at the city of Kasi all the kings of the Earth mustered
together, he who had fearlessly fought in battle with
Rama, the son of Jamadagni, he whom Jamadagni’s
son could not slay, oh, even hath he been to-day slain
by Sikhandin. Resembling the great Indra himself
in bravery, and Himavat in firmness, like unto the
ocean itself in gravity, and the Earth herself in
patience, that invincible warrior having arrows for
his teeth, that bow for his mouth, and the sword for
his tongue, that lion among men, hath to-day been slain
by the prince of Panchala. That slayer of heroes,
beholding whom when addrest for battle the mighty
army of the Pandavas, unmanned by fear, used to tremble
like a herd of kine when beholding a lion, alas, having
protected that army (of thine) for ten nights and
having achieved feats exceedingly difficult of accomplishment,
hath set like the Sun.[78] He who like Sakra himself,
scattering arrows in thousands with the utmost composure,
daily slew ten thousand warriors for ten days, even
he slain (by the enemy), lieth, though he deserveth
it not, on the bare ground like a (mighty) tree broken
by the wind, in consequence, O king, of thy evil counsels,
O Bharata.’”
“Dhritarashtra said,—’How hath
Bhishma, that bull among the Kurus, been slain by
Sikhandin? How did my father, who resembled Vasava
himself, fall down from his car? What became
of my sons, O Sanjaya, when they were deprived of
the mighty Bhishma who was like unto a celestial, and
who led life of Brahmacharyya for the sake of his
father?[79] Upon the fall of that tiger among men
who was endued with great wisdom, great capacity for
exertion, great might and great energy, how did our
warriors feel? Hearing that bull amongst the
Kurus, that foremost of men, that unwavering hero
is slain, great is the grief that pierceth my heart.
While advancing (against the foe), who followed him
and who proceeded ahead? Who stayed by his side?
Who proceeded with him? What brave combatants
followed behind (protecting his rear) that tiger among
car-warriors, that wonderful archer, that bull among
Kshatriyas, while he penetrated into the divisions
of the foe?[80] While seizing the hostile ranks, what
warriors opposed that slayer of foes resembling the
luminary of thousand rays, who spreading terror among
the foe destroyed their ranks like the Sun destroying
darkness, and who achieved in battle amongst the ranks
of Pandu’s sons feats exceedingly difficult of
accomplishment? How, indeed, O Sanjaya, did the
Pandavas oppose in battle the son of Santanu, that
accomplished and invincible warrior when he approached
them smiting? Slaughtering the (hostile) ranks,
having arrows for his teeth, and full of energy, with
the bow for his wide-open mouth, and with the terrible
sword for his tongue, and invincible, a very tiger
among men, endued with modesty, and never before vanquished,
alas, how did Kunti’s son overthrow in battle
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