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
Kauravas form a mandala (circular) vyuha. Pandavas counter with a vajra (lightning) vyuha.
(0) Various heroes face off. Arjuna is surrounded by many kings and unleashes the divine weapon Airindra, or lightning storm weapon.
When it was morning and the sky was clear, Bhishma arranged his soldiers in an array in the form of the mandala vyuha. There were seven chariots near every elephant and there were seven cavalry near every chariot. There were ten archers near every cavalry and there were seven shields near every archer….thousands of warriors surrounded Dhananjaya, with spears, lances, iron arrows, maces and clubs. At this, Arjuna unleashed the Aindra weapon.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 937
Sequence
(1-12) A series of duels take place. Where a combatant is forced to retreat, the victor slaughters many regular troops.
Drona kills Virata’s son Shanka.
Shakuni saves Kripa and Duryodhana.
Kauravas Shrutayu, Alambusa, Shalya, Anuvinda, Kritavarma retreat.
Pandavas Ghatotkacha, Virata retreat.
Karakarsha saves Chekitana.
Sequence
(13) The Pandavas fight together and charge at Bhishma. Duryodhana, Shalya, Kripa, Kritavarma and Jayadratha attack the Pandavas led by Shikhandi. Shikhandi flees from Bhishma, Yudhishthira scolds Shikhandi and Shikhandi u-turns back into battle.
(14) movement Bhima charges Jaydratha with his club. Chitrasena protects Jayadaratha. Vikarna saves Chitrasena on his chariot.
(15) Bhishma movement - Bhishma withdraws from fighting Shikhandi and kills Srinjayas.
(16) Satyaki and Dhrishtadyumna attack regular soldiers. Vinda and Anuvinda counterattack Dhrishtadyumna.
(17) Drona slaughters Panchalas to close the day.
Though pierced and wounded, Shikhandi whirled the fragment of the shattered sword that had been shattered by the arrows and swiftly hurled it, like a blazing serpent. It suddenly descended, as radiant as the fire of destruction. Ashvatthama displayed the dexterity of his hands. He sliced it down and pierced Shikhandi with many iron arrows.
-- Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 938