04.059
Vaiśampāyana said.
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, who was difficult to assail and possessed of great splendour, attacked Dhanañjaya (Arjuna) as the warriors were being slain. (04-59-1)
Having taken up the finest bow adorned with refined gold, and having also taken arrows with sharp points, piercers of vital spots. (04-59-2)
He, the tiger among men, with a white parasol held over his head, shone like a mountain at sunrise. (04-59-3)
After blowing the conch, Bhīṣma (the son of Gaṅgā), gladdening the sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, turned to the right and blocked Arjuna (Bībhatsu). (04-59-4)
Seeing him thus approaching, Kunti's son, the destroyer of enemy heroes, with a rejoicing heart, received him, steadfast as a mountain. (04-59-5)
Then Bhishma, mighty in valor, shot eight arrows at Arjuna’s banner, swift as hissing serpents. (04-59-6)
The blazing birds, approaching the banner of the son of Pāṇḍu, struck the monkey and those residing at the top of the banner. (04-59-7)
Then Pāṇḍava, with a great broad-headed arrow, quickly cut off Bhīṣma's umbrella, and it fell to the ground. (04-59-8)
Kaunteya (the son of Kunti) struck firmly with arrows his banner and, likewise, the quick-acting chariot-drivers, both the heel-charioteers. (04-59-9)
There arose between those two a battle, terrible and hair-raising, between Bhīṣma and Pārtha, like that between Bali and Indra. (04-59-10)
Arrows, having come together in the battle between Bhīṣma and the Pāṇḍavas, shone in the sky like fireflies in the rainy season. (04-59-11)
O king, as Partha released arrows, his Gandiva bow, whirling left and right, looked like a wheel of fire. (04-59-12)
He then covered Bhīṣma with hundreds of sharp arrows, just as a cloud covers a mountain with streams of water. (04-59-13)
Bhīṣma was restraining Arjuna by repelling that shower of arrows, risen like a surging flood, with his own arrows. (04-59-14)
Then, those severed clusters of arrows were scattered in portions in the battle, towards Arjuna's chariot. (04-59-15)
Then Bhīṣma, with sharp hundreds of arrows, again dispersed that shower of golden-feathered arrows quickly arisen from the chariot of the Pāṇḍava, like the continuous flight of moths. (04-59-16)
Then all the Kurus said, "Well done, well done," for Bhīṣma has accomplished something difficult, namely, that he fought with Arjuna. (04-59-17)
Arjuna is strong, youthful, skilful and quick to act; who else is capable of withstanding the speed of Pārtha in battle? (04-59-18)
Except from Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, or from Kṛṣṇa, son of Devakī, or even from the foremost teacher, the greatly powerful descendant of Bharadvāja. (04-59-19)
The two mighty ones, best among men, sporting and warding off weapons with missiles, bewildered the eyes of all beings. (04-59-20)
The two great-souled ones, employing the weapons of Prajāpati, as well as those of Indra, Agni, the very fierce one, Kubera, Varuṇa, Yama, and Vāyu, moved about in battle. (04-59-21)
Then, when those two were seen in battle, the beings, astonished, exclaimed at that time, ‘Well done, O Pārtha, O mighty-armed, well done, O Bhīṣma,’ and so they spoke. (04-59-22)
This great employment of mighty weapons in battle between Bhishma and Partha is not proper among men. (04-59-23)
Thus, between the two warriors skilled in all weapons, a battle of missiles took place. Then Jiṣṇu (Arjuna), drawing back his broad-stringed bow, cut off Bhīṣma’s bow, which was adorned with pure gold. (04-59-24)
In the blink of an eye, Bhishma, exceedingly strong and mighty-armed, took up another bow in battle, strung it, and, in anger, quickly released a great many arrows at Dhananjaya (Arjuna). (04-59-25)
Arjuna, who was of great splendor, also discharged many sharp and varied arrows at Bhishma; likewise, Bhishma did the same towards Pandava (Arjuna). (04-59-26)
O King, at that time, as those two great souls who knew divine weapons continuously shot arrows, no distinction could be perceived between them. (04-59-27)
Then, at that time, the great chariot-warrior, the crowned son of Kunti, Arjuna, covered the ten directions with arrows; and so also did the son of Śāntanu, Bhishma. (04-59-28)
Arjuna attacked Bhīṣma with extraordinary vigor, and Bhīṣma likewise attacked Arjuna with great force; O king, that scene in that battle was truly wonderful in the world. (04-59-29)
O king, the heroes who protected Bhīṣma's chariot and were slain by Pāṇḍava then lay all around the chariot of the son of Kunti. (04-59-30)
Then, the arrows released from the Gāṇḍīva bow, joined with their feathers, aiming at the one without enemies, and wishing to accomplish their purpose, came forth from the quiver of the white-horsed one. (04-59-31)
The cleansed ones, adorned in golden garments, emerging from his chariot, appeared in the sky like rows of swans. (04-59-32)
All the gods together with Indra, who were dwelling in the sky, gazed at that deep and wonderful divine weapon as he released it. (04-59-33)
Seeing that marvel, the Gandharva Citrasena, greatly gladdened and valiant, praised the wonderful sight to the king of gods. (04-59-34)
O enemy, let us see these beings, torn asunder yet appearing to cling together as they move, as the wondrous form of the victorious one's divine weapon is being discharged. (04-59-35)
Men would not believe this; indeed, this does not exist among them. This wondrous conjunction of the ancient great weapons (is unique). (04-59-36)
Just as the midday sun shines intensely in the sky, so the armies are not able to look upon Pandava. (04-59-37)
Both have renowned deeds; both are skilled in battle; both perform similar deeds; both are hard to withstand in battle. (04-59-38)
Thus addressed, O Bhārata, the king of the gods honored the meeting of Pārtha and Bhīṣma with a divine shower of flowers. (04-59-39)
Then Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, placed it on the left side while Arjuna (Savyasācin) was shooting, having aimed at his exposed part. (04-59-40)
Then, smiling, Bībhatsu (Arjuna) cut down Bhīṣma’s broad bow with a vulture-feathered arrow. (04-59-41)
Then Dhanañjaya, the son of Kuntī, pierced that valiant and striving one in the region of the chest with ten arrows. (04-59-42)
Though afflicted, the mighty-armed son of the Ganga seized the chariot-yoke, and, hard to conquer in battle, stood for a long time as if he were ill. (04-59-43)
The charioteer of the chariot-horses, remembering the instruction, carried away the unconscious great chariot-warrior, protecting him. (04-59-44)
