Kurukshetra War - Day 8

            

      

      With the time for sunrise nearing, the Kaurava warriors formed the Oormi (ocean) array and the Pandava troops formed the Sringataka array(horned formation). Beholding the troops, without any delay, the sun rose in the east and followed by the leonine shouts of the warriors and them banging their shining weapons on their shields and with the drums beaten and conchs blown, the fierce battle began for the eighth day!

          Attacking one another, both the troops engaged in despatching their foes to heaven. Delighted in seeing the energy around him, Pithamaha Bhishma rushed against the Panchala warriors, slaying the mighty archers and cavalries of the Pandava troops. Terrifying not, under Bhīma and their Generalissimo Dhrishtadyumna, the Panchala soldiers rushed against Pithamaha. Duryodhana, along with his brothers came in for Pithamaha's defense and engaged in showering arrows at Bhīma. Responding to mighty Bhishma’s arrows and to those of Duryodhana and his brothers’ at the same time, Bhīma seemed like Lord of Death in the eyes of the Kaurava soldiers. Slaying the charioteer of Pithamaha and turning towards his brothers, with a sharp dart Bhīma beheaded Prince Sunabha, brother of Duryodhana. With the steeds of Bhishma running uncontrollably, the brothers of Duryodhana engaged with Bhīma, unable to control their wrath for their brother’s death.

          Bhīma engaged in showering arrows uninterruptedly and consumed the Kaurava warriors like forest fire. Beholding the armored brothers and recalling his vow, with a sharp dart, he beheaded Prince Aparajitha. Holding his Vayavya bow firmly, with straight darts, he slew Prince Kundhadhara and Prince Panditaka even before the Kauravas could notice. And then, like lightning, with three more pointy darts, he slew Prince Visalaksha right in the neck and then with another straight pointy dart, he fell Prince Mahodhara, letting the dart pierce the chest and appear at his back, piercing the sturdy armor. Ceasing not, with three broad darts, Bhīma beheaded Prince Adityaketu and with an exceedingly sharpened pointy dart, he slew Prince Vahvasin.

Bhima against his Kaurava brothers!

         Beholding the form of Bhīma, the rest of the brothers fled, leaving their platoon and even ignoring the yells of Duryodhana – “Turn back at once and slay that Bhīma!! At least for the sake of your deceased brothers!!”

       After slaying the brothers of Duryodhana, Bhīma, accompanied by the heroic Abhimanyu, rushed against the elephant warriors of the Kaurava troops and engaged in slaughtering them. The wounded elephants ran in pain and crushed the Kaurava warriors near their feat, increasing the death count of the Kaurava division. Arjuna, under the protection of Chekitana and the UpaPandavas, engaged in slaying in hundreds, the Kings of smaller Kingdoms and tribes who joined the Kauravas while Nakula and Sahadeva fought with the knights division of the Kauravas, slaughtering cavalries and steeds in thousands. Satyaki singly engaged with the Kaurava warriors and crushed the Kaurava troops equal to the prowess of Pithamaha Bhishma.

          Beholding his troops being slaughtered and crushed by the Pandavas, filled with grief and rage, clueless Duryodhana rushed towards Bhishma and said – “My brothers are killed! My troops are being slaughtered and rest are retreating, afraid of Bhīma, Arjuna and Abhimanyu. I see that you have no interest towards me and my victory. Still caring for the Pandavas, I hope you are not being loyal to me, to my father and to Hastinapur.”

          Filled with rage on listening to Duryodhana’s words, Pithamaha yelled in anger – “Duryodhana! Don’t you doubt my loyalty to Hastinapur, to your father or to you! I, along with Dronacharya, Gandhari and Vidhura warned you about this and pleaded you and yet, out of your greed and irrational thinking, you alone made this war happen. For your sake, Drona, Karna and myself are battling against our very own kin and friends. Remember what I am about to say: With Lord Krishna by their side, the Pandavas will win this battle and Bhīma will slay every single warrior who opposes him. So, cease envisaging victory and throne and fight with only heaven as your redeemer. Else, seek forgiveness from Krishna and end this battle,right now, for the sake of everyone's welfare!”

           Raged, Duryodhana left the place and engaged in slaughtering the Pandava warriors with wrath. Meanwhile, the Pandava troops too were crushed by Dronacharya, Aswathama, Bhishma and Kritavarman. Under the leadership of their King and princes, the Panchala warriors engaged in a fierce battle against the mighty Bhishma as the sun reached his meridian and scorched the earth with his heat waves.

          Breaching the Pandava cavalry division of Abhimanyu, Gandhara King Saguni rushed in, along with his brothers Gaya, Charmavat and Suka and their platoons. Beholding the Gandhara cavalries and the archers approaching, excited heroic Abhimanyu engaged in crushing them with his sharp darts. Witnessing Abhimanyu’s prowess, intensified Gandhara brothers surrounded him and showered their arrows and lances at him, interminably. Terrified not, Abhimanyu covered them with his perfectly aimed darts which pierced the armor of few, wounded few soldiers gravely, slew steeds and charioteers, beheaded few archers and pierced the chest of few cavalries and spear men and even made few unconscious while the rest fell deprived of life, but not a single dart fell on the ground without blood on it. Before the Gandhara soldiers could regain their senses and get hold of their bow and weapons, drawing his sword and shield, Abhimanyu singly engaged against those warriors, making the warriors and archers tough to strike him. Nearing the chariot of the brothers of King Saguni, Abhimanyu cut off the hands and legs of the Gandhara brothers and slew them with his sharp edged sword, in front of the Gandhara knights and archers. Witnessing the lifeless Gandhara brothers and the fierce Abhimanyu resembling Lord Krishna, the troops fled away along with King Saguni.

          Duryodhana rushed to defend his warriors from Abhimanyu but the valiant Abhimanyu engaged in attacking King Duryodhana gruesomely, making the Kaurava warriors quiver in front of a young kid. Breaking Duryodhana’s bow, Abhimanyu vanquished his uncle in the wink of an eye.

          Smiling at Duryodhana, Abhimanyu said – “Uncle, worry not or feel humiliated for your defeat. I will not slay you. Uncle Bhīma has vowed to accomplish that. If not for his vow, I, myself, would have ended the battle here, right now! Be glad that uncle’s vow saved you from me! Go and live another day to see your defeat and death.”

King Bhagadatta on his elephant Supratika

Beholding Duryodhana standing defend less, King Bhagadatta rushed to the spot with his elephant and cloaked the chariot of Duryodhana from Abhimanyu and his darts. Filled with wrath, Abhimanyu sped an iron dart and it pierced the front lobe of the elephant’s head, making it fell lifeless on the ground. King Bhagadatta standing on ground, picking darts from his dead elephant’s back, started attacking Abhimanyu.

          Witnessing Abhimanyu’s prowess and his talent and skill, proud Bhishma said unto Dronacharya –“Drona! Look at the prowess of that kid Abhimanyu. He defeated King Bhagadatta with just one dart which even Arjuna will not be able to do! He exceeds Arjuna and Karna in his archery skills. Duryodhana is standing against Abhimanyu, defend less. Go and protect the King and King Bhagadatta before Abhimanyu slays them.”

On the command of their generalissimo, Dronacharya, along with King Jayadratha, King Salya, Krpacharya, Aswathama and brothers of Duryodhana, rushed towards Abhimanyu. Beholding Drona and Aswathama, Abhimanyu’s legion fled in all directions. Standing on his chariot like Lord Krishna himself, Abhimanyu singly received the thousands and thousands of warriors rushing towards him with his showers of darts. Invoking celestial Astras, Abhimanyu slew hundreds of Kaurava cavalries and broke the bow of mighty Dronacharya with a crescent shaped arrow. Ceasing not, with his pointy darts, Abhimanyu made Vikarna unconscious, slew the steeds of the Avanti brothers, broke the bow of King Jayadratha and slew the charioteers of Aswathama and Vivinsati.  With loss of control, the chariot of Aswathama and Avanti brothers ran uncontrollably while the rest of the Kings fell unconscious in their chariot seats, struck by Abhimanyu. Amazed and admiring the mightiness of Abhimanyu, proud Bhishma praised him and bound to his duty, he sent elephant warriors against Abhimanyu.

          Witnessing Abhimanyu battling against the most renowned warriors singly, proud King Yudhistra commanded Bhīma to defend Abhimanyu and he rushed against Bhishma to save the Panchala warriors. With 6000 elephant warriors and the UpaPandavas, Bhīma rushed to protect Abhimanyu. Beholding Bhīma, the frightened Kaurava warriors fled away. Using his elephant warriors as fence, Bhīma slaughtered the retreating warriors while Abhimanyu, standing on the other side, slew the receding warriors who were running towards him, trying to find a way out. Bhīma battled against Duryodhana while the UpaPandavas and King Nila slew the Kaurava cavalries and archers in hundreds. Dronacharya, who came in defense for Duryodhana showered arrows at Bhīma. Intensified with wrath, Bhīma sped a crescent shaped pointy dart at Dronacharya and deeply pierced, the Guru fell unconscious in his chariot. Beholding Dronacharya lying unconscious, his charioteer bore the chariot away from the field while Aswathama and Duryodhana rushed against Bhīma. Slaughtering the Kaurava elephant warriors hampering his way, with his mace in his hand, Bhīma rushed towards the approaching Duryodhana and Aswathama. 

        While the Kaurava warriors fled in all directions beholding Bhīma, Abhimanyu entered to defend Bhīma and showered his fiery darts, slaying or wounding the receding and non-receding foes while King Nila engaged in a duel with Aswathama. Responding to King Nila’s arrows, raged Aswathama with a broad headed dart, pierced King Nila in the chest and the wounded King fell unconscious in his chariot. Witnessing King Nila lying unconscious, Abhimanyu rushed towards Aswathama and consumed the Kaurava warriors like blazing meteorite and baffled Aswathama. Unable to withstand the viciousness of the heroic Abhimanyu, the Kaurava warriors retreated from the battlefield, in all possible directions, pressing and stepping on their own soldiers. Showering his darts on the retreating warriors, Abhimanyu slew thousands of cavalries, hundreds of archers and spear men and thousands of chariot warriors. Witnessing the fleeing warriors, Bhishma and Duryodhana rushed to their camp to unify the spiritless soldiers while the Pandava troops excited in their victory blew their conchs and beating their sword with their shield, they praised Abhimanyu .

Raged Duryodhana!

Meanwhile, in Kaurava’s camp, the Kings and the Princes unified their soldiers while Duryodhana explained Pithamaha about Abhimanyu’s prowess and his defeat. Filled with wrath, Duryodhana roared – “Not Arjuna or Bhīma or even the sons of Madri, but, that kid of Arjuna, Abhimanyu… he made me stand on the ground and insulted me in front of my army saying –‘Go and live another day!’ The Pandava troops are slaughtering my army like fire consuming insects. Pithamaha! I desire to slay that big headed Abhimanyu with my very own hands. Do whatever it takes to fulfill my wish.”

Staying calm, Bhishma said unto Duryodhana – “Duryodhana, you are a King. Behave like one and control your senses. According to the Mahayudh rules, as a King, you should fight against Kings only or with the Princes. Your battle should always be against Yudhistra and his brothers. If you desire Abhimanyu’s death, any King under you, on your command or mine, can slay him. You cannot achieve it. If that’s your wish, then, let King Bhagadatta proceed against him.”

“King Bhagadatta!? That Abhimanyu vanquished him with a single dart! You want me to send him to Abhimanyu again!? Whose side are you battling for, Pithamaha!?” – yelled Duryodhana.

As Pithamaha has got used to the yells of Duryodhana, unaffected on his words, Pithamaha continued- “Duryodhana, King Bhagadatta is better than Arjuna. He has got many celestial astras and he can slay Abhimanyu, if he is well defended.”

Nodding to Pithamaha’s words with rage, Duryodhana approved the plan and Pithamaha commanded King Bhagadatta to proceed against the heroic Abhimanyu. The Kaurava warriors returned to the battlefield on the command of their generalissimo, with rage and desire to victory.

King Bhagadatta's legion of elephants

Witnessing King Bhagadatta leading the army in his elephant Supratika and the Kaurava warriors rushing against the Pandavas with rage, on the command of Arjuna and under the leadership of Bhīma, the Pandava warriors raged against the approaching Kaurava warriors. Thus, flamed with rage, the soldiers of both the troops unveiled their talents and weaponry skills, crushing and slaying their foes. Hundreds fell lifeless as the chariot warriors unceasingly shot their pointy darts with greater energy. Spear-men and archers fell attacking each other in hundreds. King Bhagadatta, witnessing Bhīma approaching him, sped thousands of darts which pierced the followers of Bhīma, in different vital parts of their body while his mighty elephant was crushing the Pandava warriors nearby. 

Responding to King Bhagadatta’s arrows, Bhīma slew thousands of Kaurava warriors who were defending Bhagadatta. With greater number of various celestial astras invoked by the chariot warriors and the Kings at the same time, the massacre was greater than any other day, so far in the battle. Together, King Bhagadatta and his elephant, breaking the array formed by the Pandavas, crushed thousands of spike men, foot soldiers and cavalries, along with their steeds. Beholding mighty Bhīma engaged in slaughtering the elephant warriors of the foe, heroic Abhimanyu stepped in to rescue his warriors from the darts of King Bhagadatta. Witnessing the most expected Abhimanyu approaching towards him, King Bhagadatta sped his golden lance at Abhimanyu, which, in the wink of an eye like lightning, Abhimanyu caught in his hands and imperturbably he sped it back at Supratika, the mighty elephant. Roaring aloud with wrath, Bhagadatta shot arrows at Abhimanyu and with serenity, Abhimanyu broke every single dart of it with his  darts, before even the darts could reach him or his warriors. Slaying the steeds and charioteer of Bhīma who came in defense for Abhimanyu, King Bhagadatta roared with delight while the Kaurava troops, witnessing Bhīma standing with his arm holding the golden mace, fled in fear, again.

Bhīma began to thrash the Kaurava warriors with his mace as Abhimanyu faced King Bhagadatta singly. Duryodhana, witnessing the chance to slay Abhimanyu, rushed towards the spot with his legion full of elephant warriors and cavalries, ignoring the words of Pithamaha. Before Duryodhana could reach Bhagadatta, Krishna, along with Arjuna in his chariot, came in defense for their favorite Abhimanyu. As Duryodhana was stopped by Arjuna, King Yudhistra came in defense for Abhimanyu and engaged in battling with Bhagadatta. Bhishma along with his legion went in defense for Duryodhana as Dronacharya, flanked by the brothers of Duryodhana rushed against Bhīma. King Amvastha engaged with the heroic Abhimanyu as Kritavarman rushed towards Satyaki. The battle got fierce disregarding the approaching sunset.

Witnessing Drona approaching towards him with the brothers of Duryodhana, raged like a firing dragon, Bhīma sped various darts towards those heroic souls. With a horse-shoe-headed dart, he slew Prince Vivinsati first and with a broad headed arrow, he slew Prince Kundalin. Emitting numerous arrows  from his bow unremittingly, Bhīma slew Anadhriti, Virajas, Dirghalochana, Dirghavahu, Suvahu and Kanykadhyaja, resisting Dronacharya’s darts at the same time. Beholding the prowess of Bhīma, the remnant brothers of Duryodhana fled from Bhīma’s reach.

Vanquished by Abhimanyu, King Amvastha, who was standing on a grounded chariot, was rescued by Kritavarman. Bhishma, along with Krpacharya battled with Arjuna and the mighty heroes of both the armies slew foremost cavalries and Kings of their enemy side with their pointy darts. Without noticing the reddish sky above them, the warriors were battling viciously, with a desire for either victory or heaven.

Witnessing the brutality in the battlefield where the ground is filled with warriors holding their choice of weapon, lying either dead or deeply wounded, the elephants and steeds lying lifeless or moaning in pain and all those souls lying on ground painted in blood either pierced in their vital parts with spiky darts or smashed and crushed by elephants and the very ground itself filled with weapons like swords, lances, maces, darts and axes painted in blood, unable to bear the callousness and hardheartedness of humans, the sun set in the west, spreading darkness to the world, with a certainty that the darkness in human’s heart is thicker than the darkness that fills the night.

With the sunset, Pithamaha and other foremost warriors blew their conchs and the battle that was fought seeking the death of Abhimanyu came to an end. As Duryodhana and King Bhagadatta stood dejected on their failure, the exhausted warriors and animals of both the armies retired to their respective encampment, with heart and body not equipped for another day’s fight.