05.180
Pancharatra-Ext: Bhargava refuses to listen to Goddess Ganga, and in the battle that follows, day one comes to an end.
Bhishma spoke:
I, with a smile as if in battle, replied to him who was standing on the ground: 'I cannot fight you while you are mounted on a chariot.'
O mighty-armed hero, ascend the chariot and put on your armor in the battle, Rama, if you wish to fight with me.
Then Rama, with a smile, said to me on the battlefield: "My chariot is the earth, Bhishma is the horses, and the Vedas are like noble steeds."
My charioteer, Mātariśvā, who is indeed knowledgeable in the Vedas, will equip me with armor. Well-prepared, I shall fight in the battle alongside them, O joy of the Kurus.
Rama, known for his true prowess, addressed Gandhari and surrounded me with a great number of arrows from every direction.
Then I saw Jamadagnya on the divine chariot, equipped with all weapons, looking glorious and of a wonderful appearance.
By the mind, a vast and auspicious place like a city was established, equipped with divine horses and adorned with gold.
O mighty-armed one, adorned with the beauty of the moon, you stand with a flag, bearing a bow, with a quiver tied, and wearing gloves made of lizard skin.
The unwounded one, a dear friend and a profound knower of the Vedas, took up the role of charioteer there for the eager warrior, being extremely beloved by Bhārgava.
Bhārgava, repeatedly calling me to battle, seems to invigorate my spirit by shouting, 'Come forward!'
He approached Rama, who was like the rising sun, unassailable and of great strength, the sole destroyer of warriors.
Then, O best of sages, I restrained the chariots within the range of arrows, descended and placed my bow, standing on foot.
Then I approached Rama, the best among the twice-born, worshipped him, and after saluting him properly, I spoke words of great excellence.
O Rama, I will engage in battle with you, accompanied by those who are distinguished, superior, venerable, and virtuous. You can hope for my victory, O lord.
Rama spoke:
Thus, O best of the Kurus, if you desire prosperity, you must perform this duty. Indeed, O mighty-armed one, this is righteousness, and it should be pursued in the company of the distinguished.
I would swear an oath to you, if you do not come in this manner, O lord of men. Prepare yourself and fight in the battle with courage, O Kaurava.
However, I do not expect you to win, as I am here to defeat you. Proceed and fight righteously; I am satisfied with your behavior.
Bhishma spoke:
Then, after saluting him, I quickly climbed into the chariot and blew the conch adorned with gold once more in the battle.
Then a battle ensued between my forces and his, O Bharata, lasting many days, driven by mutual ambition to conquer, O king.
He was the first to attack me in that battle with arrows adorned with peacock feathers, totaling sixty-nine hundred, all shining like fire.
O lord of men, my four horses and the charioteer are blocked by him, and I am standing wounded in the battle.
O Bharata, after saluting the gods and Brahmins, I replied to him in the battle, smiling as if I was standing firm.
I hold respect for teachers in high regard, even in you who are without boundaries. But listen again, O Brahman, to my wealth in the collection of dharma.
I do not strike at the Vedas residing in your body, nor at your great Brahmanhood or the immense penance you have performed.
In battle, you, Rama, have engaged in the duty of a warrior; indeed, a Brahmin attains the status of a warrior by wielding weapons.
Behold the power of my bow and the might of my arms. O hero, I shall break your bow into two along with its arrows.
I shot a sharp arrow, O best of the Bharatas, which cut off the end of his bow and it fell to the ground.
Nine hundred arrows with bent joints and peacock feathers were also sent towards the chariot of Jamadagni's son.
The arrows, attached to the body, were then driven by the wind, moving and oozing blood like serpents.
Rama, with his entire body smeared in blood and blood flowing from his wounds, shone like the mountain Meru emitting its minerals, O king.
At the end of winter, Rama appeared splendid, adorned with red clusters like the Ashoka tree, and at times resembling the Kimshuka tree, O king.
Then Rama, filled with anger, took another bow and showered those well-sharpened, golden-feathered arrows.
They approached me fiercely in many ways, piercing my vital parts, and shook me with great speed, like serpents with the potency of fire and poison.
Then, regaining my composure in the battle, I angrily showered Rama with hundreds of arrows.
Rama, struck by arrows that shone like fire and the sun and were as deadly as poisonous snakes, seemed to become dull-minded.
Then, filled with compassion, I reproached myself, lamenting about the battle and the warrior class, O best of the Bharatas.
Overwhelmed by grief, I repeatedly said, "O king, alas, indeed, I have committed this sin due to my duty as a warrior."
O Bharata, as the teacher, the twice-born, and the righteous soul was thus afflicted by arrows, I refrained from striking again at Jamadagni's son.
Then, after heating the earth, the sun, known as the thousand-rayed one, set at the end of the day, and the battle came to an end.
