As
the sun was about to rise in the east, the warriors woke up from the
battlefield and prepared for the day’s battle, after an exhausting night
battle. Desire of victory after a humiliating loss in the past few days,
frustrated and wrath filled Duryodhana said –“Though you battle for me, your
heart desires for the victory of the Pandavas and your love for your favorite
pupil, Arjuna is the reason why I am losing. If not for you and your plans to
defend him, I definitely would have won the battle long time back. Divide the
army into two, today. I, along with Karna, Duchadhana and Uncle Saguni and
their legion will slay Arjuna in the battle while you and the rest of the army
fight with the Pandava army.”
Though angered on the offensive words
of Duryodhana, on hearing the strategy of Duryodhana, laughing aloud, Drona
said – “This old man is fighting for your sake and also, the whole army is
fighting in the battle against their friends and family without any desire for
life. Though my heart regrets for fighting against the Pandavas, I will fight
for you, even if you doubt it. I am indebted to Hastinapur and I will keep my
word till my last breath. You think I am favoring Arjuna!? You think you can
slay Arjuna? He is undefeatable even by the Devas when he is holding his
Gandiva. Now, he has got the almighty Krishna with him, leading him and
defending him. Do you think you and your army can slay or even defeat him?”
Pausing for a second to grab his breath, Drona continued – “You started this
war! You are the very reason for all this enmity among the warriors and
countries. You said you are a Kshatriya who is not afraid of battle! You have
my blessings! Go and battle against the
undefeatable Arjuna and slay him! Which Kshatriya is there to vanquish Arjuna
when the illustrious Krishna is there with him?”
As the sun tinted the sky in red with
his rays, the battle commenced once again, to paint the battlefield in red with
the blood of the warriors. Observing the Kaurava division standing in two
separate forms, on the advice of Krishna, Arjuna equipped to battle against
Dronacharya. Arjuna’s shafts knocked the warriors from their horses and
elephants.
Understanding Krishna’s strategy,
Drona, taking his legion away from Arjuna, proceeded to the northern side of
the battlefield and engaged in annihilating the Chedis, the Panchalas, the
Srinjayas, the Kaikeyas and the Matsyas while Duryodhana, Saguni and Duchadhana
along with their platoon, under the defense of Karna rushed against Arjuna. Nakula,
Sahadeva, Satyaki and Bhīma
rushed to defend Arjuna.
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| Bhima defending Arjuna |
Nakula encountered Duryodhana. Though
Nakula fought with his entire mightiness and energy, Duryodhana resisted him on
every side with his pointy shafts and made Nakula turn back. Meanwhile,
Sahadeva who was battling against Duchadhana beheaded Duchadhana’s charioteer
and before Duchadhana could realize that the charioteer has been slain,
Sahadeva slew the steeds. Wounded, crying in pain, the steeds ran, boring the
chariot away from Sahadeva. King Bhurisravas’s
father, King Somadatta was slain by Satyaki in a battle while he was engaged
in defending Duryodhana.
In his encounter with the Panchalas, the
invincible Dronacharya slew the three grandsons of King Drupada. Witnessing his
grandsons lying dead, King Drupada, defended by King Virata rushed against
Drona. With briskness, Dronacharya responded to the shafts of his friend and
King Virata. Witnessing the Kings fighting with impatience and rage, clear
minded Dronacharya, with a couple of well-aimed broad headed darts, slew King
Virata and King Drupada. Beholding his father slain, Prince Dhrishtadyumna
rushed against Dronacharya, filled with pain and rage, vowing –“I will kill the
mighty Dronacharya today. If I don’t succeed, I will lose my Kshatriya life and
rights.”
Desire of protecting their
unconquerable generalissimo, Duryodhana, his brothers and Karna rushed in
defense. Prince Dhrishtadyumna along with Bhīma
and the Panchala warriors rushed against Dronacharya from one side as Arjuna
along with his legion, rushed from another. Bhīma
penetrated into the array formed for Dronacharya’s defense and slew every
single warrior he engaged with. Taking the path created by Bhīma,
Prince Dhrishtadyumna engaged in a fierce battle against Drona.
Karna’s shafts resisted Bhīma
from proceeding forward. Struck by Karna’s darts, Bhīma
lost his chariot and his charioteer fell unconscious. Witnessing Karna slaying
the steeds too, Bhīma
swiftly jumped from his grounded chariot and ascended Nakula’s chariot and
Nakula bore him away from the sight of Karna. Meanwhile, undefended Dhrishtadyumna
was resisted by Duchadhana. Raged Panchala Prince covered Duchadhana with his
pointy darts and witnessing Duchadhana unable to face the prowess of
Dhrishtadyumna, Kritavarman came in defense. Nakula and Sahadeva engaged with
Kritavarman and unconstrained Dhrishtadyumna proceeded towards Dronacharya.
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| Arjuna against Dronacharya! |
Arjuna engaged with Dronacharya from
one side and Dhrishtadyumna joined the battle from other side. Excited and
enthralled in witnessing the prowess of Arjuna, gladdened Dronacharya invoked
mighty celestial astras. Counteracting every single celestial Astra
invoked by Dronacharya in the most apt way, Arjuna stupefied the eyes of the
warriors and foes near him. Dronacharya, though struggling, cheerfully resisted
both Arjuna and Dhrishtadyumna and engaged in slaying the mighty Pandava
soldiers. As Dhrishtadyumna and the Panchala warriors engaged with Dronacharya
in a fierce battle, Arjuna engaged in resisting the Kauravas from reaching the
Panchala warriors and Dronacharya.
Duryodhana, who was desirous of
rescuing Dronacharya, was resisted by the courageous Satyaki. Both of them
pierced each other with their shafts. Raged on Duryodhana as he broke his bow,
Satyaki, with a pointy dart, broke the bow of Duryodhana into pieces and
showered darts unceasingly. Unable to respond to the shafts of Satyaki, deeply
pierced Duryodhana sat on his chariot and witnessing his friend in trouble,
Karna rushed in defense.
Bhīma,
engaged in defending the Panchala warriors, slaughtered the mighty King
Bahlika, Father of King Somadatta. Witnessing Dronacharya crushing the Panchala
warriors, the Pandavas became hopeless of their victory. Concluding that none
can slay the fearsome Dronacharya, the sons of Pandu stood clueless.
Seeing the silence in the sons of
Pandu, Krishna said– “Arjuna, the illustrious Dronacharya is undefeatable by
humans and by the Devas. We have to adopt some strategy to vanquish him. He
will cease his battle when Aswathama is slain, I hope.”
“But Krishna, Aswathama is invincible.
He is fierce and stronger than Dronacharya.” –responded Arjuna in depressed voice.
“Let’s tell him that Aswathama has
been slain. He is battling on the other end of the battlefield.”-Hearing the
words of Krishna, Arjuna and King Yudhistra immediately disagreed to enact it.
“You want us to lie to our Guru so that we can win this battle! I would not
prefer such a victory and throne and I will never lie.” – replied King
Yudhistra.
“Yudhistra, this battle is not for you
or for throne but for dharma. A lie or trick that favors dharma is to be
considered as dharma only. It will not be a sin. Telling something untrue to
save a life is not a sin.”- Krishna tried to pacify Yudhistra and Arjuna. Bhīma,
Nakula and Sahadeva too approved for the plan and pacified their brother to
accept. King Yudhistra accepted reluctantly–“I accept to your words Krishna.
But I will never lie. That is against dharma.”
Hearing the words of Yudhistra,
Krishna thought for a moment and turning towards Bhīma,
he said – “Bhīma,
you slay an elephant named Aswathama. That way, your brother can say the
truth.”
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| Bhima slaying Aswathama, the elephant! |
On the advice of Krishna, Bhīma
slaughtered with his mace, the elephant named Aswathama which belongs to Malava
King Indravarman who was battling for the Pandavas. Approaching Dronacharya, Bhīma
shouted – “Aswathama has been slain by me!”
On hearing the words of Bhīma,
Dronacharya ceased his battle. Beholding Bhīma
and the sons of Pandu and recalling the mightiness of Aswathama and his boon,
Drona smiled at Bhīma
saying –“Bhīma,
You cannot singly slay Aswathama. My son is invincible! Even Arjuna will not be
able to slay him!”
Saying
so and turning towards the Panchala warriors, Dronacharya invoked the Brahmadanda
astra. The mighty astra showering darts at the Panchala warriors instantly
slew five hundred Matsyas, six thousand elephant warriors along with their
mahouts and elephants and ten thousand Cavaliers along with their steeds.
Ceasing not, with his pointy darts, he slew twenty thousand Panchala chariot
warriors and beheaded Vasudana.
Krishna, desirous of the welfare of
the invincible Dronacharya, on witnessing the rage of Drona, addressed –
“Dronacharya, you are a Brahman. Well versed in Vedas and the truth in it. Do
not fight in an unrighteous manner. Do not burden your shoulders with more sins
and do not commit such sinful acts anymore.”
Dronacharya, enlightened on the words
of Krishna, with a depressing heart, turning towards Yudhistra asked –
“Yudhistra, you are my only disciple whose words I trust all the time. You
never speak anything that is untrue. Tell me, is Aswathama killed by Bhīma?”
Recollecting Krishna’s words and
quivering in heart at the inevitability of destiny, King Yudhistra made up his
mind and said aloud- “Aswathama is slain by Bhīma!”
Ceasing not, he lowered his head and in an inaudible voice he continued –
“Aswathama is an elephant.”-Which even his charioteer was unable to hear as
Krishna blew his conch.
Trusting King Yudhistra’s words,
Dronacharya, filled with grief casted a weary look at the Sons of Pandu and
Dhrishtadyumna. Looking at Krishna who was staring at him with all kindness,
Dronacharya thought that his hour to support dharma has arrived. Beholding
Dhrishtadyumna who was rushing at him with rage, Dronacharya showered shafts at
him and cut off the bow and standard of Dhrishtadyumna and slew the charioteer.
Desire of giving up his life by battling fairly, for one last time, he showered
darts at the Panchala warriors from his mighty bow. His darts consumed the life
of 24,000 Kshatriyas and approximately one lakh Panchala chariot warriors.
Laying aside his mighty celestial bow
and bowing to all his weapons in the chariot, glancing at the Kauravas, he said
– “Karna, with no desire, you fight in this battle. Defend Duryodhana.
Duryodhana, Krpacharya and the entire Kaurava army, battle with desire for
heaven. I have laid aside my weapons. Defend your friends and King, O
warriors!”
Smiling at the Sons of Pandu, he said
– “Fear not my dear sons! You have surrendered to Krishna, the almighty. What
you have done and what you are about to do is all for dharma to prevail on this
earth. Proceed with cheered heart and trust the words of Krishna.”
 |
| Dronacharya! |
 |
| Arjuna raged on Drishtadyumna! |
Arjuna, raged on Dhrishtadyumna,
yelled at him for such an unmannerly and rude battling. While Krishna and King
Yudhistra engaged in stopping the fight between Arjuna and Dhrishtadyumna,
Aswathama, who was battling on the other side of the array rushed to the spot
unaware of his father’s death. Slaughtering the Pandava warriors who were
attacking the fleeing Kaurava warriors, Aswathama proceeded towards Duryodhana
who was standing on his chariot, not trying to gather the fleeing warriors.
“Duryodhana, what happened? Why are
you in tears? Why is the army fleeing and why are you not stopping them?” –
enquired Aswathama.
Grief
and tear struck Duryodhana uttered Aswathama about the death of Dronacharya,
the trick played by the sons of Pandu and the cruel act of Dhrishtadyumna.
Enraged on his father’s death, Aswathama, wiping his tears, addressed – “You
cruel hearted and vile Pandavas! Is this how you honor your Guru to whom you
were the world? Arjuna, my father loved you more than me and he trusted you
than any of us! Is this how you respond to an old man for his blinded love and
trust? I will forgive none of you. I will slay you all today and end this battle,
right now!!”
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| Narayanastra! |
Saying
so, Aswathama invoked the fatal and destructive Narayanastra against
the Pandava army. Hearing the sound of the astra which emerged dividing the sky
with a loud thunder and forceful wind, the Kauravas rushed back to the
battlefield with delight while the Pandavas stood terrified and stupefied. As
the sky opened, numerous pointy fire breathing darts emerged from the sky and
darkness set in as the result of the darts blocking the sky and the sun. The
Pandavas stood deprived of senses.
Arjuna, beholding the astra, said –“Aswathama has
invoked the Narayanastra. This weapon will even kill the immortal. There
is no neutralizing weapon for this. By killing Dronacharya, we have invited our
death from the hands of Aswathama!”
Terrified Yudhistra commanded his generals and
soldiers – “Everybody, run and save your lives. Cease battling. Let Duryodhana
be crowned as the King. For being dishonest to Dronacharya, I will accept this
death.”
Krishna, on witnessing the fast approaching Narayanastra,
addressed –“Everyone, lay down your weapons and lie on the ground, now!
Descend from your chariots and steeds and elephants. This astra will not hurt
or slay anyone who stands unarmed. Even if you run away of even hide deep
beneath the earth, this weapon will destroy you, definitely. Lie on the ground
holding no weapons!”
Saying so, Krishna alighted from his chariot and lied
down on the ground along with Arjuna and witnessing the act of those two mighty
invincible souls, the soldiers of the Pandava army dropped their weapons and fell
on the ground with the desire for living.
Indiscreet Bhīma, beholding everyone lying on the ground, spoke with
rage – “Fear not warriors! Take your weapons and rush against the Kauravas! I
will face Aswathama and witness the power of my mighty mace and my prowess. No
celestial weapons can slay me!”
Saying so, Bhīma, with his mace in hand, rushed against Aswathama,
ignoring the warnings of Arjuna and Krishna. With every single Pandava warrior
lying on the ground without weapons, the exceedingly powerful Narayanastra turned
towards Bhīma and began to shower its mightiness and energy
forcefully at him. Beholding Bhīma struggling with the blazing flame and the viciousness
of the astra, Arjuna, like lightning, picked his Gandiva and invoked the Varunaastra
at Bhīma and
basked on the ground immediately. The Varunaastra pacified Bhīma who was
covered in the flaming darts of the Narayanastra.
Witnessing the Narayanastra intensifying its
power on Bhīma, Arjuna and Krishna ran towards Bhīma and
dragged Bhīma from the dense forest of darts and made him lie on
the ground, losing hold on is mighty mace. With every single foe of Aswathama
lying on the ground without weapons, the mighty Narayanastra pacified.
Cheered on being alive, the soldiers roared in happiness and rushed towards the
Kauravas picking their weapons and mounting on their animal.
Raged on seeing everyone alive, Duryodhana said –
“Aswathama, invoke the weapon against the Pandavas again.”
Sighing heavily, Aswathama responded – “Duryodhana, it
can be used only once.”
Beholding the Pandavas rushing with cheered heart,
Duryodhana roared – “Then let us crush them with our own weapons and darts!”
On hearing the words of Duryodhana,
the Kaurava warriors rushed against their foes with rage and desire of victory.
Aswathama, raged on the death of his father, engaged in a fierce battle with Dhrishtadyumna
and repeatedly pierced him with his golden winged darts. Beholding Aswathama
slaying the charioteer and steeds of Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki rushed for rescue.
Slaying the steeds of Aswathama, Satyaki pierced Aswathama in the chest.
Slaying then the charioteer and with a desire of slaying Aswathama, Satyaki
showered darts at his foe and turned the chariot into pieces, not before
showering darts at Duryodhana, Karna, Vrishasena and Krpacharya, who came to
defend Aswathama.
In the fierce battle against the Kauravas, Satyaki slew
3000 chariot warriors of Vrishasena’s platoon, 15,000 elephant warriors of
Krpacharya and 50,000 cavalries of Saguni. Meanwhile, Bhīma,
Chedi Prince and Malava King Sudharsana surrounded Aswathama, with a desire of rescuing Dhrishtadyumna.
Raged,
Aswathama with a single pointy dart beheaded Sudharsana and with a gold winged
dart, he beheaded Puru King Vrihatkshatra
and with broad headed darts, he slew the Chedi Prince. Beholding Aswathama’s
prowess, on the command of Krishna, Arjuna showered darts at Aswathama. Filled
with wrath, on seeing Arjuna, Aswathama invoked the invincible Agneya astra.
As a result, numerous fire breathing darts fell from the sky and burnt the
Pandava soldiers alive. Turning the warriors, steeds, elephants and even the
golden chariots into ashes, the mighty astra crushed a full Akshauhini of the
Pandavas. Though it caused a devastating destruction, the weapon did not affect
Arjuna and Krishna. Arjuna, invoking the
Brahma weapon, pacified the Agneya astra and mild chill breeze
blew and filled the air with pleasantness.
Beholding
Arjuna and Krishna standing unaffected, Aswathama threw his bow on his chariot
and ran away from the battlefield, filled with doubts, pain and grief. The
running Aswathama was stopped by Sage Vyasa.
Filled
with questions and pain, Aswathama, with teary eyes asked – “Vyasa Maharishi! I
am filled with doubts and pain. Why is it, my astras are futile when aimed at
Arjuna and Krishna?”
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| Sage Vyasa enlightening Aswathama! |
Sage
Vyasa, beholding the perplexed Aswathama, said – “Aswathama, Lord Narayana is
the supreme soul from whom every single mortal soul and weapon appeared. He is
the creator, defender and infinitely powerful. Against him, every powerful
human or godly weapon will be ineffective. Krishna, the charioteer is that
supreme soul! Defended by him, Arjuna is alive, unaffected by any of the
weapons aimed at him.”
Enlightened
on the words of Sage Vyasa, bringing his senses under his control, he bowed to
the sage and rushed back to the battlefield. Beholding Duryodhana, who was
ready for a night battle, Aswathama, with the sunset, commanded the Kaurava
warriors to withdraw from the battle. As the Kaurava warriors withdraw after a
miserable day’s battle, Arjuna and Krishna too commanded the Pandavas to retire
to their camp and with that, the battle for the day ended, assuring victory for
the Pandavas.
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