Twelfth day of the battle and the
Pandava warriors gathered in the Crescent moon (Semi Circle) array. As strategized,
the Trigartha warriors under their King Susarman summoned Arjuna for battle,
forming Crescent Moon shaped array, trying to separate him from King
Yudhistra and make path for generalissimo Dronacharya, who has vowed to seize
King Yudhistra. The rest of the Kaurava army, under the leadership of the
mighty Dronacharya, forming the Garuda Vyuha, proceeded to the battle,
hoping to seize King Yudhistra and gain victory, wanting the battle to end
today.
Arjuna, who never turns his back when
summoned, said unto King Yudhistra – “Brother, King Susarman has challenged me.
Allow me to take the battle in hand. As of today, Prince Satyajit will defend
you from Guru Dronacharya. Brother Bhīma
is there along with Dhrishtadyumna and Sikandi to defend you. I leave Abhimanyu
in charge for the rest of the legion. Worry not as I will return sooner after
slaying the Trigarthas. With Krishna by our side, we will win the battle.”
With the sunrise, King Yudhistra gave
his blessings and permission to Arjuna to take the challenge in hand.
Witnessing Arjuna leaving towards the southern side of the battlefield blowing
his conch where the Trigarthas are stationed, delighted Kaurava warriors rushed
towards King Yudhistra and his legion, with cheered and confident heart. Generalissimo
Dhrishtadyumna, along with his legion, stood in front of King Yudhistra and
welcomed the mighty Dronacharya and his platoon. Witnessing Dhrishtadyumna and
his vast troop, the Kaurava warriors were disheartened but, Kaurava Prince
Durmukha engaged in a duel with Dhrishtadyumna, paving path for Dronacharya to
reach King Yudhistra. Taking his mission of defending King Yudhistra,
Dhrishtadyumna engaged in a battle with both Guru Dronacharya and Prince
Durmukha. He covered both of the mighty warriors with his arrows. Belittling
the fence of arrows, Dronacharya proceeded forward, responding to
Dhrishtadyumna with his downpour of arrows. Durmukha blocked Dhrishtadyumna as
Dronacharya proceeded towards King Yudhistra. Baffling each other with their
mighty arrows, Dhrishtadyumna and Prince Durmukha engaged in a cruel and fierce
duel, slaying each other’s legion.
As Dronacharya was proceeding towards
King Yudhistra crushing the Pandava soldiers blocking his way, Arjuna was
battling against the Trigartha warriors, not knowing about the situation on the
other side of the battlefield. King Susarman and his brothers received Arjuna
and Krishna with thousands of arrows. Desire of slaying Arjuna and Krishna,
they showered arrows relentlessly. Responding to those arrows, Arjuna cut off in
mid-air, the arrows approaching him. With Krishna’s astonishing steering of the
chariot and Arjuna showering hundreds of arrows, the Trigarthas found no escape
from the death wish they have summoned. With his perfectly aimed arrow, Arjuna
broke the bow of King Sudhanwan, Son of Angires and slew his steeds. Ceasing
not, Arjuna, with a sharp pointy dart, beheaded King Sudhanwan. King Sundhanwan’s
legion and the Trigartha warriors fled in all directions witnessing Arjuna’s
prowess. Raged at his troops’ cowardly act, King Susarman yelled – “Turn back
and fight, my warriors! Think what the rest of the soldiers will think about us
when you all run scared of death. Fight with desire for victory or heaven.”
Feeling bad for their spineless act,
the Trigartha warriors rushed against Arjuna, desire of greeting death.
Beholding the rushing Trigarthas, Arjuna, invoked the celestial weapon, Tvashtra and
as a result, the Trigarthas lost their senses and began to slay their own
soldiers. Smiling at his dexterity, Arjuna then showered thousands of arrows
and slew the Trigarthas. Slaughtering the Trigarthas, Arjuna witnessed King
Bhagadatta breaking the mighty array formed by the Pandavas and Guru
Dronacharya getting closer to King Yudhistra, breaking all the shields.
Dronacharya who was closing King Yudhistra
was received by Panchala Prince Satyajit along with his elephant warriors. The
battle between Dronacharya and Prince Satyajit was fierce that many celestial
weapons were invoked by both of them and as a result, hundreds were slayed. In
the brutal battle, surprising everyone, Prince Satyajit slew the charioteer and
the steeds of Dronacharya. He also slew ten chariot warriors who were the
defenders of Dronacharya’s chariot wheels and chariot. Ceasing not, Satyajit
broke the bow and the standard of Dronacharya.
Witnessing Satyajit’s prowess against
Dronacharya, proud Arjuna asked Krishna – “Krishna! Witnessing Satyajit’s
prowess, I believe, Dronacharya is having a hard time reaching King Yudhistra.
But Satyajit should be defended from Dronacharya’s mightiness. Meanwhile
Bhagadatta is also crushing the army and has already broken the array. What
should I do now? With whom should I battle now?”
 |
| Confused Arjuna! |
Beholding the baffled state of Arjuna,
Krishna spoke – “Arjuna, I am sure Satyajit can hold Dronacharya. The Panchala
warriors along with Sikandi and Dhrishtadyumna are there to defend King
Yudhistra. Let us take care of King Bhagadatta and defend our soldiers. Behold
the Samsaptakas rushing against you. Fix your heart in slaying them first.”
Clarified on Krishna’s words and
fixing his heart in slaying the Samsaptakas, Arjuna shot arrows at the
14,000 Samsaptakas who were rushing towards him. Terrified not, the Samsaptakas
proceeded towards Arjuna, shooting their pointy darts. Wanting to save his
soldiers and witnessing the prowess of King Bhagadatta, Arjuna invoked the
celestial weapon, the Brahma weapon and slew thousands and thousands of Samsaptakas in a glint.
The elephants and rider less chariots ran uncontrollably, killing or wounding
few more Samsaptaka warriors. Elephants that fell deprived of life crushed the
nearby Samsaptakas, increasing the death toll. Perplexed, the rest of the
Samsaptakas tried to find a way out of the labyrinth they are in.
“Splendid Arjuna! Remarkable! None can
surpass your talent and battling skill. Now, let us proceed to King
Bhagadatta.” – Appreciating Arjuna, Krishna turned the chariot towards King
Bhagadatta.
Meanwhile, jumping to his another chariot, though
impressed at the battling skill of Prince Satyajit, remembering his vow to
Duryodhana, Dronacharya taking up his another bow, began to cut off Satyajit’s
arrows. Covering Satyajit with his arrows, Dronacharya, like a lightning, slew
the two protectors of Prince Satyajit’s chariot wheels and broke Satyajit’s
bow. Witnessing Dronacharya advancing, King Yudhistra and his legion fled in
fear. Trying to defend King Yudhistra, the Panchala warriors under Satyaki,
Sikandi, Kshatradeva and many other princes, along with the Kekayas and the
Chedis rushed towards Dronacharya. The Panchala princes showered arrows at
Dronacharya encompassing him. Beholding them, King Yudhistra who was fleeing,
returned and began to strike Dronacharya.
Excited on the
arrival of King Yudhistra, Dronacharya began to respond to the arrows raining
at him and at the same time, began to slay the Panchala chariot warriors.
Slaying Prince Dridhasena with his pointy darts, Dronacharya, without any reluctance,
slew King Kshema and Prince Vasudeva. Piercing Satyaki, Yudhamanyu and Sikandi
with his pointy darts, Dronacharya proceeded towards King Yudhistra, defending
his soldiers and at the same time, slaughtering the Panchala troops. Defeating
Prince Kshatradeva who was the first line of defense for King Yudhistra, next
to Prince Satyajit, Dronacharya proceeded forward. Requesting King Yudhistra to
leave the spot, Prince Satyajit engaged in battling against Dronacharya.
In the meantime, Bhīma, witnessing King Yudhistra fleeing, rushed to save
Prince Satyajit. The duel between Dronacharya and Prince Satyajit was fierce
but, knowing the tactics of his opponent, Dronacharya, finding the weak spot,
slew Prince Satyajit with his golden winged arrow, not before slaying Satyajit’s
steeds and charioteer. Beholding their Prince dead, the Panchala warriors,
filled with rage, rushed against Dronacharya, along with Satyaki, Prince
Senavindu and many Kings and Princes. Beholding Bhīma raging
towards Dronacharya, along with his brothers and Karna, Duryodhana rushed to
defend their Generalissimo.
With the sun passing his meridian, ignoring the heat
waves and the exhaustion, the warriors of both the armies engaged in battling
fiercely. Vinda and Anuvinda rushed against King Virata while the Kekaya
brothers Kshemadhurti and Vrihanta battled with Satyaki. Prathivindhya duelled
with Aswathama as Sikandi resisted Vikarna. Krpacharya battled with
Vardhakshemi and in the meantime, Vivinsati rushed with his legion against the
brave Sutasoma. Duryodhana’s heroic son, Lakshmana battled with the son of
Amvastha as the whole of Panchala division under their King Drupada and
Princes, along with King Yudhistra and Nakula raged against Dronacharya.
Witnessing
King Yudhistra safe and well protected by the Panchala warriors, Arjuna’s
chariot proceeded towards the Pragjyotisha King,
Bhagadatta. Receiving Arjuna and Krishna
with showers of pointy arrows, King Bhagadatta stood on the head of his
elephant Supratika like the lord. The fierce battle between King Bhagadatta and
Arjuna was a complete fight filled with power, strength, fleetness and skill.
Witnessing King Bhagadatta responding to Arjuna’s arrows and Krishna’s talents
in chariot riding who was trying to find a weak spot and failing in it,
Dronacharya and Duryodhana felt delighted and at the same time, admired at the
prowess of King Bhagadatta. Bhagadatta’s arrows whirred past Arjuna and even
Arjuna was unable to find a gap or weak spot.
Witnessing
Krishna steering the chariot around his mighty elephant Supratika, King
Bhagadatta commanded his elephant rider to seize an opportunity to crush the
chariot along with Krishna and Arjuna and involved in responding to Arjuna’s
arrows with his pointy darts. King Bhagadatta owned the battle and hit Arjuna’s
crown with his golden arrow. In the meantime, as Krishna steered the chariot
around Supratika, Supratika trampled the Pandava soldiers on its other side.
Ceasing their battle, the soldiers of both the armies who were nearby, began
watching the fierce and amazing battle and the Kaurava warriors cheered every
time Arjuna got hit.
Beholding
the sternness and the longevity, raged King Bhagadatta sped the fierce and
irresistible Vaishnavastra with a smile.
Arjuna’s arrows turned into dust the moment they hit the Vaishnavastra.
With the dart closing him, Arjuna, with perplexed heart said –“Krishna! My
darts are unable to stop the approaching Astra.”
 |
| Vaishnavastra |
Beholding
Krishna witnessing the fast approaching Astra and smiling with charm,
Arjuna understood that the weapon is undefeatable and set his heart to embrace
death. As the Astra was closing him, Krishna stood up from his station and in
an apt timely intervention Krishna received the Astra in his broad chest
as it pierced through the armor and his chest. Standing behind, Arjuna realized
that the dart did pierced Krishna and he felt like the world around him ceased
its function. His hand had no hold to his bow and with entirely baffled mind,
Arjuna shouted – “Krishna!”
Hearing
Arjuna’s cry, the soldiers ceased battling. The warriors, who were far away,believed that
either Arjuna or Krishna is slain.Arjuna’s heart spent its seconds in hell
thinking about Krishna and a life without him, before the bloodcurdling
thoughts were stopped on hearing the voice saying– “Arjuna, Are you planning
not to fight? Why did you drop your bow?”
Mystified
and bringing his senses back to reality, teary eyed Arjuna saw Krishna standing
in front of him with his usual charming smile, charisma and caring look in his
eyes. Left with no words, confounded Arjuna starred at Krishna with questions
and qualms and noticed a garland hanging around Krishna’s neck. “I saw the Astra…
Krishna…the Astra!” – Those were the only words Arjuna was able to come up
with.
Smiling
at Arjuna, with his charm, Krishna said – “Arjuna, King Bhagadatta just fired
the Vaishnavastra. It is my Astra,
Arjuna!! How could it slay me? I just absorbed it. My Astra just returned to
me, finally!”
Delighted
to see Krishna alive and gathering all his hope, Arjuna bowed to Krishna for
his mightiness and for saving his life. Blessing Arjuna, Krishna said –“Take
the bow, Arjuna. Save the soldiers from King Bhagadatta. Slay him with your
mighty powerful darts.”
In
the meantime, Bhīma
rushed to the spot to defend Arjuna and engaged in attacking Supratika as
Arjuna covered King Bhagadatta with his rage filled darts. Resuming their
battle, the warriors began to battle viciously. With a sharp dart, Arjuna
struck the elephant in its forehead, making it easy for Bhīma
to slay Supratika with his spiky blood drenched mace. Standing on the top of a
wounded elephant, King Bhagadatta lost his control and grasping the moment,
Arjuna, with a crescent shaped dart, pierced the chest of King Bhagadatta. As
the irrepressible Supratika fell lifeless, King Bhagadatta too laid on the
ground deprived of life.
 |
| King Bhagadatta slain |
Beholding
King Bhagadatta slain, the Pandava warriors battled with cheered heart, banging
their weapons on their shields. Satanika, Son of Nakula beheaded Prince Bhutakarman as Prince Bhimaratha slew Prince Salwa,
along with his steeds and charioteer, with six razor sharp darts. King Nila,
who was consuming the Kaurava warriors using his darts like forest fire,
engaged in a battle with Aswathama. Nila gave a tough battle for the
undefeatable Aswathama to fight with. Though Nila succeeded in breaking the bow
and standard of Aswathama, raged Aswathama broke the chariot of Nila into
pieces through his unending showers of arrows. Jumping from his chariot and
picking up his sword, Nila rushed against Aswathama but the fearless Aswathama beheaded
Nila using his pointy darts, which pierced on the neck of King Nila, leaving
him fell on earth, lifeless.
Arjuna,
who was proceeding towards Dronacharya, was stopped by Vrishaka and Achala,
the brothers of Gandhara King Saguni.
Arjuna with his darts slew the steeds and the charioteer of King Vrishaka and turned
the chariot of Vrishaka into dust. Responding to the arrows of Vrishaka and
Achala who were engaged in fighting mounted on the same chariot, Arjuna, slew
both the brothers with a single long and pointy dart. Witnessing his brothers
slain, King Saguni created illusions to baffle Krishna and Arjuna. Arjuna
shattered the thick blanket of darkness around him by invoking the mighty Jyothishkaweapon
and invoked the Aditya weapon to dry the tsunami waves that brought
flood in the battle field and consumed the legion of Arjuna. Not intended in
chasing the fleeing Saguni, Arjuna proceeded towards Dronacharya.
Meanwhile, Dhrishtadyumna who was defending King
Yudhistra slew the NaishadhaKings,Vrihatkshatra and Charmavarman. Slaughtering
the Samsaptakas, Arjuna, along with Bhīma, entered into the defense shield made for King
Yudhistra by crushing many Kaurava warriors relentlessly. Thousands of warriors
and hundreds of steeds and elephants were slaughtered by Arjuna and beholding
the Kaurava warriors fleeing, Karna entered in their defense and summoned
Arjuna for battle. With Arjuna responding to the downpour of Karna, Bhīma engaged
himself in slaying the five generals of Anga who were the protectors of King
Karna’s chariot wheels and ten commanders who were leading the Anga soldiers.
Generalissimo
Dhrishtadyumna, along with Satyaki, rushed to defend
Arjuna and covered Karna with their showers of arrows. While Karna was engaged
in responding to the darts of Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, Arjuna slew Karna’s younger
brother Satrunjaya and beheaded Karna’s son, Vipatha. Turning away from King
Yudhistra, Duryodhana, King Jayadratha, Duchadhana and Dronacharya rushed to
protect Karna. Bhīma rushed against the approaching Duryodhana as Dronacharya
engaged with Satyaki along with Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva. The battle was
getting fierce and more vicious with time to time.Witnessing the time for
sunset nearing, the warriors fought brutally, desiring only victory and their
foe’s slaughter. As Karna rushed to protect his friend Duryodhana, he faced
Abhimanyu, who welcomed Karna with a fearless smile and courageous heart.
Karna, delighted on the bravery of Abhimanyu, engaged
in a fierce battle, only with an intention to behold the prowess of the heroic
Abhimanyu. Responding to every single arrow of Karna, Abhimanyu cut them off
before even they could reach him of his chariot. Admired on the talents of
Abhimanyu and at the same time, being responsible to save his friend from Bhīma, Karna sped
bristly arrows and broke the bow and slew the steeds and the charioteer of his
foe. Terrified not and ceasing not, jumping from his chariot with a sword in
his hand, Abhimanyu summoned Karna for a duel, standing on ground.
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| Karna against Abhimanyu |
“Don’t worry, King Karna. My uncle will not be slaying
him for he has vowed to slay Duryodhana lastly. Now, take the challenge in hand
and fight me.” – responded spirited Abhimanyu.
Smiling at the bravery of Abhimanyu and not willing to
slay him who is like his son, with a swift arrow, Karna broke
the sword of Abhimanyu and rushed towards Duryodhana to protect him.
As all the warriors engaged in fierce battle, ignoring
the battle rules and respect for life, the sun retired for the day and took
back the warmth and light he has given for the day. Beholding sunset, both the
armies retired to their bivouacs with pierced armors, broken weapons, exhausted
mind and bathed in blood, with no strength to even pluck the arrows stuck in
their armor.
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