Introduction
“You are armored. Now fight.”
— Duryodhana. Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 908
Drona Parva covers days 11-15, during the time Drona is the general of the Kuru army.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/bhishma
Sequence
After Bhishma is brought down on day 10, Duryodhana promotes Drona to general.
With Bhishma down, Karna enters the war. Karna’s standard is an elephant.
Drona brings the heat, consuming many soldiers with his wrath. The vyuhas and positions of the Pandavas are not described with as much detail as on previous days. The Pandavas create a cart vyuha. Dhrishtadyumna leads Srinjayas and Panchalas against Drona. Arjuna forms the hump(?). Mr. Debroy writes the vyuha was probably a wedge shape. Apart from Dhrishtadyumna and Arjuna, the Pandavas depicted in the opening are only described after the action begins - the heroes called forth to surround and contain Drona’s rage.
(0) Drona and Dhrishtadyumna clash. Drona kills Panchalas and Srinjayas.
(1) Drona enters the Pandava forces and roams around killing many. He clashes with the five Kekaya princes.
Drona roamed amidst the Pandavs, like a fire consuming deadwood. He burnt those soldiers, like the fire at the end of a yuga. His wrath cut a terrible path, like a river. The blood was the water. The chariots were eddies. Elephants and horses were the banks. Armour constituted its rafts, the flesh was the mud. The foam was formed out of fat, marrow, bones and excellent headdresses. It was infested with fish in the form of javelins. Men, elephants and horses flowed along, driven by the force of the arrows. The bodies were like the tops of trees, the arms were like snakes. The heads were like tender fruit. the swords were like fish. The chariots and elephants were like lakes and it was decorated with many ornaments. The warriors were hundreds of whirlpools. The dust of the earth was like garlands. Brave ones were strewn around like snakes. Those who were alive were like aquatic birds. Torn umbrellas were like gigantic swans. The crowns were like smaller birds. The chakras were tortoises. The clubs were crocodiles. The arrows were smaller fish. Wild crows, vultures and jackals feasted. The hair constituted moss and weeds.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 990
Sequence
(2) There are not many significant battles on day 11. The above clashes are described one after the other.
(3) Abhimanyu fights Shalya, Pourava and Jayadratha.
(4) Bhima attacks Shalya before Shalya can attack Abhimanyu. Bhima and Shalya fight with clubs, a bout that results in a double knockout. Kritavarma picks up an unconscious Shalya on his chariot. At this the Kauravas are routed and flee the field of battle.
Abhimanyu cast aside his shattered bow. He grasped a sword and shield. He whirled it, as he moved around. He whirled it in front him and brandished in the air. He leapt onto the shaft of Pourava’s chariot and roared. He grasped Pourava by his hair. He killed the charioteer with a kick and sliced down the standard. He raised Pourava up. Jayadratha grasped a shield and a sword. When Abhimanyu saw Jayadratha, he dropped Pourava and leapt down from the chariot and advanced. Jayadratha struck Abhimanyu’s shield and his sword snapped. Jayadratha ran and jumped onto his chariot again. Shalya hurled a javelin at Abhimanyu. As it descended, Abhimanyu leapt up and caught it, like Garuda snatching a serpent. Abhimanyu hurled the javelin back. It reached Shalya’s chariot and slew his charioteer.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 990.
Sequence
After being routed, the Kurus regroup.
(5) Karna’s son Vishasena penetrates the Pandava army and kills many regulars. The Upapandavas counter him, as other Pandavas come too.
(6) Ashvatthama leads a force to support Vishasena.
(7) Drona counterattacks, driving toward Yudhishthira. Drona kills Kumara, who is protecting Yudhishthira’s wheels. Drona kills Yugandhara.
(8) Arjuna arrives and begins slaughtering Drona’s supporting forces to check Drona’s attack on Yudhishthira. The armies retreat for the day.