Visoka bowed and said to the son of
Drupada: "The son of Pandu asked me to
stay here and, without waiting for my
reply rushed forward on foot, mace in
hand, into the enemy ranks."
Fearing that Bhima would
overpowered and killed Dhrishtadyumna
drove his chariot into the enemy lines in
search of Bhimasena, whose path was
marked by the bodies of slain elephants.
When Dhrishtadyumna found Bhima, he
saw him surrounded on all sides by
enemies fighting from their chariots.
Bhima stood against them all, mace in
hand, wounded all over and breathing fire.
Dhrishtadyumna embraced him and took
him into his chariot and proceeded to pick
out the shafts that had stuck in his body.
Duryodhana now ordered his warriors to
attack Bhimasena and Dhrishtadyumna
and not to wait for them to attack or
challenge.
Accordingly, they made a combined
attack even though they were not inclined
to engage themselves in further fighting.
Dhrishtadyumna had a secret weapon,
which he had obtained from Dronacharya
and, discharging it, threw the enemy
forces into a stupor.
But Duryodhana then joined the fray and
discharged weapons to counter the stupor
weapons of Dhrishtadyumna. Just then,
reinforcements sent by Yudhishthira
arrived.
A force of twelve chariots with their
retinue led by Abhimanyu came upon the
scene to support Bhima.
Dhrishtadyumna was greatly relieved
when he saw this. Bhimasena had also by
now refreshed himself and was ready to
renew the fight. He got into Kekaya's
chariot and took up his position along
with the rest.
Drona, however, was terrible that day. He
killed Dhrishtadyumna's charioteer and
horses and smashed his chariot and
Drupada's son had to seek a place in
Abhimanyu's car. The Pandava forces
began to waver and Drona was cheered by
the Kaurava army.
Indiscriminate mass fighting and slaughter
be went on that day. At one time, Bhima and
Duryodhana met face to face. The usual
exchange of hot words took place and was
followed by a great battle of archery.
Duryodhana was hit and fell unconscious.
Kripa extricated him with great skill and
took him away in his own chariot.
Bhishma personally arrived at the spot
now and led the attack and scattered the
Pandava forces.
The sun was sinking, but the battle was
continued for an hour yet and the fighting
was fierce and many thousands perished.
Then the day's battle ceased. Yudhishthira
was glad that Dhrishtadyumna and Bhima
returned to camp alive.
70. THE SEVENTH DAY
DURYODHANA, wounded all over and
suffering greatly, went to Bhishma and
said:
"The battle had been going against us
every day. Our formations are broken and
our warriors are being slain in large
numbers. You are looking on doing
nothing."
The grandsire soothed Duryodhana with
comforting words:
"Why do you let yourself be disheartened?
Here are all of us, Drona, Salya,
Kritavarma, Aswatthama, Vikarna,
Bhagadatta, Sakuni, the two brothers of
Avanti, the Trigarta chief, the king of
Magadha, and Kripacharya. When these
great warriors are here, ready to give up
their lives for you, why should you feel
downhearted? Get rid of this mood of
dejection."
Saying this, he issued orders for the day.
"See there," the grandsire said to
Duryodhana. "These thousands of cars,
horses and horsemen, great war elephants,