Reading Notes: Ramayana Part D

Reading Note Summary

Bhisma Falls

• Bhishma tread down the forest in his horse

• Krishna told Yudhisthira

• "Bhishma has vowed that he will not slay one who had been born a woman, knowing that the righteous would defame him if he slew a female. Let Shikhandin be therefore sent against him with Arjuna."

• Krishna tells the fate of Bhishma

• "It is fated that Bhishma will fall on the morrow, a victim of wrong. As he hath fought against those whom he loveth, so must thou, Arjuna, fight against him. He hath shown thee how kshatriyas must ever wage war, although their foemen be hated or well beloved."

• Sikandhin was a woman made male by Yaksha, she accompanied Arjuna
• Duryodhana prevailed upon Bhisma and wanted to defeat the Pandavas again
• "This day will I overcome the Pandavas or perish on the field of battle."
• Duryodhana challenged Arjuna, and a battle ensued
• Battle lasted for hours
• Arjuna shot arrow at Bhisma and pierced him, and he died
• Bhishma told Duryodhana
• Hear the counsel of thy dying kinsman; his voice speaketh as from the dead. If thy heart of stone can be moved, thou wilt bring this slaughter of kinsmen by kinsmen to an end now. Restore unto Yudhishthira his kingdom and make thy peace with him, and let Pandavas and Kauravas be friends and comrades together."

He then told Karna:

    "Hear the counsel of thy dying kinsman; his voice speaketh as from the dead. If thy heart of stone can be moved, thou wilt bring this slaughter of kinsmen by kinsmen to an end now. Restore unto Yudhishthira his kingdom and make thy peace with him, and let Pandavas and Kauravas be friends and comrades together."

• This made Duryodhana hate the Pandavas even more
• Karna hated his brother and thirsted to take his life

Drona in Command

• Drona takes command of Duryodhana's armies and vows to make Yudhisthira his prisoner
• Battle still occuring in the morning
• Unsure who will win
• Abhimanyu's buckler is pierced
• "Drona takes Yudhishthir captive with his bow and sword and shield!"
• When Arjuna heard that he came running to save them
• Duyodhan got wounded and fled the battle
• Many of his warriors died

Abhimanyu and Jayadratha

• Abhimanyu was trapped alone in the enemies
• Pandavas tried to rescue him but Jayadratha held them back
• Abhimanyu
• "Abhimanyu was wounded on the forehead, blood streamed into his eyes and blinded him, and he stumbled. Before he could recover, the son of Duhshasana leapt forward and dashed out his brains with a mace"
• Arjuna's son died and he seeks revenge
• "Arjuna wept silently and lay upon the ground. At length he leapt up and cried, "May the curse of a father and the vengeance of a warrior smite the murderers of my boy! May I never reach heaven if I do not slay Jayadratha on the morrow."
• Krishna helps Arjuna get revenge
• Duhshahsana opposed Arjunas view, and Karna fought with Bhima. 
• Krishna called to Arjuna for help and he did
• Krishna caused the sun to be covered with a cloud
• Karna withdrew, and Arjuna shot his arrow of revenge:
• "As the sun shot forth its last ray of dazzling light, he dashed upon Jayadratha as a falcon swoops down upon its prey. Brief was the struggle, for before daylight faded utterly, Arjuna overthrew the slayer of his son and cut off his head. Bhima uttered a roar of triumph when he saw the head of Jayadratha held aloft, and the Kauravas sorrowed greatly because that their wicked design had been thwarted."

Death of Drona

• Pandvas use trickery to kill Drona
• Yudhisthira says the following to trick Drona
• "Yes, O Drona! Ashwatthaman is dead!" And this he said three times. But after the word Ashwatthaman he said indistinctly each time the words "the elephant." These words, however, Drona did not hear. And up to this time the horses and wheels of Yudhishthira's chariot had never touched the earth. But after this untruth they came down a hand's-breadth and drove along the ground."
• Drona becomes upset and sat on his chariot
• Pandava siezed his sword to attack Drona
• But a sword came up and killed Drona just as the Pandava leaped

Bhima and Dushasana

• Karna now takes charge of Duryodhana's armies
• He attacks the Pandava army
• Bhima and Karna fight
• Bhima will secure his revenge for Duhshana's treatment of Draupadi all those years ago at the gambling match in Hastinapura
• Bhima sprang upon Dushasana who tried to help Karna
• "He swung his mace and struck so mighty a blow that the advancing chariot was shattered. Duhshasana fell heavily upon the ground and broke his back. Then Bhima seized him and, whirling his body aloft, cried out, "O Kauravas, come ye who dare and rescue the helper of Karna."
• Bhimas vow
• "Bhima cast down Duhsasana's body, cut off his head, and drank his blood as he had vowed to do. "Ho! Ho!" he cried, "never have I tasted a sweeter draught. "
• Many Kaurava warriors fled, and they cried out, "This is not a man, for he drinketh human blood

Image: Why Bhima Cursed Kauravas

Arjuna and Karna

• Combat between Arjuna and Karna
• they shot arrows at each other
• Krishna and Shayla guided the chariots
• Arjuna stopped Karna from shooting at a unguarded for but Karna wounded his rival
• Arjuna shoots in Anger
• "he rose up like to a stricken and angry tiger held at bay, and cast a screen of arrows against his foe. But Karna feared him not, nor could Arjuna bear him down."
• Karna's chariot wheel sank
•  "Pause now, O Arjuna, nor wage unequal war. It is not manly to attack a helpless enemy."
• Arjuna stopped and Krishna saif
• "O Karna, thou speakest truly, but was it manly to shoot arrows at Arjuna whilst he engaged himself restringing his bow? Was it manly to scoff at Draupadi when she was put to shame before elders and princes in the gambling hall? Was it manly of thee and six warriors to surround Abhimanyu so as to murder him without compassion?"
• Arjuna became angry hearing his sons name
• "Snatching from his quiver a crescent-bladed arrow, he drew his bow and shot it at Karna, whose head was immediately struck off"
• Thats how a brother killed a brother

Duryodhana in The Lake

• Karna is dead,
• Kauravas fled when Karna died 
• Kripa tells Duryodhana
• "Now that our greatest warriors are dead, it would be well to sue for peace."
• Duryodhana's reply
• "After the wrongs I have done the Pandavas, how can I ask or expect mercy at their hands? Let the war go on till the end comes."
• Shayla became the leader of their arrmy
• 18th day of war Duryodhana dled secretly
• Duryodhana is still alive, and he has used his supernatural powers to take refuge beneath the waters of a lake
• "He had power to hide under water as long as he desired, by reason of a mighty charm which had been conferred upon him by the demons; so he plunged into a lake and lay concealed below the waters."
• Shayla slain by Yudhisthira
• Bhima found out where Duryodhana was hiding
• Yudhisthira asked him to come out and fight
• Duryodhana says, "Take my kingdom now and have pleasure in it. Depart and leave me, for I must retire to the jungle and engage in meditation."
• Yud replied
• "I cannot accept aught from thee except what is won in battle."
• Duryodhana
• "If you promise to fight one by one, I will come out of the water and slay you all."
• Yud
• "Come forth, and the battle will be fought as thou dost desire. Now thou hast spoken as becomes a kshatriya."
• He still didnt come out and Bhima said
• "If thou dost not come out of the lake at once, I will plunge in and drag thee to the shore."
• He finally came out
• "Pandavas laughed to see him, for he was covered with mire, and water streamed down from his raiment."
• Duryodhana said
• "Soon will your merriment be turned to grief."
• Duryodhana had practiced the mace
• " But he had no one to support him there. The other survivors remained in hiding. Then Balarama appeared, and he caused the combat to be waged in the middle of the blood-red plain; he was Duryodhana's supporter."
• Bhimas vow
• " he struck Duryodhana a foul blow upon the knee, which smashed the bone so that he fell prostrate. Thus was the vow of Bhima fulfilled."
• He danced round Duryodhana a time, then, kicking his enemy's head, cried out at length, "Draupadi is avenged."
• Yud said to Bhima
• "O accursed villain, thou wilt cause all men to speak ill of us."
• Yud says to Duryodhana
• ""Thou art still our ruler, and if thou wilt order me to slay Bhima, thy command will be obeyed. Thou art now very nigh unto death, and I sorrow for the Kaurava wives and children, who will curse us because that thou hast been laid low.""
• Balarama says
• "Bhima hath broken the laws of combat, for he smote Duryodhana below the waist."
  
• Krishna says
• "My brother, did not Duryodhana wrong the Pandavas with foul play at dice? And did not Bhima, when he beheld Draupadi put to shame, vow to break the knee of Duryodhana?"
  
• Balarama replied
• "So thou dost approve of this? Can I forget that Bhima kicked the head of our wounded kinsman, the rajah?""
  
• Krishnas response
• He slayed the vengeful hand of Balarama, and prevailed upon him to take vows not

Bibliography:

  Laura Gibbs, Mahabaratha Reading

           http://ouocblog.blogspot.com/search/label/PDE%20Mahabharata

Image Source:

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/high-five-for-draupadi/articleshow/5651694.cms