Chapter 14

Again the armies collided on the field of Kurukṣetra for the eleventh day of battle. Karṇa, coming fresh into the fight, carved a path of destruction through the Pāṇḍava forces. The Kaurava soldiers were delighted as they witnessed him causing havoc among their foes. “Surely the Pāṇḍavas will soon flee. Here is Karṇa, capable of crushing the celestial armies. Bhīṣma has treated Kuntī’s sons with tenderness, but Karṇa will not spare them.”

The din of battle resounded for miles, sending animals in distant forests bounding away in fear. Billowing clouds of dust, like heaps of tawny silk, rose up and obscured the sun. Weapons fell in thick showers on both armies, and the terrifying slaughter began once again.

Droṇa charged headlong into the Pāṇḍava army. He fired thousands of razor-sharp arrows that tore apart the warriors who stood before him. The fighters fell like rows of cranes before a gale. Invoking celestial weapons, Droṇa destroyed his enemies as Indra destroys the Asuras. The Pāṇḍava army quaked before Droṇa as he ranged about like Yamarāja holding his death-dealing staff.

Yudhiṣṭhira, alarmed at the destruction of his forces, spoke to Dṛṣṭadyumna. “Check Droṇa’s onslaught! No time should be lost!”

With a roar, Dṛṣṭadyumna charged Droṇa, followed by Bhīma, the twins, Abhimanyu, and other warriors. They surrounded Droṇa and rained their arrows on his chariot. Droṇa’s eyes rolled in anger. Working his bow with blinding speed, he repulsed his attackers like a storm blowing off clouds. He sent men and chariots reeling across the battlefield in all directions. Like one insane, he roamed the field releasing fire-like weapons. Beholding Droṇa rushing upon them like an angered Yamarāja, the Pāṇḍava forces fled in confusion and terror.

The terrific sound of Droṇa’s bowstring was heard continuously. Just as Bhīṣma had done before him, he slaughtered the Pāṇḍava soldiers. At the same time, other great heroes among the Kauravas engaged with their counterparts. Many furious one-to-one battles took place between the leading warriors of both armies.

Droṇa, his mind fixed on his promise to Duryodhana, ploughed relentlessly into the Pāṇḍava forces. Yudhiṣṭhira was stationed in their midst, protected by many maharathas who covered his chariot on all sides. Arjuna was close by, contending with a number of powerful chariot fighters who had been assigned the task of leading him away from his brother.

As Droṇa burst through the ranks of soldiers in front of Yudhiṣṭhira, he was met by Kumāra, a Pañchāla prince protecting Yudhiṣṭhira’s chariot wheels. As Yudhiṣṭhira fired his long shafts at Droṇa, Kumāra rushed toward him. The prince sent a volley of arrows at Droṇa that checked his progress. He pierced the Kuru preceptor with hundreds of shafts, laughing and roaring all the while. Not tolerating his attack, Droṇa regained his senses and fixed a broad-headed arrow onto his bow. Drawing it back to his ear, he fired it with deadly accuracy, severing Kumāra’s head from his body. Another Pañchāla prince, Simhasena, then struck Droṇa with a hundred ferocious arrows, supported by his brother, Vyaghradatta, who came at Droṇa screaming out his fearful battle cry. They both pierced Droṇa’s arms and chest with their steel shafts. Unperturbed, Droṇa sent two razor-headed arrows in swift succession that cut off their heads. As those handsome heads, decked with golden earrings and helmets, dropped to the earth, Droṇa pressed toward Yudhiṣṭhira. Seeing him approach the Pāṇḍava king, the Kaurava troops cried out, “Yudhiṣṭhira is captured!”

Cries of distress went up from the Pāṇḍava army as Droṇa came ever closer to Yudhiṣṭhira. Hearing the shouts, however, Arjuna rushed toward Droṇa, mercilessly mowing down the warriors who stood in his way. All that could be seen of Arjuna or his chariot as he fought his way toward his brother was a constantly spreading network of arrows. Above that shower flew Hanumān roaring frightfully from the banner.

Duryodhana ordered thousands of chariot fighters to charge Arjuna. Recklessly, they advanced toward him. The battlefield around Arjuna appeared to be one mass of arrows. Charging into the impenetrable wall of shafts, the Kauravas were cut down, their chariots smashed. Droṇa found it impossible to approach Yudhiṣṭhira. His supporting divisions could do nothing to help him. They were being destroyed by the inflamed Arjuna. Those that were not killed turned and fled in fear.

As Arjuna created a fearful destruction among the Kaurava army, the sun touched the western horizon. Droṇa blew his conch to withdraw his troops. Gradually the two armies disengaged and returned to their camps, praising each other’s heroism.

Droṇa was dejected as he took his place by Duryodhana’s side in the tent. He had been helpless in the face of Arjuna’s prowess. Shamed at his inability to contain his own disciple, he said to Duryodhana, “I told you already that when Arjuna is by Yudhiṣṭhira’s side, I will not be able to capture him. You must contrive some means to take Arjuna from his brother. I will then snatch Yudhiṣṭhira, even before the eyes of Dṛṣṭadyumna and all the other troops. I will either achieve this or slay at least one of the Pāṇḍavas’ greatest fighters--whoever comes to Yudhiṣṭhira’s aid. However, you need to ensure that Arjuna is busy elsewhere on the field.”

Hearing Droṇa speak Susharma said, “Arjuna has humiliated me many times. He bears malice toward me and my brothers. Remembering his antagonism I can hardly sleep at night. Let us therefore undertake the task tomorrow of contending with him. With fifty thousand chariot fighters who will not retreat behind us, we will challenge Arjuna to combat. Either he will lay prostrate on the field, or the earth will be relieved of the burden of my brothers and me and our entire army.”

Duryodhana praised Susharma and a cheer went up from the other kings. With his four brothers, Susharma took an oath before the sacred fire that he would fight to the death with Arjuna the following day. After Brahmins had sanctified his promise with mantras and holy water, he stood up and exclaimed, “If we do not slay Arjuna or become slain by him, let us attain the regions reserved for those who kill Brahmins, for drunkards, for those who forsake one who has sought shelter, for those who have intercourse with another’s wife, who are slayers of cattle, who abandon their own mother, or who are atheists. We claim those regions if we flee from Arjuna in battle tomorrow. Otherwise, may we attain the everlasting realms of happiness.”

After taking this vow, Susharma and his brothers retired for the night, leaving Duryodhana enlivened and hopeful. Even if Susharma could not kill Arjuna, which seemed likely, he would at least give Droṇa the freedom he needed to capture Yudhiṣṭhira. Duryodhana smiled at Karṇa. Perhaps he would not need to slay Arjuna after all. Between the promises of Droṇa and Susharma, it seemed the war would end in another way. The Kaurava prince did not care. As long as he emerged victorious, by whatever means, that was all that mattered. He rose from his seat and swept out of the assembly with his head held high, Karṇa following, grasping the hilt of his broad sword.

Early on the twelfth morning, news again reached Yudhiṣṭhira that Droṇa was intent on capturing him. He heard from his spies about Susharma’s promise. When Arjuna was informed, he said to his brother, “Still you need not fear, O King. Here is Sātyaki, my disciple and my equal in every respect. He will remain by your side at all times. Even if I am away, you cannot be captured while he is present.”

Reassured, Yudhiṣṭhira issued orders for the day’s battle. His forces were soon moving toward the fight, causing the earth to vibrate and raising clouds of dust as they proceeded in the formation shaped like an alligator.

As soon as Arjuna appeared before him, Susharma, who stood ahead of the Kaurava army, challenged him. Bound by kṣatriya codes, Arjuna accepted the challenge and charged. He was immediately surrounded by the thirty thousand chariots of the Samshaptakas and Trigartas. As the rest of the Pāṇḍava forces moved on across the plain to engage with the other Kaurava troops, Arjuna began a furious battle with those fearless warriors. They let out deafening roars and hurled their weapons at him. Hearing their elated shouts, Arjuna said to Kṛṣṇa, “Just see, O son of Devakī, how these men, who are about to fall in battle, are transported with joy when really they should be weeping. Or perhaps they are happy as they see before them heaven’s glowing regions, which can never be attained by cowards.”

Arjuna lifted his gold-encrusted celestial conch and let out a mighty blast. All four quarters were filled with the sound. Horses excreted and men fell from their chariots. Others were paralyzed with fear and stood motionless for a few moments. When the sound died away, they regained their senses and again roared. Taking up their bows, they fired thousands of shafts fletched with kanka feathers. In an instant Arjuna had shot arrows to counter every one of his opponents’ swift-coursing shafts. They fell in pieces to the ground. Arjuna pierced all the foremost charioteers who were bearing down upon him. Susharma and his brothers responded with sharp-pointed arrows that struck Arjuna’s arms and chest. A huge shower of other steel arrows fell on Arjuna’s chariot, like a swarm of black bees going toward a tree full of blossoms.

Kṛṣṇa drove the chariot and baffled the enemy attack. As he emerged from the hail of shafts, Arjuna fired razor-headed arrows that cut down his foes’ standards. With arrows shot in swift succession he slew the four horses of Sudhaman, one of Susharma’s brothers, and then cut off his head. As the prince fell from his chariot, his four brothers increased the fury of their attack. Tens of thousands of other chariot fighters and horsemen hurled their weapons at him from all sides. At the same time, the Nārāyaṇa army from Dwārakā rushed into the fight with terrible cries. Arjuna was completely engaged in the battle as the rest of the Pāṇḍava forces met the Kauravas some distance away.

With their forces arrayed in a formation resembling an eagle, the Kauravas closed on their enemies. Droṇa, stationed at the head of the array, at once made for Yudhiṣṭhira. Sātyaki charged Droṇa, releasing his swift arrows by the hundreds. He attacked the Kuru preceptor and rendered his two charioteers unconscious with a volley of arrows. Piercing his horses with even more arrows, he brought Droṇa’s chariot to a halt.

Droṇa was filled with rage, and he gazed at his antagonist with bloodshot eyes. Considering that Sātyaki’s time had come, he shot a dozen snake-like shafts that sundered his bow and pierced his armor. Unperturbed, Sātyaki grasped another bow and replied with thirty of his own arrows. They struck Droṇa and he spun round in his chariot and dropped his bow.

Seeing the preceptor hard-pressed by Sātyaki, other Kaurava fighters came to his aid. At the same time, other Pāṇḍava warriors joined Sātyaki and a fierce general fight followed. Droṇa quickly regained his senses and fought on in total rage. Thousands of Pañchāla and Matsya soldiers surrounded him and he killed them all, including the two powerful princes, Satyajit and Satanika.

Seeing his troops being mowed down, Dṛṣṭadyumna came forward with Śikhaṇḍī. Along with Sātyaki, Chekitana, and many other Pāṇḍava heroes, they managed to hold Droṇa in check. As that battle raged, the soldiers on both sides fell in waves. The battlefield was a morass of flesh and blood. Droṇa fought like a man possessed. The Pāṇḍava army quaked in fear as he released his celestial weapons that slew them by the thousands. Droṇa forced all his attackers to turn away from him in the fight. He could hardly be looked upon and the Pāṇḍavas surrounding him were routed.

Duryodhana laughed and spoke to Karṇa, who was there at his side. “Behold, Radheya, how these troops flee from the battle. They seem to spin around and around as they look for a path by which to escape from Droṇa. I think they have lost all taste for battle. Surely they are seeing the world as being full of Droṇa. How will they return to the fight? What can even Bhīma do against the warlike preceptor?”

Karṇa was in a graver mood. “That Pāṇḍava hero will never abandon the fight so long as life remains in him. Nor will his brothers turn away from battle at any time. Remembering the woes you inflicted upon them, they will rush against us again and again. Even now the mighty Bhīma is coming forward. Doubtlessly he will slay our forces in vast numbers. See too how Sātyaki and Dṛṣṭadyumna are rallying back to the fight, along with the twins and numerous other maharathas among our foes. All of them are bearing down on Droṇa with a singleness of purpose. Let us prepare our forces without delay.”

Duryodhana looked across the field. He saw Bhīma’s chariot, drawn by its four red horses, racing toward Droṇa. Bhīma was flanked by Dṛṣṭadyumna and Sātyaki. The three warriors roared like lions as they approached the Kuru commander. Behind them came a great wave of chariot fighters and horsemen, releasing showers of arrows as they charged. Duryodhana broke from Karṇa and raced across the field, issuing orders for Droṇa’s protection. A number of Kaurava heroes came between the Kuru preceptor and his assailants and soon the fight resumed with full force.

Duryodhana personally attacked Bhīma, his mind seized with anger. At the head of a massive elephant force, he challenged the Pāṇḍava with insulting words. Bhīma laughingly shot spiked arrows at the elephants. Drawing his great bow back to his ear he sent his shafts with such force that they felled the elephants one after another. Bhīma’s chariot moved like the wind from side to side as he rained down his irresistible weapons. He dispersed his attackers like a tempest scattering clouds. The blood-soaked elephants, pierced all over, appeared beautiful, like dark clouds lit by the rays of the setting sun.

Excited, Duryodhana approached Bhīma and pierced him with a number of shafts. Bhīma turned his blood-red eyes toward the Kaurava and licked his lips. Instantly he shot dozens of gold-winged arrows, which pierced Duryodhana deeply. With a broad-headed shaft he brought down the black, gem-encrusted serpent banner that flew above Duryodhana’s chariot. He then severed Duryodhana’s bow with another shaft and sent up a roar.

Seeing the Kaurava leader afflicted by Bhīma, the barbarian king leading the elephant division came forward on his massive beast. Without delay Bhīma struck the elephant between the eyes with a powerful shaft that stopped it in its tracks. With four more arrows he brought the elephant crashing to the ground. As it fell like a mountain struck by a thunderbolt, the barbarian chief tried to leap clear; but even as he jumped, Bhīma cut off his head with a razor-headed arrow fired with deadly accuracy.

Seeing their leader slain, the other elephant warriors fled. Duryodhana tried to rally them, but without success. He moved away from Bhīma and saw Bhagadatta coming up fast to assist him. The mighty fighter on his invincible elephant Supratika rushed toward Bhīma, seeming to fly over the battlefield. Bhīma fired his long shafts at the charging beast, but they fell harmlessly from its body. In a moment the elephant reached Bhīma’s chariot and crushed it along with its horses as Bhīma threw himself clear.

Supratika reared up again and again, screaming in fury and looking around for Bhīma. The Pāṇḍava ran beneath the beast and struck it with his bare arms. In pain the elephant whirled around like a potter’s wheel. Bhīma came out from beneath it and the elephant seized him in its trunk. Bhīma spun round and freed himself from the twine of the trunk and again hid beneath the screaming beast that was endeavoring to kill him.

Yudhiṣṭhira saw Bhīma and ordered a division of his own elephants to assist him. As Supratika was diverted by the attack of enemy elephants, Bhīma saw his chance and he dashed away.

A battle then ensued between Bhagadatta and the Pāṇḍava forces mounted on elephants, led by the Dasharna king. They surrounded Bhagadatta and covered him with volleys of arrows. Bhagadatta fended off their shafts with his whirling hook. Goading Supratika forward, he trampled and crushed the enemy forces like a storm crushing a forest. Chariots, horsemen and infantry were mangled as the great beast rampaged across the field. Impervious to its foes’ weapons, the elephant caused chaos among the Pāṇḍava forces. Soldiers fled and their animals cried in terror. Rising above the sound were Supratika’s frightful screams as it thundered about the field unchecked.

Some way off, Arjuna battled on alone against the Samshaptakas and the Nārāyaṇa army. As he fought, he could hear Supratika’s screams. Recognizing the sound he said, “O Madhusudana, it is clear that the Pragyotisha ruler is annihilating our army. I doubt if anyone can stop his elephant except us. What then is my duty, O Kṛṣṇa? I think I should proceed at once to where Bhagadatta is roaring out his battle cry. Dispatching him and his beast to Death’s abode, I will then return to this fight.”

Kṛṣṇa agreed and urged Arjuna’s horses toward the rest of the Pāṇḍava army. As they raced away, however, the Samshaptakas called out from behind, “Why do you flee from the fight? Turn and face us again, for you have not yet defeated us.”

Arjuna was caught in a dilemma. He wanted to save his army from Bhagadatta, but he could not avoid the Samshaptakas. No kṣatriya worthy of the name could refuse a challenge. He told Kṛṣṇa to stop the chariot and turn round. First he would wipe out the entire Samshaptaka force, then deal with Bhagadatta. As Kṛṣṇa wheeled the chariot around Arjuna still could not fix his mind. There were hundreds of thousands of warriors supporting Susharma and his army. They were spread out over a large area and it would take hours to overcome them. By then, Bhagadatta and his unstoppable elephant might have done untold damage.

Suddenly the Samshaptakas launched a coordinated attack on Arjuna. Countless arrows descended upon his chariot, striking both him and Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa dropped the reins and fell back in a swoon as the barbed steel shafts covered Him. The chariot stopped and vanished beneath the hail of arrows. Losing his patience, Arjuna decided to invoke the brahmāstra weapon. He fixed a golden arrow to his bow and chanted the sacred mantras to bring the awful weapon into being. With consummate skill he directed it at his foes, continuously firing long shafts imbued with the power of the brahmāstra.

A solid wall of blazing arrows went toward the Samshaptakas. The warriors fell to earth with their heads, arms and legs severed. Chariots were smashed into fragments and elephants cut to pieces. Horses and riders fell dead by the thousands. The whole army appeared to be on fire, struck by the beautiful but deadly shafts shot by Arjuna’s mystic powers.

Kṛṣṇa returned to His senses and said, “Well done, Pārtha. I think this feat of weaponry would have been hard for Indra, Kuvera, or even Yamarāja himself. Our enemies are routed. Those staying in the fight are being slain like insects entering a fire.”

Arjuna asked Kṛṣṇa to go quickly to Bhagadatta. He could return later to deal with the rest of the Samshaptakas and their supporting armies. As swift as the wind, the chariot flew over the battlefield and soon arrived where the battle with Bhagadatta was taking place. Seeing Arjuna entering the fight, Duryodhana detailed a large force of chariot fighters to attack him. They rushed in a body toward Arjuna and rained their arrows, darts and lances upon him. Bearing the attack with fortitude, Arjuna continuously worked the Gāṇḍīva bow and sent whistling shafts at all the warriors who came at him. Fearless of their lives, the Kaurava troops charged at Arjuna with shouts and roars. The Pāṇḍava cut them down with his arrows as a farmer cuts a field of wheat.

Seeing Arjuna annihilating the troops, Bhagadatta raced toward him. He showered a downpour of arrows onto Arjuna’s chariot and directed Supratika to trample him. Arjuna calmly resisted his attack with volleys of his own shafts, even as the shore resists the ocean. The two warriors hurtled about the field, locked in deadly combat. Bhagadatta sent hundreds of arrows at both Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa, but Kuntī’s son cut them down before they could reach him. Supratika charged at Arjuna like a mountain rocking across the field. Impervious to Arjuna’s arrows the animal screamed in fury as it bore down on the golden chariot. Kṛṣṇa masterfully drove the horses and evaded the charge, feinting to the left of the beast. As he passed to Bhagadatta’s side, Arjuna saw his opportunity to slay the unprotected warrior and his animal, but remembering the rules of combat he desisted from the act.

Seeing Arjuna’s chariot slipping past, Bhagadatta’s elephant was overpowered by rage and ran pell mell through the Pāṇḍava forces. Hundreds of chariots, with their warriors, horses and charioteers, were crushed and slaughtered. Arjuna was infuriated by Bhagadatta’s remorseless attack. Moving quickly to the front he sped four arrows at him which cut apart his bow. With two more arrows he slew the two warriors who sat behind Bhagadatta.

The Pragyotisha monarch threw fourteen lances at Arjuna in quick succession. Those jewel-encrusted javelins, with shining steel points, blazed as they sped toward the Pāṇḍava, their many small bells tinkling delightfully. Arjuna immediately shot arrows that cut each of the lances into three pieces. As the lances fell to the earth he fired another dozen shafts that broke Supratika’s armor. It fell from the elephant’s body in fragments like meteors falling from heaven. The dark beast then appeared like a mountain suddenly freed of its surrounding clouds.

Bhagadatta hurled a long dart at Arjuna, its tip glowing red and emitting sparks as it flew. Arjuna calmly cut it in two with a single razor-headed shaft. He then cut the kings white umbrella and tall standard. With a further ten shafts he pierced Bhagadatta, who replied with two dozen long lances. One of the lances struck Arjuna’s diadem and knocked it from his head. Replacing his diadem, Arjuna gazed at Bhagadatta with steely eyes. He shouted out, “Take a last look at this world, O King.”

Bhagadatta quickly took up a new bow and covered Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa with a shower of barbed arrows. Arjuna released a cluster of flat-headed shafts that cut his bow to pieces and pierced all his limbs. Taking up his golden hook, Bhagadatta thought of the Vaiṣṇava weapon, which was in his possession. Reciting the ancient aphorisms to invoke that irresistible weapon, he charged his elephant hook with its potency and hurled it at Arjuna. All the warriors witnessing the fight between Arjuna and Bhagadatta gasped as they saw the missile, capable of killing all creatures, fly toward Arjuna.

Suddenly Kṛṣṇa stood up from His place on the chariot. Throwing out His arms He received the weapon full on the chest. As it struck Him, it turned into a garland of celestial flowers and draped itself around His neck.

Arjuna was mortified. Why had Kṛṣṇa interfered? Keeping his eyes on Bhagadatta, who had been stunned by Kṛṣṇa’s thwarting of the Vaiṣṇava missile, he said, “O lotus-eyed one, Your promise was that You would drive my horses and never enter the fight. Why have You interceded? I could understand You taking it upon Yourself to protect me when I am incapable or about to fall, but here I stand with all my faculties and weapons. Not even the combined celestials and Asuras could defeat me. How have You felt it necessary to act as You just did?”

Slowly circling the chariot around Bhagadatta, Kṛṣṇa replied, “Hear, O sinless one, the origin of the weapon that Bhagadatta released for your destruction. Long ago, when I awoke from slumber in My form as Mahavishnu, the Earth goddess came to Me seeking a boon. Knowing that I was inclined to grant favors at that time, she said, ‘Please bestow upon my son Naraka the Vaiṣṇava weapon. Let it be that he cannot be slain by any being.’

“I replied, ‘O goddess, it shall be so. Your son will be invincible, protected by My weapon.’ She then went away and her son received the weapon, which he later passed on to Bhagadatta. This weapon can slay any being within the three worlds, including Indra and Rudra. Therefore, for your sake, O Arjuna, I baffled the missile. Now you may slay your opponent, this implacable enemy of the gods Bhagadatta, even as in days gone by I slew Naraka in a great fight.”

Understanding that Kṛṣṇa had saved his life, Arjuna fixed his gaze on Bhagadatta. He swiftly covered him with hundreds of straight-flying shafts. As Bhagadatta parried the attack, Arjuna took up a long golden lance. He drew it back and, invoking the power of Indra, hurled it with all his strength at Supratika. It went into the elephant’s head right up to its golden wings. Supratika stopped in its tracks, its limbs paralyzed. Although goaded by Bhagadatta, it slowly fell to the earth like an enormous hill uprooted by a thunderbolt. As his elephant screamed Bhagadatta leapt from its back.

Before Bhagadatta reached the ground, Arjuna shot a crescent-headed shaft that tore open his breast and cut his heart in two. His bright turban fell from his head like a petal falling from a lotus whose stem has been violently struck. He dropped to the earth with his golden garland broken and scattered. His arms and legs spread akimbo, he appeared like a god fallen from heaven when his pious credits have expired.

Arjuna circumambulated his foe in respect. Then, turning his chariot toward the Kaurava army, he rushed back into the battle.

Śakuni’s two brothers then attacked Arjuna with mighty yells. They were backed by a thousand Gandhara horsemen. The warriors fell upon Arjuna, releasing hundreds of arrows. Unperturbed, Arjuna took up a couple of razor-headed shafts and beheaded both princes. The horrified Śakuni then charged at Arjuna. Invoking a mystical Asura weapon, he spread a fearful illusion that covered the Pāṇḍava. Clubs, iron balls, rocks, darts, barbed shafts, bludgeons, swords, tridents, axes, and other weapons fell on Arjuna from all sides. Ferocious animals, burning with hunger, attacked Arjuna along with Rākṣasas, carnivorous birds and demons. A thick gloom enveloped his chariot and harsh voices reproached him from out of the darkness.

Arjuna invoked the lustrous celestial weapon known as the Gotishka and the darkness dispelled. All his illusory assailants vanished, but huge waves of water then appeared and rushed toward him. Arjuna quickly discharged the Aditya weapon to dry up the waters. Seeing his illusions nullified, Śakuni turned and took to his heels like a cowardly deserter. Arjuna turned on the Gandhara forces and slaughtered them like a lion killing small animals.

Other Kaurava warriors charged into the fray and a general fight ensued between the two armies. Yudhiṣṭhira remained near Arjuna, with Dṛṣṭadyumna and Sātyaki by his side. The Kaurava forces were broken and dispersed by Arjuna and Bhīma, who fought together like a couple of enraged gods.

Abhimanyu fought with Karṇa, keeping the powerful warrior engaged, while Dṛṣṭadyumna directed his weapons at Droṇa. As the foremost fighters contended, Arjuna drove back Duryodhana’s huge army with his hundreds of thousands of shafts. Bhīma spun around on foot, creating a carnage with his whirling mace.

Droṇa fought intensely, but he could not find any opportunity to seize Yudhiṣṭhira. He slew numerous powerful fighters and wrought a massive destruction among the soldiers, but the invincible Sātyaki guarded Yudhiṣṭhira closely and, assisted by Dṛṣṭadyumna and the Pañchāla forces, kept Droṇa at bay.

As the sun reached the meridian, Droṇa, seeing the Kauravas getting the worst of the fight, decided to regroup. He sounded the retreat and recalled the vast army to the western side of the field, where they were encamped.

Duryodhana was angry. “O preceptor, why have you not fulfilled your vow? You did not capture Yudhiṣṭhira, and Arjuna ranges unchecked across the field. Are your words to prove false?”

Droṇa felt his patience tried. “It does not behoove you to address such harsh words to one who is always striving to serve you. I have told you many times that no one in the universe can conquer Arjuna. He has even held the three-eyed Mahadeva in battle. Now that Yudhiṣṭhira is aware of our aims, he is keeping himself well-guarded. It will be difficult to capture him, but I will try my utmost. My word that I will kill one mighty hero will be kept. I will now form an array that even the gods could not penetrate. The remaining Samshaptakas should again challenge Arjuna and take him to the southern side of the field. We will then try to trap Yudhiṣṭhira and, in so doing, will at least take the life of someone who comes to protect him.”

Droṇa gazed across at the Pāṇḍava army. If one of their principal fighters could be killed, it would be a blow to their morale. He decided to form the Kauravas into the chakravyuha, the circular array. That arrangement would likely result in one of the Pāṇḍava heroes being trapped, perhaps even Yudhiṣṭhira. Only Arjuna knew the secrets of that formation. No one else among the Pāṇḍavas could resist or break it. Unless, that was, Arjuna had taught it to someone. Droṇa began giving the commands. He would soon find out.