157. Arjuna's Arrows Have Cleansed Me, Says Bhishma to Kunti and Gandhari

Recap of Previous Episode :

Ghatotkacha devastates the Kaurava army at night.
Alambusha is killed; Indra prevents Drona from using celestial weapons.
Draupadi meets Dushala; Gandhari breaks down in anguish.
Satyaki kills Somadatta; Drona kills Drupada.
Drishtadhyumna vows vengeance.
Duryodhana compels Karna to use Indra’s Shakti Astra against Ghatotkacha.

Karna Uses the Shakti Astra on Ghatotkacha

The night battle rages on with terrifying intensity. Karna lifts the Shakti Astra and takes aim at Ghatotkacha. The divine weapon tears through the sky and strikes Ghatotkacha fatally.

Krishna calls out urgently, instructing him to grow gigantic and fall upon the Kaurava army to crush as many warriors as possible. Ghatotkacha bows to Krishna, swells to an enormous size, and crashes down, destroying thousands of Kaurava soldiers under his mighty weight.

Bhima cries out in anguish on seeing his son lifeless. In a surge of grief, he raises his mace, ready to swear vengeance on Karna.

Krishna stops him and reminds him firmly that Ghatotkacha’s birth and death were foretold by Sage Vyasa — a divine design meant to protect Arjuna.

With the Shakti Astra now expended, Karna can never use it again, and Arjuna is saved from a certain death in their future duel.

Draupadi Confronts Drishtadyumna

Wails of lament echo across the Pandava camp. Prishati, wife of Drupada, and Sudeshna, wife of Virata, collapse in sorrow beside their husbands’ bodies.

Drishtadyumna breaks down. But Draupadi, silent until now, flares up. She demands to know why Drishtadyumna has failed to kill Drona — when his father lived and died with that purpose.

Drishtadyumna pleads that he follows the Pandavas’ command.
Draupadi retorts sharply, asking how the Pandavas can ever order their guru’s death.
Her words pierce Yudhishtra deeply.

Driven by Draupadi’s fury, Drishtadyumna vows, “Tomorrow I shall fight Drona with all my might — even if I die trying.”

Krishna Proposes a Radical Solution

Bhima supports Draupadi and demands action.
Krishna explains that Drona is a disciple of Sage Parasurama, invincible in conventional warfare.

Arjuna insists that he has Brahmastra too, but Krishna warns:
“If Brahmastra is used, humanity will perish. Dharma may lose temporarily, but it must never be destroyed.”

Krishna then reveals a daring plan:
Drona trusts only Yudhishtra’s word. If Yudhishtra declares that Ashwathama is dead, Drona will drop his weapons.

But Yudhishtra refuses to lie.
Krishna proposes that Bhima will first kill an elephant named Ashwathama and announce loudly that Ashwathama is dead. When Drona asks Yudhishtra to confirm, Yudhishtra must affirm it.

Conflicted and torn, Yudhishtra asks permission to visit Bhishma for guidance.

Kunti and Gandhari Visit Bhishma

Kunti and Gandhari come to see the grandsire.
Kunti breaks down, sorrowing that her son Arjuna has pierced Bhishma’s body with arrows.

Bhishma consoles her: “These arrows are a blessing. They have released the poisoned blood from my body.”