lost eight chariots that day.
And the army effectively prevented the relief of
of the Bhojas, that tried to stop Bhima,
was completely destroyed.
He proceeded mowing down all
opposition and reached where Arjuna was
fighting Jayadratha's forces.
As soon as he saw Arjuna, Bhima roared
like a lion. Hearing that roar, Krishna and
Arjuna were exceedingly pleased and
raised yells of joy. Yudhishthira heard
these roars and, relieved of his doubts and
anxieties, he pronounced blessings on
Arjuna. And he thought within himself:
"Before the sun sets today, Arjuna's oath
will be fulfilled. He will slay the man who
caused Abhimanyu's death and will return
in triumph. Duryodhana may sue for
peace after Jayadratha's death. Seeing so
many of his brothers slain, it is possible
that foolish Duryodhana may see light.
The lives of numerous kings and great
warriors have been sacrificed on the field
of battle and even the stubborn and
narrow-visioned Duryodhana may now
see his fault and ask for peace. Will this
indeed happen? The great grandsire
Bhishma has been offered as a sacrifice.
Will this wicked enmity end with it and
shall we be saved from further cruel
destruction?"
While thus Yudhishthira was fondly
hoping and dreaming of peace, the battle
was raging with great fury where Bhima,
Satyaki and Arjuna were engaging the
enemy.
Only the Lord knows through what travail
the world must evolve. His ways are
inscrutable.
86. KARNA AND BHIMA
ARJUNA had left Yudhishthira behind to
repel Drona's attacks and had gone to
make good his word that before sunset
Jayadratha would lie dead on the field of
battle.
Jayadratha had been the main cause of
Abhimanyu's death. He it was who had
Abhimanyu by the Pandavas, and thereby
caused Abhimanyu to be isolated,
overpowered and slain.
We have seen how Yudhishthira in his
anxiety sent first Satyaki and then Bhima
to join Arjuna in his battle against
Jayadratha. Bhima reached where Arjuna
was engaged and sounded his simhanada
(lion-roar). Dharmaputra heard the lion-
roar of Bhima and knew that Arjuna was
found alive.
It was the fourteenth day and the battle
raged fiercely at many points, between
Satyaki and Bhurisravas at one place,
between Bhima and Karna at another and
between Arjuna and Jayadratha at a third.
Drona remained at the main front resisting
the attack of the Panchalas and the
Pandavas, and leading a counter-offensive
against them.
Duryodhana arrived with his forces at the
sector where Arjuna attacked Jayadratha,
but was soon defeated and turned back.
The battle thus raged long and furiously
on more than one front. The armies were
so deployed that each side was exposed to
danger in its rear.
Duryodhana was speaking to Drona:
"Arjuna, Bhima and Satyaki have treated
us with contempt and proceeded
successfully to Jayadratha's sector and
they are pressing hard on the Sindhu king.
It is indeed strange that, under your
command, our battle array should have
been broken and our plans completely
foiled. Everyone asks how it is that the
great Drona with all his mastery of the
science of war has been so badly
outmaneuvered. What answer shall I
make? I have been betrayed by you."
Duryodhana thus, once again, bitterly
reproached Drona, who replied
unperturbed:
"Duryodhana, your accusations are as
unworthy as they are contrary to truth.