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  YUYUTSU

  RISE OF THE LAST KAURAVA

  Dreams are Reflection of Fearless Thoughts

  YUYUTSU

  RISE OF THE LAST KAURAVA

  Dreams are Reflection of Fearless Thoughts

  ANIKET S SHARMA

  Copyright © 2021 Aniket S Sharma

  First edition 2021

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage or retrieval system without permission from the copyright holder.

  The author has made every effort to trace and acknowledge sources/ resources/individuals. In the event that any images/information have been incorrectly attributed or credited, the author will be pleased to rectify these omissions at the earliest opportunity.

  Edited by Suranjan Paul

  Cover Art & Design by Merril Anil

  Interior Design by Siri Vegulla

  ISBN: 978-81-947618-3-9

  Published by Author’s Channel,

  # 108, 1st floor, 3rd cross, 3rd stage, 8th Main,

  Pillana Garden Lingarajapurm, Bangalore 560045

  Printed at Repro India

  http://authorschannel.in/

  To

  Amma & Baba My first storytellers

  श्रेयान्स्वधर्मो विगुणः परधर्मात्स्वनुष्ठितात् ।

  स्वधर्मे निधनं श्रेयः परधर्मो भयावहः ॥

  śreyānsvadharmo viguṇaḥ paradharmātsvanuṣṭhitāt, svadharme nidhanaṁ śreyaḥ paradharmo bhayāvahaḥ.

  Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 3, Verse 35

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Prologue7

  The Martyrs15

  The Revenge47

  The Last Fight105

  The Cursed Throne173

  The New Bhishma235

  Acknowledgements285

  PROLOGUE

  Stretch your horizon; discover your own light.

  The world sees what you choose to show, not what’s hidden.

  “This is Chakravyuh” shouted the sixteen-year-young son of Arjuna, Abhimanyu.

  The large troops on both sides of the battlefield gathered for one more time, but Pandavas were without Arjuna.

  It was the thirteenth day of the war. This battlefield of Kurukshetra had seen the fall of many warriors in the past twelve days. The distressed souls were striving to recover from the loss of dear ones. Since the fall of mighty grandsire Bhishma, the dynamics of battle had changed. By the thir- teenth day, the warriors had forgotten the rules defined on the first day. The blood-soaked soil witnessed the brutality of bloodthirsty soldiers each day. The ruthless slayers had shown no mercy, and the heart-wrenching human slaughter became a routine. The seeds of hatred sown in the childhood of brothers became the strong trunks of vengeance.

  Guru Drona was the new commander since the fall of the biggest protector of Hastinapur. Though the Kaurava army suf- fered a heavy loss, the grandsire’s presence on the battlefield was a surety. An assurance that Kauravas would never lose this battle. The Pandava army had shown immense strength under the commandment of Dhrishtadyumna in the last twelve days. Arjuna and Bhima ensured that king Yudhishthira remained protected from the warriors of Duryodhana. And when the wrath of grandsire became unstoppable, Yudhishthira decided to do the unexpected. He sought the secret of the fall of Bhishma

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  from the grandsire himself. To the utter surprise of everyone, grandsire smilingly told the secret behind his death.

  “If Shikhandin strikes at me, I will not counter the attack. I will surrender before Shikhandin and Arjuna can then attack from behind.”, revealed the grandsire on the eve of the tenth day of the battle. Arjuna did what his brother expected from him. And on the tenth day of the war, the great wall of Hastinapur fell. That great bulwark blessed with the boon of controlling his death was still lying on the bed of arrows, Arjuna pierced. Grandsire must always have desired his fall through the might of his favourite grandson, Arjuna.

  “There is nobody in our division, except Arjuna, who can break this whirling array of death. But Arjuna is not present today. Guru Drona planned this to captivate me.”, said flab- bergasted Yudhishthira beholding the vast ocean of soldiers arrayed. Most of the soldiers would have only read about this array formation in the scriptures. All hopes narrowed on Abhimanyu, who knew the science behind Chakravyuh. Sensing the danger on the lives of thousands of soldiers and foreseeing the treacherous attack of Guru Drona, Yudhishthira immediately called Abhimanyu and said, “O Son! O Braveheart! Time has come for you to repay the debt of your sires. Arjuna, being away countering Trigartas, I find nobody but you to lead the attack. Pick up your arms and destroy this array of Guru Drona.”

  “O Sire, I only know how to enter this formation. I didn’t get an opportunity to learn how to come out of the array. I shan’t be able to rescue myself if danger overtakes me.”, replied Abhimanyu.

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  “You make the passage for our army. Break this array, and we will follow you. O Son! Fear not, our bravest warriors will cover you.” Yudhishthira shared his plan.

  “I am not affrighted, O Lord! I am the son of the greatest warrior Arjuna. I am a disciple of the great Krishna. Fear fears to reach me.”, roared valiant Abhimanyu, acknowledging the plan.

  Abhimanyu commanded Sumitra, his charioteer, to rush towards the Kauravas army as Yudhishthira wished. Soon, his chariot started cruising towards opponents. And his contin- uous strikes were showing no mercy to anybody coming on his way. Guru Drona’s army countered but couldn’t stop dex- terous Abhimanyu. The hoofs of his steeds and rattle of his chariot reverberated with the soil. He smote each of his antag- onists and cruised closer towards Chakravyuh. He looked for an opportunity to find the weakest link to enter the array, and soon he got one. Without missing a second, he continued strik- ing at the identified section to make it the fittest passage for his army. The thick shower of arrows trembled the soldiers, and before Guru Drona could react, his steeds jumped over the first barrier. Chakravyuh broke. But alas! Before the Pandavas army could enter through the passage, Jayadratha blocked the path, leaving Abhimanyu alone inside the array.

  Jayadratha, the son-in-law of Dhritarashtra, had upskilled himself after years of determination. He also had a boon to face the Pandavas, except Arjuna, for one full day in any battle. He stood in front of Pandavas as an unbreakable bulwark, shaking the hopes of King Yudhishthira. Bhima tried to counter but in vain. Bhima’s strength seemed minuscule in front of that mighty bull. Jayadratha’s strikes were flawless, and with each

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  arrow releasing from his bow, the hope of passing through the path created by Abhimanyu became distant. His ambition of countering Bhima and other Pandavas fulfilled. He roared and his vilified laughter affrighted each soldier of Pandavas troop. But that was not the first time he was facing Bhima. Years ago, he had an encounter with Bhima and Arjuna during the exile of Pandavas.

  Years ago, before the battle, Jayadratha, with his entourage, was passing through the forest. It happened to be the dwelling of Pandavas during the exile. The caravan halted near the her- mitage of Pandavas. Albeit the Pandavas were out on a hunt, Draupadi welcomed Jayadratha and served food for his troops. Jayadratha couldn’t control his emotions, and he asked Draupadi to walk with him.

  “I can’t see you in such dreadful condition.”, remarked proud son-in-law of Dhritarashtra. Draupadi ignored him, but Jayadratha didn’t stop his persuasion. “My five husbands will not spare you, Jayadratha.”, said angry Draupadi.

 
; “Those five men couldn’t save you in the courtroom of Hastinapur. Your wails went in vain even when Duryodhana ordered to disrobe you. These Pandavas have no respect for you. Walk with me and become my queen.”, he continued to allure Draupadi. Finding no way, Draupadi asked her maid, Dhatreyika, to request the guests to move out of the place. Jayadratha’s anger overpowered his senses. And forgetting the reverence, he forcefully took away Draupadi on his chariot.

  Pandavas returned and found wailing Dhatreyika. Knowing about the abduction of Draupadi, Yudhishthira immediately commanded Bhima and Arjuna to rescue Draupadi. But he

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  ordered Bhima to refrain from killing and asked to think about Dussala, daughter of Dhritarashtra, before responding to Jayadratha’s vile act. Bhima and Arjuna rushed towards the direction shown by Dhatreyika. Sahadeva followed them too. The impressions of chariots’ wheels and hoofs of horses were fresh, and they soon located the caravan of Jayadratha. Arjuna showered arrows on the group, and that sudden strike left the soldiers running helter-skelter. Sensing the threat on his life, Jayadratha galloped, leaving Draupadi. Draupadi was safe, but Bhima decided to go behind Jayadratha. Sending Draupadi back to the hermitage with Sahadeva, Bhima and Arjuna rushed towards the direction, Jayadratha careered. Jayadratha, flying for his life, was perplexed seeing the two brothers in front of him. He was alone and at the mercy of raging Bhima. Bhima seized him by the hair of his head and thrust him on the ground. Bhima then kicked him on his chest and thrashed him. Jayadratha, thus belaboured by mighty Bhima, fell unconscious. Bhima wanted to punish him more, but Arjuna requested Bhima to refrain from further chastisement on that prince of Sindhu. Bhima then took out his crescent-shaped arrow and shaved Jayadratha’s head. He left five tufts on his head to always remind him of the might of five Pandavas. When Jayadratha regained senses, Bhima angrily shouted, “Jayadratha! If you wish to live, become the slave of Pandavas. In public assemblies, tell everyone that you are a slave of Draupadi and king Yudhishthira.”

  Bhima and Arjuna then returned and presented slave Jayadratha before Draupadi. Yudhishthira, the kind-hearted emancipated Jayadratha, and Draupadi too forgave him. Jayadratha went away from the place. But he couldn’t forget how Bhima chastised him, and he vowed to avenge the act. He performed immense austerities and learned the skills of han- dling multiple warriors in any battle.

  On the thirteenth day of the battle, Jayadratha found his wish to get fulfilled. With the blessings of his father and boon of Mahadeva, he countered each of the Pandava brothers, while Arjuna was not present. Helpless Pandavas, powerless war- riors, and affrighted soldiers couldn’t do anything, and every- one present on the battlefield could only see the chariot of Abhimanyu cruising inside the array. But he was trapped in the whirl of labyrinths created by Guru Drona. He was advanc- ing, breaking layer after layer, countered by great warriors of the Kaurava army. His attacks were endless, and his prowess had no match. He fought valorously, and fear drowned in his rage against the despicable act of Kauravas. And he killed the hopes of Guru Drona of captivating Yudhishthira.

  The six warriors of Kaurava camp then surrounded unstop- pable and mighty Abhimanyu. His quivers were empty, his maces shattered, his charioteer and steeds killed, and his chariot broken. When his arms were exhausted, he picked the wheel of his chariot and rushed towards his foes. Those six warriors attacked him, pierced his body with swords and lancers and broke his bones with strikes of heavy maces. Blood oozed from hundreds of wounds in his body, and his cries captivated the entire field.

  Life gradually left him…

  Chapter1

  THE MARTYRS

  War demands blood, violence decides fate, and wounds become message of God.

  ABHIMANYU

  he golden ball diminishes gradually, and crimson hue in firmament loses its strength. The twilight deepens.

  I am distracted by the dead bodies of the soldiers piled up all around. The maroon river flowing through the battlefield tells about the bludgeoning that occurred, during different quar- ters of the day. The final conch blows, and the warriors call it a day. The thirteenth day on the battleground concludes. The wounded soldiers walk back towards their camps. Few with the limbs pierced with arrows, few with amputated limbs, and few on the shoulders of fellowmen are walking towards respec- tive camps while counting their last breaths. The animals are exhausted too. They look at their masters with the hope of getting rest. They seem to be wailing “What will you gain from it! It’s a futile war.”

  Amid all this chaos, lies the immovable body of the warrior of the day. The young warrior had gone beyond his abilities, delivered more than expected from him, fought fearlessly but alas succumbed to his injuries. The young lad who had seen just sixteen springs of his life is now lying motionless. The blood oozing from his skull and the arrows pierced through his body talk about the horrendous ordeal. Abhimanyu, the mighty son of Subhadra and Arjuna, is dead. The last hit of the mace on his skull had mercilessly stolen the soul from his body. Amidst the chortles of six Maharathis, who surrounded the brave warrior and ripped off his life, is lying the great warrior motionless.

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  Abhimanyu was unstoppable, unparalleled, and invincible. He fought valiantly and plucked the pride of Guru Drona. He single-handedly broke the fiercest array, Chakravyuh, and authored his prowess in the hearts of all the warriors. But Yudhishthira’s plan of following Abhimanyu didn’t work and, we were helpless in front of Jayadratha. We were restricted and were left as mere spectators of debacle happened in the middle of the battlefield. The eyes would never want to see such a horrific event again. Jayadratha was merciless and, we could do nothing.

  Beholding the coward act of those six Maharathis, our veins swelled with raging blood, and eyes filled with tears. But we could do nothing as we all were helpless and feeble in front of that giant, Jayadratha. Bhima, the man with strength equal to thousands of elephants, the twin brothers, the prince of Panchal, the follower of Dharma, and I, could not break the wall created by Jayadratha. Every pore of the body wanted to kill the ruler of Sindhu, but it was his day today. The thirteenth day of this war will haunt many generations to come. But the young boy inscribed his name in the golden history of the Kuru dynasty.

  The sun has settled in the lap of western hills. The darkness hits the ground, but the moon is hiding beneath the blanket of clouds. Seems, it is not ready to witness the heart-frightening image on the battlefield. The body of Abhimanyu which looks like a porcupine, pierced with keen shafts, is lying amidst severed limbs of other dead soldiers. The messenger from the Kauravas cavalry has come to king Yudhishthira and asked to bring back the martyr. Absolute silence has blanketed the camp of Pandavas. Yudhishthira looks around and, his body looks numb. He tries to speak but can’t. His fingers shiver and drops

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  of sweat flow through his temple. The thought of losing a son is not easy to accept. He knows he decided to send Abhimanyu into the heart-wrenching, hair-rising, and the toughest array formed by opponent’s commander. He must be thinking about what he will tell Arjuna, once he returns from the southern part of the field. Arjuna knows nothing of what happened in the central field during the day. While the father was away fighting the Trigartas, the son gave up his life saving the king. Serving their motherland and following their duties.

  Yudhishthira looks at Bhima and me, and feebly says, “You both go and bring back the body of valiant warrior with utmost care.”

  “As you wish brother.”, says Bhima and signals me to move.

  We bow down before the king and leave the camp on Bhima’s chariot. From a very young age, Bhima and I had solved many riddles of our lives together. Our strengths have surpassed many hurdles in the past; but today we both can’t meet, eye to eye. Shame, anger and sadness; emotions brim the cauldron. While hiding our teary and swollen eyes, we both are sol- emnly praying for a miracle. The hatred which cruised in the battlefield during the day is floating through the eyes at night. We are mute. The evening is silent.
The darkness on the field resembles the silence of humanity. Visoka, Bhima’s charioteer drifts our chariot and commands the yoked steeds towards the battlefield. The thoughts are never-ending and so the tears. We reach the place, jump down from the chariot and walk towards the motionless body of Abhimanyu. It’s dark around, and the lord of the night has no desire to share his brilliance. Visoka

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  ignites the Mashaal, and I feel the ground slipping beneath my feet as I see the horrendous image in front of my eyes. Never had I ever witnessed such a horrifying sight in my life. I have killed hundreds of warriors in my life. I am capable of fight- ing against thousands of soldiers together. But all that courage sublimates seeing the harrowing image. The strength is of no use when you can’t protect your progeny.