Mahabharata Book Six (Volume 2)

This second half of Bhishma describes the events from the beginning of the fifth day till the end of the tenth of the great battle between the K&#225uravas and the P&#225ndavas. Despite grandfather Bhishma’s appeal to conclude peace with the P&#225ndavas, Dury&#243dhana continues the bloody battle. The key strategist is general Bhishma, commander of the K&#225urava forces. Even though he is compelled to fight on the side of the K&#225uravas, Bhishma’s sympathies are with the P&#225ndavas. After the ninth day of war, when Bhishma has wreaked havoc with their troops, the P&#225ndavas realise that they will be unable to win as long as invincible Bhishma is alive. Bhishma willingly reveals to them how he can be destroyed. Strictly observing the warrior code, he will never fight with Shikh&#225ndin, because he was originally born a woman. Bhishma advises the P&#225ndava brothers that &#193rjuna should strike him from behind Shikh&#225ndin’s back, and they follow the grandfather’s advice.