 |
| Sunset |
The Pandavas camp was filled the
effects of Pithamaha’s prowess in the battle. The soldiers who were injured
were getting their cures while the rest who believe they are miraculously alive
were plucking the sharp arrows from their battle armor which, by god’s grace, failed
to reach their heart. There was no peace in the minds of the soldiers and they
were unable to sleep, fearing about the agility of the mighty Bhishma they
might get to face the next day. Even the soldiers who slept dreamt of Pithamaha
with his bow and celestial arrow waiting to kill them.
With nine days of battle being fought,
the mighty warriors of the Pandavas too were unable to sleep, terrified and
troubled on the mightiness of Pithamaha Bhishma. The Kings sat for a council
along with Krishna, expecting a favorable solution.Everyone discussed about
various strategies and array formations but all their hopes diminished when
they think of Pithamaha, the mighty warrior of all time.
“Pithamaha is crushing us like an
elephant stepping on a flower. He is slaying everyone with just one look and
one arrow. Every single warrior of the army who is facing the grandsire in the
battlefield is getting killed for sure. Challenging him is like challenging
Lord Yama. Having him as our foe, I don’t see a ray of hope to win.” – said dejected
Arjuna.
The Kings of the allied Kingdoms
nodded in acceptance.
“We are already less in terms of
Akshauhinis. With Bhishma battling fiercely, I don’t think we will have enough
soldiers by the end of the day, tomorrow. While battling, he resembles like he
is packed with fire, thunder and wind. He knows what to do and when to perform
it. That single strategy of him, not just his mighty skill and expertise but
even his battling strategies are more than enough to subjugate our army in the
battle.” – said generalissimo Dhrishtadyumna.
Hearing
the words of Dhrishtadyumna, King Yudhistra spoke in a dejected voice– “With
Pithamaha standing against us in the battle, we don’t even have the slightest
chance. He will definitely slay us all. O Krishna, I consider life as a gift.
It should be lived with peace. Battling against Pithamaha is like, losing the
hope to live. I, O Krishna, therefore, have no desire to battle anymore. I will
retire into the woods. It’s better for everyone who is alive. Everyone will be
benefited in my exile and there will not be any more unwanted deaths in this
battlefield. Pithamaha too will not be burdened about Hastinapur,Duryodhana and
us.”
“O Yudhistra! Do not indulge in such
thoughts when you have me by your side. You also have your mighty brothers, who
will win the three worlds for you. Comfort yourself, O King. He who is capable
of defeating even Lord Indra in a combat, Arjuna, your mighty brother, has
vowed to slay Pithamaha in the battle. If he is capable of defeating the Lords,
what doubts you, in him slaying Pithamaha? For you, he, for sure, will slay
Pithamaha, with me as his protector. If, out of his love for Pithamaha, Arjuna
does not wish to slay him, I, for your sake, will disregard my vow and will
slay grandsire in the battlefield. Don’t you worry for you have me.” – Krishna
comforted King Yudhistra.
Comforted on Krishna’ words, King
Yudhistra said – “O Krishna, with you by our side, there is nothing
unachievable. For my sake, I do not wish you to falsify your words. Hence, for
the sake of me and my army, assist us with your words and strategies. Tell me
what I should do, that will benefit us and dharma, without disregarding my
duties.”
“O King, before the start of the
battle, Pithamaha informed to you: ‘I will fight for Duryodhana on behalf of
Hastinapur, but, I will guide you in the war, whenever you ask for it.’ I
hope you remember those words. So what if we request his assistance and also a
solution to this hitch.” – said Krishna.
Though relieved for a moment, King
Yudhistra, after a lapse of moment, said – “O Lord! He is the one who was there
for us when we had nothing. He was our father, our guru, our leader and everything.
What we are now, in character and talent is all just a fragment of him. The
only solution that he can give to us right now will be the way to slay him.
Cursed, O Krishna. My soul is definitely cursed to do such a shameful act. It’s
a disgrace for dharma. O Madhava, this Kshatriya life itself is a cursed one.”
“Kshatriya duty, O King. It is
Kshatriya duty! This curse is not only on you. But for every Kshatriya, who should
do it for the welfare of their citizens. Pithamaha will understand it.” – said
Krishna.
“We will go to Pithamaha’s bivouac,
without delay and ask him the way. He, for sure, will give us a beneficial
solution. We will fight as he says.” – said King Yudhistra with a heavy heart.
“O Yudhistra, Son of Dharma, your notion
is good. For you, he will definitely guide and lead you towards victory. Let’s
proceed to Pithamaha’s bivouac without delay.” – Saying so, Krishna, along with
the Pandavas proceeded to the camp of the Kauravas while the rest of the
council members remained in the camp, discussing about the strategy for
tomorrow’s battle and also, waiting eagerly for the return of Krishna and the
Pandavas with a favorable solution to defeat the mighty grandsire.
Krishna and the Pandavas reached the
bivouac of Pithamaha. Bowing to the grandsire, they sat on the seats.
“Blessed I am to see Krishna, in my
bivouac. Welcome O Krishna, for blessing this soul which is troubled. Welcome O
Sons of Pandu. What is it that I can do to please your heart?” – greeting
everyone, Pithamaha enquired about the reason of their visit.
“O Pithamaha! You are the root of our
talent and skill and goodness. Considering your words as god’s words, we
accepted for this war only for dharma and for the welfare of the people. These
nine days of war has seen so many deaths- soldiers, warriors, elephants, riders
and steeds. You blessed us for victory in this war. But, we fail to see the
hope for it. We would like to stop the annihilation of these creatures. You, the
adroit soul on earth, is the only person who can guide us at this time of
distress.” – said King Yudhistra.
 |
| Pithamaha! |
Listening to Pithamaha’s words, seeing
his love for them, the Pandavas felt embarrassed to even speak.
Krishna, on seeing the unresponsive
Pandavas, spoke – “Pithamaha, only on the victory of the Pandavas, dharma can
be sustained on earth. They worry on how to attain victory in this battle.”
“Krishna! They have you!! Why should
they worry then?” – enquired Pithamaha.
"Unto Bhishma’s words, King Yudhistra
continued – “O Grandsire, with you blazing in the battlefield like the second
sun… When you are fierce with your bow and arrow in your hands, the destruction
of your foe is certain. How can we attain victory when my army is terrified to
even stand against you?”
Listening to Yudhistra’s words,
Pithamaha addressed – “O Son! What you are saying is true. As long as I am
alive, you won’t be able to win this battle. But, if I am vanquished, there’s
nothing that can stop you from winning.” Glancing at Krishna with a decision in
his mind, Pithamaha continued – “Yudhistra, I give you permission to attack me.
At times like this, have your eyes fixed on your mission. As your mission is
dharma, you deserve victory. So strike me tomorrow and earn your victory.”
“Pithamaha! You are incapable of being
defeated. Even if the devas and demons unify and battle against you, they will
be scotched. Such is your prowess.” – said King Yudhistra.
 |
| Sikandi |
“It’s true, dear Son. My father has
blessed me that death will embrace me only when I ask for it. If I am defeated,
then your victory will be certain. When I am armed, I am bound to the rules of
a commander. But even in such a case, I will not raise my bow against: Unarmed warriors, warrior whose armor is
slipped, one whose flag in his chariot is broken, warrior lying on the ground,
fleeing and terrified warriors and also, against a female or even someone whose
name is a female. I have resolved that I never will fight against these people,
under any circumstances. The mighty son of Drupada who was a female earlier,
mighty warrior Sikandi, she has vowed to slay me. But, though she is a man now,
I will not raise my weapon against her. Place her as the lead tomorrow in the
battle and fight against me. My dear son, Arjuna, you are the only person
skilled to trounce me. Place Sikandi in front and attack me. I will not be
striking back at you, for you have Sikandi as your shield. Attack me and throw
me away from my chariot. Once I am down, I will not raise back to fight. That
way, victory will be yours. Victory will be yours, for certain.” – addressed
Pithamaha.
Arjuna, on listening to Pithamaha’s
words, broke into tears and filled with shame, replied unto the mighty
grandsire – “O Pithamaha! How can I slay you? You are our father, our guru, our
idol…You are our mighty, intelligent, caring and ever loving Pithamaha. How can
I vanquish you? I would even prefer to die in the battle than to fight against
you.”
"O Son! Arjuna, Listen to me. I feel
proud to be defeated by you. I am gratified, for my death is leading to dharma’s
victory. Release me from this burden! Moreover, I accept my defeat whole
heartedly as a decree for my behavior in the court room during the dice game.
You are my best disciple, son. And, as a follower of dharma, I would like to
see you keep your eyes fixed on dharma. So, without any distress, vanquish me
in the battle.” – replied Bhishma.
Saluting grandsire Bhishma, the
Pandavas and Krishna retired to their camp. The council was called again. The
Pandavas explained the conversation they had in Pithamaha’s bivouac.
 |
| Pandavas council! |
Arjuna, unable to make decision, with
his head lowered, spoke – “Why should it be me? Why did I even vow to kill him,
in first place? It doesn’t matter even if we are defeated. I will not slay him.
I will gladly accept death or exile too.”
Krishna, on listening to the distressed
words of Arjuna, spoke gently – “O Arjuna! Being a Kshatriya, you cannot
refrain from your vow. None in this world is capable of defeating Pithamaha,
except you. Consider Pithamaha’s words, Arjuna. Lead him to the path of Moksha
and relive him from the burden he is holding in his heart. Consider it as a
favor you are doing to him. Also, consider it as a favor you are doing for the
welfare of your citizens. It’s an eternal duty of a Kshatriya. For a Kshatriya,
people and dharma comes first.”
Accepting Krishna’s words blindly,
Arjuna set his mind on defeating Pithamaha in the battle. Generalissimo
Dhrishtadyumna and Arjuna discussed about the strategies for the battle to be
fought. “By the time Sikandi and Arjuna faces Pithamaha, we should have the
other Maharathas to hold the rest of the warriors of Kuru side.”- said
Bhīma.
“Sikandi
can fight against Pithamaha and I will protect her from Pithamaha’s soldiers
with my shafts.” - said Arjuna.
Having
discussed about the strategies to vanquish the mighty Bhishma, everyone retired
to their tent, expecting the most expected dawn.
No comments:
Post a Comment