THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - SECOND DAY

Krishna located Bhishma's chariot and steered Arjuna toward him. Arjuna tried to engage Bhishma in a duel, but the Kaurava soldiers prevented this. Arjuna and Bhishma fought a fierce battle that raged for hours. The Kaurava army had suffered great losses at the end of the second day.

Dhrishtadyumna arranged the Pandava armies in a heron formation. Arjuna was at the beak, Kunit Bhoja and Saibya formed the eyes. Drupada with his armies stood at the plumage. Rulers of Dasarna and Kirata were at the throat. Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna formed the wings. Nakula, Sahadeva, Ghatotkacha, Virata and the King of Kasi, formed the belly. Yudhisthira and others were at the rear. Duryodhana was puffed up with the outcome on the first day and declared in a self complacent tone, "Brave warriors, we are assured of victory. We can march forward with optimism." He turned to Bhishma and Drona, Kripa and Asvatthama and said, "Individually everyone of you can vanquish the Pandava army. I am sure, the enemy already demoralized, will be routed today. Dhrishtadyumna has arrayed the forces in the heron formation. I request Bhishma to arrange our armies in a matching array." Bhishma divided the Kaurava armies into three groups with Duhsasana, Vikarna, Vinda, Anuvinda, Surasena, Yavana and Trigata forming the left flank, Dronacharya, supported by the forces of Kuntala, Dasarna, Vidarbha, Gandhara, Sindhu and Sauvira on the right flank. Bhishma with the rest occupied the central sector. Kritavarma, Salya and Duryodhana with his brothers were in the rear.

Bhishma charged forth with deadly vigour and the three Kaurava divisions attacked the Pandava forces and shattered its defences. Arjuna said to Sri Krishna "The grand sire, once again, is able to break through our cordon; it is time we stem his advance. I request you to drive the chariot to the spot where he is fighting." Sri Krishna piloted the chariot with lightning speed and soon Bhishma and Arjuna met face to face on the battlefield. Arjuna at first, shot shafts at the feet of Bhishma, signifying military salutation. Immediately afterwards, Bhishma was drenched in a rain of arrows. Bhishma parried the shafts of Arjuna with counter shafts. Drona and Kripa, Vikarana and Salya joned Bhishma and they all shot shafts at Arjuna. But Arjuna as the epic poet described, stood firm like a mountain amidst the torrential rain. With his two hands, Arjuna shot arrows at them. Bhishma was hit by twenty arrows, Drona by sixty, Kripa by nine, Vikarana and Salya by five each. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu, Upapandavas and Dhrishtadyumna joined Arjuna. In the tumultuous battle hundreds of horses, elephants, chariots and thousands of soldiers perished on both sides.


Duryodhana approached Bhishma in the midst of thick fight and said to him, "Grand Sire, Arjuna has wrought havoc with our army. I never expected this. I am sure, he cannot advance by even one inch unless you relent. Now I am recollecting the words of Karna, and I regret that he is not here now.' Bhishma was deeply hurt at the insult of Duryodhana and replied, "Wait a minute, you will witness my powers." The enraged Bhishma marched against Arjuna aggressively and hit him with fifty shafts. Arjuna hurled the fire missile against Bhishma who countered it with the water missile. Bhishma hit Sri Krishna with an arrow which wounded him in the chest. Blood began to ooze out of his armour and Krishna lookoed like a palasa tree full of crimson blossoms. Arjuna could not brook the sight and Hit Bhishma at several places. The fierce fight raged for a pretty long time. In another sector, Dhrishtadyumna attacked Drona. The two warriors fought like two sturdy bulls. Dhrishtadyumna's bow was broken many a time. Drona's flag was brought down. Eventually Drona killed Dhrishtadyumna's charioteer and the horses of his chariot. The son of Drupada, in a fit of rage took the mace into his hands, jumped down from his chariot and advanced towards Drona, who shot an arrow cutting the mace into pieces. Bhimasena rushed to the spot to retrieve the situation. He gave a lift to Dhrishtadyumna into his chariot and carried him to a place of safety.

Duryodhana sent Kalinga forces to Bhimasena. Satyaki, Abhimanyu and other warriors rushed to Bhimasena's succor. Bhima wrought havoc with the Kalinga forces and destroyed the whole elephant squadron of the Kalinga army. Bhishma came to the aid of Kalinga forces. Satyaki attacked Bhishma, killing his charioteer. The horses which were hit by Satyaki's shafts, dragged the chariot away from the battlefield. The Pandava forces blew their horns and conches triumphantly. Arjuna taking advantage of Bhishma's absence, mercilessly massacred the Kaurava forces. By the time Bhishma returned to the battlefield, the Kaurava army was in utter disarray. Srutaya, enraged at the destruction of his army by Bhimasena, attacked him with reinforcements. Ketumanta and Bhanumanta, his brothers joined him. In the melee, Bhima lost his chariot and the horses, but undaunted; he dashed forward with his mace on his shoulders, and advanced into the enemy camp. Bhanumanta charged forth on Bhima, riding his elephant. But Bhima killed the elephant together with its rider, Bhanumanta. Bhima with his gigantic strength perfected the art of slaying the elephants hitting over their foreheads with his sturdy mace. He gained the reputation as an elephant killer.

Dhrishtadyumna came to the spot and gave a lift to Bhima in his chariot. By the time Bhishma returned to the battlefield, the morale of the Kaurava army was at its lowest ebb. Arjuna took a very heavy toll and the performance of Satyaki was superb. Bhima excelled himself on the second day. Typical comments, heard from the ranks of the Kaurava battalions were all in praise of Arjuna's valour. The average soldier was a sportsman and merit even in an enemy was spontaneously recognized. Bhishma who gauged the situation announced the termination of hostilities for the day, immediately after the sunset. The soldiers, in both the camps, after the days combat was over, used to mix freely as friends. Music concerts and dramatic performances were arranged in the nights to provide entertainment to the troops, by both sides, extending invitations to members of the opposite camp. Of course, spies were active in both the camps and used to secure vital information infiltrating into enemy lines under the cover of the night festivities.