We’re at a very important phase of the entire Kurukshetra war, wherein the battle is continuing into the night of Day Fourteen. Guru Dhronachaarya is the orchestrator of this unique move, in a bid to induce fear and confusion into the Paandava camp. However, Bhagawan Krishna comes to the rescue once again and He counters Guru Dhronachaarya’s plan by sending Ghatodgaja to the battlefield. Meanwhile, we’ve witnessed a brief spat between Karna and Ashwatthama, wherein the former is boasting about the possession of the “Shakti Aayudham” with him, which he’s going to employ to destroy the Paandavas. As this conversation goes by, Bhagawan Krishna overhears it and accordingly decides to send Ghatodgaja to potentially neutralize this “Shakti Aayudham”, so that it doesn’t come hauntingly towards Arjuna and Co. Also, this is one reason why Bhagawan Krishna is somehow not letting Arjuna face Karna directly for a one-on-one fight. If Karna employs the “Shakti Aayudham”, Arjuna will not be able to counter it and he has to die. Bhagawan Krishna thus protects Arjuna till this moment, ever since Karna came into the battlefield on the eleventh day.
Moving forward thus, it is now Ghatodgaja’s time to exhibit his heroics! He unleashes havoc amidst the Kaurava camp wherein every important warrior suffers a humiliating defeat under Ghatodgaja’s wretched hands! Some are getting killed in a very horrific manner too. The entire Kaurava camp is trembling with fear and shock, as they did not expect such a counter from the Paandava camp. Guru Dhronachaarya thought that while the battle enters the night, the Paandavas might struggle to fight, as the Kauravas have several Raakshasas in their camp. However, little did Guru Dhronachaarya anticipate that Ghatodgaja would be present in the battlefield during this time! Unable to bear the drubbing, the Kaurava camp warriors rush to Karna and say thus, “Oh Karna! By the way Ghatodgaja is destroying our army, it seems that this war would come to an end tonight itself! We will soon run short of army men and other artillery to be employed to fight the war further. You were saying that you possess the “Shakti Aayudham” with you. Now this is the time to employ it and contain Ghatodgaja! If you do not employ it now, all of us are going to die within the next few minutes!”
Now this is a very important request made by the Kaurava camp to Karna. However, initially Karna denies their request. He says thus, “Oh Duryodhana & Co.! I’ve reserved this Shakti Aayudham” to kill Arjuna. I cannot use this for any other purpose. We shall try and devise another strategy to counter Ghatodgaja. I know he’s wrecking havoc. But the “Shakti Aayudham” is meant for something different!” Even though Karna justifies thus, the Kauravas are not ready to buy this argument of Karna. Duryodhana says thus, “Oh Karna! Please understand – If we’re not killing Ghatodgaja now, we are not even going to exist! Now we are in an existential crisis! Only if we’re present tomorrow, will you be able to fight with Arjuna, won’t you? Hence, we shall counter Arjuna through some other means. Now we are in a do-or-die situation. So take out your “Shakti Aayudham” and save all of us from getting destroyed!”
As Duryodhana says thus, Karna couldn’t argue much! With a lot of reluctance, Karna takes out his “Shakti Aayudham”, chants the relevant “Mantras” for it and employs it towards a fast-advancing Ghatodgaja! As Karna does thus, Arjuna and the others who are onlooking this grand exhibition of fight, are shocked to bits! They know that if this “Shakti-Aayudham” hits Ghatodgaja, he is not going to survive! Hence, Arjuna warns Ghatodgaja thus, “Oh Ghatodgaja! Please grow your body to a massive level in order to make the incoming “Shakti-Aayudham” ineffective upon you! Please act fast!” Upon hearing this from Arjuna, Ghatodgaja immediately grows his body to a mammoth size! He stands in front of Karna like a huge mountain, even as the “Shakti Aayudham” hits Ghatodgaja on his chest! While coming towards Ghatodgaja, the “Shakti Aayudham” emits a huge fire with plumes of smoke emanating from it. Thus, the powerful “Shakti Aayudham” hits Ghatodgaja’s chest with the same intensity and power! Unable to withstand the “Shakti Aayudham” and its extremely high intensity, Ghatodgaja falls on the ground, dead!
However, as Ghatodgaja falls on the ground, his body is so huge that almost a whole “Akshauhini” of the Kaurava army is trapped under him! Perhaps, this is the reason why Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna wanted Ghatodgaja to grow to such a mammoth size while the “Shakti Aayudham” approached him! Thus with this, a very important warrior from the Paandava’s camp – Ghatodgaja breathed his last, but not before he had wreaked havoc amidst the Kaurava camp. As Ghatodgaja dies, he leaves a huge trail of destruction in the Kaurava camp, which is extremely significant, given the crucial context of the war right now! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 