भीष्म-वध पर्व — शल्य र युधिष्ठिरको युद्ध

Sanjaya said Beholding, O king, Bhishma inflamed with rage in battle, surrounded by the Pandavas, like the sun in the heavens surrounded by the clouds at the end of the summer,

Duryodhana, O monarch, said to Dushasana "This heroic Bhishma, this mighty bowman and slayer of heroes,

Is surrounded on all sides, O foremost of the Bharatas, with the heroic Pandava warriors. It behooves you, O hero, to look to the protection of that (high-souled one).

Our grandsire Bhishma, being wellprotected in battle, will slay all the Panchalas with the Pandavas.

Therefore I think the protection of Bhishma to be our foremost duty. This fierce bowman Bhishma of illustrious vows is our protector.

Therefore surrounding the grandsire with all our troops, do you protect him as he accomplishes difficult feats in battle.”

Thus spoken to, your son Dushasana stood with his mighty army, surrounding Bhishma in that battle.

Then Shakuni the son of Subala with hundred thousands cavalry soldiers, holding resplendent spears, swords and lances,

And forming proud and strong detachment of troops, bearing standards, and supported by well-disciplined and wellaccomplished foot-soldiers alll excellent fighters,

Began to oppose Nakula, Sahadeva, and Yudhishthira the son of Pandu, surrounding those foremost of men on all sides.

Then king Duryodhana dispatched a detachment of ten thousand horses all brave warriors, for checking the Pandavas. a

As these highly fleet chargers resembling so many Sarudas rushed to battle, the earth, O king, struck with their hoof quaked and produced a loud din.

The dreadful clatter of the hoofs of steeds that was then heard resembled the cracking sound produced by a bamboo forest on the top of a hill, when set on fire.

As these rushed to the charge, there arose a thick cloud of dust, that mounting to the solar orbit shrouded the sun itself.

Then the army of the Pandavas was agitated by the charge of that fleetest horse division, like flight of swans suddenly alighting on its waters.

Nothing could be heard in consequence of their neighs. Then king Yudhishthira, and the two sons of Pandu begotten upon Madri,

Quickly checked the furious charge of those horsemen in battle, like, O mighty monarch, the banks withstanding the waves of the mighty main swollen with the waters of the rainy season on the day of the full moon. Thereupon, O king, these car-warriors, with their straightknotted shafts,

Began to sever the heads of these horsesoldiers from their trunk; then, O mighty monarch, they fell down slain by these firm bowmen,

Like huge elephants falling down in mountain caves, slain by their compeers. Those warriors of the Pandava, army also with sharp lances and straight shafts,

Cut down the head of those horsemen, coursing all over the field. Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, the horse-riders thus struck with swords,

Began to drop their heads like mighty trees dropping the fruits. Slain on all sides, horse with their riders.

Were seen fallen and falling. When being thus slaughtered, the horses began to fly away struck with terror,

Like so many deer flying for the sake of preserving their lives at the sight of a lion. The Pandavas then, O monarch, confounding their foes in battle,

Blew their conchs and struck up their drums in battle. Then dejected in consequence of the defeat of his troops, Duryodhana.

Said, O foremost of the Bharatas, these words to the king of the Madras: “This eldest son of Pandu, supported by his twin brothers in battle.

Is routing my army, O mighty-armed king, before your very eyes. Do you check him, O inighty-armed one, like the banks of the sea checking its fury.

You are well-known for the irresistibleness of your strength and prowess.” Then hearing these words of your son, the highly puissant Shalya,

Supported by a division of cars, tied to the spot where king Yudhishthira was. Then the son of Pandu checked in battle that detachment of Shalya falling upon him with great fury. Then that mighty car-warrior the very virtuous king Yudhishthira quickly pierced the king of the Madras with ten shafts between his breasts; and Nakula and Sahadeva pierced him with seven straight wafts.

The king of the Madras in return pierced them all with three shafts each; then again he pierced Yudhishthira with sixty shafts of exceeding sharpness;

He also wounded the two terrified sons of Madri with two shafts cach. Thereupon the mighty armed Bhima, beholding the king,

Staying within the reach of the Madra king's car, as if within the very jaws of death, rushed in that battle to the side of Yudhishthira.

Then when the sun, rising on the western quarter, was scorching the earth, a fierce and sanguinary engagement commenced.