Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 820

Episode 820: The war

The great Krishna then let go of the horse reins, leapt from the chariot, shaking the earth with His steps. With great speed, He rushed toward Bhīṣma in great fury holding the discus. With his yellow silk garment, he shone like a dark cloud illumined by lightning. That discus glowed like the morning sun. Filled with wrath, he roared like a mighty lion.

Seeing Him, all beings cried in fear, for they knew that the Kaurava destruction was now certain. Holding the discus, Lord Krishna blazed like the fire of cosmic dissolution, ready to consume all beings.

Yet Bhīṣma neither trembled nor feared. Holding his bow firmly with both hands, he prayed with a tranquil heart, “O Lord of the Devatas! O abode of the universe! O Mādhava! O wielder of the discus! My salutations to You. O Lord of the worlds, O refuge of all! Come and cause me to fall from my chariot using your might.

O Kṛṣṇa! If I die at Your hands, it will bring me blessedness here and hereafter. O Lord of the Andhakas and Vṛṣṇis! Because You have attacked me, my honour in all 3 worlds has increased.”

By then, Arjuna swiftly leapt from the chariot and held Kṛṣṇa with both hands. But the Adiyogi and Primeval Lord, filled with rage, did not stop. Like a tempest dragging a lone tree, he pulled Arjuna with Him.

Arjuna pleaded, “O Lord! Do not make me a subject of ridicule before all the worlds”. He tried again and again to hold Kṛṣṇa, but the Lord heeded not.

Kṛṣṇa said, “O Arjuna! Release Me. Today I shall slay Bhīṣma and save you.”

Seeing Him coming toward him like a lion leaping upon an elephant, Bhīṣma prayed, “That Gopāla who rushes towards me is my only refuge.”

At last, Arjuna used all his strength & stopped Kṛṣṇa from advancing. He bowed and said, “O Kṛṣṇa! Calm down. Give up anger. You are the refuge of the Pāṇḍavas. I swear by my sons and brothers that I shall uphold my vow & complete my duty. On your orders, I will destroy all the Kauravas, O Upendra!”

Hearing Arjuna’s solemn promise, Kṛṣṇa was pleased. To bring him joy, He returned to the chariot along with the discus, took up the reins, and blew the Pāñcajanya conch, which resounded in all directions. His garland swayed, His armlets and earrings shook violently. His lotus eyes were dust-covered, and His pure teeth shone as the conch gleamed in His hand.

Seeing Him, the Kaurava forces raised a tumult, and war drums, cymbals, and trumpets echoed throughout their ranks. The rattling of chariot wheels mixed with the roars of warriors. The Gāṇḍīva thundered like a cloud filling the skies and all quarters.

Arjuna loosed countless arrows in all directions. Duryodhana, along with Bhīṣma, Śalya, and Bhūriśravā, attacked him fiercely. Bhūriśravā hurled 7 golden-tipped spears; Duryodhana threw a lance; Śalya a mace; and Bhīṣma a sharp spear. But Arjuna shattered them all, each weapon was destroyed midair by his arrows.

He drew the Gāṇḍīva and invoked the Mahendra Astra, which filled the heavens with radiance. With that divine weapon, he halted the advance of the entire Kaurava army. His arrows struck down chariots, bows, and arms & slew elephants, horses, and soldiers.

Arjuna’s storm of arrows made the quarters invisible. The roar of his bow drowned out the sound of conches, drums, and battle cries.

Hearing the Gāṇḍīva, the heroic kings like Virata and Drupada came & fought alongside him and slaughtered the Kaurava ranks. None dared face Arjuna. The warriors, elephants, and horses fell lifeless.

The mighty elephants, decorated with golden ornaments, collapsed. Warriors’ armors broke with his Indra astra, their bodies split apart, and blood flowed like rivers. A gruesome stream of blood and marrow ran across the battlefield.

Having slaughtered countless warriors of the Kaurava army, Arjuna inspired great joy among the Pāṇḍava heroes. Kṛṣṇa and Arjuna, like two roaring lions, terrified the Kaurava generals. Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Duryodhana, and Bāhlīka were all grievously wounded.

When the sun set and darkness spread, both armies withdrew. Arjuna, having gained glory and victory, returned to his camp with his brothers and allies as night fell.

In the Kaurava camp, confusion and fear prevailed. They said among themselves, “Today Arjuna has destroyed ten thousand chariots, slain seven hundred elephants, and killed the warriors of the Prachya, Sauveera, Kṣudraka, and Mālava tribes. None else could perform such feats! Even Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Śalya, Saindhava, and hundreds of other heroes could not withstand him.”

Speaking thus, the Kaurava soldiers returned to their tents as thousands of torches and lamps lit up the night. The army, terrified of Arjuna, finally rested.