Sanjaya said: “O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the fall of Drumasena filled Dhṛṣṭadyumna with consuming wrath. Like a lion springing upon its prey, he rushed against Karṇa and shattered his bow. Undaunted, Karṇa immediately seized another bow and continued the contest with undiminished vigor. To support him, Duryodhana and five renowned warriors joined the battle and showered Sātyaki with torrents of arrows. The heroic Yādava answered their assault in the proud language of warriors, repelling every attack with fearless skill. The encounter between Sātyaki and Karṇa became so extraordinary that soldiers, princes, commanders, and kings watched it in amazement.”
At that moment, Karṇa’s son, Vṛṣasena, advanced to challenge Sātyaki. The latter struck him with a powerful and razor-edged shaft that rendered him unconscious upon his chariot. Believing his son to have been slain, Karṇa was overwhelmed by grief, and his fury multiplied beyond measure. Driven by sorrow and rage, he covered Sātyaki with a relentless storm of arrows. Soon Vṛṣasena regained his senses, gathered his composure, and returned to the field. Enraged by the renewed attack, Sātyaki discharged countless shafts against both father and son. Then the warriors heard the resonant twang of the Gāṇḍīva and the thunderous reverberation of the Devadatta conch. Their echoes spread across the battlefield, stirring the hearts of all and heralding the presence of Arjuna.
Observing this, Karṇa turned to Duryodhana and said, “Arjuna is engaged elsewhere. While he remains occupied, we must surround Sātyaki and sever all possibility of aid from him. Let our foremost warriors encircle and destroy him. This alone is the means by which Sātyaki may be brought down, just as Abhimanyu was overwhelmed. Such a victory will become the foundation of your triumph. If Arjuna learns of our design, he will hasten to rescue his ally. Therefore, strong warriors must be dispatched to restrain him and prevent any communication from reaching him.”
Duryodhana greatly admired this counsel and praised Karṇa’s foresight. Turning immediately to Śakuni, he commanded, “Take ten thousand elephants and march forth with Duḥśāsana, Subāhu, Duṣpradharṣaṇa, Durviṣaha, and my other brothers. Supported by a mighty fourfold army, confront Arjuna and the Pāṇḍavas. Display the full measure of your valor and return victorious.” Receiving these orders, Śakuni departed at once to carry out the king’s command.
Meanwhile, numerous warriors assembled to strengthen Karṇa’s position and assailed Sātyaki from every side. Their arrows fell upon him with astonishing speed, but the Vṛṣṇi hero became only more terrible in his wrath. The battlefield soon filled with severed elephant trunks, fallen horses, shattered chariots, and broken weapons. Streams of blood flowed like rivers, carrying away corpses and wreckage in their crimson currents. Witnessing such unmatched courage and martial brilliance, all were struck with wonder. Unable to endure the ferocity of his assault, the Kaurava forces began to waver.
Filled with confidence in his strength and vast army, Duryodhana personally advanced against Sātyaki. A fierce duel followed. Sātyaki slew the king’s charioteer, killed his horses, and shattered his bow. Though Duryodhana struck back and wounded him in vital places, he was ultimately compelled to abandon his disabled chariot and seek refuge upon the car of Kṛtavarmā. Thus Duryodhana suffered defeat at the hands of Sātyaki. Disturbed by the outcome, the Kaurava army lost heart, scattered in confusion, and fled in many directions. In this manner, said Sañjaya, Sātyaki concluded that phase of battle with a decisive victory.
Elsewhere, Śakuni, supported by vast forces and reinforced by his son Ulūka, confronted Arjuna with unexpected determination. Ulūka released a dense shower of arrows against both Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa. Arjuna answered with irresistible force, covering Śakuni, Ulūka, and their supporting warriors with countless shafts. Unable to withstand the might of the Gāṇḍīva, they were pierced and tormented by pain. Their exhausted troops lost all cohesion and withdrew in disorder to safer ground, unable to resist Arjuna’s devastating advance.
At the same time, Dhṛṣṭadyumna renewed his attack upon Droṇācārya and shattered the preceptor’s bow. Droṇa swiftly took up another, but every shaft he released was cut down with ease. Dhṛṣṭadyumna wounded him repeatedly and harassed him without respite. Radiant like a thunderbolt amid storm clouds, he rained arrows upon the Kaurava ranks and threw them into complete confusion. Thus Sātyaki, Arjuna, and Dhṛṣṭadyumna together drove back the Kaurava forces. Thereafter Kṛṣṇa sounded the Pāñcajanya, Arjuna blew the Devadatta, and other heroes proclaimed their success with triumphant blasts. The spirits of the Pāṇḍava army rose like the swelling waves of a mighty ocean.
Yet Karṇa, consumed by wrath and emotion, continued his fearful destruction. Heads and limbs of warriors fell beneath his arrows. Horses and elephants lay dead in heaps, while terrified soldiers were driven before him like frightened cattle. His prowess, mastery of arms, and heroic energy became evident through the immense devastation he wrought. The terror inspired by his advance scattered entire divisions, and Karṇa pursued the fleeing warriors without mercy.
Witnessing this dreadful spectacle, Yudhiṣṭhira was moved by both concern and compassion. He said to Arjuna, “The radiance of Karṇa’s arrows shines in every direction. It seems as though the sun itself has risen in the darkness of night. His royal splendor is unbearable to behold. If we ignore him while he pursues our soldiers, not one among them will be spared. He must be checked immediately. Go forth and halt his deadly course.”
Arjuna replied to Kṛṣṇa, “Dharmarāja is deeply troubled by Karṇa’s terrible assault. Our forces are being routed, while Droṇācārya also advances with overwhelming vigor. I must first humble Karṇa’s pride and then restrain the momentum of Droṇa. Drive our chariot toward Karṇa.”
Kṛṣṇa answered with thoughtful wisdom: “During the night, the strength of the Rākṣasas greatly increases. The mighty son of Hiḍimbā, Ghaṭotkaca, is fully capable of confronting Karṇa. Let us employ him for this purpose. He possesses mastery over illusion, commands celestial weapons, and excels in nocturnal warfare. There is no cause for anxiety. Let Ghaṭotkaca engage Karṇa while we attend to other necessities of the battle.”
Then Kṛṣṇa summoned the mighty Rākṣasa prince. Ghaṭotkaca appeared at once, fully armed and eager for combat. Bowing before Kṛṣṇa, he asked, “What service shall I render?” Kṛṣṇa replied, “O mighty hero, the Pāṇḍava forces can no longer endure the relentless arrows of Karṇa and are fleeing in distress. Relying upon your immense strength, valor, and supernatural powers, confront Karṇa and halt his advance. He cannot easily withstand your mastery of night warfare. The nocturnal wanderers gain immeasurable power in darkness, and your glory will contribute greatly to the victory of your father and elders. Defeat Karṇa and secure triumph for those whom you love.”
Thus, O King, concluded Sañjaya, Kṛṣṇa’s decision to deploy Ghaṭotkaca against Karṇa was a masterstroke of warfare. By this farsighted strategy he sought not only to protect the exhausted Pāṇḍava forces, but also to restrain the devastating momentum of both Karṇa and Droṇācārya, thereby preserving the path to victory for the sons of Pāṇḍu.
