MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global

If in past in thoughtless folly once the realm was broke in twain,
Kuru-land is re-united, never shall be split again!
Take my message to my kinsmen, for Duryodhan's words are plain,
Portion of the Kuru empire sons of Pandu seek in vain,
Town nor village, mart nor hamlet, help us righteous gods in heaven,
Spot that needle's point can cover not unto them be given!"
MAHABHARATA BOOK VIII
BHISHMA-BADHA
(Fall of Bhishma)
All negotiations for a peaceful partition of the Kuru kingdom having failed, both parties
now prepared for a battle, perhaps the most sanguinary that was fought on the plains of
India in the ancient times. It was a battle of nations, for all warlike races in Northern
India took a share in it.
Duryodhan's army consisted of his own division, as well as the divisions of ten allied
kings. Each allied power is said to have brought one akshauhini troops, and if we reduce
this fabulous number to the moderate figure of ten thousand, including horse and foot,
cars and elephants, Duryodhan's army including his own division was over a hundred
thousand strong.
Yudhishthir had a smaller army, said to have been seven akshauhinis in number, which
we may by a similar reduction reckon to be seventy thousand. His father-in-law the king
of the Panchalas, and Arjun's relative the king of the Matsyas, were his principal allies.
Krishna joined him as his friend and adviser, and as the charioteer of Arjun, but the
Vrishnis as a nation had joined Duryodhan.
When the two armies were drawn up in array and faced each other, and Arjun saw his
revered elders and dear friends and relations among his foes, he was unwilling to fight. It
was on this occasion that Krishna explained to him the great principles of Duty in that
memorable work called the Bhagavat-gita which has been translated into so many
European languages. Belief in one Supreme Deity is the underlying thought of this work,
and ever and anon, as Professor Garbe remarks, "does Krishna revert to the doctrine that
for every man, no matter to what caste he may belong, the zealous performance of his
duty and the discharge of his obligations is his most important work."
Duryodhan chose the grand old fighter Bhishina as the commander-in-chief of his army,
and for ten days Bhishma held his own and inflicted serious loss on Yudhishthir's army.