Chapter 186

“Bhishma said, ‘Then, O great king, during the night, having bowed untothe Brahmanas, the Rishis, the gods, and all those creatures that wanderduring the dark, and also all the kings of the earth, I laid myself downon my bed, and in the solitude of my room, I began to reflect in thefollowing way.–For many days hath this fierce combat of terribleconsequence lasted between myself and Jamadagni. I am unable, however, tovanquish on the field of battle that Rama of mighty energy. If indeed, Iam competent to vanquish in battle that Brahmana of mighty strength,viz., Jamadagni’s son of great prowess, then let the gods kindly showthemselves to me this night!–Mangled with arrows as I lay asleep, Ogreat king, that night on my right side, towards the morning, thoseforemost of Brahmanas who had raised me when I had fallen down from mycar and held me up and said unto me–Do not fear–and who had comfortedme, showed themselves to me, O king, in a dream! And they stoodsurrounding me and said these words. Listen to them as I repeat them tothee, O perpetuator of Kuru’s race! Rise, O Ganga’s son, thou needst haveno fear! We will protect thee, for thou art our own body! Rama, the sonof Jamadagni, will never be able to vanquish thee in battle! Thou, O bullof Bharata’s race, wilt be the conqueror of Rama in combat! This belovedweapon, O Bharata, called Praswapa, appertaining to the lord of allcreatures, and forged by the divine artificer, will come to thyknowledge, for it was known to thee in thy former life! Neither Rama, norany person on earth is acquainted with it. Recollect it, therefore, Othou of mighty arms, and apply it with strength! O king of kings, Osinless one, it will come to thee of itself! With it, O Kaurava, thouwilt be able to check all persons endued with mighty energy! O king, Ramawill not be slain outright by it, thou shalt not, therefore, O giver ofhonours, incur any sin by using it! Afflicted by the force of this thyweapon, the son of Jamadagni, will fall asleep! Vanquishing him thus,thou wilt again awaken him in battle, O Bhishma, with that dear weaponcalled Samvodhana! Do what we have told thee, O Kauravya, in the morning,stationed on thy car. Asleep or dead we reckon it as the same, O king,Rama will not surely die! Apply, therefore, this Praswapa weapon sohappily thought of!–Having said this, O king, those foremost ofBrahmanas, eight in number and resembling one another in form, andpossessed of effulgent bodies, all vanished from my sight!'”