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The battle was very much the same every day and the narrative is one ofmonotonous fighting and killing. Still, the great battle is the central event in the Mahabharata and, if we skip over it,
we cannot fully understand the epic heroes of that crowded stage.
At
break of day, Bhishma arrayed the Kau- rava forces again. Surrounded by Drona, Duryodhana
and others, the grandsire looked verily Eke great Indra, holding his thunder bolt,
surrounded by the devas.
The Kaurava army, with its chariots, elephants and horses all arrayed
in battle order and ready for the fight, presented the appearance of the sky in a great
thunderstorm.
The grandsire gave orders for advance. Arjuna watched the hostile
movements from his chariot, whereon the Hanuman flag was waving, and he too got ready.
The battle commenced. Aswatthama, Bhurisravas, Salya, Chitrasena and
the son of Chala surrounded Abhimanyu and attacked him, The warrior fought like a lion
opposing five elephants.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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