Bhishma-Vadha Parva — The prowess of Bhishma

Sanjaya said When the division of the two armies strong in numbers and arranged in order of battle, met one another, all the unretreating heroes, O Bharata, then rushed to battle keeping in view the regions of Brahma. In that pell-mell fight, neither similar divisions fought with their similar, not car-warriors with car-warriors, nor foot-soldier with their foot-soldiers.

Horsemen then fought not with horsemen and elephant-riders fought not with other elephant-riders. But like men seized with fury, O Bharata, they indiscriminately slaughtered men one another, O monarch, in that battle. Fierce and great was the carnage that then spread itself among the ranks of the two armies, as and elephants, by hundreds, were scattered slain in all directions.

In that fierce battle the slaughter was indiscriminate. Then, 0 Bharata, Shalya, Kripa, Chitrasena, Dushasana and Vikarna, all riding on resplendent chariots, and all mighty heroes, made the host of the Pandavas tremble in battle before them.

The army of the Pandavas thus slaughtered by those high-souled warriors, was caused to wheels in various motions, like a bark tossed by the wind on the waters (of the sea).

Just as bleak wintry cold penetrates into the very vitals of the kine, so did then Bhishma cut the army of the sons of the Pandu to the very quick. Then many elephants of your army loO king like newly formed clouds, were felled by the high-souled son of Pritha in that battle.

The leaders of hosts of combatants were then seen to be crushed and mangled by the son of Pritha with his arrows and lances shot by thousands.

over Mighty elephants fell there setting up loud yells of agony and distress. The field of battle then looked beautiful being strewn withthe ornament-decked bodies of slain warriors of high soul, as also with their heads glanced with ear-rings. In that conflict, O monarch, so destructive of mighty heroes,

When both Bhishma and Dhananjaya the son of Pandu were displaying their prowess, your sons beholding the grandsire strive vigorously in battle. O king, rushed at the head all of their troops. Desirous of death in battle, and loO king upon heaven as their final goal.

They rushed against the Pandavas in that battle destructive of many heroes. The Pandavas also, O monarch, remembering the diverse woes and hardships.

Inflicted, O ruler of men, on them by you and your son and dismissing all fears, and desirous of attaining to the regions of Brahma,

Cheerfully fought on with your troops and your sons. Then that mighty car-warrior the commander of the Pandava host addressing his troops said.

"Rush you, O Somakas, together with the Srinjayas at the son of Ganga.” Hearing those words of their commander-in-chief, the Somakas and the Srinjayas,

Through afflicted with showers of arrows rushed at the son of Ganga. Thus assailed, O king, your father, the son of Shantanu,

Influenced by wrath fought with the Srinjayas. To your highly renowned father. O sire, in the days of yore, the intelligent Rama,

Imparted a lesson in the use of weapons that were capable of destroying the hostile ranks. Depending upon that instruction of his and thinning the ranks of the enemy,

The old grandsire of the Kurus, viz., Bhishma that slayer of hostile heroes day after day slaughtered ten thousand warriors belonging to the Pandava host.

One that the tenth day of the battle, O foremost of the Bharatas, from among the Matsyas and the Panchalas, Bhishma, single handed,

Having slain ten thousand elephants, slew also seven mighty car-warriors. Then the great grandsire also five thousand car-warriors.

In that fierce battle in addition to all this, fourteen thousand foot-soldiers, one thousand elephants, and ten thousand steeds.

Were slain, O ruler of men, by your father through his superior education.

Then reducing in number all the divisions led by rulers of earth, Bhishma slew Shatanika the dear-loved brother of Virata. Having slain Shatanika in battle, the valiant Bhishma.

Felled thousand royal warriors with broadheaded shafts. All those Kshatriyas of the Pandava host, that followed Dhananjaya,

Approaching Bhishma, were dispatched to the abode of Death. Thus covering the ten points of the compass with the net-work of his arrows, as also the army of the Partha's, Bhishma remained the master of the situation.

On that the tenth day of the battle, achieving marvelous feats, Bhishma stayed between the two arinies, holding his bow and arrows in his hands. O king, then none of the royal warriors were able to look at him,

Who then resembled the summer sun scorching the world from the meridian. Just as in the days of yore, Shakra afflicted the hosts of the Daityas,

So did, O Bharata, Bhishma then afflict the ranks of the Pandavas. Then beholding Bhishma thus display his prowess in battle, the slayer of Madhu,

That son of Devaki, joyfully addressed Dhananjaya saying. “Yonder is Bhishma, the son of Shantanu staying between the two armies.

Slay him by putting forth your prowess, and victory will be yours. Check him through your prowess even there where he is penetrating our ranks.

None among us, O lord, is capable of bearing the shafts of Bhishma save and except your mighty self."

Then, O king, thus urged on, Dhananjaya owning a standard bearing the device of an ape, rendered Bhishma with his standard, chariots and horses, invisible by his shafts. Then that foremost of the Kuru chiefs (Bhishma) also, with the shower of his own arrows scattered the arrows discharged by that son of Pandu. Thereupon the king of the Panchalas, and the valiant Dhrishtaketu.

Pandu's son Bhimasena, Prishata's son Dhrishtadyumna, the twins Nakula and Sahadeva, Chekitana, the five Kaikeya brothers,

The mighty-armed Satyaki, the son of Subhadra, Ghatotkacha, the sons of Draupada, down pour Shikhandin, the highly powerful Kuntibhoja, Susharma, and Virata, these and many other mighty heroes of the Pandava host were then afflicted by the shafts of Bhishma.

Then from the ocean of grief in which they were sunk, they were rescued by Phalguna. Thereupon grasping an excellent weapon Shikhandin. Assailed Bhishma, being protected by the diadem-decked Arjuna.

Then slaying all the followers of Bhishma, and knowing what should be done in battle after what, the unvanquished Vibhatsu rushed even at Bhishma himself. Then Satyaki, Chekitana, Dhrishtadyumna of the Prishata race,

Virata and Draupada, the two sons of Madri begotten by Pandu, all rushed against Bhishma, their attack being covered by the firm bowman Arjuna.

Then in that battle, Abhimanyu and the five sons of Draupadi all with weapons upraised rushed against Bhishma.

All those firm bowmen, never receding from the fight pierced Bhishma on many parts of his body with arrows steadily directed.

Then baffling all those arrows shot by those foremost rulers of earth, that warrior of unrepressed soul (Bhishma) penetrated into the ranks of the Pandavas.

The grandsire then repulsed all those arrows as if in sport. He did not aim any shafts at the prince of the Panchalas, but laughingly looked at him now and then.

Remembering Shikhandin's femininity Bhishma sped not a single arrow at the former. But that mighty car-warrior then slew seven of the best car-warriors of Draupada's division.

Then as the Matsyas, the Panchalas and the Chedis rushed against that single-handed warrior, loud became the din and confusion that then arose.

Then like clouds covering the sun, all those heroes, O afflicter of foes, covered on all sides with foot-soldiers, horse-men and car-warriors and with a network of arrows,

That single-handed son of Bhagirathi, viz., Bhishma, who was then scorching the foe in battle. Then in that battle between Bhishma on one side and all the Pandava heroes on the other-battle that resembled the one between the gods and the Asuras-Kiritin placing Shikhandin in front of him began to pierce Bhishma,