Sanjaya said Then Arjuna, fixing the string on his mighty bow and saluting the grandsire and with his eyes overflowing with tears thus spoke.

Command me, O foremost of the Kurus, O chief of all wielders of weapons. I am your slave, O invincible one. What, O grandsire, shall I do for you.

The son of Shantanu then thus replied to him saying "My head, O sire, is hanging down. Fetch me, O foremost of the Kurus, Phalguna, a pillow,

That will be suitable to my bed, and O hero, give that to me soon. You only, O Partha, are equal to the task, you are the foremost of all the bowmen;

You are conversant with the duties of a Kshatriya and endowed with keep intelligence and modesty and bravery.” Then Phalguna of great might saying yea to his words, prepared to do what Bhishma bade him do.

Then taking up the Gandiva bow and shafts of close knots, and purifying them with are Mantras and obtaining the permission of that illustrious car-warrior of the Bharatas, Arjuna,

With those sharp arrows charged with great velocity supported Bhishma's head. Then, O foremost of the Bharatas, seeing that Savyasachin had rightly divined his thought, Bhishma of illustrious soul conversant with the essence of all things became gratified with Arjuna; and then greatly praised Dhananjaya for having given him that pillow.

Then casting his glances on the Bharatas present there, Bhishma said to that descendant of the Bharatas, namely Kunti's son, that foremost of all warriors, and that enhancer of the delight of his friends.

O son of Pandu, you have indeed fetched me a pillow becoming my bed. Had you fetched me something else, I would have cursed you

O mighty-armed hero this indeed is the way in which a Kshatriya not transgressing his duties, should sleep on the battle-field lying on an arrowy bed.

Having thus spoken to Vibhatsu' he said to all the kings and princes present there, the following words. in rage.

Bhishma said Behold you all, the son of Pandu has supplied me with! I shall lie on this bed until the sun rolls back to the Northern solstice.

Those kings that will then come to me shall see me (give up my life). When the maker of the day (sun), on his swift moving car yoked with seven horses, will proceed towards the point of the compass occupied by Vaisravana, then shall I yield up my vital breaths, like a friend, bidding adieu to his dear friend.

O kings, dig up an entrenchment around here; mangled with hundreds of arrows as I am I will offer my homage's to the sun. You, O kings, do desist from the battle, vanquishing all thoughts of hostility.

Sanjaya said Thereafter there came several practitioners of the healing are, all well-trained and skillful in drawing out shafts, carrying with them all the necessary balms and appliances.

Beholding them, Ganga's son said to your son. “Paying proper respect to these physicians, and rewarding them with money, do you dismiss them.

Reduced to this condition, what necessity have I of physicians? I have attained to that blessed existence that is so applauded in those that observe the Kshatriya duties.

As I lie on this arrowy bed, it is not indeed my duty to allow myself to be treated by these physicians. I should like, O rulers of earth, to be consumed even by these arrows,

Having heard those words of his, your son Duryodhana dismissed all those physicians, having honoured them duly.

Then the rulers of the various countries, beholding the religious firmness of Bhishma of infinite prowess, were greatly amazed.

Then having offered that pillow of your sire, all those kings, together with the mighty car-warriors of the Kurus and the Pandavas,

Again approached the illustrious Bhishma prostrate on his excellent bed of arrows. Then having saluted and three times circumbulated that illustrious one viz., Bhishma, and having arranged for his protection, the heroes entered their respective camps, for taking rest, at the hour of sun-set, with their bodies bespattered with blood, and thoughtful and extremely pained. Then approaching, at a suitable season, the Pandavas, those mighty car-warriors cheerfully seated together and rejoicing at the fall of Bhishma, the mighty Madhava said these words to Yudhishthira the son of Dharma.

“Through good fortune, O best of the Kurus, have you attained victory; through good fortune has Bhishma, that mighty car-warrior of unerring aim, incapable of being slain by men, been overthrown.

Or it may be, that having, through Destiny, obtained you that slay with your very glances for a foe, that one through conversant with the use of all weapons has been destroyed by your angry looks."

Being thus spoken to, the very virtuous king Yudhishthira replied to Janardana saying. “Victory comes to a man through your grace, and defcat overtakes him through your wrath.

You are sole refuge, O Krishna: You give assurances of safety to your devotees. Victory is not a marvel for those whom,OKeshava,

You always protect in battle, and for whose welfare you always concern yourself. Having yourself for our protector, I do not consider anything wonderful for us."

Thus spoken to Janardana smilingly replied. “Indeed, O foremost of all the rulers of earth, these are words suited to fall from your lips only."