"Bhishma said, 'The wheel of time revolves with its divisions, viz.,
with _Kalas_ and _Kasthas_ and _Muhurtas_ and days and fortnights and
months and constellations and planets and seasons and years. In
consequence of their fractional excesses and the deviations of also of
the heavenly bodies, there is an increase of two months in every five
years. It seems to me that calculating this wise, there would be an
excess of five months and twelve nights in thirteen years. Everything,
therefore, that the sons of Pandu had promised, hath been exactly
fulfilled by them. Knowing this to be certain, Vibhatsu hath made his
appearance. All of them are high-souled and fully conversant with the
meanings of the scriptures. How would they deviate from virtue that have
Yudhishthira for their guide? The sons of Kunti do not yield to
temptation. They have achieved a difficult feat. If they had coveted the
possession of their kingdom by unfair means, then those descendants of
the Kuru race would have sought to display their prowess at the time of
the match at dice. Bound in bonds of virtue, they did not deviate from
the duties of the Kshatriya order. He that will regard them to have
behaved falsely will surely meet with defeat. The sons of Pritha would
prefer death to falsehood. When the time, however, comes, those bulls
among men--the Pandavas--endued with energy like that of Sakra, would
not give up what is theirs even if it is defended by the wielder himself
of the thunderbolt. We shall have to oppose in battle the foremost of
all wielders of weapons. Therefore, let such advantageous arrangements
as have the sanction of the good and the honest be now made without loss
of time so that our possessions may not be appropriated by the foe. O
king of kings, O Kaurava, I have never seen a battle in which one of the
parties could say,--_we are sure to win_. When a battle occurs, there
must be victory or defeat, prosperity or adversity. Without doubt, a
party to a battle must have either of the two. Therefore, O king of
kings, whether a battle be now proper or not consistent with virtue or
not, make thy arrangements soon, for Dhananjaya is at hand.'
"Duryodhana said, 'I will not, O grandsire, give back the Pandavas their
kingdom. Let every preparation, therefore, for battle be made without
delay.'
"Bhishma said, 'Listen to what I regard as proper, if it pleases thee. I
should always say what is for thy good, O Kaurava. Proceed thou towards
the capital, without loss of time, taking with thee a fourth part of the
army. And let another fourth march, escorting the kine. With half the
troops we will fight the Pandava. Myself and Drona, and Karna and
Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely withstand Vibhatsu, or the king of
the Matsyas, or Indra himself, if he approaches. Indeed, we will
withstand any of these like the bank withstanding the surging sea.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "These words spoken by the high-souled Bhishma
were acceptable to them, and the king of the Kauravas acted accordingly
without delay. And having sent away the king and then the kine, Bhishma
began to array the soldiers in order of battle. And addressing the
preceptor, he said, 'O preceptor, stand thou in the centre, and let
Aswatthaman stand on the left, and let the wise Kripa, son of Saradwata,
defend the right wing, and let Karna of the _Suta_ caste, clad in mail,
stand in the van. I will stand in the rear of the whole army, protecting
it from that point.'"