Krsna's Mystic Power

Hearing the full blast of Arjuna's and Krsna's conches from far away, Yudhisthira mistakes the signal for a call of distress. He orders Satyaki to go despite Arjuna's command that Satyaki remain and protect the king.

Leaving Bhima and then Drstadyumna responsible for Yudhisthira, Satyaki fights through Drona, Krtavarma, and successive Kaurava divisions until he reaches Arjuna's path.

Still unable to calm his fear, Yudhisthira asks Bhima to follow and bring back a sign that Arjuna lives. Bhima leaves Drstadyumna with the king and forces his way into the Kaurava host.

Bhima finds Arjuna and Krsna still advancing and releases a tremendous roar. Arjuna, Krsna, and Satyaki answer, and Yudhisthira hears the signal that his brother is safe.

Karna tries again and again to stop Bhima. Bhima cuts his bows, kills his horses and drivers, and forces him onto replacement chariots supplied by Kaurava princes.

More than thirty of Dhrtarastra's sons enter the struggle and fall to Bhima, including Vikarna. Bhima briefly mourns the honorable brother who opposed Draupadi's humiliation, then continues fulfilling his vow.

Duryodhana watches the princes sent to rescue Karna die one after another and reckons with the destruction his own choices have brought upon his family. Grief and fear spread through the Kaurava lines even as they continue guarding Jayadratha.

Satyaki meets Somadatta's son Bhurisrava in the culmination of an old feud: the source says Sini once defeated, dragged, and kicked Somadatta, who then pleased Siva and won a boon that his son would do the same to Sini's son. Their arrows give way to swords and then wrestling after both chariots are destroyed.

Already exhausted from fighting through the army, Satyaki is overpowered. Bhurisrava kicks him down, drags him by the hair, and raises a sword to behead him.

Krsna alerts Arjuna to Satyaki's danger. While still fighting Jayadratha's defenders, Arjuna shoots off the arm holding Bhurisrava's sword before the fatal stroke can fall.

Bhurisrava accuses Arjuna of an unannounced attack, while Arjuna answers that he must protect a disarmed ally and compares the situation to Abhimanyu's abandonment. Bhurisrava recognizes his own fault and sits in Praya meditation. Arjuna says his love for Bhurisrava equals his love for his brothers, and Krsna promises the old warrior an eternal spiritual realm.

Satyaki regains consciousness, remembers his vow against anyone who kicks him down, and beheads Bhurisrava despite shouts from both armies. No one praises the killing of the meditating warrior.

Drona joins the defense and orders Asvatthama, Krpa, Karna, Salya, Duryodhana, Vrishasena, and other chiefs into a final screen. Arjuna can see Jayadratha's standard, but the setting sun leaves almost no time to reach him.

Krsna sends His Sudarsana chakra over the western sky and darkness falls. Believing the sun has set and Arjuna's vow has failed, the Kauravas lower their weapons and Jayadratha exposes himself.

While darkness holds, Krsna explains that Vridhakshatra blessed his son so whoever makes Jayadratha's severed head fall to earth will die. He directs Arjuna to send the head into the meditating father's lap at Samantapanchaka Lake, and Arjuna readies a Brahma-charged arrow.

Krsna withdraws the chakra and reveals the sun still above the horizon. Arjuna instantly beheads Jayadratha and carries the head by arrow into Vridhakshatra's lap; when the ascetic stands and lets it fall, his own head shatters. The Kauravas leave in grief while Krsna embraces Arjuna and the Pandava camp celebrates the fulfilled vow.