Abhimanyu On Thierteenth Day

                 Panchali got up from her nightmare.It is the early hours of thirteenth day at Kurukshetra.She had sweat all over her face. She is shivering with fear. What kind of a dream she got? It is said that early morning dreams will become true.Abhi...Something bad may happen  to him today.Panchali controlled herself and prayed to Durga Bhavaani ' Save him Mata.Our lives depend on him only." 

                        Uttara pleaded with Subhadra.' Mata I got the dream again. Ask your son not to go today. I sense something bad may happen today.' Subhadra took her to Yudhishtir's main camp hall where all the Warriors assemble before they leave.Yudhishtir is worried. His spies failed to bring any information regarding the Vyuha or plan of their rivals.He asked Krishna.' Why did they maintain that secrecy? Krishna I sense some foul play. After yesterday's battle they must have realised Gurudev's failure in Arjun's presence.On top of it they lost Bhagadutta and Supratika." Bheem laughed merrily.' Why do you worry? Duryothan must have realised how futile his plans are.so they must have slept peacefully . Better to catch sleep rather than break their heads and make useless plans." Abhi who just entered clapped his hands and said.' Jyesht Pita don't worry. Now we are leading the scores. Very shortly they will admit defeat." 

                      Subhadra Panchali and Uttara entered and collectively requested.' Let Abhi stay back today.Uttara needs him by her side.' Arjun called Abhi.' Take a break.Be with your wife for a while.Why don't you listen to her? Madhav, tell your Ladla to stay back." Panchali approached Abhi and softened his curls.' Your father and Mama will take care of your Jyesht Pita. Don't be stubborn. Stay back." She is unable to forget her dream and Abhi 's words.Krishna  taunted them,' Bhadra,Krishnaa  you both should infuse courage in Uttara. But you both are more worried it seems. Kshatriyas need not fear wars . It is a cherished game for them.And Parth,you are discouraging your son? Not done.

                       Abhi hugged his mama and shouted.' Come now Kirti Sutasom Bhrata,let us lead in the front.Pitasri,today I will make you proud by displaying my valour." Arjun hugged him close. Tears rolled down from his eyes.His lion cub will never take a backstep. After all he is his blood,his son,his Abhimanyu." 

                       The Pandava army reached the warspot and deliberated on the Vyuha to be formed.' Why did Gurudev not make his Vyuha yet? He got the answer next minute. The Samsaptakas challenged him yet again.' Arjun, if you are a hero face us now. But not here. We will do our fight away from this main battle spot. Come let us go if you have guts." Arjun looked at Krishna who nodded his head. Yudhishtir half heartedly gave them permission to go.As Arjun left the place Kauravas shouted in joy.Within a short while their Vyuha became visible to Yudhishtir. And it is Chakra Vyuh. Also called Padma Vyuh. The Lotus Formation.And only three warriors know how to penetrate inside. Arjun,Krishna and Pradyumna. Abhi learnt only half. He doesn't know how to come back after getting inside.

              Kunti got up and exclaimed.' What? Chakravyuh ? But no one knows the technique except Phalgun." Vidur nodded his head. Krishna,Pradyumn and Arjun only knew that That is why in Arjun's absence Drona was made to arrange that Vyuha." Kunti was devastated. ' What will happen now? If Yudhishtir is captured every thing will be lost.

              The Chakravyuh Formation of Drona was spectacular with all the formidable warriors from Kaurava side occupying prominent places.Dhrishtdyumn fumed at the cunningness of Drona and told Yudhishtir.' Who will be able to penetrate this Vyuha. It is very difficult  to do so. Arjun knew the method. But he is far away. All this is preplanned by that wicked Drona it seems."

              Yudhishtir thought for a while and called Abhimanyu.' Putr you know our rivals formed Chakravyuh.Your father knows the technique. But he is away.I hope you know this as well." Abhi replied honestly.' Jyesht Pita,I learnt only  to enter that. I don't know how to come back." 

              Yudhishtir said .' Putr. You just penetrate inside. We all will accompany you and destroy the Vyuha." Bheema said.' Abhi,If you pierce it first myself,Satyaki,Dhrisht and others will exhibit our prowess and smash our rivals ." 

          Abhi smiled with enthusiasm.' Jyesht Pita,you need not tell me that many times. Today I will show my valour in such a way that my parents will get the fruit of be getting a heroic son.I will suppress Karavas and make my Pitasri and my Mama proud.Today people will witness the same sort of skills in me as they witnessed in my father." Bheema patted his back and ordered his charioteer Sumitra to arrange everything in Abhi's chariot." 

       Kirti hugged Abhimanyu and pleaded with him.' Bhrata,take me along. I want to accompany you." Abhi kissed Kirti on his forehead and said.' Kirti if you come I should be more careful and my attention will get diverted. Stay back little brother." Abhi proceeded and called back.' Kirti,tell Pitasri. I will never let him down." 

     Abhi approached Drona who is at the entrance and showered arrows on him.Before Drona could resist him Abhi rushed inside. Drona was awestruck on seeing the speed and skill of Abhi. Is he seeing Arjun or Abhi before him,he wondered. As he looked back the Kaurava army was burnt by the fire called Abhi. The Vyuha face was destroyed and every where horses,elephants,warriors fell struck by Abhi's arrows.Duryothan got furious and rushed towards Abhimanyu.To protect Duryothan,Aswathama,Karns,Kripa,Salya and Vrishasena surrounded Abhimanyu.But none of them could resist Abhi and were scattered in all sides by Abhi's arrows.

             The other sons of Dhritarashtra stood dazed,shivering with fear looking confused. Duryothan again pooled up courage and attacked Abhi with Kripa,Karna,Kritavarma,Sakuni and Brihadbala.Abhi bounced on them and shattered them .

          At that moment Duryothan's son Lakshmana Kumar faced Abhimanyu .Lakshmana could not withstand the valour of Abhi.As everyone around helplessly stared at them,Abhi shot devastating arrows on the shoulders and chest of Lakshmana that pierced inside with quick precision.' It is your wrong judgement to come in my way. Lakshman,Now you can not escape from me." So saying Abhi made Lakshmana's head shining with earrings fall on earth. Duryothan got tears in his eyes and was in shock not knowing what to do with Abhimanyu. He wept for the death of his son and blamed GuruDron for his inability to control Abhimanyu.

                   Again the Maharathis of Duryothan Drona,Karna and others tried their best to suppress Abhimanyu but he surpassed them in every way and defeated them.He shot fifty arrows at Drona,Eighty at Aswathama,and made Karna swoon with one single arrow.He killed many soldiers and kings like Brindaraka,Krothaputra and others.He destroyed the chariot of Kripacharya.Abhi killed Kosala king Brihadbala with a sharp lance.Again Karna attacked him with six of his troup commanders.Abhi hurt the earend of Karna with arrows called Karnikas.He killed the six commanders with ease and pride.

                  Jarasantha's son young Asmantaka dared to face Abhi but was killed by him.On seeing that Dussasana's son attacked Abhi and shot his charioteer and horses.Abhi rolled his eyes and zeered.' Just now your father ran away from me. How can you even think of saving yourself?" Saying so Abhi shot a powerful arrow on him but Aswathama struck that in the middle.Abhi then killed Dussasan's sons' charioteer and the boy got on to another chariot.Sakuni was punished severely by Abhi and the uncle of Duryothan found himself wounded,fatally.

         Karna is frustrated and approached Drona.' I know Arjun's prowess. But this son of Arjun tortured me like never before. I am standing in the battlefield helplessly. Tell an idea to throw him down." 

  Drona replied half heartedly. I taught Arjun how to make the armour invincible. Abhimanyu must have learnt that from him. As long as he has his bow in hand we can not do anything. He can not be won in fair war." 

   Karna pretended as if he is afraid and when Abhi is fighting with others,went to his back and broke his bow by fraud.Drona killed the horses and Kripa killed the charioteer.Abhi stood on the ground without chariot,without, bow and without fear.

                Panchali shouted at Malini who brought the information that Abhi entered the Chakravyuh alone. ' What are you saying? Are you mad? What is the necessity for my Abhi to do so when his father is there? Panchali fired but Malini stated the obvious.' Princess,Rajkumar Arjun is far away from the battlefield fighting Samsaptakas. And apart from Rajkumar Arjun no one knows how to penetrate the Vyuha." Subhadra who entered with Uttara stammered,' But he knows only how to enter. He doesn't know how to come back." Tears made her voice choked with pain. As Panchali stood dazed,she heard the sound of Uttara falling on the couch and uttering the words ' Mata,My dream is turning into reality. He Eswar" Panchali and Subhadra ran to her only to find her unconcious.Panchali closed her eyes,tears falling down and she reminisced Abhi's words in her dream' Jyesht Mata I take leave."