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89.JAYADRATHA SLAIN
The Saindhava was no
mean foe, and taxed to the full, Arjuna's
strength and skill were hard put to it.
The sun sank towards the horizon and
reddened, but the battle did not cease.
"There is but a very little time left. It
seems Jayadratha has been saved and
Arjuna's challenge has failed. The vow is
unfulfilled and Arjuna is going to be
disgraced," said Duryodhana to himself in
great glee.
Then, there was darkness and the cry went
round in both armies: "It is sunset and
Jayadratha has not been killed. Arjuna has
lost." The Pandavas were depressed and
there were shouts of joy in the Kaurava
army.
Jayadratha turned to the western horizon
and thought within himself, "I am saved!"
for he did not see the sun then and thought
the time-limit of danger from Arjuna was
over.
At that moment, however, Krishna said to
Arjuna: "Dhananjaya, the Sindhu raja is
looking at the horizon. I have caused this
darkness. The sun is still up and has not
set. Do your work. This is the moment for
it, for Jayadratha is off his guard."
A shaft flew from the Gandiva bow, and,
like a vulture swooping down on a
chicken, carried away Jayadratha's head.
"Listen, Arjuna," cried Krishna, "send
your shafts in swift relays, so that the head
may be supported from falling to the earth
and borne into Vriddhakshatra's lap."
And Arjuna sent his wonderful arrows
that carried away the head in the air. It
was a strange sight. Vriddhakshatra was in
his ashrama sitting in the open absorbed in
his evening meditation with eyes closed,
when his son's head with beautiful black
hair and golden earrings gently dropped
into his lap.
The old king finished his meditation and
got up, when the head rolled down and
fell on the ground. And, as ordained,
Vriddhakshatra's head burst into a
hundred fragments. Jayadratha and his
father together reached the abode of the
brave.
Kesava, Dhananjaya, Bhima, Satyaki,
Yudhamanyu and Uttamaujas blew their
conchs and Dharmaraja who heard the
triumphant noise knew that it meant that
Arjuna had redeemed his oath and that the
Saindhava had been slain.
Then, Yudhishthira led his army fiercely
against Drona. It was nightfall, but on the
fourteenth day of the battle the rule of
cease-fire at sunset was not observed. As
the passions rose from day to day, one by
one the rules and restraints broke down.
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