We’re at an important juncture on Day Fifteen of the Kurukshetra battle wherein Guru Dhronachaarya is on an unprecedented aggression. He swirls and puts up an intense fight wherein he had killed King Virat and King Drupada within the morning session itself. Alarmed by Guru Dhronachaarya’s onslaught, Arjuna comes into the scene and launches a blistering counterattack. However, Guru Dhronachaarya on the fifteenth day is an entirely different person to take on! With several “Asthras”, Guru Dhronachaarya puts Arjuna on the mat, even as he struggles to counter Guru Dhronachaarya’s renewed aggression. Upon seeing this, Bhagawan Krishna thinks of a different strategy to counter Guru Dhronachaarya. As He proposes to Arjuna, His plan of killing Ashwatthama (Guru Dhronachaarya’s son) and subsequently making Guru Dhronachaarya put down his weapons and then killing him, Arjuna is not happy with this. He refuses to take part in this strategy because he feels that this is gross “Adharma” while a person is being killed when he is weaponless.
Subsequently, Bhagawan Krishna understands that Arjuna is not going to cooperate even after several rounds of convincing and He straightaway decides to hand over the assignment to Bheemasena, who is standing nearby. As Bhagawan Krishna casts a look at Bheemasena and subsequently at a big elephant nearby, Bheemasena understands this “sign language”. Hence Bheemasena quickly enquires about that elephant – This elephant has come from the Maalava Desha, under the leadership of King Indra Varma. The sign language of Bhagawan Krishna indicates Bheemasena to know more about this particular elephant. As Bheemasena inquires with King Indra Varma, he comes to know that the name of this elephant is “Ashwatthama”. Now Bheemasena understands the ploy! He immediately takes his “Gadha”, swirls it around and throws it accurately on the trunk of the “Ashwatthama” elephant. Unable to bear the intensity of Bheemasena’s “Gadha”, elephant Ashwatthama gets very badly injured and finally falls down on the ground, dead. Upon seeing elephant Ashwatthama dead in front of him, Bheemasena proclaims loudly thus,
“Ashwatthama hataha kunjaraha!!”
Here, “Kunjara” means elephant. Bheemasena is loudly proclaiming that the elephant by name “Ashwatthama” has died! Upon hearing this, Bhagawan Krishna quickly intervenes and says thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Why are you loudly shouting here? I already know that elephant Ashwatthama is no more. Go and shout where it is required!” There is a clear message from Bhagawan Krishna here! Understanding it quickly, Bheemasena quickly steers his chariot to the vicinity of Guru Dhronachaarya, where the fight is going on at an extremely intense level. Guru Dhronachaarya is exhibiting his complete prowess in front of the Paandava army, which is scampering around for shelter! Thus, at a crucial time, Bheemasena reaches Guru Dhronachaarya’s vicinity and shouts there thus,
“Ashwatthaama hataha!!!”
While shouting thus, Bheemasena doesn’t mention the word “Kunjaraha” here. He only says that “Ashwatthama is dead and I’ve killed him!” Upon hearing this, Guru Dhronachaarya couldn’t believe his ears! His body starts to tremble and puts down his weapons for a moment. He sits down on his chariot then and there, completely stunned! Guru Dhronachaarya thinks within himself thus, “Oh! Is Bheemasena telling the truth? Afterall, can Ashwatthama be killed by this Bheemasena so easily? Is this even possible? I know my son’s unending prowess. He is not someone who can be easily killed by anyone in this world. If such is the case, how come Bheemasena has killed him? I refuse to believe this! I think I need someone else to confirm this news!”
Thinking thus, a pained Guru Dhronachaarya once again stands up from his chariot and regains his strength. He thinks within himself thus, “Let a confirmation from someone else come in. Till that point I shall continue my fight. I do not think Ashwatthama is dead. He is still there somewhere fighting the war!” Thinking thus, Guru Dhronachaarya’s anger multiplies to a huge unprecedented level! He takes a very powerful “Asthra” in his hand, locks it in his bow and employs it on the soldiers of the “Paanchaala Desha”. They are around 20,000 in number! Thus, with Guru Dhronachaarya’s great fury, and with the power of the “Asthra” that he has employed, all the 20,000 foot soldiers of the Paancahaala Desha die on the spot! Now this act of Guru Dhronachaarya is a gross “Adharma”! He did this because of the anger that someone has killed his son! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, I shall explain why this act of Guru Dhronachaarya was an act of “Adharma”! Stay tuned for an important accord!
The Indian Dharma 