Both armies gather at Kurukshetra. 18 akshauhinis (≈ 3.5 million soldiers). The Pandavas: 7 armies. The Kauravas: 11. And the chariot of Arjuna, driven by Krishna, rolls to the center of the field. ACT THREE: THE DHARMA WAR Scene 8: The 18 Days (Montage + Key Duels) Day 1–9: Bhishma, the grandsire, fights for the Kauravas (he had taken a vow of celibacy and loyalty to the throne). He kills 10,000 Pandava soldiers per day. But he refuses to fight Shikhandi (who was born a woman, then transformed – Bhishma’s original sin was abducting her previous incarnation’s father). Krishna orders Arjuna to hide behind Shikhandi.
Arrows pierce Bhishma’s entire body. He falls, but chooses the time of his death (Uttarayana, the sun’s northern course). He lies on a bed of arrows, giving final lessons on kingship for 58 days. mahabharat full story
Bhima’s rakshasa son fights at night. Karna uses his divine weapon (Shakti, given by Indra, meant for Arjuna) to kill him. Both armies gather at Kurukshetra
The Pandavas are exiled for 13 years: 12 in the forest, 1 in disguise. If found in the 13th year, exile repeats for another 12. The Kauravas: 11
Dharma (as a dog—his test) reveals: “Heaven and hell are states of the soul. Duryodhana died as a warrior. He earned his throne. Now enter.”
36 years later. Krishna’s city Dwarka sinks into the sea. The Pandavas, old and gray, hand the throne to Parikshit (Arjuna’s grandson, the only survivor of Ashwatthama’s night raid). They walk toward the Himalayas to die.
Kunti reveals that the five Pandavas were fathered by gods because of Pandu’s curse—but Karna (the Kaurava ally) is actually her firstborn, born before marriage, abandoned in a river. Karna is the eldest Pandava. He has been fighting his own brothers.