Week 6 Reading Diary B: PDE Mahabharata

1. Krishna answered a message of war from Duryodhana.

2. Yuyutsu, Duryodhana's half brother left the Kauravas and joined the war on the side of the Pandavas. 

3. Bhishma was a powerful warrior and many believed the advantage lay with Duryodhana because of this. He turned the tide of the battle with the Pandavas and for a long time, the Kauravas were winning. His charioteer was killed and this turned the tide of the battle.

4. The six Gandhari swore to kille Iravat, Arjuna's son. Iravat killed five of them, but the fifth killed him.

5. Bhima's demon son, Ghatotkacha sought vengeance for Iravat's death.

6. Bhishma swore not to kill anyone born a woman, so Krishna suggested that Shikhandin go fight Bhishma with Arjuna. Arjuna did not want to win by another's hand, but he finally decided to fight with Sikhandin. Arjuna shot Bhishma with his arrows while he was distracted. Arjuna was very sad at the death of Bhishma. Bhishma asked that the Pandavas and Kauravas make peace, but Duryodhana was too angry. He did not die until the war had ended.

7. Arjuna's son was trapped behind the enemy line and the Pandavas went after him. Abhimanyu was wounded and could not see so Duhshasana's son killed him while he was distracted. Jayadratha stopped the Pandavas from going to rescue him and Arjuna swore to kill him. 

8. Arjuna killed him and cut of his head in battle.

9. Ghatotkacha fought Karna and used illusions to try to distract him, but he died in battle with the invincible dart Indra gave Karna. 

10. Bhima killed an elephant named Ashwatthaman, the name of Drona's son, and called that Ashwatthaman was dead. Drona asked Yudhishthira if this was true, and he told him it was, whispering that it was an elephant each time he did so. Drona forgot about his divine weapons and Dhrishtadyumna attacked Drona. The Pandava general cut off Drona's head.

11. Bhima fought Suhshsana and cut off his head and drank his blood for what he had done to Draupadi. 

12. Arjuna and Karna met in battle. Arjuna shot off Karna's head with an arrow and killed his brother. The Kauravas fled in fear.

13. Bhima and Duryodhana fought and Bhima broke his knee and kicked his head. This was considered to be against the rules, but was forgiven because of what Duryodhana did to the Pandavas and Draupadi.

Duryodhana and Bhima fight photo found on Wikimedia Commons

14. Duryodhana gave Ashwatthaman permission to attack the Pandavas while they were sleeping. Shiva was at the gates, though, so he set up an altar to worship him but he had nothing to sacrifice so he threw himself in the flames. Shiva took control of his body. He fought and killed Draupadi's brother and five sons. 

This came from the public domain version of the Mahabharata.