An Index to the Names in the Mahabharata, with Short Explanations and a Concordance to the Bombay and Calcutta Editions and P. C. Roy's Translation c5.s2.386.1

c5.s2.386.1

[Bhīṣmavad haparvan] ("the section relating to the slaying of Bhīṣma," the 70th of the minor parvans of Mhbhr.; cf. Bhīṣmavadha). § 577: Beholding Arjuna again taking up the Gāṇḍīva, the Pāṇḍavas and Somakas were filled with joy and blew their conches, etc. D., G., P., Si., Cā., and R. came with Indra in order to behold the fight. Putting off his coat of mail, etc., Yudhiṣṭhira, followed by his brothers (a) (who did not know his intentions) and Kṛṣṇa, proceeded on foot, with joined hands, to Bhīṣma, and after another, and asked their permission to fight. He also inquired about the means of vanquishing Bhīṣma and Droṇa, and as they said that they were invincible he asked them to indicate the means of killing them. They gave the permission, said they would pray for his victory, though they were bound by the wealth of the Kurus to fight for them. Bhīṣma said that his time of death had not yet come, he must come to see him once more. Droṇa said that if he did not give himself up to death and drop his weapons nobody would be able to slay him; he would drop his arms if he heard something very disagreeable from someone whose speech was trustworthy. Kṛpa said he was incapable of being slain. Çalya renewed his promise to weaken the energy of Karṇa. When the Kauravas saw Yudhiṣṭhira, they contemned him, believing that he had come in terror. Kṛṣṇa endeavoured to bring Karṇa over to the Pāṇḍavas, as long as Bhīṣma was not slain, but in vain.