Bhishma-Vadha Parva — The advice of Bhishma

Dhritarashtra said How, O Sanjaya, did the highly puissant son of Shantanu, viz., Bhishma fight on the tenth day with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas? How did also the Kurus, check the Pandavas in battle? Describe to me the fierce battle that Bhishma, that ornament of battlefield, fought with the foe.

Sanjaya said I shall, O Bharata, rehearse to you as to how did the Kurus fight with the Pandavas, and how also did that battle rage.

Day after day, the irate mighty car-warriors of your armny were conveyed to the regions of the departed by the excellent weapons shot by the diadem-decked Arjuna.

That conqueror of assembled enemies, viz., Bhishma, that foremost of Kuru heroes ever redeeming his vows, also destroyed the hosts of the Pandavas.

Beholding Bhishma fighting at the head of the Kurus and Arjuna at the head of Panchala troops, we were unable, O afflicter of foes, to divine as to which side would be victorious.

Then in that battle on the tenth day when Bhishma and Arjuna confronted one another, the carnage that was caused was indeed terrible to the extreme.

Then Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, that hero conversant with excellent weapons, slew, O afflicter of foes, many warriors by millions and thousands.

Many were the number of those unretreating heroes, heroes, whose names and designations and families were not known, who lay slaughtered by Bhishma on the field of battle.

Having consumed the Pandava ranks for ten days, the high-souled Bhishma, O afflicter of foes, became disregardful of his life.

Then wishing his quick slaughter at the face of the armies, and thinking, 'I will no longer slay foremost of car-warriors in battle,' your mighty-armed father Devavrata, addressing Yudhishthira who was then near him said these words.

"O Yudhishthira, O very wise one, O you familiar with all the Shastras! Hear, O sire, I speak these words, that are fraught with moral teachings and that are capable of securing paradise for any one.

O Bharata, O sire, I am disgusted with this body of mine. I have passed my days in slaying numerous creatures in battle.

So if you desire to do me a good turn, strive your best for slaying me, placing the Panchalas and Srinjayas with Partha, before yourself."

Ascertaining that to be the desire of Bhishma, king Yudhishthira of unerring sight rushed against Bhishma in battle with the Srinjayas for his supporters.

Thereupon, o king, Dhrishtadyumna and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, having heard those words of Bhishma urged on their forces saying:

Yudhishthira said Proceed, fight! conquer Bhishma in battle; you will be protected by Jishnu of unerring aim who is ever the conqueror of foes;

This fierce bowman the son of Prishata the commander of our hosts and Bhimasena also, will assuredly protect you all in battle.

He Srinjayas, entertain no fear of Bhishma in battle today! Placing Shikhandin in our van we will assuredly conquer Bhishma in battle.”

Sanjaya said Then on the tenth day, making all these arrangements, the Pandavas determined to conquer or to go to the regions of Brahma; and infuriate with rage, they encountered Bhishma.

Placing Shikhandin and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu at their head, they struggled arduously to overthrown Bhishma.

Then numerous heroic rulers of various countries commanded by your son, accompanied by their sons, and by their own mighty divisions,

As also your highly puissant son Dushasana supported by all his uterine brothers, then began to support Bhishma staying in the midst of the troops.

Then all your warriors placing before them Bhishma of regulated vows began to fight with the Partha's having Shikhandin at their van.

Then that hero having the ape as the device on his standard, placing Shikhandin before him and accompanied by the Chedis and Panchalas, rushed against Bhishma the son of Shantanu.

The grandson of Shini fought with Drona's son, Dhrishtaketu with the descendant of Puru and Yudhamanyu with king. Duryodhana and his ministers. son

Then, O afflicter of foes, Virata supported by his division confronted Jayadratha with his troops, that heir of Vridhakshatra.

Yudhishthira encountered the king of Madras supported by his soldiers. Bhimasena also, well protected, assaulted the elephant division of the enemy.

The prince of the Panchalas wrought up with rage and supported by his uterine brothers rushed against Drona's invincible, irresistible, and foremost of all wielders of weapons.

That subduer of enemies, viz., prince Brihadbala, confronted Subhadra's son who bore the device of a lion on his standard and whose flag resembled a shaking Karnikara flower.

Then your sons accompanied by other monarchs, fell upon Shikhandin and that son of Pandu namely Dhananjaya, desirous of slaying them both.

Then when the fighters of the two hosts rushed impetuously against one another in thai terrible combat, the earth shook underneath their tread.

Beholding Shantanu's son in battle, the divisions of your army and those of the enemy clashed against one another, O Bharata.

Then when, infuriated, those two hosts rushed against one another, terrible was the din that filled all the different quarters of the earth, OBharata.

And the din become still more awful being aggravated by the blare of conchs and the sound of drums and the roars of elephants and the war-cries of the troops.

Then the radiance emitted from the bracelets and diadems of all the royal warriorsradiance resembling the splendour of the sun or the moon-become bedimmed.

Clouds of dust were raised in which played the lighting consisting of the flashes of weapons. The twang of bows also became tremendous.

The whizzing of arrows, the blare of conchs, the loud sound of the drums, and the clatter of cars of the warriors of both the hosts were indeed awful.

The sky over the head of the two armies assumed a lowering aspect in consequence of the numerous dares, javelins, lances and arrows shot and hurled by them.

In that dreadful battle car-warriors and horsemen, smote down one another Elephants crushed elephants, and foot-soldiers slew footsoldiers.

Then, O foremost of men, like the fight between two hawks for a piece of meat, the fight, for the sake of Bhishma, between the Pandavas and the Kurus, become very awful.

Then dreadful was the encounter in that battle between those two armies, each desirous of slaughtering and gaining victory over its rival.