Mahabharata Companion

The Raksasas Show Their Power

Part 2 / Chapter 8 / 83 chapters

Chapter8 / 35
Part 2Chapter 8

The Raksasas Show Their Power

grieves for the fourteen sons has killed, but Sanjaya again connects their deaths to the Kauravas' choices. When asks why the Pandavas cannot be defeated, recounts how the burdened earth appealed to Brahma and explains that is the Supreme Lord, while the Pandavas and their allies embody divine powers sent to destroy oppressive rulers. is moved enough to bow to before sleep, but not enough to return the kingdom. The fifth through seventh days pass in sustained slaughter. On the eighth, kills seventeen more Kaurava brothers. 's Naga-born son then destroys Sakuni's Gandhara cavalry and kills five of Sakuni's six brothers. sends the Raksasa , who overcomes 's serpent illusion by assuming Garuda's form and beheads him. attacks in rage, and the Kaurava chiefs wound him before arrives. 's great elephant then routs the Pandava troops until checks its advance.

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This guide follows Krishna Dharma's retelling as the source of truth. This panel notes broad edition-level framing or compression that helps a reader orient themselves.

Duryodhana briefly entertains Bhisma's teaching about Krsna and even bows before sleep, yet he will not surrender his claim. The chapter then turns from theological recognition to war among divine, Naga, and Raksasa lineages, showing how little intellectual acknowledgment changes without action.
Key Events
  1. 1

    mourns fourteen sons

    is devastated by the deaths of fourteen sons in one day. Sanjaya tells him that the Kauravas are reaping the bitter results of their own persecution of the Pandavas, who live under 's protection.

  2. 2

    asks why the Pandavas endure

    Unable to understand repeated reversals, asks why his larger army cannot defeat the Pandavas. urges him once more to seek peace.

  3. 3

    reveals 's divine purpose

    recounts the earth's appeal to Brahma and explains that is the source of Visnu, while is Nara and many Pandava allies embody gods sent to lighten the world's burden.

  4. 4

    bows but will not yield

    wonders whether may truly be supreme and bows to Him before sleeping. Yet he decides that the Pandavas will receive nothing unless they take it by force.

  5. 5

    Three days pass in attrition

    The fifth, sixth, and seventh days bring continuous slaughter. avoids Sikhandi, Drona repeatedly meets Drstadyumna, and Susharma's warriors keep drawing away from the main struggle.

  6. 6

    kills seventeen more brothers

    On the eighth day reaches another group of 's sons and kills seventeen. Drona's dense arrow screen saves the remaining brothers from his pursuit.

  7. 7

    destroys the Gandhara cavalry

    and Ulupi's son leads Naga horsemen against Sakuni's Gandhara force. After the cavalry is crushed, kills five of Sakuni's six younger brothers; only Vrishaba escapes.

  8. 8

    kills

    sends , Baka's Raksasa brother, against . answers illusion with illusion and surrounds him with serpents, but assumes Garuda's form, breaks the spell, and beheads the Naga prince. is elsewhere fighting the Samshaptakas and remains unaware that his son has died.

  9. 9

    attacks

    Seeing die, roars and drives straight at . Drona, Asvatthama, Krpa, Salya, Somadatta, Bhurisrava, and other chiefs combine to protect the Kaurava king and wound the Raksasa.

  10. 10

    's elephant routs the Pandavas

    reaches his wounded son, but charges on his huge elephant and scatters the Pandava troops. assumes a gigantic form and keeps at bay while and the other warriors slaughter the supporting troops.