Kurukshetra War Story – Chapter 3: The Confluence of Armies

The Confluence of Armies

In the previous chapter, Lord Krishna's peace proposal failed due to the ego of Dhritarashtra and the stubbornness of Duryodhana. Now, war was inevitable. The armies of both sides began to move towards Kurukshetra, ready for a devastating conflict that would be remembered for ages.

Arrival of Warriors in Kurukshetra

The battlefield of Kurukshetra, once a peaceful abode of sages, now echoed with the clamor of warriors and the roar of chariots. Warriors from distant kingdoms, carrying the flags of their respective factions, seemed to be inviting death. The sons of Dhritarashtra, the Kauravas, with their vast army, advanced with pride, having unwavering faith in their numerical strength. The Pandava army, though smaller than the Kauravas, was filled with the resolve to fight for Dharma and truth. The flame of justice blazed in their eyes, ready to face any challenge.

Yudhishthira said to Bhima, "Bhimasena, this war is not for us, but for the establishment of Dharma. We must remember that we are fighting for justice, not for anger or greed." Bhima replied, "Brother Yudhishthira, I obey your command. I vow that I will not deviate from the path of Dharma, but I will surely destroy the wicked."

Determination of War Rules

Before the war began, representatives from both sides jointly determined some rules of war, so as to minimize atrocities. It was decided that the unarmed would not be attacked, charioteers would fight only charioteers, foot soldiers would fight foot soldiers, and the war would cease after sunset. Wounded warriors would be aided, and no form of deceit or trickery would be resorted to. Grandfather Bhishma specially emphasized these rules, although he also knew that adherence to rules in war is not always possible.

Lord Krishna explained to Yudhishthira, "Yudhishthira, rules are merely ideals. War is a state where morality is often violated. We must maintain the purity of our souls, even if our enemies do not." There was compassion in His voice, but also the burden of duty. Krishna knew that this war was not just a war, but a great conflict between Dharma and Adharma, where all rules would be cast aside.

Arjuna's Delusion

As the war was declared and both armies stood face to face, Arjuna raised his Gandiva bow and looked at his opponents. He saw his own guru Dronacharya, his grandfather Bhishma, and his cousins, the Kauravas, all ready for battle. The mere thought of raising arms against his own relatives and gurus made Arjuna's heart tremble. His mind was filled with delusion, and he began to feel the futility of war. His Gandiva began to slip from his hand.

Arjuna said to Krishna in a piteous voice, "O Keshav, how can I strike my gurus and relatives? I do not want this war. I have no desire for kingdom, happiness, or victory, if I have to achieve all this by killing my loved ones." Tears welled up in his eyes, and he became detached from his duty due to delusion. Arjuna was plunged into despair; the next chapter will tell how Krishna liberates him from this despair.