In the previous episode, we had witnessed the proceedings of the marquee battle between Bheemasena and Duryodhana, which at the moment had crossed the prolonged “War of words” and now transformed into the “Gadha-Yuddham”. Both of them are extremely talented warriors, especially with Duryodhana, who is high on the “Maaya-Shakti” (Illusionary power) at the moment. This “Maaya-Shakti” is deceiving Bheemasena, wherein every time Bheemasena gives lusty blows with his “Gadha”. Duryodhana still manages to get up and return back to fight normally! Of course, Duryodhana on the other hand, is also unable to understand how to tackle Bheemasena and find out his weakness. As this marathon war continues, Bhagawan Krishna is also concerned. He explains to Arjuna that Bheemasena doesn’t know how to bring a war to a logical end. Given an opportunity, he only keeps fighting on and on without an end to it! Arjuna swiftly gets the subtle message that Bhagawan Krishna is passing on to him!
Moving on further, as Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Arjuna goes forward and shouts at Bheemasena, in a bid to motivate him further. Arjuna says thus, “Oh Bheemasena! Do you remember that day when Draupati was forced to sit on Duryodhana’s lap? You had taken a pledge on that day that you will kill Duryodhana by hitting him on his thighs where Draupati was forced to sit, hadn’t you? I’m just reminding you! Fight accordingly!” As Arjuna says aloud thus, Bheemasena quickly remembers the series of instances that took place on that fateful day! The scene of Draupati being insulted by Duryodhana flashes in Bheemasena’s mind. The scene where Druapati was asked by Karna and Ducchaasana to sit on Duryodhana’s lap as a “Daasi” (Servant maid) flashes in Bheemasena’s mind. All these instances happened in front of his eyes, isn’t it? Hence, Bheemasena remembers each and every moment of what had happened on that day! Thus, as the fight is still going on, Bheemasena gets the message and now starts to target Duryodhana’s thighs. As we know, the pledge that Bheemasena had taken the other day was to kill Duryodhana by plundering his thighs which wanted to have Draupati!
Now with this savage resolution and with an acknowledgment towards Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna, Bheemasena’s vigour increases multifold! He now throws his “Gadha” by targeting Duryodhana’s thighs. Understanding this ploy from Bheemasena, Duryodhana tries to avoid the Gadha from hitting his thighs by jumping up and down! Duryodhana is an expert in warfare and he knows that Bheemasena will not target his thighs straightaway, as doing so, is against the “Yuddha-Neethi”. Bheemasena too tries his best to target Duryodhana’s thighs when he is jumping up. However, Duryodhana is smart enough to evade Bheemasena’s “Gadha” from hitting his thighs. At one stage, both Bheemasena and Duryodhana throw their “Gadhas” at each other out of pure frustration, however, both the “Gadhas” meet in between them and a huge flash of current and light emerges from the collision. This looks like a lightning that emits from the clouds when they come in contact with each other! Picking up their “Gadhas” thus, the duo once again continue the fight and exchange lusty blows – Only to be up again and exchange more and more blows!
As this progresses on and on without a break, Bheemasena is still not understanding why Duryodhana is escaping every time. Even as he is executing Arjuna’s words of targeting his thighs, Duryodhana is not giving him any space for Bheemasena’s “Gadha” to touch his thighs. This now makes Bheemasena rethink his strategy of attack. Merely throwing the “Gadha” by aiming at Duryodhana’s thighs is not going to work. Duryodhana is smart enough to jump up and duck down to evade it! He has to do something else here! So what is he going to do now? How is Bheemasena going to tackle Duryodhana’s “Maaya-Shakti”? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 