Death is a busy farmer, how bright and fertile are his battle-fields, soaked in the spurting reds!
But even Death had to pause for breath at Life being played out right in front of him...
Arjuna, ace among archers, undetered by a broken bow-string continued his retaliation against the veteran Bhisma.
Like bulls adorned with the cuts of Bhisma's arrows, Arjuna and his charioteer Sri Krishna gleamed with ferocity of wounded tigers.
The old warrior blazed like the sun, scorching Yuddhistra's army with a relentless rain of missiles.
Seeing this, the mighty-armed Sri Krishna filled with wrath leapt into the fray, relinquishing the reins that held Arjuna's silvery steeds.
Roaring again and again like a lion, Krishna's eyes bright like copper, rushed at Bhishma in a stride that shook the earth, with only his horse-whip in hand.
Beholding Bhishma and what was about to befall the old Kaurava, the hearts of all the combatants sank to a stupor.
The stunned warriors beheld Krishna, in his yellow silk robes his body dark as lapis lazuli like a thunder cloud sparked with lightning.
Like a roaring lion towards an elephant, he impetuously rushed at Bhishma.
Beholding Sri Krishna rushing towards him, Bhishma began to fearlessly draw his mighty bow.
With a fearless heart he addressed Sri Krishna:
'Come, O Lotus-petal Eyed! I bow to you, great will be the good done to me, O Krishna, in every respect . Amongst all, in the three worlds, great is the honour done to me today in battle. Strike me as you please, for I am your slave, O sinless one.'
Arjuna, conscious of the oath taken by Sri Krishna not to fight, hastened after his charioteer, seizing him with his own arms.
Krishna seized thus, still strode with great speed, dragging the clinging Arjuna away with him.
Arjuna then caught hold of his legs, stopping Sri Krishna with great difficulty at the tenth step.
Affectionately he addressed Sri Krishna:
''O Mighty -Armed, stop! Do not break your vow: 'I will not fight'.
O Krishna, people will say that you are a liar.
All this burden rests on me.
I will slay the grandsire.
I swear, by my weapons, by truth, and my good deeds, that, O slayer of foes, I will do all to destroy these foes who are friends only of deceit.
Behold today that invincible and mighty chariot-warrior Bhishma in the act of being thrown down by me, with the greatest ease, like the crescent moon at the end of the Yuga,when the destruction of the universe comes.''
Sri Krishna, hearing these words of the high-souled Arjuna, spoke not a word, once more took his agreed place as his non-combatant charioteer.
~~~
Taking a vow or giving one's word to the wrong-doer, as Bhishma did was not in the interest of Dharma.
Whereas Sri Krishna doing what he did reminded Arjuna of his duties and that if Divine intervention is called for, it does not necessarily follow conventions.
~~~
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A/N
freely adapted/excerpted from this version [source:internet]
Urge the steeds, O Hrishikesa, to where Bhisma is. I will do as you say. I will overthrow the Kuru grandsire Bhishma, that invincible warrior.
But while battling with Bhisma, Arjuna broke the string of his own bow:
अथास्य तद अपि करुद्धश चिच्छेद धनुर अर्जुनः [45]
So Shri Krishna seeing that Arjuna was fighting mildly and Bhisma was showering arrows, put away the reins of the horses and jumped down from the chariot and proceeded with aim to kill Bhisma:
वासुदेवस तु संप्रेक्ष्य पार्थस्य मृदुयुद्धताम
भीष्मं च शरवर्षाणि सृजन्तम अनिशं युधि [50]
उत्सृज्य रजतप्रख्यान हयान पार्थस्य मारिष
करुद्धॊ नाम महायॊगी परचस्कन्द महारथात
अभिदुद्राव भीष्मं स भुजप्रहरणॊ बली
परतॊदपाणिस तेजस्वी सिंहवद विनदन मुहुः
दारयन्न इव पद्भ्यां स जगतीं जगतीश्वरः
करॊधताम्रेक्षणः कृष्णॊ जिघांसुर अमितद्युतिः
गरसन्न इव च चेतांसि तावकानां महाहवे [MB 6.102.53-55]
Abandoning then, O sire, Partha's silver like steeds, and filled with wrath, that great lord of Yoga powers jumped down from that great chariot. Repeatedly roaring like a lion, the mighty Krishna of great energy and immeasurable splendor, the Lord of Universe, with eyes red as copper from rage, and having his bare arms alone for his weapons, rushed towards Bhishma, whip in hand, desirous of slaying him and seeming to split the universe itself with his tread.
But after that, Arjuna pleaded Krishna to not break His vow and promised to kill Bhisma himself. Shri Krishna in anger without saying a word to Arjuna goes back and mounts the chariot.
माधवस तु वचः शरुत्वा फल्गुनस्य महात्मनः
न किं चिद उक्त्वा सक्रॊध आरुरॊह रथं पुनः [70]
Madhava, however, hearing these words of the high-souled Phalguni, spoke not a word, but in anger once more mounted upon the chariot.
