The Fall of Bhishma

Bhishma Leads the Kaurava Army

कुरुक्षेत्रे महायुद्धम् आरब्धम्। भीष्मः कौरवसेनायाः प्रथमः सेनापतिः अभवत्। दश दिनानि यावत् भीष्मः पाण्डवसेनां पीडयत्। तस्य बाणवर्षेण अनेके महारथाः पतिताः। पाण्डवाः चिन्तिताः — "भीष्मं कथम् जयेम?" अर्जुनः सायंकाले शत्रुशिविरम् गत्वा भीष्मं प्रणमत् — "पितामह! तव पराजयस्य उपायं वदेहि।" भीष्मः स्मितेन अवदत् — "वत्स! शिखण्डी अग्रे भवतु। तं प्रति अहं शस्त्रं न उत्तोलयिष्यामि।"

The great war at Kurukshetra had begun. Bhishma became the first commander of the Kaurava army. For ten days, Bhishma devastated the Pandava forces. Under his rain of arrows, many great warriors fell. The Pandavas were troubled — "How can we defeat Bhishma?" At evening, Arjuna went to the enemy camp and bowed to Bhishma: "Grandfather! Please tell us the way to your defeat." Bhishma said with a smile: "Child! Place Shikhandi before me. I shall not raise my weapon against him."