In the previous episode, we had witnessed an important juncture, wherein as part of the “Abhimanyu-Vadha-Parva”, Guru Dhronachaarya is involved in crafting a key strategy to somehow send Arjuna away from the battlefield once again, thereby getting an opportunity to kill a great warrior by name Abhimanyu. As we know, Abhimanyu is the son of Arjuna, who is equivalent to his father in the battlefield. However, Abhimanyu has certain weaknesses, which, Guru Dhronachaarya is trying to exploit here. To capture Abhimanyu, Guru Dhronachaarya proposes the “Chakra-Vyugam”. As expected, Abhimanyu’s strength is to break open the “Chakra-Vyugam” and enter inside the opponent’s bastion, however, he doesn’t know how to come out of it successfully! This is the weakness that Guru Dhronachaarya is targeting and with Duryodhana’s approval, the plan is made!
Thus, with this, we commence the proceedings of Day thirteen of the Kurukshetra war. During the morning hours of the day, Guru Dhronachaarya gives assurance to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Today is an important day! We’re going to form the “Chakra-Vyugam”, which only a very few people can break open to enter inside and fight. As far as I know, only Arjuna, Abhimanyu, Bhagawan Krishna and Pradyumna (Bhagawan Krishna’s son) are experts in breaking open the “Chakra-Vyugam”. Of course, Bhagawan Krishna is not going to fight the war and hence, possibility of Him coming inside it is nil. Pradhyumna is not part of the war at all. Arjuna is going to be isolated and taken away to fight the Trigatthas. Hence, the only possibility is Abhimanyu. Oh Duryodhana! Whatever things I’m telling you now is well known to Yudishtra and Co. Thus, if they’ve to break open the “Chakra-Vyugam”, they will not send anybody else from their camp, except Abhimanyu! The plan is very simple – If Arjuna is driven away from the battlefield, he will appoint Abhimanyu to shield Yudishtra. Now if Abhimanyu is drawn into the “Chakra-Vyugam”, Yudishtra will become isolated. We can somehow drive away Bheemasena and the others to different corners of the battlefield. Now the rest of our forces can capture Yudishtra alive as Abhimanyu is getting trapped into the “Chakra-Vyugam”. If Abhimanyu is unsuccessful, we shall kill him and with this, we can achieve two important things – One is of course, killing Abhimanyu and the other is to capture Yudishtra alive! Let us see how things pan out today!”
As this is happening at Kurkukshetra, Sanjaya is telling King Dhritarashtra thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! The son of Arjuna, Abhimanyu is no more! He is dead! All the Paandava brothers are converging around his dead corpse and are weeping bitterly! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Do you like this now? Your grandson has fallen dead on the ground, thanks to your own family feud! You should also be weeping by now with a lot of pain in your heart!” As we know, Sanjaya has an expertise in narrating incidents – Yet again, he starts the day thirteen proceedings with the end-result of that day – Abhimanyu’s demise, and then going into the proceedings as to how it took place! Upon hearing the first news from Sanjaya, King Dhritarashtra replies back to him thus, “Oh no! Are you saying that my dear grandson Abhimanyu has died? How can this be possible? Who killed him? He is a child of great valour in the battlefield! How was he overcome in the battle? Narrate the whole incident to me!”
Now as King Dhritarashtra asks, Sanjaya commences his detailed accord on the thirteenth day at Kurukshetra. Guru Dhronachaarya has arranged the “Chakra-Vyugam” to perfection! He himself is a master strategist and his plans are impeccable and unbreachable in nature! The “Chakra-Vyugam” is virtually impossible to break open by anybody. There will be several layers of “Chakra” (Circle) formations and each layer will be manned by a “Maharati” (Key warriors in the camp). For our convenience, we shall imagine this formation as several layers of concentric circles, one after the other. Hence, if Abhimanyu has to enter into the “Chakra-Vyugam”, he has to break open each layer of the concentric circles. As he breaks each layer, he has to fight with each of the “Maharathis” who are manning those layers. As he kills each of them, he can break open and enter inside! As each layer breaks up, Abhimanyu can enter into the centre portion, wherein all the key people like Duryodhana, Ducchaasana, Karna, Guru Dhronachaarya, etc. will be positioned. Abhimanyu has to fight with all these people put together, defeat / kill them and then make his way out of the “Chakra-Vyugam”. In this pursuit, if he gets trapped within any of the layers, possibility is extremely high that he might be killed by any of the “Maharathis” who are manning those layers!
Thus, the “Chakra-Vyugam” is one of the toughest strategies to navigate through, and we are in for a great day of battle on day thirteen! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall witness the live proceedings at Kurukshetra on Day thirteen as to what is going to happen! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 