Determination!

After hearing this, the Pandavas placed Sikhandi at their head & became determined to kill Bhisma at all costs. Thereafter, as the fighting raged between Pāndava & Kaurava warriors, the din of the battle, accentuated with blares of conch shells & terrifying shouts, became unbearable

Arjuna repeatedly urged Sikhandi to rush towards Bhisma, but each time the Pañcala prince attacked, the Grandsire blazed up like an all-consuming fire & exterminated innumerable Pāndava warriors. In this way Bhisma killed practically all chariot warriors belonging to the Cedis, Somakasas, Kāsis & Kārusās and indeed, everyone else who came near him

While rushing at Bhisma, Sikhandi pierced Bhisma with his arrows, but the Grandsire only retaliated against Arjuna. In fact, the arrows released by Sikhandi were received laughingly by Bhisma, for they caused him very little pain

Duryodhana ordered a massive attack on Arjuna, assuring his warriors that he would personally take the lead. Thereafter, when Kaurava warriors fell upon him all at once, Arjuna invoked celestial weapons that covered entire sky with countless arrows. As a result, numberless Kaurava warriors were killed. At the same time Arjuna rushed at Duhsasana, killing his chariot driver & horses. Arjuna then attacked Vivingsati, Krpa, Vikarna & Salya, depriving them of their chariots so that they had to flee on foot. Because of this, Arjuna proceeded to slaughter the unprotected supporting soldiers so that thousands of smashed chariots soon littered the battlefield

Finally, in a fit of rage, Bhisma invoked a powerful celestial weapon & rushed to where Arjuna was engaged in routing the Kauravas. Sikhandi intercepted Bhisma by coming between him & Arjuna, causing the Grandsire to reluctantly withdraw his weapon. Thereafter, Bhisma seemed to become more ferocious as he relentlessly slaughtered thousands of warriors, including Virāta’s brother, Satānika. Indeed no one dared to even look at the Grandsire, for he resembled the mid-day Sun in the summer season

 

Sri Krsna smilingly said: O Arjuna, now is the time to attack Bhisma, for only you’re capable of killing him

 

All the Pāndava heroes, including Bhima, Sātyaki, Dhristadyumna, Nakula, Sahadev, Abhimanyu, Ghatotkaca were in a precarious condition because of Bhisma’s unprecedented display of prowess. Still, Arjuna quickly came upon the scene & by checking Bhisma he rescued the Pāndava leaders from their plight

 

Under Arjuna’s protection Shikhandi rushed at Bhisma with all the great Pāndava warriors behind him, piercing the Grandsire with countless arrows. And yet, the mighty son of Sāntanu sportingly baffled all these arrows as they rained upon him

 

True warriors together with displaying their prowess on battlefield also stick to their vows. Their power of sword is equivalent to their power of words, and the determination for both is carried till their last breath

 

Krsna says:

dhṛtyā yayā dhārayate manaḥ-prāṇendriya-kriyāḥ
yogenāvyabhicāriṇyā dhṛtiḥ sā pārtha sāttvikī

 

O son of Pṛthā, that determination, which is unbreakable, which is sustained with steadfastness by yoga practice, and which thus controls the activities of the mind, life and senses is determination in the mode of goodness.

 

Thoughts! #gameoflife