Hearing that, Bhimsena commanded his charioteer Vishoka, “Let’s get hold of Ghatotkacha.” At that time Ghatotkacha was fighting at the other end of the battlefield – on the western side along with his son Anjanaparva. Bhima’s charioteer caught up with him quickly. Bhimsena descended from his chariot and mounted on the maharathi’s chariot. Both father and son approached Karna in the huge chariot covered by bear skin. That huge chariot with fourteen hefty, dark black horses looked ghastly with the flag having an emblem of a terrifying vulture. That blood red Rakshasa pennant was decorated with wet intestine garlands. The army of one akshauhini Rakshasas stood behind the chariot. In the leading Rakshasa chariot Ghatotkacha looked frightening like a burning mountain summit. The Kaurava soldiers got terrified looking at his conical ears, big, beady eyes, thick eyebrows, and his hairy stomach that looked like a cauldron upside down.
Ferociously looking at Karna, Rakshasa leader Ghatotkacha roared, ‘Hail Hidimbamata…!’ To encourage his son Bhimsena also shouted loudly – ‘Hail Kuntimata…’
A breath-taking night battle ensued between Karna shielded by Rakshasa Alayudha at the front line and Ghatotkacha covering Bhimsena. Finally, at midnight Ghatotkacha slew Alayudha in a horrifying, violent way. Then the panic-stricken Kuru army began wailing in fear, raising their arms in the air, ‘Oh world conqueror Karna, the king of Anga, save us from this Rakshasa, oh munificent Karna, the king of Anga, please offer us the charity of our lives.’
Charity! That word had always enticed that munificent warrior. Karna acceded! For a moment, he closed his eyes and chanted something in his Jaitra chariot. Then from his quiver he pulled out the Vaijayanti Shakti that Indra had blessed him with when he had offered his Kavacha-kundala in charity to Indra and pleased him. Closing his eyes, he charged it with a mantra and shot it at Ghatotkacha! It was the only Shakti that he was left with to protect himself. The moment he shot it his life became like an empty quiver.
As that Shakti pierced the Ghatotkacha’s chest, he screamed horribly in agony. While falling down screaming loudly, he magnified his body so enormously that it felt as if the firmament itself was falling down. Many Kuru soldiers got crushed under his gigantic body and got killed like innumerable ants getting crushed under a toppling Ashoka tree! The night war was over.
As per Krishnadeva’s planning Ghatotkacha’s life mission to leave Karna devoid of the Vaijayanti Shakti was also over.
The day had not yet dawned. Exhausted soldiers from both the armies dropped their weapons and went to various lakes on the land of Kurukshetra to take a bath. While they were performing their morning rituals I presented the eldest Pandava Yudhishthira alone in front of him as per Krishnadeva’s command.
Krishnadeva advised Yudhishthira to beware of Karna. He suggested that Yudhishthira should go and meet Bhishma on the deathbed once. For about half an hour he informed Yudhishthira about the strategies of different regiments. I didn’t understand one thing, why had he summoned Yudhishthira alone to discuss all those things? Why didn’t he ask for Dhrishtadyumna when he was the commander? Finally, Yudhishthira got ready to leave for his pavilion. At that time Krishnadeva got up from his seat, went close to him and putting his arm on the shoulder of the eldest Pandava he said, “And Yudhishthira, keep in mind two things which I am going to tell you now. There are many mammoth elephants in our army. There is also an elephant named ‘Ashwatthama’ in the Kuru army. Don’t forget to send Bhimsena to attack him tomorrow. You do only one thing. If anyone asks you in the battlefield tomorrow, just say only one thing ‘Ashwatthama has been killed – human or elephant, no idea!’”
I was completely confused as I didn’t understand a thing. But from Yudhishthira’s face he also looked confused.
On the fifteenth day Guru Drona organized his army in the shape of a hawk. As the Ingudi oil in the torches was over only acrid fumes of smoke were coming out of the torches. As Krishnadeva blew his Panchjanya conch from the Nandighosha chariot and Guru Drona blew his conch both armies fell upon each other shouting war cries of ‘Arise... Onward...Attack’.
As the sizes of the armies on Kurukshetra were shrinking river Saraswati and Drishadwati were bulging in size taking in the streams of the soldiers’ hot blood. The muck of blood, flesh and dust was accumulated all over the battleground. The reflections of burning funeral pyres on the banks of the blood-filled Drishadwati looked ghastly. Neither the Pandavas nor the Kurus were ruling the battlefield. Merciless, hideous Death had become the uncrowned ruler there.
For two prahars Guru Drona fought tenaciously. But suddenly somebody gave out a fake cry ‘Ashwatthama fell! Ashwatthama fell!’ In fact, it was the elephant named Ashwatthama of the Malava king Indravarma. Bhima had slain him.
To check the authenticity of the news Drona steered his chariot all over the battlefield and finally brought his chariot near truth-loving Yudhishthira. In agony, he pleaded with Yudhishthira saying, “Oh Yudhishthira, everyone is screaming that Ashwatthama has fallen! Tell me if it is true that my dear Ashu has been killed? I believe in your veracity!”
“Gurudeva, it is true that Ashwatthama has fallen! But I don’t know if it is the man or the elephant!” For the first time in his life Yudhishthira had uttered a lie! He had whispered the second sentence, barely audible even to himself!
Grieving Drona, mourning the death of his son threw away his bow and sitting down in his chariot he began meditating in Padmasana. Meanwhile Dhrishtadyumna, with bloodshot eyes, descended from his chariot like lightning falling on a tree. Brandishing his sword, he ran towards Drona. While the Pandavas were running after him shouting ‘wait, wait’, he climbed onto Drona’s chariot in one leap. Before anyone could comprehend what was happening, he tightly held the long-matted hair of the old man, chopped his head off in a single strike and threw it on the ground between both the armies! The venerable guru who had taught hundreds of young men in Hastinapura, and ruled their hearts with love lay dead in dust.
The dawn of the second day of the bright fortnight of Pausha descended on the land of Kurukshetra with the sprinkling of golden sunrays like showers of Prajakta flowers. The Lord of the sky had nothing to do with the atrocity or compassion of mankind!
Duryodhana gathered the Kuru army and appointed Karna as commander, like all the gods had come together and instated Skanda as their commander to destroy the Asuras. The original battlefield where the war had commenced was now about three kosa away to the north. Battlefields were being changed every day and the location kept moving towards the south.
Commander Karna selected a place convenient for the formation of his army. The Kaurava army stood at the ready in the shape of a gigantic crocodile.
Shakuni and Ulooka took the places of the crocodile’s eyes. Vehement Ashwatthama accepted the head position. Kritavarma stood in place of the left leg and Gautama in place of the right leg. Madra king Shalya assumed position at the rear legs and Karna himself stood at the front line of the jaw, hiding Duryodhana amidst lakhs of Kuru soldiers in the centre of the crocodile.
As soon as Duryodhana blew his ‘Vidaraka’ conch from the centre of the crocodile to indicate the beginning of the battle, Karna raised his Vijaya bow decorated with flower garlands and rotated it rapidly. With the veins in his throat protruding he blew his Hiranyagarbha conch so loudly that some birds of prey lingering around the battlefield in the hope of finding flesh, flew away in terror. The elephants’ hair stood on their end.
‘Onward….! Attack…!’ he raised his iron armour-clad strong, muscular arms high in the air and gave out the war slogan for the Kuru army to begin the war. The gigantic crocodile of the Kuru army with Karna in the place of its jaw marched forward to swallow the Pandavas!
Our Pandava army marched forward today under Arjuna’s leadership in the half-moon formation.
As Radheya couldn’t see Arjuna’s Kapidhwaja pennant anywhere he got confused momentarily and then he moved his chariot directly towards our mammoth elephantry! He shot arrows with poisoned tips so consistently like
the rain showers of Mriga that within the first half an hour itself he had busted our mammoth elephantry.
As the sun came overhead Bhima killed a powerful warrior, Kshemadhurti, making him fall out of his chariot. Fighting with the Sanshaptakas, Arjuna killed the kings Danda and Dandadhara. That infuriated Ashwatthama and he ferociously leapt on Arjuna. Group wars had begun where Karna had infiltrated the Panchala troops.
Seeing that Karna was slaughtering many valiant troop leaders of the Matsyas and the Panchalas, Krishnadeva was trying to signal Nakula to get him under control by blowing a specific tune of the Panchjanya conch over and over again, ‘Nakula…! Nakula…! Take your chariot towards Karna!’ In that utter commotion of war Nakula somehow got his message after almost half ghatika! As the second prahar of the day was coming to an end he took his army and entering through the Matsya troops he took Karna upon himself.
But the commander that he was dealing with was like a bolt of lightning! Easily rendering Nakula’s arrows ineffective he broke Nakula’s chariot many times and with a smile he said to unarmed Nakula, “Go and send your elder brother Arjuna in front of me! I am sparing your life just for that.”
Contrite Nakula turned back with his head hanging low.
As the mild, slanting rays of the evening sun were spreading long shadows of the tall trees around Kurukshetra, Krishnadeva brought Arjuna’s Nandighosha chariot in front of Karna’s Jaitra chariot! Seeing each other they both became fiercely aggressive, and loudly screamed at each other. Targeting each other both of them shot arrows from their heavyweight Gandiva and Vijaya bows consistently and overcast the skies of Kurukshetra. For one ghatika, their potent, swift and swishing arrows collided with each other fiercely. Fiery sparks flew from their iron tips. Those sparks scorched Karna’s charioteer Satyasena. In the end, he got killed by Arjuna’s arrows! The second day of the bright fortnight of Pausha, the tough sixteenth day of the war, ended with difficulty!
That night Duryodhana asked him, “Oh king of Anga, you have lost your charioteer Satyasena. Who is going to be your charioteer tomorrow?” Even in the dim light of the torches Duryodhana’s sharp nose looked very prominent.
Karna answered, “Oh Prince, get me an expert and loyal charioteer, then you will see that my chariot will storm through the battlefield tomorrow with such speed that will put the wind to shame!”
‘An expert and loyal charioteer?’ Like the stone statues in the royal palace of the Kurus both of them stood still for a moment.
Then Duryodhana’s stone statue spoke, “Oh king of Anga, if you don’t mind I would like to recommend only one such warrior who is perfect to be your charioteer!”
“Who?” Karna removed his crown and the heavy iron armour.
“Madra king Shalya!” Duryodhana rested his muscular right arm on his broad shoulder.
“Shalya? Oh king, you are forgetting that Shalya is the Pandavas’ mama! He is Rajmata Madridevi’s brother!”
“Karna, even before this war began I have given Shalya more distinct and honourable treatment than other kings. He had left the Madra kingdom and was travelling towards Kurukshetra to join hands with the Pandavas! But I erected luxurious camp sites, appointed royal envoys on his way, and by offering him many valuable gifts I convinced him to join our side. For the last sixteen days, he has been fighting for us genuinely with loyalty. Trust me, Shalya will never go back now. True Kshatriyas don’t regret. They don’t return, they embrace death if needed.”
The news of Madra king Shalya being appointed as Karna’s charioteer reached our camp!
Today for the first time, Krishnadeva ordered me to summon Madreya Nakula. Wondering what kind of war strategy was he going to plan with Madreya I went to Nakula’s pavilion. To obey the command of Vaasudeva that exquisitely handsome son of Pandu, the Madana lookalike came with me.
“Nakula, you are to go to your mama Madra king Shalya’s pavilion right now.” Krishnadeva told Nakula.
As a Yadava commander I expressed my doubt, “For the last sixteen days Madra king Shalya has sincerely fought on behalf of the Kurus. Why will he take the Pandavas’ side now?”
Krishnadeva looked at me smilingly and said, “We don’t want him to fight on our behalf as such. Nakula is supposed to meet his mama and request him only one thing – he should frequently remind Karna in the battlefield tomorrow that he is the son of a charioteer, and a dependant of Duryodhana! Nakula should astutely seek such a promise from his mama and come back.”
Saying ‘As you wish Lord of Dwaraka’ Nakula left alone to meet his mama Shalya. Later he returned after successfully accomplishing his task.
Without stretching the nightly meeting any further Krishnadeva advised everyone to take a good night’s sleep. I understood that though the new moon phase was over the upcoming nights were going to be darker!
The seventeenth day of war dawned. It was the third day of the bright fortnight of Pausha. The number of soldiers on both sides had gone down to less than half!
As per Krishnadeva’s instruction the area near the southern foothills of a towering hill was selected as today’s battlefield. The Kuru army from the east and the Pandava army from the west were approaching the battlefield. Madra, Magadha, Matsya, Mathura, Malava, Vatsa, Vanga, Videha, Vidarbha, Kulinda, Kirata, Kashi, Kosala, Kapisha, Kamboja, Kamarupa, Nishadha, Abhira, and Gandhara – all the remaining ready-to-fight warriors from various kingdoms of the Aaryavarta had assembled around Kurukshetra wondering about the end result of the war. They were all set to fight faithfully. The colourful and variously shaped royal pennants of many kingdoms such as Shakala, Dwaraka, Girivraja, Viratanagar, Avanti, Prayaga, Tamranagar, Mithila, Hastinapura, Kusumpura, Kundinpura, Chandanavati, Kasthamandapa, Varanasi, Ayodhya, Champavati, Mahishmati, and Pushkaravati, began fluttering in salutation on the battlefield.
Today the Kuru army was in the formation of a circle like the sun disc. This circle of a well-equipped army with an enormous circumference spread behind Commander Karna’s Jaitra chariot. Radheya bowed down to his Jaitra chariot and circumambulated it. He was chanting the hymn of the sun.
Today Krishnadeva had arranged the Pandava army behind Arjuna’s Nandighosha chariot in the form of a buffalo – the vehicle of Yama, the Lord of Death. The last troop was directly touching the base of the hill. I took charge of the left side of the buffalo along with the remaining Yadava army.
As Karna mounted his chariot, charioteer Shalya took his seat. He held the reins of the ivory white, tall, hefty horses and the whip in his hand.
Shalya, the Pandava’s mama, Karna’s charioteer! I smiled to myself.
Krishnadeva told Arjuna standing in front of the Pandava army to get into the chariot. But he stood still. He was not going to get into the Nandighosha chariot today until Krishnadeva took his seat. Krishnadeva smiled for a moment and put his foot on the footrest of Nandighosha. It was his left foot!
As Krishnadeva took his seat and blew the inspirational war tune from his white Panchjanya conch Arjuna ascended the chariot.
For the first time, today, both armies caused a ruckus hailing only two names – ‘Hail Arjuna – the son of Kunti!’ ‘Hail generous Karna – the king of Anga – the son of Radha!’
As soon as he heard the war slogans from the Pandava army the commander of the Kurus got excited like a sunflower blooming instantly – now he was neither Karna, nor Radheya, or Kaunteya… anymore! He was only the commander, only the scorching sun!
Raising the Vijaya bow high in his right hand over and over again, he advanced like a stormy ocean giving out war peals of ‘Arise…Charge…. Onward’. Giving him cover his sons Vrishasena, Prasena, and Chitrasena; Ashwatthama, Shakuni, Dushasana, Kripa, Duryodhana, Kritavarma and all atirathi Kaurava warriors also began furiously attacking the Pandava army.
Krishnadeva got down from the Nandighosha. He applied the lubricant that was a mixture of castor and Ingudi oil from the wooden tube to all the wheels of the Nandighosha chariot.
Giving cover to Nandighosha t
he chariots of Bhima, Uttamauja, Dhrishtadyumna, Nakula, and Sahadeva sprinted along. Huge clouds of dust leapt skyward. A bizarre mixed sound of the war drums, war peals, the elephants’ trumpeting, the neighing of horses, the squeaking sound of chariot wheels, and the twanging of stretched bowstrings echoed after thudding against the walls of the hill.
The soldiers of both armies charged at each other shooting arrows. Both armies collided against each other.
Nobody understood when Karna’s Jaitra chariot with five white horses, producing terrible tremors in the ground below infiltrated the Panchala troops at the front line of the Pandava army!
As he came closer, the Panchala army of Dhrishtadyumna on our left that was a bit ahead of us intercepted suddenly and stood in front of our army! As he saw the Panchala troops in between, he got furious and directly penetrated into the Panchala troops. Raising his Vijaya bow high in the air he began shooting continuous rounds of lethal arrows on the enormous elephantry division of the Panchalas like the rain showers of Mriga. Within half a ghatika, he had slaughtered all the leading troops of the Panchalas.
Within the first ghatika itself Karna slew renowned Panchala warriors like Bhanudeva, Chitrasena, Senabindu, Tapana and Shursena. Krishnadeva astutely pulled out Arjuna’s troops which were behind the Panchalas and sent them charging at the army of the Sanshaptakas. Arjuna’s swooshing potent arrows kept flying continuously over their heads. The Sanshaptakas were running everywhere they could. Arjuna’s army chased them and shot arrows at them.
Karna had broken through the front line and faced Yudhishthira in the inner circle. He harassed Yudhishthira for quite some time and finally made his charioteer Indrasena drop down from the chariot. Indrasena died instantly. Utterly helpless Yudhishthira ran away from the battlefield.
Bhima, the son of Vayu holding a grudge against Karna who had killed his mighty son Ghatotkacha was searching for an opportunity, glancing around rapidly to find Karna’s son so he could strangle him with his muscular arms. And he indeed got such an opportunity!
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 90