What are the key feats that Karna achieved on the 16th day of the war that make him stand out?

 

Karṇa’s feats on 16th day of Kurukshetra War :

• Karṇa caused great carnage in Chaturgini-army of Pandavas :

O supreme among kings! Yet again, there was a terrible encounter and clash between Karna and the Pandavas and it extended Yama’s kingdom. Wishing to kill each other, they swiftly grasped bows, arrows, clubs, swords, lances, spikes, maces, catapults, spears, scimitars, battleaxes, bludgeons, javelins, cutlasses, darts, slings and large hooks and descended. The whizzing of arrows and the sound of palms against bowstrings extended into the sky, the directions and the sub-directions. As they attacked, they roared and the earth resounded with the thunder of chariot wheels. Those great sounds of battle cheered them. Brave ones fought extremely terrible battles with brave ones, wishing to bring an end to the hostility. There were sounds from bowstrings, palm-guards and bows and the trumpeting of elephants. They were attacked and as they fell down, roared loudly. There were many sounds generated by the arrows and by the roars of brave ones.

• Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.
• Karṇa killed 15 warriors of Pandava Army :

O descendant of the Bharata lineage! On hearing this terrible sound, some were frightened, turned pale and fell down. There were many among them who roared and showered down arrows. In the battle, Atiratha Karna crushed many of them with his arrows. With his arrows, Karna conveyed five heroes from Panchala, ten rathas and five others, with their horses, charioteers and standards, to Yama’s eternal abode.

• Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.
• Karṇa kept defeating and killing Panchalas and Srynjayas :

Many foremost and immensely valorous warriors from the Pandus swiftly attacked Karna in that battle and surrounding him from all sides, covered the sky with their weapons. Karna agitated the enemy soldiers with his shower of arrows. He was like the leader of a herd plunging into a lake full of birds and lotuses. Radheya penetrated into the midst of the enemy. He brandished his supreme bow and using his sharp arrows, began to bring down their heads. The shields and armour were shattered and the bodies were deprived of life. There was no one among them who needed the touch of a second arrow. The arrows that were released from the bow crushed armour and bodies. The bowstrings and palm-guards were shattered, like horses lashed with a whip. Whenever Pandus, Srinjayas and Panchalas came within the reach of his arrows, Karna quickly struck them in the inner organs, like a lion among large numbers of deer.

• Chapter 1166(16) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.
• Karṇa defeated Nakula and spared his life :

O king! While Nakula was violently destroying the soldiers in the battle, Vaikartana Karna repulsed him. Nakula laughed and spoke to Karna. ‘After a long time, because of the kindness of destiny, you have seen me. O wicked one! And in this battle, you have surfaced before my sight. You are the root cause of the evil, the enmity and the quarrel. It is because of your sins that those of the Kuru lineage are clashing against each other and are being destroyed. I will kill you in the battle today and become successful, devoid of fever.’

Having been thus addressed, the son of the suta, who was himself like a prince and also an archer, replied to Nakula. ‘O child! Strike me in this battle. Let me see your manliness. O brave one! One should boast only after having performed deeds in a battle. O son! Those who do not speak in an encounter, but fight to the best of their strength, are known as brave. Fight with me, to the utmost of your strength and I will destroy your pride today.’

Having spoken thus, the son of the suta swiftly struck Pandu’s son. In that battle, he pierced him with seventy-three arrows that had been sharpened on stone. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! Having been thus pierced by the son of the suta, Nakula pierced the son of the suta back with eighty arrows that were like venomous serpents. Karna severed his bow with gold-tufted arrows that had been sharpened on stone. The supreme archer then struck Pandava with thirty arrows. Those pierced his armour and drank his blood in the battle. They were like venomous serpents that drink water after entering the earth. O great king! Nakula, the destroyer of enemy heroes, became angry at this. He picked up another bow with a back that was embellished with gold. It was extremely difficult to resist. He pierced Karna with twenty arrows and his charioteer with three. With an extremely sharp arrow that was like a razor at the tip, he severed Karna’s bow. Having severed the bow, the brave one, who was regarded as a maharatha by the entire world, laughed and struck him with three hundred arrows. O venerable one! On seeing that Karna was thus afflicted by Pandu’s son, all the rathas and all the gods were struck by supreme wonder. Vaikartana Karna picked up another bow and struck Nakula between the shoulder joints with five arrows. With those arrows sticking to his chest, Madri’s son looked resplendent on the chariot, as if the sun was using its rays to shower radiance on the earth. O venerable one! Nakula pierced Karna with seven iron arrows and again severed the ends of his bow.

In that encounter, he picked up another bow that was even more powerful and enveloped Nakula and all the directions with his arrows. When the maharatha was suddenly covered with arrows released from Karna’s bow, he swiftly used his own arrows to slice down those arrows. The sky was seen to be shrouded with a net of arrows and it was as if the firmament was covered with a large number of fireflies that were flitting around. Hundreds of arrows were released and covered the sky and it was as if it was full of a swarm of locusts that had been stirred up by the wind. Arrows decorated in gold descended repeatedly in an array and were as beautiful as an array of swans. When the sky was covered by the arrows, the sun was shrouded. O lord of the earth! No beings could descend and nothing could be seen. In every direction, those large numbers of arrows obstructed their paths. Those two immensely fortunate ones were as resplendent as two young suns that had just arisen. The arrows released from Karna’s bow slaughtered the Somakas. O Indra among kings! They were severely afflicted and pained by the arrows and lost their lives. In a similar way, Nakula’s arrows killed your soldiers. O king! They were driven away in all the directions, like clouds dispelled by the wind. Those two sets of soldiers were slaughtered by their large and divine arrows and withdrew from that rain of arrows, remaining only as spectators. When the men there were driven away by Karna and Pandava’s arrows, those two great-souled ones started to pierce each other with their showers of arrows. In that field of battle, they displayed their divine weapons. Wishing to kill each other, they violently enveloped each other. The arrows released by Nakula were tufted with the feathers of herons and peacocks. They seemed to remain stationed there, after having enveloped Karna. O king! Both of them seemed to be in a chamber created by arrows and could not be seen. They were like the moon and the sun, enveloped during the monsoon.

Karna became wrathful in that battle and assumed a fiercer form. In every direction, he shrouded Pandava with showers of arrows. O king! In that encounter, Pandava was enveloped by the son of the suta. However, like the sun covered by clouds, he felt no pain. O venerable one! At this, Adhiratha’s son laughed in the battle and shot hundreds and thousands of nets of arrows. The arrows of the great-souled one seemed to cover everything in a canopy of shade. Those supreme arrows were like clouds that were descending. O great king! The great-souled Karna severed his bow. He laughingly brought his charioteer down from the seat on the chariot. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! With four sharp arrows, he killed his four horses and quickly dispatched them to Yama’s abode. O venerable one! Using his arrows, he swiftly shattered his chariot into tiny fragments and also destroyed his flags, the ones who protected his wheels, his standard, his sword, his shield that was decorated with the signs of one hundred moons and all his implements. O lord of the earth! His horses were slain. He was without a chariot. He was devoid of his armour. He quickly descended from his chariot and stood there, with a club. O king! That extremely terrible club was raised. However, using hundreds and thousands of arrows, the son of the suta shattered it into fragments. On seeing that he was without any weapons, Karna struck with many arrows with drooping tufts, but made sure that he did not hurt him grievously. O king! Nakula was defeated in that battle by someone who was powerful and was skilled in the use of weapons.

With his senses afflicted, he suddenly fled. Radheya followed him, laughing repeatedly. O descendant of the Bharata lineage! O king! He placed the string of his bow around the neck of the one who was running away. Pulled by the string of the great bow around his neck, he was as resplendent as the moon in the sky, surrounded by white clouds and decorated with Shakra’s bow. Karna spoke these words to him. ‘The words that were spoken by you have been rendered futile. You have been repeatedly struck by me. Can you cheerfully utter them again? O Pandava! Do not fight again with those who are your superior in strength. O son! O Pandava! Fight with those who are your equals. Do not be ashamed at this. O son of Madri! Go home, or go where Krishna and Phalguna are.’ O great king! Having spoken these words, he released him. O king! Though he could have been killed, the son of the suta did not kill him. O king! He remembered Kunti’s words and abandoned him. O king! Having been released by the archer son of the suta, Pandava was ashamed and went towards Yudhishthira’s chariot. Having been tormented by the son of the suta, he ascended that chariot and sighed, scorched by grief, like angry snakes inside a pot.

• Chapter 1167(17) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.
• Karṇa crushed the Panchalas :

Having abandoned him in the battle, Karna swiftly advanced against the Panchalas. He was on a chariot with dazzling flags and drawn by horses with the complexion of the moon. O lord of the earth! When they saw the commander advancing against the Panchalas on his chariot, a great uproar arose among the Pandavas. O great king! The son of the suta caused carnage there. As the sun reached its midday spot, the lord roamed and wheeled around. The wheels of chariots were shattered. The standards and flags of others were torn. O venerable one! The son of the suta killed charioteers and shattered the wheels. We saw the dispirited Panchalas fleeing on their chariots. Crazy elephants were terrified and roamed here and there, as if their limbs had been burnt by a conflagration in a great forest. The temples of elephants were shattered and they exuded blood. Their trunks were severed. O venerable one! Their bodies and armour were mangled, their tails were sliced down. They were like dispelled clouds, destroyed by that great-souled one. There were other elephants that were frightened because of the iron arrows and hundreds of spears. They advanced towards him, like insects towards a fire. We saw other giant elephants destroying each other. Blood flowed from their bodies, like water from the slopes of mountains. Horses lost their breastplates, the dressings on their tails and their silver, bronze and golden ornaments. Their coverings were destroyed and they lost their bridles. Whisks, spreads and quivers fell down. Brave riders, the ornaments of a battle, were killed. In that battle there, we saw supreme horses wandering around. O lord of men! We saw the best of warriors who fought on horses, with lances, swords and scimitars. They wore armour and headdresses. They were destroyed. There were chariots embellished with gold, yoked to swift horses. With the rathas swiftly slain, we saw them roaming around.

O venerable one! Wheels and poles were destroyed for some, wheels were shattered for others. There were others without flags and standards, or with their yokes destroyed. O lord of the earth! Deprived of everything, we saw rathas wandering around in every direction, scorched by the arrows and weapons of Surya’s son. There were those without weapons. And there were many with weapons, but they had been killed. We saw many foot soldiers from their side running around in every direction. They were adorned with colourful flags of many different hues, decorated with bells. There were other warriors with severed head, arms and thighs. We saw the arrows released from Karna’s bow sever them. We beheld those warriors confront a terrible and great calamity. They were killed by Karna’s sharp arrows. In that battle, the Srinjayas were slaughtered by the son of the suta, as they advanced towards him, like insects towards a flame. In every spot there, he consumed those arrays of maharathas and the kshatriyas avoided him, taking him to be the fire that comes at the time of the destruction of a yuga. The remnants of the brave Panchala maharathas were routed and retreated. Karna pursued them from the rear, showering arrows. They were devoid of armour and standards, but the spirited one pursued them. The maharatha son of the suta tormented them with his arrows. It was like the destroyer of darkness scorching beings when it has attained midday.

• Chapter 1167(17) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.
• Karṇa defeated Satyaki, Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Droupadeyas, Uttamouja, Yuyutsu, Nakula, Sahadeva, Dhrishtadyumna, Chetikana and Yudhisthitra together. At the same time he defeated the Prabhadrakas, Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas and Kekayas :

However, Satyaki advanced against Karna and pierced him with sharp arrows, first with ninety-nine fierce arrows and yet again with one hundred. All the foremost among the Pandus oppressed Karna—Yudhamanyu, Shikhandi, Droupadi’s sons, the Prabhadrakas, Uttamouja, Yuyutsu, the twins and Parshata. The Chedis, Karushas, Matsyas, Kekayas and their armies, the powerful Chekitana and Dharmaraja, excellent in his vows—these rathas, horses, elephants and foot soldiers who were fierce in their valour—surrounded Karna in that battle and released many kinds of weapons. All of them devoted themselves to killing Karna and addressed him in fierce and eloquent words. Karna used his sharp arrows to cut down those numerous showers of weapons. He destroyed all of them, like a wind breaks down trees. One saw Karna angrily use his storm of arrows to destroy rathas, elephants and their riders, horses and their riders. The Pandu forces were slaughtered by Karna’s energy. Most of them lost their weapons and their bodies were wounded. They retreated.

• Chapter 1171(21) , Karna-Vadha Parva , Karna Parva.

Jai Sri Krsna.

Why doesn't India have a full scale war with Pakistan and capture it?

 In a full-scale war to capture Pakistan, India’s worst-case scenario isn't defeat—it's victory. A decisive Indian invasion would instantly trigger a catastrophic nuclear tripwire.

Since the 1998 nuclear tests at Pokhran and Chagai, conventional warfare on the subcontinent has operated under a nuclear umbrella. Pakistan’s military doctrine includes the explicit option to use tactical nuclear weapons if Indian armored columns penetrate its territory. This makes total war an existential threat to India's own population.

An invasion would also pull in external powers. China and Pakistan maintain a close strategic alliance, and China shares a disputed 3,488-kilometer boundary with India. If the Indian military committed its primary forces westward into Pakistan, Beijing could capitalize on the vulnerability to launch a coordinated offensive across the Himalayas. This would force India into a two-front war against combined forces that outnumber its own.

Even if a conventional victory were achievable without nuclear escalation or Chinese intervention, holding the territory is impossible to sustain. Pakistan is the world's fifth most populous country, with over 240 million citizens. Occupying a geographically vast, hostile, and heavily armed population of that size would require millions of troops. The resulting insurgency would dwarf the conflicts seen in Iraq or Afghanistan, draining India’s resources for decades.

India’s broader geopolitical strategy is centered on economic growth and attracting global manufacturing. A full-scale mobilization would prompt international sanctions, halt foreign direct investment, and divert hundreds of billions of dollars from infrastructure into a war effort. The current status quo of managed border tensions allows India to continue its economic expansion without risking national suicide.

A political map of the disputed Kashmir region, where the borders of India, Pakistan, and China intersect. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Why did Balram, Vidur, and Rukmi not participate in the Mahabharata War?

 Balarama: Balarama decided to stay neutral and not get involved in the war. Balarama's relationship with Pandavas and Kouravas were equal. He left for pilgrimage a few days later and returned on 18th day of war.

“O tiger among men! It is appropriate that you should know everything that I have said earlier in the kingdom of Virata, on the occasion of the wedding. O descendant of the Kuru lineage! It is for your sake that I sought to restrain Hrishikesha. O king! I said repeatedly that my relationship with both of you was equal. But Keshava did not accept the words that I had spoken. I cannot exist for an instant without Krishna. I will come to the aid of neither Partha, nor Duryodhana. After looking towards Vasudeva, this is the decision I have arrived at. You have been born in the Bharata lineage, one that is honoured by all the lords of the earth. O bull among the Bharata lineage! Go and fight in accordance with the dharma of the kshatriyas.”

Source: Mahabharata translated by Bibek Debroy Chapter 670(7)

Vidur: Vidur is not a trained fighter to participate in war. Vidur was a politician and was giving good advices to Dhritarashtra time to time. Vidur never participated in any war in his life time.

Rukmi: Rukmi was rejected by both sides due to his arrogance. First he arrived at the camp of Pandavas and said that if they are afraid of Kouravas then they can take his help.

“O Pandava! If you are afraid, I will stand as your aide on the field of battle. In the course of the war, I will help you so that your enemies will not be able to bear it. There is no man on this earth who is equal to me in valour. O Phalguna! When I have killed your enemies in battle, I will hand them over to you.”

Arjuna was not happy with arrogant nature of Rukmi and rejected him. After getting rejected by Arjuna, Rukmi went to Duryodhana and boosted about himself in the same manner and again got rejected by Duryodhana.

Rukmi then returned with that army, which was like an ocean. O bull among the Bharata lineage! In a similar fashion, he approached Duryodhana. Arriving there, that lord of the earth spoke in the same way. But since he prided himself on his valour, he was rebuffed there too.

Source: Mahabharata by Bibek Debroy Udyoga Parva Chapter 818(155)

Which side was the strongest in the Mahabharata War?

 Anyone with unbiased opinion can easily say that kauravas were definitely more powerful than Pandavas army .

• They had Drona and ashwattama who can easily kill the entire Pandava army (with the exception of Arjuna ). Literally no one can kill drona without plot armour .
• Narayanastra is definitely more useful than Pashupatastra . It can be invoked without destroying the planets or universe .
• Pashupatastra is a terror factor but if its invoked it would also kill all of the Pandavas and Arjuna. It's easy to say that it will neutralize every other weapon but no one can literally stop the deadly catastrophic effect. It took Brahma to stop the catastrophic effect of it in Banasur war and later sang the yajurveda hymn to pacify Krishna and Shiva
• If two Brahmashiras were such a deadly threat then imagine the other two .
• If Drona gad given the knowledge of Brahma kavach to capable warriors like ashwattama and karna instead of useless Duryodhana Pandavas would've been in big trouble .
• Though Arjuna wisely defeated Duryodhana by piercing palms of his hands . It was too powerful and can't be broken by Arjuna and Krishna together using any astras .
• Pandavas without Arjuna was a piece of cake to Ashwattama . He literally defeated the entire army of Pandavas and all the maharathas single handedly after his father's death .
• Kauravas were definitely more powerful than Pandavas but with krishna in Arjuna's side they'll still lose against Pandava army .

Hare Krishna 🙏🙏

What was the geographical spread of the Mahabharata War?

 A historical Kurukshetra war would have been focused on the Gangatic plain with some armies from the frontiers.

Pandava side

Panchalas (second most powerful kingdom of the Vedic period)

Matsyas

Vrishnis

Kaurava side

Kurus (the most powerful kingdom of the Vedic period)

Madras

Saindhavas (Jayadratha who is brother in law of Duryodhana)

Gandharas (probably a small army as marching a large army into the plains of Kurukshetra from north-west would have been a logistical nightmare)

Bhoja-Andhakas

Trigartas

The vast majority of the armies fighting in Kurukshetra would have been fielded by Kurus and Panchalas (the two strongest kingdoms of the Vedic period).

Distant kingdoms/tribes like Saindhavas and Gandharas would have only brought small armies due to geographical barriers and supply issues.

Who were the top 10 best performers in the Kurukshetra War?

 01.Bheeshma:Angered by Duryodhana’s ill words on day 3 night after war,from day 4,dissected the Pandava army in and out for 6 days to Pandava’s fear.Defeated warriors like Abhimanyu,Arjuna,Ghatotkacha,Satyaki etc.,His wrath was formiddable that the Pandavas were forced to adapt advice from Bheeshma himself the way to victory over him.

02.Arjuna:The ‘one man army’ of Pandava army whose death would have forced Pandavas to lose in a single day.Killed/severed foremost of the warriors like Bheeshma,Bhagadatta,Karna and assisted in the death of Guru Drona and Bhurisravasa(killing deceitfully or not ,a win is a win and it is all that matters,so it gets counted to Arjuna’s performance).He was supremely powerful on day 14 which was his highest level of performance that he destroyed the mighty Kaurava army with no mercy.The son of Indra beheaded Jayadrata whilst the superior of warriors like Drona,Kripa,Karna,Ashwattama,Duryodhana stood helpless which I feel is the pinacle of his bravery and prowess.The most important part of him which I love the most is whilst we weigh Vaikartana high in our minds as the one who broke through the obstacles of his life with sheer hardwork and determination,there is Dhananjeya who kept himself low on his royalty and comforts unlike other Pandavas and Kauravas who usually showed their royal superiority one or the other way throughout the book.Arjuna always took pride on what he got by himself(his bravery,skill and knowledge which he achieved through hardwork,determination and divine faith following Dharma) rather than what’s gifted to him either by birth or other factors.This is an important life lesson to all of us especially to those star kids and luxurious brats.

03.Karna(my favorite):His prowess in ‘Archery’ was Arjuna’s match as we all know. It has been written that the damage he inflicted as commander-in-chief of Kaurava army in 2 days over Pandava army was more than that of Bheeshma and Drona combined[yet didn’t place him at first place since he managed to survive for only 7 days compared to Bheeshma(10 days)].Neutralized and won a lot of group attacks from warriors like Satyaki,Bhima,Dhrushtatyumna,Sahadeva,assisted in the death of Abhimanyu[its been clearly mentioned that on 13th day Abhimanyu was protected by Arjun’s Kavach knowledge obtained from Drona who in turn obtained it from his father Bharadwaja which prevented Abhimanyu from getting injured by Karna’s arrows who tries twice,fails,then retreats to Guru Drona who exposes the truth behind the invincibility of Abhimanyu and advises Karna to focus getting rid Abhimanyu off of his arsenal/weaponaries which Karna easily does after cutting Abhimanyu’s bowstring.So Karna defeated Abhimanyu fair and square unlike the popular folklore among Arjun and Abhimanyu fans.Not to forget the power of Rudra bow.I left the ‘ABHIMANYU’S BOON OF INVINCIBILITY’ on the last day of his life away since it demeans a warrior like Abhimanyu off his skills and I personally believe it an interpolation or later addition],killed Ghatotkach,rendered Kauravas out of 1000s of illusions of Ghatotkach before killing him,defeated Bhima to his embarassment,defeated the twins Nakula and Sahadeva,the king Yudhishtira,overpowered Arjuna on 17th day (nearly slained him),etc.,The most interesting aspect of his character is that he did everything spectacularly though mentally hindered by curses and truths about him&Pandavas.That’s the main reason he deserves one of the top 3 positions.Also it was only during his period of command,the Kauravas fought clean and good(tho the converse can’t be said to Pandava army at any point).

04.Drona:Though he was overshadowed by Bheeshma the first 10 days,it never prevented him from inflicting heavy damage to the Pandava army.His highest level of fighting display was on 15th day when he sent nearly 2 akshounis(highest by any in a day)of Pandava army to Lord Yama’s disposal.Only in two instances that Arjuna ever trembled with fear.One was during the 15th day of war whilst he witnessed his own Guru’s wrath(while the other being against Karna when he launched Bhargavastra).

05.Bhima:Despite not being an extraordinary archer,he managed to send more than 1 akshouni of Kaurava sena to his step-dad’s abode,startled Karna that he passes out facing defeat in Vrihodar’s hands(also not to forget that Karna felt fear only once throughout the book and it was against Bhima when he severed Dushasan’s chest),killed 100 Kauravas especially Duryodhana,the King himself(as I already stated deceit or not,a victory is a victory).According to me killing not Bheeshma,not Karna,not Drona,not Bhagadatta matters or counts the most than killing Suyodhana himself. To simply put,Arjuna was like SACHIN TENDULKAR who places the team in comfort,while Bhima was like M S DHONI who takes the team home.

06.Ashwattama:The Guru Putra was extremely talented and powerful that his skills are comparable with Arjuna and Karna unlike shown in TV serials.He killed more than 1 akshouni of Pandava sena when he launched NARAYANASTRA hearing his father’s demisal that even Arjuna had to stay put without knowing what to do.This was the highest feat achieved by Ashwattama.Not to forget that he was one of the members who had beaten Abhimanyu to death.Tbh,he had to be above Bhima,but you know that Bhima has won the star value point by killing Duryodhana.

07.Abhimanyu:While the 16 year old me(4 years ago)don’t go pee alone in night,this young talent who descended the prowess of Arjuna forced Maharatis like Karna,Kripa and Ashwattama to retreat,defeated Duryodhana,Shakuni,Dushasana and even oppressed Guru Drona for a moment.He alone killed 1 akshouni of Kaurava army on 13th day,broke through Chakra Vyuha,faced a braveous death.

08.Bhagadatta:Known for his skills on elephant could be called an Arjun buster without any hesitation.He was the one warrior who Arjuna always was concerned about.He destroyed the Pandava army without mercy on his elephant Supratika.The damage he inflicted was more that can’t be borne by the Pandavas anyday.The damage was more of mentally than that of physically in Pandava army.The damage he produced was like ‘adding fuel to the fire’ for Pandavas who were already concerned about Bheeshma’s wrath.He killed more than 1 akshouni of Pandava army,defeated Abhimanyu,inflicted fear through his skills and valour on Bhima,Satyaki and Sahadeva while fighting against them who ran away for life later from Bhagadatta,launched Vaishnavastra against Arjuna to which the entire Pandava army even Arjuna had no counter,who had to watch helplessly whilst it killed mountains and mountains of Pandava army through the heat it produced,forced Arjuna to retreat for a moment(managed to kill Bhagadatta eventually).

09.Satyaki:The student/friend of Arjuna and charioteer of Lord Krishna was known for his valour and skills in archery.Though overshadowed by Partha himself,it never stopped him to express his valour then and there.He kept Bhurisravasa to check,eventually killed him on Arjuna’s assistance.However his highest feat was breaking Karna’s chariot flag and rendering Vaishya to pass out amidst the battle which forced the charioteer of the same to retreat.

10.Ghatotkacha:Son of Bhima who had been an underdog facing numerous defeats throughout the first 14 days,suddenly had become the talk of the night of the day 14.War at night with Ghatotkacha was like fighting a crocodile in water to the Kauravas provided Ghatotkacha was an Asura and warfare at night is like fighting in his home ground.He killed another asura ‘Alambusa’ from Kaurava side,inflicted heavy damage by falling over the Kaurava sena killing nearly an akshouni of Kaurava army while dying.

00.’Paramathma’ Lord Krishna:The supreme of gods himself fought the whole KURUKSHETRA WAR as Pandavas and Kauravas him being the Pandavas and him being the Kauravas seeding Dharma to the world teaching us Bhagavad Gita.So literally every victory was his and every defeat was his.Jai Shri Krishna!

SPECIAL MENTION: Duryodhana(since centrally placed in the army throughout the war he had less chances to exhibit his prowess.Yet defeated Bhima forcing the same to swoon and flee on the 4th and 8th day of battle respectively.His fight on 18th day with Bhima speaks for himself that he nearly slained Vrihodara if not for timely intervention by Lord Krishna),

Susharma,Kritavarma,Kripacharya.

Which country in Europe has never been in a war?

 The closest answer is Liechtenstein, and the story of how a country that tiny survived every European war for 300 years is one of the more entertaining accidents in political history.

Switzerland gets cited constantly due to their very strong reputation of being neutral, but Switzerland has a deeply martial past. Before the 19th century, Swiss mercenaries were the most feared soldiers in Europe and the country was effectively in the business of renting them out to anyone who could pay.

San Marino is the other common answer, and San Marino is itself very interesting, founded in 301 AD as a mountaintop refuge by a stonemason fleeing Roman persecution, surviving Napoleon, surviving the unification of Italy, surviving everything. Except in 1944 it briefly got entangled in the war as the same mountains which made whomever occupied Italy opt to ignore it made it appealing to the German military to occupy and use as a defensive bulwark.

Liechtenstein was founded in 1719 for reasons that had nothing to do with the people living there or any romantic notion of independence. The House of Liechtenstein was one of the wealthiest noble families in Vienna. They owned vast estates across Austria and Bohemia and were significant creditors to the Holy Roman Emperor himself. The problem was that none of their land carried what was called Imperial Immediacy, meaning land that answered directly to the Emperor rather than to some intermediate duke or bishop. Without it you couldn't sit in the Imperial Diet, which was the parliament where real decisions got made.

So they sought out a loophole and found two small, impoverished, economically worthless territories on the Rhine whose previous rulers had gone bankrupt, bought them. They then petitioned the Emperor to unify them into a single principality named after the family. The Emperor agreed and the Liechtenstein family now had their seat in parliament.

Depsite the prestige it gave them, they still had no interest in the actual place. No Prince of Liechtenstein set foot in the country for the first 120 years of its existence. Because the territory was mountainous, landlocked, wedged in between Switzerland and Austria, and produced nothing anyone wanted, the great powers of Europe ignored it completely during the wars that followed. When the Holy Roman Empire collapsed under Napoleon, Liechtenstein was small enough and irrelevant enough that it simply continued existing while all the other state around it dissolved.

The country's one and only military deployment came in 1866 during the Austro-Prussian War. Liechtenstein sent 80 soldiers to guard a mountain pass on the Italian border on behalf of their Austrian allies. They saw no combat. The pass was never threatened. When the war ended, the soldiers walked home, and they returned with 81 men because they had befriended an Austrian officer during the campaign and brought him back with them.

The government looked at this expedition and decided the army was an unnecessary expense. In 1868 Liechtenstein dissolved its military entirely. It has had no army since.

This turned out to be the right call, because the country that became their protector by default was Switzerland. In 1923, after World War I had economically devastated Liechtenstein through its ties to the collapsing Austro-Hungarian Empire, they signed a customs and monetary union with Switzerland, adopting the Swiss franc and outsourcing their borders and foreign policy to a much larger neutral neighbor.

When Germany annexed of Austria it put Liechtenstein right on their immediate border. Liechtenstein's own Nazi sympathizers tried to capitalize on this and staged a coup attempt in 1939 trying to hand the country over. It failed. But Germany decided against taking matters into their own hands. Liechtenstein was 160 square kilometers of mountains with no resources, no military value, and no railway lines worth having. Absorbing it would have created more paperwork than it was worth.

These days Liechtenstein is one of the wealthiest countries per capita in the world, a global financial center and tax haven. It’s so important economically now that the Liechtenstein family actually lives there for once.