Duryodhana reckons that if they could somehow protect Jayadratha from Arjuna, Arjuna would kill himself and his brothers would follow him. He asks Drona to ensure Jayadratha's protection. Droṇa plans to arrange the Kaurava army in the sakata-vyuha within which is padma-vyuha formation that encircles a needle-like formation called suchi-vyuha. At the end of the suchi would be Jayadratha; and Kritavarma, Duryodhana, and Karṇa would guard at the front of the needle. Droṇa himself is set to stand at the front of the sakata.
Draupadi puts veer tilak on Arjuna's forehead and wishes that Jayadratha be killed before Abhimanyu's mortal remains are consigned to fire. Arjuna asks Bhima and Satyaki to protect Yudhishtra. Krishna asks Bheema to kill as many Kauravas as possible.
The fourteenth day of battle begins.
Drona intercepts Arjuna and tells him to fight him before seeking Jayadratha. Arjuna fights for sometime, but doesn't want to waste time. As per Krishna's advice, he tells Drona that he is not interested in fighting with him (as per rules, you cannot fight with someone unwilling to fight), seeks Drona's blessings and moves on towards Jayadratha. Duryodhana is livid with Drona for letting Arjuna move on. Drona gives Duryodhana a powerful armour and asks him to fight Arjuna. Arjuna destroys the armour, the crown and his bow using the divine weapons in his possession. Duryodhana protests that since he is a defenceless nirayudhapaani, Arjuna should not fight with him as per rules. Arjuna scoffs at him: after all he never adhered to any kshatriya dharma in disrobing the reigning queen Draupadi and had no shame in killing the defenceless Abhimanya. Despite this, he would spare Duryodhana's life, as his death is destined to be done with Bhima's hands.
Bheema challenges Duryodhana's brothers to fight him. With one blow of his powerful mace, he shatters the earth and eight of the Kauravas get caught in the abyss. Yudhishtra is worried that he is unable to hear the sound of Arjuna's Gandiva bow and commands Satyaki to help Arjuna. Hesitating to leave Yudhishtra alone, Satyaki asks Bhima to be with Yudhishtra.
Before Arjuna can reach Jayadratha, he is challenged by Srutayudha, the king of Kalinga. Arjuna and Sudhayu fight, but Arjuna's shafts don't make a dent on Srutayudha. Srutayudha's father Varuna has presented his son a magical mace which could help him stay undefeated in battle; but if Srutyudha uses the mace against an unarmed opponent, it would return and strike him back.
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