ON
the morning of the ninth day, before the battle began, Duryodhana was closeted
with the grandsire. He gave vent to his bitter feelings of disappointment over
the way the battle was going. He uttered words that were like the sharp spears
and pained the grandsire greatly but the latter was patient and said sadly:
"Like ghee on the sacrificial fire I am pouring my life out for you. Why
do you seek to mortify me, who have been doing my very utmost for you? You
speak like a man of no understanding, not knowing what is right and what is
wrong. They say that, when a man is nearing his death, the tree appears to him
to be made of gold. You see things now, not as they are. Your vision is
clouded. You are now reaping the harvest of the hatred you deliberately sowed.
The best course for you are to go on fighting, as well as you can. This is also
the plain path of duty. It is not possible for me to fight Sikhandin, for I can
never raise my hand against a woman. Nor can I with my hands kill the Pandavas,
for my mind revolts against it. I will do everything barring these two and
fight all the warriors opposed to you. Nothing is gained by losing heart. Fight
as a kshatriya should and honor will be yours whatever the events." Saying
thus to Duryodhana and cheering him up with wise and affectionate words,
Bhishma proceeded to issue instructions for arraying the forces for the day's
battle. Duryodhana was heartened. He sent for Duhsasana and said to him:
"Brother, put forth all our strength in today's battle. I am convinced;
the grandsire is fighting on our side with his whole heart. It is only against
Sikhandin, he says, he cannot use his weapons. We should see that he is not
exposed to Sikhandin's attacks, for you know, even a wild dog can kill a lion
if the latter scorns to fight back." There was a great fight between
Abhimanyu and Alambasa. Abhimanyu demonstrated that his valor was no less than
his illustrious father's. Alambasa had to flee on foot to save himself. There
were fierce combats between Satyaki and Aswatthama and between Drona and
Arjuna. Thereafter, all the Pandavas attacked the grandsire and Duryodhana sent
Duhsasana to support the old warrior.
Bhishma fought furiously and beat the Pandavas back. The Pandava forces
were thoroughly demoralised and were flying hither and thither, like cattle that
had lost their way in the forest. Krishna
halted the chariot and said to Arjuna: "Partha, you and your brothers were
looking forward to this day, after thirteen years. Do not hesitate to kill the
grandsire. Remember the duty of a soldier."
Arjuna
bent his head down and, without looking up, replied: "I would much rather
have continued to be an exile in the forest than kill the grandsire and the
teachers whom I love, but I shall obey you. Drive on." Arjuna's heart was
not in the fight. Unwillingly and in great distress of mind, he proceeded to
the combat. Bhishma, on the other hand, burnt fiercely like the noonday sun.
When the army saw Arjuna's chariot proceed towards Bhishma, it regained courage
and order once again prevailed. Bhishma's arrows came thick and fast and
covered the advancing chariot so completely that neither horses nor vehicles
could be seen. Krishna was unperturbed and
drove on with circumspection and skill. Arjuna's shafts hit Bhishma's bow and
shattered it many times. But the grandsire went on renewing his weapon.
"You are not fighting, Arjuna, as you should!" exclaimed Krishna, and jumped down in a rage from the chariot and,
taking up his discus, he advanced towards the grandsire.
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