As the tumult of war raged across the field, Duryodhana appeared upon another chariot, fully armed and magnificently arrayed. His arrival dispelled the fears and apprehensions that had arisen among the Kaurava ranks regarding his fate. At the same time, Karna and Sahadeva engaged one another in a fierce and spirited contest. Advancing with confidence and the ardent desire for victory, Sahadeva discharged nine keen arrows that struck and wounded Karna. The son of Radha responded instantly, releasing a hundred shafts that pierced Sahadeva from head to foot. He shattered Sahadeva’s bow, yet the valiant prince swiftly seized another and continued the struggle with unwavering determination.
Karna then severed the head of Sahadeva’s charioteer and slew his horses. Deprived of his chariot, Sahadeva leapt to the ground with sword and shield in hand and fought courageously. Karna, however, destroyed both weapons with a shower of arrows. Undaunted, Sahadeva hurled a mighty mace with the strength of his powerful arms, but Karna shattered it in midair and laughed at the warrior’s helpless condition. Refusing to yield, Sahadeva next launched a Shakti weapon and even cast a chariot wheel against his foe. Both were broken to pieces before they could reach their mark.
Bereft of weapons and preparing to withdraw from the battlefield, Sahadeva found Karna pursuing him relentlessly. Overtaken and cornered, he stood bewildered and speechless. As Karna approached, a solemn memory arose within his heart—the pledge he had once given to Kunti that he would spare all her sons except Arjuna. Though victory lay within his grasp, his conscience would not permit the slaying of Sahadeva. Touching the prince lightly upon the ribs with the tip of his bow, Karna smiled and said, “It is unwise to challenge a warrior whose prowess surpasses your own. Do not repeat such folly. Your brother Arjuna wages war elsewhere; go and join him.” Having spoken thus, Karna departed. Deeply wounded in spirit and humiliated by the encounter, Sahadeva mounted another chariot and left the field. Thus ended the memorable combat between Karna and Sahadeva.
Elsewhere, the battle between Virata and Salya raged with extraordinary intensity, recalling the legendary struggle between Indra and Jambasura. Seizing a favorable moment, Salya slew Virata’s horses and charioteer. Yet the Matsya king, steadfast and fearless, continued to shower arrows upon his adversary. His brother Satanika soon joined him, and together they enveloped Salya beneath a dense canopy of shafts. Satanika fought with remarkable valor and offered stubborn resistance, but Salya, ruthless and unrelenting, struck him down. Witnessing his brother’s fall before his eyes, Virata was overcome by grief, fear, and frustration. Nevertheless, he mounted his brother’s chariot and renewed the battle with desperate determination. Salya answered with a torrent of arrows that rendered Virata unconscious. His charioteer swiftly carried him away to safety. With their king removed from the field, the Matsya forces gradually broke under Salya’s relentless assault and scattered in confusion. At that critical moment, Arjuna arrived and checked Salya’s advance through his majestic skill and incomparable mastery of warfare.
The demon Alambusa, emboldened by arrogance, dared to shoot a few arrows at Arjuna and gloried in his audacity. Arjuna’s response was swift and devastating. He shattered Alambusa’s bow and standard, slew his horses and charioteer, and reduced his chariot to ruin. Struck by four razor-sharp arrows, the demon lost heart and, exhausted and wounded, withdrew from the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Satanika, Nakula’s son, engaged Chitrasena in combat. He cut through Chitrasena’s armor, struck him to the ground, and shattered both his bow and banner. Rising again, Chitrasena seized another bow and discharged a shower of arrows that caused Satanika to writhe in pain. Recovering swiftly, Satanika slew Chitrasena’s horses and charioteer. Chitrasena then pierced him with twenty-four arrows, provoking great wrath. Enraged, Satanika broke his opponent’s bow. Having lost his chariot, horses, and weapons, Chitrasena mounted Hardikya’s chariot and fled the scene.
“O King Dhritarashtra,” said Sanjaya, “Vrishasena, the valiant son of Karna, attacked King Drupada. Their encounter was terrible to behold. Bathed in blood, they resembled crimson figures dancing amidst a storm of weapons. Gradually, Vrishasena gained the upper hand. Observing their king’s strength diminishing, the Panchala warriors fought with the ferocity of lions. Yet they could not withstand the ceaseless rain of arrows released by Karna’s son. Forced to retreat, they abandoned the field, while Vrishasena shone resplendent with the pride of victory.”
At another quarter of the battlefield, Dussasana and Prativindhya fought a fierce duel. Prativindhya struck Dussasana upon the forehead with three arrows. Blood flowed freely, and the Kaurava prince appeared like a mountain adorned with three radiant peaks. Recovering quickly, Dussasana launched a violent counterattack. He slew Prativindhya’s horses and charioteer and shattered his chariot into fragments. Yet Prativindhya, firm as the Vindhya Mountains, remained unshaken. Filled with righteous fury, he rained arrows upon his foe. Dussasana severed his bow and pierced his body with numerous sharp shafts. Seeing their brother endangered, the sons of the Pandavas rushed to support him. Srutasena, the son of Bhima, brought another chariot, upon which Prativindhya mounted and resumed the battle. Kaurava warriors then rallied around Dussasana, and the conflict widened into a fierce engagement involving many heroes.
Nakula and Shakuni next met in combat. Both warriors fought with patience, intelligence, and courage. Shakuni released a long and powerful arrow that pierced Sahadeva deeply in the chest and rendered him unconscious. He then shattered his banner and standard. Regaining his senses, Sahadeva retaliated with fierce determination. He broke Shakuni’s bow and flag and struck him severely upon the thighs, leaving him gravely wounded and half-dead. Shakuni’s charioteer quickly removed him from the battlefield. Thus the encounter concluded with the humiliation and defeat of the Gandhara king.
Shikhandi then shattered Kripacharya’s bow as effortlessly as a lotus stalk. In return, Kripa hurled a Shakti weapon, but it too was destroyed. Inflamed with anger, Kripacharya prepared to unleash a deadly arrow upon Shikhandi, who was surrounded by hostile warriors. The Kaurava soldiers, fearing for their preceptor’s safety, guided him away toward another sector of the battlefield, where he continued to fight with undiminished valor.
As darkness deepened, the war assumed a strange and dreadful character beneath the wavering glow of countless torches. The dim light obscured friend and foe alike, and warriors fought in confusion, unable to recognize one another. Amid this eerie spectacle, Dhrishtadyumna blazed forth like a consuming fire and attacked Drona. He struck the preceptor with five arrows and broke his bow. Drona immediately seized another bow and answered with twenty-five shafts. He shattered Dhrishtadyumna’s weapon and invoked celestial astras that flashed like tongues of flame. Dhrishtadyumna countered them skillfully, astonishing all who witnessed the encounter. The Kaurava forces trembled at his formidable resistance.
Duryodhana, Dussasana, Shakuni, and other Kuru warriors then joined together and assailed Dhrishtadyumna from all sides. Yet the commander of the Pandava army stood firm like a mountain against a tempest, resisting every assault with unyielding courage.
Meanwhile, Druvasena advanced proudly against Karna and showered him with arrows, trusting greatly in his own strength. Karna’s wrath rose like a raging storm. Drawing his bow to its fullest extent, he released a deadly shaft that severed Druvasena’s head from his body. The head, adorned with splendid earrings, fell glittering upon the earth, while Karna stood radiant amidst the carnage, like the sun shining through the darkness of a storm-torn sky.
