MH-06_04 Krishna’s Anger

கண்ணனின் கோபம்

Mahabharata – Bhishma Parva

When Arjuna regained his place in the army and all were set to commence the war, Yudhishtra got down from his Chariot and started walking towards the Kaurava army. Intrigued by his action, his brothers followed him. Yudhishtra went near Bhishma and sought his blessings to commence the war. Bhishma was very happy and blessed him with victory. He said where Krishna is there, victory will be there only. Bhishma said, he has not still thought about his end, so asked Yudhishtra to wait for it. (Bhishma will die only when he decides to relinquish his life).

Yudhistra then went to Drona, Kripa and sought their blessings.

Before start of the war, Yudhistra proclaimed that any one willing to leave the Pandava army could leave to the opposite side, and any one willing to join Padavas from opposite side could do so. On hearing this, Yuyutsu, son of Dridharashtra, born to his servant, came forward and joined the Pandavas army.

Then the war started. It was a great war with unimaginable destruction.  On the first day, Uthiran, son of King Viratha was killed by Salya, while Swethan another son of Viratha was killed by Bhishma after a gallent fight. At the end of first day, Pandava side was sad because of these losses. On the second day, the Pandava army caused huge destruction to the army of Duryodhana. So on the third day, Duryodhana instigated Bhishma to fight to his full potential and save the Kauravas. Bhishma obliged and created large scale destruction and there was no one to stop him.

Arjuna on seeing this asked Krishna to drive near Bhishma. But Arjuna could not stop the ferocious Bhishma who was burning like fire in the battle field. Krishna observed that Arjuna did not fight to his full potential and was soft on Bhishma. He became very angry, got down from the chariot and he himself decided to kill Bhishma.  

கானெரி தூற்றென வீடுமனிப்படி காதிமலைத்திடவும்

ஆன்நினைத்திலை சாபமெடுத்திலை வாளிதொடுத்திலைநீ

ஏனிதுனக்கென மாயனுரைத்தவனேறிர தத்திழியா

வானதெனக்கினி யாகவென் அத்தினி ஆழி எடுத்தனனே

(வில்லிபாரதம், வீடும பருவம், 3-14)

At the beginning of the war, Krishna told Bhishma that he would not take arms but will be only a Charioteer to Arjuna. Bhishma, though was fighting in Duryodhana’s side, was an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna. He told Krishna that he would make Krishna take up arms during the war. Krishna wanted to fulfil the wishes of his devotee and he got down from the chariot with full anger.

Krishna raised his index finger, immediately his Sudharshana Chakra appeared in it. Krishna with ferocity marched towards Bhishma with his Chakra in hand and he appeared like Pralaya Agni (The fire that appears at the end of the world.)

Arjuna ran down from the Chariot and firmly held to the foot of Sri Krishna. “Achyuta, you are the height of knowledge. Your power is immeasurable. Will this Bhishma be your fit target? Please give up taking arms. Come back and sit on the Chariot. I will fight with Bhishma.” 

Bhishma immediately stopped the war, and with folded hands, welcomed Krishna to take his life and said, “Madhava, Achyuta, you are the cause of the Universe, and height of knowledge, you live with Mahalakshmi and the ruler of Devas. You saved the elephant from Crocodile, killed Hiranyakshan by appearing from a pillar in man-lion form, you begged Mahabali appearing as Vamana and imprisoned him to save Indra. You killed Ravana with your arrow. Now you are with Chakra, am I your target?

ஆவியழித்தனை தூணிலுதித்தட லாடகனைத்தலைநாண்

மாவலியைச் சிறுமாணுருவத்துடன் வார்சிறைவைத்தனையால்

ஏவிலரக்கனை வீழவடர்த்தனை யானொரிலக்கெனவோ

நீவலியிற்சின மூளுமனத்தொடு நேமியெடுத்ததுவே

(வில்லி பாரதம், வீடும பருவம் 3- 18)

 Please save me without pushing me to Hell and give me the eternal Moksha. If I get destroyed by you, it is because of my Tapas in earlier lifes.” Bhishma’s words did not come fluently, because of emotion.

Krishna got pacified and went back to the chariot on request of Arjuna. But the Lord took to arms just to make true the word of his Bhaktha.

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