Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Encounter between Arjuna and Susharma

Sanjaya said Then when the sun shone on the meridian, king Yudhishthira, beholding Shrutayush, urged his own steeds towards him.

Then the king rushed at Shrutayush, that subduer of foes, wounding the latter at same time with nine straight knotted shafts of exceeding sharpness.

That king, that mighty bowman, (Shrutayush) resisting in battle, the shafts, shot at him by the son of Pandu, sped at Kunti's son a group of seven arrows.

Those arrows penetrating through Yudhisthira's armour drank, in that battle, his life-blood, as if plucking out all vitality invigorating the frame of that high-souled warrior.

Pierced deep by that illustrious sovereign, the son of Pandu, in that combat struck the former on his breast with an arrow resembling in shape the ear of a boar.

Then that foremost of car-warriors namely the son of Pritha, with another broad-headed shafts, quickly felled on the illustrious Shrutayush.

Then that ruler of earth Shrutayush, beholding his standard felled, pierced, O king, the son of Pandu with seven arrows of great sharpness.

Then Yudhishthira the son of Dharma burnt with rage, like the fire that burns at the end of a Yuga consuming all creatures.

Beholding the son of Pandu blaze forth in rage, the celestial, the Gandharvas, and the Rakshasas became afflicted O monarch, and the whole world was seized upon by anxiety.

Then this thought prevailed in the minds of all beings present, namely 'This king, waxing worth, will today consume the triune world.'

Then, O king, when the son of Pandu was thus enraged, the Rishis and the celestial performed many benediction ceremonies for the peace of the worlds.

Then that king (Yudhishthira) possessed with anger and constantly licking the corners of his mouth, assumed a dreadful appears like that of the sun that rises at the end of a Yuga.

one Thereupon, O ruler of men, all the warriors of your army, became despondent of their lives, O Bharata.

But that highly-renowned (Yudhishthira) restraining that wrath of his, with patience, served the mighty bow of Shrutayush near the grasp.

Thereafter in that combat the king (Yudhishthira), pierced the latter whose bow had been served, with a long arrow between his breasts, even before the very eyes of all the troops.

Then, O monarch, with great quickens, Yudhishthira endued with great prowess, slew the steeds of the illustrious Shrutayush as also his charioteer, with swift-flying arrows.

Then deserting his car of which the steeds were slain, and beholding the manliness of the monarch (Yudhishthira), Shrutayush fled with all haste from the field of battle.

When that mighty-bowman Shrutayush was vanquished in battle by the son of Dharma, the troops of Duryodhana, o king, turned their faces away from the field of battle.

Achieving this feat, O mighty monarch, Yudhishthira the son of Dharma fell to slaughter your army, like the Destroyer himself with gaping mouth.

Then Chekitana that descendant of the Vrishni race, covered that foremost of carwarriors namely the son of Gautami, with numerous arrows, before the very eyes of all the troops.

Resisting also those arrows, in that combat, Kripa the son of Sharadvata pierced 0 monarch, with winged shafts, Chekitana who had been fighting very heedfully.

Then, O Bharata, with a broad-headed shaft the former severed the latter's bow; as also with great lightness of hand he overthrew with another broad-headed the latter's charioteer.

Kripa also slew Chekitana's steeds and the charioteers of those who were protecting him in the flank. Then he of the Satvata race quickly jumping down from his car grasped a arrow mace.

Then that foremost of all wielders off maces slaying the steeds of the son of Gautami with that mace capable of crushing herces, felled the latter's charioteer.

Then standing on the ground, the son of Gautami shot at him sixteen shafts, and those shafts penetrating through him of the Satvata race, struck on the surface of the earth.

Then Chekitana, inflamed with rage and desirous of slaying the son of Gautami, once more hurled that mace at the latter, like Purandara hurling his thunder-bolt at Vritra.

Thereat the son of Gautami, with many thousands of arrows resisted that mighty and huge mace made entirely of adamant, that was falling swiftly on him.

Thereupon Chekitana, O Bharata, drawing his sword out of its sheath, with admirable activity rushed at the son of Gautami.

Thereupon Kripa also having laid aside his bow and grasping his sword highly polished, with great impetuosity rushed at Chekitana.

Then those two (heroes) endued with strength and armed with swords of excellent make, began to smite one another with their well-sharpened weapons.

Then those two foremost of men, struck with the vehemence of one another's swords (blows) fell down on the earth inhabited by all sorts of creatures.

Their limbs were stiffened in a swoon and they lost their consciousness through the fatigue (of their exertions). Thereupon the king of the Kauravas, out of friendship, rushed (to the rescue of Chekitana,

And that hero invincible in battle seeing Chekitana in that plight, placed him on his car before the very eyes of all the troops.

So also, O ruler of men, your heroic brother-in-law Shakuni, quickly took up on his chariot that foremost of car-warriors namely the son of Gautami.

Thereafter Dhrishtaketu endued with great strength, waxing worth, pierced, O king, the son of Somadatta, on the breast, with ninety shafts.

The son of Somadatta, O mighty monarch, with those arrows struck on his breast, appeared highly beautiful like the midday sun covered with its own rays.

Then in that conflict, Bhurishravas deprived the mighty car-warrior Dhrishtaketu (of the use) of his chariot, having slain its steeds and driver with excellent arrows.

Beholding him deprived of his car in consequence of its driver and steeds being slain, Somadatta's son covered him in the battle with a thick shower of arrows.

Then, O sire, deserting that car of his, the high-minded Dhrishtaketu ascended the vehicle belonging to Shatanika.

Then, O monarch, Chitrasena, Vikarna, and Durmarshana, all good car-warriors, clad in armours of gold, rushed against the son of Subhadra.

Then a dreadful combat endued between Abhimanyu and these warriors, that resembled, O king, the fight between the body and its three humours viz., wind bile, and phlegm.

Depriving, O monarch, your sons of their chariot, in that great battle, that foremost of men, Abhimanyu did not slay them recollecting the words of Bhima.

There after as the battle raged, the son of Kunti (Arjuna) owning white steeds, beholding Bhishma who was unconquerable even by the celestial themselves in battle and who was supported by many thousands king proceed to rescue your sons from Abhimanyu, a mere boy, though a mighty car-warrior still aloneaddressed these words to the son of Vasudeva. “O Hrishikesha, urge the steeds to the spot where those numerous warriors are.

O Madhava, so guide the steeds that these numerous heroes irrepressible in battle and all accomplished in the use of weapons, may not slay our troops.

Thus spoken to by Kunti's son of immeasurable prowess, he of the Vrishni race drove in the thick of the battle that car to which were yoked white steeds.

When wrought up with waist Arjuna rushed against your army O sire a tremendous uproar was set up by your troops.

The son of Kunti then having approached those monarchs protected by Bhishma himself, addressing, O king, Susharma spoke these words to him.

“I know you to be one of the foremost in battle; your enmity for us in days gone by, was also implacable. Today, reap the mortal fruit of that wicked behaviour of yours.

Today I shall transport you to your grenadiers who had long being dwelling in the regions of the dead.” Hearing these insulting words spoken by that slayer of foes namely Vibhatsu, Susharma, the commander of a cardivision spoke nothing well or ill in reply.

Surrounded by innumerable monarchs, he attacked the heroic Arjuna from all sides, namely in the front, in the rear and in the two flanks.

O sinless one, encircling Arjuna in that battle, Susharma along with your sons covered the former with arrows, like clouds covering the orb of the day.

Then commenced a sanguinary engagement between your warriors and those of the Pandavas, in which blood flowed like streams of water.