Misfortunes never come alone but in droves. Little did Duryodhana know that the fifteenth day would strike him another deadly blow. Reeling under the shock of Jayadratha’s death, Duryodhana visited Drona’s tent to seek his advice as to how to face the Pandavas the next morning. This time he chose not to taunt him, since he knew it would only antagonize his guru. So respectfully, he said, ‘O great Acharya, you are my only hope now. I still believe that you will be able to rejuvenate my army and bring me victory in this war. Please help me.’
Drona responded by assuring him that he had now planned to use his deadliest weapon, the Brahmastra, which would destroy the entire Pandava army in no time.
When Yudhishthira’s spies brought him word about Drona’s threat to use his Brahmastra, he shared his apprehensions with Krishna, who advised the Pandavas to meet this challenge strategically.
‘There is no other option now,’ he said, ‘except to somehow eliminate this dreadful Brahmin who is determined to annihilate our army by any means.’
‘What is the solution?’ asked Yudhishthira.
There was a brief silence, as if Krishna was now pondering over something. Then he said, ‘We all know that Drona’s love for his son, Asvatthama is boundless. He is the sole essence of his life.’ Then, turning to Yudhishthira, he suggested that if someone could kill the elephant named Asvatthama and break the news to Drona, he would mistake it for the death of his own son.’
A sense of horror swept through the Pandava brothers, particularly Arjuna who was taken aback at such an ignoble strategy.
‘Perhaps I could engage him in a single combat tomorrow,’ said Arjuna, ‘and slay him somehow. That would be a fair way to eliminate him.’
But Krishna rejected his suggestion, saying, ‘You know quite well, dear Arjuna, that you would never kill your old guru, who loves you as dearly as his own son.’
Listening to Krishna’s words, Yudhishthira intervened: ‘Perhaps I would be willing to utter such a falsehood, even if it would be a blatant violation of my dharma. The only alternative is to see my entire army exterminated. This would be a lie told to reach truth through a devious route.’
‘I am deeply touched,’ responded Krishna, ‘to hear that you would stake your honour for a noble cause. Remember that when the ocean was being churned at the birth of the universe, and deadly poison appeared on its surface, Lord Siva offered to swallow it to save the gods. Was it not a noble sacrifice for a laudable cause?’
This reinforced Yudhishthira’s determination to utter a lie.
Early next morning, Bheema picked up his mace and knocked down the elephant called Asvatthama. When it lay dead, he drove his chariot towards Drona and shouted, ‘I have killed Asvatthama, O Acharya!’
This stunned Drona, who froze in grief. He knew that Bheema would never lie, whatever be his other failings. Indeed, when Bheema uttered those words, a spasm of guilt shook his giant frame.
Still, Drona decided to seek confirmation from Yudhishthira, who had just driven his chariot close to where both the old warrior and Bheema stood. Deathly pale, his lips trembling, Drona asked, ‘Since you are an icon of dharma, O Yudhishthira, tell me if it is true that your brother has slain Asvatthama.’
‘Yes, O esteemed teacher, Asvatthama is dead,’ he responded, but hastened to add under his breath, ‘man or beast, I cannot tell.’
Even though he had lied for a good cause, Yudhishthira felt unclean within himself. Had he not blemished, in one moment, his entire life of righteousness? Would they still call him Dharmaputra, the son of truth?
‘If my son is gone,’ said Drona, tearfully, ‘what is there for me to live for? It is all over – my life, this war.’ He paused. ‘So here I put down my weapons, I have no longer the will to fight. The wheels of my life have come to a grinding halt. This is the end.’
Saying these words, he sat cross-legged on the ground and assumed a yogic posture. It seemed as if he had gone deep into a trance.
But this sudden withdrawal did not touch Krishna. Had not this Brahmin forsaken his true profession in life – prayer, fasting and meditation? And was he not now acting as an instrument of indiscriminate massacre? If this untruth had not been uttered, would he not have used his Brahmastra to exterminate the entire Pandava army? Therefore he must be slain forthwith, without any compunction.
Whispering into the ears of Dhrishtadyumna, who was standing close by, he said: ‘Let us not miss this great opportunity.’ Then, gesturing with his right hand, he said, ‘Kill him here and now.’
At once, Dhrishtadyumna pulled out his sword, drew close to Drona and severed his head, which toppled to the ground. An anguished cry rose from the Kaurava army at this ghastly slaying of its commander-in-chief. A shaft of light was seen rising to the sky, as if a soul were soaring heavenwards. Silence and grief now descended all over Kurukshetra.
When Yudhishthira asked his driver to take him back to his tent, the wheels of his chariot, which always raced a few inches up in the air, now touched the ground. Did this signify, he wondered, that he had lost his nobility, forever?
During the night, Duryodhana was seen walking towards Radheya’s tent. With tears streaming down his cheeks, he stuttered, ‘O my dear friend, I seem to have lost on all fronts. I see nothing but doom ahead of me. Like Drona, I too have lost all my urge to live. Then, looking intently at Radheya, he added: ‘Unless you come to my rescue… Would you agree to assume command of my army?’
‘Haven’t I already pledged my life to you, dear Duryodhana? My only goal in life is to serve you. I too have lost my desire to live. I would like to play with death, for I have nothing to lose. Yes, I will be honoured to lead your army.’
‘My gratitude to you, dear Radheya,’ said Duryodhana, overwhelmed by his friend’s response.
‘Friendship doesn’t require gratitude,’ Radheya said. ‘It is a relationship that excels in giving, not taking.’