Epic Retold: The Mahabharata in Tweets (27 page)

That night we gather in Yudhistira’s tent. We had ended the battle at twilight, after soldiers began to withdraw, fearing night warfare.

The day has seen many killings, but no strategic win on either side.

Arjuna had contained Ashwathma. To my surprise, I hear Yudhistira had sought out Duryodhana and engaged him valiantly.

My brother had shattered our cousin’s bow twice. On the second occasion, with Duryodhana disarmed, it looked like the war would end.

Yudhistira says, ‘If Kripacharya had not intervened…’

Despite the missed opportunity, my brother looks pleased. This is his biggest victory so far. He glows with pride when I congratulate him.

The conversation shifts to Karna. When Yudhistira laments the destruction he had caused, Arjuna sketches a formation to trap him.

I wonder what my younger brother would say if I told him the truth. Would he waver when he faced Karna tomorrow?

I remain silent.

The next day, when the two armies face each other, I see Karna being driven by Salya. Our maternal uncle does not look pleased.

Though reputed for his horsemanship, I had not imagined Salya would ever pick up the reins for Karna. Somehow, Duryodhana has persuaded him.

I make a mental note to not stray far from Arjuna’s side. With Salya as his charioteer, Karna could be more trouble than before.

When the conches blow, Shikhandi challenges Kritavarma. I see Sahadeva heading towards Sakuni. Drishtadyumna targets Ashwathma.

As men fall screaming on each other, I look around for Duryodhana’s flag. He is in the middle ranks, out of harm’s way.

Seeing Satyaki engage Dushasana on our left front, I direct Visoka towards them. I recall the scene burnt into my mind from years ago.

I have waited for this moment far too long. ‘Leave him to me,’ I yell at Satyaki. ‘I owe him an old debt!’

For a minute, I think Dushasana will retreat. But then he orders his charioteer to drive straight at me.

I strive to contain my joy. At last, a chance to fulfil my vow!

But I do not want to fight this battle from afar. Killing Dushasana from a chariot is too noble for the rage I have nursed thirteen years.

Ignoring the arrows that buzz past me, I vault to the ground, mace in hand. I know Dushasana cannot resist my challenge.

He had always believed himself my equal. Today he will know.

His first swing is aimed at my head, a powerful blow. I sidestep it. As it strikes past my body, I smash my mace into his.

Dushasana staggers under the weight of my strike. Recovering partially, he attacks my ribs on unsteady feet.

Again, I avoid his blow, then swing powerfully at his weapon. Dushasana backs away, panting.

On my third strike, his weapon flies out of his hand. I throw my mace to the ground and advance.

‘Hand to hand, Dushasana,’ I say. ‘Your hands dragged Draupadi to the assembly hall. Let us see what strength you have in them now!’

Fear clouds his eyes. He runs at me with clenched fists, a desperate gamble with fate.

The blows he aims at me are badly timed, lacking in speed and energy. I swipe them away easily. Then I begin my counterattack.

I notice the battle around us has stopped. Everyone is watching our duel.

When my palm smashes into his chin, his head snaps back. I attack his exposed throat, then hit him on the side of his face.

Dushasana reels, stumbles backward. Falls.

I am on him in an instant. My right knee, with all my body weight, crashes down into his ribs. I hear the bones give way.

My splayed fingers hook into his chest. Dushasana makes a coughing sound. His eyes are wide open.

Deliberately, holding his eyes, I press down with all my might.

The sickening crunch of broken bones. Dushasana coughs one final time. Warm blood splashes on my face.

I lick my lips.

For what he did to Draupadi, I had promised to break his chest. I had promised to drink his blood.

I lick my lips again, revelling in the salty taste of revenge.

KARNA

EPISODE 38

TWEETS 52

My sense of triumph at Dushasana’s death washes away the instant I reach the rest zone.

Physicians surround Yudhistira, who lies on the deck of his chariot, bleeding from several wounds. He does not move.

A soldier tells me my brother had clashed with Karna. His charioteer had rushed him away when he fell wounded.

When Yudhistira wakes up, I get the full story. Emboldened by his victory over Duryodhana, my brother had foolishly challenged Karna.

Karna had toyed with him, piercing him all over with arrows before disarming him.

‘The charioteer’s son laughed at me,’ Yudhistira says. ‘The whole of the Kaurava contingent laughed when I fell exhausted!’

Just then, Arjuna arrives, looking worried. Yudhistira jumps up eagerly, almost knocking over the physician attending him.

‘Is he dead?’ he says. ‘Is the charioteer’s son dead?’

Yudhistira’s face falls when he realizes Arjuna has rushed back hearing he was wounded.

It must be the anguish of his defeat that poisons Yudhistira’s next words. ‘You came back to enquire about my health?

‘Or did you run here to avoid fighting Karna?’

Yudhistira does not stop there. ‘I have listened to your boasts for thirteen years! How you would kill Karna!

‘But now, when it is time, you hide here! The Gandiva is only an ornament in your hand! Give it to Krishna! Let him fight Karna!’

Arjuna’s face darkens. He throws the golden-handled bow at Krishna’s feet. His right hand tightens on the hilt of his sword.

‘I will end this war right now by cutting this man’s head!’ Arjuna shouts.

Hastily, Krishna steps in while I hold Yudhistira back. But our elder brother’s taunts have struck deep into Arjuna.

‘He calls me coward!’ Arjuna says, struggling with Krishna. ‘He, who has hidden in the middle ranks and watched the battle from afar!

‘What made him think he could challenge Karna? And what sort of man retreats from battle on account of a few flesh wounds?’

As Krishna and two attendants somehow hold Arjuna back, the accumulated bitterness of years pour out of my younger brother:

‘This king who has always stayed behind, how dare he question my courage! He has always lived off others!

‘He coveted Draupadi the minute he laid eyes on her. But it was I who won her!

‘And what does he do after deviously marrying her? He pawns her! What manner of king puts his own pleasure before the good of his subjects?’

It is some time before Arjuna calms down. In the end, at Krishna’s urging, he picks up the Gandiva and climbs back into his chariot.

‘I will kill Karna,’ he says, looking straight at me. ‘But after that, this war is over for me. I am done with killing for this man!’

Yudhistira, who had slumped down when Arjuna started berating him, makes as if to speak. But Arjuna does not look back.

‘I-I don’t know why I said that,’ Yudhistira says, sorrowfully. ‘Our brother has every right to be angry. But the way that Karna mocked me…’

My elder brother looks crestfallen. He had not expected such an outburst from Arjuna.

I listen to Yudhistira’s remorse for some time. Finally, when my patience wears thin, I order the physicians to tend to him and get up.

Visoka has the chariot ready when I approach. The sun is beginning to slip down as we make our way back to the front.

I say front, but there are no clear lines anymore. Just straggles of soldiers fighting on a landscape of corpses.

I clash briefly with two of the younger Kauravas, cousins whose names I cannot recall. Leaving two more corpses behind, I look for Arjuna.

Off to the west, through a swirling cloud of dust, I make out Arjuna’s pristine white horses. They circle Karna’s golden chestnut beasts.

The duel we all have waited for. As it finally unfolds, I feel powerless. It does not matter who wins today. I will still lose a brother.

Will I grieve more if I lost Arjuna, the brother I have known all my life? Or will I grieve for Karna, whom I never had a chance to know?

As we drive towards them, it looks to me the duel is as much about Krishna and Salya as it is about Arjuna and Karna.

Both charioteers show astounding skill at the reins, weaving in and out with speed, striving to give their archer an advantage.

Arrows stream from both bows with mesmerizing speed. I notice Arjuna firing a phosphorus-tipped missile, which Karna cuts off mid-air.

Karna’s counter is a serpent-headed arrow. As it hisses towards Arjuna’s throat, I hold my breath.

Krishna! He does something to the horses. The chariot dips suddenly. The arrow flies past, knocking off Arjuna’s battle crown.

The fighting has come to a standstill around them. As Visoka weaves through the ranks to get me closer, I briefly lose sight of the duel.

When I look again, Arjuna’s chariot has stopped. My brother stands on the deck, proud and erect, arrow strung to the Gandiva.

Karna’s chariot’s is visible through the dust. Salya is furiously urging the horses forward, but one of the wheels seems caught in a rut.

I see Karna jump to the ground. He goes down on one knee and puts his shoulder to the hub of the trapped wheel, trying to free it.

I see Karna gesture to Arjuna. My brother nods. He lowers the Gandiva.

Krishna says something. Arjuna hesitates. Krishna speaks again.

Arjuna raises the bow. I take a step forward, not knowing what for. The scream that forms in my throat dies quietly as the Gandiva speaks.

The arrow catches Karna on side of his neck. As it drives deep, I see a gush of blood.

My eldest brother slumps against the wheel of his chariot.

Krishna’s conch blasts a victorious note. ‘Karna is dead!’ he calls out. ‘The Kaurava commander has fallen!’

Looking around, Arjuna spots me and rushes forward, arms spread for my embrace. ‘I killed him! I killed Karna!’ he says.

Then he adds quietly, ‘He wanted time to free the wheel. As per the rules of war! Where were those rules when he attacked Abhimanyu?’

I draw Arjuna close. Over his shoulder I can see Kaurava soldiers gathering around the body of the brother we have murdered.

THE LAST BATTLE

EPISODE 39

TWEETS 102