In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very important message from the discussion between Duryodhana and Guru Dhronachaarya – Every action that we do has a consequence. This is completely validated by today’s scientists, especially Newton! Readers who are proficient in Physics might understand this as Newton’s third law of motion, which says that every action has an equivalent and opposite reaction, and this is exactly what Guru Dhronachaarya explains here. For every roll of the dice by Sahuni on that fateful day, Arjuna’s sharp arrows killing everyone around are equivalent and opposite reactions! With Bhagawan Krishna at the helm of affairs, all that He’s doing is to bring the “Karma” of all people together in the Kurukshetra battlefield and let the “Karma Theory” work on its own without interfering in it! More than just committing the heinous crime towards Yudishtra and Draupati on that sinful day, Duryodhana has gone on to commit several other crimes like Bhagawad-Apachaaram and Bhaagawatha-Apachaaram, for which, the consequences are severe! Thus, it is evident that Duryodhana is not losing this war because he doesn’t have enough resources to fight it out. He’s losing because of his evil character and his “Paapa Karma” that he had accumulated within himself!
Thus, if we look deeper into this context, we will also understand that the enemy doesn’t exist outside in the form of Arjuna or someone else. The enemy for Duryodhana lies within himself! In fact, during the earlier contexts, we’ve witnessed that both Yudishtra and Arjuna did not want to fight this war. Even though they did not like Duryodhana’s approach towards them, they never had the heart to kill him in a war. However, it was Duryodhana who was constantly pushing the Paandavas towards the brink of fighting this ghastly war. Saying all this, Guru Dhronachaarya continues thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Even though I know that I’m on the losing side, I’ll ensure that I work for you till my last breath. During today’s war also, I’ll ensure that I finish one of their most important “Maharathis”, just like how I conspired against Abhimanyu the other day! Watch my fight today and then you decide whether I’m fighting for you or for Arjuna! Oh Duryodhana! Please note this – Unlike the previous days, today’s war will continue into tonight as well!”
We should note this important point here – In all these fourteen days of war that we’ve witnessed till now in detail, the proceedings will commence in the morning hours and end by the time the sun sets. Hence, the entire war happens only during the broad daylight. This is the rule that Bhishmachaarya had set right at the beginning of the war, and till date this has been followed. However, on the fourteenth evening, Guru Dhronachaarya decides to take this war into the night as well. Accordingly, the message is being sent to the Paandava camp to get ready for a night war now! As this happens, Bhagawan Krishna thinks thus, “Oh wow! If this war has to continue into the night, who should go to the battlefield as the lead fighter and take it forward? Usually the nighttime is famous for the strength of Raakshasas. In other words, Raakshasas are more powerful during the night than the day. This is why they are referred to as “Rajanicharas”. Hence, who is the Raakshasa in our camp who can go and fight the war tonight?” Thinking thus, Bhagawan looks around and finds Ghatodgaja. He thinks thus, “Oh perfect! Ghatodgaja is there for us tonight and he is a Raakshasa by birth. His strength will be manifold during the night, as compared to the daytime! Hence, let us send Ghatodgaja for the time being and let’s see what happens!
Thus, the war continues on the fourteenth night in an unusual manner. Guru Dhronachaarya is at his mighty best during the night time as well, even as Arjuna and the others are getting ready for a continued assault on the Kaurava army. As mentioned, Bhagawan Krishna explains to Yudishtra about the strategy of sending Ghatodgaja for the night’s battle and with Yudishtra’s approval, Ghatodgaja storms into the battlefield! Now this is an unexpected move from the Paandava side, which surprises Guru Dhronachaarya himself! However, Guru Dhronachaarya, as we know, is prepared for any kind of strategy that the Paandavas come up with. He’s up and ready to face Ghatodgaja, who is in no mood to relent tonight! Ghatodgaja launches a scathing assault on the Kaurava army, destroying swathes of soldiers and animals even as he walks through the army! No strategy from the Kaurava camp is able to contain Ghatodgaja with any of their “Asthras” and arrows! Guru Dhronachaarya tries his best, but is defeated straightaway by Ghatodgaja. However, he doesn’t kill Guru Dhronachaarya as he moves on. Next comes King Shalya, who meets the same fate within minutes! Ducchaasana is up next, and the result is the same! Thus, at one point, Ghatodgaja is on a savage assault on the Kaurava army and nobody is able to stop him at all! He’s advancing freely as if no enemy is there on the battlefield!
So for today, let us understand up to this point as part of the “Ghatodgaja-Vada-Parva” and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion forward to see what is going to happen to Ghatodgaja by the end of the night! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 