06.105
Pancharatra and Core: Unable to withstand the Pandava army, Duryodhana urges Bhishma to move forward. Taking the opportunity, Bhishma calls on the Pandavas for a final encounter.
Dhritarashtra spoke:
In the battle, how did Śikhaṇḍī, the son of Drupada, approach the venerable Bhishma, the son of Ganga, who was steadfast in his vows and known for his righteousness, with anger?
The great warriors, eager for victory and acting swiftly, protected Śikhaṇḍin, who was armed and ready, within the Pāṇḍava army. Who among them did so?
On the tenth day, Bhīṣma, the son of Śāntanu, a great warrior, engaged in battle with the Pāṇḍavas and the Sṛñjayas. How did this unfold?
I cannot bear Bhishma confronting Shikhandi in battle. I hope his chariot or bow does not get destroyed by the shooter.
Sanjaya said:
O best of the Bharatas, while Bhishma was engaged in battle, his bow remained unbroken, and his chariot undamaged, as he struck down his enemies with well-crafted arrows.
Many hundreds and thousands of your great charioteers, along with groups of chariots, elephants, horses, and others, well-equipped, advanced for battle with the grandsire leading them, O king.
As he had promised, Bhishma, the conqueror of assemblies, relentlessly caused the downfall of the Pandavas' forces, O Kauravya.
The great archer, while fighting and slaying enemies with arrows, was attacked by all the Panchalas and Pandavas together.
On the tenth day, as the battle continued, the enemy army was tormented and scattered by sharp arrows, coming in hundreds and thousands.
The Pandavas could not defeat Bhishma, the great archer and elder brother of Pandu, in battle, as one cannot overcome Death, the noose-holder.
Then, O great king, Arjuna, the mighty warrior known for his ambidexterity and undefeated prowess, struck fear into the hearts of all the charioteers.
Arjuna, roaring like a lion and twanging his bowstring repeatedly, released a torrent of arrows and moved through the battlefield with the unstoppable force of time.
Hearing his roar, your people, O best of the Bharatas, were terrified like deer before a lion and fled in great fear, O king.
Upon witnessing the victorious Pāṇḍava and the distress of his own forces, Duryodhana, deeply troubled, addressed Bhīṣma.
This dear son of Pandu, with his chariot drawn by white horses and Krishna as his charioteer, is devastating all my men as a forest is consumed by a fire along Krishna's path.
Behold, O son of Ganga, the armies are fleeing in all directions, driven by the best of warriors, Pandava, in the battle.
"Just as a herdsman gathers his animals in the forest, my army is being assembled, O tormentor of enemies."
Arjuna's arrows have shattered my army, causing them to flee in all directions. Indeed, the formidable Bhima is dispersing my troops.
Satyaki, Chekitana, the sons of Madri, the Pandavas, and the valiant Abhimanyu are fiercely attacking my army.
Dhṛṣṭadyumna and the heroic demon Ghaṭotkaca, both mighty warriors, suddenly caused my army to flee.
O Bharata, as the army is being slain by all these mighty warriors, I see no other course of action either in position or in battle.
Without you, O tiger among men, whose valor is equal to that of the gods, you alone are sufficient and swiftly become the refuge for those who are afflicted.
Upon being addressed in this manner, O great king, your father Devavrata, after contemplating for a moment and making a firm decision, spoke to your son, the son of Shantanu.
Duryodhana, be aware and stay firm, O lord of the people. I had promised you earlier, O mighty one.
O best of the Bharatas, having slain ten thousand noble Kshatriyas, I must retreat from the battle as this is my daily duty. Thus, I have acted as instructed.
Today, I will engage in a significant act in the grand battle. Either I will be slain or I will slay the Pandavas.
Today, O tiger among men, I will repay the great debt incurred by your husband, O king, who was slain at the forefront of the battle.
Having declared thus, the noble Bharata, fierce with his arrows, advanced towards the formidable army of the Pandavas.
The Pandavas surrounded Bhishma, the son of Ganga, who was standing in the midst of the army, appearing like an angry serpent, O best of the Bharatas.
On the tenth day, the warrior displayed his might and slew hundreds of thousands, O king, descendant of Kuru.
The sun, with its rays, absorbed the splendor of the mighty princes of the Panchalas, much like it absorbs water.
O great king, having slain ten thousand mighty elephants with riders and ten thousand horses once more.
Bhishma, the best among men, blazed in battle like a smokeless fire, with two hundred thousand foot soldiers.
None of the Pandavas were able to gaze upon him as he took the northern path, shining like the sun.
The sons of Pandu, filled with excitement and troubled by the great archer, advanced towards Bhishma with the intent to kill, accompanied by the Srinjayas and the great charioteers.
At that time, Bhishma, the son of Shantanu, was engaged in battle with many warriors. He appeared like a mighty mountain covered with dark clouds.
Your sons surrounded Bhishma, the son of Ganga, on all sides with a great army, and then the battle commenced.
