Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Prowess of Bhishma

Sanjaya said O ruler of men, Shikhandin, with the king of the Matsyas viz., Virata, speedily rushed against Bhishma, that mighty bowman difficult of being defeated in battle. Dhananjaya in that battle rushed against Drona, Kripa, Vikarna, and many kings, all mighty-bowmen, brave,, and endued with great prowess.

As also, against that great warrior the ruler of the Sindhus supported by his friends and ministers, and, O foremost of the Bharatas, against many other kings from the West and the South. Bhimasena, in that fight, rushed against your vindictive son Duryodhana that mighty bow-men, as also against his brother Dushasana.

Sahadeva rushed against the two mighty car-warriors, both skillful bowmen and invincible in battle, namely, Shakuni and Uluka who were father and son.

That mighty car-warriors, O great monarch, namely Yudhishthira, who had been shamefully deceived by yours son, proceeded in that battle against the elephants division of the Kurus. son

That brave son of Pandu by Madri namely Nakula, who was capable of wringing tears from the foe, encountered in battle that excellent division of car warriors consisting of the Trigartas.

Satyaki, Chekitana, and the of Subhadra endued with great prowess, all invincible in battle, rushed against the Shalyas and the Kaikeyas.

The Rakshasa Ghatotkacha, and Dhrishtaketu, both incapable of being conquered, charged in that battle the car division of your sons.

Then, O king the mighty car-warriors, that generalissimo Dhrishtadyumna of immeasurable soul, engaged with Drona of fierce achievements.

Thus the warriors of your army, all heroic and mighty bow-men, encountering the Pandavas in the battle, began to smite one another down.

When the sun reached the meridian and when the sky burned with his fiery rays, the Kurus and the Pandava began to kill one another. Then chariots, mounted with flagstaffs from the tops of which pennons were fluttering, and variegated with gold and covered with tiger-skins, appeared beautiful as they drove through the scene of battle.

A dreadful din was created by those warriors as they engaged in the fight out of a desire for conquering one another, and as they roared like roaring lions themselves.

The strokes that the heroic Srinjayas and the Kurus dealt to one another in that conflict and that were terrible and wonderful, were also seen by us.

Neither, O monarch, O afflicter of your enemies, were we able to see the firmament, the sun or the cardinal and subsidiary quarters, in consequence of their being shrouded on all sides by a thick discharge of arrows.

The effulgence, like that of blue lotuses, of Shaktis with shinning heads, of hurled lances, of well-tempered swords. As also effulgence of the coats of mail and of diverse and wonderful ornaments, filled the firmament and the cardinal and subsidiary quarters with its flashes.

Then, O monarch, here and there, the field of battle appeared beautiful being strewn over with the bodies of monarchs which were effulgent like the sun or the moon.

Excellent car-warriors, all foremost of men, encountering one another in battle appear beautiful, O king, like the planets in the heavens.

Then that foremost of car warriors namely Bhishma, waxing worth opposed Bhimasena of great prowess even before the very eyes of the assembled troops.

Then shafts furnished with golden wings whetted on stone smeared with oil and charged with impetus wounded Bhima in that battle, being shot by Bhishma himself.

Thereat the mighty Bhimasena hurled at Bhishma, O Bharata his lance charged with fierce momentum and resembling an enraged snake.

But in that combat Bhishma cut off with his straight arrows that lances furnished with a golden staff as it coursed swiftly towards himself.

Thereafter, O Bharata, with a whetted and well tempered Bhalla Bhishma cut in twin the bow of Bhimasena.

Thereupon, speedily rushing at Bhishma, Satyaki in that encounter, with numerous keen pointed and sharp edged shafts discharged with a bow-string drawn back to the ear, pierced, O ruler of men your own father. Thereat aiming a sharp and very dreadful arrow.

Bhishma felled the charioteer of that Vrishni hero from his seat on the box of. chariot. Upon the death of the driver the steeds, O king, of that warrior, beheld away. Those steeds wildly careered over the filed of battle endued as they were with the fleetness of the mind or the wind. Thereupon a loud uproar was sent up by all the troops.

Exclamations of Oh! and Alas! were uttered by the warriors of the Pandava army. Run, Seize, Hold the steeds, Go in haste,

Such cries followed the chariot of Yudhishthira. During this interval, Bhishma the son of Shantanu.

Began to slay the troops of the Pandavas, like the slayer of Vritra himself slaying the hosts of the Danavas. Thus slaughtered by Bhishma, the Panchalas supported by the Somakas.

Setting their hearts fixed on battle, rushed against Bhishma, Other warriors of the host of the sons of Pritha headed by Dhrishtadyumna himself rushed in battle against the son of Shantanu, inflamed with desire for slaughtering the army of your son. a

So also, O king, the warriors of your army headed by Bhishma and Drona, rushed with impetuosity against the enemy. Thereupon these raged a second battle.