Kurukshetra War - Day 2

        

      Second day of war. Dhrishtadyumna commanded his army to assemble in the Krauncha Vyuha formation. King Drupada and his division of army along with a hundred thousand Maharathas formed the head of the bird, Nakula and Sahadeva along with their division of troops stood in the left wing and King Yudhistra along with his division stood in the right wing. On the joints of the wings were placed 10,000 chariots protected by 30,000 elephant warriors in each corners of the joints. The back of the bird array was protected by King Virata with the support of the army division of King Kasi of Chedi and the Kekayas numbering around a hundred million along with around thirty thousand Rathas and Maharathas. King Kuntibhoja was one eye whereas the other one was occupied by King Saivya. The rulers of Prayagas, Anupakas, Kiratas, Dasaranas and Daesarakas were placed in the neck of the array along with 1, 70,000 Rathas and Maharathas.

         Armed with diversified weapons and armored, the Kaurava army, under the protection of their generalissimo Bhishma of immeasurable talent formed the Garuda Vyuha formation. Bhishma and his large division of protectors formed the head and the beak, Duryodhana and his brothers formed the body while King Salya, Bhurisravas, Bhagadatta, Vinda and Anuvinda formed the left wing and King Somadatta, Susarman and King Sudhakshina formed the right wing. Aswathama along with Krpacharya and Kritavarman formed the rear. Expecting sunrise, the armies waited cheerfully with rage.

         With the sun rising in the east sharing the first light of the day, Bhishma blew his conch and following him, all the Maharathas and Rathas of both the armies blew their conches filled with desire to fight. With that, both the armies, roaring aloud advanced against each other filled with intentions of slaying the foe. For the sake of Duryodhana, the immeasurably souled Bhishma began to shower arrows on the troops of the Pandavas and Abhimanyu. Copious foot soldiers, archers and knights fell on ground deprived of life, unable to defend against Bhishma.      

         Witnessing the mightiness of Pithamaha Bhishma, Arjuna and Krishna rushed to the spot, routing the resisting Kaurava soldiers.  Arjuna encountered Bhishma with all his mightiness and braveness. Duel between the world’s best archers started and the area was filled with arrows and sound of twangs from both the bows. Both of them pierced each other with multiple shafts. Defenders of Bhishma, mighty Dronacharya, King Saguni, King Salya, King Duryodhana, Aswathama and Vikarna showered shafts on Arjuna and Krishna from all sides. Standing tranquil, Arjuna cut off every single arrow approaching him and Krishna. Beholding Arjuna, King Satyaki, Abhimanyu, King Virata and the UpaPandavas came in for defense. Filled with skilled and talented warriors, the spot was crowded with foot soldiers, Knights and archers who were excited to witness the duel among the warriors.

         Striving for victory, the mighty Bhishma and Arjuna struck each other with mighty shafts. Arjuna showered a celestial weapon where thousand arrows, like dense forest, fell from the sky and covered Pithamaha. Feeling proud on Arjuna’s mightiness, Bhishma thwarted Arjuna by coming out of the forest of arrows in a blink of an eye.  Filled with delight and energy, both of them shot and countered at each other. Without battling, the warriors witnessed the duel of those skilled souls with surprise, which was a delight to watch. Inept of being defeated or being captured, Arjuna battled for hours with courage and mightiness while Bhishma enjoyed his duel, feeling pleased and at times gladdened on the prowess of Arjuna. Bhishma hit Krishna with three of his shafts which pierced the armor. It appeared like the duel might be a never ending battle.

         Meanwhile, both the troops fought with desire of victory. Dronacharya, who was battling against Dhrishtadyumna, broke his foe’s chariot and slew the steeds and the charioteer using his exceptional shafts of arrows. Taking the window of opportunity he got, Dronacharya broke the bow of Dhrishtadyumna. Deprived of chariot, steeds and bow, Dhrishtadyumna took his mace and rushed to hurl it at Dronacharya. Before even Dhrishtadyumna could descend from his broken chariot, Dronacharya broke the mace into pieces through his shafts. He then showered hundreds of arrows at Dhrishtadyumna who was standing stranded. Raged, furious Dhrishtadyumna rushed against Dronacharya with a shield in his hand which too was broken into pieces by the mighty Dronacharya. Seeing Dhrishtadyumna on the verge of being vanquished, Bhīma rushed to the spot in his chariot and defended his generalissimo by taking him in his chariot. Dronacharya then encountered with King Virata and King Drupada who came in defense for Bhīma.

Kalinga elephant warriors!

     Seeing Bhīma, Duryodhana urged the elephant division of the Kalingas to rush against Bhīma. Kalinga King Srutayush, on the command of Duryodhana rushed against Bhīma with 10,000 elephants, 1000 Rathas and Maharathas and Nishadha knights along with Nishadha King Ketumat. Along with the division of Chedi troops, Bhīma proceeded against the Kalingas with rage. The battle was so fierce that the warriors slayed event their friends and relatives without any second thought. Unable to withstand the prowess and the cheerful Nishadas and the gigantic Kalinga elephants, the Chedis fled in fear. Bhīma, with ease, singly fought against the whole division approaching him. Bhīma, with his mighty bow, showered arrows on the foes approaching him wishing for death. Kalinga Prince Sakradeva slew the steeds of Bhīma. Standing on the grounded chariot, serene Bhīma took his Saikya mace and flung it at Sakradeva. Hit on the head, Sakradeva fell from his chariot, deprived of life. King Srutayush, Kalinga King and the father of Sakradeva, along with Prince Bhanumat, the brother of Sakradeva rushed against Bhīma with rage. They covered Bhīma with dense showers of arrows. Bhīma, taking his bow in hand and endued with mightiness, responded to the arrows approaching him and as a result, the arrows of the Kalingas fell in pieces. Cheered Bhīma then roared aloud, implanting fear in the hearts of the Kalingas and Nishadas. 
        With a sword in his hand, Bhīma jumped on the elephant of Bhanumat in a blink of an eye. Slaying the elephant rider, standing on the top of the elephant, he inserted his sword on the head of the elephant. Descending from the elephant in style, Bhīma slew numerous elephants, Knights, chariots and foot soldiers with his sharp pointy sword. With rage, Bhīma rushed against King Srutayush. Bhīma, defending himself from the arrows of the King, mounted on a new chariot that King Asoka brought for him. With his bow in his hand and with pointy iron darts, he slayed King Srutayush and then Satyadeva and Satya, the foremost generals of Kalinga army who were also the protectors of the King. Raising his bow and with sharp arrows, he slew Prince Bhanumat.

         Beholding their King, princes and generals dead, the whole of Kalinga warriors rushed against Bhīma with rage. Witnessing the Kalinga army, Dhrishtadyumna along with Sikandi and King Yudhistra and with many warriors approached Bhīma for protection. King Satyaki rushed as a layer of protection for King Yudhistra. Dhrishtadyumna and his legion crushed the Kalinga warriors and the battle, before forenoon itself was fierce and cruel. In the battle, Bhīma slaughtered 700 Kalinga Kshatriyas and 2000 Kalinga Knights and foot soldiers. He crushed the elephant warriors of Kalinga army entirely and not tired, he kept continuing his prowess in slaying the cavalries.  Filled with fear for death, the meager foot soldiers and archers of the Kalinga army ran towards Pithamaha for protection. Bhishma, after seeking permission from Arjuna to cease the duel as he has to leave the spot to defend his soldiers, informed his charioteer to rush towards Bhīma. 

         Dhrishtadyumna, King Satyaki and Bhīma pierced Bhishma with their showers of shafts. With ease, the mighty Bhishma responded to them with his arrow showers. Pithamaha in the battle slew the steeds of Bhīma’s chariot and broke his bow. Bhīma swiftly ascended the chariot of Dhrishtadyumna and flew away from Pithamaha while Satyaki engaged with Bhishma in a fight. Satyaki, with all his mightiness, shot pointy arrows which slew the charioteer of Pithamaha and as a result, the steeds ran in the battlefield out of control. Without an alternate charioteer, Pithamaha was forced to leave the battlefield, controlling his steeds.

         By early afternoon, Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna crushed the Kalinga army’s Rathas, Maharathas, elephant warriors, Knights, archers and foot soldiers. After the extermination of the Kalinga Kshatriyas from the battlefield and also from the face of earth, Dhrishtadyumna battled with Aswathama, Krpacharya and King Salya. With his steeds slain by Dhrishtadyumna, Aswathama fought ascending on the chariot of King Salya. Abhimanyu came to defend Dhrishtadyumna, who was forced to face a duel with Lakshmana, Son of Duryodhana. The battle was so fierce that Lakshmana broke the bow of Abhimanyu but still, with excited heart, Abhimanyu fought with his cousin, piercing him with his 500 sharp pointy arrows showered from a new bow. Seeing his son struggling against Abhimanyu, Duryodhana rushed to the spot and Abhimanyu, much delighted than ever, faced both Duryodhana and Lakshmana with ease. On the advice of Krishna, Arjuna rushed to the spot to protect his mighty son. With the father and son duo battling like gods, Duryodhana and his son, unable to face the prowess had no way to escape from the shafts. Seeing the situation of Duryodhana, Bhishma and Dronacharya hurried to the spot with thousands of chariots, elephants and knights.

         “Father, I will take care of uncle Duryodhana and Lakshmana. They are no match to my prowess. Don’t worry about me. You stop the mighty Bhishma and Dronacharya from reaching here. Stop them and I will make uncle Duryodhana surrender to uncle Yudhistra by evening.”- said Abhimanyu to his father Arjuna.

         Feeling proud on listening to the words of Abhimanyu, Arjuna and Krishna went towards Bhishma and Dronacharya. While Abhimanyu was battling with ease against King Duryodhana and Lakshmana, Arjuna stopped the mighty Bhishma and Dronacharya and their division of army from proceeding further. The Kaurava soldiers fled in all directions, unable to face the mightiness of Arjuna, Bhīma, Abhimanyu and Dhrishtadyumna. The Pandava troops seeing the Kaurava warriors fleeing in fear, battled with cheered heart.

Sunset!

         With the sun setting on the horizon, Krishna informed Arjuna to stop the war and blew his Panchajanya conch. Arjuna, listening to Krishna’s words, ceased his fight, kept his Gandiva aside and took his Devadatta conch and blew it.

“Just like how the night is stealing the light from the world, Arjuna and Bhīma are taking away the hope of victory from our warriors. Let’s withdraw the army. Tired and terrified, our warriors need time to rest and regain hope.” – Saying so, Pithamaha Bhishma blew his conch.

And thus, every Maharatha warrior blew their conch and the warriors left the battlefield and returned to their respective camps, agreeing in their heart that the day belonged to the Pandavas.