In the previous episode, we witnessed the commencement of the “Karna Parva”, after we’ve completed the “Dhrona Parva”. From here on, these “Parvas” are quite small as compared to the previous “Bhishma Parva” and “Dhona Parva”, as we’ve already entered Day sixteen of the war at Kurukshetra. We’re left with only two more days in the war and here we’ve commenced with Sanjaya’s narrative that Karna has been killed by the end of Day seventeen. This sends shock waves to King Dhritarashtra – Everyone around Duryodhana is dying left right and centre and his son Duryodhana is being left all alone in the battlefield! If nobody is there to protect Duryodhana, how will he defend himself? Such questions run through King Dhritarashtra’s mind continuously as he asks Sanjaya for more details of what happened during Days Sixteen and Seventeen at Kurukshetra. King Dhritarashtra wants to know how Karna was killed. This same question is being asked by King Janame-Jaya as Sage Vaishampayana is narrating the entire Mahabharata story to him. Just like how Sanjaya gave the jist of the proceedings of the war, Sage Vaishampayana also adopted the same strategy and paused for a while. This triggers the interest of King Janame-Jaya to know what happened to Karna and how Arjuna went ahead to kill him. Thus, Sage Vaishampayana continues his accord into the “Karna Parva”, which Sanjaya also explains.
Thus, with this prelude, we commence the proceedings of Day Sixteen of the Kurukshetra war. Ashawtthama somehow returns back to Duryodhana’s fold and he recommends the coronation of Karna as the next “Senapati” after Bhishmachaarya and Guru Dhronachaarya. Accordingly Karna becomes the next leader and he gives a motivational talk to the entire Kaurava army that by the end of the sixteenth day, he is going to destroy all the five Paandava brothers and bring this war to an end. By doing so, Karna says that he will bring glory to his friend Duryodhana! Thus, the war begins and the Kauravas come up with the “Makara Vyugam” on the sixteenth morning. In return, the Paandava camp comes up with the “Artha-Chandra Vyugam”. The day starts with a direct clash between Bheemasena and Ashwatthama. As we know, Ashwatthama is fully charged up after his father’s demise and he knows that Bheemasena has played a crucial role in the heinous crime! Hence, Ashwatthama comes up with a savage resolution to take on Bheemasena’s might and prove a point against him! Ashwatthama is not an ordinary person to tackle in the battlefield. He throws the kitchen sink at Bheemasena, who in turn tackles it with his brute muscle power! Just like Ashwatthama, Bheemasena is extremely powerful! Buoyed with a lot of confidence gained from defeating Guru Dhronachaarya, Bheemasena is charged up as well! A long fight between the duo ensues, and both of them do not understand how to neutralize each other! Thus, at a point, both Bheemasena and Ashwatthama call off the fight and move away from each other!
Even though the war with Bheemasena ends up in a draw, Ashwatthama is in no state to give up! He now picks up a fight with the incoming Arjuna from the other direction. A huge battle breaks out between Arjuna and Ashwatthama, which is several times bigger than the previous Bheemasena vs. Ashwatthama battle. Arjuna is extremely powerful with his “Gaandeepa” and the sound of the powerful arrows being exchanged between the duo is like huge thunder rolling in the skies while raining! Both of them are extremely powerful warriors with secrets of several “Asthras” known to both of them! It should be remembered that these two are the finest students of Guru Dhronachaarya as well! Finally as the war progresses beyond a point, Arjuna gains an upper hand, as Ashwatthama becomes tired of fighting! He has already fought a huge war with Bheemasena earlier and with this, Ashwatthama loses his capability due to extreme fatigue! Fighting two back-to-back wars isn’t an easy task at all and Ashwatthama moves away swiftly from that place before Arjuna could aim a shot to kill him! In return, Arjuna too leaves Ashwatthama without killing as Bhagawan Krishna moves him away from that place.
Similarly, on the other end of the battlefield, there is a war going on between Sahadeva and Ducchaasana, which Sahadeva manages to win. Meanwhile, Karna and Nakula engage in a brief battle, however, Karna proves to be more powerful than Nakula. At the final stage of this battle, Karna brings Nakula under his knees, puts his bow’s thread around Nakula’s neck and drags him all along the ground! However, Karna doesn’t kill Nakula and tells him thus, “Oh Nakula! Beginners and amateurs like you should not come into the battlefield! I’m leaving you alive because I’ve promised to our mother that I’ll not kill her sons in this war. I’ve promised her that five of her sons will be alive by the end of this war. My main battle will be with Arjuna and by the end of this day, either Arjuna or myself will be alive. Hence, I’m leaving you unscathed! Run away from here!”
Saying thus, Karna lets go of Nakula, who runs away in fear! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion forward in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 