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.

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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.

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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.....

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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.....

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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....]

Kaushika and Balaka

It was the sixteenth day of the war. The war had taken a heavy toll on both sides. Most of the senior warriors  who had fought the war had all perished.....Bhishma, Drona, Bahlika, Bhagadatta, Bhurishrava....All gone.

Though Duryodhana was worried about the heavy toll of the war, on the sixteenth day, he was elated......He had just appointed Karna as the General of the Kaurava army. His Karna....Duryodhana thought exultantly. His Karna was now free to do what he pleased and would win the war for him. Duryodhana did not doubt, not even for a minute that his friend would win the war.

That day Karna entered the war with pride in his heart. He was finally going to repay Duryodhana for what all  he had done for him....Karna smiled. The sixteenth day belonged to Karna and Bheema, the Pandava brother. Both of them killed far too many enemy  soldiers that day.....

By the end of the sixteenth day, Karna had a duel with Nakula, the fourth Pandava. The fight between the two of them was ridiculously short. Even before Nakula could properly defend himself, Karna had broken Nakula's chariot and killed his horses and also killed Nakula's charioteer. Karna looked at Nakula as he aimed his arrow at the unarmed Nakula, who looked back at him with hatred.

Karna smiled. 'One day you will be proud that you fought with the great Karna and that  you escaped with your life!' Karna said as he moved away from there....Just like that! Karna moved away with such disdain....almost as if he did not think Nakul a worthy opponent.......Nakula was seething with rage....He wished Karna had just killed him....Instead that son of the charioteer had left him alive....Nakula fumed.

Duryodhana knew that Karna had Nakula at his mercy and had still left him alive. But Duryodhana did not say anything. If Bhishma or Drona had done the same thing, Duryodhana would have thrashed them with harsh words and accused them of actually fighting for the Pandavas.....But Karna....Duryodhana did not even dream of saying anything hurtful to his friend.....

Karna had been taught the art of reading omens by his teacher Parashurama. When Karna woke up on the seventeenth day of the war, he looked around and realized that today was probably going to be the last day of his life. Karna was however not unhappy. Far from it. Life had been cruel to him and he had no desire  to continue living  His only wish was to repay his friend Duryodhana by defeating  Arjuna and killing him.

For the seventeenth day, Duryodhana had requested Shalya to be the charioteer of Karna.

And so the war started....

Together the two – Shalya and Karna - fell upon the army. Karna entered into a different zone today. If yesterday he fought brilliantly, today he was in a different league...Nothing could stop him....Nothing at all. Nakula, Sahadeva, Bheema and Satyaki all together found it impossible to stop Karna.

Seeing Karna ruthlessly decimating his forces, Yudhishtara himself entered into a duel with Karna. Karna smiled shaking his head. However Yudhishtara fought with all his might  and even hurt Karna. But then Karna raised the level of battle....Yudhishtara could do nothing but fumble....Before he even knew what had happened, Karna killed Yudhishtara's rear guard...Satyaki came to the aid of  the eldest Pandava, but he was pushed back effectively before he could do anything. As Satyaki fell back, Karna hit Yudhishtara straight on the chest, taking the shield off...Karna swiftly broke Yudhishtara's bow...Yudhishtara tried firing his javelins but Karna effortlessly broke four of them even before Yudhishtara could throw it....Karna now had Yudhishtara before him unarmed. Karna smiled [Yudhishtara wondered whether he actually saw tears in Karna's eyes....] 'When you fight someone....make sure you are worthy of fighting them...' Karna said and drove his chariot away....Yudhishtara was burning with anger. Of all his enemies, he had feared Karna most. Why, he was not even afraid of Duryodhana...But Karna....Karna scared him....Yudhishtara had spent thirteen sleepless years during his exile in the forest thinking of Karna...He had realized even then that Karna had the capacity to turn the war single handedly.

Karna moved on and went to fight with Bheema. Bheema and Karna fought like demons that day.... Yudhishtara went to attack Duryodhana with Nakula and Sahadeva.. Karna left Bheema and went to help his friend. Karna's arrows were so swift and sharp that Yudhishtara fell unconscious in his chariot.

Nakula and Sahadeva dragged their unconscious brother to his tent, away from the battle....away from Karna. Meanwhile Arjuna was having a ferocious duel with Ashwattama. Suddenly worried that he could not see Yudhishtara's chariot, Arjuna rushed to Bheema. 'Brother! Where is Yudhishtara?'

Bheema pointed at Karna with growing anger.   'Karna!' Bheema spat the words out. 'He hurt brother!'

Knowing how good a warrior Karna was, Arjuna turned to Krishna looking worried. 'My Lord! I have to see Yudhishtara Please take me there. Bheema can handle things till then!'

Krishna nodded his head as he swiftly turned the chariot driving it inside the Pandava camp.

Yudhishtara was delirious in pain, when he heard the sound of Krishna's chariot. Krishna...Arjuna! They have come....That would mean that Arjuna has defeated and killed Karna....'Brother!' Yudhishtara stood up unsteadily running outside the tent. With bloodshot eyes he saw Krishna and Arjuna come towards him. 'You have done it! You have killed that son of the charioteer! Oh you have made me so proud!' Yudhishtara almost fell on his brother. 'Tell me!' Yudhishtara whispered. 'Tell me how you killed Karna!'

Arjuna led his brother inside the tent. He gently made him sit down and spoke. 'I have not yet killed Karna....But....'

Yudhishtara looked at his younger brother Arjuna with an appalled look in his eyes. He had started this war depending only on Arjuna and Krishna....Arjuna could not fail him now....'And you have not defeated him?' Yudhishtar asked Arjuna incredulously.

Arjuna asked Yudhishtara to lie down. 'It will happen brother! Please have some patience!' Arjuna looked at Krishna and smiled. He had no doubt in his mind that they were going to win this war....Not because he was a better warrior.....But because he had the one thing that Duryodhana lacked  ....Krishna... . Arjuna thought of his cousin with utmost pity....Duryodhana  did not realize that Krishna would win the war for the Pandavas. Arjuna's thoughts were  interrupted  by the vehement ranting of Yudhishtara.

'The great Arjuna! The peerless warrior Arjuna!' Yudhishtar mocked  angrily.   'All these words...All  lies!' Yudhishtara was so caught up in his injuries and his fear of Karna that he did not notice  Arjuna's changed expression. 'The great Arjuna cannot even defeat the one man who stands between us and victory....And to think I trusted you and your Gandiva!' Yudhishtara sneered angrily. Arjuna looked venomously at his elder brother. Any insults to him he could take....His Gandiva was off limits to anyone....Arjuna was looking tight lipped at his brother.

Yudhishtara, not realising  the mood of his brother continued his ranting. 'The Gandiva, the great Gandiva! The one bow, which would make  Arjuna  invincible....Lies! All lies!' Yudhishtara almost spat the words out.

Yudhishtara was shocked when he saw his brother pull out his sword in a flash and point it straight at his throat.

'Never insult my Gandiva!' Arjuna said emphasising every word. 'I have taken a oath that I will kill any man, who insults my Gandiva!' Arjuna said vehemently . 'Unfortunately that man happens to be you! I cannot break my promise.' Arjuna said angrily as he was about to bring the sword forward.

For the first time, Yudhishtara realized that he was in actual physical danger from his younger brother. Without thinking, he had talked about the one thing, which was more  precious  to Arjuna than his life.......Yudhishtara was blinking when Arjuna heard a commanding  voice from beside him. 'Drop the sword Arjuna! Now!'

The voice of the Dark Lord was calm but stern. Arjuna tried to ignore  the voice, but the voice kept coming back to him....Arjuna angrily shook his head...Yudhishtara had insulted his Gandiva....The Gandiva!....Arjuna felt a wave of fury pass through him. Arjuna would have killed his elder brother....had it not have been for the voice. Still holding the sword he looked at Krishna angrily. 'He insulted my bow....I cannot let it go just like that....'

'Drop the sword Arjuna! NOW!' Krishna said again, this time raising his voice. Arjuna looked at his elder brother for one last time, lowered his sword and walked away from his brother's tent with a huff.

Yudhishtara  took a shaky breath as he realized how close to death he had come. Yudhishtara turned to thank the Dark Lord, but  Krishna had also left the tent to follow his friend.

Krishna saw Arjuna sitting in his tent looking at his bow longingly. 'Arjuna! Do you realize what you were about to do now?' Krishna asked vehemently.

'He insulted the Gandiva!' Arjuna repeated the words like a child throwing a tantrum. 'He...'

'SO WHAT?' Krishna interrupted Arjuna. Arjuna blinked for a second as Krishna continued. 'He insulted your Gandiva..So what ? For that  you would kill a man  just like that?' Krishna asked Arjuna. Arjuna looked at Krishna lost for words. 'Yudhishtara is a person, Arjuna! A human being...The Gandiva....with all its powers, is just a bow! You would kill a man for a bow?' Arjuna felt his anger building up inside him.

'The Gandiva...is my penance...my meditation....It is more important to me than my life!' Arjuna yelled.. 'I cannot just sit and  watch while someone insults my bow....' Arjuna looked at Krishna a little dangerously. 'I have made a vow that I will kill anyone who insults it....Anyone....'

Krishna breathed deeply trying to control his temper. 'Is your vow really that important, Arjuna?'

Arjuna blinked some more. 'We....we have been taught to keep our promises....no matter what! That is what our scriptures tell us!'

Krishna took a deep breath  as he looked at his best friend. 'You do not understand....' Krishna suddenly looked at Arjuna as if looking at him for the first time. Krishna suddenly looked sad. 'You just do not understand!' Krishna was filled with remorse as he looked at his best friend. Arjuna looked at Krishna confused. Arjuna had been feeling angry....But looking at Krishna, Arjuna realized that the Dark Lard was not angry but  actually unhappy with him.

He went forward and  looked at Krishna. 'What don't I understand?' He asked a little apprehensively.

Krishna shook his head. Finally taking a deep breath, Krishna said sadly. 'You have to know, when to tell the truth....you have to know when it is important to lie....you have to know when it is important to keep your vow and when it is important to ignore it!'

Arjuna looked at Krishna like he had been hit by a thunderbolt 'When I have to lie....' He whispered as he blinked again and said dazed. 'Why should we know when it is important to lie.....' Arjuna shook his head. 'There is no time when you should lie....Lying is a sin!'

Krishna shook his head sadly. 'If by lying you can save a life....' Krishna looked at Arjuna with blazing eyes. 'You should!' Arjuna was still looking at the Dark Lord without understanding.

'There are times my friend, when you are not judged by the act or the reasons behind the act....You are judged by the consequences of your act....Always keep that in your mind, before you do anything...'Krishna looked at Arjuna. 'I do not understand my Lord!' Arjuna said shaking his head.

'I will tell you two stories, my friend! Listen!' Krishna smiled wryly. 'Probably then you would realize the stupidity of your actions!' Arjuna winced. The Dark Lord never talked to him that way....

'There once lived a hunter – Balaka! ' Krishna continued... 'Not one of the best professions in the world! But he was born into a family of hunters. He hunted animals daily....killed them and brought them home to his family. He looked after his wife, children and parents, by hunting....'

Once Balaka was wandering through the forest. He had roamed long and hard and still he could not find  any game....He went deeper and deeper inside the forest and there...Balaka stood still  for  a few minutes. Standing before him was a weird looking animal....It was blind animal drinking water from the pond in the forest. Though Balaka hesitated for a few seconds, he then drew his arrow and shot the beast. No sooner had the beast fallen....Balaka was amazed to find  a shower  of flowers from the heavens, singing praises of the hunter.....'

Arjuna listened with surprise. A hunter....a man who killed animals was praised for his actions....Krishna continued. 'The animal had actually obtained a boon from the Gods that it would be the cause of the destruction of all creatures.....' Krishna smiled. 'By stopping the creature, Balaka, the hunter, a man who made his living by killing animals, ensured a place for himself in the heaven.....'

Arjuna asked the Dark Lord, intrigued. 'What is the second story, my Lord?'

Krishna nodded his head. 'There once lived a man Kaushika. Kaushika was not very well read in the scriptures and his understanding of Dharma was pathetic....' Krishna said shrugging. 'This man once made a promise to himself that he would always speak the truth!'

'And he kept to his promise, very seriously....People everywhere came to know that Kaushika was an honest man....a man who told no lie!'

Arjuna nodded as Krishna continued. 'Once a man passed Kaushika's house. He was bleeding through a deep wound and was screaming on top of his voice. He ran straight ahead and turned right at the fork just ahead of Kaushika's house.... A group of men followed. They had dangerous weapons and looked everywhere. But when they reached the fork....they did not know whether the man had gone right or left....'

Arjuna looked on as Krishna continued. 'The men following were thieves and they knew of Kaushika's reputation of always speaking the truth....So they went and asked Kaushika about where he could find the man....'

Krishna smiled mirthlessly. 'The great Kaushika, who never spoke a lie....truthfully told the robbers about where the man had gone....The robbers ran right and found the man and killed him!' Krishna said abruptly.

Krishna looked at Arjuna expectantly. 'Was Kaushika right or wrong, my friend?'

Arjuna was now feeling stupid. He now understood exactly what he was about to do....He was going to kill his own elder brother....Arjuna winced as he closed his eyes. Krishna smiled as he realized that Arjuna had understood. 'Kaushika, the speaker of truth, went to hell!' Krishna said. 'He suffered there....for telling the truth....Because he failed to realize that saving a man's life was more important than speaking the truth...' Krishna looked pointedly at Arjuna.

Krishna looked at Arjuna and said gently. 'Your Dharma....your scriptures.....it is important because it protects life! That is why lying to protect a life is not a lie, my friend! The Scriptures cannot guide you to what is Dharma, in all the cases. You can know that only by reasoning!'

Feeling utterly stupid, Arjuna ran inside his brother's tent who was lying there weakly. 'Brother....I am....'

Yudhishtara however interrupted him. 'No Arjuna! I was wrong! I do not know what got into me....' Yudhishtara shuddered. 'I should not have spoken that way!'

Arjuna fell at the feet of his brother. 'I behaved wrongly! I was foolish! Please forgive me, brother!'

Yudhishtara embraced his brother. 'Go now brother! Come back victorious!'

Arjuna and the Dark Lord got back into the chariot to take on Karna....

[The seventeenth day of the war was when Karna was killed by Arjuna.]

Sesha

Daksha, the son of Brahma, had fifty daughters. It is said that thirteen of his daughters were married to Sage Kashyap.

Sage Kashyap is considered to be the father of Devas, Asuras and also all living beings on earth, through his various wives. His wife Aditi gave birth to the Devas, Diti to the Asuras, Kadru to the snakes and Vinata to  Garuda and Aruna and so on..

Garuda, the son of Vinata became the mount of Lord Vishnu.

Do you know what happened to his step brother Sesha, the son of Kadru....?

Read on...

The story of Sesha starts with the rivalry between his mother Kadru and step mother Vinata. 

Kadru, the daughter of King Daksha, the wife of Sage Kashyap and the mother of the Snakes looked at her sons. 'Sons! I want a favour from you!' She wringed her hands as she looked at them, partly in desperation. 'You are the only ones who can help me now!'

Sesha sighed. He could never understand why  his mother had to  be so melodramatic. 'What has happened mother?' He asked.

Her mother looked even more unhappy as she said. 'I....I am scared!'

Sesha looked at his younger brothers who were also trying to hide their exasperation at their mother. He wondered what she had done this time....

Kadru spoke after some time. 'Yesterday me and Vinata crossed the ocean and went to the other side....There we saw Ucchashravas, the flying horse!' Sesha did not miss the fact that his mother spoke about Vinata with such disdain. He could not understand how Kadru could not like her own sister......

Sesha remembered how Kadru and Vinata had always been like this....as far as he could remember. 

From the stories he had heard, Sesha came to know that his father Sage Kashyap had once wanted to perform a sacrifice for more offspring. 

Just before the yagna, Sage Kashyap had first asked Kadru about the offspring she wanted. Delighted at being the first one to choose, Kadru had asked for a thousand powerful Snakes as her sons. The sage granted her wish and turned to Vinata. 

Vinata is her usual soft manner had asked for just two sons.....who were more powerful than the thousand sons of Kadru....

Furious at being bested by her sister, Kadru started looking at Vinata as an enemy.... 

Kadru had her thousand sons and Sesha was the eldest son of Kadru. Unfortunately Vinata's eggs for some reason took longer time to hatch. In her anxiety, Vinata hastily broke one of the egg....Vinata was devastated to find that the child inside the egg was only half formed....

Sesha came to know that the half formed child – Aruna cursed her mother to serve another person for her hasty act and disappeared from there. Though Aruna was only half formed, Sesha immensely respected Aruna. Aruna was now the charioteer of the Sun Lord - Surya....

It is believed in Hindu Mythology, that the sun appears purplish in the morning and the evening because of the presence of Aruna as Surya's charioteer.

In course of  time, Sesha realized that most of his brothers generally caused misery to everyone... Closer home, Sesha was now appalled by the behaviour of his mother towards Vinata. Kadru treated Vinata as her enemy and following suit Sesha's brothers also hated Vinata....And now Vinata was all alone with no one to comfort her. The other egg had not yet hatched and she was probably racked with guilt and fear about what she had done to the first egg....Sesha shook his head....And now his mother was afraid about something she had done with Vinata....

Sesha turned his attention to his mother as she started speaking. 'We saw Ucchashravas....it was a beautiful horse....At that time....' Kadru swallowed as she looked sheepish and continued, '....I placed a bet!' Sesha looked at his mother in surprise as she continued. '....I told Vinata that she had to tell me the colour of the horse....' Kadru frowned as she thought and continued, '....Vinata said immediately that it was fully white in colour...' Kadru shook her head dubiously....'I think....I thought....I thought that the horse had a black tail and I said so....'

Sesha looked resignedly at his mother, 'What was the bet you placed mother?'

Kadru could not meet the eyes of her son. She looked at the floor and mumbled. 'I said that whoever lost the bet.....would have to serve the other....'

Sesha resisted the urge to hit his head in exasperation. He could collectively feel his brothers's temper increasing. His brother Vasuki spoke with barely controlled anger. 'Mother....you still have not told us, what favour you want from us?'

'Now....Now....now that I think about it....I think...I think...' Kadru mumbled barely able to get the words out. 'I think that...I may be wrong....I think that....that....the horse was fully white....' Kadru looked almost mortified as she turned her attention to her sons looking anguished. 'I can't bear the thought of serving Vinata...' Kadru said with tears in her eyes, 'I would rather die first!' Kadru spat out angrily. She eyed her sons angrily. 'And so I want your help to make me win my bet!'

All the snakes looked at their mother stumped. Vasuki recovered first. He whispered softly. 'What do you want us to do, mother?'

'I want you to wrap yourselves around Ucchashravas's tail...' Kadru said with a steely glint in her eyes. 'So that tomorrow when we go there to check the horse....the tail will appear black and I will win the bet!' Kadru said with a wicked smile in her face.

'MOTHER!' Sesha looked at her mother appalled. 'What are you saying? How can you even....?' Sesha fumbled unable to go on. Sesha suddenly looked around and realized that none of his brothers were speaking. They were looking at Sesha and their mother...afraid...afraid of the furious temper of their mother....Suddenly Sesha despised his brothers....and himself. Deep down he probably realised that his brothers did not even know that what their mother was asking them to do was wrong....Sesha angrily looked at his silent brothers and turned to look at his mother and said angrily, 'Mother! Do you even realize what you are saying?' Sesha said trying to control his temper.

Kadru looked at all her sons, her temples throbbing furiously. 'I AM YOUR MOTHER!' She shrieked angrily. 'You will obey whatever I say...'Kadru said her voice dropping dangerously.

Vasuki avoided looking at Sesha. He knew that his elder brother was now more worried about doing the right thing.....Vasuki however had more realistic problems...He knew that his mother was now in a dangerous mood....She had to be calmed...before anything else.....Vasuki realised that he had to be diplomatic with his mother. 'Mother!' He said in a calming tone. Unfortunately for Vasuki and the other snakes, Vasuki had hesitated too long....

As Kadru heard Vasuki's voice she felt that her sons would not listen to her.....Her! Their own mother....they were willing to actually let her lose the bet and let her serve Vinata.... 'HOW DARE YOU?' Kadru shouted. 'You are willing to let me be some....someone's servant....Look at you!' Kadru said with disgust, 'Having sons like you...it is better.....that I did not have any children...I CURSE YOU!' Kadru yelled, 'I am cursing that you would die in a Snake Sacrifice....' Kadru finished breathing angrily.

The entire room felt silent. Even the air grew quiet in the room. The snakes were staring dumbfolded at each other. Their mother.....their own mother had unthinkingly cursed them....

For a long time no one spoke. Kadru sat in the throne unapologetically as she looked at her sons breathing triumphantly.

Vasuki realised with utter incredulity that his mother had hastily consigned all of them to their doom....Vasuki took a deep breath. He had to make his mother take back her curse.... 'Mother! We will do what you want!' He turned to his brothers, studiously avoiding Sesha. 'We will all do what our mother wants, won't we?'

Sesha turned to see that slowly one by one, his brothers nodded their heads...Fools! You think that merely because you will listen to her now, she will take back her words....No! Sesha studied the haughty features of his mother. What she said will come to pass and no power of earth can stop it....Sesha took in a deep breath. He was feeling a sense of detachment as he looked at his brothers and his mother...We were all going to die because of my mother's unthinking words....

Needless to say, the next day, all the snakes other than Sesha wrapped themselves around Ucchashravas's tail. So when the two sisters went to check the horse, Vinata lost the bet and Sesha realized that Vinata's first son – Aruna's curse to his mother had come true....Vinata was now the servant of Kadru.

As days passed on, Sesha grew more and more disillusioned with the behaviour of his mother towards Vinata. To please their mother, Sesha's brothers also behaved very badly towards Vinata. Sesha could not believe it, but the Snakes were bad even towards Garuda – the second son of Vinata....

Finally Sesha could take it no more...He left his family and severed all links with them. He never wanted to go back to them or become like them. 

He had probably committed some great sin because of which he had undergone all these things....He would have to purify himself....He would perform penance. He would meditate....And so Sesha meditated....Sesha meditated so deeply that he forgot all about himself. He was lost in the Brahman [The Force which runs within us all] for days together. Sesha gave up eating and drinking.....His penance continued....Finally Lord Brahma appeared before him. 'Anantha! Sesha! Open your eyes!'

Sesha opened his eyes and saw the four headed Brahma stand before him with a kind smile in his face. 'Anantha! My son! Why are you performing such a difficult penance? What do you want?'

Sesha felt a wave of pure white light wash through him as he stood before the Lord Brahma. 'My Lord! I....I....' Sesha felt embarrassed...How could he tell the Lord, that he was embarrassed of what he was....He looked quietly not able to speak. Lord Brahma probably divined Sesha's thoughts. He smiled and shook his head. 'Sesha! Listen to me, please do not be unhappy of what you are....' Lord Brahma looked at Sesha with a quiet smile. 'There is nothing to be ashamed of what you are...And you my son, are someone who has a special purpose.....'

Sesha mumbled. 'I am a snake! My brothers, they bite people and cause untold misery to everyone....We bear the curse of our own mother....And yet, you come here and tell me that....' Sesha said drily, '....I should not be ashamed of what I am!'

Lord Brahma smiled. 'That curse of your mother, would not affect all of you....' Lord Brahma looked sad. 'She spoke foolishly, without pausing to think of the effect of her words....' Lord Brahma shook his head as he continued. 'However, her curse would affect only those of your brothers who have caused suffering to others....not to all the snakes...' Lord Brahma looked at Sesha and smiled. 'And you my dear Sesha, as I was saying, are meant for great things!'

Sesha looked at Lord Brahma without understanding. Lord Brahma nodded as he continued. 'Yes Anantha!' Lord Brahma nodded around him. 'You will be the one to hold up the earth....' 

Sesha blinked wondering whether he had heard right. Lord Brahma continued. '....The earth is not stable now....It needs someone to support it.....Someone to hold it up....' Lord Brahma said looking pointedly at Sesha. 

'Me?' Sesha looked flabbergasted. Was Lord Brahma really trusting him with such an important thing? Sesha was looking at Lord Brahma without understanding as Lord Brahma continued. 'Yes Anantha! You will provide the stability required for the earth! In fact you are going to be the one who is holding her together!' 

Sesha blinked at the words of Lord Brahma. He was numb....He was finding it difficult to believe that Lord Brahma was trusting him with such an important task. Lord Brahma smiled. He was not done with the snake yet. He continued. 'There is one more thing you will do as part of this job!' Sesha was looking baffled as Lord Brahma continued, 'You will be the resting place of Lord Vishnu at Vaikunta! You will be with Lord Vishnu!'

Sesha looked at Lord Brahma unable to believe what he had heard....Had the Lord just blessed him to be with the Dark Lord? Could he - Sesha, a Snake, really be blessed with such a fortune to be with the Dark Lord....together for all eternity....

As the words of Lord Brahma washed over Sesha, he felt a strange bliss come over him. He knew that nothing could hurt him now....not his brothers or his mother's words....Nothing. He was going to be one with Lord Vishnu....Sesha realized that he wanted nothing more....He had got everything he wanted.....

And so it is believed in Hindu mythology, that Lord Vishnu rests on Sesha, the thousand headed snake as Sesha holds up the earth on his head.

Kadru's curse on the other snakes also unfortunately came true....Many snakes were killed by Garuda, the second son of Vinata, whom they had mistreated when they had been kids. And the remaining snakes except a few, were all destroyed in the Great Snake Sacrifice conducted by King Janamejaya, the great-grandson of the Pandavas....