Day 14 - Part I
Jayadratha Chapters 1038-1057
“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
Who shot me? But you punks didn’t finish.
Now you’re about to feel the wrath of a menace.
— Tupac Shakur
Sequence
After Abhimanyu is slain, Arjuna swears to kill Jayadratha or enter the fire if he cannot. Duryodhana’s spies hear about this. Drona constructs a needle-wedge lotus vyuha - placing Jayadratha in the center. Arjuna rides forth to penetrate the Kaurava vyuha with Uttamouja and Yudhamanyu protecting his wheels.
(0)
Arjuna first encounters Durmarshana.
The earth was strewn with their handsome heads, with eyes jutting out and teeth biting lips. They were adorned with earrings and helmets. They were like ruined lotuses. Colorful armor was spattered with blood. There was the sound of heads falling down to the earth, like ripened palm fruit.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1041
(1)
Arjuna fights a spirited Drona, then goes around him.
“Where are you going? Is it not true that you do not retreat from your enemy in battle?”, Drona asked.
Arjuna replied, “You are not my enemy.”
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1043
(2)
Kritavarma, Jaya, Sudakshena and Shrutayudha meet Arjuna. Arjuna kills Sudakshena and Shrutayudha in the encounter. Next, Shrutayu and Achyutayu meet Arjuna. Arjuna slays them both.
(3) Arjuna next slays masses of soldiers.
Arjuna roamed around killing horses, warriors and elephants. He was like a fire, aided by the wind, consuming a forest, with its many trees, creepers and heaps of dense and dry grass. Your soldiers were like a forest and Krishna was the wind.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1046
(4)
“I am old now and incapable of keeping up with Arjuna” - Drona
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1046
Drona changes strategy to attack Yudhishthira. If the Kauravas can capture Yudhishthira while Arjuna goes after Jayadratha, the battle may be lost but the war will be won. At Drona’s suggestion, Duryodhana rides forth with an army of elephants to stop Arjuna.
Sequence
The Pandavas strike back. The fighting carries on past the midpoint of the day.
Sanjaya, the narrator, makes a rare appearance in the fighting to square off with Chekitana.
Drona and Dhrishtadyumna clash fiercely. Dhrishtadyumna is defeated, but Satyaki saves Dhrishtadyumna from Drona.
Drona and Dhrishtadyumna severed many heads from the arrays of men. They were strewn around everywhere. There were also garments, ornaments, arms, standards, armor and weapons. They were golden and colorful and smeared with blood. They looked like masses of clouds tinged with lightning. Vultures, herons, wild crows, hawks, jackals and other carnivores were seen. They fed on flesh and drank blood. They dragged corpses by the hair and got at the marrow. They tugged at bodies and severed limbs.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1049
Sanjaya said, “Your faults have been great. You are addicted to wealth. All this happened because of your evil counsel. Because of your crimes, many men and warriors were killed.”
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1057
Sequence
(9) Arjuna kills Vinda and Anuvinda who come to check him.
(10) Duryodhana attacks Arjuna and is defeated.
(11) Arjuna kills hordes of warriors that come to defend Duryodhana. Then Arjuna and Krishna rest their horses.
Arjuna licked the corners of his mouth. He did not see any part of Duryodhana’s body that was not protected by armor. Arjuna released arrows that were like death. These killed Duryodhana’s horses and the two charioteers who guarded his flanks (parshnis). Savyasachi (Arjuna - meaning ambidextrous) severed his colorful bow, the leather guards on his hands and shattered his chariot into fragments. Arjuna then pierced both of Duryodhana’s palms.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1055
(12) Arjuna penetrates the vyuha.
(13) Many kuru heroes come to meet Arjuna. Duryodhana follows Arjuna and attacks as well.
Shalya’s standard is a plow.
Shala’s standard is a silver elephant.
Kripa’s standard is a bull.
Bhurishrava’s standard is a stake.
Ashvatthama’s standard is a lion’s tail.