Page:The Mahabharata of Krishna-Dwaipayana Vyasa (1884).djvu/340

306 could vanquish men, Asuras, and the very gods, the powerful king of the Gandharvas bearing the same name, approached him for an encounter. And between that Gandharva and the foremost of the Kurus, who were both very powerful, there occurred on the field of Kurukshetra a fierce combat. And the combat lasted for full three years on the banks of the Saraswati. And in that terrible encounter characterised by thick showers of weapons and in which the combatants prinded each other fiercely, the Gandharva who had greater prowess of strategic deception slew the Kuru prince. And having slain Chittrangada—that first of men and oppressor of the foe—the Gandharva ascended to heaven. And when that tiger among men endued with great prowess was slain, Bhisma the son of Shantanu performed, O king, all his obsequial rites. And he then installed the boy of mighty arms, yet in his minority, on the throne of the Kurus. And placing himself under the commands of Bhisma ruled his ancestral kingdom. And he adored Shantanu's son Bhisma who was conversant with all the rules of religion and law, as, indeed, Bhisma also protected him who was so obedient to the dictates of duty.

Thus ends the hundred and first Section in the Shambhava of the Adi parvaParva [sic].

 

( Sambhava Parva continued. )

Vaisampayana said, "O thou of the Kuru race, after Chittrangada was slain, his successor being a minor, Bhisma ruled the kingdom placing himself under the commands of Satyavati. And when he saw that his brother who was the foremost of intelligent men attained to majority, Bhisma set his heart upon maryingmarrying [sic] . At this time he heard that the three daughters of the king of Kasi, all equal in beauty to the Apsaras themelvesthemselves [sic], would be married on the same occasion, electing their husbands in Swyamvara. Then that foremost of charioteers, the vanquisher of all foes, at the command of his mother went to the city of Bara-