In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of a very important phase in the Mahabharata text wherein Sage Vyaasa is stepping up his aggression against both Arjuna and Ashwatthama, who have employed the “Brahma-Asthram” and the “Brahma-Shiras” respectively against each other! Both are extremely lethal “Asthrams” which have the capability to destroy the entire world in a flash! With Sage Vyaasa’s timely intervention, Arjuna takes back the “Brahma-Asthram”, however, Ashwatthama is unable to do so – Primarily because he doesn’t know how to take it back! He had learnt from Guru Dhronachaarya as to how to employ it, but he hasn’t learnt how to take it back! This infuriates Sage Vyaasa even more and declares that the winner of the Kurukshetra war is officially Arjuna and Co. and not Ashwatthama or anybody else! Moreover, Sage Vyaasa wants Ashwatthama to accept defeat by removing the bell that is hanging from his forehead.
Moving on further, while Sage Vyaasa is angrily looking at Ashwatthama, the entire world is stunned! Till this point, none of them have seen this “Roopam” (Form) of Sage Vyaasa. Ashwatthama is also trembling with fear! He has been clearly cornered here! Unable to understand what to do now, Ashwatthama says to Sage Vyaasa thus, “Oh great Sage! I understand your words completely and I accept my mistake! However, once this “Asthram” is released from the bow, it has to destroy someone for sure. You’re saying that the Pandava brothers should be untouched. I had employed this to kill Arjuna. However, given your words, the next target of this “Asthram” would be someone who is of the next generation of the Pandavas. Now Abhimanyu is not there, the next target would be Utthara’s womb, wherein the child of their next generation is growing! Subsequently, this “Asthram” is not going to stop there. It is also going to destroy all the subsequent generations of the Pandava brothers!”
These words from Ashwatthama stun everybody around! Yudishtra doesn’t know how to react, and so does Arjuna as well! Sage Vyaasa gets even more angry upon listening to Ashwatthama’s words! A fierce argument commences between the two of them. Sage Vyaasa replies thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! You’re the worst traitor the world has ever witnessed! Just because your agenda is not fulfilled, your rivalry doesn’t stop with Arjuna and Co. Rather, the intention that you will destroy all the subsequent generations of the Pandavas shows how mean a person you are! It shows how narrow-minded you are as an individual! Yes, at any cost, the Pandava brothers have to be saved and there’s no second thought on that! However, if this “Asthram” has to destroy subsequent generations, who will rule the Hastinapura kingdom after Yudishtra? The kingdom cannot go rulerless just because of your mean attitude! I will never allow this to happen! Oh Ashwatthama! Let me tell you one thing – You’re going to go down in history as the worst and the most cowardly warriors ever! Now even after me telling you to remove the bell from your forehead, you’re still having it! This shows your extreme arrogance! Even after conceding the loss, if you have the audacity to have the bell in your forehead, I have no other option but to inflict something heavy upon you! Till this point I’m resisting myself from this, but my patience is running out!”
As Sage Vyaasa gets extremely angry and takes out his “Kamandalam”, Bhagawan Krishna intervenes very quickly! Till this point, Bhagawan Krishna has been standing on the sidelines and has been a mute spectator of what is going on! However, Bhagawan Krishna has understood that the time has come for His divine intervention yet again for two reasons – Firstly to curtail the anger of a great Sage, and secondly, Yudishtra’s next generation should be protected! There is no compromise on both. However at this moment, more than the second reason, the first reason takes centrestage! If Sage Vyaasa gets angry beyond a point, it is going to be extremely detrimental for the entire world and this has to be curtailed at any cost! Bhagawan Krishna says to Sage Vyaasa thus, “Oh great Sage Vyaasa! Till now you’ve done your duty to protect the world from the dangerous “Asthrams”. Now leave it to me for the divine intervention to take place! I’ve been watching all this from the sidelines, and the time has come wherein I’ll take over the proceedings! From now, whatever happens will be according to the divine “Sankalpa” of the divine power in the world!”
So for today, let us understand up to this point, and in the next episode we shall witness what is Bhagawan Krishna going to unleash! Stay tuned for an important and interesting set of events that are going to unfold!
The Indian Dharma 