The Mahabharata War, spanning 18 days, is one of the most extensively chronicled battles in history. While most accounts focus on the well-known events, this article delves into the hidden strategies, lesser-known warriors, and overlooked turning points that played a crucial role in Kurukshetra.
Each day saw intense battles, psychological warfare, and strategic decisions that shaped the final result. This blog post uncovers these lesser-known yet impactful moments.
The 18-Day Mahabharata War Breakdown: Lesser-Known Events & Strategies
Days 1-10: Bhishma as Commander-in-Chief
On the first day of battle, Bhishma, the supreme commander of the Kaurava forces, launched a fierce assault on the Pandava army. His sheer presence on the battlefield, coupled with his extensive knowledge of warfare, struck fear into the hearts of his opponents.
Despite this, Yudhishthira, the Pandava king, took an unexpected approach. Instead of engaging immediately, he sought blessings from the elders, including Bhishma himself. This act of humility was more than just tradition—it was a psychological strategy aimed at displaying righteousness and gaining moral high ground.
Krishna narrated the Bhagavad Gita to Arjuna on the first day of the Kurukshetra War, just before the battle commenced. This moment is known as the "Vishada Yoga" (Yoga of Arjuna's Dejection) when Arjuna, seeing his own family members, teachers, and loved ones on both sides of the battlefield, was overcome with sorrow and doubt.
The second day saw Bhima taking center stage as he avenged past grievances by slaying Shrutayu, the formidable King of Kalinga. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s valiant son, faced off against his cousin, Lakshmana, Duryodhana’s son. Their battle was evenly matched, and neither could overpower the other, ending the fight in a tense stalemate that foreshadowed greater conflicts to come.
By the third day, Arjuna struggled with his reluctance to fight Bhishma, allowing the Kaurava forces to dominate. Bhishma exploited this hesitation, orchestrating intricate battle formations that overwhelmed the Pandavas. However, behind the scenes, Pandava allies like Satyaki and King Drupada worked tirelessly to counter Bhishma’s strategies. Their efforts, often overlooked in mainstream retellings, played a crucial role in keeping the Pandava forces from being entirely overrun.
As the battle progressed into its fourth day, the Kauravas employed psychological warfare by unleashing deafening war cries at night, hoping to disturb the Pandavas’ morale and sleep. While this tactic caused unease in the camp, Krishna, ever the strategist, reassured the warriors and reminded them of their greater purpose.
Bhima’s thirst for vengeance deepened on the fifth day as he took a methodical approach to fulfilling his oath of eliminating Duryodhana’s brothers. One by one, he began striking them down, each death weakening the Kaurava resolve. Meanwhile, spies sent by the Pandavas infiltrated the Kaurava camp, gathering vital intelligence about their battle plans.
On the sixth day, Drona, the newly appointed Kaurava strategist, began employing unconventional battle formations designed to expose weaknesses in the Pandava ranks. However, the oft-overlooked duo of Nakula and Sahadeva keenly observed these changes and devised counter-strategies, mitigating much of the damage that Drona had intended to inflict.
By the seventh day, Krishna subtly worked on Karna’s psyche, sowing seeds of self-doubt. Karna’s confidence, already dented by his inability to fight while Bhishma lived, wavered under Krishna’s carefully chosen words. At the same time, Bhishma sensed discord within the Kaurava ranks, as doubts began to creep into their minds about their ultimate victory.
On the eighth day, Bhima killed eight of Duryodhana's brothers. Iravat, Arjuna’s son, killed several of Shakuni’s brothers but was killed by the rakshasa Alambusa. Bhima killed nine more of Duryodhana's brothers. Meanwhile, Shikhandi, whose presence had been largely unnoticed, started positioning himself strategically for the confrontation with Bhishma.
The ninth day saw Krishna stepping in forcefully, realizing that Arjuna was still holding back against Bhishma. With a divine fury, he almost violated the rules of engagement to personally strike Bhishma down, but Arjuna, moved by Krishna’s determination, finally committed himself to attacking his grandsire in earnest. Shikhandi, now recognized as a key figure in Bhishma’s downfall, was given a central role in the battle formations.
Finally, on the tenth day, the long-foreseen fall of Bhishma unfolded. Arjuna, using Shikhandi as a shield, rained arrows upon his grandsire. Due to his vow never to fight someone who was once a woman, Bhishma refused to defend himself against Shikhandi. In this way, Arjuna succeeded in bringing down the invincible warrior, signaling the end of the first phase of the war.
Days 11-15: Drona as Commander-in-Chief
With Bhishma no longer leading the Kaurava forces, Drona stepped in as commander. Unlike Bhishma, who fought with a sense of duty and restraint, Drona approached battle with ruthless efficiency. On the eleventh day, he devised new strategies that put the Pandavas on the defensive. His battle tactics were so effective that Krishna realized they would need a different approach to counter him.
On the twelfth day, Drona sought to capture Yudhishthira, knowing that doing so would bring the war to an end. However, his attempts were foiled by the steadfast resistance of the Pandava warriors. During one such skirmish, Drona killed Satyajit, a noble warrior who had been shielding Yudhishthira. Elsewhere, Arjuna avenged past grievances by slaying Vrishaka and Achala, two of Shakuni’s brothers.
The thirteenth day witnessed the tragic death of Abhimanyu. Drawn into the Chakravyuha, a complex battle formation, he fought with astonishing courage and skill. In a dramatic duel within the formation, Abhimanyu killed Lakshmana, dealing an emotional blow to Duryodhana. However, trapped without reinforcements, he was ultimately overwhelmed and slain.
The fourteenth day brought a nightmarish turn for the Kauravas as the Pandavas abandoned all restraint. Arjuna, fueled by grief over Abhimanyu’s death, relentlessly sought revenge. He skillfully bypassed Drona and decimated Jayadratha, the man responsible for keeping the Chakravyuha intact. Meanwhile, the Rakshasa warrior Ghatotkacha unleashed havoc upon the Kaurava forces, forcing Karna to use the celestial Vasavi Shakti weapon, which he had intended for Arjuna.
On the fifteenth day, Krishna had Bhima kill the elephant Ashwatthama as part of a strategic deception to demoralize Drona. Since Drona was an unstoppable force on the battlefield, Krishna devised a plan to weaken his resolve. After killing the elephant, Bhima loudly proclaimed, "Ashwatthama is dead!"—deliberately omitting that it was the elephant, not Drona’s son, who had died.
When Drona, shocked by the news, turned to Yudhishthira for confirmation, Yudhishthira—who was known for his peerless honesty—reluctantly confirmed, saying:"Ashwatthama hatah" (Ashwatthama is dead)... and then softly added, "iti narova kunjarova" (whether a man or an elephant). Drona, believing his son was truly dead, lost his will to fight and was soon killed by Dhrishtadyumna.
Days 16-18: Karna and Shalya as Commanders-in-Chief
With Drona gone, Karna finally assumed command of the Kaurava army. The sixteenth day saw one of the most intense battles of the war, with Karna leading a relentless charge against the Pandavas. His long-awaited duel with Arjuna was briefly interrupted, but he managed to severely wound Nakula and Sahadeva. Meanwhile, Bhima continued his personal vendetta against Duryodhana’s brothers, eliminating several more in single combat.
On the seventeenth day, the much-anticipated showdown between Arjuna and Karna finally took place. The duel was evenly matched, with both warriors displaying extraordinary skill. However, Karna’s chariot wheel became stuck in the ground—a moment that proved decisive. As he struggled to free it, Krishna urged Arjuna to take the opportunity to strike. With a heavy heart, Arjuna followed Krishna’s counsel and killed Karna, ending the life of one of the greatest warriors of the era.
The final day, the eighteenth, saw Shalya appointed as the last commander of the Kaurava army. Though skilled, he lacked the charisma and loyalty of the previous generals. The Pandavas, fueled by the losses they had endured, fought with relentless determination. Shalya was slain by Yudhishthira in a rare display of aggression.
Elsewhere, Bhima and Duryodhana engaged in their long-awaited mace duel, culminating in Bhima shattering Duryodhana’s thighs—a move that fulfilled his oath but also drew criticism for its adherence to the rules of combat.
As the dust settled, only a handful of Kaurava warriors remained. Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, and Kritavarma, in a desperate bid for revenge, launched a nocturnal assault on the Pandava camp, killing thousands, including the sons of Draupadi. This act, however, could not change the outcome—the Pandavas had emerged victorious, but at an immense cost.
Quiz
On day 2 of the Kurukshetra war, which king of Kalinga did Bhima kill?
Ketumat
Shrutayu
Bhagadatta
Vasudana
Answer
On the second day of the Kurukshetra war, Abhimanyu fought an intense battle with one of his cousins; the fight ended in a stalemate. Who was the cousin?
Duhshasana's son Drumasena
Duryodhana's son Lakshmana
Karna's son Vrishnasena
Karna's son Vrishtaketu
Answer
On which day of the war did Bhishma finally succumb to Arjuna's relentless attack?
Seventh
Tenth
Eighteenth
Ninth
Answer
On the 12th day, whom did Arjuna appoint to protect Yudhisthira from Drona's attack?
Abhimanyu
Nakula
Satyajit
Ghatotkacha
Answer