Bhishma said The wheel of time revolves with various divisions such as Kalas, Kashthas, Muhurtas, days, fortnights months, stars, planets, seasons and years.

On account of the excess of time and the constellations going on their courses there is an increase of two months in every five years.

I think, calculating in this way, there will be an addition of five months and twelve nights within thirteen vears.

They all have duly acted up to what they promised. Knowing all for certain Arjuna has come here.

All of them are noble and well acquainted with virtue and worldly profit. They have Yudhishthira as their king. How can they injure virtue?

The sons of Kunti are not avaricious and they have performed a work which it is greatly difficult to do. They do not wish to acquire kingdom by unfair means.

(If so) the descendants of Kuru would have liked to show their prowess at that time; virtuous as they are, they did not deviate from the duties of the Kshatriyas.

Whoever will regard them as dishonest will meet with discomfiture today. The sons of Pritha will rather invite death but will never speak an untruth.

Those great men, the Pandavas, powerful like him (Indra), will never part with a thing that comes to them in due time even if it is protected by the holder of thunder (Indra).

We shall have to content against, in battle, the foremost of all of all heroes; let such arrangements be made speedily, which are good and approved by the honest so that our properties may not pass into the hands of the enemies. O Kaurava, O emperor, I have never seen a battle in which one party is sure to come off victorious. (Besides) Arjuna has come. When a battle begins there is victory and defeat, prosperity and adversity. Therefore one must have either of the two. I have observed it without doubt.

Whether it is right or not you should, O king, make arrangements speedily for the battle for Arjuna has come.

Duryodhana said I shall not, O grandfather, give back their kingdom to Pandavas. Therefore without delay, make arrangements for the battle.

Bhishma said Hear what I think about this, if you like. I should always speak what is good, O descendant of Kuru.

Quickly proceed towards the city with onefourth of the army. Let the other fourth part go away with the kine.

With half the army we shall fight with Arjuna. Myself, Drona, Karna, the son of Drona, as well as Sharadvata's son, Shall firmly fight with Arjuna or the king of Matsya if he has come back or even with the performer of hundred sacrifices. I shall face them like the bank (obstructing the motion of the) ocean.

Vaishampayana said These words of the great Bhishma found favour with them and the king of Kauravas immediately carried them out.

Having sent away the king and thereafter the precious kine Bhishma addressed himself for arranging his troops in battle array.

Bhishma said Stand you, O preceptor, in the middle; let Ashvathama defend the left wing and the intelligent son of Sharadvata Kripa protect the right wing.

Let Karna, the son of charioteer, clad in a coat of mail, stand in the front. And I shall command the entire army in the rear.