The War – Day 18 (Part 6)

The fight continues

Bhima and Duryodhana continued their combat like two elephants in rut fighting with their tusks. It was difficult to know who stood better chances to win. Both were wounded and bleeding all over their body. Yet, they fought with unabated vigour and ever rising spirits.

Balarama sat watching his pet disciples emplying every tactics he had taught them.

Krishna’s hint

Arjuna was sitting next to Krishna. He watched his brother in the middle of a fight that gave no signs of an end. He asked his friend and guide. “Krishna, who between these two, fares a better chance to win?”

Krishna replied. “Bhima has superior strength, but, Duryodhana has better tactics. Your brother can never win over his foe in a straight combat. You must remember that all of you are now in a crucial stage of battle after winning over all other important adversaries. If Bhima loses to Duryodhana, then it can cost you the war itself.

There is the famous saying by sage Sukra. Beware of those enemies who have returned to fight, or have been ruined, or those who care too much for their lives. They fight to the end with determination. (puna-raavartamaaNaanaam, bhagnaanaam, jeevitaishiNaam bhetavya-mariSeshaaNaa-mekaayana gataahite). Duryodhana qualifies for all these cases. Hence, he should be feared. If he wins, be sure that he will become the king.

Remember, Bhima’s pledge when Draupadi was pulled by hair to the open Kaurava assembly. This haughty Duryodhana at that time openly invited your dear wife to sit on his lap by baring his thigh. Bhima noticed the insulting gesture and swore loudly that he would break the thigh of his arch rival with his mace.

Ever since that day, this man was preparing himself for this ultimate battle against Bhima. He fought for those thirteen long years against an image of Bhima with a heavy mace made of iron.

So, I see no chance for Bhima in a fair combat. You have been wronged in various ways all these years. This war, itself, has been unjust. Bhima should remember his own oath and use tricks that are not in the code of mace combat”.

Arjuna got the hint. He must have also remembered the curse of sage Maitreya on Duryodhana. The Sage was sorry to find the noble Pandavas unjustly suffering in the Kamyaka forest. He went to Duryodhana to reason with him. The Kaurava prince remained quiet, without even pretending to listen to what the sage had to say. He kept drumming on his thigh as though in boredom. Maitreya felt insulted. He cursed Duryodhana that his very thigh would be broken in the crucial fight.

Krishna’s words and the precarious condition of the Pandavas must have influenced Arjuna to give a direct hint to Bhima by slapping on his own thigh when the latter looked in his direction in the middle of fight. Bhima got the message immediately.

The fatal blow

Soon, Bhima swung his heavy mace against his foe with all force. Duryodhana jumped up in an effort to avoid a direct hit. That was the opportunity Bhima was looking for. He aimed the thigh of the Kaurava this time and swung his mace again.

Duryodhana had least expected that. The mace hit the target without fail. The Kaurava prince fell down with his thigh completely shattered. He was fatally wounded.

The Pandavas blew on the conch shells to herald victory. It is said that the gods dropped flowers from heaven to congratulate the Pandavas. But, elsewhere terrible omens of evil nature started appearing.

We shall learn about the tragedies that followed the fall of the Kaurava prince in the next episodes.