Kurukshetra War - Day 4

              Day four in the Kurukshetra battlefield. Generalissimo Bhishma, supported by his mighty royal warriors and diversified forces, formed the Vyala Vyuha (Snake Array formation) and stood in defensive mode to battle against the mighty Pandava army, spirited to win the day’s battle. The Pandava army formed their array, which was new, and untried but astonishing, having four thousand elephants at each of its corner in attack mode, with the ape bannered chariot shining brightly with Krishna and Arjuna protecting and leading it from the front. Witnessing that array formation the whole of Kaurava army was filled with dismay and seeing Arjuna in the front, they all were terrified.

         With the sun mounting in east, thousands of conches were blown and drums were beaten indicating the start of the battle. Filled with courage and with no personal reason, the warriors proceeded against their foe hoping for either victory or heroic death. Elephants banged with elephants of foes. Loud shouts of the warriors, twangs of the bows and bangs of the maces and clanks of swords were heard signifying the frightfulness of the war.

Pithamaha Bhishma with all his mightiness began to slaughter the Pandava warriors with his shafts. Witnessing the prowess of Bhishma, Arjuna proceeded against him to save his warriors. Seeing Arjuna, Dronacharya accompanied by Krpacharya, King Salya, King Duryodhana, Bhurisravas and Vivinsati rushed to protect their generalissimo. Arjuna faced the mighty warriors and Maharathas rushing towards him, with his incredible Gandiva. Arrows showered from the mighty Gandiva pierced the Kaurava soldiers and slayed them before they could react. Terrified Kaurava warriors ran towards Bhishma. With Arjuna battling against Bhishma, Dronacharya and his accompanies, Arjuna’s sons, Abhimanyu and Srutakarma formed a mighty shield of protection for their mighty father.

Singly, possessed with mighty celestial weapons and skills, Abhimanyu fought with a cheering heart against the five mighty undefeatable warriors Aswathama, Chitrasena, Bhurisravas, King Salya and Prince Shalaputra (Son of King Samyamani).  Abhimanyu, with a courageous heart afflicted the five mighty Maharathas with all his mightiness, bravery and knowledge in weaponry and those five warriors and their platoons were unable to defend themselves. Srutakarma shone in battling against the mighty Dronacharya, Krpacharya, Duryodhana and Vivinsati. Witnessing the mightiness of his sons, Arjuna, filled with happiness cheered them and raged against Bhishma. Both Bhishma and Arjuna showered sharp edged arrows which ravenously slaughtered the warriors, elephants and steeds.

Witnessing the fall of his warriors in the hands of Arjuna and his sons, Duryodhana urged 25,000 foremost warriors comprising the skilled Madra Kingdom’s archers along with the Knights of the Trigartha and Kekaya Kingdoms to slay the sons of Arjuna. Beholding the division of foe’s army marching towards Arjuna and his sons, the generalissimo of Pandava army, Dhrishtadyumna advanced against them with his troop. Uncompromising battle was fought, with everyone trying to succeed.

While advancing to protect the sons of Arjuna, Dhrishtadyumna slew Prince Damana, the son of Paurava King Parvataraja and with his mighty darts he slew Jagha, cousin of Kritavarman and 10 foremost army generals of Madra Kingdom. With extremely sharp tipped arrows, he slew the protectors of Prince Shalaputra and his chariot’s steeds and charioteer. Standing on a grounded chariot, enraged Prince Shalaputra proceeded against Dhrishtadyumna with his sword. Respecting the rules of battle, Dhrishtadyumna descended from his chariot with his sword, battled against Prince Shalaputra and slayed him.

Witnessing Prince Shalaputra lying lifeless on the ground, loud uproar was heard in the battlefield and beholding his son slain, King Samyamani and King Salya raged against Dhrishtadyumna. Salya covered Dhrishtadyumna with his arrows. Abhimanyu rushed to protect Dhrishtadyumna by showering his arrows. While advancing, he slew the Magadha King using his silver winged pointy arrows and the elephant the King was riding on. Beholding the King dead, Duryodhana, accompanied by his ten brothers and their division of army rushed against Abhimanyu and surrounded him to protect King Salya. Abhimanyu, with cheered heart battled against those rushing warriors and King Salya for hours. Duryodhana and his brothers intended to seize the unbeatable Abhimanyu by separating him from his army. 

Elephant warriors of Magadha!

    Witnessing Abhimanyu being drawn into the circle of the Kaurava army, Dhrishtadyumna along with the UpaPandavas (5 sons of Draupathi), Nakula and Sahadeva rushed against the brothers of Duryodhana with their diversified weapons. The battle was so fierce that none stopped until they slayed their opponent. While the battle was proceeding for hours, Bhīma rushed towards the spot in his chariot. Duryodhana commanded 10,000 skilled Magadha elephant warriors to battle against the mighty Bhīma. Bhīma, the skilled elephant slayer, armed with his mace rushed against the elephant division approaching him. Bhīma singly smashed those mighty four-tusked elephants with his mace and thundering strikes. Bhīma’s prowess even terrified the hearts of Pandava army who were witnessing him crushing those colossal elephants like ants. Dhrishtadyumna too entered with his mace and slayed the elephants while Nakula and Sahadeva were protecting the rear of Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna and the UpaPandavas showered their arrows from the front, leading path for those two mighty elephant slayers to penetrate. Within an hour, Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna annihilated the elephant division of Magadha army and the dead elephants were on ground, like chopped mountains. Whirling his mace Bhīma slayed Druma, the head of the elephant division. With his mace dripping blood and him drenched in blood, Bhīma was looking horrific and the brothers of Duryodhana fled in fear.

By noon, as the sun was in his peak but blazing less than Bhīma, Duryodhana urged his vast troop to slay Bhīma. Accompanied by Dhrishtadyumna, Sikandi, Sahadeva, Nakula, Abhimanyu and the UpaPandavas, Bhīma, with great ease, smashed the warriors approaching him. Witnessing Bhīma’s terribleness and merciless battling, the Kaurava warriors fled in terror and few even lost their lives out of fear just by beholding the terrible look of Bhīma with his mace.

King Bhurisravas, the son of King Somadatta battled against Satyaki who was assaulting the Kaurava army without mercy. Pithamaha Bhishma battled against Arjuna and Abhimanyu. Duryodhana himself encountered Bhīma with extreme rage. The duel was intense that both of them continued battling without even intervals. Bhīma broke the bow of Duryodhana through his shafts. Enraged, Duryodhana took another bow, stringed it and aimed a sharp pointy arrow at Bhīma. The arrow pierced the armor and hit in between Bhīma’s breasts. Deeply hurt, Bhīma collapsed in his chariot. Witnessing Bhīma lying unconscious, King Salya, Duryodhana and his brothers moved forward with cheered heart to slay Bhīma but the dream of theirs was shattered as Abhimanyu approached there with his mighty division of army. Abhimanyu pierced King Salya with his sharp golden winged arrows and Salya was removed from the battlefield by his charioteer.

Abhimanyu defending Bhima

Duryodhana encountered Abhimanyu while, Bhīma recovering from his conscious, encountered the 14 brothers of Duryodhana. Taking his bow in his hand, Bhīma showered darts at the brothers of Duryodhana. The 14 brothers, with intense rage rushed against Bhīma like deer raging against an alligator. Bhīma, with cheered heart, showered arrows at them and cut of the head of Senapati and slayed Jalasandha in three shafts. Before even the rest of the brothers could respond Bhīma slayed Sushena and Ugra.  Calling upon a celestial arrow, using 70 shafts, he exterminated Viravahu along with his charioteer and steeds. In the midst of the terrified Kaurava army, Bhīma assassinated Bhimavega, Bhīmavikra and Sulochana with his broad headed arrows. Petrified in witnessing the ruthless act of Bhima, the remnant brothers fled away along with their forces.

Witnessing Bhīma slaughtering the terrified Kaurava warriors who were running away, King Bhagadatta came attacking Bhīma with his elephant warriors. Abhimanyu checked the elephant warriors while Bhīma encountered Bhagadatta. Though Bhagadatta was able to strike Bhīma at first, in few moments, regaining his strength, Bhīma began to assault Bhagadatta and Bhishma and Drona came with their division of troops to save Bhagadatta.

Bhishma withdraws his army!

Nearing Bhagadatta, Bhishma said, “Our animals are tired and the sun is also about to set. Let’s not start a fresh fight at this time. It will be better if we all withdraw from today’s battle. Less time is left for sunset and so I declare the army to withdraw for the day.”

Acknowledging his words, Bhagadatta and Drona blew their conch along with Bhishma. Hearing the sound of the conches, the Kaurava army was gladdened and left the battlefield with fear for Bhīma, even though the sun is not yet set. With the Kaurava army withdrawing, the Pandavas too blew the conch for withdrawal and the Pandava army, delighted on their yet another day of victory retired to their camp. Depressed on the death of his brothers, Duryodhana filled with grief and tears left the battlefield.