Krishna and Bhishma - Part 1 of 3

Arjuna reached Dwaraka and was slowly walking up the path to Krishna's Palace. No matter what the situation, coming to Dwaraka always gave him a feeling of bliss. He felt like he was coming back home. The guards outside the palace bowed to Arjuna as he walked inside. Arjuna smiled at them. But then he slowly noticed something wrong. The guards, they were not in their usual jovial mood ...they were looking very formally....almost staring at him...

Arjuna backtracked. He went back to the guard. 'The Dark Lord is in Dwaraka?' Arjuna knew that Krishna was at Dwaraka. He had come here to meet him. But the expression on the guard's face...

'Yes, my Lord! He is here!' The guard bowed a little formally. Arjuna frowned and then suddenly his mind cleared. 'Is there someone else come to see him?'

The guard looked at Arjuna haltingly and slowly nodded his head. 'Yes, my Lord!'

Arjuna looked inquiringly at the guard. The guard breathed in deeply and said . 'Prince Duryodhana!'.. Arjuna missed the utter disdain in the face of the guard while addressing the name of the Kaurava Prince. He was just too shocked to notice any of that...Shock gave way to anger...Duryodhana,the vile, evil man was here...Here! In the very place of the Lord...Why?

Though Arjuna grew up with Duryodhana...now the only feelings he could muster up for Duryodhana were deep hatred....Duryodhana who in his insane jealousy had first tried to kill his elder brother Bheema when they were very young. Later he had stooped so low to the level of playing dice to win the Indraprasta from the Pandavas. And finally he had refused to to give the cousin brothers any portion of the kingdom which was rightfully theirs. Arjuna closed his eyes...He could still remember the shouts of Draupadi as she was dragged to the court of Hastinapur by Dushasana.....Arjuna could not forget how he and his brothers spent 13 years in exile....All during his exile, he had wanted only one thing...to take revenge on Duryodhana for what he had done.

*************

Duryodhana was angrily looking at the sleeping form of Krishna. When is he going to get up?.....

Duryodhana always knew that he would fight with the Pandavas and destroy them....After he had taken away the Indraprasta from the Pandavas, he had managed to get the Pandavas exiled for 13 years. The last year of the exile had to be spent in disguise. Duryodhana felt that he could find out where the Pandavas had hidden themselves. Unfortunately the search was taking a long time....Duryodhana started planning for the eventuality that the Pandavas would come back and ask for their Indraprasta back....That was something Duryodhana could not allow...He could not allow the Pandavas to take anything...Everything was his...His...

Duryodhana started building his army. But then he realized that the first person whom Yudhishtara would approach would be Krishna. Duryodhana had to stop that...The Yadavas were a large group of exceptionally powerful warriors. With the Yadavas on his side, Duryodhana could as well seal the fate of the Pandavas.....

Through his spies, Duryodhana learnt that Arjuna was on his way to Dwaraka to talk to Krishna. Duryodhana immediately left for Dwaraka and hoped that he would arrive before the meddlesome Arjuna.

Duryodhana smiled as he saw the borders of Dwaraka. He was sure he had reached Dwaraka before Arjuna. When he reached Dwaraka however his spies reported that Arjuna was almost in the outskirts of Dwaraka and would reach the city in a short time. Duryodhana frowned....He nagged the guards and made his way to Krishna's bed chamber and hoped to see Krishna before he even got a chance to see Arjuna.

************

As Duryodhana was pacing the floor angrily looking at the sleeping form of Krishna, he saw the door open. Duryodhana seethed with fury when he saw Arjuna enter the bedroom.

Duryodhana was almost beside himself with rage... Arjuna had not even spared him a second glance...His eyes were looking only at the sleeping form of the Dark Lord with something close to reverence in his eyes.

Now that Arjuna was inside the bed chamber , Duryodhana realized that his original plan of meeting Krishna first would not work out.....Quickly Duryodhana ran forward and sat near the head of the bed....When Krishna opens his eyes, Krishna would first see him....Duryodhana thought as he looked at Arjuna with almost glee in his eyes.

Arjuna sighed as he sat down near the foot of the bed looking at the Dark Lord. Arjuna was terribly angry even to look at Duryodhana. However, Dark Lord's face somehow gave him peace. He ignored Duryodhana and studied Krishna's sleeping face.

Slowly both the warriors saw the Dark Lord awakening. Krishna got up and opened his eyes. He gave a beautiful smile as he saw Arjuna sitting directly in front of him. 'Partha!' Krishna cried. 'What....' There was a forceful clearing of the throat when Krishna turned his attention and saw Duryodhana looking red faced and angry at the two of them.

'Duryodhana?' Krishna asked looking a little taken aback.

'I came here before him!' Duryodhana said looking a little sullen as he looked angrily at Krishna. 'When I came here....'

'I saw Arjuna first, Duryodhana!' Krishna said looking as if he was trying not to laugh.

Duryodhana stared at Krishna and then at Arjuna, but he was silent.

Krishna looked at the two warriors with amusement. 'Come! Come! Tell me! Why would my palace be graced with the presence of two of greatest warriors in the world and that too at the same time?'

Arjuna looked at Krishna with amusement. 'I think you already know the answer to that question, Krishna!'

'I was going to ask you for the assistance of the Yadavas  in the ensuing  war!' Duryodhana blurted out .

Krishna looked at Duryodhana and then turned to look at Arjuna. 'I take it...you have also come for the same reason!'

Arjuna looked at Krishna. 'Yes, my Lord! I want your guidance during the war....should it break out!'

'Duryodhana looked at Arjuna smugly...Of course war was the only option...The Pandava was a fool if he thought that war could be avoided...

Krishna looked at the two of them deep in thought. 'Both of you have come to me to ask the same thing....What should I do?'

Duryodhana said angrily. 'I was here before him....You have to grant my wish first!'

Arjuna did not say anything. He just looked at the Dark Lord.

Krishna nodded his head. 'I have a solution....We shall do it this way....I will be on one side....Just me...And....' Krishna said hastily raising his hands. 'I am not going to fight...I will provide guidance and help....but no fighting....' Krishna said shaking his head. Krishna almost smiled when he saw Duryodhana's lips curling angrily and Arjuna's look of utter devotion. 'And on the other side would be the entire Yadava army....All of them....' Duryodhana's eyes widened at the words of the Dark Lord...This was much better than what he had ever hoped for....Which fool would choose one man over the mighty Yadavas...Having Krishna was not a good thing...He would just talk and confuse everyone....He would opt for the army....Duryodhana prayed that Krishna gave him the opportunity to choose first. He was sure Arjuna would choose the army too...

Arjuna was about to talk when Krishna held up his hands. 'Partha! As Duryodhana pointed out, he was the first one to come...he gets to choose first!' Arjuna bit his lip looking worried as he looked at Duryodhana and Krishna.

Duryodhana snorted. 'What sort of a choice is that? I choose the Yadava army!' Duryodhana was feeling exceptionally proud of himself. He had done it....He felt like he had outsmarted the wily Krishna and Arjuna....

Krishna nodded his head. Arjuna let out a deep breath of relief, he had been holding in fear. He still could not imagine the stupidity of Duryodhana....He actually thought he could win the war with Krishna in the opposite camp...Arjuna shook his head...Duryodhana had sealed his own fate....

Krishna looked at the relieved expression in Arjuna's face and looked amused. 'My Lord! I have wanted only you....'

'I am not going to fight, my friend!' Krishna said with a smile.

'I don't want you to!' Arjuna said with a smile. 'Just guide me, my Lord....!'

Krishna and Bhishma - Part 2 of 3

Though Krishna had warned Arjuna that this would be the most possible outcome of all his negotiations with the Kauravas, Arjuna was still depressed when he saw a morose looking Krishna come back from Hastinapur.

'I tried.... I really tried!' Krishna said as he looked at the Pandavas. 'I even prayed for five villages.... one for  each one of you, to avert the war!' Krishna shook his head. 'Duryodhana refused to listen....' Krishna laughed mirthlessly. 'He said he would not even part with the land the size of a  needle head.... to the Pandavas....' Krishna took a deep breath.

Arjuna looked at the Dark Lord and said softly. 'War it is!'

Krishna nodded his head. 'War it is!'

And so massive preparations had started for the Kurukshetra  war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas for the land of Hastinapur.....

********************

Arjuna was now standing in the beautiful chariot pulled by four white horses as the Dark Lord sat at the saddle before him minding the horses. Arjuna felt a little....small...as he saw Krishna with the horses. Arjuna knew that anybody who came close to Krishna immediately felt a calming effect....Krishna had that effect on people...Animals were obviously  no exception.  The white horses looked confidently as Krishna patted them....

Arjuna was thinking about how Krishna had kept the promise he had made to Duryodhana. Krishna said he would not fight the war with weapons... and he did not. That was the reason... and his inborn gift with animals made Krishna  participate in the war as a charioteer to Arjuna...Arjuna knew that with Krishna's infinite wisdom and  guidance he could ask for nothing more.....But deep down it rankled....Krishna...his Krishna as a charioteer.....not as a warrior....But as a charioteer....

Krishna looked at Arjuna with great love and affection. He stared at the enemy lines and the great people who stood proudly willing to fight....Krishna smiled mirthlessly....This was the battle....It was for this battle that he had come....To remove the warriors....all of them from the face of the earth before the onset of Kaliyuga....Krishna looked at Arjuna...Arjuna was the tool through which he was going to do it....

As Krishna stared at Arjuna, he felt something from the young warrior.... Krishna narrowed his gaze... Doubt...Fear....Regret.... Krishna was puzzled. Arjuna was a brilliant warrior. In fact the only flaw Arjuna ever had was that he tried to be fair no matter what....Fair to his enemies even if they did not deserve it.... Krishna studied Arjuna once more..... Genuine doubt and regret.....Krishna nodded.... Arjuna was slowly coming to understand the enormity of the situation.....

************

Arjuna was staring at the ranks of the Kauravas. In that  morning when he was talking with Krishna, it had been so simple....Take out the Gandiva, kill the enemy and take back what is rightfully yours and everything would go back to normal....But now...Arjuna eyed Bhishma – his grandfather, Drona, his teacher, Kripacharya, Duryodhana.....his cousin....The words formed in Arjuna's mind even before he could stop it....Duryodhana was his father's brother's son......For all practical purposes Duryodhana was his family.....And they were standing on opposite camps in a war ready to annihilate each other....Arjuna stared as his hands as they started trembling slightly....The Gandiva which had been his power, his companion, his soul..., for the first time felt like a heavy burden on his shoulders.....

Arjuna looked at Krishna. 'What are we doing, Kesava?' he asked looking at Krishna with wide, innocent and tired eyes. 'What am I doing?'Krishna looked at Arjuna saying nothing. Arjuna continued as tears unbidden came to his eyes. 'Krishna! We are in a battlefield...And do you know what?' Arjuna looked around and turned to Krishna, his eyes looking wild, 'I do not see anyone whom I want to kill. I see....' Tears clouded Arjuna's eyes as his voice broke. 'I see teachers, uncles, grandfathers, sons, brothers....I see only my family...my....family...'

Krishna sensed that there was more and waited for Arjuna to continue. Arjuna looked at the other side of the battlefield and took a deep breath trying to control himself. 'I....I....cannot kill them...Not for the whole universe....' Arjuna looked at Krishna. 'You want me to kill them for a mere kingdom...' Arjuna sobbed. 'What will we get? What will we get from all this?' Arjuna pointed around him. 'You really think I would get peace by killing all these people...The only thing I will get by killing these people is guilt and sin...' Arjuna shook his head in disgust. 'You want me to kill for that?'

A sudden crazy light came to Arjuna's eyes. 'Madhusudhana! You will tell me that they are evil and wicked...But you are forgetting Krishna...' Arjuna shook his head. 'You are forgetting that we know what is evil..We know that destruction of the family is nothing but pure evil...And you want me to do that! Why?' It was a plaintive cry of a child unwilling to accept that he had to do what needed to be done. Arjuna shivered. 'People who destroy their own family are in for the worst hell and....and...' Arjuna put his head in hands and cried. 'I cannot do it, Krishna! It....it would be better if Duryodhana just kills me now!'

Arjuna looked at Krishna almost angrily. 'I will not fight....' For the first time in his life, Arjuna let the Gandiva slip from his hands.....He wanted absolutely nothing to do with it....It was a weapon of destruction....He would become a sinner if he used it....

Krishna looked at Arjuna with a strange light in his eyes. 'Kaunteya! Why?' Arjuna looked at Krishna with a frown. 'Why am I even hearing these words from you? These words.....they do not suit a warrior....And you are a warrior....A fighter!'

Arjuna looked broken. 'Bhishma and Drona are...people whom I have to worship....' Arjuna looked resolutely as he shook his head. 'I would rather beg and live on the streets than fight and kill such people!'

Krishna looked at Arjuna and started softly. 'Arjuna! You....You are wasting your breath thinking about people who do not deserve your pity.' Krishna almost smiled. 'But you speak wise words! Wise words!'

Arjuna looked at Krishna uncomprehendingly as Krishna continued. 'You said these people are your relatives....' Krishna shook his head. 'No.....they are not!' Arjuna looked surprised as Krishna continued. 'Wise men from all over the world....they have found that the souls inhabit the body for a short time and move on to another body...what do you see in these people....their bodies or their souls?.....The bodies are perishable....will be there today and cease to exist tomorrow....That is the law of nature. Whoever is born has to die!' Krishna looked at Arjuna. 'Is that what you are afraid to destroy Partha? Their bodies?'

Arjuna stared at Krishna as he continued. 'As far as their souls are concerned....' Krishna almost smiled. 'I do not think anyone has the capacity to destroy the soul. It can neither be created nor can it cease to exist, my friend.....It will always be there....No matter what...'

Krishna smiled. 'You are a warrior! It is your duty to fight! Think about it, my friend! If you die in the battlefield, you go to heaven! If you win, you win the earth!' Krishna smiled. 'Fight! Fight treating both pleasure, pain, victory, defeat, everything alike....Just do your duty without expecting the results....That way you do not incur any sin, my friend!' Krishna continued as he saw his distraught friend. 'Our actions are what define us, Arjuna! All of us have to act. We always keep doing something....When we do our duty....and do it without expecting the results.....that is when you become the Karma Yogi!' Krishna pointed around. 'Fighting this war is your duty....Do it....Do not look at the result of your action....Just do what you have to do and....' Krishna looked at the battlefield and smiled. '...leave all your worries, regrets and fears to me!'

And so the greatest discourse continued.....right there in the battlefield with Arjuna as the audience. Krishna knew that the words which came from his mouth were not only for the one man before him, but for the whole mankind..... A guide.... for people to follow.....The words were the Song of the Lord....or the Bhagawat Gita.

Krishna revealed his Vishwaroopam to Arjuna, which was the supreme form of Lord Vishnu. With awe Arjuna saw that the entire universe originated in Lord Vishnu and resided in him.....

When Krishna finished, Arjuna glanced at the Gandiva which felt strong in his arms once again. He looked at the people surrounding him in battlefield. He now knew what he had to do and he would do it....with Krishna as his charioteer.......

 The author thanks Mr. A. Narayanan for his review comments.

Krishna and Bhishma - Part 3 of 3

The Pandavas had appointed Dhritadhyuman [Draupadi's brother] as the general of their army. The Kauravas obviously appointed Bhishma as the general of their army.

Long before the battle had started Bhishma had promised Duryodhana that he would not kill the five Pandavas but would cause maximum havoc to the Pandava army. He did. On the first day of the battle, the Pandava soldiers literally ran from Bhishma out of fear from his arrows. He was in a word a terror to the entire Pandava army.

Arjuna's son Abhimanyu could not bear the havoc caused by Bhishma. He came out with his arrows blazing at the grandsire. Though Abhimanyu was able to contain Bhishma for a short time, eventually Bhishma came on top and soon Abhimanyu had a broken chariot and had to withdraw from the battle.

Elsewhere in the battle, Uttara, the son of Virata first engaged in the battle with Shalya. As they both fought, the younger Uttara started gaining an upper hand. However Shalya was a more experienced fighter and at the last minute, Shalya fired an arrow straight in Uttara's heart and Uttara was unfortunately killed. Uttara's brother Shweta could not bear this and he started a battle against Shalya.

Shweta fought so brilliantly that Shalya was soon without a chariot, without weapons and even without his bodyguards. Shweta destroyed it all. As Shweta was about to complete his kill and aimed for Shalya, seven warriors from the Kaurava side came forward to stop Shweta. Shweta fought with all the seven warriors and was even able to push them back....However Shalya escaped by this time....Shweta continued fighting so brilliantly that the grandsire Bhishma himself came to take on Shweta. Shweta hurled his weapons at Bhishma and was successful in even destroying Bhishma's chariot.

Bhishma angrily destroyed Shweta's chariot in return.

However Shweta had age on his side. Without bothering about the lose of the chariot, Shweta started attacking Bhishma from foot. Shweta was so good that he was beginning to gain a upper hand in the fight, when the Kauravas realizing the danger to their general, immediately whisked away Bhishma on another chariot.

It was from the chariot that Bhishma aimed his powerful weapons at Shweta and unfortunately for the Pandavas, Virata lost his second son also in the first day of battle.

Thus the first day of the battle ended with the Pandavas suffering huge losses at the hands of the terrible Bhishma. Bhima, the Pandava killed many Kaurava soldiers but he was nowhere near to the damage done by Bhishma.....

Yudhishtara was broken hearted with the events of the day. Krishna eventually using all his tact and diplomacy was able to cheer up the sad Pandava leaders.

The second day of the battle started with Arjuna deciding to take on Bhishma himself. Bhishma was surrounded by Shalya, Bhagadatta, Bhusrisravas, Duryodhana and some of his brothers.

Krishna with all his driving skills managed to get Arjuna close to Bhishma as Arjuna almost casually disposed all these warriors who surrounded Bhishma. However when Arjuna was about to start the fight with Bhishma, Bhishma was surrounded by Drona, Kripa, Duryodhana and Sala to protect him.

But today none of the warriors were a match for Arjuna. All the other warriors fell back and Arjuna and Bhishma faced each other and fired arrows at each other looking hell bent of destroying each other.....

As they were firing arrows, Arjuna watched with horror as one of Bhishma's arrows hit Krishna. Arjuna was too seasoned a warrior to react to it. Keeping his anger aside, he aimed straight at Bhishma's charioteer and killed him instantly. Bhishma had to momentarily stop fighting because of the death of his charioteer. It was only then that Arjuna spared a glance at Krishna and realized that the wound was only a flesh wound and continued with the battle. The battle between Arjuna and Bhishma went on for the entire day and neither looked like they could best each other....

Elsewhere, Bhima killed the King of Kalinga and his sons in the battle.

Drona and Dhristadhyuman fought hard and long. However this battle was won by experience and not age. Drona was so able to destroy Dhrishtadhyuman's chariot and was about the kill Dhrishtadhyuman, when the others in the Pandava army whisked away Dhrishtadhyuman from there.

The sun set and the battle closed for the second day as neither Arjuna nor Bhishma relented that day....

The outcome of the war cheered up the Pandavas slightly....

The battle on the third day started and with a great roar both the sides clashed. This time Arjuna went on a rampage and started mercilessly attacking the Kaurava soldiers. The Kaurava soldiers fled from the Pandava almost afraid of him.

For the first time since the war started Duryodhana and Bhima met each other in battle. With all his pent up anger, Bhima hurled his weapons at Duryodhana. Unable to match the ferocity of the attack Duryodhana had to hide himself in the deck of the chariot to escape from the weapons. Duryodhana was ashamed that he had to hide in his chariot to escape the wrath of Bhima and was cursing himself. That was when he saw that his soldiers were running away from the battlefield unable to bear the onslaught of Arjuna.....

Duryodhana angrily pursed his lips and went in search of Bhishma. Duryodhana was shocked to find that Bhishma and Drona were the only two Kauravas who were fighting against the Pandavas. The others were too busy running away.

But that still did not stop the Duryodhana from senselessly confronting the grandsire, 'Now...I see everything! You...the great Bhishma...you are partial to the Pandavas...Though you claim to be fighting on my side, you are helping the Pandavas. I know that the Pandavas together are not a match for you....Do you want me to believe that the Pandavas have actually destroyed our army and our soldiers are running away from the battlefield with you as our general....' Duryodhana looked at Bhishma with a curl in his lips. 'You are not fighting to your capabilities...If you were, the Pandavas would be dead by now!'

When was Duryodhana going to understand....Bhishma wondered as he looked around him. 'Duryodhana! I have told you before and I am telling you again. The Pandavas cannot be killed in battle...Not by me, not by you, not by anyone!' Bhishma actually looked a little wistful. 'I wish you would believe me that I am fighting as well as I can....And still you accuse me of not fighting to the best of my abilities...' Bhishma did not say it but his eyes conveyed the sorrow in his heart. The prince whom he had sworn to protect was doubting him....Bhishma looked angrily at Duryodhana before the prince could open his mouth and say something else to hurt him and angrily turned to the Pandava army. 'Watch what I do now!'

Duryodhana watched the stiff back of the grandsire and did not say anything.....

After that the Pandavas saw exactly what Bhishma was capable of when he was angry. Bhishma hacked through anyone or anything which came in his way. He cared about nothing and just destroyed the Pandava army.

'Arjuna!' Krishna growled as he heard the screams of the Pandava soldiers. 'Bhishma!' He said pointing at towards what seemed like a terrible whirlwind of destruction.

Arjuna nodded his head as Krishna quickly turned and drove the horses straight towards Bhishma. Bhishma did not care whom he faced....whether it was Arjuna or anybody else, he decided to destroy anybody who came in his way. Bhishma fired the arrows and Arjuna patiently cut all of them...Bhishma attacked again and Arjuna defended again....Getting more and more agitated, Bhishma picked out more and more powerful weapons. Though Arjuna was able to stop the weapons....everyone....every single one of the Pandava soldier realized that Bhishma was in fact the better between the two of them.

Bhishma was fighting like he was possessed, hell bent on annihilating the entire Pandava army as if he wanted to end the very war on that day. Arjuna on the other hand fought placidly. He just stopped Bhishma, but he was not aggressive like the Kaurava general....

Arjuna was beginning to feel uneasy. He knew something was wrong....terribly wrong.

That was when he saw the Dark Lord throwing the reins of the chariot in disgust. He looked at Arjuna with such a pure undisguised anger that Arjuna shivered for a few minutes. Krishna turned and looked at Satyaki who was standing nearby, with his eyes blazing. 'There is no use trusting in Arjuna anymore! I thought he was a good warrior and I wanted to guide him and look....' Krishna pointed at Bhishma with anger. 'Look at the way he is fighting....Pathetic!' Krishna shook his head. Krishna got down from his chariot and from the battlefield picked up the broken wheel of a chariot.

'If Arjuna will not do it....I will!' Krishna started swirling the chariot wheel high above his head. 'Whoever wishes to run.....can do so now....whoever is left behind....I am going to kill them....All of them. I am going to destroy the entire Kaurava army today!' Krishna advanced towards Bhishma with anger. 'And I start by killing Bhishma!'

Anyone who had seen the blazing Krishna would have trembled and fled. But Bhishma was too seasoned a warrior and too wise a man to even worry about it. He threw down his weapons a great peace stealing on his face. 'Madhusudhana! Do it now! Please kill me right now, with your own hands! Once you have killed me....I am sure to attain heaven!' Bhishma practically begged Krishna. 'Please kill me and put an end to my life!'

Arjuna watched the entire scene his heart thundering. The Dark Lord had trusted him....The Dark Lord had wanted him to fight, with everything he had and to the best of his potential...The Dark Lord had promised that he would not raise any weapons in the war...He, Arjuna had failed in keeping up the promise because of which Krishna was breaking his promise and going to kill Bhishma...No! He would not let Krishna break his promise.

Without realizing it Arjuna ran forward clutching Krishna's feet. Krishna may have noticed him or may not...Krishna was so incensed that Arjuna did not even know what his Krishna was thinking....

Krishna stubbornly went forward the chariot wheel still in his hands. 'Krishna! Please do not break your promise! Please you said....you would not raise weapons....Please! Do not break your word!' Arjuna begged.

'You are not fighting, Partha! What you are doing is not fighting...' Krishna started yelling. 'The man has practically destroyed your army. Your soldiers are running away from fear of the man and all you can do is defend against him....No!' Krishna looked at Arjuna with such an angry expression making Arjuna wish that he would never see that expression in his Krishna's face ever....'If you won't kill the man...I will!'

Arjuna managed to calm himself and spoke slowly. 'Krishna! I will fight! I will fight the exact way you want me to fight...I will fight to the best of my abilities...I will not fight my grandfather....I will fight the man who is destroying my army....Please Krishna! Just put down the wheel....I will fight...Just guide me!' Arjuna spoke with utter sincerity in his voice.

Krishna looked at Arjuna and then looked at Bhishma. Bhishma knew the exact minute when Krishna believed Arjuna. Krishna gave a genuine smile to Arjuna and dropped the chariot wheel. Arjuna led Krishna back to the chariot....

True to his word, Arjuna fought with his body, heart, mind and soul....Krishna who was willing to break his promise to protect his devotee could only smile as he realized that Arjuna was beginning to understand his teachings...... It was on that day that Arjuna single handedly destroyed almost close to ten thousand people fighting in chariots and seven hundred elephants....

[After this day, the war more or less went in favour of the Pandavas...On the tenth day, using the help of Shikandi, Arjuna killed Bhishma....]