In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of the Day Ten proceedings at Kurukshetra wherein Bhishmachaarya on one side is continuing from where he left on the previous day. He’s running riots into the Paandava army, which is once again scrambling and dwindling by the minute. Bhishmachaarya’s rigour is clearly unmatchable on Day Ten as well, however, on the other side, we’ve witnessed Guru Dhronachaarya seeing some bad omens around him, indicating a great disaster that’s going to unfold very soon. Perhaps this disaster might be centred around Bhishmachaarya? As Guru Dhronachaarya sees a renewed Bhishmachaarya fighting the brains out of the Paandava camp, he instructs his son Ashwatthaama to mobilize the Kaurava army around Bhishmachaarya in a bid to protect him if any disaster takes place. However, we’ve to remember here that Bhishmachaarya had clearly instructed Duryodhana and Co. during the starting of the ninth day that he doesn’t need anybody’s protection from the Kaurava army and he would go into the war as a one-man army!
Sensing the danger thus, Guru Dhronachaarya proceeds ahead as Drishtadhyumna comes in front of him quickly from nowhere. A huge war breaks out between the two of them and Guru Dhronachaarya, as all of us know, is impeccable with his warfare tactics. Drishtadhyumna is made to run for his money within no time and in the meanwhile, the inevitable thing starts unfolding. Bhishmachaarya comes in front of Arjuna and there’s yet another round of huge war between the two of them! As the war goes into an unprecedented and an uncharted zone, Bhagawan Krishna silently motivates Arjuna and gives an idea to him thus, “Oh Arjuna! Call Shikandi immediately. He is somewhere at a short distance only. Ask him to come to this spot in his chariot and make him stand in front of Bhishmachaarya! Upon seeing Shikandi, Bhishmachaarya will refrain from fighting. At that time, you keep motivating Shikandi from behind to go for the kill. Your role here is very simple – Keep motivating Shikandi to such an extent that he doesn’t run away from the battlefield. Shikandi is a scared person at times, and hence, possibility is very high that he might tend to run away. But do not allow that to happen. You keep pushing him again and again so that he is getting enraged more and more to go for the kill! Let us see what happens!”
Thus, a message is being sent to Shikandi to assemble here immediately from wherever he is. In the meanwhile, the four Paandava brothers slowly start surrounding Bhishmachaarya’s chariot from all directions. Upon seeing this, Duryodhana senses that Bhishmachaarya is getting cornered and thus tries to pick up a fight with Bheemasena and the others – Only to be chased away! Saatyaki takes care of King Shalya, who also tries his bit to break the bid of the Paandavas to surround Bhishmachaarya. Bhagadatta comes and attacks the Paandava fortress, however, Ghatodgaja takes care of him with a befitting reply. Thus, the Paandavas ensure that none of them from the Kaurava army come near Bhishmachaarya in a bid to protect him or pull him away from the spot. Finally as this keeps happening, Shikandi arrives! As Shikandi comes into the scene, Arjuna talks to him thus, “Oh Shikhandi! Go in front of Bhishmachaarya and try to pick up a fight with him. I shall protect you from behind! Don’t worry about anything! You go in front of Bhishmachaarya and do your best!”
As Shikandi is slowly advancing towards Bhishmachaarya, Duryodhana realizes the great danger into which Bhishmachaarya is getting trapped into gradually! He immediately mobilizes a huge army to somehow break the deadlock here! Shikhandi now starts fighting with Bhishmachaarya by aiming one arrow at him straight. This arrow splits into nine different arrows and attacks Bhishmachaarya! Immediately his protective shield starts giving up and falls off onto the ground! Even though Shikhandi has hit Bhishmachaarya now, Bhishmachaarya is not looking at Shikhandi even for a minute. He continues to fight with several others who are trying to surround him. As we know, Bhishmachaarya will not fight against Shikhandi and he lives up to this expectation without an iota of doubt! Without giving Shikhandi any importance, he keeps fighting with the others and in the meanwhile, Shikhandi attacks him with more and more arrows. Blood flows out of Bhishmachaarya’s chest as Shikhandi’s arrows pierce his body directly now! Even without minding that, Bhishmachaarya continues to fight along!
So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode we shall see what happens to Bhishmachaarya next! Stay tuned for an important accord!
The Indian Dharma 