Mahabharata Companion

The Night Battle

Part 2 / Chapter 20 / 83 chapters

Chapter20 / 35
Part 2Chapter 20

The Night Battle

kills after kills the aged , deepening the Kauravas' losses as daylight fades. 's boasts about killing provoke a bitter quarrel with and before Duryodhana forces his champions apart. then defeats in an archery exchange but spares him in keeping with his promise to Kunti, and 's arrival prevents further humiliation. When the battle continues through the night, sends the recovered against , and first kills the Raksasa . 's illusions devastate the Kaurava army so thoroughly that is forced to spend Indra's single-use Sakti to kill him, removing the weapon he had reserved for .

Krishna Dharma Edition
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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.

Krishna Dharma builds the night battle around the cost of loyalty: Karna protects Duryodhana but must sacrifice his sure weapon against Arjuna, while Ghatotkaca knowingly becomes the Pandavas' shield. The grotesque spectacle of the Raksasa combat serves a precise strategic turn rather than standing as an isolated marvel.
Key Events
  1. 1

    and fall

    comes to his son's aid and wounds , but kills the aged Kuru with a hurled mace. then overcomes and pierces his heart with a mantra-charged arrow.

  2. 2

    quarrels with and

    promises Duryodhana that Indra's dart will kill . mocks his record, threatens him, and draws his sword to defend his uncle until Duryodhana separates the two champions.

  3. 3

    defeats but spares

    destroys 's chariot and weapons, pursues him among fallen elephants, and strikes him with the end of his bow while taunting him. He nevertheless honors his promise to Kunti and does not kill the disarmed Pandava.

  4. 4

    interrupts 's advantage

    attacks when he sees standing over . cuts down a deadly arrow aimed at and draws into the wider battle, allowing to escape the immediate danger.

  5. 5

    The armies fight through darkness

    Neither army withdraws at sunset. Warriors fight by moonlight, torches, burning chariots, and the light of celestial weapons, while exhaustion makes it increasingly difficult to distinguish friend from foe.

  6. 6

    sends against

    Seeing ravage the Pandava troops, tells that is the right counter in darkness and that should not yet face the Sakti. accepts the task as service to his fathers and uncles.

  7. 7

    kills

    Duryodhana sends to aid . The two Raksasas exchange illusions and wrestle in changing forms until severs 's head and throws it into Duryodhana's chariot.

  8. 8

    spends the Sakti on

    's illusions scatter the Kauravas and threaten himself. At the army's desperate urging, releases Indra's one-use Sakti; enlarges his body as he dies so that his fall crushes an entire Kaurava division.