DAY 18

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On the 18th day, Shalya took over as the commander-in-chief of the remaining Kaurava forces. Yudishthir killed king Shalya in a spear combat and Sahadev killed Shakuni. Realizing that he had been defeated,Duryodhan fled the battlefield and took refuge in the lake, where the Pandavas caught up with him. Under the supervision of the now returned Balaram, a mace battle took place between Bheem and Duryodhan. Bhimaflouted the rules (under instructions from Krishna) to strike Duryodhana beneath the waist in which he was mortally wounded. Once Gandhari asked Duryodhan to take a bath and appear naked in front of her. She would open the cloth over her eyes and cast a look on his body. By the power of her prayers nobody could hurt his body. No amount of Bheem's mace blows would be able to hurt his body. Krishna came to know about Gandhari's plan.

Duryodhan followed his mother's advice, and was going to his mother after a bath. Krishna stopped him and made fun of him saying, "How can you go to your mother looking like that?" Duryodhan felt ashamed and wrapped a cloth around his waist. When he appeared before his mother, his entire body became solid except his thighs.(due to this Bheem had to break the rules of the mace fight).

Ashwatthama, Kripacharya, and Kritavarma met Duryodhan at his deathbed and promised to avenge the actions of Bheem. They attacked the Pandavas' camp later that night and killed all the Pandavas' remaining army including their children. Amongst the dead were Dhristadyumna and Shikhandi and children of Draupadi. Other than the Pandavas and Krishna, only Satyaki and Yuyutsu survived.

It was during this time that Lord Krishna cursed Ashwathama for what he did last night to the Pandavas. He crused that Ashwathama should not die till Kali Yuga ends and not a single human would pity him. He will be oozing with pain and finally he will fear to look at his own reflection. Bheem was also asked to out the mani from his head which protected him from any animals or bad things.

Gandivdhari Arjun-The Warrior PrinceWhere stories live. Discover now