The last chapter, on Duryodhana’s perverted message through Ulooka, is followed by another, exclusively on the star fighters on the Kaurava and Pandava sides. This was by way of Bhishma’s reply to the question on the topic by Duryodhana. We shall refer to this chapter individually as we follow each warrior in action in the field.
Vyasa tells the story of Amba and how she ended up as Sikhandi in the chapter that follows. We have already covered that story. The book on “War preparations (Udyoga Parvam)” ends with this chapter.
We next go into the book on Bhishma (Bhishma Parvam). The first chapter in the book is a geographic description of earth and the location of Bharatam (India) within it. We skip that.
Rules for war
It was the morning of the first day of war. The sun was about to rise. Both the sides stood facing each other anxiously waiting for the word “go”. The Pandavas faced east ready to meet the Kaurava army facing west. It is said that the armies of the two sides spread as far as the sun’s rays reached.
The two sides mutually agreed on the rules to follow in the battles to be fought. Fighting would start only after the sun rises and should end before the sun sets. It should be a war between equals, that is, a soldier on foot could be attacked only by another on foot and one on horse back by an opponent mounted on his horse. No weapons should be used an unarmed enemy. A group should never attack one isolated from his soldiers. When the day’s battle ends there should be friendship between the opposing sides until the next day.
Visit by Vyasa
Veda Vyasa appeared on the Kaurava side just when the war was about to commence. He warned Dhritarashtra of the grim consequences of the war. He, then, offered temporary sight to the blind king so that he could witness the war. But, Dhritarashtra turned down the offer, saying that he did not want to see his dear ones perish in front of him. Vyasa, then gave Sanjaya, who was Dhritarashtra’s minister a special gift. He could have a vision of everything that happened in the field even as he sat next to his king. This way Sanjaya could narrate all the events to Dhritarashtra as and when they happened. That is why we find a good part of Mahabharatam through the words of Sanjaya spoken to the Kaurava king.
Bhagavad Geeta
The next chapter has the famous Bhagavad Geeta. As it is widely known, the beginning of the war forms the background for Krishna’s advise to Arjuna. The Pandava asks Krishna, his charioteer, to take him to the middle of the two opposing armies. He wants to have a good view of the fighters on both the sides. What Arjuna sees makes him disheartened. He is to fight against those who are his teachers, cousins, relations and friends. He exclaims to Krishna what sort of war he is going to wage. What he is going to benefit by winning a war after killing people who deserve to be revered and loved. He throws away the Gandiva, his famous bow, and his arrows and sits in the chariot totally disillusioned.
Krishna convinces his friend that it is his duty, as a royal, to fight the war that is just. Inaction will spoil his name and ruin his future in this world and the next. The essence of Geeta is that man is just an instrument in the hands of God. The soul is permanent and takes birth in different bodies. It cannot be destroyed. Then, whom does Arjuna think he is going to kill ? The body? The relationships are all temporary. If so, who are the parents, teachers, friends and so on? In any case, when a man is born his death is sure to happen.
The ultimate aim of man is to reach God. Krishna, through several chapters, introduces several approaches to attain salvation.
When Arjuna was finally persuaded by the preaching of Krishna to take up his arms again and face the enemy boldly we witness another strange event, as we are going to, in the next episode.
