Karna was gladdened beyond measure to hear the words of approbation from one who had hated him. King Shalya’s sincere wish to see him win, despite the fact that his blood relatives fought on the other side, heartened Karna and renewed his sense of purpose.
Strangely, Arjuna had asked the same question of his charioteer, who replied, ‘Such a thing can never happen but if it does, I will tear apart Karna and Shalya with my bare hands and the earth will be scorched to the ground, unable to withstand the heat of my anger!’ Arjun was touched with his friend’s response and said, ‘I don’t know why I asked such a question...with you by my side, victory is always certain!’
The fight between the brothers commenced. The combatants fought with ordinary weapons, feeling each other out, probing for weaknesses and openings. So great was their skill and so fluid their movements, that to the spectators it seemed they were watching a dance, albeit one of death. Arjuna was impressed with the display put up by his mortal foe. But even when he caught himself admiring Karna, that admiration was tinged with frustration. He realised, to the detriment of his pride, that despite the machinations of his divine father and friend, which had resulted in Karna losing many of his natural advantages, they were still evenly matched, and he had to draw on every ounce of his strength and fortitude to triumph over him.
With a roar of fury, Arjun unleashed a divine weapon called the Agniastra. Flames shot out of the missile and engulfed Karna’s chariot. His opponent responded in kind with the Varunastra, which doused the flames. Thick smoke rose from the embers and wafted towards Arjuna, stinging his eyes and clogging his throat, making him cough. He had to use the Vayavyastra to draw up a fragrant breeze and chase the smoke away.
Summoning a more powerful weapon, called the Aindrastra, Arjuna released it. This missile conjured up thousands of arrows, that attacked Karna as well as the watching army, killing soldiers in droves. Surya’s son felt his anger boil and he thought bitterly that Arjuna’s reputation for nobility and fair play was ill-deserved. It galled him that it was himself who was considered the feckless one, when in fact, Arjuna was the one who was employing such devilish tactics. Spurred by his anger, he released the Bhargavastra, which had been the weapon of his Guru. It was a truly superior missile, which countered Arjuna’s astra with embarrassing ease and then proceeded to wrap the third Pandava in an energy-sapping haze even as it wreaked havoc among the Pandava forces.
Bheema’s strident words penetrated the deathly haze and rang in Arjuna’s ears: ‘Can you hear the Kaurava curs laughing at you Arjuna? Are the lowborn too much for you to handle? Admit defeat and I will kill him myself and win back the honour that is fast slipping from us while you dawdle thus!’
But even those insulting words could not induce him to throw off the torpor that held him prisoner. A strange inertia had Arjuna in its grip and he found himself unwilling to fight Karna with the best of his formidable arsenal. Something stayed his hand. It could have been that his blood recognised its own even when his head could not.
Krishna sensed what was happening and spoke to him: ‘What is wrong with you? Where did this unmanly hesitation spring from? Remember who you are and the purpose for which you walk this earth. That man who stands against you embodies the spirits of the demons from another era. They are implacable foes whose hatred will chase you from this life to the next and the ones after that if you do not put an end to it. Wake up and do what you were born to do!’
Arjuna broke free from the chains that had held down his spirit and called forth the Brahmastra. It tore apart the effects of the Bhargavastra –but only with a supreme effort from Arjuna. Overcoming his reluctance, the third Pandava fought with renewed passion. He and his mighty bow merged into one entity and arrows issued in a fluid and effortless stream, almost in telepathic response to his thoughts and needs.
Karna was fighting for his life. It was an awesome sight to watch as he surpassed all else in the Apollonian splendour of his beauty, power and grace. Picking up the deadliest weapon in his depleted arsenal, he hurled the nagastra at his younger brother. Death latched itself onto that missile of deadly power and time stood still as it raced to claim Arjuna for its own. The hero saw it come but was powerless to stop it. His brothers felt the blood drain from their faces and a horrible fear seized and held them in thrall. Krishna alone responded as everyone else stood paralyzed. Just as the weapon hastened towards its mark, Krishna urged his Gaandharva steeds to their knees, with the result that the arrow buried itself in Arjuna’s diadem and burnt it to a crisp. In that instant, Arjuna was born again.
The Pandavas and their supporters screamed their relief while their opponents wailed in despair. Karna was in agony. He knew that if it had not been for Krishna, he would have triumphed despite the great odds against him. As it was, he had come heartbreakingly close to victory. Despite knowing all along that where Krishna went, victory followed, he found it difficult to accept and he clenched his teeth in thwarted fury.
The fight raged on between the valiant brothers. Karna had no weapons left in his possession that were powerful enough to carry the day. He felt a terrible chill rise from his limbs to gradually settle in his heart. Death was close and stood ready to take him. ‘Not just yet!’ he thought, furiously fighting on with demonic determination. He thought about Duryodhana, and decided that he had to try and perform one last service for him. If he could not kill the accursed Pandava, he could certainly destroy his army. With this in mind, he summoned the Brahmastra. But at that crucial moment, he could not for the life of him remember the mantra to invoke it. Parashurama’s curse had taken hold.
Even as Karna struggled to recall the words, one of the wheels of his chariot sank into the ground. The old man’s curse had also come true, as if to prove the adage that misfortune never comes alone. Karna tried in vain to dislodge the stubborn wheel, but it only sank deeper and deeper into the mire. Shalya prayed fervently to the Gods who had seen fit to hamper the purushakara of this great hero with more than his fair share of adversity. But Arjuna was already moving in for the kill.
Seeing him draw near, Karna called out to his brother: ‘Arjuna! If you are a Kshatriya who knows the code of conduct, restrain your hand till I free this accursed wheel!’ Arjuna hesitated on hearing these words, as it went against his grain to attack an opponent in such a palpably unfair fashion.
But Krishna’s voice broke through his indecision: ‘You are a fine one to talk about conduct, Karna! Was it good conduct when you and Duryodhana decided to use foul means to try and kill the Pandavas or rob them of what was theirs? Was it the epitome of noble ethics when you suggested that Draupadi ought to be disrobed as she was your slave? Was it fair play when you disarmed the boy Abhimanyu by breaking his bow from behind? How is it that you have suddenly become such an adherent of dharma that you dare to preach its laws to Arjuna?’
The words of the Lord-charioteer battered away at the last dregs of Karna’s resistance. Karna felt sick with remorse as he finally realized that though he could not have controlled the events of his birth and life which had contributed to his misery, he could and should have controlled his actions and striven for a higher standard of nobility. Hanging his head in shame, he went on with his efforts to free the wheel.
Arjuna’s thoughts were on Abhimanyu and he invoked a divine weapon called the Anjalika. In a clear voice he uttered: ‘If I have been a good man who always stuck to the path of dharma, let this weapon find its mark and put an end to Karna’s existence on Mother Earth.’
Karna abandoned the wheel and determinedly, if futilely, attacked Arjuna by shooting ordinary arrows, as he no longer had the strength to summon divine weapons. He refused, as he had all through his life, to submit tamely to cruel fate. Arjuna’s missile flew towards his neck and severed his head cleanly. As Karna fell to the ground, a bright light escaped from his chest and flew towards the sun, which had turned red, as if in mourning. The Gods showered flowers on the fallen hero, even as the whole earth fell silent, mourning the los
s of a beloved son who had been brave, noble, generous to a fault, and loyal unto death.
18
Duel Unto Death
After the death of Karna on the seventeenth day of battle, a cloud of doom descended on the tattered remains of what had once been a mighty army. Duryodhana was terribly distraught. He had lost the Grandsire, Drona, his beloved friend Karna, his brothers, and even his son, Lakshmana. Yudhishthira on the other hand still had all his brothers. The Prince tried to rally his troops, but nobody was in the mood to fight. The sight of Shalya driving an empty chariot broke his will and he wept disconsolately as he was led away from the battlefield.
Kripacharya tried to comfort him as best he could, but Duryodhana felt that life had lost all meaning for him with Karna gone. Even the death of his brothers and son had not affected him as deeply. While he mourned thus, Kripa advised him to end the suffering at once and call for a truce. But the Prince shook his head sadly and said, ‘I realised a long time ago that this war with the Pandavas was going to end badly for us, but we have all crossed the point of no return. The idea of suing for peace now is repellent to me and I refuse to even contemplate it. After having the entire world at my feet, to do with as I pleased, it would be impossible for me to embrace a life where I will be alone and at the mercy of my cousins. Death is close to me and I will leave this world fighting to the very end, the way a Kshatriya should. I have lost everything that is dear to me, only my honour remains and I will not let go of it at this fell hour.’
Duryodhana’s decision was applauded by all. Shalya was appointed Commander of the Kaurava forces, on the recommendation of Ashwatthama, Drona’ son. Remembering his promise to Karna, to avenge him or die trying, Shalya rode out to battle, to be confronted by the faces of his sister’s sons and their brothers. The dear faces were set in grim lines and the King of Madra knew that his own countenance was far from friendly. Today they would all fight to kill.
Krishna had told Yudhishthira that he alone was capable of neutralising the threat Shalya posed. And so the eldest Pandava prepared his battle plans. He decided to attack the Commander of the Kaurava forces with his brothers, Shikandin and Dhrishtadyumna, protecting and supporting him.
Shalya fought heroically and more than lived up to his reputation as a warrior par excellence. Forgetting the ties of blood that bound him to the twins, he fought with only the aim to destroy. The Pandava army was almost tottering under the savage attack and Yudhishthira was furious with the man responsible for the carnage. The serenity that characterised the eldest Pandava, vanished on that day and left in its wake a killing fury. He challenged Shalya to a duel and the two men were soon engaged in deadly combat. There was little to choose between them as they matched blow for blow. Yudhishthira shattered his opponent’s armour and Shalya responded by breaking the Pandava’s bow. Having gained the upper hand, Shalya pressed his advantage and tore open Yudhishthira’s armour with precise arrows and also killed his horses. Kripa and Ashwatthama rushed forward to help Shalya and together the trio harassed the eldest Pandava mightily.
Seeing him in duress, the other four Pandavas charged in to counter the attack. Like a pack of converging lions, they closed in on the King of Madra. Driving away his supporters, they gathered around the lone figure. Bheema disarmed Shalya and killed his charioteer as well. Shalya’s horses were out of control and he jumped out of his chariot with sword and shield in hand. But Bheema smashed both. Yudhishthira seized the moment and hurled a spear at the King of Madra. The weapon found its mark in Shalya’s chest and felled him to the ground.
The Kaurava soldiers, on seeing their Commander dead, took to their heels, knowing that the fall of Shalya marked the end of the war. Duryodhana rallied his men by ordering his remaining troops to shoot at the deserters. When some sense of order was restored, he led the charge against the Pandavas himself. Galvanised by the actions of the Kuru Prince, the soldiers fought with renewed vigour and spirit.
Seeing the Kaurava Prince in the thick of the fighting, his uncle Shakuni went to extricate him with the help of his son, Uluka. The Pandava twins, who had been hankering for the blood of the man who was the root cause of their troubles, went after him. Nakula made short work of Uluka while his brother fought Shakuni. Hard-pressed to keep his end up, Shakuni turned tail and fled, only to be pursued by Sahadeva, who was determined not to let the evil man escape. ‘I knew it all along! You are nothing but a coward who excels at cheating and nothing else. At least prove that you are a man possessed of some virility by standing and fighting like one!’ he shouted after his fleeing uncle. But disregarding his taunts, Shakuni continued to run till a sharp javelin thrown by Sahadeva separated his cowardly head from the rest of his body. The twins were euphoric when they saw the much hated head roll in the mud, with the once-scheming brains spilling out, jarred loose by the impact of hitting the hard ground. They cheered jubilantly and their cheers were taken up by all the others on their side.
In the meantime, Arjuna was systematically destroying the rest of the army with his Gandeeva, determined to finish the battle on that cataclysmic day. Arrows streamed from the great bow in an endless flow and slew thousands of soldiers. He had just about finished off the remnants of the Kaurava army with Dhrishtadyumna circling around, picking off the troops trying to flee. Duryodhana realised that he had been thoroughly and utterly defeated. Not a single soldier remained of the formidable army he had raised. For a moment he stood silently staring at the mangled remains of his men with disbelieving eyes. Then with the air of one who knew not whether he was asleep or awake, he withdrew slowly and unobtrusively from the battlefield with only his trusty mace for company. Kripa, Ashwatthama, and Kritavarma, the three remaining stalwarts from the Kauava army, who had managed to stay alive, also withdrew discreetly.
With the sound of the boisterous cheering of the Pandava army ringing in his ears, Duryodhana fled, craving nothing but blissful oblivion. There was great revelry on the Pandava side and everyone was thrilled that the bloody conflict had finally ended. They were all glutted with blood and could take no more. Dhrishtadyumna, Shikandin, Satyaki, and the other proud warriors who had fought in the greatest war of all time and lived though it, pranced around, giddy with excitement, their usual pomp and dignity having deserted them.
The Pandavas themselves were feeling far from sanguine. They knew that the war was not officially over while Duryodhana still lived. Five pairs of eyes searched the blood-soaked battlefield of Kurukshetra, looking in vain for their cousin. Krishna suggested that Yudhishthira send out scouts and offer a reward to anyone who could shed light on the whereabouts of the eldest Kaurava.
While the brothers waited for news about him, Duryodhana had come to a decision. His body and soul were wearied to a point beyond human endurance. He simply could not bring himself to fulfil his responsibilities or even think of them. The defeated warrior looked around for a place to conceal himself so that his spirit could begin to revive. He saw a lake and an idea struck him like a bright shaft of sunlight.
The Prince knew the secret of making water stand still and could breathe underwater for as long as he wished. Duryodhana decided to enter that watery haven and make a fresh start. The fatigue and sorrow that had him in its deathly grip, began to loosen its hold once he was safely ensconced within the lake, gently held there like a foetus within the soothing fluids of the womb. Duryodhana felt that he had been born again. While he mused thus, a strange thought took hold of him. He remembered that the preceptor of the Asuras, Shukracharya, possessed knowledge of the secret craft of Sanjivani, which could bring the dead back to life. Kacha, the son of Brihaspathi, Guru of the Devas, had finagled it out of him. Duryodhana decided that if he could somehow acquire knowledge of that esoteric craft, he would be able to revive everyone he had loved and lost.
Excitedly, the Prince decided to perform tapas to achieve his goal. While he was readying himself for this venture, Ashwatthama, Kripa and Kritavarma, approached him. Duryodhana told them that he would be ready
to fight soon and to leave him alone in the meantime. All was not lost and they could still triumph over his cousins. Heartened by his optimism, the trio left him and returned to their camp.
But, their conversation was overheard by a group of hunters; and rightly judging that this information was of great value, the men went in search of Yudhishthira, dreaming of the riches they were about to acquire. Overwhelmed with excitement, they rushed headlong into the Pandava camp, even as the guards attempted to detain them. Bheema came out to ascertain the cause of the disturbance and the hunters poured out their story to him. The second Pandava was delighted and hugged them to his chest. He thanked them heartily before lavishing wealth upon them, beyond their wildest expectations.
Bheema wasted no time in relaying the information to Yudhishthira. The brothers, accompanied by Krishna, Dhrishtadyumna, Shikandin and Satyaki, called for their chariots and raced towards Lake Dwaipayana. When Yudhishthira espied the still lake that provided Duryodhana with his last sanctuary, he felt the rage he had long suppressed in his heart burst forth. In a voice hoarse with anger, he called out, ‘Come out and fight like a man, you scoundrel! What do you mean by hiding like a rat after bringing about the destruction of an entire race? So much death and destruction has been our lot only because you have a black heart without the capacity for kindness. You started this war and you will end it by forfeiting your life! Come out and stop behaving like a coward!’
To these acid words, Duryodhana replied with infuriating serenity, ‘I am not hiding because I am scared of you. It has been an exhausting ordeal for both of us and I feel that both sides need to rest awhile before we commence fighting on the morrow.’
Arjuna Page 26