Bhishma Defeats King Shalva in a Duel
During his retreat with the princesses, Bhishma is struck from behind by King Shalva, the man Amba had chosen. Enraged, Bhishma turns his chariot for a duel, a fight witnessed by the defeated kings who now become an audience to a clash of pride.
The battle was over, the kings defeated. But as Bhishma drove away with the maidens, one king’s spirit remained indomitable. King Shalva — the very man Amba had pledged herself to — struck Shantanu’s son from behind. It was like a bull elephant attacking a rival from the rear. “Stay, stay!” Shalva shouted, driven by anger.
Bhishma, the tiger among men and destroyer of enemy armies, blazed like a fire without smoke. Following the dharma of Kshatriyas, and without any sign of fear, the maharatha (great chariot-warrior) turned his chariot towards Shalva.
Seeing him turn, all the other kings stopped. They became an audience, wishing to witness the duel between the two champions. Like two powerful, raging bulls fighting over a cow in heat, they turned on each other with great strength.
Shalva, best among men, covered Bhishma with hundreds and thousands of swift arrows. Seeing Bhishma covered first, the assembled kings were astounded and exclaimed, “Blessed, blessed!” They applauded Shalva’s dexterity.
Hearing the shouts of the Kshatriyas, Bhishma was incensed. “Stay, stay!” he cried in answer. He angrily commanded his charioteer, “Drive up to that king. I will instantly kill him, the way the king of birds kills a snake.”
The Kourava attached the varuna weapon to his bow and used it to wound Shalva’s four horses. He fended off all of Shalva’s weapons, used a single arrow to kill his charioteer, and with another weapon killed the excellent horses. Shalva was left defenseless on the field.
For the sake of the maidens, Shantanu’s son Bhishma defeated that supreme among kings, but let him off with his life. Shalva left for his own city. The kings who had come to witness the svayamvara, their own fight finished, now departed for their own kingdoms as spectators to a concluded drama.