When Citrāṅgada, that tiger among men radiant with great energy, was slain, Bhīṣma, the noble son of Śāntanu, performed his funeral rites with due reverence. Thereafter, Bhīṣma, mighty-armed and wise, installed young Vicitravīrya—still a boy, not yet come of age—upon the throne of the Kurus. Guided by Bhīṣma’s counsel, Vicitravīrya ruled the ancestral kingdom, upholding the honor of his line. After the loss of Citrāṅgada, Bhīṣma, honoring the wishes of Satyavatī, protected the kingdom for his young Kaurava brother, ensuring its safety and prosperity. As Vicitravīrya flourished in comfort and grew into his youth, Bhīṣma, foremost among the wise, turned his thoughts to arranging a suitable marriage for his brother. It was then that Bhīṣma heard of the king of Kāśī’s three daughters—maidens whose beauty rivaled that of celestial nymphs—who were to hold a svayaṃvara together. With his mother’s blessing, Bhīṣma, that foremost of chariot-warriors, set out alone in his chariot for the city of Vārāṇasī. There, Bhīṣma beheld a grand assembly of kings from all directions, each gathered in hope of winning the hand of one of the Kāśī princesses. The kings of Kāśī, Kośala, Vaṅga, Puṇḍra, and Kaliṅga, their hearts ablaze with desire for the maidens, had all come to the city. As the names of the assembled kings were proclaimed, Bhīṣma stood alone among them, his age and dignity setting him apart. The supremely beautiful princesses, upon seeing him, grew anxious and withdrew, thinking only of his advanced years. They wondered, “Old, supremely righteous, bearing wrinkles and gray hair—what reason has this bull among the Bharatas come here, and so shamelessly? What will people say of Bhīṣma, who is famed as a celibate? In vain is he so proclaimed on earth.” Hearing such words from the Kṣatriyas, Bhīṣma’s anger was kindled. He stepped forward and, with the force of thunder, chose the maidens himself and addressed the assembly of kings. Declaring that the wise praise the giving of maidens to the worthy, Bhīṣma reminded them of the ancient customs: some give maidens adorned and with wealth, even with a pair of cows; some are won by a declared price, others by force or by consent; some are approached when careless, and some are won by personal effort. Others follow the Ṛṣa marriage rite, while the eighth, the wealth-marriage, is also approved by the wise. He proclaimed that the royal class honors and accepts svayaṃvara, but the righteous declare that seizing a bride by valor is the highest. “These,” he said, “are the ways, O rulers of the earth, by which I wish to take her—by strength. So strive with all your power, to win or be defeated!” Having thus spoken to the kings and the powerful king of Kāśī, Bhīṣma placed the three princesses on his chariot. Taking leave of the assembled kings, he departed swiftly, seizing the maidens as his own. The kings, enraged by this bold act, sprang to action, grasping their weapons and biting their lips in fury. As they hastily donned their ornaments and armor, a great confusion arose among them, with the tumult of preparation echoing like a gathering of stars. Armor and ornaments lay scattered; their eyes reddened with anger, brows furrowed in wrath. Mounting splendid chariots yoked with fine horses and equipped with all manner of weapons, the kings pursued Bhīṣma. A tumultuous and hair-raising battle erupted between Bhīṣma and the many kings, as they hurled ten thousand arrows at him at once. Bhīṣma, however, intercepted every shaft before it could reach him, cutting them down with a bristling shower of his own arrows. Surrounded from all sides, he stood firm as a mountain against a storm of arrows, blocking every assault with his unmatched skill. Bhīṣma retaliated, piercing each king with three arrows, while each king struck him with five. Unshaken, Bhīṣma struck back with two arrows apiece, displaying his prowess in a tumultuous and terrible battle, reminiscent of the ancient wars between gods and demons. Before the eyes of the world’s assembled heroes, Bhīṣma cut down bows, standards, armor, and heads, all thick with arrows and spears. He shattered hundreds and thousands of his foes, his extraordinary feats and swiftness leaving all in awe. Even his enemies honored the way he defended himself, for after destroying countless warriors, he remained unscathed, his valor immeasurable. At last, the son of the king of Kāśī was brought forth by the son of the ocean-going king. Having conquered all his adversaries, Bhīṣma, the foremost among wielders of weapons, set out toward the Bharatas with the maidens. Yet, the mighty king of Shalva, indomitable in battle, pursued Bhīṣma from behind, approaching like a great elephant seeking to topple another with its tusks, intent on challenging the son of Śāntanu in single combat.