The Aryavarta Chronicles Kurukshetra: Book 3 (36 page)

‘What do you suggest, Acharya?’ Syoddhan asked.

‘If Divine Order is to be preserved, then nothing that can help us is profane or inappropriate. Much has been hidden over the years for fear of it falling into the wrong hands. Some, like the Naga-astra, are as good as lost. It may be worthwhile to uncover such treasures, despite the risks involved. Never in the history of Aryavarta since the Battle of the Ten Kings has there been a greater need, a greater cause, than this.’

‘You don’t mean…’

‘I think,’ Kripa ventured, ‘what my brother-in-law is trying to say is simple. Those once trained by Firewrights don’t merely wield weapons, as Bhisma Devavrata did. We make them too. It is a pity that Devala is not here. Something tells me that many of the hurdles Dharma faced during his Imperial campaign were his doing.’

Syoddhan turned to look for Devala, then remembered that he was yet to return from the task Asvattama had sent him on. Even so, to speak so openly of the Firewright as an asset was another thing that could not have happened in Bhisma’s presence. It made Syoddhan realize he needed to focus, to face the future and not mourn the past.

‘Very well,’ he declared. ‘Whatever we can do to win this war shall be done. I assume acharyas Kripa, Dron and Asvattama, too, have a lot to offer on this count. But there is one matter that I still wish to discuss. Acharya Suka. Should we not ask his opinion, too, before we proceed?’

Sanjaya said, ‘We cannot afford the time, Your Highness. But in any case, if he were here I am sure he would agree with this proposal. After all, is he not the one who believed that the ends justify the means? Isn’t that right, Acharya?’ He looked pointedly at Dron, then at Asvattama, and back again at the former.

‘Absolutely right, Sanjaya,’ Dron said. ‘You’re absolutely right.’

14

ABHIMANYU WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE COMMAND TENT FOR THE
morning meeting when he heard the sound of a low whistle. He stopped in his tracks, visibly surprised, when he saw Uttara waving to him from inside a supply tent. Grinning with anticipation at what he expected was a romantic encounter, Abhimanyu made his way over to where she was.

The moment he entered the tent, he pulled Uttara close, rough and passionate in his embrace. ‘Kama help me, Uttara, I just can’t get enough of you,’ he whispered, becoming vaguely aware that she was laughing and protesting at the same time. He looked around him, to be greeted by stifled laughter and irreverent remarks from the group gathered in the tent.

‘Kama help me. Kama help me,’ Uttamaujas imitated him in excess before adding in his usual tone, ‘I think Kama owns you body and soul, Abhimanyu!’

Hidimbya, though equally amused, was less taunting. ‘Never mind him, Abhimanyu. After all, it takes a married man to understand…’

‘He is right,’ Pradymna joined in, ‘besides, we are in the presence of a lady.’

‘Oh, did we offend you, Pradymna?’ Uttara joined in the banter, spurring a fresh round of guffaws.

‘Well, what is this about?’ Abhimanyu asked, sitting down on a bundle of rope.

‘Ah! It’s a meeting of the younger warriors, as it were,’ Pradymna said as the others settled down.

‘Younger? That rules you out, doesn’t it?’

‘Be serious!’ Uttara swatted Abhimanyu’s arm.

‘All right, all right. Seriously, what’s going on?’

Hidimbya and Uttamaujas exchanged glances. Then Uttamaujas said, ‘Bhagadatta’s elephants. We may have found a way to deal with them.’

‘If you’re going to suggest astra-weapons…’ Abhimanyu began, impatient.

‘Us? Astra-weapons?’ Hidimbya said, raising an eyebrow.

Abhimanyu was apologetic. ‘Well, you should be having this conversation with Dhrstyadymn and Uncle Dharma right away…’ He paused as the problem that the warriors had gathered to discuss became apparent to him. ‘You think they won’t listen to you?’

‘Uncle Dharma won’t listen to us,’ Hidimbya said. ‘Don’t deny it, Abhimanyu. You’ve already seen how he treats Uttamaujas, how they all do. I don’t hold it against them, it is what they have been brought up to believe. As for me, I haven’t been to the Command Tent even once as yet, and you know why Govinda thinks it best to keep my presence discreet for the time being. So…’

‘You need me to pass this off as my idea?’ Abhimanyu said.

‘Yes.’

Abhimanyu appeared distinctly uncomfortable at the prospect. He turned to Uttara, as though seeking her advice. She said, ‘I’ve lost two brothers and many more of my countrymen, Abhimanyu. Unless we find a way to counter Bhagadatta…’ she finished with a helpless shrug.

Abhimanyu laid a reassuring hand on hers. ‘So, this once, does the end justify the means?’ he said, as though talking to himself. He looked at the others. ‘All right then, what’s the plan?’

Uttamaujas said, ‘Well, in most battle arrays elephants are used as defence or the second line of attack. It is only when their numbers are high that they are placed at the frontline – as in this situation. What we have been doing, our armies…it’s not wrong. Since horses are easily frightened and cavalry is no use against elephants, our infantry has been using spears and lances to attack the elephants in their abdomens. But the risk we face is high – elephants are weapons of war in themselves, but when they carry archers on their back they also work as moving towers, giving great vantage to marksmen.’

‘Right,’ Abhimanyu affirmed, not bothering to ask where and how Uttamaujas had learnt so much about warfare and that too in such little time. ‘So in such cases, there are typically two strategies available to the less powerful army – either they find a way to turn the elephants back into their own lines, preferably get them to run amok and attack their own men. The Yavanas, I’ve heard, set pigs or other small game afire and release them into the elephant herds. Some say it’s the flames, others say it’s the squealing of the pigs – but whichever it is, it works. There are others who recommend cutting the elephants’ trunks off…’

Hidimbya was visibly disgusted. ‘Don’t tell me you…’

‘No chance, Chief. Uncle Govinda would send
me
squealing and running if we do that. Sometimes I think he cares more for animals than he does for humans.’

‘Which I completely understand and agree with.’

‘Getting to the second option,’ Uttamaujas continued, ‘we can capture elephants – particularly those that carry single warriors. And where the elephant is not to be tamed by its captor, a single arrow or a dagger to the neck, just in between the ears, will suffice to kill the animal without causing great suffering. We’ve been trying that, as well as the expected defences, including digging trenches and setting up stakes. But…’

‘But you have a third option, don’t you?’ Uttara said.

Hidimbya said, ‘I don’t suppose you’ve ever been charged at by a wild elephant?’

‘I can’t say I’ve had the pleasure.’

‘No loss, Mahamatra. The thing is, once you get an elephant to charge, it is very difficult to control it, make it change direction or bring it to a stop. A herd of elephants all the more so, because they follow their leader.’

Uttamaujas added, ‘The point is, if we can cut off the main elephant in Bhagadatta’s attack – Supratika, I think that magnificent bull is called – then the other elephants will be easier to deal with.’

‘If you’ve noticed,’ Abhimanyu said, ‘Bhagadatta never allows Supratika to be in the lead. The elephant and his mount are always in the centre of their formation. How do you suppose we can get through their first and second lines to reach Supratika?’

‘Aah. What if we don’t get through? What if we
let
them through instead?’ Uttamaujas said, a smile spreading across his face.

‘I don’t understand,’ Abhimanyu said, turning to him.

Uttara’s smile matched Uttamaujas’s as she explained, ‘I think he means we shall have the pleasure of being charged at by an elephant after all.’

‘
This
is your plan?’

Abhimanyu was not sure whether Dharma was questioning the feasibility of the proposal or his claim of ownership over it. Not wanting to lie, he confirmed. ‘Some of us came up with it…’

‘Some of us?’ Dharma was unconvinced.

‘It’s not a bad idea,’ Bhim intervened. ‘If the first part of it works, then I’m confident I can get through to Bhagadatta.’

‘If, Bhim, if. Who dares face a herd of charging elephants? Who dares trust their lives to a whimsical plan?’

‘Those who’ve trusted their lives to us on less,’ Abhimanyu said. ‘We shall put the Matsya and Panchala infantry in the lead. The plan depends on getting Bhagadatta to spread out his elephants in one huge charge. We’ll have to position ourselves carefully.’

‘And once the first part of the plan goes through? Once Supratika falls or is captured? What of the other elephants? Who is to say they won’t run riot?’ Sadev asked.

‘We need to use the terrain carefully. If we can get them near the river…’

Dhrstyadymn considered the situation, his brows furrowed. ‘It won’t be easy…the formation, but it can be done. What do you say, Govinda?’

‘I think,’ Govinda said from his customary position next to Panchali’s seat in the corner of the tent, ‘that the future of Aryavarta is bright if the next generation of its leaders is capable of courage like this.’

Hardly a muhurrta later, the eleventh day of battle began. Abhimanyu and Uttara rallied the combined forces of Matsya and the Panchala forest-dwellers with the help of Uttamaujas, Shikandin and Bhim. Dhrstyadymn had decided that the forces would march out in a half-circle formation, a tepid but not inappropriate counter to the crane attack array Dron had formed. What he intended to do eventually was to pull forward the centre of the half-circle to form a wide, straight frontline, which Bhagadatta would be tempted to run down with his elephants. Acutely aware that much could go wrong between the plan and its execution, he moved up and down the ranks on a horse, making constant adjustments for every variation of the unexpected that could possibly disrupt their plans.

‘Do you think Acharya Dron will…’ Uttara began, watching the obviously tense Dhrstyadymn, as she rode into formation on Abhimanyu’s rig.

‘He will,’ Abhimanyu affirmed. ‘The crane formation uses its head and centre – in this instance, the positions occupied by Bhagadatta’s divisions – to break through enemy lines, and then the crane’s wings swing in to trap the enemy from the side. Uncle Partha and Uncle Sadev already command the edges of our half-circle, in anticipation of an attack from the sides. As for Bhagadatta…’

‘He is where we want him,’ Uttara said.

‘Yes, but you are not. Do you really have to fight on foot today, Uttara?’

‘I need to be with my soldiers, Abhimanyu.’

‘Yes, but…’

‘I’ll be fine. We may be spread wide but our lines are still more than a hundred deep.’

‘Which is no use if you decide to stand in front of the hundred men and not behind them.’

‘Stop worrying! I…’ Uttara had no more time to reassure Abhimanyu, for she could see Dhrstyadymn’s flag-bearers riding up and down the ranks, signalling for the army divisions to take their final position. She smiled and slipped over the side of his rig without another word, weaving her way through the marching soldiers to join her unit. Abhimanyu did not watch her go. He kept his eyes straight ahead, on the enemy. He knew that the best way to protect Uttara was to do his share in the battle and to do it well. Still, he could not help but send up a silent prayer for her safety. He suspected that despite her apparent unconcern, she would do the same for him.

‘I’m surprised he let you go,’ Uttamaujas told Uttara the moment she reached her position. The two of them were in the middle of the infantry formation, flanked by their best soldiers on either side. On them lay the responsibility of beginning and ending the deceptively simple movement of troops that would, if all went as planned, isolate Bhagadatta’s command elephant. Once that happened, Bhim, who rode along the flanks of the half-circle, would be able to cut in from the side and deal with the beast. As for the rest of the elephants… Uttamaujas smiled at the thought.

Yet, anyone who knew the first thing about battle knew that there was nothing simple or easy about moving thousands of men in and out of formation, that too while under attack. ‘The lines must hold,’ Uttamaujas said, more as a reminder to himself than to Uttara.

She nevertheless replied, ‘They will hold.’ Her conviction, however, gave way to a mix of doubt and irritation as she saw Dharma Yudhisthir ride up from their left and past them, till he took up a position not too far from the first line of Uttamaujas’s unit. ‘What is he doing here?’

‘I have no clue.’

They did not get a chance to find out further as the trumpets trilled yet again, and the flag-bearers signalled, as had been agreed, for their formation to come to a stop. From where they were, both Uttara and Uttamaujas could see that Dhrstyadymn had brought the entire army around the battlefield and to the side so that the river was behind them. Lest Dron suspect why he did so, Panchali had suggested a feint – men had been sent well before dawn, ostensibly to dig trenches into which stakes could be placed and the river diverted.

For a while, all was silent and still, oppressively so. There was no wind, and sweat trickled down every face, for more reason than just the warm sun. Whispers of ‘Steady, steady’ ran up and down the lines, and the soldiers’ breathing seemed loud and laboured. They waited.

It began as a sound, an even beat that should have been soothing in its consistency but for the fact that the very earth echoed with its force. Uttamaujas, Uttara and their men felt it first in the pit of their stomachs. Then it rose up as fear, pure fear, to race in their hearts. Nearby, a soldier let out a whimper of terror, and another began a loud prayer. Gritting his teeth, Uttamaujas began to tap on the ground with the butt of his spear with all the courage he could summon. Next to him, Uttara joined in beat for beat, till one by one every soldier around them had taken up the defiant rhythm, a song of valour to accompany their stand. A trumpet trilled yet another command, but it was lost in the surge of noise that followed.