Night 14 - Part III
Ghatotkacha Vadha Chapters 1099-1116
“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.
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(43)
Ashvatthama and Kripa attack Arjuna after Arjuna kills Jayadratha, and are forced to flee.
(44)
Karna attacks Satyaki.
Satyaki used a broad-headed arrow to bring down Karna’s charioteer. He killed the four white horses with sharp arrows. Satyaki shattered Karna’s standard into a hundred fragments with more arrows.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1099
(45) Yudhishthira arrives and praises Arjuna, Bhima and Satyaki.
(46) Duryodhana attacks everyone in frustration and rage
(47)
Drona fights the Panchalas and Srinjayas in darkness.
In that twilight hour, there was a fierce battle between Drona and all the Srinjayas. Darkness covered the earth and nothing could be seen. The dust raised by the soldiers covered everything. Men, horses and elephants were immersed in blood. During the night a terrible slapping could be heard. It arose from the clash of weapons and was like the noise of bamboo being burnt. Because everything was covered in darkness, one could not distinguish one’s own side from the enemy. Everyone seemed mad. The gold ornaments looked like the sky in the night, decorated with stars. Moon light illuminated the armlets, golden earrings and weapons. They looked like clouds tinged with lightning. Duryodhana was like the wind at the front. The chariots and elephants were like the clouds. The sound of musical instruments was like thunder. The bows and standards were like lightning. The swords, javelins and clubs were like thunder. The shower of arrows was like a terrible wind, hot and cold.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1107
(48) Ashvatthama kills king Shibi
(49) In darkness Bhima kills several warriors with his bare hands
To avenge his father, a Kalinga prince attacked Bhima. Bhima leapt from his chariot on the princes chariot and killed him with a blow of the fist. Abandoning his own chariot, Bhima went to Dhruva’s chariot. He brought down Dhruva with a blow from his fist. Bhimasena went to Jayarata’s chariot. He seized Jayarata with his left hand and killed him with a slap of his palm. Karna hurled a golden javelin towards Bhima. Bhima caught the javelin and hurled it back towards Karna. Durmada and Dushkarna rushed at Bhima. Bhima destroyed Durmada’s chariot with arrows. Durmada ascended Dushkarna’s chariot. Bhima kicked their chariot and made it sink into the ground. Then Bhima killed them both with his fists and feet. At this the other kings fled.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1107
Sequence
(50) The Kauravas regroup to protect Somadatta
(51) Satyaki attacks Somadatta
(52-53) Ashvatthama and Ghatotkacha have a large battle. Ashvatthama kills Ghatotkacha’s son Anjanaparva and many more of Ghatotkacha’s cannibal troops.
Ghatotkacha was on a large and terrible chariot that was made out of iron and covered with the skins of bears. It was drawn by mounts that looked like elephants. It had eight distorted wheels. A king of vultures was perched on the top of the standards. The flags were red and green and decorated with garlands of entrails. Upon seeing this, Karna was distressed and fled in different directions.
‘O’ Ashvatthama! Stay. Do you think that I am an ordinary person, who will be distressed in battle? I was born from Bhima!’, Ghatotkacha screeched.
— Bibek Debroy. Mhb. Chapter 1108
(54) Bhima and Satyaki attack Somadatta. Bhima kills several of Shakuni’s and Karna’s brothers who come to Somadatta’s defense.
(55) Bhima kills Bahlika
(56) Bhima kills Vrisharatha
(57) Yudhishthira leads an attack on masses of Kuru armies
Yudhishthira slaughtered Ambashthas, Malavas, Trigartas, Shibis and others. The king cut down Abhishahas, Shurasenas, Bahlikas and Vasatikas and caused the earth to be covered in a mire of blood.
‘Kill. Seize. Capture. Pierce. Slice down.’
On seeing your soldiers driven away by Yudhishthira, Duryodhana urged Drona to counter him.
— Bibek Debroy. Mahabharata. Chapter 1109
Karna said, ‘I will defeat all the Pandavas, together with the Panchalas and the Kekayas. I will make them porcupines and deliver the earth to you.’
Kripa smiled and said, ‘O’ Karna! This is wonderful. The Kuru lineage has a protector. This is wonderful. If only words could bring success. You speak a lot. But one rarely witnesses your valor or strength. We have seen you in many encounters with Arjuna. You have always been defeated.’
— Bibek Debroy Mhb. Chapter 1110
Sequence
(57) Yudhishthira slaughters Drona’s armies. Drona forces them to retreat.
(58) Arjuna and Bhima rallies the fleeing troops and leads an array of archers against Drona’s armies.
(59) Internal tensions lead to Ashvatthama attacking Karna until Duryodhana gets between them.
(60) Karna fights Arjuna’s and Bhima’s forces.
(61) Ashvatthama fights with Dhristadyumna
(62) Arjuna and Bhima slaughter Drona’s armies
(63) Satyaki kills Somadatta, father of Shala and Bhurishrava
(64) Krishna advises Yudhishthira to retreat from his fight with Drona