Bhishma said: 'Fractions of time combine, dear child — muhurtas, days, half-months, months, lunar mansions, and planets. The seasons too combine, and so do the years; thus, through this division of time, the wheel of time turns. Because of the excess of time and the shifting of the heavenly bodies, two extra months arise in every fifth year. For thirteen years, by my reckoning, this yields five additional months and twelve nights. Everything that was promised by them has been duly fulfilled. Knowing this for certain, Bibhatsu has now come. All of them are great souls, all versed in dharma and its true purpose; with Yudhishthira as their king, why would they ever transgress dharma? The sons of Kunti are free of greed and have accomplished what is hard to accomplish; they would not desire the kingdom alone by unrighteous means. Even then, O joy of the Kurus, they wished to show their valor, but bound by the bonds of dharma, they did not depart from the kshatriya vow. Whatever would brand them as liars, and whatever would lead to defeat — the sons of Pritha would choose death over falsehood in any way. When the time has come, these bulls among men will not give up what is rightfully theirs, even if it were guarded by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself — such is the strength of the Pandavas. Let us fight in battle against the best of all who bear weapons. Therefore, whatever good is here, whatever the virtuous have carried out in this world, let it be swiftly arranged, lest our purpose pass to others. I see no certainty, ever, in any battle, O Kaurava, of victory belonging to one side alone, O king of kings; and Dhananjaya has already arrived. Once battle has begun, being and non-being, victory and defeat inevitably touch one side or the other — this is seen without doubt. Therefore, O king of kings, let whatever action pertains to war, or is joined with dharma, be done swiftly, for Dhananjaya has arrived.'