- Kurukshetra War - day 4
The
Kurukshetra War detailed in the Hindu epic "Mahabharata " was between the ancientHindu clans ofKaurava andPandava and lasted eighteen days.The Pandavas won the fourth day's battle.
Military formation of the Kaurava Army
(MBh 6.60)
*Name:- Unknown
*Shape:-Unknown
*Architects:-Bhishma
*Nature:- unknownMilitary formation of the Pandava Army
(MBh 6.60)
*Name:- unknown
*Shape:-unknown
*Architects:- unknown
*Nature:- UnknownThe heroes of the Kaurava army in Day Four
(MBh 6.60)
On Day two
Bhishma was protected byDrona ,Duryodhana , king Bahlika, Durmarshana, Chitrasena andJayadratha .No informantion is available on the 4th day array of Kauravas except this passage:- Pervaded by diverse kinds of forces possessed of great strength, and having in its wings elephants, steeds, infantry, and cars in profusion,
Arjuna beheld from a distance to resemble a mighty mass of cloudsThe heroes of the Pandava army in Day Four
(MBh 6.56)
No information is available on the 4th day array of Pandavas except this passage:- The Kuru army beheld that best of arrays, which was protected by that mighty car-warrior of the world,
Arjuna , with weapons upraised to have at each of its corners four thousand elephants. Like the array which was formed on the day before kingYudhishthira and like of which had never been seen or heard before by human beings, was this one of today that thePandavas formed.The highlights of Day Four fight
Warriors Slain
*Paurava's son Damana was slain byDhristadyumna
*Samyamani's son was slain byDhristadyumna
*One Magadha King was slain byAbhimanyu Seven of the 99 brothers ofDuryodhana was slain byBhima on Day 4Their names were:-
*Senapati
*Jalasandha
*Ugra
*Viravahu
*Bhima
*Bhimaratha
*SulochanaChapter-wise Summary
*6,60 Day 4 Forenoon
Arjuna vsBhishma
*6,61 Day 4 Forenoon Samyamani's sons death
*6,62 Day 4 Forenoon Slaughter of Magadha elephants byBhima
*6,63 Day 4 NoonBhima vs large army of kings
*6,64 Day 4 AfterNoonBhima slays 7 of the 100 Kauravas.The highlight of the Day Four fight was that
Bhima slaughtered seven of the 99 brothers ofDuryodhana , effecting the first shock to that arrogant king of the Kurus, whose arrogance was the root cause of this immense slaughter of men, called theKurukshetra War .Arjuna also became fully active as a warrior, and fought bravely with his grandfatherBhishma . Bhima also devastated the elephant division of the Magadhas. On the Day 2 he had affliected the elephants of Kalingas. After the fourth dayBhima became an expert smitter of elephant armies. (The armies which are skilled in elephant war-fare were the Kalingas, Magadhas and Pragjyotishas, all from the eastern regions. Kingdoms from the Himalayan regions possessed elephants of a defferen kind - that having four tusks, whitish, whooly and huge in size. RakshasaGhatotkacha possessed such elephants. (6,64))Filled with grief this was what
Duryodhana had to say to grandsireBhishma : "“O grandsire,Drona and you, andShalya , andKripa , and Drona's sonAshwathama , andKritavarma the son of Hridyika, andSudakshina the ruler of theKambojas , and Bhurisravas, and Vikarna, and Bhagadatta of exceeding prowess, all these are regarded as mighty car-warriors (Maharathas). All of these, again, are high-born, and prepared to throw away their lives in battle. It is my opinion that these are a match for even the three worlds (united together). Even all the warriors of thePandava army (united together) cannot bear your prowess. A doubt has arisen in my mind. Explain it to me who enquires of you. Who it is, relying on whom the Pandavas are vanquishing us repeatedly" "(6.65.31-33).References
* C. Rajagopalachari, Mahabharata, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1994
* Kamala Subramaniam, "Mahabharata", Bhavan's Book University, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai 2001
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