Chapter 89

Sanjaya said, “The Pandavas were incapable of even looking at Bhishmaexcited with rage in battle and scorching every side like the Sun himselfshedding scorching heat. Then all the (Pandava) troops, at the command ofDharma’s son, rushed at the son of Ganga who was grinding (everything)with his whetted arrows, Bhishma, however, who delighted in battle felledthe mightiest of bowmen amongst the Srinjayas and the Panchalas, with hisshafts. Though thus slaughtered by Bhishma, the Panchalas along with theSomakas still rushed impetuously at him, forsaking the fear of death. Theheroic Bhishma, the son of Santanu, however, in that battle, cut off, Oking, the arms and heads of their car-warriors. Thy sire, Devavratadeprived their car-warriors of cars. And the heads of cavalry soldiers ontheir chargers fell fast. And we beheld, O king, huge elephants lookinglike hills, deprived of their riders, and paralysed with Bhishma’sweapons, lying all around. Amongst the Pandavas, O king, there was noother man save that foremost of car-warriors, the mighty Bhimasena, (whocould resist Bhishma). Indeed, Bhima alone, approaching Bhishma,encountered him in battle. Then in that encounter between Bhima andBhishma, a fierce and terrible uproar arose among all the troops (of theKauravas). The Pandavas then, filled with joy, uttered leonine shouts.During that destructive carnage, king Duryodhana, surrounded by hisuterine brothers, protected Bhishma in that battle. Then that foremost ofcar-warriors, viz., Bhima, slew Bhishma’s charioteer. Thereupon thesteeds no longer controlled, ran away from the field with car. Then thatslayer of foes, viz., Bhima with a sharp arrow having a horse-shoe head,cut off the head of Sunabha. (Thus) slain, the latter fell down on theearth. When that son of thine, that mighty car-warrior and great bowmanwas slain, seven of his heroic brothers, O sire, could not (quietly) bear(that act). These, viz., Adityaketu and Vahvasin, and Kundadhara andMahodara, and Aparajita, and Panditaka and the invincible Visalaksha,clad in variegated armour and with their beautiful coats of mail andweapons,–these grinders of foes desirous of battle,–rushed against theson of Pandu. And Mahodara, in that battle, pierced Bhimasena with ninewinged arrows, each resembling the thunder-bolt in force, like the slayerof Vritra striking (the great Asura) Namuchi. And Adityaketu struck himwith seventy shafts, and Vishnu with five. And Kundadhara struck him withninety shafts, and Visalaksha with seven. And that conqueror of foes, themighty car-warrior Aparajita, O king, struck Bhimasena of great strengthwith many arrows. And Panditaka also, in battle, pierced him with threearrows. Bhima, however, did not (quietly) bear these attacks of his foesin battle. Forcibly grasping the bow with his left hand, that grinder offoes cut off, in that battle, the head, with a straight shaft, of thy sonAparajita, graced with a fine nose. Thus vanquished by Bhima, his headthen dropped on the ground. Then, in the very sight of all the troops,Bhima despatched, with another broad-headed arrow, the mighty car-warriorKundadhara to the domain of Death. Then that hero of immeasurable soul,once more aiming an arrow, sped it, O Bharata, at Panditaka in thatbattle. And the arrow killing Panditaka, entered the earth, like a snakeimpelled by Death quickly entering the earth after despatching the person(whose hour had come). Of undepressed soul, that hero then, O king,recollecting his former woes, felled Visalaksha’s head, cutting it offwith three arrows. Then Bhima, in that battle, struck the mighty bowmanMahodara in the centre of the chest with a long shaft. Slain (therewith),O king, the latter fell down on the earth. Then, O Bharata, cutting offwith an arrow the umbrella of Adityaketu in that battle, he severed hishead with another broad-headed shaft of exceeding sharpness. Then, Omonarch, excited with rage, Bhima, with another straight shaft,despatched Vahvasin towards the abode of Yama. Then thy other sons, Oking, all fled away regarding the words to be true which Bhima haduttered in the (midst of the Kaurava) assembly.[430] Then king Duryodhanaafflicted with sorrow on account of his brothers, addressed all histroops, saying, ‘There is Bhima. Let him be slain.’ Thus, O king, thysons, those mighty bowmen, beholding their brothers slain, recollectedthose words beneficial and peaceful, that Vidura of great wisdom hadspoken. Indeed, those words of the truthful Vidura are now beingrealised,–those beneficial words, O king, which, influenced bycovetousness and folly as also by affection for thy sons, thou couldstnot then understand. From the way in which that mighty armed hero isslaying the Kauravas, it seemeth that that mighty son of Pandu hathassuredly taken his birth for the destruction of thy sons. Meanwhile,king Duryodhana, O sire, overwhelmed with great grief, went to Bhishma,and there, overcome with sorrow, he began to lament, saying, ‘My heroicbrothers have been slain in battle by Bhimasena. Although, again, all ourtroops are fighting bravely, yet they also are failing. Thou seemest todisregard us, behaving (as thou dost) like an indifferent spectator,Alas, what course have I taken. Behold my evil destiny.'”

Sanjaya continued. “Hearing these cruel words of Duryodhana, thy sireDevavrata with eyes filled with tears, said this unto him.[431] ‘Eventhis was said by me before, as also by Drona, and Vidura, and therenowned Gandhari. O son, thou didst not then comprehend it. O grinder offoes, it hath also been before settled by me that neither myself, norDrona, will ever escape with life from this battle. I tell thee trulythat those upon whom Bhima will cast his eyes in battle, he will surelyslay. Therefore, O king, summoning all thy patience, and firmly resolvedon battle, fight with the sons of Pritha, making heaven thy goal. Asregards the Pandavas, they are incapable of being vanquished by the verygods with Vasava (at their head). Therefore, setting thy heart firmly onbattle, fight, O Bharata.–‘”