We have seen how Satyaki fought through the Kaurava defenses until he reached near the place where Arjuna was closing in on Jayadratha. He wanted to join the Pandava in his struggle to get the Sindhu king. It was then that Bhurisravas suddenly blocked his way.
He was a Kaurava king who had joined Duryodhana with one battalion (Akshauhini) of forces. The Kaurava had killed ten of Satyaki’s sons in one of the earlier encounters of the war. Satyaki was, indeed, waiting for an opportunity settle the score with his foe.
The two fought fiercely for a while. The battle grew so intense that each destroyed the chariot of the other and both stood on the floor facing the other. They also cut the other’s bow string and then the fighting continued with sword and shield.
Arjuna comes to the aid
Krishna was keeping an eye on his kinsman (from the same Vrishni clan). He spoke to his friend. “Look, Arjuna, how exhausted your disciple appears. He has been through a lot of fighting today just to get near you. It is unfair on the part of Bhurisravas to fight against an unequal enemy”.
Krishna was worried noting that the Kaurava just then raised Satyaki with his two mighty arms and threw him down on the ground. In the very next instant he held Satyaki by the hair and was about to chop his head with sword held high in his right hand. Krishna shouted. “Arjuna, do not delay. Satyaki has given his best for your sake. You have the responsibility to save his life”. Arjuna’s mind was in turmoil. What should he do? He realized that Krishna had a point.
Satyaki’s life depended on him. On the other, Bhurisravas was not fighting against him. Then, with a resolve and with apologies to the Kaurava he sent an arrow from his Gandiva that chopped off the raised hand of Bhirisravs.
The sad end of Bhurisravas
The Kaurava king was shocked. He called out “Arjuna, how could you do this heinous act?. You were renowned for holding on to principles in the battle field. How could you harm me when I was not fighting against you?”
Arjuna replied. “Your opponent was, to start with, completely exhausted even before you took on him. Then you had disarmed him completely and even his armour has been shattered. Therefore it was an unfair battle from the beginning. What principle did you hold in trying to kill such a helpless enemy? Besides, within this vast army packed with horses, chariots and foot soldiers that how can there be single combats?”
Bhurisravas was too dejected even to reply to that defense of Arjuna. He decided to put an end to his life by fasting unto death and sat meditating with that resolve.
There was none who supported Krishna or Arjuna on this. Many spoke against the immorality of Arjuna’s act. Then, as though in reply, Arjuna spoke. “You all, including this Bhurisravs, killed my son when he was already unarmed and was fighting single handedly against so many veterans on your side”.
When he heard this, Bhurisravas lowered his head and kept quiet.
Worse still, every one was aghast to see Satyaki getting up suddenly and chop the head of Bhurisravs with the sword he picked up from the ground. Krishna and Arjuna shouted, “No, no!” But, it was too late. All those who were standing nearby accused Satyaki for his highly unethical act. But, Satyaki spoke in self defense. “How do you find fault with me? This man was my opponent in combat. It is my right to kill him. It was wrong on the part of Arjuna to interfere in this which was purely my battle”.
Nobody spoke after that, either in support or against Arjuna and Satyaki.
(the next episode continues with war on the 14h day)
