Mahabharata Bibliomancy Reading
This oracle randomly points to a line from one of sacred books of Mahabharata. The surrounding lines are also provided for context.
Your passage is from BOOK 6 - BHISHMA PARVA - SECTION CXX.
Before, however, he could come down from his car, Arjuna cut off by means of his arrows, that shield into a hundred fragments.
Surrounding Context from
BOOK 6 - BHISHMA PARVA - SECTION CXX
Of the touch of maces and spiked bludgeons, those arrows are destroying my vital forces like messengers of Death commissioned (by the grim king himself).
These are not Sikhandin’s.
Like angry snakes of virulent poison, projecting their tongues out, these are penetrating into my vitals.
These are not Sikhandin’s--these that cut me to the quick like the cold of winter cutting kine to the quick.
Save the heroic wielder of Gandiva, viz., the ape-bannered Jishnu, even all other kings united together cannot cause me pain.’ Saying these words, Bhishma, the valiant son of Santanu, as if for the object of consuming the Pandavas, hurled a dart at Partha.
Partha, however, caused that dart to drop down, cutting it into three fragments with three shafts, in the very sight, O Bharata, of all the Kuru heroes of thy army.
Desirous of obtaining either death or victory, the son of Ganga then took up a sword and a shield decked with gold.
Before, however, he could come down from his car, Arjuna cut off by means of his arrows, that shield into a hundred fragments.
And that feat of his seemed exceedingly wonderful.
Then the king Yudhishthira urged his own troops, saying, ‘Rush ye at Ganga’s son.
Do not entertain the slightest fear’.
Then, armed with bearded darts, and lances, and arrows, from all sides, with axes, and excellent scimitars, and long shafts of great sharpness, with calf-toothed arrows, and broad-headed shafts, they all rushed at that single warrior.
Then arose from among the Pandava host a loud shout.
Then thy sons also, O king, desirous of Bhishma’s victory, surrounded him and uttered leonine shouts.
Fierce was the battle fought there between thy troops and those of the enemy on that the tenth day, O king, when Bhishma and Arjuna met together.
