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70.THE SEVENTH DAY
DURYODHANA, wounded all over and
suffering greatly, went to Bhishma and
said:
"The battle had been going against us
every day. Our formations are broken and
our warriors are being slain in large
numbers. You are looking on doing
nothing."
The grandsire soothed Duryodhana with
comforting words:
"Why do you let yourself be disheartened?
Here are all of us, Drona, Salya,
Kritavarma, Aswatthama, Vikarna,
Bhagadatta, Sakuni, the two brothers of
Avanti, the Trigarta chief, the king of
Magadha, and Kripacharya. When these
great warriors are here, ready to give up
their lives for you, why should you feel
downhearted? Get rid of this mood of
dejection. "Saying this, he issued orders for the day.
"See there," the grandsire said to
Duryodhana. "These thousands of cars,
horses and horsemen, great war elephants,
and those armed foot soldiers from
various kingdoms are all ready to fight for
you. With this fine army, you can
vanquish even the gods. Fear not."
Thus cheering up the dejected
Duryodhana, he gave him a healing balm
for his wounds. Duryodhana rubbed it
over his numerous wounds and felt
relieved. He went to the field, heartened by the
grandsire's words of confidence. The army
was that day arrayed in circular formation.
With each war elephant were seven
chariots fully equipped.
Each chariot was supported by seven
horsemen. To each horseman were
attached ten shield bearers. Everyone
wore armor. Duryodhana stood resplendent like Indra
at the center of this great and wellequipped
army. Yudhishthira arrayed the Pandava
army in vajravyuha. This day's
battle was fiercely fought simultaneously
at many sectors.
Bhishma personally opposed Arjuna's
attacks. Drona and Virata were engaged
with each other at another point.
Sikhandin and Aswatthama fought a big
battle at another sector.
Duryodhana and Dhrishtadyumna fought
with each other at yet another point.
Nakula and Sahadeva attacked their uncle
Salya. The Avanti kings opposed
Yudhamanyu, while Bhimasena opposed
Kritavarma, Chitrasena, Vikarna and
Durmarsha.
There were great battles between
Ghatotkacha and Bhagadatta, between
Alambasa and Satyaki, between
Bhurisravas and Dhrishtaketu, between
Yudhishthira and Srutayu and between
Chekitana and Kripa.
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