SECTION CIX

Dhritarashtra said, “How did Sikhandin advance against the son of Ganga in battle, and how did Bhishma also advance against the Pandavas?  Say all this unto me, O Sanjaya!”

Sanjaya said, “Then all those Pandavas, towards the hour of sun-rise, with beat of drums and cymbals and smaller drums, and with the blare of conches of milky whiteness, all around, went out for battle, placing Sikhandin in their van.  And they marched out, O king, having formed an array that was destructive of all foes.  And Sikhandin, O monarch, was stationed in the very van of all the troops.  And Bhimasena and Dhananjaya became the protectors of his car-wheels.  And in his rear were the sons of Draupadi and the valiant Abhimanyu.  And those mighty car-warriors, viz., Satyaki and Chekitana, became the protectors of the last.  And behind them was Dhrishtadyumna protected by the Panchalas.  Next to Dhrishtadyumna, behind, marched the royal lord Yudhishthira, accompanied by the twins, filling the air with leonine shouts, O bull of Bharata’s race.  Next behind him was Virata, surrounded by his own troops.  Next to him marched Drupada, O mighty-armed one.  And the five Kaikeya brothers and the valiant Dhrishtaketu, O Bharata, protected the rear of the Pandava army.  Having disposed their vast army in such an array, the Pandavas rushed against thy host, prepared to cast away their lives.  And similarly the Kauravas, O king, placing that mighty car-warrior Bhishma at the head of their whole host, proceeded against the Pandavas.  And that invincible warrior was protected by thy mighty sons.  Next behind them was the great bowman Drona, as also his mighty son (Aswatthaman).  Next behind was Bhagadatta surrounded by his elephant division.  And behind Bhagadatta were Kripa and Kritavarman.  Behind them were Sudakshina the mighty ruler of the Kamvojas, and Jayatsena, the king of the Magadhas, and Suvala’s son and Vrihadvala.  And similarly, many other kings, that were all great bowmen, protected the rear of thy host, O Bharata.  As each day came, Bhishma the son of Santanu, formed arrays in battle, sometimes after the manner of the Asuras, sometimes after that of the Pisachas, and sometimes after that of the Rakshasas.  Then commenced the battle between thy troops, O Bharata, and theirs, both parties smiting one another and increasing the population of Yama’s kingdom.  And the Parthas with Arjuna at their head, placing Sikhandin in the van, proceeded against Bhishma in that battle, scattering diverse kinds of arrows.  And then, O Bharata afflicted by Bhishma with his shafts, (many of) thy warriors, profusely bathed in blood, repaired to the other world.  And Nakula and Sahadeva, and the mighty car-warrior Satyaki, approaching thy army, began to afflict it with great vigour.  Thus slaughtered in battle, O bull of Bharata’s race, thy warriors were unable to resist that vast host of the Pandavas.  Then thy host, vigorously afflicted by great car-warriors and thus slaughtered by them everywhere, fled away on all sides.  Slaughtered with sharp shafts by the Pandavas and the Srinjayas they found not a protector, O bull of Bharata’s race.”