01/10/2020
Meanwhile, Arjuna continued to plow through the tightly packed Kaurava troops. Hearing news of his progress, Jayadratha shook with fear. Karṇa and Aśvatthāmā stood by his sides, grim-faced. Still some twenty miles from Jayadratha, Arjuna fought on remorselessly. With his fiery shafts he created breaches in the enemy defenses, and Kṛṣṇa would then quickly drive the chariot through. Wherever the chariot went, the Kauravas were driven back like darkness at sunrise. Arjuna’s arrows slew men standing a full two miles away. His well-tempered and polished steel shafts dropped from the sky like showers of meteors. As Arjuna annihilated the troops who opposed him, Kṛṣṇa baffled their attacks by His skillful driving, exhibiting various expert maneuvers as the chariot moved with circular, backwards, and sideways motions.
Sometimes Arjuna’s progress was swift and at other times slow, but no one saw him cease fighting for a moment. His bow was constantly drawn and arrows flew out in endless streams. It took great courage to even look at him. Thousands of warriors, careless of their lives, rushed against him and perished like insects falling into a fire.
As the sun began its downward course, Arjuna was attacked by Vinda and Anuvinda, the two princes of Avantī. Both were maharathas and they came at Arjuna from both sides at once. Roaring in delight, the fearless warriors charged at Arjuna, releasing their long-shafted arrows by the hundreds.
Surprised by their sudden appearance, Arjuna was hit hard by more than sixty arrows. Kṛṣṇa was pierced with the same number and the horses were all caught with twenty arrows each. Blazing in anger, Arjuna shook off their shafts and aimed his own arrows at his antagonists, looking for their vulnerable points. He struck both of them and stopped their forward charge. The two princes screamed out their battle cries and covered Arjuna with a downpour of arrows. Ignoring the attack, Arjuna carefully aimed a couple of broad-headed shafts and cut apart both their bows. With two more arrows he cut off their standards, and with another dozen he slew their charioteers and horses. All this happened in a matter of moments. Before the princes could do anything Arjuna shot a crescent-headed shaft with full force that severed Vinda’s head.
Seeing his brother slain, Anuvinda leapt from his chariot bellowing with rage. Clutching his mace he raced toward Arjuna. Anuvinda swerved from side to side as he ran, determined to avenge Vinda’s death. Reaching Arjuna’s chariot, he brought the mace down with all his power onto Kṛṣṇa’s forehead. Kṛṣṇa remained firm. Utterly enraged to see Anuvinda strike Kṛṣṇa, Arjuna shot five short shafts that cut off his arms, legs and head. The prince fell down like fragments of rocks shattered by an explosion.
Seeing both their leaders killed, the Avantī army rushed in a body at Arjuna. The Pāṇḍava slew them with arrows shot from the Gāṇḍīva which appeared like showers of sparks flying up from a great fire. Whirling about in his chariot, he consumed the army like a fire consuming a forest at the end of the summer. Thousands of other troops then came at Arjuna. His chariot was completely lost in the enemy ranks. Kṛṣṇa found it impossible to move in any direction. As the battle raged on, He said, “O Pārtha, such is the intensity of this fight that even our celestial horses are becoming weary. We are still far from Jayadratha and they need rest.”
Fighting continuously, Arjuna replied, “O Madhava, I will create a path through these foes. You may then take the chariot through, unyoke the horses, and let them rest. Draw out the arrows from their bodies while I keep these warriors in check.”
Arjuna directed a great stream of arrows at his enemies and forced them back. He then leapt down from the chariot, still releasing countless shafts, and Kṛṣṇa drove away from him. The Kauravas, seeing Arjuna standing on the ground, felt that their opportunity for victory had arrived. Roaring even louder, they ignored Kṛṣṇa and the chariot and trained all their weapons on Arjuna. Arjuna fought on foot against them. He spun around and shot searing arrows in all directions. The amazed Kauravas could not find any gap in his defenses. To approach him was to rush into a solid wall of arrows. The meeting of Arjuna’s shafts with those of his adversaries created a sheet of fire in the sky. Scorched, the Kauravas fell back.
Arjuna ran over to where Kṛṣṇa had released the horses. Kṛṣṇa told him that they needed water and Arjuna replied, “It shall be done.” Drawing back his bow with a golden arrow fixed to it, Arjuna uttered incantations to invoke the Varuṇastra. He shot the arrow at the earth and at once a large lake appeared, with swans, ducks, and other aquatic birds swimming amid lotuses and lilies. The clear pond had been transported from the heavenly regions and was cool and pleasing. A gentle breeze blew over it and celestial sages were seated on its banks.
Invoking another mystical weapon, Arjuna constructed a shelter on the lakeside made entirely of arrows. Kṛṣṇa laughed and applauded him. He led the horses into the shelter where, after drinking their fill, they lay on the grassy ground. Kṛṣṇa then removed their arrows and gently massaged their bodies.
The Kauravas had rallied and again surrounded Arjuna, who continued to fight on foot. Showers of arrows, darts and lances fell upon him, but he stood as firm as Mount Meru. He received the massive downpour of weapons like a mountain receiving rain. Even as the single fault of covetousness destroys all a man’s good qualities, he single-handedly destroyed his enemies. Contending alone against countless warriors seated on chariots, horses and elephants, Arjuna appeared wonderful. Celestials praised him and the Kauravas themselves applauded his prowess. They marveled at the sight of the lake and the shelter he had created. Despite strenuous exertions, they could not overcome him even though he was disadvantaged by the loss of his chariot. His speed, lightness of hand and agility were too great. As he held off the Kaurava forces, Kṛṣṇa harnessed the horses and drove up to Arjuna’s side. As He did so, the mystical lake, with its birds, aquatics and ṛṣis, vanished.
Mounted again on his chariot, Arjuna sounded his conch. Kṛṣṇa urged on the horses, and the chariot rushed into the thick of the Kauravas, with Arjuna spraying deadly shafts on all sides. Like a storm agitating the ocean, he created havoc among the enemy ranks. The Kauravas were beaten back and unable to check his progress. Some of them called out, “Fie upon Duryodhana! It is his fault that the earth now faces such a calamity. These two heroes will spare no one.” Other Kauravas said, “Dhṛtarāṣṭra should begin the preparations for Jayadratha’s last rites. The Sindhu ruler will be killed today.”
Arjuna pressed forward relentlessly. Only four hours remained until sunset and he still had ten miles of troops to cross. The bravest of the Kauravas rushed against him, but like rivers entering the sea they did not return. Other cowardly warriors, like atheists turning away from scripture, turned back from the fight, thus incurring condemnation and sin.
The fire-colored chariot Kṛṣṇa drove appeared like Sūrya’s chariot driven by Aruna. It tore through the Kaurava ranks. Rested and refreshed, the horses raced ahead, seeming to rise up into the sky at every moment. Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa appeared like two fiery suns risen together at the end of the age. Anyone coming near them was burnt by the fire of Arjuna’s weapons and fell lifeless to the earth. The Kauravas facing Arjuna became dispirited and hopeless. They struggled vainly to check him from reaching Jayadratha, but in less than an hour Arjuna could see in the distance Droṇa’s tall standard. With a triumphant shout he said, “See there the preceptor’s banner, O Madhava. I think we are drawing close to the Sindhu king. He cannot be more than a few miles away.”
Kṛṣṇa again advised Arjuna to circumvent Droṇa so as not to lose time, but Droṇa had already seen him and was shooting arrows that flew more than two miles and pierced both him and Kṛṣṇa. Bleeding from their wounds, they appeared like two flowering karnikara trees. Kṛṣṇa drove the chariot away from Droṇa’s attack, placing a body of Kaurava troops between them. He then moved in a great circle around Droṇa’s division. Arjuna continuously launched his blazing shafts in unending lines that struck down men, horses and elephants alike.
As Arjuna came within a few miles of Jayadratha, he was suddenly met by Duryodhana. With his impenetrable armor shining brilliantly, the Kaurava prince sent up a mighty roar and charged. Drawing up his chariot at a short distance from his enemy, he shouted out a challenge.
Kṛṣṇa stopped the chariot and said, “Behold Dhṛtarāṣṭra’s powerful son standing fearlessly before you. He has constantly hated the Pāṇḍavas and is an accomplished warrior, capable of contending with innumerable warriors at once. I think, O sinless one, that the time has come when you should fight with him. Upon him rests victory or defeat. Vomit upon him the venom of your wrath, O Pārtha. It is your good fortune that has brought him before you alone. Why has he risked his life in this way? Surely he will soon regret his folly. Strike down this evil-hearted one and the war will be over. O Arjuna, kill him and cut the root of the wicked Kauravas.”
Arjuna stared angrily at the bellowing Duryodhana. “Let it be so. Go closer to this wretch so that I may punish him with sharpened shafts. I will now avenge the wrongs he committed against Draupadī.”
Kṛṣṇa drove the chariot toward Duryodhana. Seeing the Kaurava chief exhibiting no fear, even though there was sufficient cause, many warriors looked on and applauded. Others cried out in sorrow, considering Duryodhana to be like a libation of ghee poured into a sacrificial fire. “The king is slain! The king is slain!” they cried in terror.
Hearing their cries, Duryodhana laughed. “Dispel your fears. I will soon send these two to Death’s abode.”
Duryodhana taunted Arjuna. “O Pārtha, let me see your prowess. Release all the weapons you have learned from Droṇa and received from the celestials. Watch as I repulse your attack. Then I will sever your head along with Kṛṣṇa’s.”
Duryodhana immediately pierced Arjuna with three arrows that flew invisibly toward him. With four more he pierced each of his horses, and with another ten he struck Kṛṣṇa. With another well-aimed arrow he cut the whip in Kṛṣṇa’s hand, which fell to the ground in two pieces. Arjuna drew the Gāṇḍīva back to his ear and fired four steel-headed shafts that screamed through the air. Hitting Duryodhana’s armor they fell harmlessly to the earth. Arjuna released another sixteen arrows which were again deflected from his armor. He shot twenty more shafts with even more power, but these were also ineffective against Duryodhana’s armor.
Seeing this, Kṛṣṇa said with surprise, “I have not seen this before. Your arrows, capable of penetrating the earth, are falling uselessly from Duryodhana’s armor. Is everything well with you, O Pārtha? Is the Gāṇḍīva losing its power? Why are you unable to pierce your enemy? This is not the time to fail. What is the cause?”
Arjuna understood. Looking at the laughing Duryodhana, he replied, “I think Droṇa has tied on Duryodhana’s armor today. It contains the might of the three worlds. Only Droṇa knows its secret and he has taught it to me. No weapons can pierce this armor. Surely You know this, O Kṛṣṇa, because You know everything. Yet see how this fool stands before me. He is like a woman clad in armor and does not know how to take advantage of his position. Even though he is protected by an impenetrable coat of mail, I will still defeat him. Watch as I send him reeling from my attack.”
Duryodhana stood fearlessly in his chariot and called to Arjuna derisively, “Try again, O Pārtha. I think you are losing your touch.” He fired a thick volley of shafts that covered both Arjuna and Kṛṣṇa. The Kauravas watching the fight were delighted to see Duryodhana impervious to Arjuna’s attack. They roared and beat their drums.
Fending off Duryodhana’s arrows, Arjuna became incensed. With a taut smile he slew Duryodhana’s four horses. He then broke apart his chariot with a hundred hammer-headed shafts. Taking another four arrows with extended points, he empowered them with mantras and aimed them carefully at the Kaurava. The arrows struck Duryodhana on the tips of his fingers, the only exposed part of his body, as he was releasing his own shafts. He screamed in pain as they went under his nails. Dropping his bow he jumped about on the terrace of his chariot, shaking his hand in agony.
Seeing their leader distressed, other Kaurava warriors rushed to his rescue. They surrounded Arjuna with chariots, elephants and horses. Kṛpa, who had come to Duryodhana’s assistance, took him on his chariot, bearing the emblem of a bull, and carried him to safety.
Arjuna again set to slaying the Kaurava troops. He soon managed to break free from his assailants. As his chariot emerged from the enemy array, both he and Kṛṣṇa blew their conchshells with full power. That sound filled the battlefield and terrified the Kauravas. Jayadratha also heard it in the distance and froze in his chariot, looking fearfully in the direction of the sound.
Elsewhere on the field the other Pāṇḍavas had been fighting and destroying thousands of foes. The losses on both sides were great. The earth again assumed a terrible aspect, with the bodies of slain men and beasts lying about amid the wreckage of chariots, armor and weapons.
