Little did he know that the Chakravyuha formation he learnt from Dronacharya years ago in Gurukul would be the reason for his dearest son Abhimanyu's death in his absence. Arjun lost his control when he heard about the way his Abhi s daring act to penetrate the Chakravyuh took him away from him on 13 th day.
Arjun wept like a child. Krishna hugged him close..Parth! Try to remember what I told you on first day!Don't lose yourself in this crucial moment..
Arjun could not remember anything that moment.. He just took the oath to avenge the death of Abhimanyu.
Jayadhrath is the stake ..either he will live or Arjun will..both can not coexist...
>The Soul is neither born nor does it die at any time. It does not come into being or cease to exist. It is unborn, eternal, permanent, and primeval. The Soul is not destroyed when the body is destroyed.
Krishna's words filled his conscience.,but Arjun could not suppress his grief..He is restless till he kills Jayadhrath, .his sister's husband.
And the rest is history. Kaurava army witnessed Arjun's fury and how! Along with Jayadrath 7 akshouhinis of their army is killed by Arjun!
As they drove back after the Sunset,Arjun wiped off his tears and looked up.
the sun is setting in western horizon.Krishna stood in his chariot and hugged him with love and affection. " Parth, you achieved the most difficult task today. You avenged the death of our Abhi. See the battle ground bears testimony for your unparalleled valour."
Arjun stammered with tears. " what is the use? I won't get my Abhi back no? I won't see his smiling face again.I won't see him greet me when I return in the evening."
Krishna took his face in his hands and wiped his tears. He showed the sky." Parth . He is there. He witnessed your great valour and he is jumping and clapping. Don't you have faith in me?" Krishna stopped unable to continue. He has moisture in his eyes. His dearest nephew whom he brought up like his own son,.his Parth's life support left them forever.
Krishna closed his eyes and smiled.Even God has emotions,heart break.But he should not show it. For the sake of his Parth.who still has so much to do. He should be calm and composed.
Krishna smiled to himself. He knew his Parth did not misinterpret Gita. He did his duty even when he was shattered by Abhi's death..He annihilated most of his rivals along with Jayadhrath..
That was what he asked him to do. to follow his Kshatriya dharma and punish the unrighteous people.
His Parth did not renounce worldly responsibilities instead he gave a message to people...how to be focused towards the immediate action that demands his attention.
The war came to an end...it washed off not only sinners but also innocent ones..on both sides.
Arjun stood at the bank of Hiranvati. The final rites of the deceased were performed under the supervision of Dhaumya. He still is in shock.. hearing the truth of Karna.
He is exhausted mentally not physically.
He could not digest the bitter truth How is it possible?
He could still feel Karna's anger,fury and jealousy.But never did he see any kind of concern for him even after knowing the truth.
" Not able to relate to reality Parth?" Krishna's voice brought him out of his thoughts.
Krishna placed his hand on Arjun's shoulder." Speak up Parth. Relieve your burden.
Arjun looked straight into his lotus eyes that are brimming with affection.
" Madhav,If you know the truth why did you encourage me to kill him?Arjun's question was met with a smile that is Devine and meaningful.
Krishna spoke." Parth,I encouraged you to throw your Grandfather also down. Surely you have highest regard and affection for him. But I did not ask you to spare him either.Similarly I made Eldest tell a half lie to pave way for Drona's death.
Guru Dron for you is equal to God.
Karna,is your brother. But he is instrumental in keeping the rivalry between cousins ablaze.
If Karna is not there in the scenes Duryothan wouldn't have ventured to fight with you at all.
He did the most censurable thing by suggesting Panchali's Vastra Harlan.
Karna is the one who guided Kauravas for Abhimanyu's slaughter by unrighteous means.
Just because he is Kunti's son his crimes would not be forgiven."
Arjun heard his friend's words and understood the essence.He sighed.Justice is equal to everyone.
The midnight massacre caused by Aswathama crushed Paandavas and made them weak and vulnerable.The hard earned victory and sovereinity look insignificant as no successor is left to succeed them as their heir.
The only hope left is the yet to be born child of Uttara who can continue the legacy of his valorous father Abhimanyu and undefeated grand father Arjun.
Draupadi walked slowly and reached the river.she observed someone sitting almost into the waters with head bent on his knee,
Panchali stood behind him and placed her hand on his shoulder that is familiarly hard with bow marks.
Arjun came out of his trance and stammered." Krishnaa"
Both of them did not move but just stayed in the same position. There won't be moon rise and moonlight.It is Amavasya. The dark night.It is symbolic as darkness dominated their lives now
Thought Panchali.
Suddenly Arjun turned to her and hid his face on her waist. The force with which Arjun did so made Panchali lost her balance but he firmly clasped her making her stand erect.
Draupadi looked down and observed his shoulders go up and down as the sobs intensified more and more.Arjun wept heart fully without control and without inhibitions.Panchali did not stop him.
After a while Arjun's words started flowing out along with his tears.
"I hate myself. Krishnaa.Shame on me. I am unable to save any of my sons. Abhi died in my absence. And now the boys,They were offered prey to Aswathama's anger and fury.Iravan did not get my help. Now I am scared thinking of Uttara's unborn child. What will happen if Aswathama's Astra burns him inside? Who is left for us? What did this war done to us?"
Your grandson will never die Parth. Don't you have faith in your Madhav?" Krishna's voice rang through the darkness. Next moment,the peacock feather danced in rhythm.the yellow garment,the Vaijayanti Mala and the Kaustubha gem became visible to the other two Krishnas.
The lotus eyes showered infinite grace on his two most loved people ,shattered and on the verge of collapse.Panchali tried to move away from Arjun but Krishna signalled her to stay on.
He approached Arjun and feigned anger." Forgot everything I told you on the first day? Again back to your oldest argument? What did the war give you? Parth.I told you already . You are not the one to decide the death of these people.Their destiny decided the way they died.Forgot that?"
Krishna stood nearer to him and placed his hand on Arjun's head.His highly emotional cousin will never change. Not even after Geeta.He needs his counsel again and again.Krishna smiled affectionately and softened his curls. But that did not stop his Parth from following his word . And that is called submission...to him and to a good purpose.
The chamber door opened and Kunti brought the baby who is still and motionless.
Arjun shed tears and leaned on Krishna's shoulder. Panchali and Subhadra came and stood behind Kunti sobbing and sighing heavily.
Kunti looked at Krishna and said." Kanha !Today I am speaking to Narayan himself not to my nephew.
He Vaasudev,He Rukmini Pati, He Nara Sakha Show your grace. You protected my children since their childhood.
You saved Draupadi from humiliation.
You became Saradhi to my son and fetched him victory.
Now The Kuru Vamsh is in danger.
In the name of your love for Abhimanyu save his son.
If that won't happen there is no use of my life for me.
Arjun's vision blurred..am I that unfortunate that I should live with the memories of my grandson also? ..He did not say it but his Madhav heard him for sure.
Krishna nodded his head and said." I will keep my promise. All of you get rid of your sorrow. I will certainly revive Parth's grandson who will rule Aryavarth for more than sixty years."
Having said so Krishna washed his feet and did achaman three times.
He placed the baby beside his mother on the couch.
Krishna then stood by the baby and looked with a fixed gaze.
A strange hollow surrounded his head and his face shone with Devine splendour.
Krishna then said in an authoritative tone." If I never retreated back from any battle and always fought for truth this son of Abhimanyu should get back life."
If I always worshipped Brahmins and dharma let this son of Uttara get back his life.
If I killed Kamsa and others only to protect dharma and not for any personal reason,let this heir of Pandavas get back his life.
If I always loved Parth more than my life and if no misunderstanding ever happened between me and Parth let this grandson of Parth breathe again."
As Krishna finished his last line and sprinkled water on the baby,the miracle happened.
The baby moved freely and opened his eyes.
Next moment he stretched his hands and cried aloud to make his presence felt in this world.
The grandson of Arjun breathed and flourished.
The future Emperor of Aryavarth smiled at Krishna.
Parikshit won the battle with Aswathama along with his grandfather Arjun.
Epilogue
*A person whose mind is unperturbed by sorrow,
who does not crave for pleasures, and who is
completely free from attachment, fear, and anger,
is called Sthita-prajna - a sage of steady intellect.*
Did Arjun become a stable minded? Yes and no.
To his credit he overcame his emotions that overpowered him through out his life to proceed towards his ultimate goal..Gradual evolution is always better than instant transformation.It surely makes life fulfilling and worth living.
Arjun despite having Viswarup Darshan ,treated Krishna as his soulmate and that really makes the Krishna Arjuna comradiare exclusively endearing and unique.
The three Krishnas ,Krishna,Arjuna And Draupadi set the standards higher in exhibiting compassion,goodness and focus towards ultimate kartavya.
Magnanimous Draupadi forgave Aswathama,the murderer of her children.
Arjun treated Dhritarashtra with compassion when the king was suffering from the heartbreak of the loss of his sons.
The journey towards awakening
Arjun is walking as if in trance. They started their final journey towards Himalayas.
Arjun has to give away his Gandiv,his another soul partner to Agnidev...now the touch of Gandiv eluded him..,
First he parted with his life breaths ,vital for his existence itself,his Madhav..and now his Gandiv ...
The final blow...Panchali fell down...Arjun's vision blurred..his soulmate who travelled with him...in their journey of life..she was no more..
Sahadev,Nakul...they also...left.
The misty slopes of Himalayas ...the orange golden hue of Pradosha ..towering high and touching the sky,Kailash mountain ,Karpur gaur Karunavatar Sankar Shiv,...Arjun could not see or imagine any more.His body became light like feather.
Suddenly he found himself in the midst of a golden ball of fire...which did not burn him but offered him solace..He tried to look through the Prakash...and he is floating in waves that enveloped his soul..he could feel the ultimate bliss..
And then he saw the form approach ..slowly the peacock feather,the lotus eyes,the compassionate smile and the Devine glow became visible ...Arjun heard his Madhav's voice ...let us unite in eternity ,Parth!
For every one the journey towards awakening continues crossing the stages of ashtanga yoga by practice and belief.,,till Nar realises Narayan in true essence...by his grace..
sarvopanishado gavo dogdha gopala-nandanah
partho vatsah sudhir bhokta dugdham gitamritam mahat.
Comparing all the Upanishads as a cow, Krishna the son of the cowherd chief is the milkman, Arjuna the son of Pritha is the calf, and the intelligent people will enjoy the great nectar of Bhagavad gita as the milk.
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