After repeated failures of capturing Yudhisthir for 2 days, Duryodhan and Drona made plans to keep Arjun away and planned to form a Chakvuyh. The King of Trigartadesa, Susharma along with his 3 brothers made a pact that they would make sure that Arjuna is busy fighting them and doesn’t go towards them to break the Chakra Vuyh and kill him or die.
In the battlefield, the remaining four Pandavas and their allies were finding it impossible to break Dronacharya’s “Chakra Vyuh” formation. Yudhisthira requested Abhimanyu, one of Arjuna’s sons to break the Chakra vyuha formation as Abhimanyu knew the secret of entering the Chakra vyuh formation, but did not know how to exit it, as he learnt it while still in Subhadra’s womb and she fell asleep so Arjun stopped explaining her about the chakravyuh and Lord Sri Krishna chose that moment to interrupt Arjun for some work, thereby knowing only half knowledge of chakravyuh.
Abhimanyu informed him that he how to enter the Chakravyu formation but not the way out. Yudhishira, Bheema, Nakul, Sahadeva, and other warriors were to follow Abhimanyu into the chakravyu to assist him in getting out.
Unfortunately, they were not able to follow him in due to Jayadratha, the king of the Sindhus who utilized a boon that he had received from Shiva to single-handedly hold off the Pandava forces for the day. Another reason that the rest of the Pandava forces could not accompany him could be that in his zeal, he rushed through the forces.
Abhimanyu slew tens and thousands of warriors includingVrihadvala, the ruler of Kosala, the ruler of Kratha, the ruler of Assaka, Martikavat prince of Bhojas, Shalya’s son Rukmartha, Shalya’s younger brother and so many others. He also killed Duryodhana’s son, thereby angering Duryodhana who then ordered Durmashana, Dushasana’s son to attack Abhimanyu, but as fate would have it, brave Abhimanyu even killed him. Then Duryodhan, breaking all rules of the war, ordered all his men to attack Abhimanyu all at once.
Abhimanyu although alone fought very bravely. Even after losing his bow and other weapons, he used the chariot of his wheel to fight all his uncles and foes, but was surrounded and killed by many warriors in a combined attack.This attack of Kauravas on Abhimanyu changed the ‘face’ of the war, with all doors of redemption closed,
Lord Shri Krishna, the ‘architect’ of the war, knew what the consequences of this war would be, because being the lord of the universe he was a master manipulator, as it is said ‘ Mahabharat Shri Krishna ki rachai hui leela thi”!
Upon learning of the death of his son, Arjuna vowed to kill Jayadratha the very next day before the battle ended at sunset,else he would throw himself into the fire.
By: Archa Dave
