In the previous episode, we continued witnessing the proceedings of Day Seventeen at the Kurukshetra battlefield, wherein we were amidst two important and marquee battles going on simultaneously. The first one was between Arjuna and Karna, while the second one was between Ducchaasana and Bheemasena. Both these battles are extremely important, given the context of the entire Mahabharata story. While Arjuna is almost at the verge of killing Karna, we had shifted our focus to the other side wherein Bheemasena is daring Ducchaasana for a one-on-one fight! We’ve seen how Bheemasena taunted Ducchaasana by recollecting the pledge that he had made when Draupati was humiliated on that day of the gambling game. In return, Ducchaasana also retaliates saying that Duryodhana (his brother) had made a grave mistake by leaving the Paandava brothers alive after the gambling game was over. Thus, with both of them trading barbs against each other, an intense battle is about to begin between the duo. Bheemasena thinks that there’s no use of engaging in a war of bow and arrows with Ducchaasana, and instead decides that the only way to seek revenge against him is to go for a show of his raw muscle power! Thus, Bheemasena invites Ducchaasana for a one-on-one physical fight with the “Gadha”.
Thus, even as Karna and Arjuna were engaging in a fierce battle on one side, this Ducchaasana-Bheemasena showdown is also happening precisely at the same time! Both of them take their “Gadha” and advance towards each other with a savage resolution. A huge war breaks out between the two of them as they attack each other fiercely with the “Gadha” weapon. Bheemasena is a master at employing the “Gadha” and he inflicts several blows on Ducchaasana. However, Ducchaasana is also not in a mood to relent, and he returns these blows to Bheemasena with interest! Thus, the Gadha-Yuddham continues between the duo for a while with great intensity. However, at one stage, both of them realize that there’s no point in wasting time with this “Gadha-Yuddham”, because both of them have expertise and prowess in it. Bheemasena now quickly decides that the only way to kill Ducchaasana is to invite him for a physical fight, sans any weapons! In other words, the fight between Ducchaasana and Bheemasena has come down to the stage of wrestling with each other! Till now, we’ve never seen such a wrestling tactic being employed in these seventeen days of war by anybody. However, Bheemasena decides to show his raw muscle power to Ducchaasana today!
Thinking thus, both of them put their “Gadhas” down on the ground and prepare themselves for the final showdown! An intense physical wrestling breaks out between the two. As anticipated, Bheemasena is extremely powerful with this and each blow that Bheemasena inflicts upon Ducchaasana speaks volumes of the frustration that had built within him for several years! With every blow that Bheemasena gives, each scene of that fateful day comes in front of Bheemasena’s eyes! It was this same Ducchaasana who dragged Draupati by her hair, isn’t it? As this thought flashes in his mind, Bheemasena gives a heavy blow on Ducchaasana’s broad shoulders. Now, the scene of Duryodhana inviting Draupati to sit on his lap flashes in Bheemasena’s mind! With this, the entire Kaurava camp had laughed sarcastically at the pitiable state of Draupati! While this flashes in his mind, Bheemasena inflicts a heavy blow on Ducchaasana’s face – The very face which was filled with laughter on that disastrous day! Now, the scene of Ducchaasana disrobing Draupati flashes in Bheemasena’s mind and with this, Bheemasena holds Ducchaasna’s hands tightly in his and lifts him up effortlessly! Now Bheemasena taunts Ducchaasana by saying that he’s going to pull off these disastrous hands from Ducchaasana’s body and upon doing so, he swirls Ducchaasana round and round and tosses him away to a far distance!
Now this is the most decisive blow that Bheemasena has given, and from this, Ducchaasna is not able to even stand up on his feet once again! The way in which Bheemasena showed his prowess shocks Ducchaasana completely! He knows that his body is starting to shiver and is losing strength to fight further! However, Ducchaasna is not willing to give up any time soon. He once again gets up on his feet, manages to compose himself properly and launches a scathing attack on Bheemasena. Now it is Ducchaasana’s time to show his strength! He holds Bheemasena tightly in his arms and with all his frustration, inflicts a heavy blow upon his face and shoulders. With this, Bheemasena loses himself for a second, but quickly composes himself yet again! Thus, both of them keep inflicting heavy blows upon each other! However, at one stage, Ducchaasana is unable to give a match to Bheemasena’s relentless attack! Bheemasena is giving blow after blow upon Ducchaasana, which is completely unbearable! Thus, unable to withstand Bheemasena’s relentless blows, Ducchaasana falls on the ground!
As Ducchaasana falls on the ground, Bheemasena is quick to capitalize! He places one of his feet firmly upon Ducchaasana’s chest portion, which makes him completely immobile! Ducchaasana is now completely under Bheemasena’s control! So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion forward to witness what Bheemasena is going to do to Ducchaasana next! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 