The War – Day 10 (Part 2)

Duryodhana seeks Bhishma’s help

Arjuna, meanwhile, was fighting a terrible battle in the company of his brother, Bhima. The two unleashed so ferocious an attack that the entire Kaurava army, far and near, started to flee in panic. None of the veterans on the Kaurava side could check the onslaught of the Pandava brothers.

Duryodhana was in two minds. On one hand he wanted to guard his grand father from danger. On the other, there was none else on his side who dared to face the Pandavas. Finally, he sought the help of Bhishma. The Kaurava prince said. “Sir, There is no one else other than you who could offer resistance to Arjuna and Bhima.”

Bhishma was lost in thought for a while. Then, he replied. “Son, I shall fulfill my obligation by killing tens of thousands of Pandavas today.” With those words the grandsire drove his chariot to where Arjuna stood.

The Pandavas noticed the move by Bhishma. That was the opportunity they were waiting for. Arjuna spoke to Sikhandi. “O! Valiant prince! This is your chance for revenge. Have no fear for the aged Kaurava. I shall be right behind making sure no harm comes to you. Go and challenge Bhishma.” Arjuna, thus rushed forward to his grand father keeping Sikhandi in front.

Others on the Pandava side like Yudhishthira, Nakula, Sahadeva, Abhimanyu, Virata, Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna all launched simultaneous attacks against the grandsire.

Dussasana came forward to block the Path of Arjuna and Sikhandi. He fought alone against the two heros. He held on for a while, but, was overwhelmed by the torrent of arrows that were launched from Gandiva which pierced through his armour. He had to take refuge behind Bhishma for a while. Then, after recovering strength, he came forward again to face the enemy bodly.

Alamusha and Bhagadatta met Satyaki on the way and fought valiantly against the Yadava hero. Kripa faced Sahadeva. Similarly, other Kauravas blocked the advance of the Pandava warriors towards Bhishma.

Drona in anguish

The teacher of Kauravas was highly apprehensive of danger that day. He spoke to his son, Aswatthama. “Son, I see several bad omens today. A great calamity is to befall on us. But strangely, I am unable to do anything myself. Something beyond me makes my hands unsteady and body weak. Arjuna is launching an ominous attack against the grandsire, keeping Sikhandi in front. The other Pandava heros like Bhima are also with him with the sole objective of putting an end to the life of the grandsire. Go and block their way as best as you can”.

Bhima in terrible form

Bhima was in extremely fearful form that day. He found himself encircled by ten of the best Kaurava warriors. Yet, he fought with all his might without yielding even a bit of ground to the enemy. Arjuna noticed the uneven attack and came to the aid of his brother.

The war on that front grew fierce. The Pandavas gave a spirited battle wrecking havoc on the Kaurava army.

Bhishma dejected

Bhishma, on his part, was fighting tooth and nail in spite of his age and tiring limbs. He, as promised, killed tens of thousand on the Pandava side. But, by then, the grandsire has had enough. There was no count of the number of lives he had taken so far. He thought that he had done enough in life. Bhishma found Yudhishthira fighting not too far from him. He sought the attention of the Pandava and spoke. “I feel that it is time for me to go. Do not delay launching an attack against me keeping Sikhandi in front”.

Yudhishthira got all his star fighters around and persuaded them to go for the grandsire in a concerted attack, keeping the cover of Sikhandi.

Thus grew the intensity of war on the tenth day focusing on Bhishma. Arjuna, finally, broke through all the obstacles on his path and gained on the grandsire keeping Sikhandi in front all the time.

Fall of the great warrior

Bhishma found himself surrounded by all the great Pandava heroes at the same time. Even with a resolve to embrace death the warrior in him could not accept defeat without a fight. He fought fiercely and tormented all his opponents with his bow and arrows. It was only against Sikhandi that he did not raise his weapons.

Bhishma spoke to Dussasana who was nearby. “Look, Arjuna is sending thousands of arrows aimed at me. There is none in war to match him. Yet, nobody could have won over me without the cover of Sikhandi”.

He remarked whenever an arrow struck him. “These arrows arriving like thunder bolts are from Arjuna, not from Sikhandi. These that tear through my skin and pierce into my nerves are from the Pandava and not from the Panchala. The ones which strike me like highly poisonous snakes are none except those from the middle Pandava. Without doubt, these arrows that eat my flesh like a young crab eating its mother’s body are from Arjuna, not from Sikhandi”.

Arjuna, after a prolonged battle, managed to cut the bow of Bhishma. Undaunted, the grandsire hurled a javelin against his foe which the Pandava intercepted before it could do any damage. With great resolve the gransire tried, as though, to jump of his chariot with sword in hand.

Then, he fell. The hero who fought like a lion throughout his life without knowing defeat fell down from his chariot struck with arrows all over his body. There were so many of them that his body did not even touch the ground. It was, as though, he was laid to rest on a bed of arrows.

Waiting for his time

But, the grandsire did not die as yet. Death was in his control for the son of Ganga. It is said that some sages from heaven arrived right at that time asking him to wait until the sun turned toward the northern solstice which was said to be auspicious. That was what Bhishma did, though he was lying on a bed of arrows.

When Bhishma fell the war stopped automatically. All, both from the Kaurava and Pandava sides, rushed to the great Bharata warrior and gathered around the hero with folded hands. There was gloom all through the army of the two sides.

(To be Continued)