Mb084. The Fourth Day Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

The fourth day of the battle broke.
Bhisma stood, in front, like a rock,
Amidst Drona, Duryodhana and others,
He gave the soldiers military orders.

The armies both clashed.
Arjuna from his side rushed.
In the fierce fight that ensued,
Kauravas' armies were crushed.

He saw Abhimanyu his son.
To help him there was none.
The young hero, single handed,
His position he defended.

Arrows after arrows he sent.
Like showers they all went,
And tore the falling enemies,
Into pieces after pieces.

Salya, he attacked then.
He poured arrows like rain.
Duryodhana rushed there
As Salya was in danger.

Bhima came there by then.
He took over his new position.
He raised his mace up when,
Away Duryodhana's brothers ran.

Angry Duryodhana became,
To charge Bhima he came.
From the chariot Bhima got down.
And smashed elephants one by one.

It threw the Kauravas in disarray
The soldiers here and there ran away.
Duryodhana's eight brothers were slain,
By Bhima in that day's battle alone.

For his help Ghatotkacha ran.
Jumped on them like a demon.
His attack they couldn't bear,
They ran far away in fear.

As demons got more power,
By fall of night wherever,
Bhisma ordered to wind up,
And return to the base camp.

This when Sanjay explained,
The King Dhritarashtra exclaimed,
He wondered bad news why
He got like this every day.

For the death of his sons,
Who had lost their brains,
He mourned and cried,
To pacify him Sanjay tried.