The fall of Somadatta at the hands of Satyaki stirred the Kaurava host to fierce indignation. Inflamed by grief and vengeance, the fourfold army surrounded the heroic Satyaki with a firm resolve to destroy him. Perceiving the gravity of the situation, Yudhishthira intervened and restrained the warriors whose minds were consumed by wrath. Calming the tempest of retaliation, he directed Satyaki to another quarter of the battlefield. Meanwhile, the venerable preceptor Dronacharya advanced with irresistible fury against Dharmaraja. With swift shafts he struck down Yudhishthira’s banner, severed his bow, and pierced his body with a relentless shower of arrows. Provoked by this assault, Dharmaraja answered in equal measure, covering Drona with sharp shafts that drew blood from every limb. Overwhelmed by the force of the attack, the preceptor lost consciousness for a brief moment upon his chariot.
Recovering swiftly, Drona invoked the mighty Vayavyastra and unleashed its destructive force upon the enemy ranks. Yet Dharmaraja, skilled in celestial warfare, countered the weapon and rendered it ineffective. Thereafter he rained a continuous torrent of arrows upon the preceptor. At that moment, Krishna addressed Dharmaraja with prudent counsel. “You know well,” said Krishna, “that Dronacharya has vowed to capture you alive and deliver you into the hands of Duryodhana. It is unwise to confront him fearlessly, for he may even now be devising means to fulfill that pledge. Go instead and support Bhimasena. Dhrishtadyumna was born for the destruction of Drona; let him engage the preceptor to the end.” Accepting Krishna’s advice, Dharmaraja withdrew and proceeded toward the region where Bhima was fighting.
Thereafter Drona turned his wrath upon the Panchala warriors and spread devastation throughout their ranks. Dharmaraja joined Bhima, while Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna continued their fierce engagements. Soon Drona, Karna, and Kripacharya confronted them. Inspired by their leaders, the armies of both sides surged forward and clashed with dreadful ferocity. Dust rose from the earth like vast clouds and veiled the battlefield. Darkness descended so completely that it seemed as though night itself had swallowed the field of war. Unable to distinguish friend from foe, warriors remained uncertain amidst the gloom. To identify one another, they proclaimed their names, lineages, and titles while continuing the struggle. The Pandavas blazed through the darkness like a raging forest fire, while the Kaurava forces, confused and scattered, found it difficult to unite their ranks amidst the chaos.
Perceiving the danger, Dronacharya drew Duryodhana close and arranged a protective formation. He himself stood at the forefront, while Ashwatthama and Shakuni guarded the flanks. Shalya occupied the center, and Duryodhana was instructed to advance while safeguarding the army from every direction. Hearing this account, Dhritarashtra questioned Sanjaya: “When darkness concealed all vision, how could such strategies be executed and battle continue?” Sanjaya replied that Duryodhana ordered the infantry to lay aside their weapons temporarily and take up torches. High and low torches were prepared in great numbers. Five torches were fixed upon every chariot, three upon each elephant, and one upon every horse. Additional lights were attached to banners and standards.
Soon the battlefield shone with a wondrous radiance. Jewels adorning warriors, elephants, and chariots reflected dazzling colors beneath the torchlight. It appeared as though the stars of heaven had descended to earth to dispel the darkness. The Pandavas likewise adopted the same ancient practice, illuminating their ranks in equal measure. Amidst that luminous spectacle, Dronacharya shone like the midday sun, resplendent in his mastery of warfare and indomitable spirit.
Duryodhana then addressed his brothers and allied warriors. Accompanied by Kritavarma and other heroes, they were instructed to guard Drona and prevent Dhrishtadyumna from approaching him. “The Acharya will conquer all others,” declared Duryodhana. “Thereafter Karna shall overcome Dhrishtadyumna and Arjuna, while I shall defeat Bhima.” With these words he ordered the armies to advance. Sanjaya observed that never before had such a battle been witnessed—a conflict fierce in execution, profound in strategy, relentless in determination, and terrible in its resolve to destroy the enemy.
Dharmaraja dispatched his forces against Drona and himself moved toward the preceptor, but Kritavarma intercepted him. Elsewhere, Satyaki confronted Prince Bhurinatha; Sahadeva encountered Karna; Bhima engaged Duryodhana; Nakula and Shikhandi faced Kripacharya; Prithviraj battled Dushasana; Ghatotkacha fought Ashwatthama; Vrishasena opposed King Drupada; Virata challenged Shalya; Satanika encountered Chitrasena; and Arjuna confronted the Rakshasa Alambusha. The Kaurava strategy was clear—to prevent both Arjuna and Dhrishtadyumna from reaching Drona. The movements of warriors became so swift and intricate that it was nearly impossible to discern who fought whom, as the battlefield resembled a spinning disc whose motion distorted all vision.
In the midst of this confusion, Drona slaughtered large numbers of Somaka warriors. Witnessing the destruction, Dhrishtadyumna surged forward and launched a powerful assault upon the preceptor. At the same time Kritavarma shattered Dharmaraja’s bow. Yudhishthira seized another and answered with a torrent of arrows that greatly troubled his opponent. He broke Kritavarma’s bow and struck him with a formidable Shakti weapon. Yet Kritavarma swiftly armed himself anew, slew Dharmaraja’s horses and charioteer, and once more destroyed his bow. Yudhishthira then hurled a spear and a mace-like weapon, both of which were shattered. Kritavarma pierced his armor, wounded him severely, and compelled him to withdraw from the field. The Kaurava ranks rejoiced loudly at this turn of events and raised triumphant cries.
Meanwhile, Satyaki and Prince Bhurinatha fought with extraordinary vigor. Satyaki shattered his adversary’s bow and covered him with arrows. Bhurinatha immediately took another bow and retaliated with equal force, breaking Satyaki’s weapon in return. Enraged, Satyaki hurled a blazing Shakti that severed Bhurinatha’s head. The prince fell lifeless upon the battlefield. His death drew the attention of Ashwatthama, who rushed forward intending to challenge Satyaki, but his advance was intercepted by the mighty Ghatotkacha. The Rakshasa prince struck Drona’s son with ten powerful shafts and momentarily rendered him unconscious. Recovering almost instantly, Ashwatthama launched a deadly arrow that pierced Ghatotkacha’s chest. The impact caused the mighty Rakshasa to collapse within his chariot, and his charioteer hastily carried him away to safety.
Elsewhere, Bhima and Duryodhana continued their celebrated duel. Arrows flew so thickly between them that neither warrior could clearly behold the other. Dust mingled with streams of blood and rose into the air like crimson clouds. Veiled by this fearful haze, the two heroes resembled the sun and moon hidden behind storm-laden skies. Bhima suddenly shattered Duryodhana’s bow and banner and pierced his body with numerous shafts. Undeterred, Duryodhana seized another bow and struck Bhima in the chest and limbs, breaking his weapon in turn. Bhima armed himself again, wounded Duryodhana with seven arrows, and shattered yet another of his bows. Four bows were broken in rapid succession. Finally, Bhima slew Duryodhana’s horses and charioteer with a mighty mace. Bereft of support and fearing for his life, Duryodhana withdrew from the battlefield and sought refuge in a safer position.
Unable to find his adversary, Bhima raised a lion-like roar that echoed across the field. Hearing the thunderous cry and seeing Duryodhana disappear from sight, the Kaurava army feared that their prince had been slain. Despair spread through their ranks, while the Pandava forces erupted in jubilant shouts of victory. Thus, beneath the brilliance of countless torches and amidst the horrors of the night, the great war continued with undiminished fury, filling the hearts of warriors with terror, hope, triumph, and despair in equal measure.
