Remembering the vow of Arjuna, the warriors woke up with terrified heart and prepared for the battle. On the command of King Yudhistra, the Pandava soldiers gathered for the array formation. Like a professional charioteer, Krishna equipped the chariot and his steeds and with Arjuna, he proceeded to the battlefield, leading the Pandava troops.
The treads of the horse hoofs and
the clatter of the chariot wheels were heard as they reached the battlefield,
signifying the array formation of the Kaurava warriors, desire of keeping
Arjuna at bay. Arjuna, turning towards Satyaki, said –“Satyaki, as I have vowed
to slay King Jayadratha today, I assign you with the duty of defending King
Yudhistra. Protect the King with your entire prowess so that, I can whole heartedly
engage in slaying King Jayadratha, worrying not about the King.”
Under
the command of generalissimo Dronacharya, the Kaurava soldiers formed a combination
of arrays. The front part with Dronacharya in the lead was Sakata (cart
or box) Vyuha, which was 48 miles long and part circle (Chakra
Vyuha), with diameter of 20 miles. The hind part was arrayed in the formed of
the impenetrable Padma Vyuha (Lotus) and within the Vyuha was formed the
Suchimukha (Needle) Vyuha where Kritavarman stood at the entrance,
defending Duryodhana and Karna.
As
Satyaki rushed to defend King Yudhistra, Arjuna scanned the vast Kaurava army,
looking for King Jayadratha. Understanding the need of Arjuna, Krishna said-
“Arjuna, I do not see King Jayadratha here. Also, Karna and Aswathama are not
in the front. Looks like King Jayadratha is hidden somewhere, defended by those
mighty warriors. Even foremost warriors like Duryodhana and Krpacharya are at
the back of the rear-end array! Only if we get through them, you can slay King
Jayadratha it seems.”
King Jayadratha, the ruler of
Sindhu, as planned by Saguni and Duryodhana, hid himself protected by
Aswathama, King Salya, King Saguni, Krpacharya and King Vrishasena and their
platoons comprising 1,00,000 Knights, 60,000 chariots, 14,000 elephant warriors
and 21,000 foot soldiers and archers. King Jayadratha was surrounded by his
army comprising 7000 cavalries and 3000 chariots.
Beholding the complex array formed
by the Kauravas and not knowing about the whereabouts of King Jayadratha, with
the sunrise, blowing his conch, Arjuna asked Krishna to rush towards
Durmarshana and Vikarna, who stood defending the Sakata array with a thousand
chariots, 1500 elephant warriors, 3000 Cavalries, 10,000 armed foot soldiers
and 1500 archers.
Showering a volley of darts at
Durmarshana and his legion, like a lightning, Arjuna and Krishna penetrated
into the Kaurava array, piercing Durmarshana and making him leave for the camp.
None of the soldiers in the Kaurava army, who opposed Arjuna, lived to tell
about the wrath of Arjuna that day. Striking off the arrows approaching his
chariot, Arjuna rushed against Duchadhana who was blocking his path. Slaying
the elephant warriors of Duchadhana’s legion and crushing Duchadhana’s
elephant, Arjuna made Duchadhana flee, seeking Dronacharya’s protection.
Approaching Dronacharya, on the
advice of Krishna, Arjuna seeks blessing from his preceptor to fulfill his vow
today. Smiling at Arjuna’s morality, Dronacharya replied – “Vanquish me and you
can defeat him!”
The duel between Arjuna and
Dronacharya was fierce and awful that, they both slew thousands and thousands
of soldiers with their shafts. Mighty Dronacharya, with his skill in archery,
cut off the bow string of Arjuna, not knowing that the Gandiva has got 100
strings. Arjuna, invoking the Brahmana Astra, with thousands of shafts
covered Dronacharya and his chariot and with his pointy shafts, he crushed ten
thousand Kaurava warriors.
Knowing that the duel between
Dronacharya and his disciple is going to be a never ending duel, Krishna
adviced Arjuna- “Arjuna, let us proceed forward, not wasting time in battling
Dronacharya.” Saying so, Krishna turned his chariot aside Drona and proceeded
forward, protected by Panchala princes Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja.
Smashing the shafts of Arjuna that
blockaded his view, Drona, on witnessing Arjuna leaving, said – “Arjuna, you
never leave a duel in hand without defeating the foe!”
Bowing to Dronacharya, Arjuna
replied – “You are my Guru and never my foe and to you, I will always be your
disciple and son, like Aswathama.”
Smiling at Arjuna’s respect for him,
Drona engaged in battling with the Kekayas and King Yudhistra. Aided by Arjuna,
the Pandava soldiers penetrated into the Sakata array. Vikarna resisted Nakula
while Prince Saumadatti (Son of Somadatta) who resisted the UpaPandavas was
beheaded by Srutasena (Son of Sahadeva). Sahadeva slayed Trigartha Prince Niramitra and proceeded forward while Satyaki beheaded
Magadha Prince Vyagradhatta and engaged in exterminating the Magadha army.
Meanwhile, Arjuna engaged with Kritavarman, King
Srutayudha and King Sudhakshina of Kamboja. Krishna, on seeing Kritavarman
standing against Arjuna, said –“Arjuna, forget your relation with Kritavarman
and crush him. Do not show mercy!”
Stupefying Kritavarman with his showers of pointy
darts, Arjuna proceeded forward against the Kamboja Kings. Kritavarman, cutting
off the darts of Arjuna, engaged in resisting the Panchala princes who were
defending Arjuna. Engaged in battling with King Srutayudha, Arjuna slew the
steeds and the charioteer of King Srutayudha but was unable to slay the King.
Beholding Arjuna showering darts filled with wrath, Krishna said – “Arjuna,
Srutayudha cannot be slain by any of your weapon. His mother received a boon
from Lord Varuna that Srutayudha can be slain only by his own mace when he
hurls it at someone who is not battling.”
Hearing Krishna’s words, Arjuna broke the bow and
sword of Srutayudha. Raged Srutayudha took his mace and hurled it at Arjuna.
Krishna, standing up from his seat, received the blow on his shoulders and as a
result of the boon, the mace returned to Srutayudha and hit him in his head and
as a result, the King fell on the ground, deprived of life. Raged, Sudhakshina
hurled a pointy spear at Arjuna which piercing his armor, entered the chest and
made Arjuna collapse in his seat. Recovering quickly and invoking the Indra Astra,
Arjuna crushed ten thousand Kamboja warriors and King Sudhakshina. Pierced in
various vital body parts by numerous arrows, Sudhakshina fell lifeless on the
ground and witnessing the death of the Kings, the Kamboja warriors fled in all
directions.
As Arjuna penetrated into the unreceptive Kaurava
army, the sun reached the meridian. Yudhistra who was resisted by Dronacharya
was unable to proceed against his mighty Guru. Invoking the Brahmana Astra
at Yudhistra, Dronacharya slew hundreds of Pandava warriors and also slew the
steeds and charioteer of King Yudhistra. Defeated and standing on a grounded
chariot with a broken bow, King Yudhistra was saved by Sahadeva as he took the
King in his chariot and bore him away from Dronacharya before he could be
seized by the Guru.
Meanwhile,
invoking the mighty Sakra Astra, Arjuna slaughtered 600 Kaurava warriors
along with the rulers of Amvashthas viz.,
King Srutayush and King Achyutayush. Ceasing not, with his pointy darts, he
slew the warriors of Amvashthas numbering 6000 cavalries, a thousand Kshatriya
chariot warriors and a thousand elephant warriors, along with their princes-Prince
Niyatayush and Dirghayush who came rushing against him.
Duryodhana, on
witnessing Arjuna’s prowess, rushed to Dronacharya and yelled – “Living under
the roof of King Dritharashtra in Hastinapur, how can you engaged in bringing
evil to us by seeking victory for the Pandavas? Your favourite disciple Arjuna
is pounding my army! Do something to stop him!”
Smiling,
Dronacharya replied – “Your words are true, Duryodhana. My heart supports
dharma for Krishna is there with them. I, along with my platoon will engage in
resisting the Pandavas from following the path of Arjuna. Unprotected by
Arjuna, today I have an opportunity to seize Yudhistra as vowed and then the victory
will be yours. You, along with Karna and Aswathama, engage in resisting
Arjuna.”
The
encounters in the afternoon were filled with malice and wrath. Drona, along
with his defenders and legion, resisted the Pandava soldiers. King Salya
engaged in battling against King Yudhistra while Duchadhana resisted Satyaki,
Nakula and Sahadeva engaged in battling King Saguni and Dhrishtadyumna,
exerting his mightiness, engaged in battling with Dronacharya. Bhīma
dueled with King Jalasandha as defeating King Salya, King Yudhistra engaged
with Kritavarman. Thousands were slain and hundreds of steeds and elephants
were slain along with their riders, in both the sides. Beholding Dhrishtadyumna standing on ground,
vanquished by Dronacharya, Satyaki rushed to defend him and cut off the darts
Drona was hurling at Dhrishtadyumna. With steadfast eyes, they both engaged in
crushing the foes in hundreds. Cutting off the bow string of Drona, Satyaki
invoked celestial astras repeatedly and slew thousands of Kaurava soldiers. As
Duchadhana rushed to defend Drona, the four sons of Pandu engaged in defending
Satyaki while Arjuna engaged in a fierce battle with Duryodhana.
Accompanied
by Aswathama, Duryodhana engaged in piercing Arjuna and Krishna with his
shafts. Witnessing no way to proceed forward, raged Arjuna shot shafts and made
Duryodhana chariot less, not before slaying the steeds and the two charioteers
and breaking the weapons of Duryodhana. Witnessing Duryodhana vanquished,
Arjuna advanced forward, slaying the hundreds and hundreds of warriors who came
in defending Duryodhana.
 |
| Satyaki against the Kaurava army |
Hearing
the shouts of the Kaurava warriors, terrified Yudhistra commanded Satyaki to
advance promptly and defend Arjuna. Satyaki, assigning Bhīma
to defend Yudhistra, proceeded looking for Arjuna, crushing the Kaurava army in
front of him, aided by Dhrishtadyumna. Satyaki, who was advancing slaying
hundreds of Kaurava warriors and seven foremost Kshatriya warriors, was checked
by Drona. Satyaki, with bow in his hand and bowing to Drona – “A disciple walks
in the path of his Guru. Like Arjuna, I will not engage in a fight, with you.”
Saying
so, avoiding Drona, Satyaki proceeded towards Karna as Drona, who was pursuing
Satyaki was resisted by the Son of Jarasandha and the Panchala warriors. Meanwhile,
surrounded by the mighty warriors viz., Karna, Salya, Bhurisravas, Vrishasena
and Aswathama, Arjuna engaged in a fierce battle. Breaking the bow of Salya and
piercing him in the chest, Arjuna made him return to the camp and engaged in
battling Bhurisravas. Accompanied by
his brothers, Duryodhana engaged in resisting Satyaki. Raged and skilled
Satyaki, after a long battle, slew the steeds and charioteer of Duryodhana and
broke his bow. Before Satyaki could pierce him, Duryodhana was rescued by
Chitrasena in his chariot as Sudarshana engaged with Satyaki.
Desirous of defending Arjuna, Satyaki
beheaded Sudarshana with a razor faced arrow and slew the approaching Mleccha
warriors in hundreds and thousands of Kamboja, Saka and Barbara warriors. Urged
by Duryodhana, of all those who rushed against Satyaki, thousands fell lifeless
on the ground along with a hundred chariot warriors and about five hundred
warriors were wounded in various parts with few arms or legs cut off by the pointy darts of Satyaki. Ceasing not,
crushing a thousand elephant warriors, a thousand chariot warriors - both
Maharathas and Rathas, three thousand archers, two thousand cavalries and ten
thousand foot soldiers, Satyaki rushed towards Arjuna.
Bhīma, placing Dhrishtadyumna as the defender of King
Yudhistra, proceeded looking for Arjuna, Krishna and Satyaki. Crushing warriors
with his mace at times and piercing the foes with his shafts at times, Bhīma received
the brothers of Duryodhana who resisted him. With his pointy shafts, he made Kundabhedin,
Suhastha, Dirghanetra and Vrindaraka fell lifeless on the ground. Ceasing not,
showering infinite shafts continuously, Bhīma slew seven more brothers of Duryodhana viz., Abhaya,
Raudrakarman, Durvimochana, Vinda, Anuvinda, Suvarman and Sudhakshin.
Witnessing the death of the eleven Kaurava princes, the Kauarva army fled in
all directions even after beholding Karna rushing towards Bhīma with
rage.
Meanwhile, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja,
who rushed looking for Arjuna resisted Duryodhana who was also rushing to stop
Arjuna. Slaying the steeds and charioteer of their foe, all the three battled
fiercely. Soon as Salya came to rescue Duryodhana, Yudhamanyu and Uttamauja
ascended another chariot of theirs and proceeded to defend Arjuna. Battling
insignificantly with Bhīma, Karna pierced his foe with his shafts. Beholding
Duryodhana’s brothers rushing with rage, remembering his vow, Bhīma,
piercing Karna in the chest with a pointy dart, turned towards the rushing
foes. Despatching 25 pointy arrows unceasingly, Bhīma slays Durmarshana,
Duhsaha, Durmarsha, Durdhara and Jaya. Ceasing not, he slays the charioteer and
steeds of Karna and with a hundred uninterrupted shafts, he made 6 brothers of
Duryodhana viz., Chitra, Upachitra, Charuchitra, Sarasana, Chitrayudha, and
Chitravarman fell lifeless.
 |
| Krishna taming the wounded horses! |
Meanwhile, beholding Satyaki who was
standing unarmed on a grounded chariot in battling against Bhurisravas, Krishna
advised Arjuna to rescue Satyaki. Admiring at the prowess of Bhurisravas,
Arjuna showered darts at his foe and in the meantime, Bhīma, after
slaying five more brothers of Duryodhana viz., Satrunjaya, Satrusaha,
Chitraksha, Dridhavarma and Chitrasena, engaged in battling against his favorite and beloved Vikarna.
Bhīma, with a caring heart, uttered - “Vikarna, you know
dharma and you were the only one who spoke in favour of us and Draupathi in the
court. Me, battling against you or slaying you is only because of my vow. Forgive
me for my rage against you.”
On hearing the words of Bhīma, Vikarna
replied – “Brother, don’t ask for forgiveness. What you are about to do is your
Kshatriya duty. The reason we both are here is all for our love for our
brother. Remember your Kshatriya duty and battle with me. I will be happy to
die for my brother.”
Slaying Vikarna with his shafts, Bhīma engaged
in battling with Karna. With his darts exhausted and no more darts to hurl,
raged Bhīma descended
from his chariot and threw the parts of dead elephants, steeds and chariots at
Karna. Cutting off those into fragments
with his shafts, Karna covered Bhīma with his shafts. Though Karna’s darts could slay Bhīma,
remembering his vow to Mother Kunti, Karna, touching the shoulder of Bhīma with his
bow’s tip, said – “Never fight with warriors like me, Kid. Go and look for
Krishna and Arjuna to defend you.”
 |
| Bhima throws an elephant at Karna |
Arjuna’s
darts, desire of rescuing Satyaki, cut off the right arm of Bhurisravas, who was rushing with his sword to slay
Satyaki. Wounded Bhurisravas, beholding the unrighteous act of Arjuna, said – “How
could you, one of the foremost warriors on earth, cut my arm when I am not
battling with you? Why would you, under the guidance of Krishna do such an
unworthy and sinful act?”
Though realizing his fault, Arjuna
responded – “Satyaki is my disciple and it’s my duty to defend him, for he is
here, battling with you all, for our sake. If I stand still and let him die,
the sin will be mine! It is my vow that I will slay anyone who engages in
slaying those belonging to my side, in front of my eyes. Why are you angry at
me when you remained calm and neglected the righteousness when Abhimanyu was
slain?”
Not able to accept the injustice
caused to him, being a high souled Kshatriya, Bhurisravas desired to die
according to the vow of Praya. Spreading an arrow bed with his left arm
and dropping his weapons, Bhurisravas sat on the bed of arrows facing the sun
and uttered the great Upanishad mantras and entered the world of meditation. As
the soldiers of both the army spoke ill of Arjuna’s act, neither Krishna nor
Arjuna disagreed them. Krishna, beholding Bhurisravas said – “Bhurisravas, you
have been a good Kshatriya and a great human. You have performed various yaga
for the welfare of your citizens. You have been righteous all your life.
Without any delay, retire to the abode of mine and let your pure soul associate
with me. Let your soul be borne by my Garuda!”
Offended on his near vanquish, raged
Satyaki drew his sword and beheaded the sinless Bhurisravas, who was in Praya,
ignoring the screams of disapproval from Krishna, Arjuna, Bhīma,
Yudhamanyu, Uttamauja and other warriors.
Turning towards the Kauravas,
Satyaki yelled –“Where was your justice when you all slew Abhimanyu? I have
vowed that I would slay the one who defeats me, no matter what.”
As Satyaki kept screaming at the
warriors, Arjuna, taking a deep breath, said unto Krishna – “Krishna, ride the
chariot towards Jayadratha. The time for sunset is nearing.”
Beholding Arjuna proceeding,
Duryodhana addressed Karna – “Karna, stop Arjuna by all possible means. The
time for sunset is near. Delay him for few minutes and the victory will be
ours.”
Though deeply hurt and wounded by
the arrows of Bhīma, Karna, taking his friend’s word as a command,
rushed to stop Arjuna and Krishna. Following him, Duryodhana, Vrishasena, King
Salya, Aswathama and Krpacharya proceeded and surrounded Arjuna and Krishna on
all sides and began to cover them with their shafts. Arjuna, desire of slaying
Jayadratha, began to shower blazing darts at Karna and others. Slaying the
steeds and charioteer of Karna and Vrishasena, Arjuna, began to consume the
Kaurava warriors with his shafts.
Meanwhile, the red sun began to go
down and darkness set in. Kaurava warriors, seeing the darkness setting in,
cheered happily while the Pandava soldiers were filled with grief. As
Duryodhana cheered with delight, preparations were made for Arjuna’s pyre and
King Jayadratha, like everyone, rushed to witness Arjuna entering the pyre.
Bowing to Bhīma and Krishna, Arjuna said – “Krishna, I vowed to
enter pyre if I fail in slaying Jayadratha today. The fault is mine for I trusted
only in my proficiency and not in you. Even without me, I know, my brothers can
win this battle, as long as they have you. It is you who decide our destiny.”
Taking his Gandiva in hand, Arjuna
walked towards the pyre as Duryodhana and his brothers, Aswathama and
Jayadratha kept laughing at Arjuna. Meanwhile, darkness dispersed and bright
and warm rays of sun filled the sky and the world. While everyone stood stunned
on the unnatural act, Krishna smiling at everyone, said to Arjuna – “Arjuna,
you would not be able to slay Jayadratha when he stays protected by these
foremost warriors. With my ascetic powers, I created darkness by covering the
sun with my Sudharsana chakra. Behold, in front of you, Jayadratha is standing
undefended. He will not be able to hide from you anymore. Avail this
opportunity and behead him before the sun sets.”
Holding his Gandiva high, delighted
Arjuna began to fix an Astra as the Kaurava warriors rushed to save Jayadratha.
Jayadratha, seeing his death in front of his eyes, tried to pacify Arjuna –
“Arjuna, if you slay me, you will also die. Anyway, you are going to die and
the Pandavas are going to lose. So spare me… I will not fight in the battle
anymore!”
As the Pandava army stood perplexed,
not understanding the words of Jayadratha, Krishna said – “Jayadratha’s father,
King Vriddhakshatra, devoted to ascetic austerities, received a boon that the
one who causes the head of Jayadratha to fell on earth will blow into hundred
pieces. He is engaged in penance in the forest of Samantapanchaka. So,
using your Astra, behead Jayadratha and aim in such a way that the Astra will
carry the head of Jayadratha and fall on the laps of his father.”
Hearing the words of Krishna,
delighted Arjuna aimed his Astra at Jayadratha as the Kaurava warriors began to
take measures to cease the Astra from reaching Jayadratha. Like a lightning,
before anyone could even blink their eye or react, Arjuna’s perfectly-aimed
dart sped from Gandiva and beheaded Jayadratha. Snatching the severed head away
from the battlefield, the Astra, as ordered by Arjuna, fell on the lap of Vriddhakshatra.
Vriddhakshatra, who was sitting in penance, opened his eyes after the prayers and
stood up in terror to see his son’s head on his lap. As a result of his fear,
the head fell on earth and Vriddhakshatra got blown up into pieces.
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| King Vriddhakshatra |
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