Chapter 184

“Bhishma said, ‘The next day, O bull of Bharata’s race, frightful againwas the combat that wok place between me and Rama when I encountered himonce more. That hero of virtuous soul, conversant with celestialweapons,–the lord Rama, from day to day, began to use diverse kinds ofcelestial weapons. Regardless of life itself, which is so difficult ofbeing sacrificed, in that fierce combat, O Bharata, I baffled all thoseweapons with such of mine as are capable of baffling them. And, OBharata, when diverse weapons were in this way neutralised and baffled bymeans of counter-weapons, Rama, of mighty energy began to contend againstme in that battle, reckless of his own life. Seeing all his weaponsbaffled, the high-souled son of Jamadagni then hurled at me a fiercelance, blazing like a meteor, with flaming mouth, filling the wholeworld, as it were, with its effulgence, and resembling the dart hurled byDeath himself! I, however, with my arrows cut into three fragments thatblazing dart rushing against me, and resembling in effulgence the sunthat rises at end of the Yuga! At this, breezes charged with fragrantodours began to blow (around me). Beholding that dart of his cut off,Rama, burning with anger, hurled a dozen other fierce darts. Their forms,O Bharata, I am incapable of describing in consequence of their greateffulgence and speed. How, indeed, shall I describe their forms?Beholding those diverse-looking darts approach me from all sides, likelong tongues of fire and blazing forth with fierce energy like the dozensuns that arise at the time of the destruction of the universe, I wasfilled with fear. Seeing an arrowy net advancing against me, I baffled itwith an arrowy downpour of mine, and then sent a dozen shafts by which Iconsumed those fierce-looking dozen darts of Rama. Then, O king, thehigh-souled son of Jamadagni showered on me numerous fierce-lookingdarts, furnished with variegated handles decked with gold, possessed ofgolden wings, and resembling flaming meteors! Baffling those fierce dartsby means of my shield and sword, and causing them in that combat to falldown on the ground, I then, with clouds of excellent arrows, coveredRama’s excellent steeds and his charioteer. Then that high-souled smiterof the lord of the Haihayas,[19] beholding those darts of mine equippedwith gold-decked handles and resembling snakes emerged out of theirholes, and filled with wrath at the sight, had recourse once more tocelestial weapons! Then swarms of fierce arrows, looking like flights oflocusts fell upon me and overwhelmed me, my steeds, my charioteer, and mycar! Indeed, O king, my car, horses, and charioteer, were covered allover with those arrows! And the yoke, shaft, wheels, and the wheel-spokesof my car, overwhelmed with that arrowy shower, at once broke. After thatarrowy shower, however, was over, I also covered my preceptor with athick shower of arrows. Thereupon, that mass of Brahmic merit, mangledwith that arrowy downpour, began to bleed copiously, and continuously.Indeed, like Rama afflicted with my clouds of arrows, I too was denselypierced with his arrows. When at last in the evening, the sun set behindthe western hills, our combat came to an end.'”