Moon cursed

The sage said to Janmajeya -
The Pandavas returned to their camp. Yudhistira sat on the ground, unable to control his grief.
Vyasa came there. He asked Yudhistira why he was grieving.
Yudhistira said I am very unfortunate. I wanted my kingdom back and because of that the brave Abhimanyu has fallen today. He had told me that he knew how to enter but did not know how to come out. I had told him I would be behind him, but I was unable to proceed because of Jayadratha. He fought bravely and was killed by unfair means.
Vyasa said Stop your grief. You have no control over destiny. Let me tell you about his previous birth. He was the Moon born as Subhadra's son because of a curse. Listen, as I tell you more.
The sage Garga once went to the Moon with his disciples. The Moon was sitting with  Rohini, lost in her love,  when the sage arrived. Chandra forgot to receive the sage.
The sage got angry at being ignored. He cursed the moon to be born as a human.
The Moon said he had not ignored the sage purposefully and begged forgiveness.
The sage said You will born as the son of Subhadra and Arjuna. You will be a brave warrior and at the age of sixteen you will fight a great battle and will die there.

Vyasa said This is Abhimanyu's destiny. You could not have done anything about this.
Yudhistira said I am not sure how I will face Arjuna. What will Krishna say? What will I say to Subhadra? How will I pacify Uttara?

Vyasa said One dies when the time is up, not before that. Krishna will understand and he will make Arjuna understand.

Saying this, Vyasa left.

Abhimanyu falls

The sage said
Listen Janmajeya - The son of Arjuna, fought valiantly. The formation, which was like a slow blooming lotus, had been penetrated by Abhimanyu. At every petal formation, Abhimanyu killed many people.Bodies were floating in pools of blood. A son of Shakuni came to fight and was killed by Abhimanyu.
Duryodhana went to Drona and asked him how to stop Abhimanyu. He said You are pleased with the skill of Abhimanyu and that is why you remain quiet.
Drona got angry. He said No one is able to face the son of Arjuna. He is a great warrior like his father. If Karna had to face defeat in his hands, who do you think and defeat him? If you want to defeat Abhimanyu, then you will have fight using unfair means. Do not forget that this is Krishna's nephew. He will be  able to defeat all, alone.
Duryodhana then gave orders for seven of the Kuru warriors to face Abhimanyu together.
Kripa said this was not a proper means of fighting.
Duryodhana said this was the time to win the war. Kill the boy by any means and win the war.
It was decided. Drona, Kripa, Karna, Shakuni, Dushsasana, Ashwatthama and Duryodhana decided to surround Abhimanyu and attack him.
The sky was covered with arrows.
Abhimanyu was aghast seeing this unfair means of fight. Abhimanyu shot arrows cutting off arrows coming towards him. He was easily able to overcome the seven warriors. Duryodhana said to Drona - See this boy make a massacre of my army.
Drona and the others attacked again. This time they cut his chariot and then his bow. With his bow gone, Abhimanyu jumped with a sword and sheild in his hand. Karna, with an arrow, cut off his shield. Abhimanyu then began fighting with the sword. He began cutting whoever came in front of him. Ashwatthama, with three arrows, cut off the sword. Abhimanyu now realized that there was no way and his end was near. He looked around and could not see any Pandava warrior close by. His father and uncle were far away, fighting.
He then picked up a wheel of a chariot and using that, began fighting using that.
Karna, with five arrows, cut off the wheel. He picked up another wheel and used that to avoid the arrows coming at him. Soon, with the arrows hitting him, it looked as if a porcupine was fighting. Abhimanyu was now tired. Seeing this, the warriors attacked again.
A son of Dushasana then jumped forward with his mace and struck Abhimanyu.
The blow hit him so hard and that he lost his life. Abhimanyu fell and went over to the land of the moon, Chandraloka, where he had originally come from.
The Kauravas then started celebrating, playing musical instruments.
Yudhistira heard this and fainted.
The sun also set and the day of the war came to an end. 

Abhimanyu fights

Abhimanyu was inside. Bhima and the other warriors were feeling frustrated. They had been pushed back by Jayadratha. They were worried that Abhimanyu was alone inside.
Abhimanyu started his attack shooting arrows wherever he went. No one was able to face him.
Uluka, son of Dushasana, came to face Abhimanyu. He was not able to face Abhimanyu and soon lost his life in his hands.
Vrishasena, son of Karna, then attacked Abhimanyu but was not ableto stand in front of Abhimanyu for long and had to leave, gravely wounded. Seeing this, Karna got angry., He started shooting arrows at Abhimanyu which the young prince easily cut off. Karna could not also stand in front of Abhimanyu for long and had to flee.
Lakshmana, son of Duryodhana, then came to fight. Abhimanyu cut off the chariot of Lakshmana. With another arrow he cut off the head of Lakshmana.
Duryodhana then picked up his mace and jumped to avenge his son's death. Abhimanyu cut off Duryodhana's mace into pieces and then wounded Duryodhana, who had to flee.
Abhimanyu was on a spree, He kept shooting arrows killing whoever came in front of him. He killed many sons of the Kauravas.

Sanjaya who was telling Dhritarashtra about the battle said The young son of Arjuna, who is just sixteen years of age, is fighting like a lion. The great Kuru warriors are afraid to face him.
Dhritarashtra said Arjuna's son is truly great. 

Narayani Army enters the battle and Abhimanyu steps in the formation

In the camp Duryodhana went to Drona and asked what was the way to win the war. Drona said You got the Narayani army from Krishna. Let them take Arjuna someplace and fight with him. With Arjuna away, Yudhistira can be captured.
Duryodhana sent for Susharma who was leading the Narayani army and explained the plan to him. He was to take Arjuna northwards.

The battle started. Arjuna was challenged to a fight by Susharma. Arjuna agreed. Susharma thought this was his chance to kill Arjuna. He was happy. Karna and Drona saw Arjuna being led away and they were happy.

Drona said he would form a formation never seen before. Saying this he decided to form the chakravyuha formation. This was a very complex formation and it was very critical for one to knowhow to enter the formation and also how to come out of it. Jayadratha was at the opening of the formation and the other warriors were inside.

Drona saw Yudhistira and began shooting arrows at him. Yudhistira retaliated by shooting arrows back cutting off the horses and killing the charioteer. Drona jumped off and ran to grab Yudhistira. Seeing this, Dhristadyumna came and faced Drona. Yudhistira took shelter with Nakula. So ferocious was the fight that Drona was injured and fainted.

Coming to his senses, Drona then attacked Dhristadyumna, wounding him till he started bleeding.
Draupadi's brother retaliated and attacked Drona again.
He then jumped off his chariot and climbed up on Drona's chariot. There he cut off the horses and killed the charioteer.Drona then shot an arrow which pierced Dhristadyumna. The prince fell on the ground. Seeing him fall, the other Pandava warriors started shooting arrows at Drona.

Yudhistira was wondering how to penetrate the formation that Drona had formed. Arjuna was somewhere else, fighting. He then remembered Abhimanyu. He asked Abhimanyu.

Abhimanyu said I know how to get in but I do not know how to come out. Let me tell you how this happened. When I was in my mother's womb, my mother had heard from my father the way to enter the formation but Arjuna had not mentioned the way out. This is the reason I am not aware of the way out.

Yudhistira said Do not worry. When you enter the formation, we will all be behind you. We will all enter the formation with you.

The brave Abhimanyu said he would fight a battle like never seen before and agreed to enter the formation.

Abhimanyu entered the formation shooting arrows everywhere. Jayadratha who was guarding the formation managed to prevent the other Pandavas from entering the formation. 

Day One

A great noise was created with the conch shells blowing. Krishna told Arjuna -Bhishma should be our target.
Arjuna approached Bhishma and took his blessings.
Arjuna said to Bhishma - Why are you decked up as a warrior at this age?
Bhishma said That was his duty.
Bhishma said Glory to Kunti and Pandu whose son has managed to get the Lord as his charioteer.

Bhishma then began showering arrows at Arjuna who cut those off.
Bhima was fighting Duryodhana and Satyaki was fighting Kritavarma. Somdutta fought Uttar and Dhristadyumna was fighting Drona. Abhimanyu was fighting Karna. Yudhistira was fighting Salya. Salya cut off his bow. Yudhistira took another bow and cut off Salya's bow.
Abhimanyu and Ghatotkacha together were killing off the Kaurava army. This angered Bhishma.

Abhimanyu stood like a wall. He cut off the flag post on Salya's chariot and then cut off the arrows of Kripa. Attacking Kritavarma, he cut off his chariot, killing the horses and the charioteer. He then cut off the flag post on Bhishma's chariot. Bhishma, angry started showering arrows, wounding Abhimanyu. Seeing this, some of the Pandava warriors rushed to his rescue. They started showering arrows on Bhishma who cut them off. Arjuna seeing this attacked Bhishma. Bhishma picked a weapon given by Parashurama and hurled that. Seeing that Krishna said, Use a powerful weapon. Arjuna used a weapon given by Indra, which cut off Bhishma's weapon.

Bhima on the meanwhile killed many Kaurava soldiers.

The first day's battle got over.

Abhimanyu weds Uttara

Messengers were sent out. Allies of the Pandavas, hearing they were well all rushed to the kingdom of Matysa. Hearing the news Krishna and Balarama rushed towards Matsya on Garuda. His sons, wives and other faily members followed. Drupada came with his wife and sons.

Seeing Krishna, the Pandavas greeted him with eyes full of tears. Nephew of Krishna, Abhimanyu, came there and well amazed to see him.

With with all rites and rituals Abhimanyu was married to Uttara. Slowly the guests started departing. Krishna stayed back to spend some time with the Pandavas.

Thus ends the Virat Parva of Mahabharata.