Shalya Parva — Section 1 of 2 in this original, condensed prose retelling of the eighteen-parva Mahabharata.
In the last phase of the battle, Shalya leads the shattered Kaurava army but is defeated. Duryodhana hides by a lake and is eventually challenged to a mace duel by Bhima. The combat ends when Bhima strikes Duryodhana’s thigh, fulfilling an old vow but raising further questions about war and rules.
Read this episode in sequence with the other parvas to understand the full storyline, including its moral ambiguity and tragic consequences.