Veṇīsaṃhāra: Fourth Act (summary)

The fourth Act begins with the entrance of Duryodhana laid unconscious by injuries received in battle on a car driver by his charioteer. Behind the scenes somebody announces that the Kaurava warriors running away from the war, with their weapons dropping through fright at the sight of Vrkodara i.e. Bhīma whose dress is hideous due to its being bathed with the blood left after drinking, of Duhśāsana killed by him. The charioteer observes that Kṛpachārya approaching towards Karṇa and Arjuna who were engaged in battle. The charioteer hopes that their army would get help in battle.

Behind the curtain, Bhima announces that he would kill Duśāsana and drink his blood from his board chest. He also assures Pāndavas not to be afraid of. announces not to be afraid of. But at the same time he declares that in the front of king Duryodhana, Karṇa as well as Salya who (Duhśāsana) once dragged the hair and the garment of the wife of Pāndavas, today has Bhīma drunk the warm blood of Duśāsana from the chest, torn asunder with sharp nail. On hearing the speech of Bhīma the charioteer becomes afraid of him and replaces the chariot in another place. He takes away the king under an banian tree. And opines that the promise of Bhīma is going to be completed.

Duryodhana slowly regains consciousness, says as long as he is alive it is almost impossible for the Bhīma, the son of Pāndava to fulfill his promise. He orders his charioteer to take him where Duhśāsana exists. The charioteer prevents Duryodhana not to proceed further and adds that Bhīma is perhaps going to fulfill his promise. On hearing this Duryodhana fell down of on the ground and began to mourn for Duśāsana. He becomes fainted again. After regaining consciousness, he lament for his deceased brother, Duśāsana. He feels no necessity to win in the battle, as because he has lost his kith and kins in the battle.

Then enters wounded Sundaraka searching the king. He searches again and again and at last finds the Lord of Kauravs seated on the ground. The armies on the both the sides were blinded by the darkness that was being spread out by the mass of herbs of various elephants thrown about (there) and by the mass of dust arising from the infantry, cavalry and elephants of both the armies clashing against one another. Not indeed, the surface of the sky could be seen. Sundaraka also explains that there ensued a rainy-day in the form of war between the two, having showers of thousands of volleys of shooting arrows, with the clouds in the form of bows rumbling deeply, flashing with flashes of lighting in the form the spark of fire arising from of the armours struck with various weapons discharged on all sides. Arjuna in the mean while apprehending danger to his elder brother, drove his eminent chariot in a hurry to that place, with the big moneky seated at the top of its flag shouting high and low like falls of thunderbolts, conspicuous by the four staff-like arms-marked by the couch, discus, sword and mace of Vāsudeva engaged in driving the horses, and filling the cavities of the ten distant extremities with the loud echos of the two couches blown, viz, Pañcajanya and Devadatta. Then, Prince Vrshsena on seeing his father attacked by Bhīmasena and Arjuna, in a hurry came to that spot. Thus Duryodhana again and again enquires of different matters related to the battle to Sundaraka. The sometimes becomes happy and sometimes becomes sad on hearing the speech from the mouth of Sandaraka. Sandaraka describes that Vrsasena then attacks Arjuna by his missiles. Arjuna criticizes the prince, Vrsasena for his child like behaviour. Thereafter the fight began between Vrsasena and Arjuna and both the Pāndavas and the Kauravas began to enjoy the fight. Arjuaṇa began to throw his powerful missiles towards Vrsasena. Even Bhīma and Karṇa began to witness the fight of the above two. The helpless boy Abhīmanyu was killed by the Kauravas. Arjuna out of rage declares that he would kill the boy, Vrsasena in front of them and take his arm in his hand. Then Arjuna began to throw missiles aiming at the two chariots of Angarāja and Vrsasena respectively. Nothing was visible due to the throwing of missiles from the both sides. Consequently Vrsasena was killed in the battle. Duryodhaṇa laments for the prince. The charioteer tries to console the king. On seeing the death of the son, eyes full of tears Angaraja started to fight with Arjuna whose chariot was surrounded by Bhīma, Nakula, Sahadeva and Pāñcālarāja and others. Duryodhaṇa in this way, hearing the distress of Karṇa wants to join the battle. The charioteer makes ready by the chariot by the order of Duryodhaṇa. There after, Duryodhaṇa hears the news of the arrival of his Parents. The charioteer requests the king to meet his parents who were seated in the chariot of Sañjaya. The shameless king feels necessity to meet his parents.