On the dawn of the eighth day of the war, it was Oormi Vyuha, meaning ocean. It was the formation in which their army was arranged. It spread on the either side like waves of the sea. Arjuna chose Sringataka Vyuha. Hostilities began again. Bhishma and Bhima started the fight. Bhima was in a fury, he killed the horses and destroyed the chariot of Bhishma. Duryodhana ran to the aid of the ancient Kuru warrior. Bhima saw brothers of Duryodhana. Like a man possessed he started killing them one after another. Kauravas army could not stop Bhima. Duryodhana was shocked and he again rushed to his grandfather with his grievance. He requested him to kill the Pandavas without any further loss of time. He accused Bhishma of even being partial towards the Pandavas. Bhishma took pity on him and once again tried to convince him about the futility of the war and the certainity of the victory of the Pandavas in the war as Krishna was on their side.

It was mid-day and now the Pandavas had surrounded Bhishma from all sides and they were attacking him very determinedly. But it was all-useless as Bhishma was too skilled to be subdued by them. Bhima was doing his favourite job of destroying the elephant army. Nakula and Sahdeva were causing devastation on the cavalry of the Kauravas. But the army of the Pandavas too was receiving heavy punishments at the hands of Bhishma, Drona and Kripa.

Arjuna's son by the Naga princess Ulupi had come to join the war on his father side. His name was Iravana. All the Pandavas with great love and affection had received him. This son of Arjuna was also a great fighter, though young in age. Iravana had been in the thick of the war for a few day and had been giving a good account of himself. He fought with Shakuni and caused him enormous pains. Finally Iravana was killed by a rakshas called Alambusa who had joined the war from the side of the Kauravas.

Bhishma, Drona and Ashvatthama continued to cause heavy destruction in the army of the Pandavas. There seemed no way to stop their fury. It looked as if it was useless to fight with them. Ghatotkacha hearing about the death of Iravana, son of Arjuna was very furious. He used his maya tactics, which is the special art of the rakshahs in the war. Duryodhana army was very scared of Ghatotkacha, Even Duryodhana was not spared by him. Many times he attacked Duryodhana. Duryodhana was so cornered that all others kings of his side had to rush to him. Drona, Ashvatthama and Jayadratha were all fighting Ghatotkacha all at once. This only excited him more. Hearing this Bhima came to help his son. Now father and son made a fearsome duo. The army of Duryodhana was in shambles. He was mad with anger. Bhima hit Duryodhana so badly by his mace that he had to be taken out of the battlefield.

Duryodhana revived and came to Bhishma and told of his army's plight, he said that Bhishma should kill Ghatotkacha, who had become the scourge of the Kauravas. Bhagadatta was sent to face Ghatotkacha.

Arjuna was very upset about his son, Iravana's death. He told Krishna that he could understand the patience of Yudhisthira and his demand of only five villages, at the cost of his self-respect. The death of so many innocent young men was too heavy a price to pay for the kingdom.

Arjuna and Bhishma met once again in the battle. Bhima killed eight more brothers of Duryodhana, Twenty-four of Duryodhana brothers had been killed in the war by Bhima.

The sun set on yet another terrible day. The heroes returned to their camps. Tonight, both sides were gloomy. No jubilation was marked in either camp. Heavy toll of warriors on both the side was proving too heavy for them to bear with equanimity. On the balance, Kauravas were losing more heavily. Bhima and Ghatotkacha, Arjuna and Abhimanyu had caused maximum damages.