In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of the fifteenth day proceedings at Kurukshetra. Also, we are progressing towards the end of the “Dhrona-Parva” wherein we have commenced the last Upa-Parva called “Dhrona-Vadha Parva”. In a nutshell, here is where we’re going to witness how Guru Dhronachaarya is going to be killed on the battlefield. But before that, we’ve witnessed yet another round of Duryodhana’s taunt towards Guru Dhronachaarya. Out of sheer frustration of systematically being on the losing side and upon seeing all his peers sacrificing their lives on the battlefield, Duryodhana vents out that Guru Dhronachaarya is not doing enough to contain the Paandavas. Hence, Duryodhana comes out with a weird idea of splitting the Kaurava army into three divisions, one led by Guru Dhronachaarya, the other two led by Karna and Ducchaasana. As Duryodhana comes uo with this proposal, Guru Dhronachaarya is deeply pained and angered.
Moving on further, Guru Dhronachaarya is now going to give a befitting and an angered reply to Duryodhana. He says thus, “Oh Duryodhana! If your mind wants this to happen and if your intent is this, please go ahead! However, what you’re trying to do is something awful and foolish! You want to trust Karna more than me? When I’m already there as a leader, you are trying to bypass and create several new hierarchies within the army. Is this the way you fight an important battle? If your “Buddhi” (Intellect) says thus, please go ahead and do it! I do not have any objection. Go ahead with your brother Ducchaasana, friend Karna and uncle Sahuni and start fighting. May you taste victory soon!” These words come out of a pained Guru Dhronachaarya’s mouth. Thus, even though he says “May you taste victory soon”, Guru Dhronachaarya internally knows that Duryodhana is never going to taste victory in this war! Even then, just to keep the positivity going amidst the camp, Guru Dhronachaarya blesses Duryodhana with victory.
Thus with this, the fifteenth day war commences. Today’s proceedings revolve completely around how Guru Dhronachaarya fights the war. As expected, Duryodhana’s words have fuelled him beyond any extent and this shows in the way how Guru Dhronachaarya is fighting! He is at his fiery best and is running a complete rampage! A huge section of the Paandava army comes under Guru Dhronachaarya’s unbreakable siege and eventually gets destroyed! As Guru Dhronachaarya’s rampage continues further, Yudishtra sends King Drupada in defence. Readers might remember this – There is a several-year feud that is going on between King Drupada and Guru Dhronachaarya. We might remember from our earlier episodes that King Drupada insulted Guru Dhronachaarya and from that moment, both of them are bitter enemies, wanting to have a go at each other for a long time now. In fact, King Drupada tried his luck earlier, but he was defeated by Arjuna and Co. when they were children. The Paandava children had besieged King Drupada and brought him as a captive to Guru Dhronachaarya, who in turn abused and insulted King Drupada. Unable to bare this insult, King Drupada performed a “Yagna” to obtain a male child, who will be able to kill Guru Dhronachaarya, and this child is none other than Drishtadhyumna! He’s also somewhere in the battlefield only, fighting the war in a different direction.
Now, recollecting this past feud, Guru Dhronachaarya and King Drupada start a fierce battle with each other. The fury with which Guru Dhronachaarya is fighting the war on this fifteenth day, is too much to handle for King Drupada, who finally has to succumb to Guru Dhronachaarya’s intense fury! Thus, after a prolonged battle, Guru Dhronachaarya manages to kill King Drupada and the several-decade feud between the duo comes to an end! Thus, within the first half of the fifteenth day, Guru Dhronachaarya manages to kill King Drupada! With this, the Paandavas have lost their father-in-law in this war! We’ve to remember that Draupati is the daughter of King Drupada. As King Drupada was performing the “Yagnya”, he also obtained a daughter (Yaagnyaseni) along with Drishtadhyumna. This Yaagnyaseni is none other than Draupati, who is the wife of Yudishtra and Co. Thus, the fifteenth day is not a very good outing for the Paandavas as they have lost a mainstream warrior in King Drupada.
Next in the firing line for Guru Dhronachaarya is the king of Viraata Desha. Raiders might again remember that during the “Agnyaatavasam” time period, the Paandavas were hiding in the Viraata Desha and King Virat had given them asylum. A fierce battle ensues between both of them and at the end, King Virat is killed by Guru Dhronachaarya! His rampage is unprecedented on the fifteenth day, and he is on a killing spree too! Whoever comes in front of Guru Dhronachaarya on the fifteenth day, meets the same fate, which leaves the Paandava army in a complete state of shock and chaos! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion forward in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 