SIX
Arjuna turns back to the Kaurava army. Dandadhara, prince of Magadha and his brother Danda charge the Pandava. But they are like jackals, after he has fought Aswatthama the tiger. Arjuna strikes the first Magadhan prince’s head off with a crescent-tipped arrow and fells his brother with a shaft through his throat.
Another company of Samsaptakas rides at him, like a refrain in the horrible song, which is this war. Susharma is not with this legion and Arjuna makes short work of them, killing a hundred and the rest run. Krishna cries, “We must fight Karna, victory lies beyond his death.”
“Ride at him then, Krishna! I am ready.”
As they go, the gandharva horses obeying their dark sarathy’s thoughts, they see Aswatthama, recovered, ride back into battle. A powerful and inordinately proud kshatriya, the Pandya king confronts him. Arjuna and Krishna watch helplessly as the brahmana kills him with eight arrows that ruin his chest and pin him to his chariot-head. He has fought like ten men for the Pandavas and his is a loss. No time to mourn him; like death’s wind, they fly toward Karna. Aswatthama sees Dhrish-tadyumna across the field and rides at his father’s killer.
The Gandiva hums in Arjuna’s hands, as he cuts his way to where Karna reigns over Kurukshetra. Like Yama’s dire thought, Karna’s chariot skims across the field, with Shalya inspired at his reins, Shalya quick as light. Krishna, who sees deeply into the tragedy of that warrior, is moved by the spectacle of Karna at war.
He says to Arjuna, “Look at him, like a dancer! How graceful your mortal enemy is, how awesome. Not for long shall this earth be blessed with heroes like him. How splendid he is, in every limb, every movement. I could just stand and watch him.”
Arjuna sees briefly with Krishna’s eyes and sees the splendor of Karna. But his sarathy’s moment of eulogy is past. He says quickly, “He covers the earth with our soldiers’ corpses1 and he must die. Look how his face shines with unearthly light. Heaven’s touch is upon him and his days of sorrow on earth are over. Arjuna, prepare yourself for the battle for which you were born.”
Meanwhile, wounded by Karna, Yudhishtira has taken to his tent and his bed. His body is a flame of pain and his mind a sad fire. He had never wanted this war and it was even more terrible than he had feared. His gentle soul is mortified by the relentless bloodshed of seventeen days. Now, when Karna humiliates him, his spirit can hardly bear the strain any more. Arjuna had said he would raze the enemy’s best warriors by himself. But Karna has sway over Kurukshetra, while Arjuna does little to stop him.
An abyss yawns before the despairing Yudhishtira. Now that Karna leads the Kaurava legions, the Pandava is full of fear. His own defeat at the sutaputra’s hands seems ominous to him. Yudhishtira lies alone in his tent, in agony, his thoughts all black. From the field of dharma, Yama’s field, the screams of the men Karna kills waft in to him and he covers his ears.
As Arjuna and Krishna ride toward Karna, a worried Bheema appears in their path. He says, “Karna wounded him and Yudhishtira left the field.”
Arjuna cries, “I must see my brother. I cannot fight until I am sure he is well and I have his blessing.
Krishna turns back to the camp; he brings the chariot to Yudhishtira’s tent. Yudhishtira sees them enter and springs up from his bed. His face lights up and he clasps Arjuna with the cry, “You have killed him! With Karna dead, the war will end. I am so proud of you, Arjuna. Awake or asleep, I always saw the sutaputra’s face before me; why, the universe seemed to be full of just Karna. With which astra did you kill him?”
Arjuna says, “I haven’t fought Karna yet. Bheema told us you were wounded and we came to see you. But bless me now and I will keep my oath.”
A spasm of darkness twitches on Yudhishtira’s face. He flashes at his brother, “Coward! I counted on you. Shame on you, Arjuna, yours is a hollow fame. The Gandiva is just an ornament in your hands. Give it to me, I will go and kill the suta myself!”
Arjuna’s face turns red and he draws his sword to kill his brother, but Krishna lays a hand on his arm. He says, “He only means to rouse you to kill your enemy.”
Yet, for a moment the brothers stand glaring at each other. Arjuna breathes, “I swore secretly to the Gandiva that I would cut off the head of any man that said ‘Give the Gandiva to me.’“
The moment is fraught with danger, then the darkness leaves Yudhishtira; with a cry, he embraces Arjuna2. “Karna humiliated me before both armies. Oh, he is formidable. He is greater than Pitama or the Acharya. He fights like Indra and I fear for us all. Most of all for you, my Arjuna, because surely no one else can kill him. I am sorry I spoke cruelly to you, but I will have no peace until this terrible man is dead.”
The brothers embrace again, then Yudhishtira says, “Go now, my child. Go with my blessing and return victorious!”
Arjuna touches his feet and Krishna and he leave the tent. They have their horses rubbed down and give them water to drink. They refresh themselves, then climb into the white chariot and ride slowly into battle again.
As they go, Krishna says quietly, “You have sworn to kill Karna and so you shall. But remember he is a noble antagonist. He has Agni’s energy, Vayu’s speed and Yama’s wrath3. Never forget, Arjuna, that he is the best archer in the world.” Arjuna stiffens. Krishna goes on, “Yes, he is not merely your equal, he is better than you are. Karna defeated all the kings of the earth, just as you did during the Rajasuya. When he won a bride for Duryodhana, he vanquished the lord of Kasi by himself. Why, Karna is the only man who humbled Jarasandha, whom I could not face in battle.
Remember all this, Arjuna. Never for a moment allow yourself to think he is just a sutaputra and you will beat him easily. If you fight this enemy with that thought in your heart, he will kill you. There is no one like Karna. This will be the battle of your life: the one that will take you to the brink of death. Only there, at the very limits of your powers and your will, can you kill Karna. To do this thing you must become more of an archer than you have ever been: even while you fight him!”
Krishna pauses as they draw nearer, then, says, “He is a great man, none greater than him. In his way, he is a man of dharma. You, Arjuna, will have the fortune of killing an incomparable warrior.”
The Pandava says simply, “You are with me, Krishna. I will not fail.”
They arrive at the edge of the war and plunge in. Arrows from the Gandiva clear a path for them, in light, fire and blood. Ahead, they see Bheema, raging like his father Vayu when he blows as the dread north wind. Arjuna sees his brother dripping gore, most of it from Duryodhana’s brothers whom he has killed. Bheema is still not quenched; roars issue from him, like a hungry lion’s. Duryo-dhana sends Shakuni to contain him, but Bheema strikes the Gandhara king unconscious.
Bheema hears the deep thunder of the Gandiva and knows Yudhishitra is well. Truly like a mighty lion, he turns his head and roars louder than ever, in joy. Nakula and Sahadeva are also at hand and soon the four Pandavas fight side by side.
Then, Karna rides at them. He burns like hell’s flames on the field and Yudhishtira’s army cowers from him.