THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - FIFTH DAY

On the fifth day, t he Pandava army suffered Bhishma's attacks. Satyaki bore the brunt of Drona's attacks. Bhima drove by and rescued Satyaki. Arjuna fought and killed thousands of soldiers sent by Duryodhana to attack him.

As usual, the battle on the fifth day started exactly at sunrise. Bhishma arrayed the Kaurava army in the crocodile formation. Dhrishtadyummna arrayed the Pandava armies in the shape of a dove. Bhimasena stood at the nose. Dhrishtadyummna and Sikhandi formed the eyes. Satyaki stood at the throat. Arjuna occupied the right wing. Druapada and Virata stood at the left wing. Abhimanyu and sons of Draupadi occupied the belly. Yudhisthira, Nakula and Sahadeva were at the tail end. Bhima attacked Bhishma and shone like fire propelled by ghee. Duryodhana went to Drona, who was at the other end and said to him, "Great sire, you are the unrivalled champion in archery and nobody can conquer you and Bhishma. The Pandavas are able to score success obviously because of your connivance. I feel frustrated and badly let down." Drona goaded by Duryodhana's harsh words led a fierce attack on the Pandava forces. Both side fought vigourously. In another sector, Abhimanyu was locked with Lakshmana, the son of Duryodhana, in a single combat. Both the young heroes fought bravely to the admiration of the applauding onlookers. Ultimately Abhimanyu wrecked the chariot of Lakshmana, killed the charioteer and the heroes. Kripa immediately arrived on the scene and took away Lakshmana in his chariot.


It was midday by the time and Arjuna renewed the attack on the Kaurava forces. Duryodhana dispatched twenty thousand car warriors against Arjuna. They attacked Savyasachi simultaneously surrounding him from all sides. For a time, Arjuna's chariot was submerged in the surging waves of the invaders. When Arjuna was sending swift shafts against the challengers in straight lines, the arrows hit them at unexpected places because of the circular movement of the chariot. Bhishma was aghast at the deadly devastation wrought by Arjuna within a few hours. He said to Duryodhana, "Sheer numbers cannot procure victory. You have provided easy fodder for the Gandhiva by encouraging this cumulative attack. Fortunately it is time for sunset. Let us stop the fight for today." Both the armies stopped the fight for the day. The combatants retreated to their encampments praising Sri Krishna's skill in driving the chariot. They said, Arjuna coupled with Krishna is a formidable combination, like the god of fire conjoined with the god of wind. They have the innate potentialities to reduce any army to ashes at the opportune moment.