He sprung into action with gusto, breaking out of the bonds and repressions of fourteen years. Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, the youngest warrior in the field, joined the fray and his targets were well defined. Bhishma, his great-grandfather, was his first target, and his arrows pierced him in nine places. Bhishma, while admiring the young man’s pluck, retaliated mercilessly. Arjuna said to Krishna, “Steer me close to Bhishma. Unless we put an end to the grand old man, we will not survive—he is proving deadly.” Although Bhishma had a special bodyguard of picked warriors, Arjuna’s attack was unrelenting. Duryodhana, watching the course of battle, became nervous. He appealed to his elder, Bhishma, almost reprimanding him, “This combination of Krishna and Arjuna threatens to wipe us out. Karna, on whom I could always depend, will not fight, but only stand aside as long as you are alive.” Bhishma said, “Do you suggest that I immolate myself and leave the way clear for Karna?”
