Sun TV Mahabharatham

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.

Duryodhana expresses doubt whether Bhishma is putting sufficient efforts to defeat Pandavas, but later apologises for it. The Pandavas, Krishna and Drishtadyumna are huddled over a discussion. Yudhishtra is worried that both days of the war ended in a huge loss of life for the Pandavas. Drishtadyumna reminds them of the disparity in the military strength of Pandavas vs the Kauravas. The Pandava Army consists of 7 akshauhinis (1,530,900 warriors), whereas the Kaurava army consists of 11 akshauhinis (2,405,700 warriors) and has seasoned warriors like Bhishma and Drona. Krishna appreciates Drishtadyumna's approach of apprising the enemy's strength before thinking of ways of overcoming it. They decide to use the ardhachandra vyuha formation for the third day, with Bhima and Drupada guarding either ends of the vyuha .

Dritarashtra and Gandhari are happy that Pandavas were able to kill even one Atirathi and Maharathi of Kauravas. It appears that Kauravas are leading. The sun sets and the warriors on both sides retire for the day. Duryodhana is extremely delighted with Bhishma's performance in the first day battle. He heaps praises on Shalya and Bhishma, but Bhishma is unmoved by the praise. He warns that battles can be unpredictable, and it is quite likely that Duryodhana may shower abuses on him another day. Virata king and queen are wailing over the death of both their sons on day one itself. Yudhishtra is upset too. Krishna consoles them with another lecture on the immortality of souls and the lofty ideals of Karma. Krishna tells Yudhishtra not to attribute himself for the sufferings caused.

Just as Krishna gets ready to sound his Panchajanya, Yudhishtra gets down his chariot and walks towards the Kaurava army. Everyone watches them stunned. Sanjaya, who is narrating the war scenes to Dritarashtra speaks about this in total awe. Dritarashtra assumes that Yudhhistra is about to seek truce, as he would not want fight his own relatives. As the baffled and scornful Duryodhana and Dushasana look on, Yudhishtra first approaches Bhishma and seeks his blessings for victory in the war, after expressing his regret to be forced into combat with him. Bhishma blesses him heartily, saying there is no doubt that he will be victorious, considering Krishna is on their side.

Krishna explains to Arjuna, who is unwilling to lift arms against his family elders and his preceptors, that one who performs his work unaffected by pleasure and sorrow and faces both with equanimity, attains moksha or salvation. Arjuna need not worry about causing somebody's death, as weapons do not kill the atma that is stationed within the body. A sword doesn't pierce it, water doesn't wet it, the wind dooesn't dry it, and fire doesn't burn it. Atma is indestructible and it takes on another body after the death of the present body. Arjun remains confused. He wants to know whether it is right that Bhishma, and other elders who shaped his life and in whose arms he spent his childhood, have to be recklessly killed, considering each one of them an indestructible atma. Krishna reiterates that all the people in his present life existed before, and will continue to exist later too. The body is only an instrument for the atma. What is important, Krishna elaborates, ...