Night of Shame

Episode#73

Night if shame when Aswasthama learnt the details of Duryodhana - Bhima's combat, his righteous anger surged up like a volcano! The deception, practised by the Pandavas in order to bring about his father's end, had been rankling in his mind.

Now, when he learnt how Duryodhana had been stricken down against all rules of chivalry, he went to Duryodhana and their took an oath that he would send the Pandavas to the abode of yama. Duryodhana, who was in the last physical agony, he was immensely happy when he hears Aswasthama take this oath! He immediately ordered those who stood nearby to appoint Aswasthama as Supreme Commander of the Army with due ceremony and, when that was over, said to him "All my hopes are in you."

'One transgression begets the next and thus evil grows from evil submerging righteousness. Evil flourishes on retaliation.'

They reached Pandavas camp. Dhrishtadyumna, sans his armour was plunged in deep slumber. Aswasthama leapt on the sleeping warriors and before he could assume his posture of defence, cruelly kicked him to death! The same process was relentlessly repeated until all the Panchalas and all the sons of Draupadi were killed one by one who were plunged in deep slumber.

After having done this gruesome deed, the like of which no Kshatriyas had dreamt in his wildest dreams - the three defaulters - Kripa, Kritavarma and Aswasthama came out of the tents and as if this was not enough he set fire to the camp.

"We have done our duty" said Aswasthama "Let us go and give the glad news to Duryodhana, if we can reach him on time!  Let him depart happily!" The three of them accordingly hurried to Duryodhana.

Aswasthama told the incident to dying Duryodhana who, slowly open his eyes with struggling breath, gasped, "You have indeed done for me what neither the great Bhisma not the valiant Karna could achieve, you have gladden my heart and I will die happily now."

Duryodhana was about to breathe his last when he saw his daughter Laxmani approaching him with red swollen eyes! She stood before him and said "I want to confess." Duryodhana nodded at her though in great pain struggling to breath. Laxamani said "O my father, I have not seen a brave man like you, you are my hero. You lost this battle because of Sakuni & Karna, Sakuni wanted to avenge his father and Karna wanted to kill Arjuna to prove himself the better Archer. I wished to marry Abhimanyu because he was brave like you and hence I rejected Samba. I am not going to marry the rest of my life and live as A humanity's widow and take to penance."

Duryodhana uttered his last words "I bless you, my child for all the glory and may you be the last queen of Kuru dynasty." And with this blessings he breathed his last.

While returning she saw Vatsala wife of Abhimanyu standing near Kumar Laxamana body. His face carried a glowing smile and looked as if he is fast asleep. Vatsala sat down, wiped his face bent down and out her lips on his lips for a while and wept bitterly! Both cried profusely and proceeded to the forest for penance. From faraway Draupadi saw Vatsala crying over Laxamana Kumar's dead body and not on her husband Abhimanyu and wondered why it could be so...?

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In the last 5000 years, we had not fought a single majors war in comparison with the epic war of Mahabharata. The great war shall forever remain etched in our minds for a long long time to come and passed on from generations to generations like precious artefact of righteousness and callousness going hand-in-hand unraveled yet undisturbed.

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