In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhishmachaarya listing out the strengths of the Paandava army to Duryodhana. While doing so, Bhishmachaarya makes an important mention about Ghatodgaja who is none other than Bheemasena’s son with Raakshasi Hidimbi. Ghatodgaja is someone who is virtually impossible to defeat by anyone in this world. He can singlehandedly destroy lakhs and lakhs of army men, horses and elephants within seconds! He can take on great warriors like Karna and even Arjuna himself and render them ineffective within minutes, with his sheer muscle power, just like how his father Bheemasena does. In due course of yesterday’s episode, we had also witnessed a glimpse of how Ghatodgaja is going to contribute to the Paandava camp during the war, which is exactly what Bhishmachaarya’s fear is. His logic is very simple – If Ghatodgaja enters the battlefield, all the Kauravas can be finished off within minutes and the war will be over within a wink of an eye! Hence, the strategy should be to somehow avoid Ghatodgaja from entering the battlefield.
Moving on further thus, Bhishmachaarya now talks about Shikhandi. He explains to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Even if Ghatodgaja comes to the battlefield, I shall try my best to neutralize him, but there is someone in their camp by name Shikhandi. If Shikhandi comes to the battlefield, I shall not fight with this person at all! I shall simply put down my bow and arrow on the spot and move away from the battlefield. This is because Shikhandi is originally a woman by birth. (We’ve witnessed this story during our beginning episodes itself, and there’s going to be another narration by Bhishmachaarya in the forthcoming Parva also). As a warrior, I’ve taken a pledge already that I shall not be fighting with women in my life on a battlefield. Only if a male member comes in front of me, I shall take my bow and arrows and fight. Shikhandi was a woman by birth, but in due course of her life, she had given away her woman characteristics to someone else in exchange of that person’s male characteristics! Hence, Shikhandi converted herself into a man for a reason. Thus, even though Shikhandi might appear to be a man in front of all of us, I will not fight against this person, because she is originally a woman by birth!”
Bhishmachaarya continues further thus, “Oh Duryodhana! I will atleast fight with the Paandava brothers, but I will not kill them. I will make them run for their money and make them feel irrelevant on the battlefield, but I shall not kill any of them! When it comes to those warriors other than the Paandava brothers, I shall show my full wrath upon them by going to the extent of killing them. On the contrary, when it comes to Shikhandi, I will not even pierce a single arrow from my bow. This is my clear pledge and I will stand by my words at all times!”
As Bhishmachaarya talks about Shikhandi thus, Duryodhana doesn’t understand even a single word what Bhishmachaarya is saying! He asks Bhishmachaarya thus, “Oh Bhishmachaarya! You’re saying something about Shikhandi and you’re not willing to fight with this person. Who is this Shikhandi? Is it really possible to convert from a female into a male? If so, why did she do it? Tell me in detail!” As Duryodhana asks thus, Bhishmachaarya has to narrate everything from the beginning, right from the birth of Amba, Ambika and Ambaalika. We’ve witnessed all these stories in our earlier episodes, but still, we shall witness it once again for our recollection. Given the context, this story assumes more importance because, in due course of the war, Shikhandi is going to play a crucial role in neutralising Bhishmachaarya on the battlefield! So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode, we shall witness this important story! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 