MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
MAHABHARATA CONDENSED INTO ENGLISH ... - Mandhata Global
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Dawned a day of mighty slaughter and of dread and deathful war,<br />
Ancient Bhishma, in his anger drove once more his sounding car,<br />
Morn to noon and noon to evening none could f ace the victor's wrath,<br />
Broke and shattered, faint and frightened, Pandavs fled before his path,<br />
Still amidst the dead and dying moved his proud resistless car,<br />
Till the gathering night and darkness closed the horrors of the war!<br />
X<br />
FALL OF BHISHMA<br />
Good Yudhishthir gazed with sorrow on the dark and ghastly plain,<br />
Shed his tears on chiefs and warriors by the matchless Bhishma slain:<br />
"Vain this unavailing battle, vain this woeful loss of life,<br />
'Gainst the death-compelling Bhishma hopeless in this arduous strife!<br />
As a lordly tusker tramples on a marsh of feeble reeds,<br />
As a forest conflagration on the parchéd woodland feeds,<br />
Bhishma tramples on my forces in his mighty battle-car,<br />
God nor mortal chief can face him in the gory field of war!<br />
Vain our toil and vain the valour of our kinsmen loved and lost,<br />
Vainly fight iny faithful brothers by a luckless fortune crost,<br />
Nations pour their lifeblood vainly, ceaseless wakes the sound of woe,<br />
Krishna, stop this cruel carnage, unto woods once more we go!"<br />
Sad they held a midnight council and the chiefs in silence met,<br />
And they went to ancient Bhishma, love and mercy to entreat,<br />
Bhishma loved the sons of Pandu with a father's loving heart,<br />
But from troth unto Duryodhan righteous Bhishma would not part!<br />
"Sons of Pandu!" said the chieftain, "Prince Duryodhan is my lord,<br />
Bhishma is no faithless servant nor will break his plighted word,<br />
Valiant are ye, noble princes, but the chief is yet unborn,<br />
While I lead the course of battle, who the tide of war can turn!<br />
Listen more. With vanquished foeman, or who falls or takes to fight,<br />
Casts his weapons, craves for mercy, ancient Bhishma doth not fight,