Day 3 of the great Kurukshetra war and the
Kaurava army, on the command of their generalissimo Bhishma, assembled in the Garuda
Vyuha while the Pandava army, thrilled and courageous because of their
previous day’s victory, formed the Crescent Moon Vyuha (Chandrakala
Vyuha) on the command of Dhrishtadyumna. With the sun rising in the east,
the conchs were blown and drums were beaten, indicating the start of the day’s
battle.
Desirous
of victory, the warriors of both the armies battled
vigorously. The shouts of the steeds and elephants, cries of the wounded
soldiers and also the roars of the heroic warriors in the duel reached the
skies. Terrible was the battleground to witness as the Pandava army struggled
to break Bhishma and Dronacharya protected array of the Kauravas.
Arjuna
fought against a thousand Rathas, Maharathas and Kings who are skilled in handling diversified weapons. King Saguni, along with his army battled with King Satyaki
and Abhimanyu as King Yudhistra, Sahadeva and Nakula battled against the
foremost mighty souls – Bhishma and Dronacharya. Bhīma dueled with his foremost arch nemesis
Duryodhana.
Struck
by Bhīma’s arrow in the chest, Duryodhana fell
unconscious in his chariot. Seeing this, the Kaurava army believing that
Duryodhana is dead, they fled from Bhīma. Duryodhana’s charioteer rushed the chariot to
the camp immediately. The day belonged to the Pandava army as the Kaurava
soldiers fled in all directions.
“O
Mighty warriors, running from the battle is not going to earn your soul any
respect. Especially for a Kshatriya. Fight with mightiness till victory or die
trying. Come back to the field and battle.” – Bhishma and Dronacharya addressed
to the Kaurava warriors who were absconding from the battle.
Seeing
Duryodhana returning to the battlefield, delighted warriors, with cheered
hearts turned to battle against the Pandavas and their army. Irate on
witnessing the slaughter of his army, Duryodhana rushed to Bhishma straightaway
and said-“Pithamaha, the Pandava army is slaughtering my troops when I have the
mighty Bhishma as my generalissimo and incomparable Dronacharya, Aswathama,
Krpacharya, Jayadratha, Duchadhana and many more Kings on my side. Why is my
army being stabbed when the Pandava army is no match to the prowess of you all?
You vowed that you will defend Hastinapur and me but now, you are favoring your
favorite sons of Pandu. If you would have informed me before battle that you will favor
only the Pandavas, I would have made Karna as my generalissimo. Because of you,
Karna is also not in the battlefield. Not keeping your words, you are going to
be responsible for my defeat I think.”
Though
hurt on Duryodhana’s words, Bhishma smiled at him and said – “O Duryodhana! You
are still blinded! With the almighty Krishna on their side, how do you plan to
win this war? You do not recognize the mightiness of Krishna and Arjuna, witnessing the way your army is being slaughtered. You have offended me
with your words. I have never forgotten my vow. Today, for
your sake, I will face the mighty Pandavas by myself.”
The
sun was at its peak, radiating heat waves on the battlefield and on the
warriors. As the sun witnessed the mightiness of Arjuna and Bhīma in the morning and forenoon, the sun witnessed
the prowess of grand-sire Bhishma in the noon. Even the sun was not able to dehydrate the wetness of
the blood of the Pandavas warriors and animals that streamed on the soil like a
river. Slaughtering the steeds and elephants of the Pandava army, Bhishma
blockaded the Pandava chariots from fleeing and slaughtered them.
Every single arrow that left from Bhishma’s bow either slayed or wounded a Pandava
warrior or animal. Unable to face grandsire’s prowess, even King Yudhistra
rushed his chariot in opposite direction.
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| "Attack Bhishma" - Krishna! |
Witnessing
the terrified army, Krishna said to Arjuna – “Arjuna, Bhishma is scorching the
army. It’s time you defend
your warriors and face the mighty Bhishma. Remember your vows in the Hastinapur
court and attack Bhishma, right now. Defend your army.”
On listening to Krishna’s words, out of respect
for Pithamaha, Arjuna hung his head down and said- “Krishna,
urge the steeds towards Bhishma. I will defeat the mighty souled Pithamaha in
battle.”
Hearing Arjuna’s trembled voice, Krishna steered the
chariot towards Bhishma. Witnessing Arjuna, the Pandava warriors were delighted
and with cheered heart, they rushed against Bhishma and his army. Beholding
Arjuna, Bhishma covered the chariot of Arjuna by shooting thousand arrows.
Arjuna aided by the mighty Gandiva, turned those arrows into dust and Krishna
with great care, steered the steeds towards Bhishma. Before even the dust of
those arrows could fall on earth, Arjuna shot a pointy arrow which broke the
bow of Bhishma’s. Excited in Arjuna’s form, Bhishma took another bow, but that too was shattered by Arjuna in a blink of an
eye, before even he could string it.
Witnessing
the prowess of Arjuna in archery, Bhishma praised him with cheered heart and
said –“Arjuna! I am impressed! Your prowess is unique and incomparable.
Exceptional work, O Son! Brilliant and admirable! Fight with me with all you
have got! Gratify this old man with your mightiness!”
Fighting
with all his heart, Bhishma took another bow and started showering arrows on
Krishna and Arjuna. The area was filled with arrows and the twangs of the bows
of both the heroes echoed like thunder. Bhishma battled fiercely with all his
mightiness. He hit Krishna in the chest with his pointy arrows which pierced
through the armor. Witnessing the mightiness of Bhishma, both Krishna and
Arjuna were astounded. Bhishma’s arrows consumed the Pandava army and witnessing
it, Duryodhana and even King Yudhistra felt that the battle might end today
with Kaurava army’s victory.
Beholding
Pithamaha’s prowess in slaughtering the Pandava army and unable to see the fear
of death in King Yudhistra’s eyes and also of his warriors, Krishna said to
Arjuna –“Arjuna! The mightiness of Pithamaha is such that, he could defeat all
the three worlds in a day. In that case, even your entire army is not even a
worthy opponent to him. Your soldiers are running away. See, Duryodhana is all excited and filled with hope that he will
win today. Pithamaha might slay King Yudhistra and your brothers and sons by
today itself, it seems. So, aim your
arrows to slay him.”
Before
Arjuna could take aim, Bhishma covered the chariot of Arjuna and Krishna with
thousands of arrows, making it impossible for the steeds to move. Witnessing
the struck Krishna and Arjuna, Duryodhana was filled with delight and commanded
his whole army to contain Krishna and Arjuna and slay them while they are
trapped. With courage, King Satyaki quickly proceeded to the spot with his
division of army, shouting aloud – “O mighty warriors! Rush to protect Krishna
and Arjuna. Perform your duty as to what you have pledged. Fight for dharma!
Fight with impudence! Come on, O mighty heroes!”
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| Mighty Pithamaha |
With
rage, the Pandava army rushed with King Satyaki against Bhishma while King
Yudhistra stood terrified and stupefied. Arjuna, with the help of his
celestial weapon cleared the dense arrows of Bhishma and began to slaughter the
Kaurava army as Bhishma engaged with Satyaki and the rushing Pandava army.
Unable to face the prowess of Bhishma, those who rushed with rage turned their
backs and started running away in all directions, not listening to the words of
King Satyaki and Arjuna.
Witnessing
the disaster Bhishma is causing, raged Krishna said to King Satyaki –“For the
sake of Draupathi, King Yudhistra and his brothers, I will slay Bhishma,
Dronacharya, the sons of Drithirashtra and all other Kings and will make
Yudhistra as the king by today itself.” Saying so, Krishna, with his chest
broadened in proud and filled with rage, let off his hold from the reins of the
steeds and descended from the chariot and picking up a deserted chariot wheel from the
chariot fell by Arjuna, he started walking towards grandsire Bhishma.
The
moment Krishna lifted the wheel, it resembled like his mighty weapon, the god
of all weapons, the incomparable and divine Sudharsana Chakra.
Indicating the annihilation of the Kaurava army in a second, Krishna blazed like
thousand suns while the wheel blazed like a fierce comet set to exterminate the
Kaurava army.
Witnessing
Krishna rushing at him with rage, the immensely souled Pithamaha Bhishma kept
aside his bow and with hands joined together, eyes filled with tears and heart
filled with delight, he addressed –“O Krishna! Kesava! Lord of the universe!
How blessed I am, to be slain by you! How blessed am I to witness you falsify
your vow, for the sake of this soul. O Almighty! Slay me this moment and grant
me refugee beneath your mighty lotus foot. Blessed will be my soul, forever!”
Still
raged and rushing furiously, Krishna said unto Bhishma – “You are the one to be
blamed for all this. The foremost wise man and grandsire, the one who walks in
the path of dharma, as a well-wisher of Hastinapur and your grandsons, you are
the one who should have stopped King Drithirashtra and Duryodhana from taking
the path of evil. Your astuteness and years of wisdom were shattered, the
moment you sat silent in the court of gambling. You lead the Kuru family to
destruction by remaining silent.”
With
head bowed and hands spread, Bhishma spoke –“O Kesava! There’s nothing that you
do not know of. I accept your words though it’s all an act of destiny.
Duryodhana and his father ceased to listen to us and hence our words did not
reach their heart and I blame it all on destiny.”
In
the meantime, terrified Arjuna, throwing aside his divine Gandiva rushed
towards Krishna and grabbed his divine foot. Begging to stop rushing towards
Bhishma while he was being dragged by the mighty raged Krishna, Arjuna with
teary eyes said – “O Madhava! Lose this wrath. I
swear that I will do my duty which is righteous. The one I have pledged to do
in this battle. I will definitely exterminate the Kaurava army and the Kuru
race. Kindly lose your ire and give me a chance to prove myself. I will keep up word.”
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| Krishna with wheel and wrath! |
Hearing
the words of Arjuna, Krishna stopped walking and losing his wrath, he stood for
a moment glancing deeply at Bhishma and Arjuna. The battlefield remained serene
with terrified hearts, waiting to see what Krishna will do. Taking a deep
breath, Krishna walked towards his chariot and ascended to his place.
Bhishma, beholding Arjuna standing deserted and
looking dubious, said –“Arjuna! This old man is expecting death with cheered
heart. I was delighted to see Krishna wishing to take my life. If not for you,
I would have gladly died in the hands of the almighty. Do what you have vowed
to do. Don’t hesitate. Take
your Gandiva and fight for dharma.”
Arjuna,
who was standing with tears, with a heavy heart bowing unto Bhishma, he walked
towards his chariot with a resolution in his mind. Bowing to Krishna, and
ascending his chariot, he took his Gandiva and battled against Bhishma.
Gladdened on Arjuna’s clear mind, Bhishma fought with all his mightiness.
Witnessing Arjuna’s prowess, King Duryodhana along with the army division under
Bhurisravas and King
Salya, rushed
to defend Bhishma.
Witnessing the troops approaching him, Arjuna invoked
the celestial and dreadful Mahendra weapon. The Mahendra weapon disappeared
among the clouds and within moments, it showered rains of sharp pointy arrows
in ten thousands and pierced the Kings, foot soldiers, archers, Knights, steeds,
elephants and even the mahouts of the Kaurava army. The blazing arrows broke
the flag standard of the chariots of the Kings, pierced the armor of the
warriors and penetrated into their body parts, cut-off the arms of the archers, broke the shield and slaughtered the elephants and steeds.
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| Mahendra Weapon! |
The pointy arrows broke Bhurisravas’ javelins,
King Salya’s mace and also hit Duryodhana and Bhishma. King Satyaki cut off the
arrows that emerged from the bow of Bhishma. With the help of his celestial
weapon, in one volley, Arjuna slaughtered ten thousand warriors, 700 elephants,
and the whole army division of the Malavas, the Sauviras and the Kshudrakas tribes
of the Kaurava side.
Witnessing
the massive and cruel slaughter of the Kaurava warriors by Arjuna, the Pandava
warriors cheered aloud which horrified the terrified hearts of the Kaurava
army. Not knowing whether Duryodhana and Bhishma are alive, the Kaurava Kings
ceased fighting and rushed to the spot. Though they were gladdened to see them alive, seeing Arjuna standing
like the Lord of Death, everyone lost their hope in winning the war.
It took a while for the
Kaurava army to come back to their senses, witnessing Bhishma on the verge of being defeated.
In the meantime, as the sun begun to take back the light and the vision he gave
for the whole day, seeing his terrified army, Bhishma blew his conch and
following him, the Kings of the Pandava and the Kaurava army too blew their conchs.
Both the armies retired from the battle field, with their heart echoing the
mightiness of Arjuna and the way he seized the victory of the Pandava army
which was about to fall on the hands of the Kauravas.
