Next day the armies were again getting ready for the fight. Duryodhana again asked Ashvatthama whom should he appoint the commander of the Kauravas army. Ashvatthama suggested the name of Salya. Duryodhana accepted the suggestion and prayed Salya to accept his request to become the commander of the Kaurava army. Salya was pleased with the humility of Duryodhana. He had also become wiser and deeper man after he had been the charioteer of Karna for a day. He gave a promise to Karna that he would kill the Pandavas if Karna was killed.

Salya now wanted to fulfill his promise. Salya was very righteous and an excellent warrior. His dexterity with the mace was extra-ordinary. He had never tasted defeat in life. He took the charge of the army and decided that they should march to the field. The blowing of conches and the beating of the drums and the sounds of trumpets were heard by the Pandavas.

Yudhisthira could guess that it was the appointment of Salya as the commander of the army of the Kauravas, which was being heard. He went to Krishna with this news. Krishna became serious and was silent for a moment. He said that Salya was no small warrior. His skill with the mace is of exceptionally high order. Besides, he is very righteous. In our army no one except Yudhisthira can kill him. Therefor Krishna asked Yudhisthira to kill Salya in the battle.

The eighteen day of the war had dawned some time before. The armies clashed with each other. Salya had formed his army, or whatever was left of his army, in a difficult Vyuha. It had been decided that fight would be a general one. No indidual duels should be fought. Only, Kripa, Ashvatthama, Shakuni, Kritavarma and Duryodhana were the warriors who had survived.

Observing the Vyuha of Salya and anticipating his tactics, the Pandavas divided their army into three wings. One was headed by Dhistadhymna, the other by Satyaki and the third by Shikhandi. Yudhisthira attacked Salya. Salya fought a spirited duel. His chariot was broken but he jumped, out of it with his mace in hand. A great duel took place, everyone watched fascinated. By midday the armies were very much reduced in size by killings. Yudhisthira fought Salya with all his skills. By a especially powerful javelin he killed Salya. Salya lay prostrate on ground.

A great panic gripped Kauravas after the death of Salya. Now Duryodhana himself led his army. His leadership put a new life into the sagging morale of his army. Duryodhana fought extremely well. All his army rallied around him seeing him in such an excellent form. Duyodhana alone fought with Satyaki. Dhristadhymna, Bhima, Arjuna and Yudhisthira, Shakuni and his son Uluka were the main supporters of Duryodhana today. Remaining brothers of Duryodhana came to assist him but all of them were killed by Bhima, Arjuna killed Susarma and he put an end to Trigartas.

Sahdeva and Nakula attacked Shakuni and his Uluka. Nakula killed Uluka. His oath has been accomplished. Now Sahdeva was fighting a bitter battle with Shakuni. Shakuni was not able to face him for long. He fled. But he was persued and overtaken by Sahdeva. The fight resumed again. Shakuni fought Valiantly but was killed by a javelin thrown at him by Sahdeva. Of the eleven akshauhinis of Kauravas army but a single soldier survived. A few hundred of chariots, elephants, horses and foot soldiers remained on the side of the Pandavas. The eighteen days of fighting had taken a toll of the almost the entire eighteen akshauhinis army of the both the sides.