanced. Thereupon that foremost of carwarriors namely Ashvathama, wrought up with wrath confronted both those warriors in battle.

Then, O Bharata, a dreadful fight ensued between him and the old heroes. ( afflicter of foes, with ten broad-headed shafts Virata wondered.

The mighty bowman, the son of Drona, the ornament of the field of battle as he advanced with velocity towards them. Draupada also with his sharp arrows pierced Ashvathama.

Then Ashvathama pierced with numerous shafts those two mighty warriors who having neared the son of the preceptor, had been wounding him with arrows.

Still the heroes Virata and Draupada advanced towards Bhishma; we then beheld an admirable feat achieved by those two old warriors,

In as much as they repulsed all the dreadful arrows shot by Drona's son. Then Kripa the son of Sharadvata rushed against the advancing Sahadeva,

Like one infuriated elephants rushing against a compeer in the same state, in the woods. Then the heroic Kripa quickly pierced that mighty car-warrior the son of Madri with seventy shafts all decked with golden wings. Then the son of Madri burst his bow in twain with his strong shafts.

Then the former pierced the latter whose bow has been cut asunder with nine shafts. The latter then taking up another bow capable of bearing great strain.

And desirous of saving the life of Bhishma and excited with anger, struck cheerfully on the breast the son of Madri with ten shafts of exceeding sharpness.

So also, O king, urged by the desire for slaying Bhishma, the son of Pandu also worked up with rage struck the wrathful son of Sharadvata on his breast.

Then ensued a fierce fight of terrible aspect and capable of inspiring terror. Then that afflicter of foes viz., Vikarna, desirous of rescuing the grandsire, and waxed up with rage, pierced Nakula in battle with no less then sixty shafts. Thus deeply pierced by your highly intelligent son, Nakula also.

Penetrated Vikarna with seven and sixty sharp arrows. Then for the sake of Bhishma, those two foremost of men, those two afflicters of foes,

Those two heroes began to assail one another like two heifers among a herd of kine. Then for the sake of protecting Bhishma, the mighty Durmukha confronted the Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, who had been advancing to the fight slaying your troops. Then, O king, the son of Hidimba excited with wrath, struck that afflicter of foes viz., Durmukha on the breast with an arrow of straight knots. Then the heroes Durmukha, having cheerfully pierced Bhimasena's son with sixty keep-pointed arrows, uttered his war-cry, standing at the van of the army. Then that mighty car-warrior, the son of Hridika checked that foremost of carwarriors Dhrishtadyumna as he was advancing desirous of slaying Bhishma. Then the son of Prishata having pierced Hridika's son with five iron dares,

Once more quickly struck him between his breasts with fifty shafts. Similarly, O king, Hridika's son pierced the son of Prishata with nine arrow's exceedingly sharp and effulgent and furnished with wings made of the feathers of Kanka birds. Then for the sake of Bhishma, a pierced battle raged between them,

As they struck one another with great ardor, like that between Vritra and the great Indra. Bhurishravas speedily came upon the mighty Bhimasena who had been falling upon Bhishma. Then the son of Somadatta wounded Bhima in the centre of his chest,

With a long shaft of great sharpness and golden wings. With that shaft struck on his breast, the puissant Bhimasena appeared beautiful,

Like the Krauncha mountain, O foremost of kings, in the days of yore bearing the lance of Skanda. Then these two foremost of men, inflamed with fury, sped at one another, arrows of solar effulgence and burnished by the forgers themselves. Then Bhima desirous of slaying Bhishma fought with that mighty carwarrior viz., Somadatta's son,

Similarly the latter longing for the victory if Bhishma, struggled with the former, both striving to counteract one another in his feats.

The son of Bharadvaja held in check that son of Kunti, Yudhishthira, who was coming upon Bhishma, surrounded by his large division.

Then, O king, hearing the clatter of Drona's chariot, that resembled the rumble of the raincloud Parjanya, the Prabhadrakas, O sire, quaked (with fear).

Thus assailed by Drona that mighty division of the son of Pandu could not stir one step forward, though striving vigorously.

Then your son Chitrasena, with a fearful expression, checked in battle Chekitana advancing, O ruler of men, against Bhishma.

Then for the sake of Bhishma, that mighty car-warriors (Chitrasena) endued with prowess and a praiseworthy quickness of hand, fought, O Bharata, to the best of his abilities, with Chekitana;

Similarly Chekitana also fought with him with equal ardor. Then fierce was the battle that commenced consequent upon their encountering each other.

Then, O Bharata, Arjuna though resisted by your son, repulsed the latter's divisions and began to crush your troops.

But Dushasana resisted Partha to the best of this powers, determined, O Bharata, that the latter might hot slay Bhishma.

Thus the army of your son being thus slaughtered, the foremost of car-warriors began, O Bharata, to betray sings of agitation.