Week 7 Reading Part D

 Notes from reading

Yudhishthira wanted to make one last plea for peace but was too scared that Krishna, the emissary, would be captured. He sends him anyways.

Duryodhana denies the plea for peace and plans to capture Krishna but cannot do so because Krishna manifests himself in his divine form. By doing this he cannot be taken as prisoner. 

Krishna tries to change Karna's mind and switch sides, but she doesn't. Karna promises Kunti that the only son that they will attack is Arjuna, the others will be spared.

Yudhishthira makes Dhrishtadyumna, Draupadi's brother, the supreme commander of his troops. The battle takes place on Kurukshetra.

Arjuna doesn't like the idea of fighting his own family but Krishna sings "Song of the Lord" and manifests himself in his awesome cosmic form, Arjuna is ready to fight.

Dhrishtadyumna tries to kill Drona but fails and he fleas. Bhishma draws blood from Krishna which makes Arjuna mad. Arjuna begs Krishna to not kill Bhishma.

Amba becomes reincarnated as Shikhandin to get revenge on Bhishma who cannot attack Shikhandin.

Arjuna shoots Bhishma from behind and he falls of the chariot, fatally wounded. Karna now agrees to fight.

Drona is now the commanding general of Duryodhana's army. They attempt to capture Yudhishthira by first leading Arjuna away. 

Arjuna's son, Abhimanyu, is to break through the formation while Arjuna is away. He does so but gets stuck behind the enemy lines and is slain.

Arjuna voys to kill Jayadratha. They trick Jayadratha that the sun is setting and he gets slayed

Meanwhile Karna kills Ghatotkacha.

Krishna and Yudhishthira trick Dhrishtadyumna that his son, Ashwatthaman, has been killed. They had killed an elephant called Ashwatthaman but Dhrishtadyumna thinks it is his son so he cuts his head off.

Bhima kills Duhshasana and drinks his blood.

Karna duels Arjuna and his chariot gets stuck. He begs to not be killed until he gets unstuck but Arjuna strikes and kills.

Shalya is made supreme commander and Yudhishthira savagely kills him.

Duryodhana denounces Krishna's tricks but Krishna says the warriors have brought their deaths upon them

Panadvas go to Hastinapura after the war is won. They do rituals for the dead

Narada tells Yudhishthira how Karna's guru Parashurma has cursed Karna for being deceiving.

Yudhishthira finally agrees to become king.

Yudhishthira cremates Bhishma of the shores of Ganges. 

Pandavas dies one by one until Yudhishthira is the only one left. He goes to heaven as his bodily form.

This leaves Parikshit, the grandson of Arjuna, to become king.

The Battlefield