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.