Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c4.828

c4.828

On the first day of the war Arjuna fought a duel with Bhīṣma, and the second day he fought the Kaurava forces with exceptional prowess. And then Arjuna prevented Kṛṣṇa from killing Bhīṣma. But, the Kaurava army faced defeat that day. On the third day Arjuna defeated Bhīṣma, Aśvatthāmā, Trigartta, Bhagadatta and others. Thereupon a really fierce fight began. The war lasted for 18 days. The important incidents during the 18 days can be summarised as follows :—
(1) Fierce fight between Arjuna and Bhīṣma.
(2) Fight between Arjuna and Aśvatthāmā.
(3) Arjuna destroyed the Kaurava army.
(4) Irāvān, son of Arjuna, was killed.
(5) Arjuna fought against Droṇa and Suśarmā.
(6) Took the vow to kill Bhīṣma.
(7) Śikhaṇḍī prompted to kill Bhīṣma.
(8) On the appearance of Śikhaṇḍī the Kaurava army, took fright and fled in great disarray.
(9) Arjuna fought a duel with Duśśāsana.
(10) Duel with Bhagadatta.
(11) Duel again with Bhīṣma.
(12) Bhīṣma fainted and fell on the ground.
(13) Duel again with Duśśāsana.
(14) With Śikhaṇḍī in the front made an attack on Bhīṣma.
(15) Arjuna discharged three arrows to serve as pillow to Bhīṣma who, dislodged from the chariot, was lying on a bed of arrows.
(16) Cool water sprinkled on the face of Bhīṣma with the aid of divine arrows.
(17) Fought against Droṇa and defeated his forces.
(18) Satyajit deputed to remain with Dharmaputra to help him.
(19) Sudhanvā killed.
(20) Again fought with Bhagadatta.
(21) Supratīka, the elephant of Bhagadatta killed.
(22) And after that, Bhagadatta also killed.
(23) Vṛṣaka and Acala killed by Arjuna.
(24) Śakuni defeated.
(25) Arjuna killed the three brothers of Karṇa and confronted Karṇa.
(26) Abhimanyu, son of Arjuna, killed.
(27) Hearing about the death of Abhimanyu, Arjuna fell down unconscious.
(28) Awakened, Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha.
(29) Arjuna performed Śiva Pūjā.
(30) Arjuna dreamt that night to have paid homage to Śiva along with Kṛṣṇa and that Śiva gave him divine arrows like Pāśupata.
(31) Marched forth routing the elephant regiment of Durmarṣaṇa.
(32) Routed Duśśāsana in fight.
(33) Again fought Droṇa, Kṛtavarmā, Śrutāyudha, Sudakṣiṇa, King of Kāmboja.
(34) Sudakṣiṇa killed in fight.
(35) Śrutāyu, Acyutāyu, Niyutāyu, Ambaṣṭha and the Mlecchas' army killed.
(36) Vinda and Anuvinda killed.
(37) Warfield converted into a house of arrows, on account of the great collection of arrows.
(38) Arjuna defeated Duryodhana.
(39) Fought the nine great warriors on the Kaurava side.
(40) Arjuna cut off the right hand of Bhūriśravas at the instance of Kṛṣṇa.
(41) Cut off the head of Jayadratha with arrows. The head and the arrows were thrown on the lap of Jayadratha's father.