this hath been narrated by Sanjaya the formation of the region known as
Jambu. Here hath been described the great depression of Yudhishthira's
army, and also a fierce fight for ten successive days. In this the high-
souled Vasudeva by reasons based on the philosophy of final release drove
away Arjuna's compunction springing from the latter's regard for his
kindred (whom he was on the eve of slaying). In this the magnanimous
Krishna, attentive to the welfare of Yudhishthira, seeing the loss
inflicted (on the Pandava army), descended swiftly from his chariot
himself and ran, with dauntless breast, his driving whip in hand, to
effect the death of Bhishma. In this, Krishna also smote with piercing
words Arjuna, the bearer of the Gandiva and the foremost in battle among
all wielders of weapons. In this, the foremost of bowmen, Arjuna, placing
Shikandin before him and piercing Bhishma with his sharpest arrows felled
him from his chariot. In this, Bhishma lay stretched on his bed of arrows.
This extensive Parva is known as the sixth in the Bharata. In this have
been composed one hundred and seventeen sections. The number of slokas is
five thousand, eight hundred and eighty-four as told by Vyasa conversant
with the Vedas.

"Then is recited the wonderful Parva called Drona full of incidents. First
comes the installation in the command of the army of the great instructor
in arms, Drona: then the vow made by that great master of weapons of
seizing the wise Yudhishthira in battle to please Duryodhana; then the
retreat of Arjuna from the field before the Sansaptakas, then the
overthrow of Bhagadatta like to a second Indra in the field, with the
elephant Supritika, by Arjuna; then the death of the hero Abhimanyu in his
teens, alone and unsupported, at the hands of many Maharathas including
Jayadratha; then after the death of Abhimanyu, the destruction by Arjuna,
in battle of seven Akshauhinis of troops and then of Jayadratha; then the
entry, by Bhima of mighty arms and by that foremost of warriors-in-chariot,