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CHIDBHAVANANDA GNANA AMUTHAM-VOL.16
e second day war commenced. e reverses of the rst day were taken note of by the Pandava forces for their consolidation. Dhrishtadyumna the Generalissimo arrayed the forces in krauncha shape. It resembled a bird. is ancient war manoeuvre was a science best known to themselves. e Kauravas made a formation to match against it. Bheeshma easily splitted the krauncha formation and started slaying the Pandava warriors wholesale. Charioteered by Krishna, Arjuna dashed before his grandfather and attacked him vehemently. Prolonged and awe inspiring was the deadly war between the two. Elsewhere Drona and Dhrishtadyumna fought ferociously. e former proved himself superior to the latter. At that stage Bheema came to relieve Dhrishtadyumna. Duryodhana sent the Kalinga forces to arrest Bheema’s ferocity. But Bheema routed the whole army including the king and the prince. Bheeshma rushed to the rescue of the Kalinga division. is grandsire was attacked by Satyaki and Abhimanyu. Satyaki slaughtered Bheeshma’s charioteer. e horses therefore bolted away dragging Bheeshma’s chariot far away from the battle eld. Arjuna was now le to himself to reduce the Kaurava forces as he liked. e morale on the Kaurava side was deteriorating. At sunset ght was brought to an end for the day. e third day battle : Bheeshma was resolved to make up for the reverses on the second day. He ordered his forces assume garuda vyuha, kite formation. Prominent warriors were placed in strategic positions. Bheeshma himself occupied the head. In order to counteract this force Dhrishtadyumna the head of the Pandava army decided to place his forces in the crescent formation. Bheema and Arjuna occupied the horns of the crescent. e battle began in all fury. Ghastly was the ow of blood. Satyaki and Abhimanyu together managed to destroy Sakuni’s forces. Bheeshma and Drona together attacked Dharmaraja’s army. Bheema and his giant son Ghatotkacha attacked Duryodhana’s army. e son wrought more havoc than the father did. A sha shot by Bheema made Duryodhana fall unconscious in his chariot. He was quickly removed to prevent demoralization in the army. Aer gaining consciousness he returned to the front and demoralized his generals in another way. He blamed the