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| Kurukshetra and After |
Drona was about to discharge a Brahmastra when he heard Bhima. He was shocked but could it be true? Going to Yudhishthira he asked, "Yudhishthira, is it true that Ashwatthama has been slain?" He was convinced that Yudhishthira would not tell a lie even for the kingship of the three worlds. At this moment Krishna was terribly worried. Yudhishthira himself stood trembling in horror at what he was about to do, but deep within was also the desire to win. He hardened his heart and said, "Yes. It is true that Ashwatthama has been killed," adding in a low voice as if to soothe his conscience, "Ashwatthama the elephant or the man?" His last words were drowned in the tumult of the war and did not reach Drona's ears.
When Drona learnt that his beloved son had been slain, for him life was over. Throwing away his weapons he sat down on the floor of his chariot and went into a trance. At this moment Drishtadyumna, Drupada's sons, climbed into the chariot with drawn sword and, heedless of the cries of horror, slashed off Drona's head at one stroke. Drona's soul rose heavenwards in a visible blaze of light.
After Drona's death the Kauravas chose Karna as commander of their army. But the victory was almost assured to the Pandavas. The Kauravas, it seemed, were fighting with their backs to the wall. And though they would not acknowledge it, theirs was a rapidly losing battle. The first of their terrible defeats that day came when Bhima defeated Dushahsana and threw him upon the ground. Bhima had lived for this moment when he would avenge the man who had grievously wronged his beloved wife. In a grim fulfilment of his vow to Draupadi, he killed Dushahsana with his bare hands.
On the sixteenth day of the battle, Arjuna and Karna came face to face. It was indeed the decisive encounter of the war, and, it is said that the gods came down from the heavens to watch the battle. The son of Surya shot an arrow which cut the string of Arjuna's Gandiva. While Arjuna was replacing the string Karna attacked him fiercely. Seeing that Arjuna was defenceless for a moment, the princes on his side rushed to his aid and warded Karna off. As soon as Arjuna had replaced the string he sent a sizzling shaft, which pierced Karna's armour, and he fell on the floor of his chariot.
When Karna recovered he shot an arrow which spat fire and was in the form of a serpent. In the nick of time Krishna made the horses kneel by pressing the chariot with five fingers, so that the arrows narrowly missed Arjuna's head and shattered his helmet instead. Arjuna was filled with rage. Just then the wheel of Karna's chariot sank in the mud. He jumped down and with all his strength in an effort to free the wheel. "Wait a moment," he cried. "Great warrior that you are, you certainly will not take unfair advantage of this accident. Just let me free the wheel first."
At this Krishna could not contain himself. "Is that YOU talking of fair play now? Was it fair play to have the defenceless Draupadi dragged to the assembly and humiliated in public? Was it fair play to have a mob of warriors surround the young Abhimanyu and kill him? It was you who encouraged Duryodhana all along in his evil designs. Fair play, indeed!"
When Krishna spoke thus Karna bent his head and without a word mounted his stalled chariot. He then sent an arrow of such power that Arjuna was stunned for a moment. Taking advantage of the respite, Karna jumped down again and tried to lift the and on this last day it was no different. The wheel stuck fast. Karna evaded Arjuna's attacks and lifted his bow to shoot. But as he aimed his arrow Karna felt his hand tremble and his confidence suddenly ebb away. The knowledge of the use of weapons, acquired after years of effort, seemed to slip away from him, and his mind went blank. As his hand shook and fumbled, two swift arrows came speeding through the air; one struck his standard and brought it to the ground, while the other cut his head and put an end to the life of the great warrior. | |
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