Sanjaya spoke to the aged King Dhritarashtra with grave composure, describing how the tide of battle had risen to a fearful height. Your ten sons, roaring like lions intoxicated with pride, hurled themselves against Arjuna with irresistible fury, determined to overwhelm him by sheer force. Yet the son of Pandu stood unshaken, calm amidst the raging storm. His Gandiva sang without pause, and every shaft sped forth with unfailing purpose. Charioteers fell from their seats, horses collapsed upon the blood-soaked earth, lofty standards were cut down, and proud banners were reduced to ruin. With broad-headed and razor-edged arrows he severed the heads of valiant warriors, offering them as dreadful sacrifices upon the altar of war, where the battlefield itself had become the witness to destiny.
Soon ninety mighty chariot warriors of the Kaurava host surrounded Arjuna from every direction, pouring upon him an unceasing shower of arrows. Their attack resembled dark rain-bearing clouds attempting to conceal the blazing sun. Arjuna, however, answered each assault with astonishing precision. Every arrow that left his bow found its destined mark, and with each shaft another warrior fell lifeless. Before long, the circle of attackers was broken, and the unrivalled archer pressed relentlessly into the supporting divisions of the Kaurava army, scattering them like dry leaves before a tempest.
Perceiving that ordinary troops could not restrain him, the Kauravas unleashed nearly thirteen hundred enraged elephants against Arjuna. Along with them surged fierce Abheeras, Mlechha warriors, and numerous foreign contingents, advancing with terrifying cries and dreadful weapons. Invoking celestial astras with effortless mastery, Arjuna transformed the advancing multitude into a field of silence. Mighty elephants crashed to the earth, their riders thrown down, while entire battalions disappeared beneath the irresistible force of his divine missiles. The fourfold army closed around him from every quarter, yet with Bhimasena fighting beside him, countless warriors were laid low, and still the terrible conflict raged onward.
Bhimasena, whose wrath had long awaited its destined hour, lifted his massive mace and rushed into the heart of the enemy. Whirling the dreadful weapon with irresistible strength, he shattered chariots, crushed elephants, slew horses, and scattered warriors in every direction. Nothing could withstand his furious advance. The battlefield trembled beneath his assault, and scarcely a soldier escaped without wounds from Arjuna’s arrows or the crushing blows of Bhima’s mace. Elephants bled profusely and fell one after another, while broken ranks fled in terror.
Unable to endure the slaughter, the frightened Kaurava soldiers ran towards Karna, crying aloud, “Save us!” Princes and warriors alike gathered behind him, seeking refuge beneath the protection of the mighty son of Radha. Like a steadfast mountain standing against the surging sea, Karna halted the retreating army and restored their courage. Drawing his great bow with determined strength, he advanced towards Arjuna, resolved to stem the overwhelming tide. Before the inevitable encounter began, Bhima had already joined Arjuna, and the Panchala heroes also rushed forward to challenge Karna.
Sanjaya continued, saying that the glory of the Kuru lineage now stood face to face with the united strength of the Panchalas, the Upapandavas, and the foremost heroes of the Pandava host. Karna fought with astonishing composure, meeting every warrior according to his skill and temperament. He slew the charioteer and horses of Janamejaya, shattered the bows of Bhima and Nakula’s sons, destroyed the horses of Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna, and struck down the Kekaya prince. Witnessing his son’s death, the Kekaya king charged Karna in burning grief and succeeded in slaying Karna’s beloved son Prasena. For a fleeting moment, sorrow and wrath mingled within Karna’s heart. Casting aside every softer emotion, he answered with merciless resolve and slew the grieving king, leaving both armies awestruck by fate’s relentless decree.
Satyaki mounted another chariot and swiftly surrounded Sushena, Karna’s surviving son. He slew the prince’s horses and released thirty razor-sharp arrows to end his life. Before those shafts could reach their mark, Karna shattered them all with extraordinary skill. Then, resembling Yama himself at the hour of destruction, he discharged a deadly arrow aimed at Satyaki. Before it could strike, Sikhandi cut it apart in mid-air and immediately pierced Karna with three sharp arrows. Enraged beyond measure, the son of Radha destroyed Sikhandi’s banner and bow, and in the same furious assault slew Sudeva, the son of Drupada, before the eyes of his grieving kinsmen. Many Panchala princes were humbled beneath the relentless fury of his weapons.
The Panchala warriors once again attacked Karna with renewed determination, but Bhima and Arjuna broke through the surrounding ranks and reached the son of Radha. Uttamauja, Janamejaya, Yudhamanyu, Sikhandi, and Dhrishtadyumna encircled him from every side. Yet none could overcome Karna. His arrows flew with dazzling speed, cutting down their standards, killing their charioteers, shattering their umbrellas, slaying their horses, breaking their bows, and emptying their quivers. The sons of Draupadi also surrounded him, while Satyaki shattered many of Karna’s arrows with remarkable dexterity. Duryodhana hastened to aid his friend, but Satyaki struck him with eight keen shafts, compelling him to recoil. Seeing the gathering assault upon Karna, Arjuna’s wrath blazed forth once more. He swept aside the surrounding warriors, slew numerous commanders of divisions, and hurled himself with renewed vigour upon the Kaurava forces.
As the day advanced, the order of battle dissolved into confusion. Warriors fought wherever opportunity presented itself, and the ancient codes of righteous warfare gradually faded beneath the fury of vengeance and survival. In that dreadful hour, Dussasana advanced to confront Bhimasena. Their magnificent chariots sped across the battlefield with astonishing speed, guided by skilful charioteers and drawn by richly adorned horses. For a brief moment their movements possessed such elegance that the combat resembled a royal display rather than a struggle unto death. Standing proudly upon their chariots, both warriors shone with equal splendour, their arrows flashing like lightning across the darkened sky.
Exchanging shafts with unwavering concentration, they displayed equal vigilance and martial excellence. Then Bhima spoke in a voice heavy with long-suppressed fury. “Brother,” he declared, “the humiliation you inflicted upon us in the royal assembly has remained as a debt within my heart. Today I shall repay it with interest. I shall not depart by even a single step from the vow I uttered on that dreadful day. The Creator Himself has brought you before me so that my oath may be fulfilled.”
Dussasana answered without fear. “I know your resolve well. Was it not we who burned the house of lac, drove you into hardship, robbed you of kingdom and wealth through Sakuni’s deceitful game of dice, forced you into exile, and compelled you to conceal yourselves in the kingdom of Virata? The whole world knows these events. Yet now we stand upon the battlefield with weapons in our hands. Why speak of the past? Let our deeds decide the truth.”
Hearing those words, the son of Vayu smiled with sorrow and wrath mingled together. His face reddened like a blazing fire as he advanced upon Dussasana. With three swift arrows Bhima cut down his enemy’s banner, shattered his bow, and struck down his charioteer. Then he fixed a powerful shaft upon Dussasana’s forehead. Unshaken, Dussasana seized the reins himself, guided his horses with remarkable skill, took up another mighty bow, and pierced Bhima’s chest with sharp arrows. He broke Bhima’s bow and wounded his charioteer with six well-aimed shafts. The astonishing exchange unfolded with such speed that even seasoned warriors marvelled at their mastery.
When his bow was broken, Bhima instantly grasped another and answered with fifty arrows that struck Dussasana with irresistible force. Maddened by the assault, Dussasana slew Bhima’s horses, displaying a courage that astonished friend and foe alike. The battlefield echoed with admiration for the extraordinary prowess of both heroes, whose skill matched their fierce determination.
At last Bhimasena seized his mighty mace. Whirling it above his head until sparks of fire seemed to burst from its terrible revolutions, he hurled it with overwhelming force against Dussasana’s chariot. It crushed the vehicle into fragments and slew the horses instantly. Undaunted, Dussasana leapt to the ground, grasped his own mace, and stood ready to continue the duel. Thus the two mighty warriors faced one another upon the earth itself, equal in swiftness, immense in strength, and unrivalled in martial skill, while Sanjaya faithfully recounted every fearful moment to the blind King Dhritarashtra, as destiny moved ever closer to its irreversible fulfilment.
