The Suicide Squad of Susharma
Arjuna’s main target was Karna. Before he could proceed in search of his foe, the suicide army (Samsaptaka) of Susharma renewed its attack against the Pandava. The king was leading it from the front. The Samsaptakas encircled the chariot of Arjuna with loud battle cries. They were so many and were unconcerned of their own lives. Some held the horses and others put a brake to the chariot wheels with their bare hands. The chariot of Arjuna came to a full stop. Meanwhile, several of the arrows from Susharma found their target on Arjuna and Krishna.
Arjuna spoke to Krishna. “Look, Krishna, what the Samsaptakas have done. We are virtually under arrest. I have to do something drastic to save the situation”. With those words Arjuna blew on his conch shell, Devadatta. Krishna blew on his Panchajanya, in response. The sound of the two created confusion and fear in the minds of the Samsaptakas. Arjuna , then, sent an arrow powered with serpents (Naga Astra) against his tormentors. The effect of the arrow was dramatic on the Samsaptakas. Hundreds of serpents emerged from the arrow and tied up the feet of Susharma’s soldiers leaving them immobile. Arjuna, then, started to kill them in large numbers, sending sharp arrows from his Gandiva in quick succession.
Susharma quickly realized the danger and released an arrow empowered with the eagle (Garuda Astra). Eagles arrived in large numbers attacking the serpents which had tied up the Samsaptakas.
A great battle ensued between Arjuna and Susharma in which several other divine weapons were exchanged.
Kripa in action
Elsewhere, the army of Duryodhana was retreating under the powerful attack of Bhima. Kripa came on the scene to save the situation. He unleashed a formidable attack against the Panchala contingent of the Pandava army. Sikhandi was angered looking at the damage done to his army by the Kaurava warrior and took on Kripa with great resolve. The two fought fiercely for a while. At the end, the horses of the Panchala prince were killed by the arrows from Kripa. He jumped out his chariot with sword in hand and ran towards his enemy.
Kripa wasted no time to cut the sword and shatter the shield of the Panchakla into pieces with his sharp arrows. Shikhandi realized that what he did was rash and panicked for a moment. At that very moment Suketu, a great warrior on the Pandava side, came on the scene to save Suikhandi. Kripa, then, turned his attention on to Suketu. Sikhandi used the opportunity to save himself from the clutches of death at the hands of Kripa.
The teacher of the Kauravas turned to his new enemy and sent sharp arrows one after another to him. Kripa’s arrows found the target on the chest and every other vital point of Suketu pierced. He sat down on the floor of his chariot unable to move. Another well aimed arrow from Kripa hit his neck and his head was severed in the next instant.
Aswatthama defeats Yudhishthira
Elsewhere, Aswatthama spotted Yudhishthira in the middle of the Pandava army and turned to him for a face to face combat. Several veterans on the Pandava side, like Satyaki, came in support of Yudhishthira. The Pandavas were totally defeated at the end of a spirited battle. Yudhishthira escaped from the scene to save his own life.
Aswatthama against Arjuna
Great was the damage done to the Pandava army by the son of Drona. None among the Pandavas could face Aswatthama that day. But, Arjuna came on the scene after having pushed back the attack of the Samsaptakas. It looked that even Arjuna was not effective against Aswatthama. Krishna watched his friend for a while and said. “I am surprised, Arjuna, that you are powerless against your enemy. Are you not holding Gandiva in your hand? Or, are you being soft on your opponent thinking that he is your teacher’s son?”
Krishna’s taunting words had the desired effect on the Pandava. He sent a torrent of arrows pulling the string of his Gandiva as far as his ears. Arjuna’s arrows found the target and Aswatthama was, soon, in trouble. At one point he sat down on the floor of his chariot losing his consciousness. At that point the charioteer of Aswatthama deftly drove the chariot off from the battle field.
Aswatthama’s pledge
Duryodhana was not happy that the battle was not turning the way he thought it would under the command of Karna. He called his warriors around him and spoke. “It has to be a fight until victory for us all today. If we die in the process, take heart that the doors of heaven remain open for us”
Aswtthama was already in despair that the one who killed his father unjustly was still at large. So, he took a terrible pledge right in front of all those who had gathered. “Note my words; I shall not remove my armour until I take revenge on Dhrishtadyumna who killed my father when he was unarmed”.
With those words he turned towards the Pandava army in search of his sworn enemy.
(To be continued)
