“In the other army was a different vibration. Fear, the dark child of deceit, was not among them. Krishna Himself was there, the husband of the Goddess of Fortune, standing in an effulgent chariot pulled by white horses.”

You all know the strength of Bheem and Arjun," Duryodhan continued, "but there are many others no less than they whom we must conquer, like mighty Yuyudhan, Virat, and Drupad! There is also Dhrishtaketu, Cekitana, and the mighty king of Kasi and heroic Purujit, Kuntibhoja, and Saibya and bold Yudhamanyu, powerful Uttamaujas, Subhadra's son, and the sons of Draupadi - all of them exalted warriors. (4-6)

"But…" A carefully drawn pause then enveloped the army, "I shall now inform you, dear teacher, of our own strength."

A disciple "informing" his guru? No diplomacy could be opaque enough to veil the brilliant ego shining in Duryodhan's words, "I shall now inform you about my mighty captains."

An army, its captains, and its soldiers belong to the nation, or perhaps to the king. Prince Duryodhan was neither the nation nor its king. What right had he to say "My soldiers?” "My captains?” "My army?” His choice of words illustrated how ego hungers to consume identities and submerse them in one's own ambitions. (7)

"Your good self, Gurudev, heads the list of our great warriors. Then there are Bhishma, Karna, and Kripa. Your mighty son Ashvattama is also on our side, as is my brother Vikarna and the ever-victorious son of Somadatta." (8-9)

Lest the common soldier feel ignored, Duryodhan added, "All my warriors are heroes too numerous to mention, expert and experienced in all types of warfare and weaponry! I know you are all ready to lay down your lives for my sake!"

Indeed they would lay down their lives, for one who sides with injustice cannot but perish in the end. (10)

"The Pandava army is strong," Duryodhan rallied to a conclusion, "But their strength is limited. Bheem protects them, whereas Grandfather Bhishma protects us. Our strength is unlimited! Prepare for victory! Stand at your strategic points and guard Grandfather Bhishma on all sides!" (11)

The valiant Grandfather then sent forth from his conch a blast that effaced even the roar of a lion. A more fateful conch has not been blown, for it invoked the onset of a war unseen ever after or before on the earth, in the heavens, or in the hells below. Duryodhan's joy swelled in that sound, for in it he heard the final confirmation of his grandfather's support.

But in that sound was more than support. There was also an instruction, a bitter instruction. Bhishma's support was surely there, albeit mostly as a shackle thrown upon him by the unforeseen results of an ancient oath. Yet there was something else, something Duryodhan could not hear: Krishna was Vishnu Himself. His universal form, displayed to the entire court of Hastinapur, made this clear to all. Krishna was undoubtedly Vishnu, whose sacred symbol is a conch. Bhishma raised the conch to remind Duryodhan that Vishnu, truth personified, was driving Arjun's chariot and guiding the Pandavas.

Duryodhan could not win, for truth conquers all.

In frantic clamor to gloss this depressing reality, an outburst of conches, drums, and horns broke with sudden tumultuous uproar through the Kaurav army. (12-13)

In the other army was a different vibration. Fear, the dark child of deceit, was not among them. Krishna Himself was there, the husband of the Goddess of Fortune, standing in an effulgent chariot pulled by white horses. With Krishna stood Arjun, the son of King Pandu. The warriors who stood with Krishna were dressed in the armor of confidence. (14)

They sent forth a transcendental vibration from their conches, to answer the Kaurava battle call. Krishna, master of the senses, blew the Pancajanya. Arjun, winner of wealth, blew the Devadutt. Wolf-bellied, Herculean Bheem blew the great conch named Paundra. King Yuddhishthir blew the Anantavijai. Nakul and Sahadev blew the Sughosh and Manipushpak. (15-16)

The king of Kasi, an expert archer, and Shikhandee the fierce warrior Drishtadyumna and Virat, and Satyaki the unconquerable King Drupad, and the sons of Draupadi too and the mighty son of Subhadra All of them blew their own conches. (17-18)

Endowed with certitude in Krishna, that vibration exploded like a thunderclap. It shook the sky and the earth itself. It gathered itself up into a mighty arrow, then peirced and shattered the hearts of Dritarashtra's sons. (19)

© CHAKRA 16-April-2000

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