KURUKSHETRA DAY - 4

The Kurukshetra War detailed in the Hindu epic Mahabharat was between the ancient Hindu clans of Kaurav and Pandav and lasted eighteen days.

The Pandavs won the fourth day's battle.

Military formation of the Kaurav Army :

(MBh 6.60)

Name : Unknown

Shape : Unknown

Architects : Bhishma

Nature : Unknown

Military formation of the Pandav Army :

(MBh 6.60)

Name : Unknown

Shape : Unknown

Architects : Unknown

Nature : Unknown

The heroes of the Kaurav army in Day Four :

(MBh 6.60)

On Day two Bhishma was protected by Dron, Duryodhan, king Bahlik, Durmarshan, Chitrasen and Jayadrath.

No informantion is available on the 4th day array of Kauravs 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, Arjun beheld from a distance to resemble a mighty mass of clouds.

The heroes of the Pandav army in Day Four :

(MBh 6.56)

No information is available on the 4th day array of Pandavs 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 king Yudhishthira and like of which had never been seen or heard before by human beings, was this one of today that the Pandavs formed.

The highlights of Day Four fight :

Warriors Slain :

• Paurava's son Daman was slain by Dhristadyumn

• Samyamani's son was slain by Dhristadyumn

• One Magadh King was slain by Abhimanyu

Seven of the 99 brothers of Duryodhan was slain by Bhima on Day 4 Their names were :

• Senapati

• Jalasandh

• Ugra

• Viravahu

• Bhim

• Bhimarath

• Sulochan

Chapter-wise Summary :

• 6,60 Day 4 Forenoon Arjun vs Bhishma

• 6,61 Day 4 Forenoon Samyamani's sons death

• 6,62 Day 4 Forenoon Slaughter of Magadh elephants by Bhim

• 6,63 Day 4 Noon Bhima vs large army of kings

• 6,64 Day 4 AfterNoon Bhim slays 7 of the 100 Kauravs.

The highlight of the Day Four fight was that Bhim slaughtered seven of the 99 brothers of Duryodhan, effecting the first shock to that arrogant king of the Kurus, whose arrogance was the root cause of this immense slaughter of men, called the Kurukshetra War. Arjun also became fully active as a warrior, and fought bravely with his grandfather Bhishma. Bhim also devastated the elephant division of the Magadhs. On the Day 2 he had affliected the elephants of Kalings. After the fourth day Bhim became an expert smitter of elephant armies. (The armies which are skilled in elephant war-fare were the Kalings, Magadhs and Pragjyotishs, 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. Rakshash Ghatotkach possessed such elephants. (6,64))

Filled with grief this was what Duryodhan had to say to grandsire Bhishma: “O grandsire, Dron and you, and Shalya, and Kripacharya, and Dron's son Ashwathama, and Kritavarma the son of Hridyik, and Sudakshin the ruler of the Kambojs, and Bhurisravs, and Vikarn, and Bhagadatt of exceeding prowess, all these are regarded as mighty car-warriors (Maharathis). 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 the Pandav 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 Pandavs are vanquishing us repeatedly" (6.65.31-33).

References :

• C. Rajagopalachari, Mahabharat, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. 1994

• Kamala Subramaniam, Mahabharat, Bhavan's Book University, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai 2001

Source :

https://www.jatland.com/
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