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90.DRONA PASSES AWAY
ALL those who have heard the story of
the Mahabharata know about
Ghatotkacha, Bhimasena's famous son by
his asura wife. There are two young men
among the Mahabharata figures who
embody all the qualities of heroism,
fortitude, strength, courage, and
amiability. They are Arjuna's son,
Abhimanyu, and Bhima's son,
Ghatotkacha. Both of them gave up their
lives on the Kurukshetra battlefield.
Towards the latter part of the
Mahabharata fight, the hatred roused on
both sides did not find satisfaction in
battle conducted during the daytime and
close at nightfall. On the fourteenth day,
when the sunset, they did not cease
fighting but went on with it in torchlight.
The Kurukshetra field presented a strange
sight, the like of which had not been seen
before in Bharatadesa. The generals and
soldiers on both sides were engaged in
battle, with thousands of torches burning
and using signals specially devised for
nighttime.
Ghatotkacha and his troops of asuras who
are strongest at night, found darkness an
additional advantage and violently
attacked Duryodhana's army.
Duryodhana's heart sank within him when
he saw thousands of his men destroyed by
Ghatotkacha and his demon army moving
in the air and attacking in weird and
unexpected ways.
"Kill this fellow at once, Karna, for
otherwise, soon our whole army will cease
to be. Finish him without further delay."
Thus begged all the perplexed Kauravas
of Karna.
Karna was himself angry and bewildered,
having just been wounded by one of the
asura's arrows.
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