The Clever Plan to Save Arjuna

- When it comes to mother and motherland, this is how we offer our heads in sacrifice.

"When Karna uses his archery on you, you have to create an illusion so that he aims his arrow at you, but it hits somewhere else."

T he great war of Mahabharata was fought between the Pandavas and the Kauravas.

The army of the Kauravas was very strong. The warriors in the Kaurava army were much more powerful than the warriors in the Pandava army. Even so, the eldest Kaurava, Duryodhana, was drowned in worry.

Karna asked, "What is it, my elder brother? You look worried."

Duryodhana said, "I have only one worry. Our army is stronger in every way, but we don't have a single warrior who can defeat Arjuna."

Karna said, "Elder brother, have faith in me. I will defeat Arjuna."

Duryodhana said, "How?"

Karna said, "I have the Vasavi Shakti (a divine weapon). Whomever I use this power on can never survive."

Duryodhana became very happy and said, "You never told me about this!"

Karna replied, "Once something is said, it must be done. So now, I will go to fight with Arjuna. For that, we must arrange a night battle."

Duryodhana said, "Very well."

Immediately, Duryodhana gave instructions to his army commanders to arrange for a night battle. A message was sent to the Pandavas that there would be a battle at night, and Karna would be the commander.

As soon as he got this news, Arjuna became worried.

Lord Krishna asked, "Why, Arjuna?"

Arjuna said, "My Lord! The Kauravas have sent news of a night battle, and Karna is the commander. In the art of archery, Karna is as strong as I am. He has the power of the Vasavi Shakti. That power can be used in a night battle. Karna will definitely use that power, and I don't know any way to stop it. I will have to fight against Karna. No one else can fight with him."

Lord Krishna said, "There is another power that is even greater than that power. Use that power."

Arjuna did not understand.

"I don't have any such other power," Arjuna said.

Lord Krishna said, "Not just you, but every single person has that power. When no other way works, using it will surely bring victory."

"What is that power?" Arjuna asked.

Lord Krishna said, "The power of intelligence."

Hearing these words from Lord Krishna, Arjuna just stared at his face.

Lord Krishna smiled and said, "You did not understand. It is the power of intelligence."

"What?" Arjuna said and then stopped.

Lord Krishna said, "It is not a surprising thing. It is a true and simple thing. When a task cannot be done by any other power, one must use the power of intelligence. There is no work that cannot be done with intelligence. But yes, you must truly use your intelligence."

Arjuna said, "Karna has the Vasavi Shakti. No matter what kind of intelligence we use, that power cannot be stopped."

Lord Krishna said, "It can be stopped."

Arjuna asked, "How?"

Lord Krishna said, "I will show you how to do it. You prepare for the night battle. Then, do as I say."

Saying this, Lord Krishna went to Ghatotkacha. He is the son of Bhima and Hidimba is his mother. He is an expert in magic and illusions.

As soon as he saw Lord Krishna, Ghatotkacha stood up, bowed, and welcomed him.

It is good manners for young people to stand up and show respect when an elder arrives. They should remain standing even after the elder sits down. They should only sit when the elder tells them to.

Lord Krishna said, "Ghatotkacha, do you know that if you have to sacrifice your life to protect your country, you should do it?"

Ghatotkacha said, "Yes, I do."

Lord Krishna said, "And do you know that you should do the same to protect your family?"

"Yes, I do," Ghatotkacha said.

Lord Krishna said, "And if you have to make such a sacrifice to protect your mother, father, brother, sister, and teachers, would you be able to do it?"

"Yes, I would," said Ghatotkacha.

Lord Krishna said, "Then the time has come for you to make such a sacrifice. I have come here to tell you just that."

Ghatotkacha said, "What do I have to do for that?"

Lord Krishna said, "Today, the Kaurava army has arranged a night battle. You have to go and fight in it. You have to fight with the brave Karna."

Ghatotkacha fell into thought.

He said, "Uncle Karna is an archer just like Uncle Arjuna. How will I fight against him? I don't know anything about archery. I only know the art of illusion. If a magical wizard comes to fight me, I can easily defeat him. But if I go against Uncle Karna, he will defeat me."

Lord Krishna said, "You have to fight a battle of illusion with Karna."

Ghatotkacha said, "How is that possible? Uncle Karna does not know the art of illusion. How will he fight me with illusion? A fight can only happen between two equally strong people."

Lord Krishna said, "You use your skill, and let Karna use his skill."

Ghatotkacha laughed and said, "What is the benefit of such a fight? How do we even fight it?"

Lord Krishna said, "When Karna uses his archery on you, you have to create an illusion so that he aims his arrow at you, but it hits somewhere else."

"Oh! I understand! I understand!" Saying this, Ghatotkacha laughed and said, "That is a great idea. Then Uncle

 Karna can keep fighting me for years and years and still won't be able to kill me."

Lord Krishna said, "But we have to make it so that he can kill you."

"What?" Ghatotkacha was shocked.

Lord Krishna said, "That is what I told you. For the good of your parents, family, siblings, and motherland, you should give your life if you have to. So, not just for one of these things, but for the good of your parents, family, siblings, teachers, and your motherland, you have to sacrifice your life."

Ghatotkacha asked, "How?"

Lord Krishna said, "In this war between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Arjuna and Karna are equally brave. But as long as Karna is alive, the Pandavas cannot win. Karna has the Vasavi Shakti. If he uses it on Arjuna, Arjuna cannot be saved. Only if that Vasavi Shakti is destroyed can Karna be defeated, Arjuna can win, and the Pandavas can be victorious. Only you can do this task."

Ghatotkacha said, "Then I will do it."

Lord Krishna said, "But remember, you will have to give your life in this."

Ghatotkacha said, "I will."

Lord Krishna thanked Ghatotkacha very much.

The preparations for the night battle were made.

As the sun set, the armies of the Pandavas and Kauravas stood ready on the battlefield.

Darkness began to spread.

The stars began to shine.

Karna arrived, sitting in his chariot.

Arjuna also climbed onto his chariot. Lord Krishna himself was driving his chariot. Arjuna sat in the chariot. But Lord Krishna stood up, placing his hand on the back of the chariot's horses.

Arjuna said, "My Lord! Please sit on the chariot and drive it to the battlefield."

Lord Krishna said, "There is still time. First, Hidimba's son, Ghatotkacha, will go to fight."

Arjuna said, "But how will he fight? He does not know archery at all."

Lord Krishna said, "You will see how Karna's archery fails in front of Ghatotkacha's art of illusion."

Ghatotkacha arrived. He bowed his head to Lord Krishna and Arjuna.

The war drums began to beat. Karna's chariot came onto the field.

The brave Ghatotkacha went to face him.

Karna said, "Hey boy, will you fight against me?"

Ghatotkacha said, "Yes, sir."

The fight began.

Karna shot one powerful arrow after another, but all of them were useless. When he aimed an arrow at Ghatotkacha, it would pierce the trunk of a tree instead. Karna got tired from shooting so many arrows. He saw Ghatotkacha in front of a rock. Karna shot an arrow. As the arrow hit the rock, sparks of fire flashed. Laughing "hee hee hee," Ghatotkacha appeared standing near Karna's chariot.

Half the night went by, and dawn was approaching. Ghatotkacha tired Karna so much with his illusions that Karna became frustrated. In the end, he became so angry that he lost his senses. Seeing Ghatotkacha near his chariot, he released the Vasavi Shakti. Whomever the Vasavi Shakti is released upon, it takes their life.

Ghatotkacha's life was gone.

Karna was completely exhausted. Morning was about to break. He drove his chariot back.

Arjuna, Lord Krishna, and all the Pandava warriors ran to Ghatotkacha. Lord Krishna said, "Karna's Vasavi Shakti has been destroyed. Now no one can defeat Arjuna. For the good of his family and his country, the brave Ghatotkacha has made a sacrifice."