भीष्म-वध पर्व — पाँचौँ दिनको युद्धको समाप्ति

Sanjaya said Then O king, the mighty-armed Satyaki, invincible in battle, drawing in that battle, an excellent bow capable of bearing a great strain, Discharged numerous arrows furnished with wings and resembling snakes of virulent venom, displaying at the same time his great and wonderful lightness of hands.

While slaying the enemy in that battle so swiftly did he draw his bow take out his arrows (from his quiver), place them on his bowstring, discharge them at the foe, and again take out other arrows and let them off, that he appeared to be highly beautiful like a mass of clouds pouring showers of rain.

The king Duryodhana beholding him swell like a raging fire, O Bharata dispatched against him a division consisting of ten thousand cars.

Then Satyaki of infallible prowess endued with great strength that mighty bow man slew all those excellent bowmen with weapons of celestial make.

Having accomplished that fierce feat and grasping his bow, that hero encountered Bhurishravas as in that battle.

Bhurishravas that enhancer of the glory of the Kurus, seeing that division of his troops felled by Yuyudhana (Satyaki) waiting wroth rushed against Satyaki.

Stretching his mighty bow that resembled that of Indra himself (rain-bow) in hue, he, O monarch, discharged thousands of arrows that looked like snakes of virulent poison, that were endued with the energy of the thunderbolt itself displaying in the act his wonderful lightness of hands. Thereupon the followers of Satyaki unable to bear those shafts of fatal touch, O monarch, fled in all directions, abandoning, O king, in battle Satyaki ever invincible in fight.

Seeing this, the ten highly powerful sons of Yudhishthira, all mighty car-warriors of great fame, clad in armours of best make possessing various weapons and diverse standards.

Approaching in that fierce conflict that mighty bowmen named Bhurishravas, who bore the device of a sacrificial stake on his standard, thus addressed the latter in wrath in that dreadful fight.

"O kinsman of the Kauravas, O mighty one, come give us battle; fight with us either jointly or separately.

Vanquishing ourselves in battle you may earn great glory, or crushing you in combat we shall attain to great gratification”.

Thus spoken to, that foremost of men possessed of great strength and heroism and proud of his prowess, seeing them ready for the fight, thus replied to them.

You have spoken well o heroes; if indeed this be your desire, fight with me in a body putting forth all your endeavors. I will slay all of you in battle.

Thus spoken to those heroes all mighty bowmen and endued with great lightness of hand, poured a thick shower of arrows on that subduer of his enemies.

That afternoon, mighty sovereign a dreadful battle was fought on the field between Bhurishravas alone on side and many united together on the other.

O monarch, they then covered that single handed foremost of car-warriors with an arrow downpour, like rain clouds drenching a mighty cliff in the rainy season.

But they mighty car-warrior cut down those numerous shafts discharged by them, shafts, which resembled the mace of Death or the thunder-bolt itself in their noise, even before they could reach him.

There we saw wonderful prowess of Bhurishrava, the son of Somadatti, who was fighting alone with many without fear.

Those ten warriors then completely surrounding that mighty-armed hero, strove to slay him. But, О Bharata, Somdatta's son, inflamed with wrath, cutting off their bows, served their heads in that conflict with arrows of diverse descriptions. Thus slain, they fell down on the ground like trees crushed by the thunderbolt.

Beholding those mighty sons of his slain in battle, that hero of the Vrishni race namely Satyaki rushed against Bhurishravas, O king, thundering out of his war cry.

Those two heroes both endued with great prowess, then made their cars collide against one another; and in that conflict slaying the steeds of one another's chariot.

And thus deprived of the use of their respective chariots those two mighty powerful heroes jumping down on the grounds, rushed against one another, whirling mighty swords and bucklers.

Then those two foremost of men thus standing prepared for the encounter, appeared exceedingly beautiful. Thereafter approaching Satyaki who was armed with a sword of best make,

Bhimasena, O monarch, hastily took him up on his chariot. Your son also, O king, in that conflict, speedily took up Bhurishravas on his car before the very eyes of all the assembled bowmen. When thus the battle raged, the son of Pandu (Arjuna), inflamed with wrath began to fight with that mighty car-warrior viz., Bhishma, O foremost of the Bharatas. When then the orb of the day assumed a crimson hue, Dhananjaya displaying great activity,

Slew twenty five thousand mighty carwarrior of the hostile host. These warriors, being commanded by Duryodhana to slay the son of Pritha,

Approaching him met with their destruction, like insects burning on fire. Thereupon the Matsyas and the Kaikeyas all accomplished in the science of bowmanship,

Surrounded the mighty car-warrior Arjuna along with his son. At that moment the sun having gone down below the horizon.

All the warriors were over whelmed with confusion. Then your Sire Devavrata whose steeds were completely exhausted, O mighty sovereign, caused the withdrawal of the force, After that (fierce) encounter between the Kurus and the Pandavas.

The troops, overwhelmed as they were with great apprehension, retired to their respective encampments. There after repairing to their respective camps. O Bharata, the Pandava along with the Srinjayas, as also the Kurus, duly rested (for the night).