Vedic Wisdom Talks

  Destiny!   As battle resumed for the 4 th day after sunrise, Bhisma & Arjun became engaged in a single combat. Abhimanyu joined Arjun, displaying wonderful prowess. Soon, however, the father & son were surrounded by all chariot warriors of the Trigartas, Madras & Kekayas. Dhrishtadyumna then arrived with a large army, taking pressure off Arjun & Subhadra’s son   Meanwhile, back in Hastinapur, due to hearing from Sanjaya about how Kaurava army was repeatedly routed by Pāndavās, Dhritrāshtra finally exclaimed with great anguish: Oh! Destiny is stronger than human exertion, for my son’s superior army is meeting with defeat. Sanjaya said: O King! You should not blame destiny for your woes, as entire responsibility for this war rests upon your shoulders   Back at Kurukshetra, Salya fought with Dhrishtadyumna. When he broke the Pāncāla prince’s bow, Abhimanyu entered the fray. Duryodhana, Vikarna & other Dhārtarāshtrās moved in to protect...

  Leader!   As Sri Krsna declared that he would invoke His Sudarsana cakra, he cast aside the reins of Arjun’s chariot & jumped to ground. As He whirled the blazing Sudarsana cakra in His right hand, entire earth trembled with His terrible strides. He rushed at Bhisma like a ferocious lion charging an elephant. With His yellow garments waving in the breeze, Krsna looked like a dark monsoon cloud adorned with lightening   The dazzling Sudarsana cakra whirling in Sri Krsna’s lotus-like hand looked like a lotus flower growing from the lake of Krsna’s dark blue body. Upon seeing Krsna’s ferocious feature & hearing His loud roars, warriors on both sides became convinced that extermination of Kurus is at hand   Meanwhile, Bhisma stood fearlessly with folded hands & prayed: My dear Lord, please come & throw me down from my chariot. Being killed by You, I will attain the most exalted destination   Sri Krsna declared while rushing forward: O Bhisma, you a...

Protect! It was already afternoon & so to make good of his words, Bhisma led the Dhārtrāshtra’s in a massive attack upon Pāndava army. Such a dreadful battle ensued that a river of blood was soon created & site became so cluttered with bodies that it was difficult for chariots to maneuver Despite this, Bhisma traversed so swiftly over battlefield, exhibiting his incomparable prowess, that it appealed to Pāndava warriors that there were many Bhismas. Indeed no one could approach Bhisma & thus Pāndava soldiers were slaughtered by 1000’s. Sometimes Bhisma killed 3 soldiers with a single arrow. At last, entire Pāndava army panicked & fled in presence of Krsna & Arjun Pāndav soldiers became so afraid of Bhisma that some of them took off their armor & ran away. Many other soldiers were seen wailing aloud, as if deprived of reason. Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, have you forgotten your promise to kill all Kuru warriors? Now you must approach Bhisma & stop his progress...

Criticism! Day 3 of the war started Bhisma arrayed Kaurava army in a Garuda formation. The Pāndavās countered by arraying their forces in half-moon formation. From the very beginning, Arjun created a great slaughter in enemy ranks & so many leading Kaurava warriors soon came and surrounded him, showering arrows. Arjun successfully repulsed his attackers, giving demigods that were watching from above, great delight   Elsewhere, Sakuni army surrounded Abhimanyu & Sātyaki. When his chariot was smashed in the conflict, Sātyaki got onto Abhimanyu’s chariot & together they began to slaughter Sakuni’s soldiers. Meanwhile, Bhima & Ghatotkacha fought very heroically together & so Duryodhana rushed upon the scene and checked them both with shower of arrows   Bhima pierced Duryodhana in the chest with an arrow, making him faint onto the seat of his chariot. The charioteer took him away from battlefield & upon seeing this, all Kaurava soldiers fearfully retreated. ...