Bhishma-Vadha Parva — The commencement of the fifth day's fight

Sanjaya said When that night had passed away and when the sun had risen, the two armies O mighty monarch, encountered each other for battle.

LoO king at each other in that battle, they rushed against each other in serried files, inflamed with rage and desirous of slaying and conquering each other.

In consequence of your wicked counsel, O king, the Pandavas and the Dhritarashtra, filled with joy, clad in mail and formed in battle array, rushed against one another for striking one another.

O monarch, Bhishma protected on all sides the array of his troops that figured the Makara. O king, so also, the sons of Pandu protected the array that they had formed with their troops.

Then, O mighty monarch, your sire Devavrata, that foremost of car-warriors, marched forth surrounded by a mighty host of cars.

And other car-warriors, foot-soldiers tuskers and horse-soldiers, followed him each stationed in his proper rank.

The sons of Pandu endued with fame, seeing the Kauravas ready for the encounter, formed their troops in that invincible and excellent array that figures a hawk.

And in the backs of that hawk-like array shone Bhimasena possessed of great strength. In its eyes Shikhandin and the irrepressible Dhrishtadyumna the of Prishata.

In its head was stationed the heroic Satyaki of invincible prowess; and in its neck was Partha wielding the Gandiva bow.

The high-souled Drupada ever attended with prosperity, along with his son, and supported by a Akshauhini of troops, formed its left wing. were son

Its right wing was formed by Kaikeya the commander of a division consisting of a Akshauhini; in its back were the sons of Draupadi and the highly powerful son of Subhadra.

In its tail was the heroic and even prosperous king Yudhishthira himself endued with great prowess, and supported by his twin brothers Nakula and Sahadeva.

Then in the battle that commenced Bhima, penetrating through the mouth of the Makara like array of the Kauravas, approached Bhishma and covered him over with arrows.

Thereupon Bhishma endued with great prowess, discharged powerful weapons that confounded in that fierce encounter the array of troops belonging to the sons of Pandu.

Upon the confusion of the the force, Dhananjaya proceeding heavily, pierced Bhishma with a thousand shafts, at the van of battle.

Having baffled in that battle the weapons discharged by Bhishma, Dhananjaya stood ready for the encounter, supported by his own division filled with joy.

Thereupon king Duryodhana that foremost of those endued with strength that great carwarrior seeing that terrible slaughter of his army and remembering the death of his brothers, in the battle, speedily approached the son of Bharadvaja, and addressing him said:-0 preceptor, O sinless one, you are my constant well-wisher. Relaying on you as also on the grandsire, we expect without doubt to conquer in battle even the very celestial themselves.

It is undoubtedly true that we are ambitious of subjugating the gods too by giving them defeat in battle-field if escorted by you and grandfather Bhishma. Again, it is not anyway a big mission to conquer Pandavas who already are devoid of power and valour both. Be it for all good to you. Do an attempt viable to kill all Pandavas.

Thus spoken to on the field by your son, Drona penetrated the Pandava array even before the very eyes of Satyaki.

Thereat, O Bharata, Satyaki impeded the progress of Drona. Thereupon ensued an encounter that was fierce and terrible to look at.

Then in that battle the highly powerful son of Bharadvaja, burning with rage as if smiling, struck the grandson of Shini with ten shafts on his shoulder-joint.

At this, Bhimasena waxing worth, pierced Bharadvaja with arrow, desirous O monarch, of rescuing Satyaki from Drona that foremost of all wielders of weapons.

Thereat Drona and Bhishma and also Shalya, O sire, inflamed with rage, covered Bhimasena in that battle with a thick shower of) arrows.

Then, O sire, Abhimanyu waxing worth, and the sons of Draupadi also, pierced with their whetted shafts all those warriors with uplifted weapons.

Then in that fierce battle, the mighty bowman Shikhandin rushed against Bhishma and Drona, both of great prowess, who inflamed with wrath, had fallen upon his own troops.

Grasping a every tough bow of which the twang resembled the rumble of the clouds, that hero speedily poured down a shower of arrows, shrouding the sun itself.

But the grandsire of the Bharatas, meeting with Shikhandin in the battle avoided him, remembering the femininity of his sex.

Thereat, O mighty monarch, urged by your son, Drona rushed into the encounter, in order to protect Bhishma.

Shikhandin also encountering Drona the foremost of all wielders of weapons, shunned him out of feat, like one flying from the blazing fire that burns at the end of a Yuga.

Then O ruler of earth, your son, supported by a mighty division, advanced to rescue Bhishma, out of a desire for securing great fame.

So also, O monarch, the Pandavas firmly setting their heart upon victory rushed at Bhishma, placing Dhananjaya at their head.

Then a fierce and wonderful encounter, like that between the celestial and the Asuras, ensued between those two hosts each desirous of winning victory and great fame in battle.