Bhishma said In the morning when the sun had risen, there again began the fight between myself and the scion of the Bhrigu's race.

That foremost of smiters, Rama then seated on a quick-going car, showered nets of arrows on me that fell like clouds on a mountain.

Then that well-wisher of mine, my charioteer, overpowered by that shower of arrows, fell down from his place in the car causing anxiety of my mind.

Then did my charioteer fall into a deep trance and by reason of his being struck with arrows fell down in the earth and became senseless.

Then did the charioteer give up his life being struck with the arrows of Rama and for an instant, О chief among kings, I too was afraid at the time.

On my charioteer being killed, and my mind being excited Rama hurled at me arrows charged with death.

Then did that scion of the Bhrigu race having drawn up his bow with great force hurtle an arrow at me who was overwhelmed at the calamity of my charioteer.

That blood-drinking shaft, having fallen on my arrow, came down on the earth taking me along with it.

Rama too, thinking me to be dead, O best among the Bharatas, roared aloud like the clouds and sent again and again forth a loud shout along with his followers.

Myself having fallen down, Rama, being pleased, gave forth a loud shout along with his followers.

The Kurus who were there at my side and those who came there desirous of seeing the fight, became overwhelmed with deep sorrow at my fall.

When I had fallen down, I saw O lion among kings, eight twice-born ones blazing like the sun. They there surrounding me and supporting me by their arrows in the midst of the field.

Being supported by the twice-born, I did not touch the ground and was held in the air by them as by friends.

They sprinkled drops of water on me as I was breathing heavily and then those Brahmanas, bearing me up, said to me.

"Fear not, you will still be prosperous" and I suddenly stood up, comforted at those words of theirs, and saw my mother, the best among river, seated on the car.

I also saw my heroes held by that great river, O chief among the son of Kuru. Having touched the feet of my mother and worshipping the memory of my ancestors, I ascended my chariot.

She protected myself with my chariot and horses and the weapons for battle and with clasped hands I sent her away.

I then myself held the reins of those horses which had the speed of the wind and fought with the son of Jamadagni till the close of the day.

Then O foremost among the Bharatas, in that battle, I shot forth an arrow of great strength and speed on Rama that struck his heart.

He then fell down on his knees on the earth, overwhelmed by my arrow with his bow loosened from his grasp, and swooned away.

When Rama, the giver of thousands, had fallen down, clouds covered the sky discharging copious blood.

Meteors too fell by hundreds and thousands and roared, making everything shake. And suddenly Rahu swallowed the shining sun.

High winds blew and the earth trembled and the cultures and cranes and crowns came down with joy.

The cardinal points were ablaze and jackals began to cry aloud every moment; and drums untouched began to give forth harsh sound.

All these frightful omens occurred on the high-souled Rama falling down on the earth in a swoon.

Then Rama, rising up suddenly, approached me, with a view to a renewal of fight, O son of Kuru, being himself excited and made senseless by anger.

The one of long arms took up his bow which was strong and also took up an arrow; but I withstood Rama equipped as he was.

The great Rishis were filled with pity and that descendant of Bhrigu was filled with anger and he, the one of immeasurable soul, too neutralized my arrow which was like the fire that rages at the time of the universal destruction.

Then did the sun, covered by dust and its effulgence clouded, slowly set and night came on with its cool breezes and then we desisted from war.

In this way, Oking, was there an end to the fight and again was there a fierce encounter at the dawn of day and so on day after day for three twenty days.