In the previous episode, we had witnessed the culmination of one of the greatest accomplishments of the Arjuna-Bhagawan Krishna duo, which is nothing but the successful killing of Jayatrada. As the mission is successfully accomplished, Arjuna’s “Shapadam” (Pledge) gets fulfilled. This also means that Arjuna is still alive at the end of the fourteenth day of the war. The pledge was so severe as we know – Either Arjuna or Jayatrada will be alive at the end of this day, however, thanks to Bhagawan Krishna’s timely divine interventions, Arjuna was able to neutralize Jayatrada successfully. Thus, as the duo make their way victoriously towards the resting areas after the day’s war, Yudishtra expresses his deep and profound gratitude to Bhagawan Krishna for saving Arjuna’s life. Yudishtra expresses himself by saying to Bhagawan Krishna that if Arjuna is alive at this moment, it is only due to Bhagawan Krishna’s divine “Anugraha” and nothing else. Yudishtra expresses his shock when he heard Arjuna’s pledge the previous evening and was scared if Arjuna would die! However, this did not happen! With this, Yudishtra expresses his gratitude to Bhagawan Krishna by falling on His feet as a token of respect for Him.
Moving on further thus, we now move towards the next important “Upa-Parva”, which is called “Dhrona-Vadha Parva”. Here is where Guru Dhronachaarya is going to be killed. So we shall witness all the details pertaining to how Guru Dhronachaarya was targeted and how he had to sacrifice his life on the battlefield at Kurukshetra. But before we go into this, there is another “Upa-Parva” which is important – The “Ghatodgaja-Vada Parva”. Here, we’re going to see how Bheemasena’s son Ghatodgaja is going to get killed, but before that, how Ghatodgaja is going to fight a valiant battle with the Kaurava camp. Moving into this Upa-Parva thus, at the end of the fourteenth day, Bhagawan Krishna Himself suggests to Yudishtra and Co. that on the fifteenth morning, Ghatodgaja should be sent into the battlefield as a surprise move, to catch the Kaurava army unprepared!
At the start of this “Upa-Parva”, Duryodhana goes to see Guru Dhronachaarya with tears in his eyes. This scene is being explained by Sanjaya to King Dhritarashtra. Sanjaya explains thus, “Oh King! Look at your son Duryodhana! His eyes are filled with tears! He is unable to digest the fact that Jayatrada is no more! He is now going to meet Guru Dhronachaarya! When Jayatrada wanted to escape from the battlefield, it was Duryodhana who had given confidence and trust to Jayatrada to stay on and fight. Duryodhana had assured Jayatrada of protection, but at the end, Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna stole the show! Duryodhana is now telling Guru Dhronachaarya thus, “Oh Guru Dhronachaarya! During the first ten days of the war I trusted Bhishmachaarya to win it for me. However, I ended up losing him. Now I entrusted the responsibility on you, however, you are letting all our people be killed one after the other! Also, I’m not seeing you fighting the war with your full capacity. Moreover, there were so many friends of mine who came with the desire of seeing me as a great king! These people were so eager that they will also rule their respective territories in coalition with me. Now all these people are on the ground, dead! Henceforth, what is the purpose of me fighting the war? If nobody is there with me after I win this war, what is the use of ruling the kingdom all by myself? Hence, moving on further, I’ve lost the interest of fighting this war any further! I would like to withdraw!”
In fact, this is precisely the same thought that Ajruna also had during the beginning of the war! If we recall our Bhagawad Gita episodes, Arjuna commences by saying that if all my friends and relatives are going to be killed, what is the use of ruling the kingdom thereafter? Who will be there to be ruled, if everybody are going to die in this war? These are exactly the words that Duryodhana is using now, after fifteen days of the war!
So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 