Introduction
Bhishma Vadha tells what happened in the first ten days of the Kuru Kshetra war before Bhishma is killed.
https://crackpot.substack.com/t/bhishma
Sequence: The Pandavas form the same crescent moon vyuha as on day three. The Kauravas form a cloud Vyuha.
(0) Bhishma leads an attack at Arjuna. On day three Bhishma attacked the crescent from the center. On day four Bhishma attacks the horn led by Arjuna.
(1) Abhimanyu counter attacks to support Arjuna. Large numbers of Madras, Trigartas and Kekayas move to surround Arjuna. Arjuna and Bhishma duel.
(2) Drupada rocks Kritavarma and attacks Kripa. Drupada kills Damana.
(3) Drupada attacks Shala’s son and destroys his chariot. Samyamani, Shala’s son, charges Dhrishtadyumna, who is Drupada’s son, with a sword. Drupada kills Shala’s son, Samyamani.
Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Sanjaya! Destiny is superior to human will, since the soldiers of my sons are being killed by the soldiers of Pandu.’
Sanjaya replied, ‘Be patient and listen to the slaughter of the bodies of men and the destruction of elephants, horses and chariots. Know all of this great evil originates with you. It is because of your evil policy that they engaged in battle.’
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 918
Sequence:
(0) Shalya and Drupada fight.
(1) Dhrishtadyumna and Shalya fight. Abhimanyu attacks Shalya to protect Dhrishtadyumna.
(2) Duryodhana surround Shalya to protect him. Bhimasena, the Uppapandavas (Shrutakarma, Pratavindhya, Shatanika, Sutasoma, Shrutasena), Nakula and Sahadeva unleash many weapons (cover fire) at the Kurus to check their movement.
(3) Abhimanyu attacks Purumitra and Satyavrata while Sahadeva and Nakula attack Shalya. Shalya stands tall.
(4) Bhimasena attacks Duryodhana. Duryodhana repositions and leads the elephant force Magadhas against Bhima. Bhima kills many elephants.
(5) Abhimanyu movement to support Bhima. Abhimanyu kills the king of the Magadhas.
With razor-sharp arrows, the Pandavas severed the heads of those who were fighting on elephants. The heads fell down and so did adorned arms and hands with goads in them. It seemed like a shower of stones. Those who were seated on the backs of elephants lost their heads. They looked like broken trees on the summits of mountains.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 918
Sequence:
(0) Bhima slaughters the soldiers of Duryodhana’s army.
(1) Bhishma attacks Bhima.
(2) Satyaki attacks Bhishma and Bhurishravas.
(3) Bhima moves to attack Duryodhana and Shalya. Nandaka knocks Bhima out with an arrow. The Pandavas protect Bhima with showers of arrows.
(4) Bhima recovers and kills fourteen of Dhritarashtra’s sons.
Sequence:
(0) Duryodhana sends Bhagadatta at a tired Bhima.
(1) Ghatotkacha attacks Bhagadatta, along with the Pandavas.
(2) Bhishma sends the Kurus led by Drona to protect Bhagadatta. Yudhishthira moves with the Panchalas to attack the Kurus. Bhishma decides to order a retreat for the day.
Drona’s standard is a water pot.