CASUALITIES IN THE MAHABHARATA BATTLE

CASUALITIES  IN THE MAHABHARATA BATTLE

The Imperial Gazetteer defines the circuit of Kurukshetra as 80 miles i.e.1300 sq. km in area, which is   the extent of the battle field.( The main field probably lay between the present Thanesar-Pehowa plain alongside the Bibipur lake, a big water body) The Mahābhārata says, that kingdoms from all over ancient India supplied troops or provided logistic support to either the Pandavas  or the Kauravas  depending upon their alliances. Even Lord Krishna provided his military support to them. The Battle was fought around 1500 BC, as per archaeologists and the population of India in about 2000 BC is estimated to be just ten million, by the experts. There is thus no conclusive evidence to suggest that any foreign tribes or kingdoms participated in the war. The battle commenced just after a week of the final call and no one from distant lands could  participate in the war that too with his troops.There were no high speed carriers at that time.

In reply to a query about the casualities in the war by Dhritrashtra, Yudhishtra  makes it known, ‘One billion 660 million and 20,000 men have fallen in this battle. Of the heroes that have escaped, the number is 240,165’  (MBh., XI.26).

Well, these are mind boggling figures, considering the population of India at that period of time, and the extent of Kurukshetra region  i.e.1300 sq. km in area , the site of the war; as per our estimates, no more than 40,000 soldiers from both the sides could have possibly been killed or injured. Even in the battle of Lanka,as mentioned  in the Ramayana, or the Battle of Ten Kings, the casualities were much less .

WAS THE MAHABHARATA BATTLE FOUGHT ON ALTERNATE DAYS ?

WAS THE MAHABHARATA BATTLE FOUGHT 
ON ALTERNATE DAYS ?

It is a well known fact that the Mahabharata battle was fought on 18 days but the text also mentions a series of dates when  the war events took place. Scholars are baffled  and have failed to synchronize the dates given with 18  days if taken as consecutive. An analysis of the text  gives a  clear evidence that the war was actually fought on alternate days - the intervening days having been needed to clear the battle field ! Here is what is stated in the relevant section of the Mahabharata:

‘Balarama casting his eyes on Krishna and the Pandavas, and looking at Duryodhana also of Kuru's race who was standing there armed with mace, said, "Two and forty days” have passed since I left home. I had set out under the constellation ‘Pushya’ and have come back under ‘Sravana’. I am desirous, O Madhava, of beholding this encounter with the mace between these two disciples of mine!" At that time the two heroes, Duryodhana and Vrikodara ( Bhima), looked resplendent as they stood on the field, both armed with maces.’

This statement of Balarama is very significant as he had  left  on a pilgrimage tour seven  days before the start of the war; and on the last day of the war, which was after forty-two days when he returned  he witnessed the mace duel.  This very clearly suggests  that the war was fought for thirty-five days,  that is fought on alternate days.