The Disciples of Drona Go to War Against Drupada (Mahabharata Series 44)

The Disciples of Drona Go to War Against Drupada

Duryodhana, accompanied by Karna, left the arena. The Pandavas, too, departed for their residences along with Drona, Kripa, and Bhishma.

Some of the spectators returned home praising Arjuna, some praising Karna, and others praising both warriors.

Kunti, however, immediately recognized Karna as her firstborn son the moment she saw his divine features. She was immensely delighted that her son had been crowned the King of Anga. Yet, she revealed this secret to no one.

Meanwhile, Duryodhana, strengthened by his newly forged friendship with Karna, was no longer afraid of Arjuna.

According to the ancient tradition, once a disciple had completed his education, it was customary to offer the teacher the Guru Dakshina he desired. Drona had already decided what he wanted as his Guru Dakshina. One day, he summoned all the princes and reminded them that their education was now complete and that it was their duty to offer him the Guru Dakshina he desired.

The disciples eagerly awaited the teacher's request. Drona then declared:

“All of you must go together to the kingdom of Panchala, defeat King Drupada in battle, capture him, and bring him before me. This is the Guru Dakshina I desire above all else.”

All the princes unanimously agreed, saying, “So be it!” They mounted their respective chariots with great enthusiasm and set out for Panchala along with Drona. Duryodhana, accompanied by his brothers and Karna, departed with great confidence. Upon reaching Panchala, they surrounded and besieged its capital.

Observing the commotion and instantly understanding what was happening, Drupada mounted his magnificent divine chariot along with his brothers. He began showering arrows upon Duryodhana and his forces.

Meanwhile, Arjuna had already discussed the situation with his brothers. Intending to demonstrate the difference in strength between the Kauravas and the Pandavas and, at the same time, to humble the pride of Duryodhana and his followers, he approached his teacher Drona and said:

“Gurudeva, let them first demonstrate their prowess. We shall display ours only afterward. I do not believe that Duryodhana and Karna will be able to capture Drupada on the battlefield.”

Having said this, Arjuna stood at some distance with his brothers, fully prepared for battle.

On the other side, the Kauravas were thrown into confusion by Drupada's fierce assault. Seated upon a single chariot, Drupada moved with extraordinary speed in all four directions, continuously raining arrows upon them. His rapid movements were so bewildering that the Kauravas began to feel as though hundreds of Drupadas were fighting against them at once.

Amid the thunderous war cries of the Panchala warriors, Duryodhana and the other Kauravas, enraged, responded with showers of arrows. Seeing this, the mighty Parshata charged fiercely against the Kauravas, paying no heed to the wounds inflicted by their arrows upon his body. Moving across the battlefield like a blazing wheel of fire, he struck the Kauravas with a relentless stream of arrows.

At that moment, not only the Panchala soldiers but even the common people of Panchala joined the battle. Armed with pestles, clubs, stones, and whatever weapons they could find, they began hurling them at the Kauravas.

Unable to withstand this relentless assault, the Kauravas began to panic. Crying out in distress, they fled from the battlefield and ran toward the Pandavas.

Hearing the anguished cries of the retreating Kauravas, Arjuna bowed respectfully to his teacher Dronacharya. He instructed his elder brother Yudhishthira to remain where he was, appointed Nakula and Sahadeva as protectors of his chariot, and placed the mace-wielding Bhima at the forefront. Then he advanced toward the battlefield.

As the thunderous sound of his chariot wheels echoed in all directions, Arjuna reached the battlefield.

Bhimasena plunged into the vast Panchala army like a mighty crocodile entering the ocean. He charged directly toward the elephant corps and began striking the massive war elephants with his mace.

Elsewhere, Partha began devastating the Panchala forces with his sharp and deadly arrows.

Thousands of elephants fell beneath Bhima's terrible mace blows. Struck with terror at the sight of Bhima's mighty mace, the elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry began fleeing in every direction.

Arjuna then drove his chariot straight toward Drupada's chariot. With a continuous shower of arrows, he completely surrounded and overwhelmed Drupada. The troops that rushed to protect their king were swiftly destroyed by Arjuna's relentless attack.

The Panchalas, however, raised their war cries and launched a fierce counterattack against Partha, sending showers of arrows toward him. Soon, the arrows released by both armies filled the sky, completely obscuring it as the two sides clashed in a fierce and spectacular battle.