Mahabharata Book Seven (Volume 1)

After Bhishma is cut down at the end of the previous book of the Mahabhrata, the book which bears his name, Durydhana selects Drona as leader of his forces. Drona accepts the honor with Bhishma's blessing, despite his ongoing personal conflicts as mentor to both the Pndava and Kurava heroes in their youth. The fighting rages on, with heavy losses on both sides. Furious and frustrated, Durydhana accuses Drona of collaborating with the enemy, but he replies that as long as rjuna is on the field, the Pndavas will remain invincible. When rjuna is finally diverted from the main action of the battle, Yudhishthira entrusts rjuna's son Abhimnyu with the task of making a breach in the Kurava formation. Abhimnyu rampages through Drona's army, but at last is cornered by several Kurava warriors and finally killed by Jayadratha. Co-published by New York University Press and the JJC Foundation For more on this title and other titles in the Clay Sanskrit series, please visit http://www.claysanskritlibrary.org