Karna also who is very boastful of his manliness, he gave the latter’s robes unto Uttara.  That is a sufficient indication.  The son of Pritha defeated in battle the Nivatakavachas who were incapable of defeat by Vasava himself.  That is a sufficient indication.  Who, indeed, is capable of vanquishing in battle the son of Pandu by force, him, viz., that hath for his protector the Protector of the Universe armed with conch, discus, and mace?  Vasudeva is possessed of infinite power, and is the Destroyer of the Universe.  He is the highest Lord of all, the God of gods, the Supreme Soul and eternal.  He hath been variously described, O king, by Narada and other great Rishis.  In consequence of thy folly, however, O Suyodhana, thou knowest not what should be said and what should not.  The man on the point of death beholdeth all trees to be made of gold.  So thou also, O son of Gandhari, seest everything inverted.  Having provoked fierce hostilities with the Pandavas and the Srinjayas, fight now (thyself) with them in battle.  Let us see thee act like a man.  As regards myself, I will, O tiger among men, slay all the Somakas and the Panchalas assembled together, avoiding Sikhandin alone.  Slain by them in battle, I will go to Yama’s abode, or slaying them in battle, I will give thee joy.  Sikhandin was born in Drupada’s palace as female at first.  She became a male in consequence of the grant of a boon.  After all, however, she is Sikhandini.  Him I will not slay even if I have to lose my life, O Bharata.  She is the same Sikhandini that the Creator had first made her.  Pass the night in happy sleep, O son of Gandhari.  Tomorrow I will fight a fierce battle about which men will speak as long as the world lasts.’  Thus addressed by him, thy son, O monarch, came away.  And saluting his signior with a bow of the head, he came back to his own tent.  Coming back, the king dismissed his attendants.  And soon then that destroyer of foes entered his abode.  And having entered (his tent) the monarch passed the night (in. sleep).  And when the night dawned, rising up, the king, ordered all the royal warriors, saying, Draw up the forces.  Today Bhishma, excited with wrath, will slay all the Somakas.’

Hearing those copious lamentations of Duryodhana in the night, Bhishma regarded them, O king, as commands to himself.  Filled with great grief and deprecating the status of servitude, Santanu’s son reflected for a long time, thinking of an encounter with Arjuna in battle.  Understanding from signs that Ganga’s son had been thinking of that, Duryodhana, O king, commanding Dussasana, saying, ’O Dussasana, let cars be quickly appointed for protecting Bhishma.  Let all the two and twenty divisions (of our army) be urged on.  That hath now come about which we had been thinking for a series of years, viz., the slaughter of the Pandavas with all their troops and the acquisition (by ourselves) of the kingdom.  In this matter, I think, the protection of Bhishma