In the previous episode, we had witnessed one of the most important events in the entire Kurukshetra war, wherein Ashwatthama aggrieved by the loss of his father, is employing the “Narayana-Asthram” on the Paandava brothers in a bid to kill them all at once! However, Bhagawan Krishna, being on the side of Yudishtra and Co. is guiding them beautifully to come out of the impact of the “Narayana-Asthram”. As Bhagawan Krishna is Bhagawan Vishnu Himself, who can know the counter to the “Narayana-Asthram” better than Him? Thus, Bhagawan instructs all the Paandava brothers to get down from their chariots, remove their armours, drop down their weapons and stand in front of the incoming “Narayana-Asthram’ with folded hands, as a token of respect for the great “Asthram”. The “Narayana-Asthram” will not harm anyone who is without weapons and who is surrendering in front of it. This is the secret! This is what Swami Vedanta Desika beautifully brings out in his “Anjali-Vaibhavam” work wherein he explains how surrendering to Bhagawan unconditionally leads to protection, rather than destruction! We’ve also seen to this effect, an analogy of Vibhishana in the Ramayana, wherein Bhagawan Rama accepted Vibhishana immediately after he surrendered himself to His divine lotus feet! Vibhishana was a Raakshasa all his life, however, when he bowed down to Bhagawan Rama, there is no looking back! Bhagawan Rama’s never-ending compassion protected Vibhishana from the wrath of destruction.
Similarly here also, Bhagawan Krishna asks Arjuna and Co. to stand in front of the incoming “Narayana-Asthram” with folded hands, as a token of surrendering unconditionally. As all the Paandava brothers get down from the chariot, Bheemasena is not willing to do so! This is where Bheemasena tried to do something disastrous! While Arjuna and the others stand on the ground with folded hands, the “Narayana-Asthram” comes close to all of them with a huge intensity, only to do a “Parikrama” around each of them and pass by without harming anyone. However, Bheemasena loudly proclaims from his chariot thus, “Oh! As a Kshatrya warrior, why should I fear for any kind of “Asthram”? It is my duty to counter it and if I’m not able to do so, I shall lay down my life for it! But I will not do a cowardly act of putting down my weapon amidst a battlefield and get down from the chariot!” Upon seeing Bheemasena’s loud proclamation, Bhagawan Krishna calls Arjuna near Him and jokingly says thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please ask Bheemasena to stop his unwanted rhetoric and step down from his chariot! All of us know what he’s trying to say! Tell him that this is not the time to beat around the bush!” As Bhagawan says thus, Arjuna replies back – “Oh Bhagawan! If I say all this, he will not accept! He has a huge ego! He will not listen to my words! If you’ve to say something, do it directly to him! Why’re you calling me for it? If you tell him, he will listen!”
As Arjuna says thus, Bhagawan Krishna rushes towards Bheemasena and says thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Enough of your proclamation! You should do it where it is required and not at all times! Now get down from the chariot immediately!” Even as Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Bheemasena is not willing to pay heed! He instead readies his bow and arrow to counter the incoming “Naryana-Asthram”! At this moment, Bhagawan Krishna gets angry with Bheemasena, rushes towards him, gets on to his chariot and pulls him down with a great hurry! The way in which Bhagawan Krishna pulls, Bheemasena topples down from the chariot and falls on the ground! By the time Bheemasena falls on the ground, the “Narayana-Asthram” storms past his chariot and completely destroys it on its way! Had Bheemasena been on the chariot for a minute more, he would have been blown away by it! Thus, Bhagawan Krishna protects Bheemasena at the right time from the “Narayana-Asthram”!
Thus, with this, Ashwatthama’s plan is completely shattered and the “Narayana-Asthram” does not attack anyone who is standing on the ground! Upon seeing this, Ashwatthama’s anger knows no bounds! Duryodhana is shocked to bits! He immediately steers his chariot towards Ashwatthama’s and says to him thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! Yet again, the illusionary Krishna has spoilt our plot! He is thwarting everything that we plan! We’ve to do something immediately to stop Yudishtra and Co.! With the “Naryana-Asthram”, I was quite confident that Yudishtra and Co. will be finished! However, this is also gone now! Can you employ the “Narayana-Asthram” once more?” As Duryodhana asks angrily, Ashwatthama replies in deep pain from his heart – “Oh Duryodhana! I really wish I could employ it once again, but certain things can be done only once in a lifetime! This “Narayana-Asthram” is one such thing! It is extremely powerful and one of the most significant “Asthras” in the world, and such things can only be used once! Thus for now, the “Narayana_Asthram” is gone and we’ve to forget it and move forward with whatever we have in our hands right now!”
So for today, we shall understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall witness what is going to Ashwatthama’s next strategy. Is he having other “Asthras” to try? Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 