Arjuna Feats Drupadas Defeat, lays Panchala at Drona’s Feet
Sambhava Chapter 26 (134)
Sambhava is the origin story of the Kuru dynasty.
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As It Rhymes
1.
Vaishampayana said,
‘One day Drona decided Dhritarashtra and Pandu’s sons military training was complete.
The time had come to pay Drona’s fee.
2.
Drona gathered the cadets to explain in detail what the teacher was to get.
3.
Drona said that Drupada’s conquest was the boss test.
4.
‘Let it be that way!’, the Kauravas cried as they mounted their steeds.
5.
Soon Kuru feet marched down the Panchalas city streets to war drum beats.
6.
The mighty Kuru brew crew led by Duryodhana and Karna.
Duhshasana, Vikarna and Jalasandha.
Sulochana.
Yuyutsu too.
7.
Lesser Kurus followed the principals.
They howled rowdy challenges to the Panchalas.
8.
Kuru chariots cruised the King’s Highway.
9.
The Panchala King emerged from his residence with his brethren to inspect the bedlam by eye.
10.
The Kurus shower of arrows was scored with a ghastly war cry.
11.
Kuru chariots were in factory condition until Panchalas’ arrow monsoon marked the chariots fit for sedition.
12.
Drona spoke with Arjuna before the battle.
‘Hold your pride. Let your kin have the first ride.’
13.
Arjuna would back the win after Dhritarashtra’s sons got a fair try.
14.
The five Pandava brothers circled up to watch the battle unfold from a short distance.
15.
The Kauravas were astounded Drupada’s arrows seemed to come from everywhere at once.
16.
The net of arrows in the sky shaded the chariots.
17.
Drupada’s ghastly arrows intimidated the Kuru warrior spirits.
The Panchalas blew conches, banged drums and roared trumpets.
18-19.
The bass thump twang of bowstrings paced the soldier symphony.
Duryodhana, Vikarna and Subahu and Dirgholachana led a counter attack.
20.
Duhshasana attacked with wrath.
21.
Drupada unleashed an onslaught.
Arrows fell from the sky like lightning frightening Duryodhana, Vikarna and Karna from fighting.
22.
The princes lost themselves in swirls of chariot dust and whirls of bloodlust.
23.
Back and forth arrows glided through the air like serpents.
24.
Civilians peered at the beef from cover.
Old timers jeered at the Kuru chief to roll over.
25.
The Pandavas heard the Kurus hair-raising squeals.
Arjuna decided it was time to assist.
26.
The chariot wheels blazed as Pandu’s boys went to work.
Arjuna asked Yudhishthira to watch.
27.
Sahadeva and Nakula rode on Phalguna’s wheels.
Bhimasena led the charge whirling his club.
28.
Arjuna’s screaming chariot wheels echoed across the land.
29.
Bhimasena looked like death with a staff flashing in his hand.
30.
Bhima was like a crocodile in the ocean.
31.
Bhima clubbed war elephant heads.
32.
Bhima broke elephant tusks.
Fallen elephants lay like mountains in the dust.
33.
Moats of blood pooled around the dead mountainous corpses.
Bhima broke chariots and horses.
34.
Arjuna destroyed chariots.
Bhima drove the enemy before him like a herder drives a flock of sheep.
35.
Phalguna wanted to make a statement.
Arjuna loosed arrows that flew like serpents.
36.
Arjuna blazed like the fire of annihilation.
That fire consumed many elephants and chariots of the Panchala nation.
37.
A crack fighting force known as Srinjayas massed against Arjuna.
38.
Those who heard the ghastly yells from their battle felt their blood curdle.
39.
Kiriti unleashed wrath on the Srinjayas hurdle.
Arjuna’s hand speed amazed.
40.
Arjuna’s bow blazed.
The enemy could see no gaps in the line of arrows Arjuna raised.
41.
Arjuna’s stock rose as the enemy praised.
42.
Arjuna wanted to close.
43.
Panchala led a troop of heroes.
44.
The two forces traded blows with bows.
45.
Drupada’s son Satyajit checked Arjuna before Arjuna could reach Drupada.
46.
Ten arrows from Arjuna kept Satyajit distant.
47.
Satyajit’s squad returned one hundred arrows in a counterattack.
48.
Arjuna sliced Satyajit’s bow in half.
49.
Satyajit strung another bow.
Satyajit attacked Arjuna’s horses, charioteer and chariot.
50.
Arjuna returned fire at Satyajit.
51.
Arjuna sliced more of Satyajit’s bows.
Arjuna cut down Satyajit’s standard flag.
52-53.
Satyajit could not free himself from Arjuna.
Arjuna could not finish Satyajit.
54.
Arjuna brought down Satyajit’s four horses and charioteer with five arrows.
55.
Kaunteya drew a sword and roared.
Satyajit had to beat it.
56.
Arjuna leapt on Drupada’s chariot with a sword drawn.
57.
The Panchalas soldiers melted in panicked alarm.
58.
Arjuna seized Drupada with one mighty arm.
59.
War drums beat in the distance.
Drupada put up no resistance.
60.
Arjuna said,
‘Bhima, do not kill family.
The great king Drupada is a relative.
Let’s leave with our fee.’
61.
Vaishampayana said,
Arjuna checked Bhimasena from more bloodshed.
62.
They brought the bound Drupada down before Drona to plead.
63.
Drona remembered Drupada as the man who clowned Drona in a time of need.
64.
Drona said,
‘Now we can be friends.’
65.
Drona smirked.
‘Do not be afraid of death.
A merciful brahman like me will not take your last breath.
66.
Back in the day at the Ashram we played.
67.
From then to now I prayed.
That our friendship would one day be remade.
69.
What was it you said with laughter?
A king can’t befriend a pauper.
I’ll tear your kingdom in half like paper.
The north I’ll keep and you take the sawn-off southern rump.
Now we can be friends proper.’
70.
Drupada said,
‘You have won my eternal respect by conquest.
I am your friend again at last.’
71-73.
Vaishampayana said,
The Guru lived in his new kingdom in prosperous peace.
Drona called on Drupada to drink preposterous tea.
74.
Drupada saw no triumph.
Drupada’s harumph took a lump.
75-76.
A desperate Drupada roamed the scorched earth.
Drupada searched for sons to squelch Drona’s manic mirth.
Notes
[1] Vaishampayana, ibid.
[6] These are all sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari
[9] Drupada is the Panchala king.
[19] These are all sons of Dhritarashtra and Gandhari
[76] In Svayamvara Parva, we learn that Drupada liked Arjuna alone among the Kurus as a suitor to his daughter Draupadi. Arjuna’s prowess and conduct in battle and treatment of Drupada impressed the king as the lone non-scoundrel under Drona’s tutelage.
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Drupada’s ask for sons to defeat Drona would be answered with (1) Shikhandi, the transgender warrior who fells Bhishma, (2) Dhrishtadyumna, who beheads a meditating Drona during the war, and (3) the five Pandavas as son in laws - who together vanquish all of Drona’s pupils and newfound Kuru allies like Shakuni, Karna, Shalva, etc.