This second half of Bhishma describes the events from the beginning of the fifth day till the end of the tenth of the great battle between the Kauravas and the Pandavas. Despite grandfather Bhishma’s appeal to conclude peace with the Pandavas, Duryodhana continues the bloody battle. The key strategist is general Bhishma, commander of the Kaurava forces. Even though he is compelled to fight on the side of the Kauravas, Bhishma’s sympathies are with the Pandavas. After the ninth day of war, when Bhishma has wreaked havoc with their troops, the Pandavas realise that they will be unable to win as long as invincible Bhishma is alive. Bhishma willingly reveals to them how he can be destroyed. Strictly observing the warrior code, he will never fight with Shikhandin, because he was originally born a woman. Bhishma advises the Pandava brothers that Ajuna should strike him from behind Shikhandin’s back, and they follow the grandfather’s advice.