In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sanjaya giving his customary prelude to King Dhritarashtra about Duryodhana’s demise and how Bheemasena killed him. This comes at the beginning of the “Shalya Parva”, which also marks the beginning of the eighteenth day of the Kurukshetra war. As Sanjaya sees through the eighteenth day proceedings, he is shell-shocked to see how people were fighting with each other randomly! Whoever got a sword in hand, started to attack the others and it was a complete chaos at Kurukshetra! Finally as King Shalya was killed, Duryodhana got inside a huge lake and with his “Maya-Shakti”, he went deep inside it and sat there without coming out! Finally when he comes out, a huge war breaks out between Bheemasena and Duryodhana at a one-on-one level with the “Gadha” and finally Bheemasena manages to kill Duryodhana. This marks the end of the 18-day-long battle at Kurukshetra. Thus, at the end, hardly six people survive in the Paandava camp and three of them survive on the other side!
As Sanjaya conveys the facts of the matter in a brief, King Dhritarashtra could not take the bad news! He faints on his chair upon hearing that his son Duryodhana is no more! Upon comforting himself once again, King Dhritarashtra tells Sanjaya with a choked voice thus, “Oh Sanjaya! I don’t know what to say any further! My son Duryodhana is no more! Please tell me how Duryodhana was killed. What happened on the eighteenth day of the battle? As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Sanjaya commences his detailed accord. Till now we’ve only seen the “Samkshepa” (Brief accord) of the eighteenth day proceedings. Now Sanjaya starts his accord from where King Shalya has already been killed. This is because, King Shalya did not last very long and he was killed within minutes after the war had begun on Day Eighteen. Hence, Sanjaya is not going deep into King Shalya’s demise. Now after King Shalya has been killed, there is nobody to lead the Kaurava army. Now, only three people are remaining – Sage Kripachaarya, Krita Varma and Ashwatthama. Sensing the grave danger that is looming large on the Hastinapura kingdom, Sage Kripachaarya now takes the initiative to convince Duryodhana to stop this war from happening any further. Sage Kripachaarya approaches Duryodhana and says thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Now that King Shalya is also killed, there’s nobody left to lead the army! Atleast now, isn’t it time that you call off this war? Oh Duryodhana! Please understand one thing – All your ninety-nine brothers have been killed. You are the only one who is left. If you are also killed, who will be the next legal successor of your father, King Dhritarashtra to rule the Hastinapura kingdom? Your entire Kaurava clan has been destroyed! Only you are remaining! This should never happen to a kingdom. Hence, Oh Duryodhana! Please relent from your stance atleast now. If Yudishtra has to be given his due share, please do so and resolve this conflict right away. Look at the long-term happiness and do not get carried away by the short-term gains that you’re striving for!”
Saying thus, Sage Kripachaarya continues further – “Oh Duryodhana! Please think in this way – Do you really feel that the Paandava brothers are single-handedly capable of killing this many people from our camp? Do you think Arjuna is 100% capable of killing Bhishmachaarya, Guru Dhronachaarya, and other veterans like Karna? Of course, he has the famed “Gaandeepa” in his hands and he is a great warrior! However, there were several people in our camp who were greater than Arjuna in terms of valour and strength! If all of them are destroyed, please understand that Arjuna is having the “Deiva-Balam” and “Dharma-Balam” with him in the form of Bhagawan Krishna! It is only because of this, the Paandavas are tasting victory every time. Hence, Oh Duryodhana! Even now it is not too late! Please go and patch up with Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna atleast now. Please obtain some “Dharma-Balam” from Bhagawan. He will definitely pay heed to your words of surrender. This is the only way that I can see, through which you can protect your Hastinapura kingdom!”
Saying thus, Sage Kripachaarya tries to convince Duryodhana to make a “Sandhi” (Peace accord) with Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna. But is Duryodhana ready for it? Let us wait and witness in the next episode! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 