At the command of Duryodhana, a formidable division of the Trigartas, consisting of three thousand expert archers, was dispatched to obstruct the irresistible advance of Sātyaki. A fierce and terrible encounter ensued. Displaying the full brilliance of his martial skill, the valiant Yādava slew five hundred renowned bowmen and shattered a thousand chariots. So relentless was his assault that streams of blood flowed across the battlefield, and the terrified soldiers, unable to endure his fury, abandoned the field and fled to seek the protection of Droṇācārya.
Dussāsana then confronted Sātyaki. With effortless precision, Sātyaki severed his bow. In anger, Dussāsana hurled a mighty śakti, but the vigilant warrior split it in mid-air before it could reach its mark. Taking up another bow, the Kaurava prince discharged a dense shower of arrows. Sātyaki, gathering all his strength and skill, cut down Dussāsana’s standard, tore his banner, slew his horses, severed the head of his charioteer, shattered the wheels of his chariot, and pierced his breast with sharp shafts. Dussāsana fell unconscious upon the wreckage of his car. Yet Sātyaki, recalling Bhīma’s solemn vow to slay him, spared his life and continued his advance.
Meanwhile, the Pāṇḍava forces, led by Dharmarāja Yudhiṣṭhira and supported by Bhīma, Nakula, Sahadeva, and the mighty Dhṛṣṭadyumna, pressed forward to aid Sātyaki. Cutting through the dense masses of enemy soldiers, elephants, and horses, they advanced with irresistible force. Sātyaki, moving through the vast Kaurava host, resembled a ravenous shark cleaving through countless shoals of fish in pursuit of its prey.
Elsewhere, Arjuna raged like Rudra at the dissolution of the worlds, mowing down the Kaurava ranks without hesitation. At the same time, Droṇācārya consumed the Pāṇḍava army like a blazing forest fire devouring dry woodland.
Duryodhana, gratified by Droṇa’s terrible prowess and inflamed by the triumphant cries of the Pāṇḍavas, rushed against Bhīma like a maddened elephant plunging into a lotus-filled lake. He struck Bhīma with ten arrows, Drupada and Virāṭa with three each, Nakula and Sahadeva with three apiece, the five Kekaya princes, Śikhaṇḍin, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna with two each, and Yudhiṣṭhira with five, causing them intense pain. His arrows also laid low horses and elephants in great numbers.
The combined might of the Pāṇḍava warriors, however, soon checked his momentum. Yudhiṣṭhira shattered Duryodhana’s bow, and the other heroes surrounded him with a furious assault. At that critical moment, Droṇācārya arrived and covered the Pāṇḍavas with a torrent of arrows, humbling their pride and rescuing the Kaurava king.
The Kekaya ruler Bṛhatkṣatra then challenged Droṇa. Though he countered the preceptor’s Brahmāstra with one of equal potency, Droṇa overwhelmed him with a succession of sixty arrows. The king wounded Droṇa’s charioteer, but the ācārya’s unceasing rain of shafts suffocated his resistance. Pierced repeatedly, Bṛhatkṣatra faltered and fell lifeless to the earth.
Thereafter, Dhṛṣṭaketu, son of Śiśupāla and lord of the Cedis, advanced against Droṇa like a moth rushing into blazing fire. He struck the preceptor with sixty arrows and wounded his horses and charioteer. Droṇa broke his bow, but the Cedi king seized another and renewed the attack. His horses were slain, his charioteer wounded, and his chariot destroyed; yet he continued to fight on foot, hurling a mace and many other weapons. All were cut to pieces by Droṇa. At last, the preceptor, deeming the moment ripe, released a razor-edged arrow that pierced Dhṛṣṭaketu’s chest. The king fell to the ground like a bird struck by a hunter and gave up his life.
Dhṛṣṭaketu’s son, enraged at his father’s fall, surrounded Droṇa with his forces. But the preceptor leapt upon him like a tiger upon a deer and slew him with ease. Soon afterward, the son of Jarāsandha charged with great clamour, only to be cut down by Droṇa in ruthless combat, causing his army to flee in terror.
Witnessing this devastation, Bhīma said to Dhṛṣṭadyumna, “Behold this foremost of Brāhmaṇas. By the power of his austerities and weapons, he consumes our forces as though with his very gaze.” Even as he spoke, Kṣatravarman broke Droṇa’s bow. Instantly the preceptor took up another and slew him with a blazing arrow that seemed to breathe fire.
Then the Yādava hero Chekitāna assailed Droṇa, piercing him with sharp arrows and wounding both his charioteer and horses. Droṇa retaliated with a storm of shafts, slew Chekitāna’s horses and charioteer, severed his hand, and drove him from the field.
Though advanced in years, Droṇa fought with the vigour of youth. His anger burned fiercely, and his faultless archery destroyed king after king. Seeing this, Drupada, lord of Pañcāla, declared to his warriors, “This Brāhmaṇa hero is casting down mighty kings as though they were sacrificial beasts abandoned to jackals. He must be checked without delay.”
At that time Yudhiṣṭhira reflected anxiously within himself: “I sent Sātyaki to aid the solitary Arjuna, and I saw him depart with great speed. What fate has overtaken those invincible heroes amidst the cruel multitudes of the Kauravas? Had I sent Bhīma, whose strength has so often been proven, I would have acted more wisely. Men may say that I sent Kṛṣṇa’s kinsman to assist Arjuna, but I failed to consider Sātyaki’s peril. Bhīma alone can ensure the welfare of Arjuna and Sātyaki.”
Having thus deliberated from every angle, the son of Dharma approached Bhīma with tears in his eyes and a voice choked with emotion. “Your brother, the mighty Bībhatsu…” he began, but emotion overcame him.
Bhīma gently replied, “O King, when adversity assails us, it is your steadfastness that preserves our courage. If you lose heart, our spirits too will falter. Tell me what troubles you, and command me in whatever difficult task you deem fit.”
Yudhiṣṭhira said, “From the direction in which Arjuna departed I hear only the sound of the conch Pāñcajanya. I know not what has befallen him. I sent Sātyaki after him. Go swiftly in that direction, behold Arjuna, and remove the hidden fear that oppresses my heart. When you see him safe, utter a lion-like roar that will resound through the heavens. Arjuna is noble, tender-hearted, and devoted to righteousness; I fear lest the wicked among our kinsmen seek to harm him.”
Bhīma answered, “You know well the might of Arjuna, the power of his Gāṇḍīva, the excellence of his steeds and chariot, and above all the presence of Lord Kṛṣṇa as his charioteer. Why then should sorrow dwell in your heart? I shall go at once and return with tidings of the welfare of Arjuna, Kṛṣṇa, and Sātyaki.”
Before departing, Bhīma addressed Dhṛṣṭadyumna: “You know Droṇa’s strength, his steadfast resolve, and the vow he has made to seize the king. Guard Yudhiṣṭhira with utmost vigilance.”
Dhṛṣṭadyumna replied with confidence, “As long as I live, Droṇa shall not even touch Dharmarāja. Go without fear and hasten to the aid of Arjuna.”
Thus, O King, Sanjaya narrated to Dhṛtarāṣṭra how Bhīmasena, after receiving Yudhiṣṭhira’s command and entrusting the protection of the monarch to Dhṛṣṭadyumna, set forth like a tempest to join Arjuna and Sātyaki amidst the raging tide of battle.
