THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - FIRST DAY

On the first day of the war, Bhishma went through the Pandava army wreaking havoc. Abhimanyu, Arjuna's son, went straight at Bhishma, defeated his bodyguards and directly attacked the commander of the Kaurava forces. The Pandavas suffered numerous losses and were defeated at the end of the first day.

Dhritarashtra said, "O Sanjaya, assembled on the holy field of Kurukshetra, eager to fight, what did my children and children of Pandu do?" Sanjaya gave a detailed account of the battle together with the Bhagvath Gita to Dhritashtra. Dhritashtra asked Sanjaya, "Please tell me how the battle commenced and who started the attack first." Sanjaya described to Dhritashtra in detail the course of the war. Duhsasana led the offensive against the Pandava armies on the first day in the first encounter. The elephants trumpeted, the horses neighed, the warriors indulged in lion roars, conches and bugles, kettledrums and horns were sounded; the tumultuous noise rented the sky. Bhima led the attack from the Pandava side. The encounter of the infantry divisions raised clouds of dust to the skies. Arrows flew in the air like flashing meteors. The brothers Duhsasana, Durmukhs, Dushpratha, Durmarshana, Vivimsati, Vrishsasena, Chitrasena and Vikarana attacked Bhima. The terrific carnage was such of a magnitude that the blood spilled, could subside the clouds of dust raised by the fierece encounter.

Sri Krishna blew his conch, Panchajanya and Arjuna blew his conch 'Devadatta'. Bhima, renowned for his bravery, blew his conch 'Pandura'. Yudhisthira, the son of Kunti, blew his conch 'Anantavijaya'. The twins blew their conches, 'Sughosha and Manipuspaka' and the son of Subhadra, Virata and other heroes blew their conches too. The sounds of the conches and the clarions of the Pandava forces reverberated through the earth and heaven and rent the hearts of the Dhartarashtras. Bhishma, the Kaurava generalissimo, displaying dazzling standard, inscribed with the palmyra tree dashed against the Pandava army in a blitzkrieg attack and there was a terrific uproar. Arjuna attacked him to stop his advance. A fierce fight ensued between the two renowned heroes to the delight of the divine beings who were witnessing their encounter from the heavens. Fierce fighting continued in other fronts also. Satyaki attacked Kritavarama, Abhimanyu attacked the king of Kosala, Yudhisthira attacked Salya. Dhrishtadyumna dashed against Drona. Magadha Sahadeva was arrayed against Bhurisrava. Dhrishtaketu attacked Bahlika, Ghatotkacha fought with Alambasa. Sikhandi and Asvatthama, Virata and Bhagadatta, Brihatkshatra and Kripa, Drupada and Jayadratha, Yudhamanyu and Vikarana, Chekitana and Susarma, Prativindhya and Sakuni, Srutasoma and Sudakshina, the king of Kanbhoja, Eravanta and Srutayu, Kuntibhoja and Vinda fought with each other. Sri Krishna stationed the magnificent chariot drawn by the celestial white steeds between the two armies facing Bhishma and Drona and said to Arjuna, "Partha behold the Kaurava army, assembled here in fighting array ready for the battle."


Every minute, the elephants fell, horses died, the soldiers perished by hundreds. Everywhere, broken pieces of arrows and swords, armours and helmets, tusks, tridents, blinkers and boots were strewn over the battlefield. Arjuna could not stem the advance of Bhishma who attacked the Pandava forces fiercely. The kings of Panchala and Chedi who fought with Bhishma were repulsed in no time. Bhishma, in spite of his age appeared as the incarnation of bravery and the Pandava armies suffered a very heavy toll of life at his hands. Bhishma moved so swiftly on the battlefield that he could not be spotted at any particular place and he could be located only with the help of his fluttering flag. The Pandava soldiers lost all hopes of survival at the very sight of his chariot and they described his movement as the "deadly dance of the dreadful destroyer." The grand old warrior, the great generalissimo of the eleven Akshauhini army massacred the Pandava forces mercilessly. Abhimsanyu, who saw the pitiable plight of the Pandava attacked Bhishma fearlessly. At the very first onslaught, Abhimanyu brought down the towering Palmyra standard of the grand sire and he was lustily cheered by the Pandava forces.

The Kaurava warriors rallied round Bhishma, but Abhimnayu continued the fight undaunted. Bhishma was hit nine times, Kripa twice, Kritavarma once, and Salya seven times. They said, "The young fellow seems to be greater than his father, Arjuna. "Bhima, Satyaki, Dhrishtadyumna and Virata rallied round Abhimnayu. Bhishma engaged them all and the cumulative fight continued for a long time." Meanwhile, Uttara, the son of King Virata, mounted on an elephant and led a fierce attack on Salya. Salya was surprised at the audacity of the young prince and counter-attacked Uttara with his bows and arrows. But Uttara continued the charge, and the elephant advanced forward, trampled on the horses and killed the charioteer of Salya. Salya, hurled a javelin at Uttara and it pierced his breast. Uttara fell down dead on the ground but his elephant continued the onward march and wrecked Salya's chariot to pieces. Salya drew out his sword and cut the trunk of the elephant and killed it thrusting a trident into its forehead. Kripa, meanwhile came to the rescue of Salya, and gave him a lift into his chariot.

Sveta, the brother of Uttara came rushing in his chariot to attack Salya, to avenge the death of his brother. Salya who secured a fresh chariot for himself gave stiff fight to Sveta. Kaurava warriors were surprised at the skill displayed by Sveta. He parried the arrows sent by the veteran warrior Salya with his counter shafts. Duryodhana sent reinforcements to help Salya. In the battle that followed, Sveta killed thousands of Kaurava soldiers, wrecked hundreds of cars, and countered innumerable javelins thrown at him. The Kaurava reinforcements fled helter-skelter unable to withstand Sveta who pushed forward and attacked Bhishma. The palmyra standard was brought down by Sveta and the Pandava forces blew their conches in jubilation. Bhishma sent swift shafts against Sveta in quick succession but Sveta repelled them with his counter shafts and succeeded in killing the horses of Bhishma. There was uproar in Kaurava camp. Sveta hurled a mace at Bhishma's chariot with his bows and arrows and Bhisma at once pulled the string of his bow to his ear and sent a swift shaft against Sveta with unerring aim. Sveta's head severed from his body rolled down on the ground. Duhsasana blew his conch in frenzied ecstasy.

Bhishma got into a new chariot and advanced on the Pandava army and his dance of destruction continued unbated. The Pandava armies reeled under Bhishma's attack. Cars crumbled to pieces. Elephants groaned on the battlefield, with truncated limbs. Horses fell dead scattered here and there. Everywhere were found dead bodies of innumerable soldiers in heaps and heaps. Bhishma's chariot waded through the Pandava forces like a forked lightning, hiting down everything on its way. The Pandava soldiers prayed for the sun set, the scheduled time agreed upon, for the cessation of hostilities for the day. At the sunset, Bhishma abruptly stopped his chariot and announced the closure of the combat for the day. The Pandava soldiers heaved a sigh of relief. Dharmaputra was deeply distressed at the outcome of the war on the first day. Duryodhana was in exultant mood. The Pandava forces suffered very heavy losses in men and material.

Yudhisthira, after the nightfall went to Sri Krishna's tent to talk to him. His brothes and other leaders followed him. Sri Krishna received them warmly. Dharmaputra said to him, "Damodra, I have come to you to confess. I could never imagine that war could be so cruel. I must admit at the very outset that I am unequal to the task. I have underestimated the strength of the grand sire. He moved like the irresistible forest fire, and nobody could stand before him. He is more than a whirlwind, a thousand thubderbolts and he is a roving earthquake. I had immense faith in Arjuna but I found him blinking. All our heroes fought bravely but nobody is a match to Bhishma. Bhima strived against odds and fought sincerely. Thank God, Karna is not fighting now. Why should I sacrifice my brothers and the brave warriors who have come to fight on my side, at the altar of Bhishma. I have a mind to go back to the forest. Anyway, I seek your guidance, and your verdict."

Sri Krishna said, "I am equally distressed but I am not disheartened. The Kauravas have the advantage of numbers and have the psychological advantage of an early start. Bhishma and Drona are formidable warriors. Their early enthusiasm is bound to wear day by day. Dhrishtadyumna is a young man; Arjuna will pick up tomorrow. Bhima is invincible and ever ready. The veteran Virata and Draupada will come into their form gradually. Satyaki will outshine everybody tomorrow. I am here to help you in every way. After all, your righteousness will assert itself the minute you choose to march forward. There is no worry."

Having uttered these words of encouragement and exhortation, Krishna looked towards Dhrishtadyumna who vowed, "Dharmaputra, don't be dejected, this is the first day. You can judge us by our performance tomorrow. Actually, I consider that my destined mission in life is to slay Drona. Duryodhana was already doomed. Our victory is a foregone conclusion as we have the blessings of Lord Krishna." Sri Krishna said, "Dharmaputra, you can have sound sleep tonight; tomorrow the tables will be turned against the Kauravas." Yudhisthira took leave of Sri Krishna and they retreated to their tents.