163. Karna Uses Nagastra But Krishna Saves Arjuna

Before Karna can recover from the shock of his son's death, he hears about Dushasana's death. Brushing aside his rage towards Arjuna, Karna rushes to comfort Duryodhana.

Duryodhana is woe-begone recalling how devoted and obedient Dushasana was, and carried out every command of his without questioning. The respect and love Dushasana had for Duryodhana was unparalleled. He was his veritable shadow. The gory sight of his brother's mangled body fills him with crazy fury.

Gandhari cries out with inconsolable grief. She tells Kunti that she should have killed Dushasana the same day when he had disrobed and humiliated Draupadi. Her failure to do so has led to this tragedy.

Karna faces Yudhishtra and blames him as the cause for the war. Had he not pledged Draupadi in the game of dice, the war would not have happened. He inflicts deep wounds on Yudhishtra, leaving him gasping and staggering. Remembering the promise he has made to Kunti, Karna spares Yudhishtra's life and tells him to leave the battle field. Yudhishtra commands Arjuna to kill Karna and leaves the battle field.

Arjuna and Ashwathama clash. Arjuna is unable to concentrate on fighting as he is constantly reminded of the agonized face of Yudhishtra. He too leaves the battle field and meets Yudhishtra in his tent. Yudhishtra is very hash; he calls Arjuna a coward and an eunuch who deserted the battle field without killing Karna. He denigrates Arjuna's famous bow Gandiva. Arjuna who has sworn to kill anyone who speaks ill of Gandiva is roused. In turn, Arjuna calls Yudhishtra a lowly selfish coward who staked all the brothers and his own wife as well. He is the reason for the present massacre and destruction. With these words, Arjuna pulls his sword and is about to kill him. Krishna intervenes and reminds them of their Kunti's command that they should always remain united. And all the Pandavas have sworn to obey mother's commands without flinching even a little bit.

Arjuna repents his harsh words to Yudhishtra. Now he wants to kill himself for disobeying his mother's words. Yudhishtra stops Arjuna and apologizes for his own sharp words. Now the problem is Arjuna has to die in accordance with the oath he has taken. Krishna has a unique solution. He asks Arjuna to boast vainfully about himself, because anyone who indulges in such a conceited behavior is regarded as good as dead. Arjuna then utters a series of bombastic boasts and lo! his old self is dead and a new one has been recreated! Yudhishtra remembers Krishna once telling Arjuna that he cannot kill Karna in this birth as he refuses to acknowledge Karna's valor and dexterity. As this is Arjuna's next life, he can vanquish karna now.

Arjuna returns back to the battle field with a firm resolve to kill Karna. The fight between the two is a prolonged one, as both are equally proficient in the use of divine arrows in archery. Krishna praises Karna for having pushed back Arjuna's chariot. Arjuna is unimpressed, but Krishna points out that because of Hanuman on Arjuna's flag that is fluttering on the chariot, it is well near impossible to move it.

Finally, Karna decides to use the Nagastra on Arjuna. Shalya instructs him to aim the dart at Arjuna's chest. Probably because Karna is already exasperated with Shalya's constant scornful nagging and undermining, he ignores Shalya's advice and aims the shaft at Arjuna's neck. The ever-vigilant Krishna presses down his foot and sinks the wheel of the chariot. As a result, the astra merely grazes and topples down Arjuna's crown.

Ashwasena tells Karna to use Nagastra for the second time, but remembering the promise made to Kunti, Karna doesn't shoot the astra but throws it away. The disappointed Ashwasena flings the Nagastra himself, but Arjuna is able to redirect it now, since it wasn't aimed by Karna. Ashwasena falls down dead.