Introduction
“You are armored. Now fight.”
— Duryodhana. Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 908
Bhishma Vadha tells what happened in the first ten days of the Kuru Kshetra war before Bhishma is killed.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/bhishma
Today is a good day to die
— Crazy Horse
Sequence
The Pandavas visit Bhishma during the night and ask him to die in the next day’s fight. Bhishma tells them the story of Amba, sister to Ambalika and Abika, whose life Bhishma ruined. Amba and Ambalika were the mothers of Pandu and Dhritarashtra. Bhishma believes Amba is the reincarnation of Shikhandi. Bhishma refuses to fight Shikhandi, because Shikhandi was born female before transitioning to male. Bhishma believes Shikhandi is meant to kill him.
(0) The Panadava forces, led by Satyaki, Sahadeva and Nakula kill large numbers of regulars. Bhishma kills Srinjayas and Panchalas in response.
(1) Shikhandi attacks Bhishma. Bhishma slaughters masses of Panchalas.
(2) Arjuna tells Shikhandi to kill Bhishma and he will take care of the rest. Abhimanyu and Dhrishtadyumna hear Arjuna and attack Bhishma.
Abhimanyu’s standard is the peacock.
Dhrishtadyumna’s standard is a flame.
‘I will never fight with you. You are still the Shikhandini that the creator made!’, Bhishma said.
Shikhandi became senseless with rage and licked the corners of his mouth.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 964
(3) The Pandavas rush Bhishma, attacking him
(4) Kauravas movement and attack to counter
(5) Duhshasana checks Arjuna
(6) Rishyashringa and Bhagadatta check Satyaki
(7) Ashvatthama checks Virata and Drupada
(8) Kripa checks Sahadeva
(9) Vikarna checks Nakula
(10) Durmukha checks Ghatotkacha
(11) Hardikya Checks Dhrishtadyumna
(12) Bhurishrava checks Bhima. Drona checks Yudhishthira.
Sequence
(13) Kauravas mob Bhimasena.
(14) Arjuna follows behind Bhima and attacks the Kauravas with Bhima. Duryodhana sends Susharma, the king of Trigarta, with his army to fight Arjuna.
(15) Many Kauravas flee. Kritavarma, Kripa, Jayadratha, Vinda and Anuvinda are the only ones that do not run.
(16) Drona and Jayatsena, king of Magadha, arrive. Arjuna chases away the Trigartas and Jayatsena. Bhima attacks Drona.
The two looked beautiful as they seemed to be sporting and roamed around in their chariots. They were like powerful lions amidst a herd of cattle. They shattered many chariots and killed hundreds of horses. They brought elephant-riders down from their elephants. They killed many charioteers and riders. Elephants were slain. Infantry and horses. The earth was strewn with shattered chariots. Many umbrellas and standards were broken and brought down. There were discarded goads and cushions, diadems, armlets, necklaces, deer hide, discarded headdresses, whisks and fans. There were severed arms with sandalwood smears. The earth was strewn with thighs.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 970
“I am disgusted with this body. I spent my time killing others. If you please kill me!” — Bhishma
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 971
Sequence
The two armies square off. Many battles take place. Bhishma tires of his life of war.
(18)
Pourava and Dhrishtaketu severed each other’s bows and slew each other’s horses. Bereft of their chariots, they began to fight with swords. Each had a shield made of bull hide, decorated with signs of moons and stars. Pourava struck Dhrishtaketu on his frontal bone with the large sword. Dhrishtaketu (king of Chedi) struck Pourava on the shoulder joint with the tip of his sword. Then Jayatsena took Pourava on his chariot and carried him away. Sahadeva carried Dhrishtaketu away.
(20)
Bhimasena fought against that army of elephants. He left them strewn over the ground, like shattered mountains.
(24)
Bhishma killed the Somakas who were following Arjuna. The chariot was the storehouse for the fire. The bow constituted the flames. The javelins and clubs were the kindling. He consumed the kshatriyas like a large fire that consumes deadwood driven by the wind.
(26)
Duhshasana fought Arjuna’s followers. He shattered them with sharp arrows. He drove tuskers away. He was like a fire that has obtained kindling and blazes with fierce flames. No Pandava could defeat him except Arjuna. After Arjuna drove Duhshasana off he advanced against Bhishma. Kripa, Shalya, Duhshasana, Vikarna and Vivimshati fled. Partha blazed. The earth was littered with broken chariots and shattered wheels, yokes and standards.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 972
Brihadbala’s standard was a lion.
Sequence
(27) Bhishma and Arjuna continue fighting. Dhrishtadyumna orders Srinjayas and Somakas to attack Bhishma.
(28) Bhishma kills Virata’s brother, Shatanika, and many soldiers.
(29) Bhishma showers arrows on everyone except Shkikhandi, whom Bhishma refuses to fight because Shikhandi was born female. Enraged, Shikhandi charges Bhishma. Arjuna kills all Bhishma’s followers.
(30) Bhishma penetrates the Pandava armies, attacking everyone on his way in. Shikhandi attacks Bhishma.
(31) Arjuna slices Bhishmas bow, triggering a Kaurava attack on Arjuna.
(32) Checkmate. Vadha. Though Shikhandi is credited with the kill, Bhishma says it was Arjuna’s arrows that brought him down. Bhishma calls Duryodhana an idiot and dies. Hasta la vista, Bhishma.
Thus ends Bhishma Vadha Parva.