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

Karna aims the Shakti astra on Ghatotkacha. The astra wounds Ghatotkacha fatally. Krishna asks Ghatotkacha to bloat up and fall on the Kaurava army in order to cause maximum damage. Ghatotkacha bows to Krishna and does as instructed. Finding his son dead, Bhima is just about to take up oath against Karna, but Bhima stops him! He reminds that Ghatotkacha's birth as well as death were divine plans as indicated by Sage Vyasa. Having used Shakti astra on Ghatotkacha, Karna cannot use it on Arjuna; thus the danger to Arjuna from the Shakti Astra has been averted.

Both Prishati (Drupada's wife) and Sudeshna (Virata's wife) wail over their husband's death. Drishtadhyumna cries too, and Draupadi, who has been grim so far, flares up and demands to know why he hasn't killed Drona so far. And their father, who lived all his life with the sole object of seeing Drona being killed by his son, has been killed by Drona himself. Drishtadhyumna protests meekly that he is working under the Pandavas' directives. Draupadi counters sternly, how he expects Pandavas to order the death of their own beloved guru. Her bitter words pique Yudhishtra. Drishtadhyumna assures Draupadi that he will fight Drona the next day and try with all his might to kill Drona even if the Pandavas don't help him; else, he will lay his life fighting with him.

Bhima takes up the cause of Draupadi to Yudhishtra. Krishna points out that it is not easy to kill Drona, the redoubtable disciple of Sage Parasurama. Arjuna is confident because he too possesses Bramhastra just like Drona. What is the use of winning a war using Brahmastra, asks Krishna, because it will wipe out the humanity. He says Dharma can lose temporarily but it should not get destroyed.

Yudhishtra remains silent. Krishna says that he has an idea for making the impossible possible, provided Yudhishtra is willing to listen to his counsel. Drona would trust the words of Yudhishtra alone; and if Yudhishtra is willing to tell a lie to Drona that his son is dead, then Drona would lose interest in fighting and he would lay down his arms. Yudhishtra is unwilling to tell a lie. But Krishna has a plan to ease Yudhishtra's conscience. Bhima would kill an elephant named Ashwathama and announce it grandly, saying he has killed Ashwathama. Drona would want to ascertain it through Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra should affirm it. Yudhishtra is still confused; he wants to speak to Bhishma and listen to his point of view as well.

Gandhari and Kunti meet Bheeshma. Kunti feels miserable that her son Arjuna has been the cause for the shafts that have penetrated the old sire's body. Bhishma assures Kunti that they have been a divine blessing because they released from the body the blood that was polluted with sins.