Kurukshetra War - Day 6

        Witnessing that the time for sunrise is nearing, the warriors woke up and got prepared for the battle. Finishing their morning rituals and prayers, the warriors gathered for the array formation. On the command of King Yudhistra, Dhrishtadyumna commanded his army to form the Makara Vyuha while the Kaurava warriors, on the command of their generalissimo Bhishma, formed the Krauncha Vyuha.

Krishna blows his Panchajanya

          Not wishing to make the armies wait, the sun rose in the east, chasing the darkness away by discharging his bright golden rays. And with that, conchs were blown and drums were beaten. Excited with wrath without any personal reason, the warriors rushed at each other regardless of their lives, for yet another day, for King Duryodhana and King Yudhistra.

          Bhīma, who was leading the Pandava army to break the Kaurava’s array rushed against Dronacharya. In their duel, with greater force, Bhīma shot his pointy darts which slayed the charioteer of Dronacharya. But still, being indifferent to the situation, the mighty and immeasurably skilled Dronacharya shot his shafts on the Pandava troops and also controlled the steeds of his chariot. Drona was checked by Dhrishtadyumna as Bhīma proceeded forward into the Kaurava array. Bhīma was encountered by the sons of King Dhritarashtra, who surrounded him with their platoon. Furious like the raging sun, Bhīma, without looking back, proceeded forward, rupturing the Kaurava array. Valiant and courageous, Bhīma, standing surrounded by thousands and thousands of Kaurava warriors, slew them all with his sharp pointy shafts, ignoring the mightiness of those warriors. He fell thousands of elephant warriors and cavalries, including their steeds and elephants. Witnessing the rushing Kaurava warriors, Bhīma, with his mace in hand, descended from his chariot and started grinding the Kaurava warriors, leaving his mark by smashing the chariots and slaughtering animals and warriors.  The sons of King Dhritarashtra fled away in fear, leaving their squadron.

Bhima and his mace - Kaurava warriors' nightmare!

          Witnessing Bhīma, Dhrishtadyumna rushed towards Bhīma, following the path created by Bhīma which had the traces of Bhīma’s prowess.  Taking Bhīma in his chariot, Dhrishtadyumna, begun to slaughter the rushing Kaurava army by showering pointy and razor sharp darts. The brothers of Duryodhana rushed with rage again towards Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna, on the command of Duryodhana. Standing fearless, Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna encountered the sons of King Dhritarashtra and their legion and slaughtered them with their pointy darts. Dhrishtadyumna, planning to end the duel, invoked the mighty Pramohana Astra and shot it towards the brothers of Duryodhana. Struck by the Pramohana Astra, the brothers of Duryodhana fell unconscious on their chariot. Drona, who was engaged in a duel with his beloved old friend, King Drupada, witnessing the brothers of Duryodhana lying unconscious and defend less, piercing Drupada with three pointy darts in the chest and making him leave the battle, he rushed towards Dhrishtadyumna. Invoking the mighty  Prajna Astra, Dronacharya nullified the effects of Dhrishtadyumna’s Pramohana.

          Gaining their senses back, the brothers of King Duryodhana engaged in battling against Bhīma while Dhrishtadyumna encountered Dronacharya. Beholding the fierce battle between Dhrishtadyumna and Bhīma against the brothers of Duryodhana and Dronacharya and their legions, worried King Yudhistra said, “Abhimanyu! Dhrishtadyumna and Bhīma are battling against the brothers of King Duryodhana and Guru Drona. Take 12 Maharathas along with their platoon and go defend your uncles, right now.”

  

Abhimanyu ...daring and heroic

By noon, supported by the UpaPandavas, Dhrishtaketu and the Kekayas and their respective platoons, Abhimanyu, forming the Suchimukha array, proceeded to defend his uncles. Those who were running away from Bhīma and Dhrishtadyumna were encountered by Abhimanyu and his platoon and slaughtered viciously. Dhrishtadyumna made Bhīma to be removed from the spot by letting the King of Kekaya take him in his chariot. Dhrishtadyumna continued his duel with Dronacharya. With his bow broken and steeds and charioteer slain after a long duel, defeated Dhrishtadyumna ascended on Abhimanyu’s chariot and left the place as Drona began to consume the Pandava warriors.

          Riding on his golden chariot, Bhīma rushed against the Kaurava brothers who were defending Duryodhana. Though the battle was fierce, Bhīma with all his mightiness was responding to the darts of his Kaurava brothers. Bhīma’s darts failed not to pierce the brothers of Duryodhana. Scared, the brothers begun to flee, ignoring Duryodhana.

          Re-energized after securing their generalissimo, Abhimanyu returned with his platoon to defend his uncle Bhīma.  Abhimanyu and his army struck the fleeing brothers of Duryodhana and their legions. Struck in between Abhimanyu and Bhīma, the brothers were hopeless of their life. Bhīma battled with Duryodhana and his legion while the 5 Kekaya princes fought against Duchadhana. Heroic Abhimanyu battled against Vikarna, Durjaya and Chitrasena while Arjuna was slaughtering the Trigarthas and the Samshaptakas.

Arjuna battling the Trigarthas

The sun began to change his colors from bright whitish yellow to red. Abhimanyu slew the steeds and charioteer of Vikarna and made Vikarna ascend Chitrasena’s chariot and they both continued their battle against Abhimanyu. Though facing two mighty heroes, daring Abhimanyu aimed his pointy darts to strike the armor of Vikarna which pierced it and entered his chest. Struck, Vikarna fell unconscious in the chariot and Chitrasena commanded his charioteer to leave the battlefield immediately, in order to save his brother. Vanquishing Vikarna, Abhimanyu engaged in slaughtering the Kaurava army.

Meanwhile, in the duel, Bhīma pierced Duryodhana with many of his pointy darts. Bhīma slew the steeds and charioteer of Duryodhana. With another two of his shafts, he broke the bow and flag standard of Duryodhana. And with his six pointy shafts, he pierced Duryodhana in his shoulders and chest. Beholding Duryodhana standing undefended, King Jayadratha along with his legion rushed in defense. While Bhīma was battling with Jayadratha, Krpacharya bore away Duryodhana in his chariot.

The UpaPandavas battled with the brothers of Duryodhana. Durmukha slew the steeds and charioteer of Srutakarma (Son of Arjuna) but yet, standing fearlessly on his grounded chariot, Srutakarma battled fiercely against his uncle Durmukha. Piercing Durmukha in his chest, Srutakarma made the Kaurava army flee.  

Satanika (Son of Nakula), defending his brother, engaged in battling with Jayatsena and Dushkarna fiercely. Dushkarna, with rage, cut off the bow of Satanika. Dreaded not, taking another bow and with his well-aimed shafts, Satanika broke the bow of Dushkarna and before he could respond, he slew the steeds and the charioteer. With seven shafts, Satanika pierced Dushkarna’s armor and with the eighth arrow, he struck Dushkarna in the chest, making him fell unconscious on his chariot.

          Beholding Dushkarna vanquished and lying unconscious, the Kaurava army and the brothers of Dushkarna rushed against the UpaPandavas. Standing dauntless, the sons of Draupathi engaged in showering their pointy darts at their foes. The 5 Kekaya Princes rushed to defend the UpaPandavas and engaged in slaughtering the Kaurava army. Kaurava warriors, unable to bear the attack, started fleeing in all possible directions.

Sunset...end of day's battle

Surrounding the fleeing foes, the UpaPandavas and the Kekaya brothers began to crush the Kaurava warriors, their steeds and elephants, unaware that the time for sunset is nearing. In a short span of time, the 5 sons of Draupathi and the 5 Kekaya brothers slew thousands of warriors, their riders and their animals. Bhishma, who broke the array of the Pandavas with his platoon, blew his conch. Following him, the Maharathas and Kings of both the armies blew their conchs and instructed their troops to retire. With cheered hearts, the delighted Pandavas returned to their camp, cherishing the moments of their day’s victory.