In the previous episode, we witnessed the continuation of the marquee battle between Karna and Arjuna on the seventeenth day at Kurukshetra. Both of them are extremely talented in several warfare and “Asthra” techniques as they exhibit their prowess against each other. At one stage, Karna is forced into the backfoot – Thanks to the curse received by the Brahmana Rishi, wherein his chariot gets trapped into a hole on the ground. This results in the breaking down of Karna’s chariot and he rolls over to the ground without any weapons in his hands. This is the time wherein Bhagawan Krishna asks Arjuna to hit Karna and kill him. But Karna is not very happy with Bhagawan Krishna’s instruction. He objects to it by saying that such an act is against “Dharma”. However, Bhagawan Krishna is quick to counter Karna’s words, recollecting similar acts of “Adharma” that he has been part of, either directly or indirectly. When Abhimanyu was killed in a similar way, Bhagawan Krishna asks Karna as to where did his “Dharma” disappear at that time? When Draupati was molested in the public courtroom, Bhagawan Krishna asks Karna as to what was his “Dharma” doing at that time? Similarly, by raising several questions back to back, Bhagawan Krishna scolds Karna for twisting the “Dharma” according to his whims and fancies. As this war of words are going on at one end, Bheemasena is on a rampage mode and is on a killing spree during the seventeenth day! He kills several of Duryodhana’s brothers in the war single-handedly! At one stage, Bheemasena spots Ducchaasana in the battlefield and at this moment, he recollects the pledge that he had made during that fateful day at the Hastinapura courtroom!
Moving on thus, as Bheemasena spots him, Ducchaasana tries to flee away from that place. However, Bheemasena decides that it is “now or never” as we’ve spent almost seventeen days without accomplishing the mission. How long should this war continue on and on without an end-result? Hence, Bheemasena decides that today should be the most decisive day and with this savage resolution, he proclaims loudly to Ducchaasana thus, “Oh Ducchaasana! Till now you’ve been escaping from my eyes! However, please note – Today will be the last day of your life on this earth! That fateful day when you’re going to be killed by me has come! So there’s no point in trying to escape from my sight. If you have the guts, come and fight with me. Do not run like a coward anywhere!”
Bheemasena continues to target Ducchaasana and taunts him further thus, “Oh Ducchaasana! Today you’re trying to run away like a coward upon seeing me! However, did you try and run away when you had pulled Draupati’s saree on that fateful day? You did it with a lot of happiness, didn’t you? For all that you’ve done to my wife, you’ve to face the wrath for the same! Hence, if you have the courage as a “Kshatrya” warrior, I dare you to come and have a fight with me immediately!” As Bheemasena says confidently and tantalizingly thus, Ducchaasana gets infuriated and replies back thus, “Oh Bheemasena! After listening to all that you’re saying, I’m now feeling that we’ve made a big mistake! We should have killed all the five of you on that very day after the gambling game was over. We let you escape and you went to the forest as per our father’s order. We were anticipating that you will die in the forest during the thirteen-year period, however that did not happen. Now is the time to finish you off once and for all! Oh Bheemasena! Stop boasting about yourself! If you have the guts, come forward and pick up a fight with me. I’m not trying to run away like a coward as you’re trying to portray! Stop talking nonsense and show your prowess in action! Oh Bheemasena! Please understand – We’ve also not forgotten anything of the past, just like how you’re saying that you’ve not done so! Hence, let today be the decisive day as to who is going to have the last laugh!”
Saying thus, Ducchaasana gives a befitting reply to Bheemasena’s taunts! As the war of words intensifies between the duo, they come dangerously close to each other. Bheemasena decides that there’s no point using the bow and arrow to fight Ducchaasana, as Bheemasena’s real strength lies in his raw muscle power! He decides to show his prowess to Ducchaasana by inviting him for a “Gadhaa-Yuddham” initially and then to escalate into a huge physical show of strength! As Bheemasena picks up his “Gadha” from his chariot and walks forward confidently, Ducchaasana also does the same! A huge marquee battle is about to begin between the duo, even as the Arjuna-Karna battle is still raging on and on! For this moment, we’ve slightly shifted our focus from the Arjuna-Karna battle, but we shall get back to it shortly. However, the raging topic now is the marquee battle between Bheemasena and Ducchaasana, which is important for several reasons. 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 