Kurukshetra

Battlefield

Kurukshetra

Kurukṣetra

Location
Traditional site Kurukshetra / Thanesar, Haryana
Note
The 'field of the Kurus' between the Sarasvati and Drishadvati rivers. The exact battlefield within the region is not known.

In the story

  1. 13The second game and the exileTwelve years in the forest and a thirteenth in hiding; the Pandavas go to Kamyaka
  2. 17The council at Upaplavya and the levy of armiesOn a journey's route · Both sides summon allies; Krishna or Krishna's army; Shalya is won over
  3. 19The march to KurukshetraSeven akshauhinis against eleven; commanders chosen; Bhishma's vow about Shikhandi
  4. 20The Bhagavad GitaArjuna lays down his bow between the two armies, and Krishna answers him
  5. 21The first day at KurukshetraThe rules of war, Yuyutsu crosses over, and Bhishma kills Shveta
  6. 22Day two: the crane and the KalingasDhrishtadyumna's crane formation, Arjuna holds Bhishma, Bhima breaks the Kalinga army
  7. 23Day three: Krishna leaps from the chariotThe eagle and the half-moon, Duryodhana faints, Bhishma's fury, and Krishna goes for Bhishma with the discus
  8. 24Day four: Bhima among the elephantsBhima's mace against the Kaurava elephants, Dhritarashtra's sons fall, and a blind king's question
  9. 25Day five: the sea-monster and the hawkBhishma's slaughter, Satyaki against Bhurishravas, Arjuna and Bhishma again
  10. 26Day six: Bhima cut offBhima goes too deep into the Kaurava army and Dhrishtadyumna goes in after him
  11. 27Day seven: the circle and the thunderboltBhishma's circle formation, a day of duels, and Duryodhana grieving his brothers
  12. 28Day eight: Iravan fallsArjuna's son by Ulupi is killed, Ghatotkacha routs Duryodhana, and Duryodhana turns on Bhishma at night
  13. 29Day nine: how can Bhishma be killed?Bhishma's greatest slaughter, Krishna charges him with a whip, and the Pandavas visit his tent by night
  14. 30Day ten: the bed of arrowsShikhandi in front, Arjuna behind him, and Bhishma falls at sunset
  15. 31Day eleven: Drona's promiseDrona takes command and promises to capture Yudhishthira alive
  16. 32Day twelve: the elephant kingThe sworn warriors draw Arjuna away, and Arjuna kills Bhagadatta on his elephant
  17. 33Day thirteen: the wheel and the boyAbhimanyu breaks into Drona's wheel formation and is killed by six warriors together
  18. 34Day fourteen: before the sun setsArjuna cuts through the whole Kaurava army to reach Jayadratha and kills him at sunset
  19. 35The night of the fourteenth dayThe battle goes on by torchlight, and Karna's spear kills Ghatotkacha
  20. 36Day fifteen: Ashvatthama is deadDrona kills Drupada and Virata, Yudhishthira tells a half-lie, and Dhrishtadyumna takes Drona's head
  21. 37Day sixteen: Karna in commandKarna leads the Kaurava army at last, spares Nakula, and fights Arjuna to a draw
  22. 38Day seventeen: the wheel in the earthBhima keeps his promise on Duhshasana, and Karna's chariot wheel sinks
  23. 39Day eighteen: the lake and the maceShalya and Shakuni fall, Duryodhana hides in a lake, and Bhima breaks his thighs
  24. 40The night raidAshvatthama kills the sleeping Pandava camp, and Duryodhana dies hearing of it
  25. 41The women come to the fieldDhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti walk among the dead, Gandhari curses Krishna, and Kunti tells the truth about Karna
  26. 42Yudhishthira is crownedGrief over Karna, a king who wants to give it all up, the entry into Hastinapura and the consecration
  27. 43Bhishma teaches from the bed of arrowsKrishna brings the new king to the dying grandsire, who teaches the duties of kings, of hard times and of release
  28. 44Bhishma lets goThe teaching on gifts and conduct; when the sun turns north Bhishma releases his life, and Ganga rises from the river to mourn him
  29. 46The elders go to the forestAfter fifteen years at court Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti leave for the forest; Vidura dies
  30. 47The dead come out of the riverVyasa calls the dead up from the Ganga for one night; two years later a forest fire takes Dhritarashtra, Gandhari and Kunti

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Positions on the atlas are approximate. A location marked traditional follows the identification most often given in the references on the Sources page; approximate and disputed mean what they say.