Shakuni is rejoicing over Bhishma's fall and laughs uproariously. When Duryodhana asks him the reason for his happiness when everybody is in mourning, Shakuni explains that he is looking at this sad incident as an opportunity to introduce Karna and reverse the setbacks in their path and be victorious. Duryodhana is happy too. Yudhishtra is worried whether they would be able to cope up with Karna heading the Kaurava army. Arjuna and Bhima are over-enthusiastic about confronting Karna successfully, but Yudhishtra sounds a note of caution. He is worried about the powerful Nagastra that Karna has and also about the vow that Karna has made. Krishna agrees that Yudhishtra's fears are valid. He smiles mysteriously and tells Yudhishtra not to worry on that account, though. Ashwatthama is happy that the time has come for his father to showcase his prowess and win the war, as Drona is the most eligible candidate to be the commander-in-chief for the Kaurava army. Dronacharya tells him no...

All the warriors have crowded around Bhishma. Duryodhana offers to get the best medical aid, save relieve Bhishma's pain. Bhishma says he is only waiting for the onset of Uttarayana kala in the month of thai or pausha when he would give up his life. Till then he would wait. As Duryodhana starts getting angry with Arjuna for causing Bhishma's affliction, Bhishma requests everybody to leave him alone and go back to their encampments. Duryodhana announces that the place be marked as being outside the war zone. He orders his soldiers to guard Bhishma so that wild animals do not disturb him. Draupadi sheds tears to see Bhishma's plight. She regrets being the cause for this. Bhishma says she cannot stop the missile that has already left the archer's bow. He advises her not to harbour any feelings of guilt, as she is only an instrument for executing the schemes of the almighty God. He blesses Draupadi. Shikhandi is the next to visit Bhishma. She cries that she has been inst...

The tenth day war commences. Krishna steers the chariot to where Bhishma is. Bhishma picks up his bow to shoot at Arjuna, but retracts when he sees Shikhandi. At first, Shikhandi shoots darts at Bhishma, but they are not powerful enough to pierce him fully. Bhishma drops away the bow and arrow, saying he would not lift any weapons in the presence of women. After Shikhandi fires a volley of arrows in full display of his hatred for Bhishma, he hands over the weapons to Arjuna. Arjuna now begins a fierce battle in which he shoots a barrage of missiles that pierce his body, without leaving even an inch uncovered by the shafts. Bhishma groans in pain, gets down the chariot and totters about on the ground. The soldiers from both sides of the battle stop fighting and watch this spectacle in awe. With tears in his eyes, Arjuna continues his assault. Duryodhana and Dushasana are totally shaken, Only Shakuni watches the scene, fully elated that his long cherished and most anticipated event has...

Yudhishtra and Krishna return to their camp and announce the success of their mission. They tell the anxious warriors sitting in conference that Bhishma has agreed to give up his life as a charity to preserve dharma. The Pandavas, Draupadi, Drupada and others are jubilant over the impending death of Bhishma, but Krishna reminds them that they are about to lose a great incomparable kshatriya. He then reminds them that they are yet to give the war sacrifice that they ought to have given before the commencement of the war itself. Sahadeva consults the shastras and says that only those with 32 lakshanas can be given as a sacrifice. He clarifies that only Arjuna, Krishna and Iravan (Arjuna's son through the Naga princess (Ulupi) qualify for being sacrificed. There is a great discussion whereby they decide that Arjuna and Krishna are too important to be considered for sacrifice even if they are willing. Iravan comes forward and pleads with Arjuna that he should be considered for the of...

The nineth day of the war begins. Drupada and Drishtadhyumna are engaged in a fierce fight. In another part of the battle, Dushasana and Shikhandi clash with each other. Bhima duels with Alambusha, brother of the rakshasa Bakasura, dismembers and kills him. Duryodhana asks Bhishma to deal with Bhima and instil confidence in the Kaurava army. Goaded by Duryodhana, Bhishma routs the Pandava army totally. Seeing the plight of the Pandava army, Krishna directs his chariot towards Bhishma. Bhishma aims deadly shafts towards Arjuna, which the latter counters effectively. Krishna senses that Arjuna is not at his vigorous best and he retaliates only in self defence. After sometime, Krishna gets down the chariot angrily and walks towards Bhishma. Arjuna is appalled, and he follows Krishna, begging him not to fight. Bhishma is delighted and welcomes Krishna, saying that he was direly waiting for such an occasion. Krishna raises His index finger and the Sudarshan Chakra appears on it. Before Kr...

Bhishma is unable to sleep restfully. He is stricken with the grief of having to kill the Pandavas as constrained by the promise he has made to Duryodhana. The infallible divya astras he has acquired through materializing the intense practice of brahmacharya would surely kill the adversary it is aimed at. His mind is in a turmoil. His conscience blames him for the pride he has in his adherence to vows that compels him to side with adharma by acquiescing to Duryodhana's orders to kill the Pandavas. Duryodhana too is unable to sleep peacefully. He dreams about Bhishma's breaking all the five powerful arrows reserved for the Pandavas. He goes to Bhishma's chambers and requests him to hand over the astras for safe-keeping. Bhishma tells him to take them away. Duryodhan feels relieved and brings the arrows to his camp. Shakuni and Dushasana are wondering about Durodhana's sudeen disappearance when Duryodhana proudly announces about the accomplished mission. Shakuni does...

Karna is on the banks of a river performing his early morning puja. Draupadi comes there and mocks him about his valor. She says that Karna is afraid of facing Arjuna in the war and that is why he feigned a fight with Bhishma to escape confronting Arjuna. His cowardice has proved her right in refusing to let Karna participate in her Swayamvara on grounds that he is a sutaputra . Draupadi incites Karna thus and leaves him fuming.

Sanjaya describes to Dritarashtra and Gandhari the scene of the battlefield on the Seventh Day of the war. The Kauravas have arrayed their battallion in the mandala vyuha , which is ably counterbalanced by the 'vajravyuha' of the Pandavas. Drupada fights ferociously with Drona, his archenemy, Shikhandi fights with Shalya, and Bhagadatta, son of Narakasura, with Bhima and Virata with Purisravas. Iravan (Aravan in Tamil), the son born of Arjuna and the Naga princess Ulupi, fights with Shakuni's sons and kills eight of them. Gandhari grieves, but consoles hereself that it was her duty as a kshtriya woman to stolidly accept every loss.

Duryodhana praises the valor of Shalya, Bhurisravas and his father Somadatta, all the while looking scornfullay at Bhishma. He tells Bhishma to learn the meaning of 'loyalty' from them. Bhishma is piqued, but his explanations about his being busy elsewhere in the battlefield cut no ice with the Kauravas. Also the fact that Bhishma has sworn not to kill the Pandavas is very irksome for Duryodhana, who is not permitted to usher in Karna when Bhishma is participating in the war.

Dushasana chides Duryodhana for being disrespectful to Bhishma. Duryodhana asks Shakuni for his opinion. Shakuni says he concurs with Dushasana on some points but disagrees on other issues. He elaborates on his opinions. While finding faults with Bhishma can spur him to fight more vigorously to prove his loyalty, but overdoing it can provoke him to raise his sword against Duryodhana himself. Duryodhana wants to bring in Karna, but Shakuni discounts that possibility, saying Bhishma would not participate if Karna is brought in, and if Karna is still brought in, it will alienate most of their powerful allies who are there either out of respect, or for fear, of Bhishma. Duryodhana is at his wit's end, but Shakuni says mysteriously that Krishna would take care of it, even though for Pandavas' sake.