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328 CRADLE TALES OF HINDUISM his hard bed, standing now speechless with grief. Arjuna understood the request, and shot three arrows downwards into the earth, with such sure aim that they made the support the mighty bowman required.

Bhishma gave a sigh of relief, and ordered that a trench should be dug about him, and he be left without tent or furnishings, to spend the remaining months in solitary worship. Next day, however, needing water, he had recourse again to Arjuna and his arrows, and a great spring burst forth at that place where the soldier shot his bolt into the earth, so that the ear of Bhishma was soothed with the sound of running water, until the day of his actual departure. Such at least is the legend of the people concerning the great pond that sparkles still on the lonely plain of Kurukshetra.

Of the remainder of Bhishma's life, men speak to this day with bated breath. Eight long days more the battle raged beside him, and at the end, the Doom-cloud of the Kurus had broken, and carried all away with it, and the Triumph of the Pandavas was established. For the five brothers stood victorious, with all their foes lying slain about them. Then the tide of war ebbed away from Kurukshetra, and Bhishma, through sunny days and starry nights, kept his long vigil, while months passed by for the victorious Pandavas, in the business entailed by victories and the goveroment of kingdoms.