Section CLXIX

[Sanjaya continues his narration started at section CLXVI]

"Bhishma said,

'Both the brothers Achala and Vrisha are Rathas. Invincible (in battle) they will slay your foes. Endued with great strength, those tigers among men, those foremost of Gandharvas, are firm in wrath. Young and handsome, they are possessed of great strength. As regards this your ever dear friend, this one who is always boastful of his skill in battle, this one who always urges you, O king, to fight with the Pandavas, this vile braggart, Karna, the son of Surya, this one who is your counsellor, guide, and friend, this vain wight who is destitute of sense, this Karna, is neither a Ratha nor an Atiratha.

Without sense, this one has been deprived of his natural coat of mail. Always kind, he has also been deprived of his celestial ear-rings. In consequence of the curse of Rama (his preceptor in arms) as also of the words of a Brahmana (who cursed him on another occasion), owing also to his deprivation of the accoutrements of battle, he, in my judgment, is only half a Ratha. Having approached Phalguni (in battle), he will not certainly escape with life!'

Hearing this, Drona, that foremost of all wielders of weapons, said,

'It is even so as you have said. That is not untrue! He boasts on the eve of every battle, but yet he is seen to retreat from every engagement. Kind (out of season) and blundering, it is for this that Karna, in my judgment, is only half a Ratha!'

"Hearing these words, Radha’s son, expanding his eyes in rage, and afflicting Bhishma with words like sharp hooks, said unto Ganga’s son these words,

'O grandsire, though I am innocent yet from your aversion to me, you manglest me thus, according to your pleasure, with your wordy arrows at every step. I tolerate, however, all this for the sake of Duryodhana. Indicating me as only half a Ratha, you regardest me worthless, as if, indeed, I were a coward! What doubt is there in this? I do not speak an untruth when I say that you, O Ganga’s son, art an enemy of the whole universe, and especially of all the Kurus! The king, however, does not know this! Who else is there that would thus seek to disunite and abate the energy of these kings that are all equal and that are all equally brave, as you, from your hatred of merit, seeks to do?

O Kaurava, neither years, nor wrinkles, nor wealth, nor possession of friends, would entitle a Kshatriya to be regarded as a Maharatha! It has been said that a Kshatriya acquires eminence only through might, as Brahmanas acquire eminence through superiority in mantras, as Vaisyas through wealth, and Sudras through age. Influenced, however, by lust and envy, and acting from ignorance, you have indicated Rathas and Atirathas according only to your own caprice! Blessed be you, O mighty-armed Duryodhana, judge properly! Let this wicked Bhishma, who only wrongs you, be abandoned by you! Your warriors, once disunited, can with difficulty be united again.

O tiger among men, your main army, under such circumstances, can with difficulty be united; far greater will the difficulty be in uniting an army gathered from various provinces! Behold, O Bharata, doubt (of success) has already arisen in the hearts of your warriors! This Bhishma weakens our energy in our very presence! Where is the task of ascertaining the merits of Rathas, and where is Bhishma of little understanding? I alone will withstand the army of Pandavas.

Coming in contact with me, whose arrows never go for nothing, the Pandavas and the Pancalas will fly away in all directions like oxen when they come in contact with a tiger! Where, Oh, are battle, the press of armed encounter, good counsels and well-expressed words, and where is Bhishma, who is superannuated and of wicked soul, and who is impelled by the very fates to become their victim? Alone he challenges the whole universe! Of false vision he regards none else as a man.

It is true the scriptures teach that the words of the old should be listened to. That, however, does not refer to those that are very old, for these, in my judgment, become children again. Alone I will exterminate the army of the Pandavas! The fame, however, of such a feat will attach to Bhishma, O tiger among kings, for this Bhishma, O monarch, has been made by you the commander of your forces, and the renown always attaches to the leader and not to those that fight under him. I will not, therefore, O king, fight as long as Ganga’s son lives! After Bhishma, however, has been laid low, I will fight with all the Maharathas of the enemy united together!'

"Bhishma said,

'This burden, vast as the ocean, in the matter of Duryodhana’s battle (with the Pandavas), is about to be taken up by me. I have thought of it for many years. Now that the hour is come for that terrible encounter, dissensions amongst ourselves should not be created by me. It is for this, Suta’s son, that you livest! Else, superannuated though I am and young in years you are, I would quell your desire for battle and crush your hope of life! (Your preceptor) Rama, the son of Jamadagni, shooting his great weapons, could not cause me the slightest pain. What canst you, therefore, do to me? They that are good, do not approve self-praise. Infamous wretch of your race, know that I indulge in little boast because I am enraged.

Vanquishing on a single car all the assembled Kshatriyas of the world at the Swayamvara of the daughters of the ruler of Kasi, I abducted those maidens. Alone, I stopped on the field of battle the rush of countless kings with their soldiers! Obtaining you as embodiment of strife, a great calamity is ready to overtake the Kurus! Strive then for slaying our antagonists. Be a man, fight with that Partha, whom you so often challengest. O you of wicked understanding, I desire to see you come out of that encounter with your life!'

"King Duryodhana then said unto Bhishma, of great prowess,

'Cast your eyes on me, O Ganga’s son! Great is the business that is at hand! Think earnestly as how I may be most benefited! Both of you will render me great services! I desire now to bear of the best car-warriors among the enemy, that is, of those that are Atirathas among them and of those that are leaders of car-division. O Kaurava, I desire to hear of the strength and weakness of my foes, since when this night will dawn, our great battle will take place.'"