Introduction
“You are armored. Now fight.”
— Duryodhana. Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 908
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 a makara (crocodile) vyuha. The Kauravas counter with a curlew (bird) vyuha.
(0) Bhima and Dhristadyumna attack Drona. The vyuhas clash in an undisciplined manner and chaos ensues.
When the sun had arisen, there was a great encounter. Charioteers fought charioteers. Elephants fought elephants. Cavalry attacked cavalry. Chariots attacked cavalry and chariots attacked elephants. Elephant-riders attacked chariots. Chariots attacked infantry. Cavalry attacked infantry. They were all full of wrath.
…
After Bhima killed Drona’s charioteer, Drona began to control the mounts himself. Drona consumed the Pandava soldiers, like a fire amidst a mass of cotton. Slaughtered by Bhishma and Drona, the Srinjayas and Kekayas were defeated and ran.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 931.
‘Some people claim that there’s a woman to blame,
but I know that it’s nobody’s fault.’ — Jimmy Buffet
Sequence
(1) Bhima movement to attack Drona’s troops. Many of Duryodhana’s brothers confront Bhima. Bhima dismounts his chariot, grabs his club, and begins slaughtering masses of troops and elephants.
Drona and Bhishma penetrate the Pandava armies and slaughter masses of Kekayas and Srinjayas.
Drupada fights Drona. Drupada is defeated and has to flee.
(2) Dhrishtadyumna abandons the fight with Drona and follows the trail of death to find Bhima out of concern. Dhrishtadyumna finds Bhima exhausted, wounded and surrounded. Dhrishtadyumna releases a concussive divine weapon that knocks the Kaurava brothers unconscious and save Bhima.
(3) Drona follows and protects the knocked out Kauravas.
Dhritarashtra said, “The destruction of my lineage must have been preordained destiny. Perhaps all this is exactly as the creator had ordained it earlier. That is the reason it cannot be countered.”
Sanjaya said, “It was because of your sins that the gambling match had taken place. It is because of your sins that the battle with the Pandavas has commenced. Having committed the evil yourself, you must now enjoy the fruits. Listen, while I describe the battle.”
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 933
Sequence
(4) Yudhishthira sends 12 heroes led by Abhimanyu to Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima’s aid. The others are the Uppapandavas, Dhristaketu and the five Kekaya princes. They form a suchimukha - or mouth of a needle vyuha.
Drona attacks Dhrishtadyumna.
Bhima attacks the sons of Dhritarashtra.
Bhishma attacks the soldiers supporting them.
(5) Duryodhana fights with the Uppapandavas.
(6) Arjuna arrives and begins destroying masses of troops on the right flank.
(7) Duryodhana attacks Bhima and Bhima rocks Duryodhana. Jayadratha and Kripa save a wounded Duryodhana.
Abhimanyu fights Duryodhana’s brothers. Vikarna is saved by Chitrasena.
With four arrows, Bhima killed Duryodhana’s horses. With two more he sliced down Duryodhana’s umbrella. With three more he sliced down his standard. Bhima then used ten arrows to kill his mighty elephant.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 935.
Sequence
(8) Jayadratha’s chariot army surrounds Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna.
(9) Eight archers surround Abhimanyu (Chitrasena, Suchitra, Chitrashva, Chitradarshana, Charuchitra, Sucharu, Nanda and Upanandaka.)
The Uppapandavas and Kekaya princes clash with Dhritrarashtra’s sons.
(10) Bhishma slaughters Panchala regulars to close the day’s fighting.
Sanjaya said, “Those brave ones were driven by enmity. They retired to their respective camps, drenched in blood. They rested for a time. They were then seen armored again, ready to battle.”
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 936.