Bhishma-Vadha Parva — Withdrawal of the troops after the seventh day's fight,

Sanjaya said Approaching the highly intelligent Chitrasena who had been deprived of his car, your son Vikarna picked him up on his own chariots.

When that dreadful and confounding battle was thus raging, Shantanu's son Bhishma quickly rushed against Yudhishthira.

Then the Srinjayas with their cars, elephants and steeds, began to quake (with inside the jaws of Death.

On the other hand that descendant of Kuru's race, that lord Yudhishthira, united with his two twin brothers (Nakula and Sahadeva), encountered that foremost of men, that fierce bowman namely Bhishma, the of Shantanu.

Thereafter that son of Pandu shooting in that battle thousands of arrows, covered Bhishma, like clouds covering the orb of the day. son arrows

Those duly discharged by Yudhishthira, the son of Ganga received in distinct sets of hundreds and thousands.

Also, O'sire, a network of arrows woven by Bhima was seen in the heavens resembling fights of insects ranging through the skies.

In half a wink's time, Bhishma the son of Shantanu, in that battle made the son of Kunti disappear in battle, covering him with distinct sets of arrows.

Thereat king Yudhishthira inflamed with rage, sped at that high-souled grandsire of the Kurus, a Naracha that resembled a snake of virulent venom.

Then in that battle, O king, the mighty carwarrior Bhishma, with a razor sharp arrow, cut off that Naracha discharged from the bow of Yudhishthira, even before it could reach him.

In that battle, Bhishma, having cut off that Naracha that resembled the Destroyer himself, slew the steeds caparisoned with golden ornaments, of that foremost of the Kurus (Yudhishthira).

Leaving his car the steeds of which were slain, Yudhishthira the son of Dharma, quickly ascended the car of the high-souled Nakula.

Thereafter 'Bhishma that conqueror of hostile fortresses, excited with wrath, approaching the twins in battle, covered them with numerous shafts.

Then O mighty monarch, beholding the twins thus afflicted with the arrows shot by Bhishma, Yudhishthira began to reflect anxiously, desirous of finding out a means for the death of Bhishma.

Thereafter, O king, Yudhishthira urged the kings on his side and his relatives, saying "Uniting together do you all slay Bhishma the son of Shantanu."

Then bearing the command of Pritha's son, all the rulers of earth surrounded the grandsire with a mighty host of cars.

Thus encircled, your father Devavrata played with his bow and arrows felling, o king, numerous mighty car-warriors.

The sons of Pritha then beheld that foremost of the Kurus, career on the field of battle, like a lion-cub in the woods amidst a herd of deer.

Beholding him utter loud war-cries in battle and frighten heroes with his shafts. O monarch, the Pandava warriors were seized with terror, like a herd of deer at the sight of a lion.

Then the Kshatriyas, in that battle, beheld the movements of that foremost of the Bharatas, resemble the movements of fire aided by a strong wind, when it consumes a heap straw.

Then in that battle Bhishma felled the heads of car-warriors like expert men felling ripe palm-fruits from their trees.

As those heads, O mighty monarch, fell down on the surface of the earth, a great noise was produced like that of a shower of stones.

As that dreadful and fierce battle regard, a great a confusion set in, O king, among all the ranks of the soldiers.

When the arrays were thus shattered by Bhishma, the Kshatriyas challenging one another encountered one another for battle.

Shikhandin approaching the grandsire of the Bharatas, assailed him with vehemence saying 'stay'.

Then Bhishma remembering the femininity of Shikhandin, and for that reason neglecting him in battle, rushed against the Srinjayas.

Thereupon the Srinjayas, beholding Bhishma in that battle, were filled with delight and they uttered numerous war-cries that became mingled with the blare of the conchs.

Then, O lord, when the sun was on the western side of the meridian, there commenced a battle in which car-warriors and elephantriders encountered one another.

Then Dhrishtadyumna the prince of the Pandavas, and also the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, began to torment your troops with showers of Shaktis and Tomaras.

They also, O monarch siew in battle your warriors with innumerable shafts. O foremost of men, your troops, through thus smitten down in battle,

Did not desert the fight having formed a laudable determination (to fight to the last); and those foremost of car-warriors began to slay (the hostile troop) to the best o their energies.

Then, O monarch, a loud cry of agony was set up by your high souled warriors as they were slain by the illustrious son of Prishata.

Hearing that distressful cry uttered by your troop, Vinda and Anuvinda of the Avanti country, both mighty car-warriors, rushed to cncounter the son of Prishata.

Then those mighty car-warriors both endued with greu activity, slaying the steeds of Prishata's son, shrouded him with a shower of arrows.

Thereupon that mighty car-warrior the Panchala prince quickly jumping down his car, ascended with agility the chariot of the highly illustrious Satyaki.

Thereupon king Yudhishthira surrounded by a mighty division of troops rushed to those two afflicter of foes viz., the princes of Avanti both inflamed with wrath.

So also, O sire, your sons putting forth all their energies, remained in battle surrounding Vinda and Anuvinda.

In that battle Arjuna also inflamed with many wrath fought with many best of Kshatriyas like the wielder of the thunder-bolt fighting against the Asuras.

Drona also, that well-wisher of your son, excited with wrath began to consume all the Panchalas like fire consuming a heap of cotton.

Your sons, O ruler of men, headed by Duryodhana himself surrounding Bhishma, fought on with the Pandavas.

Then, 0 Bharata, when the lustrous orb assume a crimson hue, king Duryodhana addressing all your warriors said, "make hasten".

When they thus fought on achieving feats difficult of being accomplished, the sun being lost to the sight ascended the western hills,

Then in a moment, towards nightfall, a dreadful river surging with billows of flow across the field of battle.

Then the field of battle assumed a dreadful sight abounding as at did with the spirits of the dead and the ominous jackals howling (tediously).

Rakshasas, and Pishachas and other feeders on flesh were seen on all sides by hundreds and by thousands.

Arjuna having conquered the kings headed by Susharma along with their followers, proceeded through the divisions towards his own tent.

That descendant of the Kuru race, viz., the lord Yudhishthira also proceeded, o king surrounded by his troops and accompanied by his brothers, towards his own tent at the advent of night.

Bhimasena also, o foremost of kings having vanquished in battle the kings, all good car-warriors, headed by Duryodhana hiinself, retired to his own camp. slain many

In that great battle also, king Duryodhana surrounding Bhishma the son of Shantanu, speedily proceed towards his own tents.

Drona and his son, Kripa and Shalya and Kritavarma of the Satvata race, bringing up the rear of the hole host of the Kurus, wended towards their respective tents.

So also, O monarch, Satyaki and Prishata's son Dhrishtadyumna having warriors in the battle proceeded towards their tents.

Thus, O mighty monarch, your warriors as also those of the Pandavas, all chastisers of their enemies, returned to their encampments when the shades of night had fallen on this earth.

Then, O mighty monarch, the Pandavas and the Kurus repairing near their respective encampments entered them exchanging greetings with one another.

Then duly arranging for scouts and outposts and for protecting their persons, and drawing out the arrows from their bodies and having bathed in various waters,

And being praised by the minstrels and bards and arranging for the performance of benedictory rites those illustrious heroes then began to sport accompanied by songs and sounds of musical instruments.

For a short while only did that scene resemble paradise itself, and those foremost of mortals for a while desisted from talking of the battle.

When those two armies, abounding in elephants and steeds and men exhausted with fatigue, were lulled in the arms of sleep O king, they, indeed presented a charming sight.