This episode of Mahabharata begins with the opposing armies still in a standoff. Bhishma refuses to start combat, claiming that he is awaiting someone.
After Arjun’s chariot rejoins ranks, Yudhistir dismounts and walks towards Bhishma. Duryodhan gloats that perhaps Yudhistir is already suing for peace. Bhishma brusquely tells Duryodhan to shut up. Yudhistir walks over to Bhishma, then Dronacharya and Kripacharya and finally Shalya and pays his respects to them, while seeking their blessings. They all bless him with victory. This further infuriates Duryodhan.
Yudhistir returns to his chariot, and after imploring the Wind God to carry his voice to everyone, announces that anyone who wants to change sides, must do so now. There is only one defection - the Kauravas’ stepbrother Yuyutsu defects over to the Pandavas.
Bhishma and Dhrishtadyumna scream the command to attack - and combat commences.
After various princes fight their way through opposing soldiers, Dushasan fights Nakul and Abhimanyu fights Bhishma - and successfully contains him.
Tropes found here are
- Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene: Combat scenes are interrupted by scenes of Sanjay explaining the current situation to Dhritharashtra, who in turn muses for a bit.
- Action Prologue: Bhishma and Dhrishtadyumna scream “ATTACK!!” The armies charge to wards each other to scrimmage.
- Defector from Decadence: Yuyutsu switches sides because he believes his stepbrothers are evil.
- Half-Sibling Angst: Duryodhan launches into a tirade about the “disloyalty” of stepbrothers in general, when Yuyutsu defects. Shalya reminds him that Nakul and Sahadev are stepbrothers to Yudhistir, yet they remain at his side.
- Mooks: Arjun starts vivisecting his way through the Kauravas soldiers.
- Never My Fault: Dhritharashtra exclaims that he can shift the blame for all schemes against the Pandavas onto Shakuni and Karna.
- Redshirt Army: A lot of Pandavas aligned soldiers engage Bhishma and get slaughtered by him.
- Talented, but Trained: Abhimanyu announces himself as Arjun’s son - thereby possessing his father’s archery talent, and as Krishna’s disciple - thereby well trained too.
- You Shall Not Pass!: Abhimanyu effectively prevents Bhishma from going any further by building improvised roadblocks with arrows.
