“Consider that everything that possesses the quality of opulence and splendour has been created from a part of me.
“In the end, I would say only one thing Arjuna, why do you need to understand the scope of my colossal manifestations? In short just remember that I have occupied this entire world with just a small part of me.”
I was amazed to hear his words, ‘I have occupied the entire world’. My eyes moved over his towering figure searching for everything that he told me. I could see everything that he described to me, in his human body. Beholding that grand manifestation my throat felt dry again. Composing myself I managed to ask him “You said, I am Kala itself. I didn’t understand what it means. Oh Prabho, could you please explain it to me?”
Keeping his eyes closed he said, “It is true Arjuna. I am ‘Kala’ – the Time itself that has been inspired to destroy the countless warriors standing here.
“Dhirodatta – Dhananjaya, try to understand clearly what ‘Kala’ is. All sentient beings, from the minuscule insects to the humans exist in three dimensions. Those three dimensions are distance, weight and gravitational force. Each of these dimensions has a beginning and an end. The fourth dimension is Kala –Time. It has neither beginning nor end. It is only one and continuous. Understand thoroughly that I am such Kala.
“I am Time infinite which has no beginning and no end. Now I am getting ready to annihilate these countless warriors standing in front of us. I am going to do that without wielding any weapon. That is why you are going to be my instrument – with the weapons in your hands. You will not be committing any sin in killing the warriors in front of you. You will not be held guilty of any fault. A lotus leaf never gets wet in spite of being in the water all the time. Similarly, you will also remain free from any kind of fault. Therefore, oh Kiritin – Kaunteya, arise, hold with resolve, the Gandiva bow that you had discarded and get ready to fight the war.
“Ardent devotees who follow this affectionate advice given by me sincerely are close to my heart. Falguni – Pandava, the human body is like a field and the alert Soul is like the farmer that takes care of the field. He who understands this, understands life.
“Purushottama – Partha, just as different seasons affect the crop in the field, the three qualities also affect the soul. These three qualities are – Satva, Rajasa and Tamasa. Every being likes to eat food according to the dominance of these qualities in that being. A sattvika, holy person likes to eat sweet food made of curds and milk, a Rajasika, active person loves nourishing nutrients with salt and spices and a Tamasika, irascible person likes food that is without nutrients and is stale. Every being gets results according to the food they consume. A sattvika person gets pure results of virtuous deeds, a rajasa person gets mixed results of joys and sorrows, and a tamasika person suffers in sorrow full of ignorance. Just as an alert and skilled farmer takes good care of his field, a sattvika person keeps the terrain of life spotless and impeccable.
“He who obtains this knowledge and realizes the omnipresent nature of God almighty becomes a Purushottama – the supreme man.
“Gudakesha – Kaunteya, there are two kinds of people in the world – those who are pious by nature and others who are demonic. The pious people with divine virtues possess twenty-six rare qualities. Those are brilliance, mercy, cleanliness, courage, generosity, a meditative and pure heart and such. The demonic people possess vices like hypocrisy, arrogance, anger, cruelty, ignorance and such. The divine qualities lead one towards Moksha. The vices lead one towards suffering.”
By giving a variety of examples he had been trying in many different ways to remove the dark veil of ignorance on my intellect. I was delusional and kept falling back into a state of confusion. I was persistently asking him questions one after the other. Even after he gave me so much advice I ended up asking him, “Hrishikeshaa, I would like to know the difference between the essence of Renunciation and Sacrifice.”
Then he explained the difference to me and without giving me a chance to ask any more questions he resolutely said to me, “Why do you need to know what is life? Why do you have to understand Truth and Untruth? You just keep your attention on me only. Be my devotee and worship me. Leave everything else and surrender yourself to me. I will emancipate you from every sin.” His eyes opened wide, and he sternly commanded me, “Arjuna… arise. Pick up your Gandiva bow and blow your Devadutta conch. Inspire the Pandava army with a resolve to
go to war. I am not going to listen to anything that you say now!”
He provoked the combatant Kshatriya within me. I got up at once like a puppet. I was holding the Gandiva bow that I had instinctively picked up. I hung it on my shoulders, untied my Devadutta conch wrapped in a shawl around my waist and took it in my hands. I glanced at Srikrishna expectantly. His renowned pure white Panchjanya conch was in his hands. This Mahayajna of the Great War couldn’t be inflamed until he had blown his conch first.
On the second day of the dark fortnight of Margashirsha, raising his indomitable head high towards the clear skies of Kurukshetra, Srikrishna blew his auspicious white Panchjanya conch at the top of his lungs.
Responding to that grandsire Bhishma blew his Ganganabha conch as the commander of the Kauravas, in the same manner. As I heard that sound each atom in my body got excited with valour. I looked only once at Krishna who was looking back. His face was blooming with a striking, deeply meaningful smile that no one must have ever seen. It felt as if he was commanding me – ‘Blow the conch Arjuna – let the Great War of Bharata commence.’
I closed my eyes, paid obeisance to him and Kuntimata and blew my Devadutta conch from the bottom of my heart. Dhrishtadyumna also blew his Yajnaghosha conch as the commander of the Pandava army. After that I heard the familiar sound of Bhimsena’s Paundra conch that he blew protruding the veins in his neck. Now I got excited and was filled with valour. After Bhimsena many sounds of the conches of Guru Drona-Kripa, Duryodhana, Ashwatthama and others were heard coming from the frontline. Challenging them the familiar thrilling sounds of Yudhishthira’s Anantvijaya, Nakula’s Sughosha, and Sahadeva’s Manipushpaka conch were heard.
From both sides a cacophony of inspiring war cries arose from lakhs of throats of valiant warriors – ‘Mount! …Onward! Attack!
The yajna pit of the Great War of Bharata got ignited on the holy land of Kurukshetra! Troops of lakhs of pugnacious warriors from the Kaurava and Pandava army fell upon each other clanging their weapons like two high-tide oceans colliding against each other.
The battle had spun vigorously for thirteen days. I could never forget the thirteenth and fourteenth day in my entire life. There was a strong reason behind that. My own life and entity was at stake in those two days. On the thirteenth day, the war stopped after sunset as per the rules of the war. The Chakravyuha – discus – formation arranged by Guru Drona today had wreaked havoc in our army. I was utterly exhausted after fighting the whole day. Every evening while returning to our camp my charioteer, Sakha Srikrishna, would continuously talk to me while reporting the events of the day to me. I never saw him tired. But today he was absolutely silent. I felt it very strongly. I was about to ask him something when he brought the Nandighosha chariot to the centre of the battlefield. Yudhishthira and all my brothers, commander Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki and major Pandava warriors had gathered there for the first time today. Definitely one of the Pandava warriors had died a hero’s death today! Srikrishna brought my Nandighosha chariot near the circle of the warriors and without saying a word he leaped down from his seat. He broke through the circle of warriors towards the centre. I also followed him as if drawn. A corpse of a valiant warrior lay at the centre of the circle. His face was thrust in the ground. It was unrecognizable as it was smeared with mud.
Srikrishna sat in the Virasana pose near the lifeless body. He gently picked up the face hidden in the lap of the Kurukshetra land and kept it next to the torso!
I was struck by a bolt! He was my most beloved son Abhimanyu. The apple of Subhadra’s eyes, th
e husband of Uttaraa, and Srikrishna’s favourite bhacha ‘Abhi’.
Krishna spread his blue shawl on the severed face of his dear Abhi that was vaguely visible to him through the veil of tears in his eyes. Commander Dhrishtadyumna placed a garland that somebody handed over to him on Abhi’s body.
Krishna was benumbed. I was speechless. Composing himself commander Dhrishtadyumna briefed us about the incident, “Bold Abhi performed incredible matchless feats today. Breaking six chains of the Chakravyuha military formation, while intimidating major Kaurava warriors such as Drona, Shakuni, Dushasana, Jayadratha, Kritavarma, Kripa, Ashwatthama, and Duryodhana, this valiant Pandava warrior infiltrated the Kuru army like a serpent entering a hole. His mighty kaka Bhimsena who was protecting him eventually fell behind. Fighting against thousands of chariot warriors, elephant riders and horse riders Abhimanyu singlehandedly broke seven chains of the formation and reached the eighth chain in the centre. With the muscles in his arms quivering with excitement and valour, gallant Abhimanyu was completely engrossed in the fight. He fought alone at the centre of the formation. He furiously killed many Kaurava Atirathis like Shatrunjaya, Takshaka, Meghavega, Chandraketu, Jayatsena and Satyashravasa in no time.
Valiant Abhimanyu was not retreating at all even when evening approached. The Kauravas who were feeling utterly helpless behaved treacherously for the first time in the war. Commander Drona, Kripa, Kritavarma, Ashwatthama, Brihadbala and Karna – six Maharathis attacked Saubhadra at the same time. In fact as per the rules of engagement even though it is a double-chariot war, the fight has to be one against one. The Kauravas heartlessly broke this rule for the first time today.”
“What – What did the six of them do?” Krishna calmly asked commander Dhrishtadyumna.
Commander Dhrishtadyumna said with his chest swelled with pride for Abhimanyu’s valour, “Abhimanyu did not surrender to the six warriors. He made them retreat from the battlefield one after the other. In the end Duryodhana’s son Lakshmana and Abhi fought a fierce mace fight at the exact centre of the formation. Both of them struck each other fiercely at the same time and lost consciousness after that. Abhimanyu was lying face down. As the Kaurava warriors made Duryodhana’s son Lakshmana sniff medicinal herbs, he regained consciousness first. Without thinking anything he hit a strong, wicked blow of his mace on the head of Abhimanyu who had lost consciousness and was lying face down! He thus violated all rules of engagement.
“ Abhi whimpered indistinctly ‘Kaka…. Bhimakaka’ before dying, indicating some consciousness. Meanwhile the six warriors who had retreated earlier gathered there again. Even their strong hearts were shaken for a moment, hearing Abhi’s last distressed call.”
Benumbed and speechless I was staring at the blue shawl of Krishna. My heart was crying and streams of tears flowed continuously from my eyes. My soul was wailing in agony – ‘Abhimanyu – dear Abhi…!’
The concluding words of the commander fell on my ears – “At that time only Jayadratha came forward like a monster. He wanted to check whether Abhimanyu was really dead or not. But the brave warrior’s body was lying face down. More than half of his severed face was detached and stuck in the ground of the holy battlefield of Kurukshetra due to the heavy blow of Lakshmana’s mace. Insolent Jayadratha kicked his body to straighten it! Gallant Abhi’s crushed head remained stuck in the ground! Only his torso turned around. Maybe that mighty warrior didn’t want to see the faces of the Kuru warriors!”
Commander Dhrishtadyumna was so courageous but even he couldn’t control his tears while reporting the news.
Each word of his felt like embers falling on my body. For a moment, my entire body trembled with rage. My eyes dilated with anger. I stood up at once, raised my Gandiva bow as high as I could towards the skies of Kurukshetra and took a fierce vow – “I will kill the uncultured, insolent Jayadratha who ruthlessly kicked my dear son’s lifeless body, before sunset tomorrow! Or else I will enter the fire pit myself and enter the heavens to be with my dear son!”
While my body was shaking with uncontrollable rage, I had taken a ferocious vow that everyone could hear clearly. My ear lobes had become hot with rage. I couldn’t think of anything. Srikrishna was patting my sweaty back and saying to me, “Arjuna, the first part of your vow befits you. But the second part is going to be difficult.” At that time, I didn’t understand the meaning of his words. It had happened many times before. We couldn’t always comprehend the meaning of his words immediately.
Something that did not happen during the last thirteen days happened that night. Srikrishna sent an attendant and invited me to his elevated, grand pavilion located at the centre of our encampment. A royal astrologer was seated in front of Srikrishna’s seat and had spread the birch parchment of an almanac. Both of them were discussing something in low voices. Srikrishna was whispering something to him while counting on his fingers. I didn’t understand anything at all.
My heart devastated by Abhimanyu’s death was writhing in pain with millions of his memories. I was unable to sleep. I just lay down on the bed with my eyes closed and my mind fatigued. As per Srikrishna’s instruction I was going to stay in his pavilion tonight.
Around midnight I woke up hearing the fleeting words of the royal astrologer. They seemed quite irrelevant to me. He had said – “Yes Yadavaraja, there is a total solar eclipse on the new moon day tomorrow! After the third prahar of the day!” After hearing that I saw Krishna removing a pearl necklace from his neck and gifting it to him. Krishna also sort of commanded, “Go back to Hastinapura right away. Tomorrow itself leave from there and go on a pilgrimage to the Himalayas.”
The fourteenth day of the war, which I could never forget in my life, dawned. The battlefield of Kurukshetra echoed with a cacophony of sounds of various war instruments. So far everyday a new battlefield had been chosen for the war. It was essential to do so to make arrangements to dispose of the dead bodies, weapons, chariots, dead horses, camels and elephants fallen on the battlefield. According to the rules of engagement no battle was going to be fought on the same battlefield for two days. No battle was to be fought at night.
Today Srikrishna steered my Nandighosha chariot among various troops till the third prahar of the day. We could not see Jayadratha anywhere! Duryodhana and Shakuni had taken the decision to not bring him onto the battlefield at all. He was resting in a secured pavilion guarded by a thousand armed soldiers. My body started seething with fury as I couldn’t find Jayadratha even after searching for him. In frustration with rage I went on slaying warriors like Niyutayu, Mitradeva and Dandadhara and slaughtered troops after troops. Shouting loudly, ‘Show me Jayadratha – who humiliated my dear Abhi’s lifeless body – show me that scoundrel Jayadratha’ I made Srikrishna run my Nandighosha chariot all over the battlefield. He also kept calling the horses of the chariot by their names tirelessly and constantly kept motivating them. Whenever I got disappointed and requested him to stop the chariot he was doing it obediently. But he was not saying anything. After stopping the chariot, he would blow his Panchjanya conch at the top of his lungs. Hearing its divine sound my fatigue would vanish.
Warriors from both sides were engaged in war forgetting themselves. All of a sudden after the third prahar of the day the skies got murky. No one understood what was happening. Within a few moments, the sun was eclipsed completely. Murky darkness spread everywhere. By this time, we had reached the extreme west of the fourteenth battlefield. Due to the darkness flocks of chirping birds started returning to their nests. The crickets started chirping loudly. The area of Kurukshetra was illuminated by the night attendants with hundreds of burning torches. Everyone thought the day was over. The Kaurava army arranged a funeral pyre of sandalwood logs for me as I had been unable to fulfil my vow. It was arranged at the centre of the encampments of both the armies so that it would be visible to all.
I was feeling confused and extremely ashamed. I hadn’t felt so ashamed even while getting into a woman’s costume as Brihannada in Viratanagar. I felt as
if furious Abhimanyu was standing at heaven’s gate and sending me back. I was completely benumbed with the thought of what everyone, including Yudhishthira - Bhimsena, Draupadi and especially Subhadra would think of me. With tearful eyes, I touched the feet of Yudhishthira, Bhimsena and aged Kuntimata. With deep grief, I embraced Nakula - Sahadeva. Lakhs of distressed warriors gathered to say final goodbyes to me. I raised my hands and humbly bowed down to them.
In the end, I approached my dear Krishna who had counselled me so wisely about life. My heart was flooded with varied emotions. Going away from Srikrishna? Forever? How is it possible? But I had taken a vow and to fulfil it I had to go away from all. I steadied my heart with resolve. I removed the Gandiva bow from my shoulders and kept it at his feet as it had become lacklustre today. He promptly said with a solemn expression, “Oh Veera – Arjuna, even in heavens the Kshatriyas cannot enter without their weapons! Who else is going to handle the Gandiva bow but you? Even I cannot do it!” He forcefully put the quiver on my back and tied its strings tight over my chest. The next moment he held me in a deep embrace, and taking that opportunity he whispered in my ears, “Very soon you are going to have to use your exceptional skills of archery and use the Gandiva bow as never before. Focus your attention on my index finger.” He patted my shoulders effusively. I became vigilant.
I climbed the steps to get on the tall and huge funeral pyre to enter the fire with my head hanging low in utter humiliation! Keeping my eyes on Srikrishna’s feet I closed my eyes. The courage-giving mantra of Bhagvan Savitru slipped out of my mouth inadvertently in the rhythm of the Gayatri meter – Om bhoorbhuvaha, Swaha, TatsaviturvareNyam….
I – the third son of Kuntimata, Srikrishna’s most beloved friend – the master of the Gandiva bow – world conqueror master archer Arjuna got ready to face death.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 77
