Bhagavatha Vahini, Chapter 24 - Guardian on the Battlefield

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Chapter 24Guardian on the Battlefield

 

At last, Arjuna let go the unending shower of arrows from his ever-full

shoulder-bag. This too had no effect; Arjuna became desperate like a man robbed

of all his possessions and deprived of all means of resistance. He stood

helpless and filled with rage. He was like a bird with clipped wings, a tiger

whose teeth have been pulled out and claws cut, a ship without sails and

rudder.

He made an effort to beat the huntsman with the bow itself; it broke into

fragments at the impact. Startled at this, Arjuna decided to use his fists, for

they were the only weapons left. Girding up his loins, he fell upon the Bhil,

and wrestled furiously, for sheer victory. The huntsman welcomed this new move

with a hearty laugh. They struggled to overpower each other with such terrific

holds and blows that it appeared as if two mountains were in mortal conflict;

the birds of the forest were so frightened at the unusual din that they flew in

terror far up into the sky. The animal denizens of the jungle stood and stared

sensing some great calamity that hovered over them. The earth shook, unable to

bear the burden of the encounter.

Despite everything, the Bhil was evincing no trace of exhaustion; he was

laughing in absolute unconcern; he was as active as when the fight first began.

Arjuna, however, was bathed in perspiration; he was gasping for breath; his fist

was jammed and bleeding! The Bhil was unhurt and not in the least affected!

Besides, when the Bhil once caught Arjuna in a light hold, Arjuna vomitted

blood! At this, the Bhil burst into a cruel laugh, and exulted before his

consort with a meaning look, "Did you notice that?"

Arjuna reeled and was in great confusion. He lost his moorings. He whispered to

himself, "Krishna! Why have you humiliated me thus? Ah, is this too a scene in

your drama? Truly, this Bhil is no ordinary mortal. Perhaps, you yourself have

come in this Form to trample on my pride. Alas! To be over-whelmed by a

forest-dwelling huntsman! No, this is your stratagem, your play. This Bhil is

no ordinary fellow. Save me, for, I believe this is, you yourself." When he

said this and turned to the couple in front of him, he saw there, not the Bhil

and his wife but Siva and His consort, Gowri. They were blessing him with a

captivating smile; their hand was raised, with the palm towards

him in the Abhaya pose, assuring him that he had no reason to fear. Arjuna was

overcome with delight.

He ran towards them, exclaiming, "0 Sankara! Mother Gowri!" and fell at their

Feet. He prayed that They should pardon him for his rashness and ignorance.

Gowri and Sankara, who are the embodiments of Grace, lifted him by the

shoulders lovingly and stroked his head affectionately. "Son", they said, "You

have attained the fruition of your life; you did your duty as you were bound to

do. That is not wrong at all. Now, take this; here is the sign of Our Grace" -

and he got from the Hand of Siva Himself the Divine Pasupatha Asthra. (See also

Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 3, Chapter 14: The Impregnation of Diti in the Evening)

0, Maharaja! How can I extol the prowess of your grandfather who combatted with

Siva, armed with the invincible Trident. The source of that courage and daring

lay in the Grace that the Lord Krishna showered on him. Your grandfathers never

thought of even the slightest activity, without His specific order. Indeed in

the Mahabharatha battle, His Grace was bestowed unasked, every moment in ample

measure. The depth of Love that prompted that Grace was known only to them;

others cannot gauge it. When Vyasa was remembering this, he shed tears of joy

at the good fortune of the Pandava Brothers. And, not he alone.

Guardian on the Battlefield

The person who listened, namely, Parikshith was even more overcome with

admiration and thankfulness. He was shedding tears of joy; his lips quivered

with emotion; his voice was broken by excitement. He could not contain himself.

He exclaimed. "Ah, how fortunate I am, that I am born in this lineage! How

brave, how devoted, how redoubtable were my forefathers! And, imagine my luck,

that I am able to hear their glories from the lips of divine sages like you!

Oh, I am indeed thrice-blessed. When I listen to the exploits of my

grandfathers and the glories of Lord Krishna, I can never say I have heard

enough. I long to hear more.

Pray tell me how the Lord saved and guarded my grandfathers in battle. It will

be some source of contentment for my hunger, some quench for my thirst"

When the King prayed like this, Vyasa said "0, King! The Pandavas, as agreed

upon, lived through the twelve years of exile in the forest and also completed

one full year of 'life in incognito.' When at last, they revealed themselves

(on the occasion of the Rape of Kine from the Virata domain by the wicked

Kauravas) Duryodhana, the eldest of the cruel clan, that monster of guile,

swore that the full year had not elapsed and that the Pandavas had broken their

contract; so, he said, they were bound by the penal clause, a further

twelve-year exile and a further one-year-of-incognito life! He was adamant in

that conclusion.

The elders, Bhishma and others, asserted that the Pandavas had scrupulously

fulfilled the terms of the contract; the Pandavas had not disclosed their place

of stay during the entire year; they had stayed in exile for full twelve years.

But, the Kauravas did not accept the patent truth. They prepared the path for

their own downfall and destruction! They listened to none, they gave ear to no

counsel. They swore that the battlefield alone can settle the issue.

What can any one do, in the face of that royal decree? So, both parties engaged

themselves in preparing for war - the King endowed with sovereign sway,

Duryodhana; and the claimants in exile, the Pandavas! But, Truth and Justice

allied themselves with the exiles and so, a few kings who were motivated by

moral principles joined them. The others, in very large numbers, sided the

ruling monarch, and so, the Kauravas were able to command eleven akshauhinis

while the Pandavas could collect just seven only (An akshauhini consists of

109350 footsoldiers, 65610 horses and horsemen, 21870 elephants and elephant

warriors, and 21870 chariots and their human equipment).

Listen! The chariot of Arjuna had the Lord Krishna, the Gopivallabha, as its

charioteer. Not only that, He became the charioteer of the destiny of the

Pandavas. The Pandavas had, therefore, no weak spot in their armour; He was all

the strength they needed. But, yet, in the grand drama of the Lord, the role of

Arjuna took a sudden unexpected turn which astounded all.

Bhajan: Vibhavari Sesa

 

Contents of this Vahini

Source: http://www.vahini.org/bhagavata/chapter24.htmlVahini.org: 'Vahini' Books

written by Bhagavan Sri Sathya Sai Baba

 

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