"I have raised only beasts! How did they even have the
heart to slaughter him after seeing such a young and smiling face, that too
their own nephew!? Definitely, the death of my sons is sure in the hands of Arjuna
and Bhīma. Abhimanyu’s massacre
will surely agitate the Pandavas and the army of our son is going to be turned
into ashes in the hands of Arjuna.” – cried Queen Gandhari.
“Sanjaya,tell me what happened in the Pandavas camp. Has
Arjuna returned to the camp? If Arjuna and Krishna gets to know the humiliating
way by which Abhimanyu was slaughtered, O God, I have no courage to even
imagine the consequence.” – quivered King Dhritarashtra in fear.
“O King, the Pandavas have not even removed their armors.
Every single warrior of the Pandava army is seated around the lifeless body of
Abhimanyu, with wounds unattended, blood dripping from the open wounds and some
even with the pierced arrows left unpluck from their armor. Even King Yudhistra
has not moved an inch. He, his brothers and the UpaPandavasare crying all day.
Queen Draupathi and Subhadra, along with Matha Kunti and Uththirai are also
seated next to Abhimanyu who was lying lifeless. Listen carefully…as I can see
Arjuna and Krishna approaching.”
Meanwhile, in Kurukshetra, filled with grief, the Pandava
army was seated around their King and deceased heroic Abhimanyu.
Filled with grief, King Yudhistra wept – “Abhimanyu! My brave
child was slaughtered right in front of my eyes and I was unable to do anything
to save him. How can I myself as a King? I have failed as a father in
protecting my son. As a cruel and greedy father, I have placed my own son in
the chariot and made him enter the battlefield when he is supposed to be enjoying
the life and the wealth, in his palace, in his silk divan…with his family and
friends. Desiring my victory, you have lost your life, for me! O Son, this
throne is supposed to be yours! What am I going to say to your father,
Abhimanyu? I have no courage to look into the eyes of Arjuna and Krishna.
Arjuna will burn us to ashes through his looks, when he gets to know that we
let his heroic son into the Vyuha. I have no answers for the questions he is
going to ask. I do not have the nerve to even look at him. He left you in my
hands, son! He left the battlefield hoping that we all will protect you. What
will I tell him now? Even my death or defeat in this battle is not going to
trouble me anymore. Why not I was killed so that you could live?”
In the meantime, after battling against the army of Samsaptakas
exceedingly, Krishna and Arjuna returned to Kurukshetra in their chariot.
“Madhava, has something happened to my brothers in the battle today? I feel a
strange pain and burden in my heart. My mind is disturbed and fear has engulfed
me totally. My mind is restless and I feel nervous without any reason.”
Krishna, who knows the unknown, said – “Worry not, Arjuna.
Your brothers are safe.”
The chariot reached the camp. Beholding the camp deprived
of warriors and cheers; Arjuna got suspicious and spoke with a depressed heart
–“Krishna! Why is the camp so silent? Where is everyone? What happened to my
brothers? Where are they? My mind is filled with worries and fear, Krishna.
Where is my son? Why is he not waiting for me in front of the camp to receive
me and share the stories of his mightiness in the battlefield? Has something
happened to my brothers or to the Panchala Prince?”
Seeing Krishna’s silence and
seriousness in his face, Arjuna’s heart began to beat faster and was filled
with unknown fear, worries and pain. As soon as Krishna and Arjuna descended
from the chariot and entered the camp, they saw the warriors sitting with their
heads lowered. Looking at Arjuna, they stood up with depressed face, lowered
eyes and spoke not a word. None spoke about their achievements in the
battlefield. With fear running through his spine, Arjuna proceeded to the
center of the camp where he saw the warriors filled with grief. He was able to
see his brothers, with teary eyes and agony, sitting in front of a lifeless
body. None lifted their head as they were all seated deprived of their senses.
Fear struck, Arjuna rushed towards his brothers. Seeing Arjuna rushing at them,
everyone rose from the ground and wept aloud, unable to control themselves. With
a heavy heart, pushing aside everyone standing in his way, Arjuna ran to see
the face of the mighty warrior lying lifeless.
Beholding Abhimanyu lying lifeless on the ground, Arjuna
was speechless. He felt like his world has trembled and broken into pieces.
Deprived of his senses, with pain and agony filling his heart and weakened legs,
he fell on the ground wailing aloud. Arjuna’s cry echoed among the mountains
and filled the hearts of the warriors with agony.
Gathering his strength, Arjuna spoke in choked voice -
“What happened to my son? I left him hoping you four will protect him. How was
he slain when his fathers are nearby? Tell me how my son was slain in the
battlefield when his prowess is equal to the mighty Krishna. There’s no single
soul on earth mighty enough to slay my son. Even there can be warriors like
Karna, Bhishma and Dronacharya to slay…. to slay me, but not my son! Abhimanyu
was trained by Krishna, Balram, Pradyumna and me! Having learnt from such
foremost warriors, my son is undefeatable in the battle. How it is that such a
mighty warrior is lying lifeless now? Who did this to my son? Answer me,
someone, before my heart explodes in pain.”
 |
| Abhimanyu ...the unsurpassed hero! |
King Yudhistra, with eyes filled with tears and heart
filled with agony explained about Abhimanyu’s prowess inside the Chakra
Vyuha and the death of Abhimanyu. Listening to his son’s mightiness,
Arjuna, filled with grief and feeling proud spoke – “My son will definitely reach
heaven for his heroic achievement today. Unforgettable feat which even I or
Karna will never be able to achieve. Forget about others, how and from when did
Dronacharya and Karna became such cruel in their heart? From when did their
heart turn such filthy to pierce such a soft heart with pointed arrows?”
The cries of the Pandavas were heard in the Kaurava camp
and Duryodhana was informed about the arrival of Arjuna to the camp. Expecting
the moment, Duryodhana, along with his brothers and drums came outside their
camp and laughed hysterically with pride. Yuyutsu, son of King Dhritarashtra
who sided with the Pandavas, on listening to the indecent mockery and behavior
of his brothers, rose in anger and rushed to them. With harsh words, he said aloud–“You all call
yourself warriors after slaying a child?! He opposed you all singly like a lion
whereas you all, attacked him like wolves and are enjoying the moment when you
all are supposed to be afraid of facing Arjuna’s mightiness tomorrow in the
battlefield. Your cruelty has poisoned the hearts of the mighty Dronacharya and
Karna too. Don’t you see that the only goodness left in your side has been
sinned? You all will definitely face the effects of your sinful act. Dare not,
call yourselves a warrior or even a Kshatriya!”
Thus, with raged heart and words, Yuyutsu left the place
and entered the Pandavas camp. Hearing Yuyutsu’s words, Karna and Dronacharya,
who were already ashamed of their act felt mortified. They didn’t even leave
their bivouac to celebrate for the day’s victory or to discuss about tomorrow’s
battle strategies. With raged heart after being insulted by their brother,
Duryodhana and his brothers left to their tent. The Kaurava warriors feared
Arjuna might call for battle in night.
Arjuna, filled with grief, spoke –“What did you all do
standing there in the battlefield when my son was being slaughtered? What
happened to your weapons: King Yudhistra’s spike, brother Bhīma’s mace, Nakula and Sahadeva’s sword, bow and
arrows and also, other mighty Kings? If I had known that you all were weak and
not mighty as you all were known for, I would have stayed behind, protecting my
son. Believing in you weaklings, I went away leaving my precious soul under
your protection. What were you fathers doing wearing a golden suit of armor,
standing in your respective gold-decked chariot filled with shiny and sharp
weapons? What happened to all your mightiness? What happened to the words that
you all assured me?”
None had the nerve to look at Arjuna or even explain to
him. Krishna alone soothed Arjuna by patting the shoulders of Arjuna, with no
words spoken. Arjuna was filled with rage on his brothers and blamed them for
the death of Abhimanyu. Yudhistra, with lowered head spoke –“Arjuna! We take
the blame for our son’s death. Packed with energy, enthusiasm, skill and
talent, as your son proceeded into the Vyuha, we were stopped by King
Jayadratha. He separated us from our son.” Yudhistra thus spoke the day’s
battle and the way King Jayadratha ceased the four brothers from entering the
Vyuha.
“You four mighty warriors and your entire platoon were not
able to slay or even defeat one King!!?”- yelled Arjuna.
 |
| Jayadratha and his boon from Lord Siva |
Krishna, consoling Arjuna, spoke – “Arjuna, what your
brother says is true. After being humiliated by Bhīma in the forest, King Jayadratha practiced
severe austerity desirous of a boon from Lord Shiva. When Lord Shiva was
pleased and appeared in front of him, he asked for a boon that he should be
able to defend the sons of Pandavas, singly, in the battlefield. It was only
because of this boon, your brothers were unable to defend Abhimanyu.”
Hearing the words of Krishna, enraged Arjuna yelled – “That
wicked Jayadratha! Wretched soul on earth! Tomorrow I will slay that wretch in
my own hands. I will dispatch him to hell for his malevolent act. If, by
tomorrow’s sunset he is alive, I will enter into pyre and reach heaven along
with my son. And this is my vow.”
Vowing in front of everyone, Arjuna, filled with rage
rushed towards his bivouac. Hearing his vow, the Pandava army blew their
conches and produced a loud shriek that made the Kaurava army to quiver in
fear. Duryodhana’s spies informed Duryodhana about Arjuna’s vow. Fear struck,
Jayadratha said –“Duryodhana! Arjuna is raged and he will definitely take his
vow seriously. Without doubt, he will kill me for he has sworn on his son.
Allow me, I will leave the camp and hide myself somewhere deep inside the
forest or even beneath the mountains where he will not find me.”
Duryodhana calmed Jayadratha and said –“O King! Calm down.
No matter where you go, Arjuna will find you and kill you. The one and only
safe place for you is among us. With mighty warriors in our side, to protect
you, why are you afraid of one single bowman? You are a Kshatriya. Disperse
your fear.”
Saying so, Duryodhana and Jayadratha along with the wicked
council members like Saguni, Duchadhana, Aswathama and Karna left to
generalissimo Dronacharya’s bivouac to discuss about defending Jayadratha.
Meanwhile, while they were discussing, King Yudhistra’s messenger reached
Dronacharya’s tent looking for Duryodhana.
“King Duryodhana! Dronacharya! Kindly, accept my respect. I
am here carrying a message from King Yudhistra. Mighty Arjuna has vowed to slay
King Jayadratha in the battle tomorrow. And so, in order to protect the life and
happiness of their sister, King Yudhistra has requested the King and army
general to protect King Jayadratha, the son-in-law of the Kuru family.”
With permission from Dronacharya, the messenger left the
tent. Duryodhana, surprised on King Yudhistra’s act said- “Is King Yudhistra
such a mighty soul!? Knowing the consequence of the failure of the vow, yet he
has informed us about protecting Jayadratha. With Arjuna’s death, they will
lose the war. Knowing this, he has asked us to save Jayadratha! All because of
his love for our sister, Dussala? I admire his heart! Willing to lose his
brother to save the life, happiness and future of his sister! Esteemed soul he
is!”
“Duryodhana, now that the King himself has confirmed, focus
on my safety. Else, sure, Arjuna will slay me.” – quivered King Jayadratha.
“Fear not, O King. It’s not noble for a Kshatriya to leave
the battlefield out of fear for his life. Our mighty warriors will fight for
protecting you from Arjuna. Observe the Kshatriya duties and set your heart in
the battle, O King.”- consoled Dronacharya.
“Allied with Krishna, Arjuna is definitely mighty and
unstoppable. No matter what ever battle strategies you apply, he will
definitely break it. Filled with wrath, the Pandavas are waiting for my death.
Arjuna, out of his confidence, has vowed to even fall into a pyre.” – said
restless Jayadratha.
Saguni, who was sitting serene, on listening to
Jayadratha’s words, lifted his head and said – “Arjuna has vowed to kill
himself, right! This really is a great opportunity. If he dies, the Pandavas will lose the war. Duryodhana
will win the war!”
 |
| King Jayadratha...all set to hide! |
Hearing Saguni’s words,
exhilarated Duryodhana turned towards Dronacharya and said – “Dronacharya! Our
leader! Form a mighty array that the Pandavas will find it tough to break. As
of Jayadratha, protect him with the help of our mighty chariot warriors,
Maharathas and soldiers. Let’s hide him somewhere and make sure Arjuna never
finds out. With sunset, unable to find him, Arjuna will enter the pyre. I will
win!” – ceasing not, turning towards King Jayadratha, he continued- “O King
Jayadratha! Fear not for it’s a great chance for us to win the battle. Hide
yourself and do not come out of the place until sunset. You will be protected
by mighty heroes like Karna, Aswathama and Krpacharya. Those heroes untied
together are not easy to defeat...even by Arjuna.”
King
Jayadratha, understanding the strategy of Duryodhana too got cheered – “Great
plan, Duryodhana! Victory will be ours by tomorrow’s sunset! Through me, you
will get the victory you desire!”
Dronacharya
and the council formed strategies to protect King Jayadratha and also to stop
the Pandava army. None slept in the Pandavas camp out of fear, ‘What if Arjuna
fails!?’, whereas, those in the Kauravas camp too slept not as they were filled
with terror to face the raged Arjuna in the battle tomorrow. Dronacharya and
Karna, knowing what will happen for sure tomorrow no matter what and realizing
that their efforts will fail in front of Krishna, remembering their promises to
Duryodhana they executed their plan to defend Jayadratha. The night, indeed,
was long and disturbing in both the camps.
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