Reading Notes: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu, Part B

Notes:

• Drona argues for peace.
• But Duryodhana insists on war.
• Duryodhana threatens to replace Bhishma with Karna.
• Fighting for the Pandavas was Shikhandin, who had been born a woman but transformed into a man, a warrior destined to bring about Bhishma's death.
• Bhishma does not die right away, however, and instead lies on a bed of arrows, surrounded by the princes of both sides who weep for him.
• Before he dies, Bhishma urges Duryodhana to make peace, but Duryodhana refuses.
• Karna is still determined to kill Arjuna.
• Drona says he will do his duty, promising that either he or Arjuna would die that day.
• Bhima kills the war elephant, and when Drona hears that "Bhima has killed Aswathaman," he despairs, thinking his son is dead.
• Draupadi's brother then rides up and, seeing his own father dead on the battlefield, he kills Drona.
• Karna has no secret love for the Pandavas.
• Karna and Arjuna continue to fight, until finally Arjuna shoots the fatal arrow, and Karna falls down dead upon the field.
• When the Pandavas find him, Duryodhana vows to kill them all.
• Bhima says that he is the one who will kill Duryodhana.

Bibliography: The Indian Story Book: The Five Tall Sons of Pandu, by Richard Wilson.

Bhima and Duryodhana.