Having bowed with reverence at the feet of Yudhishthira, Bhīmasena received from Dharmarāja his blessing for a safe and victorious return. At that very moment, the resounding blast of the Panchajanya echoed across the field. Hearing that sacred sound, Yudhishthira said with sudden joy, “Hasten, O Bhīma! Surely Krishna sounds his conch in exultation, for Arjuna must have reached his objective.”
Thus urged, Bhīmasena, fully armed and radiant with martial splendour, mounted his chariot driven by the faithful Viśoka. As he set forth, his forces filled the air with tumultuous cries. Trumpets blared, kettle-drums thundered, tabors resounded, horns were blown, and cymbals clashed, so that the earth itself seemed to tremble beneath their advance.
Beholding the Kaurava army spread before him, Bhīma rushed upon it like a tempest upon a forest. Against him came many sons of Dhṛtarāṣṭra—Duḥśalā’s brothers Dussala, Citrasena, Kuṇḍabhedin, Vivimśati, Durmukha, Duḥsaha, Vikarna, Śala, Vinda, Anuvinda, Sumukha, Dīrghabāhu, Sudarśana, Bṛndāraka, Suhastin, Suṣeṇa, Dīrghalochana, Abhaya, Raudrakarma, Suśarma, and Durvimochana. Showering him with well-aimed arrows, they sought to arrest his progress.
But Bhīmasena, swelling with wrath like a lion at the sight of a herd of deer, received their shafts as though they were but flowers. With a single arrow he slew Bṛndāraka. With three keen shafts he struck down Abhaya, Raudrakarma, and Durvimochana. Soon thereafter Vinda, Anuvinda, and Suśarma fell beneath his irresistible might, and Sudarśana was cast to the earth half-dead. Overcome with terror, the surviving princes fled in all directions while Bhīma pressed onward, roaring like a lion in the mountains.
Then Drona, heedless of Bhīma’s fury, advanced to bar his way. Covering him with a dense shower of arrows, the preceptor restrained his movement. Reflecting that Bhīma, like Arjuna, sought to penetrate the battle formation, Droṇa said, “O Bhīmasena, none may pass through this array without first vanquishing me. Your brother obtained my permission before entering this formation. You cannot proceed otherwise.”
Hearing these words, Bhīma’s eyes reddened with indignation. “Arjuna,” he replied, “by his skill and divine favour may seek permission even while capable of piercing the hosts of gods and demons. I am not Arjuna, nor do I follow the path of gentle speech. Though I honour you as a father, a teacher, and a well-wisher, I cannot remain silent while you strive for the triumph of our foes. Today I shall display the measure of my strength.”
With that, Bhīmasena hurled his mighty mace. Whirling through the air like a blazing meteor, it scattered sparks of fire and resounded like thunder. It crushed Droṇa’s horses, slew his charioteer, and shattered the chariot into fragments. The venerable preceptor stood momentarily silent, bereft of bow and car.
Without delay Bhīma fell upon the Kaurava ranks, subduing all resistance. Panic spread through the army, and many fled the field in fear. Droṇa, mounting another chariot, again confronted him and vexed him with a torrent of arrows. Then Bhīma, proud of his immense strength, leapt from his own car and advanced with lowered head, enduring the shower like a mighty bull pressing onward through a storm. Reaching Droṇa’s chariot, he seized it with his bare hands, lifted it aloft, and hurled it aside, breaking it to pieces before the astonished gaze of all assembled.
Droṇa once more mounted another chariot and resumed the fight. Bhīma quickly re-entered his own car, and Viśoka drove him furiously against the enemy. Harassed by his onslaught, the Bhojas, Kāmbojas, and Yavanas fled like startled beasts. Breaking through their ranks, Bhīmasena at last beheld Arjuna engaged in fierce combat. In great delight he uttered a tremendous lion’s roar.
Krishna and Arjuna, hearing that familiar and beloved sound, responded with roars equally mighty. Their united voices reverberated through earth and sky, filling every quarter with thunderous echoes. Hearing this auspicious clamour, Yudhishthira knew that Arjuna would fulfil his solemn vow and return victorious.
Sañjaya said to Dhritarashtra, “When your sons were being slain and the triumphant cries of Krishna, Arjuna, and Bhīma resounded across the field, Yudhishthira’s heart was filled with confidence and joy.”
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, overcome with anxiety for Duryodhana and his devoted allies, asked, “Is there among our warriors any hero capable of withstanding Bhīma? He was born to consume my sons as a blazing forest fire devours dry wood. Who can confront him and survive?”
Sañjaya replied, “Then Karna advanced against Bhīmasena and struck him with twenty-five arrows. Bhīma answered with sixty-three shafts, severed Karṇa’s banner, and shattered his bow. Though Karṇa seized another bow and renewed the attack, Bhīma slew his horses and struck down his charioteer. Karṇa, deprived of his car, leapt onto the chariot of his son Vrishasena.”
Witnessing Karṇa’s humiliation, Duryodhana hastened to Droṇācārya and said, “Arjuna, Satyaki, and Bhīma have pierced our army and reached the vicinity of Jayadratha. Though you permitted Arjuna to pass, was it fitting to allow Bhīma and Sātyaki to do the same? O master of archery, your being overcome is as astonishing as the drying up of the ocean itself. People may even say that your disciple Sātyaki has surpassed his teacher. Such a reproach is our misfortune.”
Droṇa, hearing these words, replied with restrained indignation, “O Duryodhana, the insult offered to your brothers and to me shall be answered by deeds. Our foremost duty is to preserve the life of Jayadratha. Today’s battle is a great wager between you and Arjuna, and the stakes are immeasurably high. The victory once gained through the cunning of Shakuni does not guarantee success today. Go, therefore, with Karṇa and your other heroes and oppose those three warriors. I shall hold the remainder of the army in check. That alone is the proper strategy.”
Thus instructed, Duryodhana regained some measure of courage and returned to the field.
Meanwhile, Sātyaki and Uttamaujas, who had earlier been checked by Kritavarma, heard once more the twang of Arjuna’s Gāṇḍīva and beheld the banner bearing the image of Hanuman fluttering in the distance. Renewed with vigour, they drove back the opposing troops and rejoined Arjuna.
Duryodhana sought to confront Sātyaki, and a fierce battle ensued. Sātyaki shattered Duryodhana’s bow and pierced his chest with sharp arrows. Duryodhana seized another bow and, with a swift counterattack, slew Sātyaki’s horses and his charioteer. Thus, O King, said Sañjaya, while your son contended desperately with his foes, the tide of battle continued to turn inexorably against the Kauravas.
