In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna somehow dozing off a huge fight that breaks out between Arjuna and Yudishtra, wherein Arjuna rushes to kill Yudishtra for abusing the “Gaandeepa”. However, Bhagawan Krishna makes a timely intervention by pulling Arjuna back and making him understand the long-term implications of such an act. If Yudishtra is killed, there’s no point in fighting this war for all these days, and not only that – The entire narrative of the Paandava brothers standing for “Dharma” gets defeated. However, in order to protect Arjuna’s “Pratignya”, Bhagawan Krishna invokes the “Shaastras” and asks Arjuna to say a few disrespectful words towards Yudishtra, which would be equivalent to killing him. Arjuna does so, and in this, he finds himself to be getting into a soup wherein he abuses his elder brother. According to the same “Shaastras”, if a younger brother is abusing the elder one, the younger brother is deemed to be killed. Hence, Arjuna now takes the sword in his hands and proceeds to kill himself!
Now this is another problem that arises! Initially Arjuna wanted to kill Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna somehow dozed it off! Now Arjuna wants to kill himself, and this shocks Bhagawan Krishna and Yudishtra! Now Bhagawan Krishna quickly reacts yet again and says thus, “Oh Arjuna! Please wait! According to the same “Shaastras” which we are referring to at the moment, if you want to proceed further, there is yet another solution – If you scold yourself disrespectfully, it is equivalent to killing yourself! Hence, rather than physically killing yourself, please do this. By doing so, your “Pratignya” will be fulfilled, as well as your ego clash coming to a close!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Arjuna feels that this is a wise choice and obeys His words verbatim! With this, the fight between Arjuna and Yudishtra comes to an end and both of them patch up with each other. Yudishtra says to Arjuna thus, Oh Arjuna! I know that your “Gaandeepa” is your prowess. Our focus today should be to somehow tame Karna and put an end to him, rather than getting into such infights. This will spoil our long-term mission as Bhagawan Krishna rightly says! Hence, get back to the battlefield and go for the kill without wasting any further time. I shall take care of myself!”
Saying thus, Yudishtra sends Arjuna back to the battlefield and in the meanwhile, Bheemasena is engaged in a huge confrontation with several of Duryodhana’s brothers on the seventeenth day. In Arjuna’s absence, Bheemasena is single handedly taking on the Kaurava camp, and with his unprecedented aggression, kills several of Duryodhana’s brothers! This seventeenth day is turning out to be fateful for Duryodhana in several ways. Bheemasena is on a rampage mode and is killing one after the other, whoever comes in front of him! In the meanwhile, Karna is fighting at his best, killing several swathes of the Paandava army at different locations on the battlefield. Meanwhile, as Arjuna storms back into the battlefield, Bhagawan Krishna decides that now is the time that Arjuna should finally take on Karna! Till now we’ve seen that Bhagawan Krishna was somehow avoiding the Arjuna-Karna confrontation for several reasons, but now, Bhagawan Krishna thinks that enough is enough! Karna has been given several opportunities to change his course, but now it is too late. Arjuna has to confront Karna and the time has come for that!
Thus, Bhagawan Krishna drives the chariot swiftly, taking him to the vicinity of Karna. As Arjuna is advancing towards Karna, King Shalya spots him first. He says to Karna once again thus, “Oh Karna! Look! Your enemy Arjuna is on his way! Look at the way Bhagawan Krishna is swiftly taking Arjuna to your vicinity. This shows their level of confidence, isn’t it? See how Arjuna looks everywhere with a sense of pride and humility at the same time! He knows his strengths! Whereas, look at you! Now upon seeing Arjuna, I’m sure you would have started having fear! You might not tell me, but I’m able to sense it! Oh Karna! Still things aren’t out of control – Do you really want to fight Arjuna and end up on the losing side? Do you really think this is a viable option? Oh Karna! Please understand – Unless and until Bhagawan Krishna is near Arjuna, you will never be able to win over him. Also, it is not easy to separate Bhagawan Krishna from Arjuna! It’s virtually impossible! Hence, my suggestion to you is that, you put down your weapons, go to Bhagawan Krishna and surrender on His divine lotus feet, seeking refuge, rather than unwantedly getting yourself killed in this useless battle!”
As King Shalya says thus repeatedly, Karna really has a tinge of fear within him! But is he going to change his stance atleast now? Is he going to obey King Shalya’s words, or is he going to go ahead with his decision to fight with Arjuna? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 