The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,273 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1.

The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 2,273 pages of information about The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1.
of clouds showering on the mountain-breast.  But Bhishma, arresting with his shafts the course of that arrowy downpour, pierced each of the monarchs with three shafts.  The latter, in their turn pierced Bhishma, each with five shafts.  But, O king, Bhishma checked those by his prowess and pierced each of the contending kings with two shafts.  The combat became so fierce with that dense shower of arrows and other missiles that it looked very much like the encounter between the celestials and the Asuras of old, and men of courage who took no part in it were struck with fear even to look at the scene.  Bhishma cut off, with his arrows, on the field of battle, bows, and flagstaffs, and coats of mail, and human heads by hundreds and thousands.  And such was his terrible prowess and extraordinary lightness of hand, and such the skill with which he protected himself, that the contending car-warriors, though his enemies, began to applaud him loudly.  Then that foremost of all wielders of weapons having vanquished in battle all those monarchs, pursued his way towards the capital of the Bharatas, taking those maidens with him.

“It was then, O king, that mighty car-warrior, king Salya of immeasurable prowess, from behind summoned Bhishma, the son of Santanu, to an encounter.  And desirous of obtaining the maidens, he came upon Bhishma like a mighty leader of a herd of elephants rushing upon another of his kind, and tearing with his tusks the latter’s hips at the sight of a female elephant in heat.  And Salya of mighty arms, moved by wrath addressed Bhishma and said, ‘Stay, Stay.’  Then Bhishma, that tiger among men, that grinder of hostile armies, provoked by these words, flamed up in wrath like a blazing fire.  Bow in hand, and brow furrowed into wrinkles, he stayed on his car, in obedience to Kshatriya usage having checked its course in expectation of the enemy.  All the monarchs seeing him stop, stood there to become spectators of the coming encounter between him and Salya.  The two then began to exhibit their prowess (upon each other) like roaring bulls of great strength at the sight of a cow in rut.  Then that foremost of men, king Salya covered Bhishma, the son of Santanu with hundreds and thousands of swift-winged shafts.  And those monarchs seeing Salya thus covering Bhishma at the outset with innumerable shafts, wondered much and uttered shouts of applause.  Beholding his lightness of hand in combat, the crowd of regal spectators became very glad and applauded Salya greatly.  That subjugator of hostile towns, Bhishma, then, on hearing those shouts of the Kshatriyas, became very angry and said, ‘Stay, Stay’.  In wrath, he commanded his charioteer, saying, ’Lead thou my car to where Salya is, so that I may slay him instantly as Garuda slays a serpent.’  Then the Kuru chief fixed the Varuna weapon on his bow-string, and with it afflicted the four steeds of king Salya.  And, O tiger among kings, the Kuru chief, then, warding off with his weapons those of his foe, slew Salya’s

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The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa, Volume 1 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.