Arjuna

by Anuja Chandramouli

  Alayudha and his followers attacked the Pandava forces with vigour, and the besieged troops were helpless as they had no response to the supernatural powers of the Rakshasas, particularly at night, when their powers were increased manifold. The evil Alayudha challenged Bheema to combat and the latter was hard-pressed to fend off his relentless harassment. Krishna sensed that Bheema was struggling, so he interrupted Ghatotkacha, who was doing battle with Karna, and sent him to render aid to his father.

  Ghatotkacha and Alayudha clashed in an almighty struggle of Rakshasa strength as they were evenly matched. They raged and cursed each other, bleeding profusely from the wounds inflicted by the powerful weapons they used. Alayudha was the first to give ground, and even as he was rallying to resume the fight, Ghatotkacha severed his head and hurled it at Duryodhana, howling all the while with fiendish glee.

  Caught in the spell of unstoppable bloodlust, Ghatotkacha attacked the Kaurava soldiers indiscriminately, sparing none, even those who threw down their weapons in supplication and begged for mercy. Blood spurted in all directions like grotesque geysers and the son of Bheema gloried in the destruction and havoc he was wreaking among his enemies. Veteran warriors found their courage had abandoned them as they watched Ghatotkacha tear their comrades to pieces, using his teeth to rend the flesh off fallen soldiers and to rip off their limbs with his own massive hands and throw them asunder. They fled the battlefield like frightened mice, keening and ululating like female mourners.

  The fleeing soldiers ran to Karna and begged him to help them by putting an end to the terrible Rakshasa, who was surely the worst adversary any of them had ever seen. Even Arjuna was preferable to Ghatotkacha, as the third Pandava had a sense of fair play and could never bring himself to slaughter defenceless men in such a manner. Heeding their pleas, Karna tried to stop Ghatotkacha.

  The Rakshasa, however, was a relentless force of nature that night. Trying to stop him was like pouring a small bucket of water over a raging fire and hoping that it will be sufficient to douse it. Karna succeeded in neutralising some of the astras released by Ghatotkacha, but he was unable to find a weak spot in his defences, that would allow him to move in for the kill. In the meantime, Bheema’s son carried on his killing spree. Without warning, he attacked Karna and destroyed his chariot, leaving him standing on foot.

  Duryodhana, already reeling from the death of Jayadratha, despite the formidable measures that had been taken to keep out Arjuna, panicked on finding that his army was being annihilated. Terrified at the prospect of defeat and ruin, he turned to Karna and begged him to use the special Shakti that Indra had given him, to get rid of Ghatotkacha. He spoke in a voice of distraught frenzy, his eyes glazed as though not entirely in control of his senses.

  The plea was taken up by the frightened troops as well, and a million voices urged Karna to use his special weapon to kill Ghatotkacha. Karna hesitated, for he knew that with the weapon gone, his chances of killing Arjuna would be almost non-existent. But the exhortations of Duryodhana and his men rose to a crescendo and slowly but surely they drowned out his misgivings. His mind became sluggish as an eerie impulse got hold of it, snuffing out all resistance and directing him to use the Shakti given to him by Indra.

  Mechanically, Karna reached for the weapon and directed it at the monstrous Rakshasa, who was still in the throes of bloodlust. With inexorable purpose that gave added impetus to his limbs, he released the Shakti, and it surged towards Ghatotkacha. When Bheema’s son saw death hurtling towards him, the all-consuming rage that had taken possession of him and caused him to kill without compunction, vanished, leaving only a clear sense of purpose and duty. In the few seconds of life left to him, Ghatotkacha engorged his already massive body to gargantuan proportions, and was growing as if to touch the sky, when Karna’s missile hit him in the heart with unerring accuracy. Death was instantaneous and he fell heavily to the ground, crushing an entire akshauhini of the Kaurava army under his bulk. Bheema’s mighty son, who had always helped the Pandavas when they needed him most, lay dead, having given them everything he had to give, including his own life.

  On his demise, the jubilation in the Kaurava army was matched only by the sorrow in the Pandava camp. But two men in both the armies showed emotions that were markedly different from those around them. Karna felt a wave of bitter defeat wash over him even as his men danced around him in ecstasy, as he sensed that his own death was imminent. Before his emotions could get the better of him and deprive him of his courage, he reassured himself with the thought that one way or the other, it would be best to get this sordid business over and done with, and put an end to his miserable existence in a world that had been so consistently cruel to him right from the moment of his birth.

  Krishna also reacted somewhat inappropriately to the grievous occasion and whooped with delight while prancing around like a frolicking deer. Arjuna looked askance at this jocose display and asked his friend why he was celebrating the death of a Pandava’s son. Krishna smiled before replying: ‘His death ensures your safety and that is the reason for my happiness. Indra had given him his invincible Shakti and Karna was planning to use it against you. Now that it has claimed its victim, it will return to its original owner and Karna from now on, is well and truly at your mercy.’

  Arjuna was somewhat disturbed on hearing this and said: ‘Was it necessary to sacrifice Bheema’s son for me? The boy was dear to all of us, particularly to Yudhishthira, for he was always there to help us during trying times. Abhimanyu also loved him. It grieves me sorely to hear that he had to die for me to live.’

  ‘I never do anything without just cause, Arjuna. It is my duty to ensure that only the truly righteous emerge triumphant in this apocalyptic conflict. I had to make Karna use the Shakti on someone other than you, for without you there can be no victory for your brothers. Ghatotkacha was the ideal choice. It will be painful for you to hear this, but the truth is Bheema’s son was a Rakshasa with a proclivity towards evil. And while it is true that his own kith and kin brought out the best in his ferocious nature, others were not so lucky. Like most of his ilk, he had scant respect for divinity and went about disrupting sacrifices, killing holy men, and generally harassing the god-fearing. If Karna had not taken his life, then I would have had to do it myself, and I was reluctant to do so out of sensitivity for the love all of you had for him. His demise is for the best. Ghatotkacha went from this world like a hero rather than a villain hunted and killed by myself; and his father and uncles can draw comfort from that and take pride in his achievements. By forcing Karna to use the Shakti he had reserved for you, Ghatotkacha has done the Pandavas and the rest of the world a great service. Karna is now like a deadly serpent without its poisonous fangs, or a lion without its mighty claws!’

  ‘I am sorry to have questioned your judgment, Krishna,’ said Arjuna. ‘But there is one thing I do not understand. If Karna had such a weapon in his possession, why did he not track me down on the battlefield and use it immediately? Surely that makes more sense... I would have done just that had our roles been reversed.’

  ‘Karna would have gladly used his weapon on you at the earliest had I allowed him to. He has been trying to engineer an encounter with you from the moment he picked up his weapons and set foot on this battlefield. I, however, made sure that never happened and kept him occupied with other opponents. And on the rare occasions when your paths crossed, I confounded his senses ever so slightly and made him a little befuddled and uncharacteristically slow.’

  Arjuna shook his head in mock disapproval before embracing his friend. ‘What a deadly adversary you make! I am the luckiest man in the universe to have you for a friend and cousin. Otherwise, surely all my powers notwithstanding, my life would have been worth nothing on this battlefield!’

  Having eliminated yet another threat that could have potentially altered the outcome of the battle, Krishna set his sights on Drona. The Acharya, embittered by the constant questions being raised about his loyalties as well as his capacity fo
r warfare, had started using divine weapons on ordinary soldiers. This was forbidden by the codes of warfare, and Krishna decided it was time to get rid of the Brahmin warrior for good. So it came to be that the Acharya, deceived by Yudhishthira at the urging of Krishna, came to believe that his son Ashwatthama had passed away. This was the one blow the mighty Drona could not withstand, as he loved his son above all else. He dropped his weapons and decided to end his life. His soul had just departed his body when Dhrishtadyumna snuck up on him and severed his head, ignoring Arjuna’s entreaties to hold his hand; as well as the other warriors deprecating such an unworthy act. But Drupada’s son was past reason and he held up Drona’s head, well pleased that he had fulfilled his destiny.

  The Kauravas had been struck a grievous blow as they had lost their Supreme Commander. In a daze, Duryodhana turned to Karna, and placed the mantle of command on his shoulders. Surya’s son stood with his head held high and promised his best friend to do all in his power to end the war. The men stood around their new champion and screamed his name aloud, showering Karna with their love and respect. As he stood in the midst of that boisterous gathering, Karna saw in his mind’s eye, death waiting for him just across the battle lines, and he knew that his time was drawing nigh. Yet his heart filled with gladness and he was confident that the straight path of destiny he had chosen for himself was indeed the right one.

  Having accepted his fate, Karna felt strangely calm. He was determined not to let his friend down while he lived. That night Duryodhana and Karna found themselves alone and they drank and talked as they had often done. Sensing that all was not well with Karna, Duryodhana questioned him and asked if there was anything he could do. To that Karna replied: ‘Tomorrow, I will make you a present of Arjuna’s head. But in order to do that, I need a small favour from you. In every respect, Arjuna and I are evenly matched but he has an advantage. I am not talking about his Gandeeva or the inexhaustible quivers which Agni gave him; or the unworldly Gandharva steeds that draw his chariot; or his banner which Hanuman imbues with his presence; or the innumerable celestial weapons in his possession. My main concern is the dark-hued Lord at his side. You know as well as I that he does a lot more than hold the reins, guide the horses, and shovel horse excreta. He controls the ebb and flow of the battle with his fingertips. It is only thanks to his sagacity that Arjuna escapes death at the hands of his betters. My own charioteer is no match for Krishna. But that can be remedied if Shalya, the King of Madra, could be persuaded to drive my chariot, for his expertise as a charioteer is legendary.’

  Shalya was the maternal uncle of the Pandava twins, Nakula and Sahadeva. When he heard that war had been declared between the cousins, he collected a large army and set out to do his duty by his sister’s sons. When Duryodhana heard about this from his spies, he decided it would be prudent to employ a bit of trickery to get the King of Madra to fight for the Kauravas instead. He had rest houses readied along Shalya’s route and ordered his men to spare no expense in pandering to the famously degenerate tastes of the lusty old man. Sure enough, the King of Madra was flattered, thinking that Yudhishthira had done him great honour by taking care of him in this manner. He asked the attendants to take him to their master, as he wished to convey his gratitude in person. To his surprise, Duryodhana emerged and fell at his feet. Shalya blessed him and asked the Prince how he could be of service. In reply, Duryodhana begged him to employ his might for the Kaurava cause and Shalya had no choice but to agree.

  Having promised Duryodhana he would fight for him, he nevertheless said that he would have to meet Yudhishthira and explain in person. The Pandavas were bitterly disappointed when they heard how Duryodhana had outmanoeuvred them, for they had been counting on the King’s support. Shalya hugged his sister’s sons and soothed them. He assured them that his blessings, for what they were worth, would be with them. And the Pandavas had to be content with that.

  Yudhishthira was unwilling to let Duryodhana get away with his thievery and wondered how best the situation could be turned to their advantage. Inspiration hit him suddenly and he addressed Shalya: ‘Karna will try to get you as his charioteer to counter the advantage Arjuna has in Krishna. Duryodhana will persuade you to take on this role. While you are being utilised thus, I would like you to demoralise Karna to the best of your ability and chip away at him mentally, so that he becomes more vulnerable. If you have any regard for us, you must do as I ask.’ Shalya consented and took his leave.

  And so, when Duryodhana requested him to drive Karna’s chariot, the old King was prepared. He put up a tremendous show of belligerence, calling Karna every awful name he could think of. But gradually he allowed himself to be persuaded after inserting his own condition that at no time would he be deferential to Karna and would say what he pleased to him. Having no other choice, Karna agreed, wondering if he wasn’t better off with his own humble yet well-disposed charioteer.

  Both sides had consulted their astrologers and an appropriate hour was settled upon for doing battle. Karna bowed respectfully to Shalya and ascended into his chariot only after the King of Madra had taken his place in the charioteer’s seat. Duryodhana ran out to him and said: ‘I know in my heart that you will win this war for me Karna, and not fail me the way the Grandsire and the Acharya did. The world will remember this day for the tremendous victory its greatest warrior achieved!’

  Karna did not trust himself to speak, but he smiled bravely at the man who might never know the tremendous sacrifice he was making for him. ‘Karna has, since the day he had the fortune to meet you, always done his best for you and he will do the same today. While there is breath in my body, I will strive to serve you to the utmost of my ability.’ And with those words, Karna went on the way to his death.

  Briskly, he asked Shalya to take him to Arjuna. His charioteer acquiesced but remembering his promise to Yudhishthira, he decided to dishearten Karna, and began by keeping up a steady diatribe of verbal barbs and cruel jibes ranging from his opinion of Karna’s lowly birth, to soliloquies on Arjuna’s brilliance, and prophesies about the bloody end of the man whose chariot he drove. Initially Karna was composed, as this was exactly what he had expected from his charioteer. It was no secret that his heart was with the twins and that he had no great liking for the man he thought was a sutaputra.

  Ignoring Shalya’s sharp tongue to the best of his ability, Karna focused his attention on arraying his troops in a brilliant formation of battle. Arjuna rose to the challenge and led the attack against Karna. There was heavy fighting in all quarters and Karna distinguished himself that day as a warrior second to none. Krishna saw him fight and was saddened that before Surya set for the day, he would witness his son’s life-blood spilled on the battlefield of Kurukshetra.

  In the meantime, Bheema and Duhshasana were fighting each other. The hundred sons of Dhritarashtra had been mown down by Bheema, and only two remained. While the two antagonists fought each other, their mutual hatred engulfed them like a storm cloud and showered the spectators with blood. Bheema was delighted to finally have in his grasp the villain who had dared to drag his wife to the assembly by her hair, and then attempt to disrobe her with his filthy, lecherous paws. Maddened with fury by that awful memory, which after all this time could still inflame his rage to feverish pitch, he sprang out of his chariot like a beast of prey and was on Duhshasana in seconds.

  Bheema hurled him to the ground, smashing his spine to pieces, so great was the force of the blow, nourished as it was with his furious anger. ‘Here at last I have got the hand that had the temerity to touch my wife, it deserves to be punished as does its owner!’ Saying thus, Bheema ripped out the limb that had sullied a woman’s honour, staring all the while at the dying man who writhed at his feet. Choking on his hatred as the life left Duhshasana’s body through the gaping hole which was all that was left of his arm, Bheema knelt and ripping open his victim’s chest, cupped his hands together and gulped down the blood that pouring out in copious streams.

  Bheema licked his lip
s and said with relish, ‘That was by far the tastiest thing to pass my lips!’

  Even as the warriors around the dead man and his wild nemesis watched mute with horror, Bheema danced about the corpse like a raving mad man, whooping with devilish glee. ‘Draupadi has been avenged! I have fulfilled the oath I took. The fool who dared to incur my wrath lies dead at my feet. Now all that remains for me to do is to break open the thighs of the other vile creature born to Dhritarashtra, and that too, I shall achieve at the earliest!’ He addressed these last words to Duryodhana, who was sobbing and shuddering with the vehemence of his grief over the brutal death of his last surviving brother. Men fainted with terror, or ran from that accursed place, while others wept openly to see what war had done to the scions of the noble Kuru line.

  Duryodhana mastered his sorrow, and bellowing with rage, he ordered his troops to massacre the Pandavas and spare no one. The soldiers turned on each other, determined to finish the conflict once and for all. Karna made towards Arjuna even as his brother rushed out to meet him. The Gods gathered in heaven to watch the contest between the two. Duryodhana and Yudhishthira, seeing their champion fighters charging towards each other with grim purpose, ordered their men to gather around to show their support.

  As the penultimate moment drew closer, Karna addressed Shalya: ‘I am going to fight for my life and should I fail, what do you propose to do?’ To his surprise, his charioteer for once refrained from heaping scorn on him. ‘I have watched you fight with great heart in the face of an impending doom that would have destroyed lesser men. Your courage is a lesson for all and you are indeed the greatest warrior of all time. It is a privilege to watch you fight. Victory will be yours and my prayers go with you, but if the unthinkable were to happen, I will personally avenge you!’