Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 823

Episode 823: The war

Bhima shot 75 arrows and killed your son Vīrabāhu along with his horses, & charioteer. Then he killed your sons Bhīmaratha, Bhīma & Sulochana. Seeing this, your remaining sons fled.

Seeing this, Bhīṣma said to his Maharatha, “Surround Bhima who is killing Dhrtarastra’s sons.” At once, Bhagadatta mounted his intoxicated elephant and covered Bhīma with arrows.

Abhimanyu and the others could not tolerate this. From all directions, they shot arrows & wounded Bhagadatta’s elephant. Although bleeding severely, it walked quickly, shaking the earth. It attacked the Maharathas.

Seeing its huge form, all the Pandava Maharathas became discouraged. Bhagadatta angrily shot sharp arrows and struck Bhīma on the chest. Bhīmasena fainted. He held on to the flagstaff for support. Seeing this, Bhagadatta roared loudly.

Ghaṭotkaca was furious on seeing his father Bhīma injured. He vanished & created fearsome magic. He assumed a terrifying form. With his illusion, he created an elephant like Mount Kailāsa. Mounting it, he came there.

Behind that elephant came three more demons riding massive elephants. Ghaṭotkaca & those demons drove the elephants towards Bhagadatta. These elephants tormented Bhagadatta’s elephant with their tusks. Already wounded by arrows, Bhagadatta’s elephant suffered greatly.

Bhiṣma heard its pitiful groan & said to Droṇa and Duryodhana: “The heroic Bhagadatta is suffering as he fights the evil Ghaṭotkaca. We must all go there to protect that king. If not, he will die. Hurry. Bhagadatta was born in a noble lineage. He is a hero devoted to us. To protect him is our duty”.

Led by Bhīṣma and Droṇa, the army attacked Bhima. At once, the Pāñcāla warriors led by Dharmarāja & the Pāṇḍavas, came to protect Bhima.

Seeing those armies, Ghaṭotkaca roared loudly. Hearing that roar, Bhīṣma said to Droṇa, “Ghaṭotkaca is wicked. I do not feel like fighting him now. Even Indra cannot defeat him now. Our troops are tired. All day, we have been attacked by the Pāñcālas and the Pāṇḍavas. The Pāṇḍavas are victorious now. I do not wish to fight them now. Cease the war for today. Let us resume tomorrow.”

The Kauravas tactically withdrew their armies. The Pāṇḍavas rejoiced greatly & roared & blew conches. Not even caring about their wounds, they celebrated grandly.

Duryodhana was distressed by the death of his brothers. For a muhūrta he lamented. He fell into deep thought”- said Sanjaya.

Dhṛtarāṣṭra asked: “Sanjaya! Even the Gods cannot defeat the Pandavas. I am overwhelmed with great fear hearing of their valour. I wonder why my sons are getting defeated. Vidura’s earlier advice now burns my heart. Everything is happening exactly as he said.

The Pandava warriors possess the strength to strike down enemies & are confronting illustrious warriors like Bhīṣma.

Why are we unable to kill them? Who granted them boons? None can slay them. My sons are dying. I cannot see any end to this ocean of grief. My sons have fallen into an exceedingly dreadful plight. Bhīma will undoubtedly slay all my sons. I do not see any heroes who can protect them. They certainly are ruined.

When my armies were fleeing, what did Duryodhana, Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Kṛpa, Śakuni, Jayadratha, Aśvatthāman, Vikarna do? When my sons fled, what were the Pāṇḍavas planning?”

Sanjaya said: “O king! Hear carefully. Listen and understand. This is not a mantra nor a secret technique. It is not illusion nor a mystery.

The Pāṇḍavas do not resort to any trickery in war. They fight righteously. They are masters of strength. Those sons of Kuntī perform all actions according to dharma. They desire only a good name. They do not turn away from battle.

Because they are righteous, they are mighty and supremely opulent. Where dharma is, there victory resides. It is because of that dharma that the Pāṇḍavas are invincible in battle.

Your sons are merciless, evil-minded & always addicted to sinful deeds. They perform cruel deeds. Hence, they are dying. They behaved like base men and inflicted many cruel deceits upon the Pāṇḍavas. Yet the Pāṇḍavas always forgave and covered them. They did not treat the Pāṇḍavas with love.

This is the fruit of those sinful deeds which you have always perpetrated. Now that fruit has come in a most dreadful form. Together with your sons and friends, you are experiencing the fruits of those sinful deeds.

You could not save your sons. Vidura, Bhīṣma, Droṇa and I, many times advised you but you did not understand. Those on the verge of death reject the medicine that would do them good. In the same way, you rejected the good counsel. You gave value only to your sons’ opinions. You believed that you would conquer the Pāṇḍavas. But now, when disaster has struck, you ask me the cause of the Pāṇḍavas’ victory.
I am telling you exactly what I heard. Learn of this.