tifications which bristled with defences and
were liberally stocked with jars of scorpions, hot oil, and missiles,
the two parties drew up rules of battle, which neither was to infringe
under penalty of incurring the world's execration.

Even nature now showed by unmistakable signs that a terrible conflict
was about to take place, and when the two armies--which the Hindus
claim numbered several billion men--came face to face, Krishna delayed
the fight long enough to recite with Arjuna a dialogue of eighteen
cantos called the Bhagavad-gita, or Divine Song, which contains a
complete system of Indian religious philosophy.

The Pandavs, having besought the aid of the monkeys, were informed
they would derive great benefit by bearing a monkey banner, so it was
armed with this standard that they marched on to victory.

The sons of Pandu marked the coming storm
And swift arrayed their force. The chief divine
And Arjuna at the king's request
Raised in the van the ape-emblazoned banner,
The host's conducting star, the guiding light
That cheered the bravest heart, and as it swept
The air, it warmed each breast with martial fires.

Throughout the war the Pandav forces were directed by the same
general, but their opponents had four. A moment after the first
collision, the sky was filled with whistling arrows, while the air
resounded with the neighing of horses and the roaring of elephants;
the plain shook, and clouds of dust, dimming the light of the sun,
formed a heavy pall, beneath which Pandavs and Kurus struggled in
deadly fight. This frightful conflict lasted eighteen days, the battle
always stopping at sunset, to enable the combatants to recover their
strength.

And ever and anon the thunder roared,
And angry lightnings flashed across the gloom,
Or blazing meteors fearful shot to earth.
Regardless of these awful signs, the chiefs
Pressed on to mutual slaughter, and the peal
Of shouting hosts commingling shook the world.

The Kurus' general, Bhishma, fell on the tenth day,--after a terrible
fight with Arjuna,--riddled with so many arrows that his body could
not touch the ground. Although mortally wounded, he lay in this state,
his head supported by three arrows, for fifty-eight days, and was thus
able to bestow good advice on those who came to consult him.

Darker grew the gloomy midnight, and the princes went their way;
On his bed of pointed arrows, Bhishma lone and dying lay.

He was