Post by jksivan on Sept 29, 2013 6:44:29 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
80 ''FULFILMENT OF A VOW ''
I must tell you that all the stories of Mahabharath are not told by me in this series. Only a select few are reaching you as test samples. You may develop a taste for reading all the stories when you find time and interest to learn them. I am just introducing you to the treasure trove. You may choose to take as much as you like therefrom.
Arjuna was dragged too far by the Thrikarthas. He cannot return or refuse until he has accepted their challenge to fight them till the end. it was the code of conduct of war in those days. If a warrior backs out when challenged it is a shame for him. The idea of the Kaurava s was to engage Arjuna as long as possible away from the war venue, so that Kauravas can destroy the other Other Pandavas and their forces, without Arjuna to defend.
After finishing his mission by killing the Thrikarthas, Arjuna was returning very fast in the chariot driven by Krishna to the war field. He was happy he had put an end to the Thrikarthas, a menace. As he neared the Pandava camp Arjuna noticed it was not as usual. The Pandava forces were waiting for his return. There was something strange which Arjuna could not decipher. Krishna's face was also not normal. There was a trace of sadness and his eyes were wet. Everyone seemed to be worried in Pandava camp.
''Why nobody has come to welcome me back after my successful completion of the defeat of Trikarthas?"' Arjuna was uneasily thinking. Why there is absolute silence like mourning? What happened here? Arjuna was much disturbed by this unusual scene. He was further perturbed when he found Yudhishtra and all other brothers were sitting like statues with their heads down and some were shedding tears. Why all these ? Where is my son Abhimanyu? He was always jubilant and enerprising and very actively engaged in war to exhibit his bravery and talent. Abhimanyu was expected to perform and exhibit his skill that day while Arjuna was dragged away by the Thrikarthas. Why is he absent from this crowd?
Arjuna recalled what his brave son Abhimanyu told him when he was leaving the battle field and chasing Thrikarthas ''My dear Father, I am glad today I have the chance without you to show the Kauravas, that they have in me another Arjuna. I am planning to crush them! you will be very happy to know my success today when you come back"''
''Arjuna went to Yudhishtra and asked " Revered brother, why all of you are uneasy and sad which is unuusal for me?
There was no answer from any one. Arjuna looked for Krishna and found him standing out of the camp staring at the battle field.
Slowly Arjuna gathered and collected the shocking information. Abhimanyu fought very well that day without Arjuna's support. He broke the Chakra Vyuha set by Dhronacharya and entered it successfully and began his attack. At one stage, he was separated from the other back up forces of Pandavas as the Chakra Vyuha was closed by the Kaurava forces not allowing the support forces to back up Abhimanyu. So he was left alone to face 6 great Commanders single handed. He lost his arms, chariot and whatever to defend him and was unarmed when he was killed by Jayadhradha, a king in Kaurava forces. Jayadhradha was a demon king of mighty strength.
Arjuna when he learnt of the miserable death of his brave son Abhimanyu, swore and vowed to kill the coward Jayadhradhan who attacked and killed an un unarmed warrior (which was against the war ethics and code of conduct) before sunset the next day, failing which he declared that he will self immolate himself in presence of everyone.
Pandava forces knew Arjuna's capability and believed he will fulfil his vow and were happy. But Krishna was in deep thought. News reached the Kauravas through spies about Arjuna's swearing and vow to kill Jayadhradha in particular before the sunset next day. Jayadhradha was scaed as he knew of Arjuna's anger and ability to fulfil what he said. He feared death and fell at the feet of Dhronacharya, the supreme commander of Kaurava forces.
''Gurudev, I am sure to die before sunset today. Let me run away to my kingdom now itself. If I leave the battlefield Arjuna will not chase or trace me.''
Dhronacharya replied ''Jayadhradha, dont worry. I know Arjuna. He will either kill you or die himself if he could not catch you by sunset'' It is easy for me to save you till sunset tomorrow so that we will benefit by Arjuna's death tomorrow evening. Kauravas will win the war easily then. So dont worry. Karna and I will be there in the front to prevent anyone nearing you tomorrow. You will live and Arjuna will die . It is certain. Go back now''
Jayadhradha half heartedly returned to his tent.
Krishna did not sleep that night. He called his chariot driver and friend Dharuka.
''Dharuka, you may have to get all my weapons ready for me tomorrow and bring your chariot. Perhaps I may participate in the war breeching my promise. Situation may demand my involvement as I have to save my best friend and devotee Arjun from death. I myself will destroy the Kaurava forces to the last man. Jayadhran is going to live in this world only upto evening before sunset tomorrow. It is definite. ''
The next day began with special interest on both sides. Pandavas were planning their strategy how to pierce the difficult Vyuhas set by Dhronacharya and gain access to Jayadhradha, and who all will be with Arjuna to support him. On the Kaurava side, everyone was given a role to perform by Dhronacharya and Karna. There was complete defence and safety for Jayadhradha who was kept in the back protected on all sides by giant warriors cardoning him. It may take minimum one hundred pages for me to describe the arrangements that day but we have to finish this story in one page only .
Arjuna was burning with rage and he was destroying everyone and everything like an uncontrollable forest fire. Krishna had instructed Arjuna to use the Pasupatha Asthra, the powerful weapon granted to Arjuna by Lord Shiva to kill Jayadhradha.
It was Dhakshinayan time and sun was fading faster to darkness. It was not an easy task to pierce the Kaurava vyuhas that day and it was a fierce fighting that prolonged but no access was possible to reach Jayadhradha. Krishna told Arjuna " when I tell you you release the Pasupatha Asthra on Jayadhradha." Time was running out and evening was fast closing towards sunset time and still the great heroes Dhronacharya and Karna did not make it possible for Arjuna to gain access to Jayadhradha . He was shielded nicely against Arjuna.
It was minutes before sunset. Krishna did a miraculous thing. He just raised his Sudharsan Chakra and hid the sun which resulted in the disappearance of the Sun and the Kauravas were very jubilant. They were happy that Arjuna failed to fulfill his vow and will now have to die. They were not particular in Jayadhradha's life but only in Arjuna's death. They thought it was a bonus for Kauravas if Arjuna died and the war can then easily be won.
While the Kauravas were in ecstacy, the stupid Jayadhradha came out of his hiding as he had escaped Arjuna's attack on him and the moment his head was seen in the crowd, Krishna said Arjuna now you release the arrow focussing on Jayadhradha's head. The head is not to fall down any where. It has to be carried to be dropped on Jayadhradha's father's lap. Be careful and kill him immediately.
In lightning speed Arjuna sent the arrow and killed Jayadhradha and the arrow took with it, his head and dropped it accordingly on his father's lap. Before his father could realise what was happening, his dead son's head rolled down from his father's lap and busted into many fragments. Krishna's Sudharsan chakra came back to Krishna's hands and so sun was still there visible in the skies preparing to set in a few seconds. Kaurava forces were shocked to find the beheaded Jayadhradha lying on the battle field. They cursed themselves for the slack in cardoning him and regretted they were unable to save him upto sunset. Arjuna fulfilled his vow and his life was saved by Krishna.
80 ''FULFILMENT OF A VOW ''
I must tell you that all the stories of Mahabharath are not told by me in this series. Only a select few are reaching you as test samples. You may develop a taste for reading all the stories when you find time and interest to learn them. I am just introducing you to the treasure trove. You may choose to take as much as you like therefrom.
Arjuna was dragged too far by the Thrikarthas. He cannot return or refuse until he has accepted their challenge to fight them till the end. it was the code of conduct of war in those days. If a warrior backs out when challenged it is a shame for him. The idea of the Kaurava s was to engage Arjuna as long as possible away from the war venue, so that Kauravas can destroy the other Other Pandavas and their forces, without Arjuna to defend.
After finishing his mission by killing the Thrikarthas, Arjuna was returning very fast in the chariot driven by Krishna to the war field. He was happy he had put an end to the Thrikarthas, a menace. As he neared the Pandava camp Arjuna noticed it was not as usual. The Pandava forces were waiting for his return. There was something strange which Arjuna could not decipher. Krishna's face was also not normal. There was a trace of sadness and his eyes were wet. Everyone seemed to be worried in Pandava camp.
''Why nobody has come to welcome me back after my successful completion of the defeat of Trikarthas?"' Arjuna was uneasily thinking. Why there is absolute silence like mourning? What happened here? Arjuna was much disturbed by this unusual scene. He was further perturbed when he found Yudhishtra and all other brothers were sitting like statues with their heads down and some were shedding tears. Why all these ? Where is my son Abhimanyu? He was always jubilant and enerprising and very actively engaged in war to exhibit his bravery and talent. Abhimanyu was expected to perform and exhibit his skill that day while Arjuna was dragged away by the Thrikarthas. Why is he absent from this crowd?
Arjuna recalled what his brave son Abhimanyu told him when he was leaving the battle field and chasing Thrikarthas ''My dear Father, I am glad today I have the chance without you to show the Kauravas, that they have in me another Arjuna. I am planning to crush them! you will be very happy to know my success today when you come back"''
''Arjuna went to Yudhishtra and asked " Revered brother, why all of you are uneasy and sad which is unuusal for me?
There was no answer from any one. Arjuna looked for Krishna and found him standing out of the camp staring at the battle field.
Slowly Arjuna gathered and collected the shocking information. Abhimanyu fought very well that day without Arjuna's support. He broke the Chakra Vyuha set by Dhronacharya and entered it successfully and began his attack. At one stage, he was separated from the other back up forces of Pandavas as the Chakra Vyuha was closed by the Kaurava forces not allowing the support forces to back up Abhimanyu. So he was left alone to face 6 great Commanders single handed. He lost his arms, chariot and whatever to defend him and was unarmed when he was killed by Jayadhradha, a king in Kaurava forces. Jayadhradha was a demon king of mighty strength.
Arjuna when he learnt of the miserable death of his brave son Abhimanyu, swore and vowed to kill the coward Jayadhradhan who attacked and killed an un unarmed warrior (which was against the war ethics and code of conduct) before sunset the next day, failing which he declared that he will self immolate himself in presence of everyone.
Pandava forces knew Arjuna's capability and believed he will fulfil his vow and were happy. But Krishna was in deep thought. News reached the Kauravas through spies about Arjuna's swearing and vow to kill Jayadhradha in particular before the sunset next day. Jayadhradha was scaed as he knew of Arjuna's anger and ability to fulfil what he said. He feared death and fell at the feet of Dhronacharya, the supreme commander of Kaurava forces.
''Gurudev, I am sure to die before sunset today. Let me run away to my kingdom now itself. If I leave the battlefield Arjuna will not chase or trace me.''
Dhronacharya replied ''Jayadhradha, dont worry. I know Arjuna. He will either kill you or die himself if he could not catch you by sunset'' It is easy for me to save you till sunset tomorrow so that we will benefit by Arjuna's death tomorrow evening. Kauravas will win the war easily then. So dont worry. Karna and I will be there in the front to prevent anyone nearing you tomorrow. You will live and Arjuna will die . It is certain. Go back now''
Jayadhradha half heartedly returned to his tent.
Krishna did not sleep that night. He called his chariot driver and friend Dharuka.
''Dharuka, you may have to get all my weapons ready for me tomorrow and bring your chariot. Perhaps I may participate in the war breeching my promise. Situation may demand my involvement as I have to save my best friend and devotee Arjun from death. I myself will destroy the Kaurava forces to the last man. Jayadhran is going to live in this world only upto evening before sunset tomorrow. It is definite. ''
The next day began with special interest on both sides. Pandavas were planning their strategy how to pierce the difficult Vyuhas set by Dhronacharya and gain access to Jayadhradha, and who all will be with Arjuna to support him. On the Kaurava side, everyone was given a role to perform by Dhronacharya and Karna. There was complete defence and safety for Jayadhradha who was kept in the back protected on all sides by giant warriors cardoning him. It may take minimum one hundred pages for me to describe the arrangements that day but we have to finish this story in one page only .
Arjuna was burning with rage and he was destroying everyone and everything like an uncontrollable forest fire. Krishna had instructed Arjuna to use the Pasupatha Asthra, the powerful weapon granted to Arjuna by Lord Shiva to kill Jayadhradha.
It was Dhakshinayan time and sun was fading faster to darkness. It was not an easy task to pierce the Kaurava vyuhas that day and it was a fierce fighting that prolonged but no access was possible to reach Jayadhradha. Krishna told Arjuna " when I tell you you release the Pasupatha Asthra on Jayadhradha." Time was running out and evening was fast closing towards sunset time and still the great heroes Dhronacharya and Karna did not make it possible for Arjuna to gain access to Jayadhradha . He was shielded nicely against Arjuna.
It was minutes before sunset. Krishna did a miraculous thing. He just raised his Sudharsan Chakra and hid the sun which resulted in the disappearance of the Sun and the Kauravas were very jubilant. They were happy that Arjuna failed to fulfill his vow and will now have to die. They were not particular in Jayadhradha's life but only in Arjuna's death. They thought it was a bonus for Kauravas if Arjuna died and the war can then easily be won.
While the Kauravas were in ecstacy, the stupid Jayadhradha came out of his hiding as he had escaped Arjuna's attack on him and the moment his head was seen in the crowd, Krishna said Arjuna now you release the arrow focussing on Jayadhradha's head. The head is not to fall down any where. It has to be carried to be dropped on Jayadhradha's father's lap. Be careful and kill him immediately.
In lightning speed Arjuna sent the arrow and killed Jayadhradha and the arrow took with it, his head and dropped it accordingly on his father's lap. Before his father could realise what was happening, his dead son's head rolled down from his father's lap and busted into many fragments. Krishna's Sudharsan chakra came back to Krishna's hands and so sun was still there visible in the skies preparing to set in a few seconds. Kaurava forces were shocked to find the beheaded Jayadhradha lying on the battle field. They cursed themselves for the slack in cardoning him and regretted they were unable to save him upto sunset. Arjuna fulfilled his vow and his life was saved by Krishna.