death.  All of us then, O best of persons, together going to Bhishma without delay, will speedily ask him of Kuru’s race his advice.  O Janardana, he will truly give us beneficial counsel; and O Krishna, I will do in battle what he will say.  Of austere vows, he will give us counsel, as also victory.  We were children and orphans.  By him were we reared.  O Madhava, him, our aged grandsire, I wish to day,—­him, the sire of our sire.  Oh, fie upon the profession of a Kshatriyas.’

Sanjaya continued, “Hearing these words, O king, he of Vrishni’s race said unto Yudhishthira, ’O thou of great wisdom, these words of thine, O king, are to my taste.  Bhishma, otherwise called Devavrata, is skilled in weapons.  With only his glances he can consume the foe.  Repair unto that son of the Ocean-going (Ganga), for asking him about the means of his death.  Asked by thee, in particular, he will certainly say the truth.  We will, therefore, proceed for questioning the Kuru grandsire.  Repairing unto the reverend son of Santanu, we will, O Bharata, ask him his advice and according to the advice that he will give us we will fight with the foe.’  Having thus deliberated, O elder brother of Pandu, the heroic sons of Pandu, and the valiant Vasudeva, all proceeded together towards the abode of Bhishma, casting aside their coats of mail and weapons and entering then his tent, they all bowed to him, bending their heads.  And the sons of Pandu, O king, worshipping that bull of Bharata’s race, and bowing unto him with their heads, sought his protection.  The Kuru grandsire, the mighty-armed Bhishma, then addressed them, saying, ’Welcome art thou, O thou of Vrishni’s race.  Welcome art thou, O Dhananjaya.  Welcome to thee, O king Yudhishthira the just, Ad to thee, O Bhima.  Welcome to you also, ye twins.  What am I to do now for enhancing your joy?  Even if it be exceedingly difficult of achievement, I will yet do it with all my soul.  Unto the son of Ganga who thus repeatedly spoke unto them with such affection, king Yudhishthira, with a cheerful heart, lovingly said, these words, ’O thou that art conversant with everything, how shall we obtain victory, and how shall we acquire sovereignty?  How also may this destruction of creatures be stopped?  Say all these unto me, O lord.  Tell us the means of thy own death.  How, O hero, shall we be able to bear thee in battle?  O grandsire of the Kurus, thou givest not thy foes even a minute hole to pick in thee.  Thou art seen in battle with thy bow ever drawn to a circle.  When thou takest thy shafts, when aimest them, and when drawest the bow (for letting them off), no one is able to mark.  O slayer of hostile heroes, constantly smiting (as thou dost) cars and steeds and men and elephants, we behold thee on thy car, O mighty-armed one, to resemble a second Sun.  What man is there, O bull of Bharata’s race, who can venture to vanquish thee, scattering showers of arrows in battle, and causing a great destruction.  Tell me, O grandsire, the means by which we may vanquish