While the two of them were speaking thus, Phalguna, placing Shikhandin in front, pierced Bhishma with sharp arrows in the fight. Then Bhishma, sorely wounded by the sharp arrows of the wielder of Gandiva, again said to Duhshasana with a smile: "These sharp-tipped arrows, driven deep into the body, touching like the thunderbolt and lightning, and loosed without pause - these are not Shikhandin's arrows. They cut through my vital points, break through firm defenses, and strike me like maces: these are not Shikhandin's arrows. They touch like the staff of Brahma, are swift as the thunderbolt, unassailable, and shatter my life-breaths: these are not Shikhandin's arrows. Like enraged, venomous serpents flickering their tongues, they enter my vital points: these are not Shikhandin's arrows. As if destroying my very life, sent forth like the messengers of Yama, they strike like mace and iron bar: these are not Shikhandin's arrows. They cut my limbs as the cold of the month of Magha cuts cattle. These are Arjuna's arrows, not Shikhandin's arrows. None of the other kings could cause me such suffering - none except the hero who wields Gandiva, Jishnu, who bears the monkey banner." So speaking, the son of Shantanu, as if wishing to burn the Pandava, hurled at him a sparking, blazing-tipped shakti, O Bharata. But Arjuna, with three arrows, cut it and brought it down in three pieces, before the eyes of all the heroes of Kuru assembled there, O Bharata.