With their period of exile completed, the Pandavas, accompanied by the sage Dhaumya and Draupadi as the sixth, made their way to the court of King Virata in disguise. Yudhishthira assumed the identity of Kanka, a Brahmin counselor, concealing his true self. Bhima took up the role of the royal cook, moving unnoticed among the palace staff. Arjuna, now known as Brihannala, became a dance teacher, while Draupadi herself took the name Sairindhri and served as a maid to the queen. Yudhishthira, Bhima, Arjuna, Nakula, Sahadeva, and Draupadi thus lived incognito. During this time, Bhima, under an assumed name, slew the powerful Kichaka at night, freeing Draupadi from his harassment. When certain men sought to abduct Draupadi and steal the cows of Virata, Arjuna revealed his prowess, defeating both the abductors and the Kurus who had come to seize the cattle. In these acts, the Pandavas’ true identities became known to those around them. During this period, Subhadra, sister of Krishna, bore Arjuna a son named Abhimanyu. To this valiant youth, King Virata gave his daughter Uttara in marriage, further strengthening the alliance. As the time for battle approached, Yudhishthira, the king of righteousness, assembled seven divisions of troops. Krishna himself went as an envoy to Duryodhana, who had gathered eleven divisions for war. Krishna pleaded with Duryodhana to give Yudhishthira even half the kingdom, or at least five villages. But Suyodhana—Duryodhana—replied with unyielding resolve: “I will not give even a needlepoint of land; I am ready for battle.” Having witnessed Duryodhana’s obstinacy, Krishna revealed his universal form, honored by Vidura, before departing. He then returned to Yudhishthira and said, “Now, fight Suyodhana.” Thus, the armies of Yudhishthira and Duryodhana marched to Kurukshetra. Bhishma, Drona, and other elders rejoiced to see the great assembly, yet, as teachers, hesitated to fight. On the eve of battle, the Blessed Lord Krishna spoke to Arjuna, saying, “Those led by Bhishma are not to be grieved for; bodies are perishable, but the soul does not perish. This self is the supreme Brahman; know that ‘I am Brahman.’ The yogi remains equal in success and failure—uphold your royal duty.” With Krishna’s words resounding in his heart, Arjuna sounded his conch from his chariot and joined battle. Bhishma was appointed commander of Duryodhana’s forces. Among the Pandavas, Shikhandi also took up arms. The sons of Dhritarashtra and the Pandavas, along with Bhishma, struck each other fiercely on the field. Led by Shikhandi, the Pandavas struck down the sons of Dhritarashtra. The battle was as tumultuous as the wars between gods and demons, becoming a spectacle for the gods themselves, who watched with joy from heaven. For ten days, Bhishma, wielding his weapons, devastated the Pandava army. On the tenth day, Arjuna showered arrows upon the heroic Bhishma, while Shikhandi, born of Drupada, rained weapons like a cloud. Bhishma, who had chosen the time of his own death, showed the path of battle as elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers fell in great numbers. Praised by the Vasus, Bhishma lay upon a bed of arrows, awaiting the northern solstice, meditating and praising Vishnu, for the sake of the world of the Vasus. With Bhishma fallen and Duryodhana stricken with grief, Drona became the commander of the Kuru army, while the Pandavas, rejoicing, appointed Dhrishtadyumna as their leader. A fierce battle arose, swelling the realm of Yama, god of death. Virata, Drupada, and many others were swept away in the ocean of Drona’s might. Duryodhana’s great army, with elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers, fought under Dhrishtadyumna’s command, but Drona appeared like Time itself, devouring all. When it was falsely announced that Ashvatthama, Drona’s son, was slain, Drona laid down his weapons. Struck by Dhrishtadyumna’s arrows, he fell to the earth. On the fifth day after Drona’s fall, the unconquerable Karna, having crushed all the Kshatriyas, became commander when Duryodhana was once again grieved. Arjuna and the Pandavas fought fiercely against Karna, and the clash of weapons was as terrible as the battles of gods and demons. In the conflict, Karna wounded Arjuna with arrows, but on the second day of their duel, Arjuna struck down Karna. Shalya fought for half a day, but was slain by Yudhishthira in battle. With his army destroyed, Shalya fought Bhimasena and was killed along with Duryodhana. After slaying many, Bhimasena, with his mighty mace, struck down Duryodhana. On the eighteenth day, Bhima used his mace against the remaining brothers. At night, Ashvatthaman, mighty in strength, attacked the sleeping army of the Pandavas, killing the sons of Draupadi, the Panchalas, and Dhrishtadyumna—all as numerous as a division. Arjuna then confronted Ashvatthaman, taking from him the radiant jewel with the missile of reeds, while Draupadi wept, bereft of her sons. Hari—Krishna—revived the prince in Uttara’s womb, who had been scorched by Ashvatthaman’s weapon, and thus Parikshit became king. From the great war, only three on the Kaurava side survived: Kritavarman, Kripa, and Ashvatthaman. On the Pandava side, only the five brothers, Satyaki, and Krishna remained—seven in all. Yudhishthira, together with Bhima and the others, comforted the grieving women, performed the funeral rites for the fallen heroes, and offered water and wealth as was proper. Hearing all the teachings of righteousness and peace from Bhishma, son of Shantanu, Yudhishthira learned the duties of kingship, the path of liberation, and the practice of charity. The subduer of enemies performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice, giving gifts to the brahmanas. In time, Arjuna returned and spoke of the destruction of the Yadavas by the club. When Yudhishthira was firmly established in the kingdom, Dhritarashtra retired to the forest, as did Gandhari and Pritha, each to their own hermitage. Vidura, consumed by the fire of the forest, departed to heaven. Thus, Vishnu removed the burden of the earth, including the demons. For the sake of righteousness and the destruction of unrighteousness, making the Pandavas his instruments, Vishnu, under the pretext of a brahmana’s curse, destroyed the Yadava clan with a club. He appointed Vajra, the burden-bearer of the Yadavas, to the kingdoms. By the command of the gods, Hari himself abandoned his body at Prabhasa. In the realms of Indra and Brahma, he is worshipped by the dwellers of heaven; Balabhadra, of infinite form, went to the netherworld and to heaven. Thus, the great story reached its end, with righteousness restored and the burden of the earth lifted by the divine.