Chapter 65

“Vaisampayana said, ‘Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,Dhritarashtra’s son turned back stung by those censures, like aninfuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by thosereproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave car-warriorendued with great swiftness, turned back on his car, like a snake that istrampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana turn back with his wounds,Karna, that hero among men, decked with a golden necklace, stopped theking on the way and soothing him, himself proceeded along the north ofDuryodhana’s car to meet Partha in battle. And the mighty-armed Bhishmaalso, the son of Santanu, turning back his steeds decked with gold,enormous in size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in hand, for protectingDuryodhana from Partha’s hand. And Drona and Kripa and Vivingsati andDussasana and others also, quickly turning back, rushed forward withspeed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the bow-strings, for protectingDuryodhana. And beholding those divisions advance towards him like theswelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, quicklyrushed at them like a crane rushing at a descending cloud. And withcelestial weapons in their hands, they completely surrounded the son ofPritha and rained on him from all sides a perfect shower of shafts, likeclouds showering on the mountain breast a heavy downpour of rain, Andwarding off with weapons, all the weapons of those bulls among the Kurus,the wielder of the Gandiva who was capable of enduring all foes, evolvedanother irresistible weapon obtained from Indra, called Sanmohana. Andentirely covering the cardinal and other directions with sharp andkeen-edged arrows furnished with beautiful feathers, that mighty herostupefied their senses with the twang of the Gandiva. And once more,taking up with both his hands that large conch of loud blare, Partha,that slayer of foes, blew it with force and filled the cardinal and otherpoints, the whole earth, and sky, with that noise. And those foremost ofthe Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the sound of thatconch blown by Partha. And all of them stood still, their bows, fromwhich they were never separated, dropping down from their hands. And whenthe Kuru army became insensible, Partha calling to mind the words ofUttara, addressed the son of the Matsya king, saying, ‘O best of men, gothou among the Kurus, so long as they remain insensible, and bring awaythe white garments of Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome onesof Karna, as also the blue ones of the king and Drona’s son. Methinks,Bhishma is not stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon ofmine. So, pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those thatare sensible should thus be avoided,’ Hearing these words, theillustrious son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds, jumped downfrom the car and taking off the garments of the warriors, came back tohis place. And the son of Virata then urged the four handsome steeds withflanks adorned with golden armours. And those white steeds, urged on,took Arjuna away from the midst of battle-field and beyond the array ofthe infantry bearing standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholdingthat best of men thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha,too, having slain Bhishma’s steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. Andabandoning Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain hiscar-driver, Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of thatmultitude of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. AndDhritarashtra’s son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recoveringhis senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of thecelestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (untoBhishma), ‘How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him insuch a way that he may not escape.’ And at this, Santanu’s son, smiling,said unto him, ‘Where had been this sense of thine, and where had beenthy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of unconsciousnessrenouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is not addicted to thecommission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul inclined to sin. Herenounceth not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. Itis for this only that all of us have not been slain in this battle. Othou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back to the city of the Kurus, and letPartha also go away, having conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishlythrow away thy own good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one’s welfareought to be accomplished.’

“Vaisampayana continued, ‘Having listened to the words of the grandsirethat tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king Duryodhana no longereager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. And reflecting thatthe advice of Bhishma was beneficial and seeing that the Pandavas gainingin strength, the other warriors also, desirous of protecting Duryodhana,resolved to return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru heroes departingfor their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a cheerful heartfollowed them for a while, desirous of addressing and worshipping them.And having worshipped the aged grandsire–the son of Santanu, as also thepreceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful arrows Drona’s son andKripa and other venerable ones among the Kurus, the son of Pritha brokeinto fragments Duryodhana’s crown decked with precious gems, with anotherarrow. And having saluted all the venerable and brave warriors thus, hefilled the three worlds with the twang of the Gandiva. And suddenlyblowing his conch called Devadatta, the hero pierced the hearts of allhis foes. And having humbled the hostile, he looked resplendent on hiscar decked with a handsome flag. And beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritincheerfully said unto Matsya’s son, ‘Turn back thy steeds; thy kine havebeen recovered; the foe is going away and do thou also return to thy citywith a cheerful heart.’ And the celestials also, having witnessed thatmost wonderful encounter between Falguna and the Kurus, were highlydelighted, and went to their respective abodes, reflecting upon Partha’sfeats.'”