loud cries, O Bharata, of oh and alas arose among
the troops of the Pandavas. Then Bhishma the
son of Santanu, with bow always drawn to a circle,
shot therefrom blazing arrows that resembled virulent
poison. And creating continuous lines of arrows
in all directions, that hero of rigid vows slew Pandava
car-warriors, naming each, O Bharata, beforehand.
And then when the troops of the Pandavas were routed
and crushed all over the field, the sun set and nothing
could be seen. And then beholding Bhishma, O
bull of Bharata’s race, proudly standing in battle,
the Parthas withdrew their forces (for nightly rest).”
Sanjaya said, “When the troops, O bull of Bharata’s
race, were withdrawn on the first day, and when Duryodhana
was filled with delight upon (beholding) Bhishma excited
with wrath in battle, king Yudhisthira the just, speedily
repaired unto Janardana, accompanied by all his brothers
and all the kings (on his side). Filled with great
grief thinking of his defeat, and beholding Bhishma’s
prowess, O king, he addressed that scion of Vrishni’s
race, saying, ’Behold, O Krishna, that mighty
bowman Bhishma of terrible prowess. He consumes
with his arrow my troops like fire (consuming) dry
grass. How shall we even look at that high-souled
(warrior) who is licking up my troops like fire fed
with clarified butter? Beholding; that tiger
among men, that mighty warrior armed with the bow,
my troops fly away, afflicted with arrows. Enraged
Yama himself, or He armed with the thunder, or even
Varuna noose in hand, or Kuvera armed with mace, may
be vanquished in battle but the mighty car-warrior
Bhishma, of great energy is incapable of being vanquished.
Such being the case, I am sinking in the fathomless
ocean represented by Bhishma, without a boat (to rescue
me).[352] In consequence, O Kesava, of the weakness
of my understanding, having obtained Bhishma (for a
foe in battle), I shall, O Govinda, retire into woods.
To live there is preferable to devoting these lords
of earth to Death in the form of Bhishma. Conversant
with mighty weapons, Bhishma, O Krishna, will annihilate
my army. As insects rush into the blazing fire
for their own destruction, the combatants of my army
are even so. In putting forth prowess for the
sake of kingdom, O thou of Vrishni’s race, I
am being led to destruction. My heroic brothers
also are pained and afflicted with arrows for my sake,
having been deprived of both sovereignty and happiness
in consequence of their love for their eldest brother.
We regard life very highly, for, under these circumstances,
life is too precious (to be sacrificed). During
the remainder of my days I will practise the severest
of ascetic austerities. I will not, O Kesava,
cause these friends of mine to be slain.[353] The
mighty Bhishma incessantly stays, with his celestial
weapon, many thousands of my car-warriors who are
foremost of smiters. Tell me, O Madhava, without
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