THE GREAT KURUKSHETRA WAR - FOURTEENTH DAY

The Kaurava army protected Jayadratha, from Arjuna. Finally, in late afternoon, Arjuna found Jayadratha. Seeing his friend's plight, Lord Krishna raised his Sudarshana Chakra to cover the sun, faking a sunset. Then, Arjuna shot a powerful arrow decapitating Jayadratha.

On the fourteenth day of the great war, Yudhisthira woke up early in the dawn, bathed in the holy waters, applied sandal paste to his body, wore new clothes and adorned himself with floral garlands. He came out of his house and offered prayers, worshipping the cows. He distributed gifts to learned Brahmins and received their blessings. Afterwards, he occupied the golden throne in the assembly hall, opposite the elephant stables. The chamberlain announced the arrival of Sri Krishna. Yudhisthira received him with a happy smile and offered him a seat beside him. As Sri Krishna took his seat, Bhima, Ghatotkacha, Nakula, Sahadeva, Drupada, Virata and other warriors came and took their seats, after the exchange of customary salutations. Sri Krishna asked Satyaki to sit along with him on his sofa. Yudhisthira said to Sri Krishna, "You are our pole star, you are our savior. Any fresh supplication to you is superfluous. In this great war, in the thick of the grim and gruesome battle today, we may forget you upset by the ebb and tide of warfare. Please do not forget us." Sri Krishna smiled and said, "Your goodness is matched by your cleverness. Now I am your most obedient servant and the charioteer of your brother."

Arjuna arrived as Sri Krishna finished the sentence and bowed to Yudhisthira who blessed him with success, embraced him heartily. Arjuna narrated the dream he had last night. He said I offered prayers to Siva, sitting on the holy grass mat presented to me by Sri Krishna, whom I garlanded at the very outset. Lord Shiva presented me with the Pasupatha missile and blessed me with victory. I was amazed to find the same garland which I placed around the neck of Sri Krishna, adorning the chest of Shiva who said to me, smiles twinkling in his eyes, "I am Sri Krishna, there is no diference between us if you look with your minds' eye." I am confident of success." Sri Krishna smiled profusely. The warriors blew their conches and the soldiers their bugles, horns and clarions. The Pandava army reached the battlefield, before sunrise. Arjuna said to Satyaki, "Guarding Dharmaputra is as important as fulfilling my vow. Let us share the responsibilities. I will go to kill Jayadratha; you remain here to protect Yudhisthira, Bhima and Dhrishtadyumna will support you in warding off Drona's attack. The preceptor will be waiting like a wolf today to pounce upon Dharmaputra. I think he will be more interested to redeem his pledge than in the fate of Jayadratha. This is an unexpected opportunity, ‘now or never' for him. Beware."


Drona arranged the Kaurava armies in a spectacular, three pronged array. Facing the Pandava armies was the car formation. Behind it was th lotus array. In the rear a needle formation was contrived, stretching twelve miles from the lotus formation. Saindhava surrounded by seasoned warriors like Kripa and Karana, Salya and Asvatthama, Bhurisrava and Vrihasena was stationed at the eye of the needle. A hundred thousand soldiers, twenty thousand cavalry and ten thousand car warriors formed the ring around the eye of the needle. Drona stood at the entrance of cart formation. From the cart to the last point, the eye of the needle, it was a long distance and it was considered almost impossible for any chariot to cover the distance, winding through innumerable hurdles, before dusk. Drona was dressed in white robes, with a spotless white turban, and white armour. His golden chariot drawn by crimson horses with its insignia of the sacrificial altar presented a sublime sight. Arjuna blew his Devadatta and Sri Krishna his Panchajanya. Immediately, Durmarshana charged against Arjuna leading his elephant division. The Kauravas wanted to create a terrific first impression in the preliminary war of nerves.

Durmarshana shouted aloud, "Where is Arjuna? Why ths inordinate delay? Today we want to clinch this issue." Arjuna said to Sri Krishna, "Look at this cheap propanganda stunt; he shall be the first casualty. We waive an auspicious beginning." Sri Krishna drove through the elephant hordes under the cover of Savyasachi's bombardment of shafts. Elephants lay dead; soldiers retreated in disorder giving way to the chariot and Durmarshana fled from the battlefield for sweet life. However Duhsasana attacked Arjuna, raining showers of arrows on him. Arjuna blew his Devadatta parrying the arrows of Duhsasana and hit him several times. It was impossible for Duhsasana to face the determined fury of Arjuna that day even for a few minutes. Duhsasana lost his chariot, the charioteer and the horses. He jumped from the chariot quickly and fled towards Drona, showing his back to the enemy. Arjuna cried aloud, "Duhsasana, Shame! Shame! And hit him in the back with gentle shafts. Arjuna asked Krsihna to proceed swiftly to reach the destination, the place where Saindhava was stationed. The chariot started, the first hurdle was Drona who challenged Arjuna to fight. Arjuna sent bowing shafts to the feet of the preceptor in reverent military salutation.

Drona said, "Great hero, it is unbecoming of you to bypass a challenging enemy; defeat me and then you can advance forward." Arjuna replied, "Venerable master of the bow, you are not my enemy; you are my revered preceptor, you are more than my father; actually you are my God. I am a small chip of your great block. I must worship you. How can I attack you? If you attack me you will be defeating yourself." Sri Krishna skillfully by- passed him; however Drona shot swift shafts at Arjuna menacingly. But very soon, the chariot galloped beyond the reach of Drona. Kritavarma attacked Arjuna and hit him and Krishna with various shafts. Arjuna broke his bow. Sri Krishna said to Arjuna, "Our destination is different , no dilly dallying please". Arjuna wrecked the chariot of Kritavarma and hit him hard. Before the later could recover, Sri Krishna moved the chariot forward. Srutyudha rushed forward and charged against Arjuna, hitting him thrice. With a ready smile, Arjuna killed his charioteer and the horses. But, Srutayudha undaunted, jumped from the chariot and advanced towards Arjuna with the mace in his hand. It was a remarkable mace which was preserved as a family treasure. As the story goes, it was the gift of the God Varuna, who attached a condition on it. It would kill any enemy but if hurled against a non combatant, it would recoil on the assailant himself.

Srutayudha, who, in the heart of the battle, found Sri Krishna to be an easy target, hurled the mace at him. It hit Sri Krishna's chest, bounced back and killed Srutayudha himself. After the death of Srutayudha, the king of Kambhoja, his valiant brothers Srutayu and Ayutayu assailed Arjuna. Soldiers of Surasena, Sibi and Vasati regions surrounded him. Srutayu hurled a spear against Arjuna and it hit him in the chest. Arjuna was shocked and leaned on the flagstaff for a while. The Kaurava armies blew their conches and clarions in exhilaration. Sri Krishna exhorted Arjuna, not to mind minor mishaps and retaliate fiercely. Srutayu hurled a mace at Sri Krishna but Arjuna parried it on the way. With another powerful shaft, he hit at Srutayu whose head rolled on the ground. Thus, Arjuna defeating, Durmarshana and Duhsasana, bypassing Drona and Kritavarma, killing Srutayudha, Srutayu and others crossed the cart formation victoriously and headed towards Saindhava Jayadratha, the chief target of the day. Duryodhana went to Drona in a fit of frenzied fury and said, "Great generalissimo; you asked Saindhava, who wanted to go away to Sindhu, to stay and fight with us, promising full protection. You have allowed Arjuna's entrance into our array even without a fight. You are stabbing us in the back treacherously. I have come to remind you of your duty to save Saindhava from death. If Partha fullfils his vow and slays Saindhava today, verily, it is the beginging of our end." Drona smiled and replied, "Duryodhana, I am not offended at your outburst at all. It is a tactical advantage to us to entice him deep into our array and then entangle him. Now you see, he has entrapped and cannot return back to the rescue of Yudhisthira.

Today I will capture Dharmaputra. Duryodhana was convinced. Immediately he rushed to Arjuna and challenged him on a single combat. So saying he rained a shower of arrows on Arjuna, who parried them all, with counter shafts. It was an equal combat for some time. Sri Krishna said to Arjuna, "It is strange that your arrows are not able to pierce his armour." Arjuna smiled and replied, "Duryodhana is wearing the special coat of armour designed by Drona. No shaft can pierce it. However, I know the counter secret." So saying, Arjuna began to hit at the uncovered parts of the body of Duryodhana and blood oozed out of his wound profusely. Asvatthama took him away in his chariot. So Krishna blew his conch Panchajanya in exultation. Yudhisthira who heard the sound of Panchajanya asked Satyaki to go to the rescue of Arjuna. But Satyaki replied, "Noble soul Arjuna is not in danger. I need not go to his rescue for I cannot leave you." However Dharmaputra insisited that Satyaki should go. He bowed and said, "I am going fully prepared. I seek your blessings."