The blind monarch Dhritarashtra, ever swayed by partial affection and dimmed discernment, spoke in anguish to Sanjaya: “Thou recountest the slaughter and defeat of our hosts ever, while the valor and high chivalry of the sons of Pandu thou describest with vivid praise and particular instance. This seeming distortion troubles my mind; I perceive not the cause of this grievous narrative.” Then Sanjaya, serene in wisdom and faithful in truth, answered the king: “O lord of the Kurus, thy warriors strive according to their strength and discipline; yet as rivers, though mighty in their courses, lose their distinct name and form when they merge into the vast ocean, so do thy forces, swallowed in the greater tide of destiny, fail to manifest their prowess. The fault lies not in their courage but in the seed of injustice once sown and left unatoned. Grieve not now for errors unredeemed; rather attend with firmness to the unfolding dynamics of war, for events move by the law of consequence.”
On that day, the field resounded with dreadful tumult. Yudhamanyu of Panchala, accomplished in archery, showered keen shafts upon Vinda and Anuvinda, the kings of Avanti. With fierce precision, he shattered Anuvinda’s chariot and mounted that of Vinda. He slew Vinda’s charioteer; the terrified steeds, ungoverned, recoiled and threw the ranks into confusion. Disorder spread like a wind-fed flame. Meanwhile, Bhagadatta, lord of Pragjyotisha, urged his colossal elephant into the fray; maddened and blazing with fury, it trampled the Pandava lines, scattering warriors in wild disarray. Then Ghatotkacha, son of Hidimbi, swift as a tempest and dreadful in aspect, advanced and checked the raging beast. Bhagadatta, skilled in subtle warfare, loosed dreadful weapons to subdue him; yet Ghatotkacha cut down those missiles with seventy rapid shafts and troubled his foe with piercing arrows. Enraged, Bhagadatta shattered the Rakshasa’s chariot and hurled a mighty shakti; but it was cleft midair. Still, daunted as Namuchi before Indra, Ghatotkacha withdrew, and Bhagadatta’s elephant again spread havoc among his scattered troops.
Elsewhere, Salya of Madra contended fiercely with Nakula and Sahadeva. The twins drenched him with arrows; yet Salya, smiling in proud defiance, shattered Nakula’s chariot. The brothers then fought together from a single car. With wrath inflamed Salya pressed them hard, until Sahadeva, composed yet blazing with courage, discharged a single mighty shaft that pierced Salya through before blood had time to follow its path. The king of Madra swooned and fell as one lifeless upon his chariot, and the Kaurava ranks trembled in astonishment until his charioteer bore him swiftly from the field. The twins sounded their conches in triumph.
Yudhishthira, son of Dharma, then engaged Srutayu, releasing nine arrows; the latter answered with seven keen shafts that pierced the king. Angered yet steadfast, Yudhishthira struck with a celestial weapon and wounded Srutayu in the chest. Again, the foe retaliated, but the son of Dharma slew his adversary’s steeds and drenched him in blood until he fled in fear, while the Pandava hosts raised exultant cries.
Chekitana next assailed Kripacharya. Kripa shattered his bow and steeds; yet Chekitana leapt down with mace in hand and crushed the preceptor’s chariot. Sixteen arrows from Kripa pierced his ribs; still, he smote Kripa with the mace until it too was broken. Seizing a sword, Chekitana sprang upon his foe, and in fierce combat, both fell senseless to the ground. Then the son of Subala bore away Kripa, while Karakarshana rescued Chekitana from peril.
Dhrishtaketu of Chedi wounded Bhurisrava with ninety arrows; stung by pain, Bhurisrava slew his steeds and forced him to mount the car of Sataneeka. Dussasana, Chitrasena, and Vikarna fought fiercely against Abhimanyu, yet the youthful hero smashed their chariots and spared Dussasana only in remembrance of Bhima’s terrible vow. Seeing Dussasana imperiled, Bhishma advanced with many kings in support. Arjuna, beholding Abhimanyu beset, bade Krishna drive into the thick of gathering foes. The king of Trigarta, Susharma, challenged Arjuna, who answered with storms of arrows that felled steeds and charioteers alike. Surrounded by the Kaurava host, yet sustained by the Pandavas who rallied to him, Arjuna moved like blazing fire, cutting down banners, poles, umbrellas, and armor, severing limbs and heads, and scattering terror across the field.
Though thirty-two warriors leapt upon him in reckless valor, he slew them with sixty-four shafts. Enraged at their fall, Susharma pressed harder, while Shikhandi and the sons of Drupada reinforced Arjuna’s line. Duryodhana and Jayadratha hastened to aid Bhishma. To gladden the grandsire’s heart, Salya, Chitrasena, and Kripa rained arrows upon the Pandavas. Shikhandi confronted Bhishma, who would not strike him but cut his shafts and turned aside. Reminded by Yudhishthira of Bhishma’s ancient vow, Shikhandi renewed the assault. Salya invoked the Agneyastra; Shikhandi countered with the Varunastra and quenched its blaze. Bhishma shattered Yudhishthira’s banner and bow, roaring to hearten his ranks.
Bhima, enraged beyond restraint, leapt from his chariot with mace uplifted and advanced upon Duryodhana. Jayadratha discharged five hundred arrows, yet Bhima stood unmoved, crushed the Sindhu king’s steeds, and broke his chariot with crushing blows. Though Jayadratha mounted another car, terror spread among the gathered kings at Bhima’s onslaught. Then Duryodhana himself rushed upon Bhimasena, and thus the battle raged on, fierce, ungoverned, and ordained by fate.
