भीष्म-वध पर्व — भीष्म र शिखण्डीको वाद-विवाद

Dhritarashtra said How did Shikhandin proceed in battle against the son of Ganga? How also Bhishma advance against the Pandavas? Speak to me of all these, O Sanjaya.

Sanjaya said Then towards the hour of sunrise, all the Pandava warriors, with the sound of drums, cymbals and Anakas,

And with the blare of conchs of the hue of curds, all around, placing Shikhandin at their van, marched forth in battle array.

O mighty monarch, they disposed of their troops in an array capable if destroying all the foes; and O ruler of men, Shikhandin then occupied the van of all the troops.

Then Bhimasena and Dhananjaya became the protectors of his car-wheels. Behind him were the sons of Draupadi and the highly puissant of Subhadra.

Then Satyaki and Chekitana, each a mighty car-warrior, became the protector of these last named. Behind them came Dhrishtadyumna protected by the Panchalas.

Then king Yudhishthira that mighty lord, with his twin brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, proceeded to battle, O foremost of the Bharata, uttering his war-cries aloud.

After him came Virata supported by his own divisions and then came, O mighty armed one, king Draupada.

The five Kaikeya brothers, and the highly powerful Dhrishtaketu, protected, O Bharata, the rear of the Pandava forces.

Having thus disposed of their troops in battle-array, the Pandavas, all prepared to lay down their lives in battle, charged your divisions.

The Kauravas also, O king, placing at the van of all their troops the mighty car-warrior Bhishma, advanced against the Pandavas.

That invincible warrior Bhishma, was protected by your sons, all endued with great might. Next behind him came the mighty bowman Drona along with his highly puissant son Ashvathama.

Next behind came Bhagadatta supported by a division of elephants. Kripa and Kritavarma followed Bhagadatta.

After them came the powerful Sudakshina, the king of the Kambojas, Jayatsena of the Magadha kingdom, and the son of Subala, and Brihadbala.

Other mighty royal bowmen royal bowmen headed by Susharma protected, O Bharata, the rear of your troops.

Day after day Bhishma the son of Shantanu used to dispose of his troops in battle arrays such as Pisachas, Rakshasas, and Asuras.

Then ensued a fight, as they slew on another, between your troops and theirs, that added considerably to the population of Death's domain.

The son of Pritha headed by Arjuna, placing Shikhandin in front of them, advanced towards Bhishma in battle, shooting arrows of various descriptions.

Then, O Bharata, your troops wounded with shafts shot by Bhima, exhausted with the loss of blood, repaired to the regions of the departed.

Then Nakula, Sahadeva, and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, all approaching your troops began to afflict them with force.

Thus, O foremost of the Bharatas, slaughtered in battle, your troops were unable to resist the mighty army of the Pandavas.

Then your troops, being thus slain, crushed and afflicted by the mighty car-warriors, fled in all directions.

Being thus slaughtered, foremost of the Bharatas, by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, with their sharp arrows your troops could not find a protector

Dhritarashtra said Tell me, O Sanjaya, what did the mighty Bhishma wrought up with wrath do, when he saw my troops thus afflicted by the Partha's in battle?

Tell me also, O sinless one, how that afflicter of foes, that puissant hero comforted the Pandavas and slew the Somakas?

Sanjaya said I shall tell you, O monarch, what did your father do, when the troops of your sons were afflicted by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas.

The heroic Pandavas, O elder brother of Pandu, with cheerful hearts, advanced slaying the forces of your son,

Then, O foremost of men, Bhishma did not tolerate that slaughter of men, elepnants and steeds, of your host, by the enemy.

Then that fierce bowmen, that invincible hero, ready to lay down his life in battle, showered upon the Pandavas, the Panchalas and the Srinjayas, a downpour of sharp lances, and Vatsadantas and Anjalikas. Then, O king, wielding his weapons Bhishma with his shafts repulsed the five foremost and mighty carwarriors of the Pandava host who had been vigorously exerting theinselves in battle. He held them in check by showering on them many weapons both offensive and defensive, all sped with wrath and force.

Wrought up with rage, he slew in battle countless nuinber: of elephants and stecd:". then, O king, that foremost of me throv, ing many car-warriors from their cars,

Many horse-soldiers from the back of horses, and also many foot-seldiers, and elephant-riders from the back of the elephants, inspired terror into the hearts of the foe.

Then like the Asuras assailing the wielder of the thunder bolt, the Pandavas assailed, in a body, that single-handed mighty car-warrior Bhishma who was moving swiftly up and down the field of battle.

Then Bhishma was seen in all directions, with a terrible form and shooting sharp arrows of which the touch was as fatal as that of Indra's thunder bolt.

As Bhishma fought on, his bow that resembled the mighty bow of Indra (Rainbow) was seen to remain continuously in a circular form.

Then, O ruler of men, your sons beholding those mighty feats of Bhishma in battle, were amazed, and highly honoured the grandsire.

Then like the immortals loO king, in the days of yore, at Viprachitti, the Partha's with depressed hearts began to look at your heroic father who was fighting fiercely;

And they were unable to resist him who then looked like Death's self with wide-open mouth. On the tenth day of the battle, Bhishma began to consume with his sharp arrows the car-host of Shikhandin like fire consuming a forest. Then Shikhandin with three arrows pierced Bhishma between his breasts,

Bhishma-who then resembled an enraged snake of virulent venom or the Destroyer himself let loose by time. Thus sorely pierced by Shikhandin Bhishma loO king at him.

And waxing wroth, as if unwillingly said these words with a smile "Whether you strike me (with arrows) or not, I will never fight with you;

You are even now the same Shikhandin as the creator made you before. Hearing these words of his, Shikhandin overwhelmed with rage,

Said these words to Bhishma in battle licking at the same time the corners of his and mouth. “I know you, O mighty-armed hero, to be the destroyer of the Kshatriyas.

I have heard of the battle you fought with the son of Jamadagni; I have also heard of your divine prowess.

Knowing your prowess, I will still fight with you this day, desirous of doing a good turn to the Pandavas and to myself, O afflicter of foes.

O foremost of men, I will fight with you this day on the field of battle, and will, without doubt, slay you in battle. This I swear by my troth before you.

Having heard these words of mine do what you think to be your duty. Whether you strike me or not, you shall not escape me alive this day. So, O ever-victorious Bhishma, let your eyes take a good view of this world, (as they will no longer see its charms).”

Sanjaya said Having thus spoken, ne, with five shafts of depressed knots, pierced Bhishma in battle who had already been deeply pierced with the former's wordy arrow.

Hearing those words of Shikhandin, the mighty car-warrior Savyasachi (Arjuna) thinking that was the right moment (to strike Bhishma) urged the former on saying

'I shall fight behind you crushing the enemy with my arrows; now inflamed with wrath, do you assail Bhishma of dreadful prowess.

O mighty-armed hero, Bhishma will not be able to cause pain to you in battle. Therefore, O mighty hero, do you now assail Bhishma putting forth all your energies.

If, O sire, you do return without slaying Bhishma in battle, you along with myself, shail be exposed to the derision of the world.

O hero, so exert yourself, that we may not be held in ridicule in this fierce battle. Struggling vigorously in battle, do you slay the grandsire.

I, myself O mighty hero, shall look to your protection, epulsing all the car-Warriors of the eneray's host. Do you overthrow the grandfather.

Drona and his son, Krishna, Suyodhana, Chitresena, Vikarna, Jayadratha the king if the Sindhus,

The two Avanti princes Vinda and Anuvinda, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kambojas, the heroic Bhagadatta, the mighty ruler of the Magadhas, son

The valiant of Somadatta, the Rakshasa, Alambusha, and the ruler of the Trigarta's along with all the mighty car-warriors,

All these warriors, I will resist like the banks resisting the waves of the mighty main. I will also hold at bay the mighty warriors of the Kuru army all united against us and fighting with us. Do you overthrow the grandsire.