MAHENDRA ASTRA AND ITS USE ON 3RD EVENING (By Pranshu Saxena Sir) :
On 3rd day as the Pandava forces were on ascendant after a glorious success of 2nd day, Bheeshma was approached by Duryodhana and after hearing some nice messages from his dear dear grandson, Bheeshma attacked Pandavas with a terrible fury.
The Pandava army was in flight, no two people were running in single direction, such was the force of the attack.
As Pandavas started retreating, they looked towards Arjuna, who started countering Bheeshma.
Keshava perceived Arjuna to be very soft on how he is handling Bheeshma, his love for his grandpapa shining through his arrows and Bheeshma continued the fearsome swathe of destruction through Pandava ranks.
Losing his patience with Arjuna, Keshava immediately left the reins and advanced to kill Bheeshma with his Sudrashan Chakra.
Bheeshma sending an opportunity for his release, immediately left his weapons and welcomed his death at hands of Madhava himself.
Arjuna seeing Narayana in contravention of his own vow ran to Madhusudana and appeased him, he promised to use his utmost to fight for Dharmaraj and will not go soft in hurting his Grandfather.
“'Quell this wrath of thine. Thou art the refuge of the Pandavas, O Kesava. I swear, O Kesava, by my sons and uterine brothers that I will not withdraw from the acts to which I have pledged myself. O younger brother of Indra, at thy command I will certainly annihilate the Kurus.' "
Hearing that promise and oath of his, Janardana became gratified.
-------------------------------------
●STARTING OF A TERRIBLE HISTORICAL BATTLE :
Krishna then rang up Panchjanya and Arjuna let loose a loud twang from Gandiva challenging the Kaurava forces and sending thrill through his own allies. And shot from the bow of Pandu's son, bright and blazing shafts proceeded in all directions.
Then the Kuru king (Duryodhana), with a large force, and with Bhishma and Bhurisravas also, arrow in hand rushed against Arjuna along with Srutayush, Ambashthraj, and Durmarshana, and Chitrasena, and Drona, and Kripa, and Jayadratha, and Valhika, and Salya, and Sala and other warriors by hundreds and thousands united together, assailed Arjuna standing alone.
And Bhurisravas hurled at Arjuna seven javelins furnished with wings of gold, and Duryodhana a lance of fierce impetuosity, and Salya a mace, and Santanu's son a dart.
Thereupon, Arjuna, baffling with seven shafts the seven javelins, fleet as arrows, shot by Bhurisravas, cut off with another keen-edged shaft the lance hurled from Duryodhana's arm.
And the blazing dart coming towards him--effulgent as lightning--hurled by Santanu's son, and the mace hurled from the arm of the ruler of the Madras, that hero cut off with two (other) shafts. Then drawing with his two hands and with great force his beautiful bow Gandiva of immeasurable energy, he invoked with proper mantras the highly wonderful and terrible Mahendra weapon and caused it to appear in the welkin.
-------------------------------------
●ARJUNA VS BHEESMA+DRONA+BHURISRAVAS+KRIPA+SALYA etc thirteen MAHARATHIS + THOUSANDS OF RATHIS :
Arjuna was single handedly battling hundreds of foes including thirteen Maharathis (Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa, Salya, Bhurishrvas among them) supported by thousands of Rathis and he used his education at this time to use Mahendra astra to counter the thousands of darts and javelins thrown at him. And with that mighty weapon producing profuse showers of arrows endued with the effulgence of the blazing fire, that high souled and mighty bowman, decked with diadem and garland of gold, checked the entire Kaurava host.
Arjuna is very clearly arresting a Kaurava offensive and used the divyastra as defensive tactic.
Then the narration continues: And then shafts from Partha's bow, cut off the arms, bows, standard-tops, and cars, penetrated into the bodies of the kings and of the huge elephants and steeds of the foe. And filling the cardinal and the subsidiary directions with those sharp and terrible shafts of his, Pritha's son decked with diadem and garland of gold, agitated the hearts of his foes by means of the twang of Gandiva.
-------------------------------------
●VICTORY OF VIJAYA:
He used Mahendraastra to silence the offensive then used his archer skills effectively to start taking the initiative back.
And in that exhilirating passage of arms, the blare of conches and beat of drums and the deep rattle of cars were all silenced by the twang of Gandiva.
And ascertaining that twang to be of Gandiva, king Virata and other heroes among men, and the brave Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, all proceeded to that spot with confident hearts.
And all thy (kaurava) combatants stood, struck with fear, each at the spot where he heard that twang of Gandiva. And none amongst them ventured to proceed to that place whence that sound was heard.
It is very clear from this passage that Gandiva’s arrows have broken the Kaurava morale and allowed Drupada and Virata to rally the scattered Pandava forces and they rallied back and started slaughtering the kaurava host which arrested had last its mojo literally.
Stuck in an aggressive formation, and stopped abruptly, their momentuj arrested, kaurava host was open to attack and unprepared for defensive positions they were suddenly thrust in by Pandava counter offensive and were easily cut down and destroyed.
And forcibly struck by Partha with his winged arrows of great impetuosity and broad-headed shafts of keen-edge and points, the standards of innumerable kings stationed at the heads of their yantras and Indrajalas were cut off.
And bands of infantry and car-warriors, in that battle, and steeds and elephants, fell fast on the field, their limbs paralyzed, or themselves speedily deprived of life, affected by Dhananjaya with those shafts.
Another major factor in war is the Fog of War. In the tumult of battle with thousands of voices and groans abound, one is never sure of one’s colleagues or path where the battle is heading.
The Unit standards and flags are very important in this situation to rally the forces behind a common point or redoubt and Arjuna is literally targeting those standards and flags causing the rising panic in Kaurava forces to burst forth and destroy their morale where they cannot see their officers and leaders.
In Indian battles, when they don’t see their leaders or lose sight of the elephants or flags, the common soldiers lose heart and think that their leaders are slain. As the description continues:
And beholding the foremost warriors of that army of the Kurus thus slain by Phalguni, the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kurushas, the Matsyas, and all the combatants of the Pandava side, those foremost of men, elated with victory, together set up a loud shout for frightening the Kaurava warriors.
And they uttered that cry indicative of victory, beholding the foremost combatants of the (Kuru) army, the very troops protected by mighty leaders of divisions, thus slain by Kiritin, that terror of foes, who frightened them like a lion frightening herds of smaller animals.
So even Pandava soldiers assumed that Kaurava leaders are killed as Arjuna had expertly destroyed their standards.
Those thirteen Maharathis that assailed Arjuna are suddenly anonymous in mass of rathis as their standards have been cut. The soldiers on both sides are assuming them dead and so kauravas are fleeing while Pandavas are now hunting them down.
And then the bearer of Gandiva himself, and Janardana both filled with delight, uttered loud roars.
And the Kurus, with Bhishma, and Drona and Duryodhana and Valhika, exceedingly mangled by the weapons (of Arjuna), beholding the sun withdraw his rays, and seeing also that awful and irresistible weapon called after the name of Indra spread out and causing (as it were) the end of the Yuga to appear, withdraw their forces for the nightly rest.
The Kuru chiefs are glad that the day has come to an end and themselves wounded by Arjuna, they withdrew. The effect of Mahendra Astra is again shown by the poet, the use of Mahendra Astra stopped them and then with Panadavas going on offensive the panic spread among the Kaurava host who literally thought the end of world has come in the counter panic that ensued.
And that foremost of men, Dhananjaya also, having achieved a great feat and won great renown by crushing his foes, and beholding the sun assume a red hue and the evening twilight to set in, and having completed his work, retired with his uterine brothers to the camp for nightly rest.
And all the combatants of the Kuru army frightened by Kiritin, then entered their tents illumined by thousands of torches, and beautified by innumerable lamps.
In the offensive, Kauravas lost 10,000 rathis and 700 elephants, literally all the westerners, the Sauviras, and the Kshudrakas and the Malavas, have all been slain.
-------------------------------------
● Actually at the end of day 2, the SIMILAR SEQUENCE of events had OCCURRED and poet just used different constructs.
Battle Report Day 2 Late Afternoon:
And when Duryodhana was defeated by Abhimanyu, all the mighty Kaurava kings surrounded the son of Arjuna on every side with crowds of cars. Not at all perturbed, Abhimanyu started battling them all. Arjuna saw the situation Abhimanyu was in and rushed in to support Abhimanyu.
-At this, Bheeshma, Drona and hundreds of Kings and warriors with cars, elephants and steeds rushed at Arjuna.
Then a thick earthly dust, suddenly raised by foot-soldiers and steeds and chariots and cavalry troopers, covering the sky appeared on the view. And those thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, when they came within reach of Arjuna's arrows, were all unable to make any further advance. Neither the welkin, nor the cardinal points of the compass nor the earth, nor the sun, could be distinguished, O best of men, in consequence of the arrows shot by Arjuna.
-Arjuna checks the Kaurava host is same way as he does it again on third day.
And many were the elephants there deprived of the standards (on their backs), and many car-warriors also, deprived of their steeds. And some leaders of chariot divisions were seen wandering, having abandoned their cars.
And other rathis, deprived of their chariots, were seen to wander hither and thither, weapon in hand and their arms graced with Angadas.
-Again, Arjuna cut off standards and flags causing great confusion in Kaurava ranks.
-The officers were left rudderless and soldiery leaderless.
And kings were seen felled or falling from cars and elephants and steeds in consequence of Arjuna's shafts. And Arjuna, assuming a fierce countenance, cut off with his terrible shafts, the upraised arms of warriors, mace in grasp, and arms bearing swords.
On third day, the Poet had here inserted the description of River of Blood and Flesh and on 2nd day, similar place in battle report, we have the description of Forest of Broken Weapons.
-There was no man in thy army who could advance against the heroic Arjuna in battle. Whoever, advanced against Pritha's son in battle, pierced by sharp shafts was dispatched to the other world.
When all these Kaurava combatants broke had fled away, Arjuna and Vasudeva blew their excellent conches.
-The similar report was there on day 3.
Devavrata then, beholding the (Kuru) host routed, smilingly addressed the heroic son of Bharadwaja in the battle and said, "This mighty and heroic son of Pandu, viz., Dhananjaya, accompanied by Krishna, is dealing with (our) troops as he alone is competent to deal with them. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle today by any means, judging by his form that we see now so like unto that of the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga. This vast host again (of ours) is incapable of being rallied.”
-Exactly the same words used at Day 3 as well. The same end of yuga.
Bheeshma further added “Behold, Yon Sun, robbing in every way the vision of the whole world, is about to reach that best of mountains called Asta. O bull among men, I think that the hour is come for the withdrawal (of the army). The warriors, who have all been tired and struck with panic, will never fight. Having said this unto Drona that best of preceptors, Bhishma, that mighty car-warrior, caused thy army to be withdrawn. And then when the sun set, the withdrawal of both thy army and theirs took place, O sire, and twilight set in."
Same end for Day 3 as well.
(samarpan)
On 3rd day as the Pandava forces were on ascendant after a glorious success of 2nd day, Bheeshma was approached by Duryodhana and after hearing some nice messages from his dear dear grandson, Bheeshma attacked Pandavas with a terrible fury.
The Pandava army was in flight, no two people were running in single direction, such was the force of the attack.
As Pandavas started retreating, they looked towards Arjuna, who started countering Bheeshma.
Keshava perceived Arjuna to be very soft on how he is handling Bheeshma, his love for his grandpapa shining through his arrows and Bheeshma continued the fearsome swathe of destruction through Pandava ranks.
Losing his patience with Arjuna, Keshava immediately left the reins and advanced to kill Bheeshma with his Sudrashan Chakra.
Bheeshma sending an opportunity for his release, immediately left his weapons and welcomed his death at hands of Madhava himself.
Arjuna seeing Narayana in contravention of his own vow ran to Madhusudana and appeased him, he promised to use his utmost to fight for Dharmaraj and will not go soft in hurting his Grandfather.
“'Quell this wrath of thine. Thou art the refuge of the Pandavas, O Kesava. I swear, O Kesava, by my sons and uterine brothers that I will not withdraw from the acts to which I have pledged myself. O younger brother of Indra, at thy command I will certainly annihilate the Kurus.' "
Hearing that promise and oath of his, Janardana became gratified.
-------------------------------------
●STARTING OF A TERRIBLE HISTORICAL BATTLE :
Krishna then rang up Panchjanya and Arjuna let loose a loud twang from Gandiva challenging the Kaurava forces and sending thrill through his own allies. And shot from the bow of Pandu's son, bright and blazing shafts proceeded in all directions.
Then the Kuru king (Duryodhana), with a large force, and with Bhishma and Bhurisravas also, arrow in hand rushed against Arjuna along with Srutayush, Ambashthraj, and Durmarshana, and Chitrasena, and Drona, and Kripa, and Jayadratha, and Valhika, and Salya, and Sala and other warriors by hundreds and thousands united together, assailed Arjuna standing alone.
And Bhurisravas hurled at Arjuna seven javelins furnished with wings of gold, and Duryodhana a lance of fierce impetuosity, and Salya a mace, and Santanu's son a dart.
Thereupon, Arjuna, baffling with seven shafts the seven javelins, fleet as arrows, shot by Bhurisravas, cut off with another keen-edged shaft the lance hurled from Duryodhana's arm.
And the blazing dart coming towards him--effulgent as lightning--hurled by Santanu's son, and the mace hurled from the arm of the ruler of the Madras, that hero cut off with two (other) shafts. Then drawing with his two hands and with great force his beautiful bow Gandiva of immeasurable energy, he invoked with proper mantras the highly wonderful and terrible Mahendra weapon and caused it to appear in the welkin.
-------------------------------------
●ARJUNA VS BHEESMA+DRONA+BHURISRAVAS+KRIPA+SALYA etc thirteen MAHARATHIS + THOUSANDS OF RATHIS :
Arjuna was single handedly battling hundreds of foes including thirteen Maharathis (Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa, Salya, Bhurishrvas among them) supported by thousands of Rathis and he used his education at this time to use Mahendra astra to counter the thousands of darts and javelins thrown at him. And with that mighty weapon producing profuse showers of arrows endued with the effulgence of the blazing fire, that high souled and mighty bowman, decked with diadem and garland of gold, checked the entire Kaurava host.
Arjuna is very clearly arresting a Kaurava offensive and used the divyastra as defensive tactic.
Then the narration continues: And then shafts from Partha's bow, cut off the arms, bows, standard-tops, and cars, penetrated into the bodies of the kings and of the huge elephants and steeds of the foe. And filling the cardinal and the subsidiary directions with those sharp and terrible shafts of his, Pritha's son decked with diadem and garland of gold, agitated the hearts of his foes by means of the twang of Gandiva.
-------------------------------------
●VICTORY OF VIJAYA:
He used Mahendraastra to silence the offensive then used his archer skills effectively to start taking the initiative back.
And in that exhilirating passage of arms, the blare of conches and beat of drums and the deep rattle of cars were all silenced by the twang of Gandiva.
And ascertaining that twang to be of Gandiva, king Virata and other heroes among men, and the brave Drupada, the king of the Panchalas, all proceeded to that spot with confident hearts.
And all thy (kaurava) combatants stood, struck with fear, each at the spot where he heard that twang of Gandiva. And none amongst them ventured to proceed to that place whence that sound was heard.
It is very clear from this passage that Gandiva’s arrows have broken the Kaurava morale and allowed Drupada and Virata to rally the scattered Pandava forces and they rallied back and started slaughtering the kaurava host which arrested had last its mojo literally.
Stuck in an aggressive formation, and stopped abruptly, their momentuj arrested, kaurava host was open to attack and unprepared for defensive positions they were suddenly thrust in by Pandava counter offensive and were easily cut down and destroyed.
And forcibly struck by Partha with his winged arrows of great impetuosity and broad-headed shafts of keen-edge and points, the standards of innumerable kings stationed at the heads of their yantras and Indrajalas were cut off.
And bands of infantry and car-warriors, in that battle, and steeds and elephants, fell fast on the field, their limbs paralyzed, or themselves speedily deprived of life, affected by Dhananjaya with those shafts.
Another major factor in war is the Fog of War. In the tumult of battle with thousands of voices and groans abound, one is never sure of one’s colleagues or path where the battle is heading.
The Unit standards and flags are very important in this situation to rally the forces behind a common point or redoubt and Arjuna is literally targeting those standards and flags causing the rising panic in Kaurava forces to burst forth and destroy their morale where they cannot see their officers and leaders.
In Indian battles, when they don’t see their leaders or lose sight of the elephants or flags, the common soldiers lose heart and think that their leaders are slain. As the description continues:
And beholding the foremost warriors of that army of the Kurus thus slain by Phalguni, the Chedis, the Panchalas, the Kurushas, the Matsyas, and all the combatants of the Pandava side, those foremost of men, elated with victory, together set up a loud shout for frightening the Kaurava warriors.
And they uttered that cry indicative of victory, beholding the foremost combatants of the (Kuru) army, the very troops protected by mighty leaders of divisions, thus slain by Kiritin, that terror of foes, who frightened them like a lion frightening herds of smaller animals.
So even Pandava soldiers assumed that Kaurava leaders are killed as Arjuna had expertly destroyed their standards.
Those thirteen Maharathis that assailed Arjuna are suddenly anonymous in mass of rathis as their standards have been cut. The soldiers on both sides are assuming them dead and so kauravas are fleeing while Pandavas are now hunting them down.
And then the bearer of Gandiva himself, and Janardana both filled with delight, uttered loud roars.
And the Kurus, with Bhishma, and Drona and Duryodhana and Valhika, exceedingly mangled by the weapons (of Arjuna), beholding the sun withdraw his rays, and seeing also that awful and irresistible weapon called after the name of Indra spread out and causing (as it were) the end of the Yuga to appear, withdraw their forces for the nightly rest.
The Kuru chiefs are glad that the day has come to an end and themselves wounded by Arjuna, they withdrew. The effect of Mahendra Astra is again shown by the poet, the use of Mahendra Astra stopped them and then with Panadavas going on offensive the panic spread among the Kaurava host who literally thought the end of world has come in the counter panic that ensued.
And that foremost of men, Dhananjaya also, having achieved a great feat and won great renown by crushing his foes, and beholding the sun assume a red hue and the evening twilight to set in, and having completed his work, retired with his uterine brothers to the camp for nightly rest.
And all the combatants of the Kuru army frightened by Kiritin, then entered their tents illumined by thousands of torches, and beautified by innumerable lamps.
In the offensive, Kauravas lost 10,000 rathis and 700 elephants, literally all the westerners, the Sauviras, and the Kshudrakas and the Malavas, have all been slain.
-------------------------------------
● Actually at the end of day 2, the SIMILAR SEQUENCE of events had OCCURRED and poet just used different constructs.
Battle Report Day 2 Late Afternoon:
And when Duryodhana was defeated by Abhimanyu, all the mighty Kaurava kings surrounded the son of Arjuna on every side with crowds of cars. Not at all perturbed, Abhimanyu started battling them all. Arjuna saw the situation Abhimanyu was in and rushed in to support Abhimanyu.
-At this, Bheeshma, Drona and hundreds of Kings and warriors with cars, elephants and steeds rushed at Arjuna.
Then a thick earthly dust, suddenly raised by foot-soldiers and steeds and chariots and cavalry troopers, covering the sky appeared on the view. And those thousands of elephants and hundreds of kings, when they came within reach of Arjuna's arrows, were all unable to make any further advance. Neither the welkin, nor the cardinal points of the compass nor the earth, nor the sun, could be distinguished, O best of men, in consequence of the arrows shot by Arjuna.
-Arjuna checks the Kaurava host is same way as he does it again on third day.
And many were the elephants there deprived of the standards (on their backs), and many car-warriors also, deprived of their steeds. And some leaders of chariot divisions were seen wandering, having abandoned their cars.
And other rathis, deprived of their chariots, were seen to wander hither and thither, weapon in hand and their arms graced with Angadas.
-Again, Arjuna cut off standards and flags causing great confusion in Kaurava ranks.
-The officers were left rudderless and soldiery leaderless.
And kings were seen felled or falling from cars and elephants and steeds in consequence of Arjuna's shafts. And Arjuna, assuming a fierce countenance, cut off with his terrible shafts, the upraised arms of warriors, mace in grasp, and arms bearing swords.
On third day, the Poet had here inserted the description of River of Blood and Flesh and on 2nd day, similar place in battle report, we have the description of Forest of Broken Weapons.
-There was no man in thy army who could advance against the heroic Arjuna in battle. Whoever, advanced against Pritha's son in battle, pierced by sharp shafts was dispatched to the other world.
When all these Kaurava combatants broke had fled away, Arjuna and Vasudeva blew their excellent conches.
-The similar report was there on day 3.
Devavrata then, beholding the (Kuru) host routed, smilingly addressed the heroic son of Bharadwaja in the battle and said, "This mighty and heroic son of Pandu, viz., Dhananjaya, accompanied by Krishna, is dealing with (our) troops as he alone is competent to deal with them. He is incapable of being vanquished in battle today by any means, judging by his form that we see now so like unto that of the Destroyer himself at the end of the Yuga. This vast host again (of ours) is incapable of being rallied.”
-Exactly the same words used at Day 3 as well. The same end of yuga.
Bheeshma further added “Behold, Yon Sun, robbing in every way the vision of the whole world, is about to reach that best of mountains called Asta. O bull among men, I think that the hour is come for the withdrawal (of the army). The warriors, who have all been tired and struck with panic, will never fight. Having said this unto Drona that best of preceptors, Bhishma, that mighty car-warrior, caused thy army to be withdrawn. And then when the sun set, the withdrawal of both thy army and theirs took place, O sire, and twilight set in."
Same end for Day 3 as well.
(samarpan)
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