AJAYA - RISE OF KALI (Book 2) (46 page)

Arjuna blinked as Krishna lifted his hand. He wondered if he had been hallucinating. He felt he was in a trance. “Yes, I see you... without beginning , middle or end. You are of innumberable arms, and the sun and moon are your eyes. The world is trembling. I see all the sons of Dhritarashtra entering your fierce mouth and all the warriors of our side as well. I see everyone being crushed, everyone rushing to you like moths to a flame. You are the energy of the universe. I see all my foes dead.”

“Now wisdom has dawned in your mind. I have already slain all the warriors. You are just an instrument. Do not worry about the outcome. Fight and defeat your foes.” Krishna settled back in the charioteer’s seat and took up the reins.

Arjuna raised his conch and blew it, signalling the start of the war. For the next eighteen days, he would shoot where Krishna pointed. Though assailed by doubts and moved by his actions, he would strive to kill without worrying about the end result, trusting in his friend’s wisdom. But later, when the wheel of
karma
turned, he would forget all the lessons Krishna had instilled in him in the temple of
dharma.

*****

57
   
T
HE
F
IRST
E
IGHT
D
AYS

ELEVEN KAURAVA AKSHAUHINIS
faced seven on the Pandava side. Yuyutsu’s caravan supplying food and armaments stretched behind the Pandava lines. It would make all the difference. Winter had set in and the sun above was weak. A depressing mist pervaded the battlefield and a cold wind made the warriors shiver as they stamped their feet and clanged their swords and shields. Bhishma’s silver chariot stood in the middle. The wind tossed his white mane and played with his banner emblazoned with the golden palm tree and five stars. When he heard Arjuna’s conch, he addressed his troops.

“The heaven of warriors beckons you, bravehearts. Do not worry about the future. It is our duty to fight and die if needed. This war is for our
kula
and
desha,
for
dharma
and Bharatavarsha.
Dharma
will win. Never forget the tenets of war. Fight bravely, fight fairly.” His soldiers cheered at his words.

Far away, Karna sat depressed and alone in his camp as the war cries reached him. He was the only warrior kept away from the battle. His bitter mind wished Bhishma a speedy death.

Drona and Kripa led the army from the right and left flanks respectively. Aswathama and Sushasana protected Bhishma’s flanks. Shalya, Madri’s brother, the maverick warrior who had chosen to side with Suyodhana against his nephews, Nakula and Sahadeva, stood in his chariot, a wicked grin on his face. Fearless and wreckless, Shalya was a warrior who could turn the tide of battle. He was feared for his unpredictable actions and formidable fighting skills. Suyodhana was at the centre, under his banner of two coiling serpents, choosing not to fight under any divine emblems. This war was for the forgotten people of his country. The
nagas
were also a tribute to Ekalavya.

Arjuna arranged his phalanx in the
vajra
formation, suitable for swift, penetrating attacks. Yudhishtra was at the centre, with Bhima and Dhristadyumna guarding his flanks. Yuyutsu’s mercenary army had joined the Pandavas, swelling their ranks.

When the sun had lost its blush and the mist reluctantly lifted off the grass, Bhishma’s stentorian voice boomed over the battlefield, “Attack!” The days of carnage had begun. The war of
dharma
would have many twists and turns but it gave no thought to the parched countryside reeling under drought.

The first day belonged to the Kauravas. Despite the help of Yuyutsu’s mercenary army, Bhishma wiped out an entire Pandava
akhshouni.
Uttara, Prince of Virata, was killed. But on the second day, the King of Kalinga, who had broken away from the Southern Confederate to support Karna, was killed. By the end of the third day, the Pandavas had managed to create disarray in the Kaurava ranks. Bhishma’s conservative approach had demoralised the Kaurava ranks and Suyodhana had the first of his many arguments with the Pitamaha.

At the end of the fourth day, Suyodhana stormed into Bhishma’s camp accusing him of siding with the Pandavas. Bhishma refused to respond, leaving Suyodhana fuming. It was becoming increasingly evident that the old man was not fighting to win. Ordinary soldiers were dying like flies but no warrior belonging to the Kuru clan had died on either side by the fifth day. Bhishma’s undeclared strategy was to make the war unviable for both sides and somehow force a truce. The war dragged on for the sixth and seventh days, with thousands of ordinary soldiers dying; still not a single Kuru on either side was laid low. It seemed that Bhishma’s strategy had indeed paid off when Yudhishtra, moved by the sight of so many dead, pleaded with Krishna to stop the war. In the Kaurava camp, Bhishma stood like a wall, unmindful of the desperate pleas of Suyodhana to kill Arjuna or Yudhishtra, and gain victory.

The eighth day was a decisive turning point in the great war. Krishna directed the Pandava Commander, Dhristadyumna, to attack the Gandharan forces. This resulted in the death of many of Shakuni’s men, including one of his sons. An infuriated Shakuni led twelve of Suyodhana’s brothers deep into Pandava territory but retreated when the attack could not be sustained. While Shakuni himself escaped unscathed, the Pandavas killed the dozen Kaurava Princes, escalating the war to a new level, from which there was no turning back. The fighting had gone beyond Bhishma’s power to control. His promise not to spill any royal blood sounded hollow even to his own ears.

Karna attended the funeral of Suyodhana’s twelve brothers. He advised his grieving friend to remove Bhishma as Commander before they lost everything. Bereft and enraged, Suyodhana, accompanied by Aswathama, stormed into Bhishma’s camp to give the patriarch a final ultimatum.

*****

58
   
T
RAITOR

BHISHMA DID NOT LOOK AT SUYODAHANA.
Perhaps Pitamaha had thought that by allowing his brothers to die, he would force a truce, thought the Crown Prince, his mind ablaze with anger, his heart filled with grief. Suyodhana was convinced that Bhishma was fighting a sham war and not attacking the Pandavas. He had tried to protect the Kaurava brothers too, but now, after Shakuni’s disastrous foray into the Pandava lines and the death of twelve of his brothers, Suyodhana was in no mood to forgive.

“Pitamaha, it has been eight days since the war started.”

A physician was dressing Bhishma’s wounds. Aswathama stood in the shadows. “And?” Bhishma asked, flexing his arm. The physician requested him not to move his hand until the next day. The patriarch merely looked at him in irritation. The physician clucked his tongue in defeat and hastily walked out after a cursory bow.

“There seems to be no end in sight,” Suyodhana said.

“You can always stop it,” Bhishma replied, lifting an eyebrow.

“But we are not winning, even with you in command.”

“We are not losing either.”

“Pitamaha, twelve of my brothers are dead and you tell me we are not losing? We should allow Karna to fight.”

Bhishma’s eyes turned to his nephew, burning with fury. “What is it that you ask, Suyodhana? That we let a Suta fight our battles for us?”

“Pitamaha, we all know you are not allowing the men to go after any of the Pandavas.”

“Are you telling me how to conduct the war, Suyodhana? Are you here to perhaps instruct me on strategy?”

“So many have already died.”

“Oh, so many have died? What was it you expected when you started this foolishness? You will be sick of death and destruction long before this ends.”

“I want the Pandavas dead. You are protecting Arjuna. Unless we take him down, this will never end.”

“Are you accusing me of disloyalty?” Bhishma asked softly, taking a step forward to stand inches from Suyodhana. “I am not a slave you won in a gambling game, nephew. I chose to fight on my own terms. If I have not killed any Pandava, I have not allowed you to be killed, either.”

“My brothers are dead, Pitamaha, we must win this war and end it quickly. The casualties are mounting and the drought situation has worsened. More people are dying on the streets without food than are being slain in Kurukshetra.”

“Would you like a truce?”

“No, not after what they have done; not when I know what they would do to my people if they win.”

Bhishma took a deep breath. “Then what is it that you want?”

“Kill Arjuna.”

“No, I will not allow any of my grand-nephews to die. All of you are my blood, the sons I never had.”

“Were not those who died your grand-nephews, too, Pitamaha? Or were they not important because they were Dhritarashtra’s sons and evil Duryodhana’s brothers? Allow Karna to fight! He is not related to anyone and he will not have such qualms.”

“This is not Karna’s war. I do not want a Suta to fight under me.”

“Pitamaha, I know that is not your real reason. There are Kiratas, Nagas, Asuras, Rakshasas and Nishadas fighting in our army. Perhaps you are afraid Karna will achieve what you could not?”

“I have nothing left to prove anymore, Suyodhana. Not to you and certainly not to Karna.”

“Pitamaha, the soldiers are saying I do not care for their lives. Any more of this and we will have a mutiny on our hands.”

Bhishma stared at Suyodhana and then turned away in silence.

“Pitamaha, give me an answer. Should we summon Karna?”

“No, Karna is impulsive and could change everything.”

“If Arjuna goes down, Yudhishtra will sue for peace, demand a truce. Arjuna must be killed before the sun sets tomorrow.”

“I will defeat him,” Bhishma’s words barely reached Suyodhana.

“He has to die, Pitamaha.”

Bhishma sat on his spartan bed, waiting for Suyodhana and Aswathama to leave. Finally, they bowed and left the old man alone. The pain in his chest had returned. His hands were shaking. He had lived too long for anyone’s good. ‘Ma Ganga, your son has become a burden to all.’ Tomorrow, he would kill Arjuna and be done with it. If that was the price for saving his country, he would do it. Or perhaps he would sacrifice himself instead.

*****

59
   
L
IABILITY
OF
C
ONSCIENCE

THE NINTH DAY BELONGED TO BHISHMA.
The grand old Commander was like a natural force – a hurricane, a rampaging elephant, a tidal wave. His commanders executed various attacking formations like
krauncha vyuha, garuda vyuha
and
sarpa vyuha
at lightning speed. From opposite flanks, Drona and Kripa attacked the Pandavas and drove Arjuna’s
akhshounis
to face the central thrust of Bhishma’s attack. Aswathama cut off Bhima’s men from the main body, while Kritavarma pinned down Drupada’s men.

By afternoon, Bhishma had penetrated deep into Arjuna’s
akhshounis.
Twice, Arjuna found himself face to face with his grand-uncle. Both times Bhishma cut off Arjuna’s bow with contemptuous ease. He had two opportunities to shoot at a weaponless Arjuna, but the old warrior waited for his opponent to pick up his spare bow. Krishna managed to rescue Arjuna by skilful driving, getting the chariot away from Bhishma both times.