his senses by wrath, and licking the corners of his mouth addressed Bhishma in that battle, saying, ’I know thee, O mighty-armed one, to be the exterminator of the Kshatriya race.  I have heard also of thy battle with Jamadagni’s son.  I have also heard much of thy super-human prowess.  Knowing thy prowess I will still fight with thee today.  For doing what is agreeable to the Pandavas and is agreeable to my own self, O chastiser of foes, I will today fight with thee in battle, O best of men.  I will, of a certainty, slay thee.  I swear this before thee by my troth!  Hearing these words of mine, do that which thou shouldst.  Whether thou choosest to strike me or not, thou shall not escape me with life.  O thou that art ever victorious, O Bhishma, look thy last on this world.

Sanjaya continued, “Having said so, Sikhandin in that battle pierced Bhishma with five straight shafts, having already pierced him with his wordy shafts.  Hearing those words of his, the mighty car-warrior Arjuna, regarding Sikhandin to be Bhishma’s Destroyer, urged him on, saying, ’I will fight behind thee, routing the foe with my shafts.  Excited with fury, rush thou against Bhishma of terrible prowess.  The mighty Bhishma will not be able to afflict thee in battle.  Therefore, O mighty-armed one, encounter Bhishma with vigor.  If, O sire, thou returnest today without slaying Bhishma, thou wilt, with myself, be an object of ridicule to the world.  Seek to do that in battle by which, O hero, we may not incur ridicule in this great battle.  Stay the grandsire.  O thou of great strength, I will protect thee in this battle, checking all the car-warriors (of the Kuru army).  Do thou slay the grandsire.  Drona, and Drona’s son, and Kripa, and Suyodhana, and Chitrasena, and Vikarna, and Jayadratha the ruler of the Sindhus, Vinda and Anuvinda. of Avanti, and Sudakshina the ruler of the Kamvojas, and the brave Bhagadatta, and the mighty king of the Magadhas, and Somadatta’s son, and the brave Rakshasas who is Rishyasringa’s son and the ruler of the Trigartas, alone with all the other great car-warriors (of the Kuru army).  I will check like the continent resisting the surging sea.  Indeed, I will hold in check all the mighty warriors of the Kuru army assembled together and battling with us.  Do thou slay the grandsire.’

SECTION CX

Dhritarashtra said, “How did Sikhandin the prince of the Panchalas, excited with wrath, rushed in battle against the grandsire, viz., Ganga’s son of righteous soul and regulated vows.  What mighty car-warriors of the Pandavas army, upraised weapons, desirous of victory, and exerting themselves with activity, protected Sikhandin on that occasion which required great activity?  How also did Bhishma the son of Santanu, endued with great energy, fight on that tenth day of battle with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas?  I cannot brook the idea of Sikhandin encountering Bhishma in battle. (Indeed, when Sikhandin attacked Bhishma), was Bhishma’s car or his bow broken?”