THE NORTHERN BATTLE FOR THE CATTLE

King Virata took Yudhisthira, Bhima, Nakula and Sahdeva in his army to find the missing cows in his stables. Soon they discovered that the Trigarta brothers stole the cows. The king challenged them. A big war began. Thanks to heroism shown by the Pandavas, king Virata was victorious.

The Kauravas saw a solitary chariot advancing towards them with amusement. There were heated discussions amongst them, as to the identity of the persons in the chariot. Dronacharya was worried about the premature presence of Arjuna and said to Duryodhana in a matter of fact way, "Look at that impostor coming on a single chariot, encircling the tree, like the lord of heaven; I am amazed at his self complacent arrogance; I wonder who he is!" and looked at Bhishma for the answer. Bhishma caught the hint and said to Duryodhana, "We have crossed the frontiers; there is absolutely no cause for fear. Time is ripe for immediate action; doubts or discussions are quite out of place now. It is the otherside that should be really worried ." Immediately Drona realized that the Pandavas successfully completed the pledged period as Bhishma was credited with the knowledge of the movements of the moon, the sun and the stars. Hence he publicly announced, "The hero who has come to fight single- handed is none else than Arjuna, who will pounce on us with his intrepid indignation pent up over a period of thirteen years, like a lion locked in his den during the rainy season leaping over a herd of elephants. We hear, he is blessed with divine missiles; I think, though single, it will be an easy walk over for him and he wrest the cattle from us."

Duryodhana was pricked by the lavish praise bestowed on Arjuna by Drona. He proclaimed, "If Arjuna has come, the Pandavas are bound to revert to exile once again for a period of twelve more years and there is no need for any fight at all. Even if there is a fight, how can it be an easy walk over to anybody, when Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Asvatthama and Karna are here?" Karna said, "Our army is already demoralized and our soldiers are afraid of the very name of Arjuna, thanks to Drona and his party, who loose no opportunity to discourage them. Bhishma, we all know, will not be able to attack Arjuna sincerely. Nothing more will happen than the grandsire and the grandson exchanging cordial greetings observing the dignified military etiquette. Arjuna, having come determined to fight will not go back convinced by our planetary calculations to observe a second round of exile. Let me be frank. I alone will fight Arjuna to the finish. Let me engage him in single combat. Let Bhishma, Drona and party be mere onlookers. I will defeat Arjuna."

Kripacharaya intervened and said, "Karna, this is not the opportune time for blowing your own trumpet; we must give a concerted fight to Arjuna." Karna retorted, "I do not say that the learned man has developed cold feet because of his fear for Arjuna; his fondness for his favourite pupil has clouded his judgement; I know I am speaking the truth and nothing but the truth, when I say the famous preceptor and his favourite pupil will not fight with each other sincerely, but will exchange pleasantries by means of non violent arrows. How can I believe that men who sing the glories of the enemy will fight sincerely. They better sing the vedic songs."

Asvatthama, the princely son of the preceptor, attacked Karna vehemently saying, "Karna, it is buffoonery rather than bravery on your part to say that you can conquer Arjuna single -handed. Let me put a straight question to you. What became of your bravery when Duryodhana was taken captive by the Gandharavas? Why did you not show your prowess then? What is the fault of Drona? A preceptor's love for a pupil is not a heinous crime; singing the Vedas is no sin. After all, you have never conquered the Pandavas till now on the battlefield; instead you have cheated them of their patrimony by luring them to the shameful game of dice and now you cheek to brag about your bravery. Arjuna has come. Gandiva will send forth arrows which cannot be countered by the dice of Sakuni. Bragging is not bravery. I advise you to be discretely silent. The fire cooks the food silently; the Sun shines silently without indulging in self glorification. The mother earth bears the brunt of the whole population without grumble or vain glory. You have no business to insult Dronaor Bhishma. I advise you to mind your own business."


Bhishma intervened to pacify the flared up emotions. He said, "O, Asvatthama, please do not get angry at Karna's offensive remarks. We can understand his loyalty as well as sincerity. Let him fight; let him allow us as well to fight. Unfortunately, the lively discussion has degenerated swiftly into a deep dissension. We must forgive and forget. Karna can expect me to fight to protect Duryodhana with all my might, since I cannot kill Arjuna. Let us first concentrate on two things –protecting Duryodhana and keeping the cattle in our possession as far as possible. We cannot fight with Arjuna if we are preoccupied with quarreling with one another." Duryodhana said, "Pray, stop all these discussions; I think we should, at the very outset, ask Arjuna to keep up the pledged word and go back once again into fresh exile because of the premature presence. I want the venerable grandsire to give his verdict."

Bhishma said, "According to the lunar calculations, one extra month has to be taken into account once in every two years and a half. The pledged period inclusive of the additional months was over yesterday. Even according to the solar calendar, the pledged period was completed. Therefore, let us decide to fight or seek peace." Duryodhana said, "The fight is already on and it is for the other party seek peace. We have seized the cattle. Let us fight to the finish." Arjuna offered prayers to god Indra. The divine diadem and the celestial conch Devadatta came to him automatically. Arjuna blew his conch and its sound reverberated across the hills and dales. The terrific twang of the Gandharva string heralded the approach of Arjuna's chariot. Bhishma said, "Let us divide the whole army into four parts; one division shall guard the king, another for the cattle was put in the rear, and Duryodhana occupied the next position. Arjuna did not find Duryodhana. Instead he found Bhishma, Drona and other warriors arranged against him in the forefront. He did not start the fight. Instead, he shot two arrows to the vicinity of Bhishma's feet, as an expression of his reverence and adoration of the veteran warrior. Likewise, he offered obeisance to the preceptor. In ancient India, it was customary with the warriors to exchange heroic salutations. War was regarded as a holy sacrament and not as a horrid slaughter. Chivalry was the soul of righteous warfare.

Arjuna told Uttara, "My dear prince, please look at the yonder flag pole- with the ensign of the tall palmyra tree; that is Bhishma's chariot; look at the flagstaff, with the emblem of the bowl. That chariot is that of Drona. I do not want to fight with them. The cattle are on the rear side. Please move on swiftly if they attack us. Look at yonder flag, with the elephant engraved on it. That is Karna's chariot. Please stop our chariot whenever it comes across us. Any opportunity to fight with him is a feast to me. Look for the flag with the insignia of the hooded cobra. That is Duryodhana's chariot. Drive our chariot straight to him. You must tactfully manoeuvre our chariot to avoid others. For us time is very precious." Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Asvatthama attacked Arjuna one by one but Uttara managed to bypass them skillfully. Karna attacked Arjuna and a fierce fight ensued. In the epic there is a thrilling account of the whole fight, how Arjuna, single -handedly, fought with the various heroes.

Karna gave a stiff opposition to Arjuna but he could not stem his advance. In course of the war, Uttara swooned and Arjuna fought, driving the chariot with one hand and releasing the arrows with the other. Arjuna instructed Uttara, who enjoyed some rest, to drive the chariot to the rear and immediately he attacked Duryodhna who fought bravely. But after a prolonged battle, Arjuna defeated Duryodhana decisively, Bhishma, Drona, Kripa and Asvatthama rushed to the rescue of Duryodhana and a tumultuous battle ensued. Eventually Arjuna released the supermissile, Sammohanastra emitting invisible rays which induce sleep. The whole army fell on the ground dizzy and unconscious, to the utter amazement of prince Uttara. He cried aloud in astonishment, "The kaurava army is completely routed." He asked prince Uttara to go and fetch cut pieces of colourful cloth from the head gears of the Kaurava warriors. He cautioned him, "My dear Uttara, you can go to any warrior; please do not go to Bhishma, he knows the antidote of this asthra; if you humiliate him he may cut your throat. Please do not go to Drona, he is my preceptor." Uttara collected plenty of clothes and took the charioteer's seat in the chariot. They stopped at the sami tree; the gandiva bow was deposited in the bundle and the chariot started again on its return journey.