Vaisampayana said, "Thus summoned to battle by the illustrious hero,
Dhritarashtra's son turned back stung by those censures, like an
infuriate and mighty elephant pricked by a hook. And stung by those
reproaches and unable to bear them, that mighty and brave car-warrior
endued with great swiftness, turned back on his car, like a snake that
is trampled under foot. And beholding Duryodhana turn back with his
wounds, Karna, that hero among men, decked with a golden necklace,
stopped the king on the way and soothing him, himself proceeded along
the north of Duryodhana's car to meet Partha in battle. And the
mighty-armed Bhishma also, the son of Santanu, turning back his steeds
decked with gold, enormous in size, and of tawny hue, rushed bow in
hand, for protecting Duryodhana from Partha's hand. And Drona and Kripa
and Vivingsati and Duhsasana and others also, quickly turning back,
rushed forward with speed with drawn bows and arrows fixed on the
bow-strings, for protecting Duryodhana. And beholding those divisions
advance towards him like the swelling surges of the ocean, Dhananjaya,
the son of Pritha, quickly rushed at them like a crane rushing at a
descending cloud. And with celestial weapons in their hands, they
completely surrounded the son of Pritha and rained on him from all sides
a perfect shower of shafts, like clouds showering on the mountain breast
a heavy downpour of rain. And warding off with weapons, all the weapons
of those bulls among the Kurus, the wielder of the _Gandiva_ who was
capable of enduring all foes, evolved another irresistible weapon
obtained from Indra, called _Sanmohana_. And entirely covering the
cardinal and other directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished
with beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with
the twang of the _Gandiva_. And once more, taking up with both his hands
that large conch of loud blare, Partha, that slayer of foes, blew it
with force and filled the cardinal and other points, the whole earth,
and sky, with that noise. And those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all
deprived of their senses by the sound of that conch blown by Partha. And
all of them stood still, their bows, from which they were never
separated, dropping down from their hands. And when the Kuru army became
insensible, Partha calling to mind the words of Uttara, addressed the
son of the Matsya king, saying, 'O best of men, go thou among the Kurus,
so long as they remain insensible, and bring away the white garments of
Drona and Kripa, and the yellow and handsome ones of Karna, as also the
blue ones of the king and Drona's son. Methinks, Bhishma is not
stupefied, for he knoweth how to counteract this weapon of mine. So,
pass thou on, keeping his steeds to thy left; for those that are
sensible should thus be avoided.' Hearing these words, the illustrious
son of Matsya, giving up the reins of the steeds, jumped down from the
car and taking off the garments of the warriors, came back to his place.
And the son of Virata then urged the four handsome steeds with flanks
adorned with golden armours. And those white steeds, urged on, took
Arjuna away from the midst of battle-field and beyond the array of the
infantry bearing standards in their hands. And, Bhishma, beholding that
best of men thus going away, struck him with arrows. And Partha, too,
having slain Bhishma's steeds, pierced him with ten shafts. And
abandoning Bhishma on the field of battle, having first slain his
car-driver, Arjuna with a good-looking bow in hand came out of that
multitude of cars, like the sun emerging from the clouds. And
Dhritarashtra's son, that foremost of heroes among the Kurus, recovering
his senses, saw the son of Pritha standing like the lord of the
celestials, alone on the battle-field. And he said in hurry (unto
Bhishma), 'How hath this one escape from thee? Do thou afflict him in
such a way that he may not escape.' And at this, Santanu's son, smiling,
said unto him, 'Where had been this sense of thine, and where had been
thy prowess too, when thou hadst been in a state of unconsciousness
renouncing thy arrows and handsome bow? Vibhatsu is not addicted to the
commission of atrocious deeds; nor is his soul inclined to sin. He
renounceth not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. It
is for this only that all of us have not been slain in this battle. O
thou foremost of Kuru heroes, go back to the city of the Kurus, and let
Partha also go away, having conquered the kine. Do thou never foolishly
throw away thy own good. Indeed, that which leadeth to one's welfare
ought to be accomplished.'"
Vaisampayana continued, "Having listened to the words of the grandsire
that tended to his own welfare, the wrathful king Duryodhana no longer
eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. And reflecting
that the advice of Bhishma was beneficial and seeing that the Pandavas
gaining in strength, the other warriors also, desirous of protecting
Duryodhana, resolved to return. And beholding those foremost of Kuru
heroes departing for their city, Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, with a
cheerful heart followed them for a while, desirous of addressing and
worshipping them. And having worshipped the aged grandsire--the son of
Santanu, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful
arrows Drona's son and Kripa and other venerable ones among the Kurus,
the son of Pritha broke into fragments Duryodhana's crown decked with
precious gems, with another arrow. And having saluted all the venerable
and brave warriors thus, he filled the three worlds with the twang of
the _Gandiva_. And suddenly blowing his conch called _Devadatta_, the
hero pierced the hearts of all his foes. And having humbled the hostile,
he looked resplendent on his car decked with a handsome flag. And
beholding the Kurus depart, Kiritin cheerfully said unto Matsya's son,
'Turn back thy steeds; thy kine have been recovered; the foe is going
away and do thou also return to thy city with a cheerful heart.' And the
celestials also, having witnessed that most wonderful encounter between
Phalguna and the Kurus, were highly delighted, and went to their
respective abodes, reflecting upon Partha's feats."