Sanjaya said When the night passed away loud was the noise made by the kings by their all shouting "Array, array".

O descendant of Bharata, the blowing of conchs, the sounds of drums, the neighing of horses, the clatter of car-wheels, the roaring of rushing elephants and the shouts of heroes, clapping of armpits and the cries of the warriors made everywhere a tremendous noise.

O king, rising at sunrise, the large armies of the Kurus and the Pandavas made all their arrangements complete.

O Dushasana, let cars be immediately ordered for the protection of Bhishma. Speedily urge all our troops to advance.

What I have been thinking for many years has now come to me; namely the meeting of the Pandavas and the Kurus at the head of their respective armies.

I do not think there is any thing more important in this battle than the protection of Bhishma. If properly protected he will kill the Pandavas, the Somakas and the Srinjayas.

That pure souled warrior (Bhishma) has said, "I shall not kill Shikhandin. I have heard he was a woman before. For this reason he should be renounced by me in battle”.

For this, Bhishma should be specially protected. Let all my soldiers take up their respective positions and resolve to kill Shikhandin.

Let all the troops for the east, west, north and south skilled in all weapons protect the grand father (Bhishma).

Even a highly powerful lion may be killed, if left unprotected, by an wolf. Let us not therefore allow (by any means) Bhishma to be killed by Shikhandin as a lion killed by a jackal. two

Yudhamanyu protects the left and Uttamaujas protects the right of Phalguna (Arjuna). Thus protected by these Phalguna himself protects Shikhandin.

O Dushasana, act in such a way that Shikhandin, who is protected by Arjuna and whom Bhishma will avoid may not (finally) kill the son of Ganga (Bhishma).