THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - EIGHTH DAY

On the eighth day Bhima killed eight of Dhritarashtra's sons and Arjuna's son Iravan was killed by the Kauravas.

Bhishma arrayed the Kaurava army in tortoise formation. Yudhisthira asked Dhrishtadyumna to arrange the Pandava forces in a matching array. The Pandava armies were arrayed in a cross. Bhishma spear-headed the attack from the Kaurava side. Bhimasena opposed him as the Pandava forces began to retreat in disorder. Bhishma, the veteran warrior was the embodiment of terror,and there was nobody in the Pandava army who could oppose him with any degree of success. Bhima discovered a short cut to fight Bhishma. He killed the charioteer and hit the horses. The frightened horses dragged the chariot out of the battlefield and Bhishma blew his conch in exultation.

Sunabha, one of the brothers of Duryodhana attacked Bhima. In fact Bhima was waiting for such an opportunity and Sunabha was killed in the fight. His brothers Adityaketu, Bahavasi, Pandita, Kundadhara, Visalaksha and Mahodara in a fit of range attacked Bhima and lost their lives in the fight. Meanwhile, Bhishma returned to the battlefield with a few charioteers and offered his condolences to Duryodhana on the death of his brothers. Duryodhana said to him, "Great Warrior, it is a great bereavement to me and a bolt on your stewardship. You are too indulgent towards the Pandavas and they are exploiting the situation." Bhishma replied, "What is the use of crying over split milk: let us not waste our time in recriminations. Let us fight the enemy to the best of our capacity. Let us accept that we are confronted with powerful opposition." So saying, Bhishma advanced towards the Pandava forces to resume the fight with Bhima.

Iravan, the son of Arjuna by the Naga princess Ulupi, was attacked by the Gandhara princes, Suka, Sarmavan, Vrishaka, Arjava, Gaja and Gavaksha, with their cavalry force. In the fight Iravan’s horse was killed with a spear. Undaunted he jumped to the ground with his sword and shield and gave a stiff fight to the Gandhara princes who lost their horses. They advanced on Iravan wielding their swords in a simultaneous encounter. Iravan, in a splendid show of his skill in wielding the sword, cut the six opponenets into twelve pieces. There was a great uproar in the Kaurava camp. Duryodhana said to Alambasa, "Iravan combines in himself the maternal mobility as well as the paternal prowess. It is not easy for ordinary mortals to defeat him. Hs cavalry has the most poisonous potentialities. The venomous snake must be killed and his cavalry must be destroyed. You are the only warrior, worthy enough to undertake this assignment." Alambasa, flattered at the special attention bestowed upon him by Duryodhana, attacked Iravan mustering his rakshasa forces. His cavalry was smashed by the demonic hoards of magical feats and illusory tactics. Iravan was ambushed and killed by Alambasa.


Yudhisthira asked Bhima to go to the rescue of Ghatotkacha. Bhima rushed to the spot and attacked Duryodhana and the Kaurava warriors. Duryodhana fought bravely and hit Bhima with a powerful shaft wounding him in the chest. Immediately Ghatotkacha and Abhimanyu combined and attacked Kauravas, joined by the sons of Draupadi. After a fierce and inconclusive fight, Ghatotkacha and his rakshasa hordes restored to magic and mesmerism. The false bodies of the Kaurava warriors, Drona and Duryodhana, Kripa and Asvatthma and eight others were exhibited to the Kaurava forces as if they were lying unconscious with bloody wounds on their chariots. The optical illusion created by the crafty rakshasas shattered the morale of the Kaurava forces which retreated in uttered confusion and chaos. Duryodhana shouted at the top of his voice that it was all the result of the foul play of the rakshasas; but the fleeing forces could not distinguish reality from the apparitions. Bhishma asked Bhagadatta, to counter the tactics of Ghatotkacha and relieve Duryodhana from distress. Soon Bhagadatta was locked in a furious battle. Bhima and Abhhimanyu aided Gahtotkacha. But Bhagadatta piloted his famous elephant, "Supratika" with unrivalled agility and gave a stiff fight to Bhima and Abhimanyu in addition to Ghatotkacha. Duryodhana, Kripa and other warriors joined Bhagadatta in the fight. The Pandava army fled in disarray at their onslaught.

Bhima conveyed to Arjuna, the news of the fall of Iravan on the battlefield after a brave fight. Arjuna was overwhelmed with grief at the death of his son, wept bitterly falling over his dead body. He exclaimed aloud, "War is a tragic curse. Now I understand why Dharmaputra was so solicitous for peace at any cost; I do not think that Duryodhana is happy either, Why this war? Whither are we?" Sri Krishna smiled and said, "Partha, you are not the only parent to lose a child; this is war." Arjuna stood up and asked Sri Krishna to drive the chariot against the enemy forces, to avenge the death of his son. The hostilities came to an end for the day. Duryodhana lost sixteen brothers on the eighth day of the great war and he was destresse beyond measure. He asked Duhsasana to go and fetch Karna at once. Duryodhana, Duhsasana, Sakuni and Karna met confidentially. Duryodhana explained, "It has become amply clear that Bhishma and Drona, Kripa and Avatthama, though apparently fighting on our side are neutrals at heart; they are not putting their heart and souls into the fight. I do not know what to do." They discussed the problem at great length. Karna told Duryodhana, "You better ask the generalissimo to step down and let him not come to the battlefield tomorrow. I will defeat the Pandavas."

Duryodhana said to Bhisma, "Great warrior, you know today I have lost sixteen of my brothers. I am afraid , that you are too soft to the Pandavas; I have come to request you to relinquish your post if you are not prepared to defeat the Pandavs." Bhishma replied, "This is the basest ingratitude! If you have lost your beloved brothers in today’s battle, Arjuna too is bereaved; he has lost his dear son, Iravan. King of Kings, I need not reiterate that this is war. Let us remain united and fight the enemy tomorrow. I will tell you a way out. I will not fight with Sikhandi and I do not think I can overpower Arjuna. You isolate them and I will scorch the rest." Duryodhana was very much pleased with the words of Bhishma and said, "Great warrior, we will isolate the Pandavas and Sikhandi. We depend upon you to annihilate the rest of the Pandava forces and Panchalas." Bhishma smiled and said, "Yes".