Narayanastra Parva is the seventy-second Upa parva included in the seventh Maha parva named Drona parva. Vaishampayana continued narration to Janamejaya in reply to his queries as follows.
What was Narayanastra?
Narayastra was a powerful weapon procured by Drona and provided to his son Ashwathama. It was in Parashurama’s custody for many years. Drona desired his son to live safely in the future, so the weapon was given to Ashwathama.
Who was the custodian of Narayanastra?
Ashwathama preserved Narayastra until the thirteenth day night.
Why was Ashwathama very violent after the thirteenth-day night war?
Drona was killed on the thirteenth-day night war by Drishtadyumna. During the night war, a fight between Yudhishtira and Karna was planned by Krishna and Bhima. Since Drona could not be killed in the daytime, it was planned and posted for the nighttime, also under the absence of Arjuna and Satyaki.
Drona was the father of Ashwathama. Hence Ashwathama felt too sad and had become violent. He was a young, unmarried, energetic youth. On the thirteenth-day night, after Drona was killed, he became very unruly and started to use many sharp weapons against the Pandavas’ army, to satisfy Duryodhana as well as for his own satisfaction. Narayanastra was the most powerful of them.
What did Duryodhana tell to Ashwathama?
Duryodhana knew that many wonderful weapons were in the custody of Ashwathama. So he told Ashwathama to use them against the Pandavas’ army. Several weapons were very dangerous and later in the night, Krishna was involved in controlling Ashwathama.
What Arjuna had accused Yudhishtira?
When Arjuna got the news of the death of Drona, he accused Yudhishtira of tricking Drona into confusion and killing him. Arjuna had great respect towards Drona. Arjuna had never told a lie in his life. He felt Yudhishtira had told a lie.
स सत्य कंचुकं नाम प्रविष्टेन ततोऽनृतं । आचार्य उक्तो भवता हतः कुंज इत्युत ॥
Meaning: Elephant died. It was the truth. The teacher, Drona could not know it there.
What is the difference concerning truth between Arjuna and Yudhishtira?
Yudhishtira had told as अश्वत्थामा हतो हतो but it was a misleading statement for Drona. Arjuna was a sincere student of Drona and felt very sad to hear about the death of Drona. Concerning truth, Arjuna was a sincere devotee of truth but Yudhishtira tried to please Krishna in the war and told these words. A debate was held within the army of Yudhishtira later about this.
Why did Satyaki accuse Drishtadyumna?
Satyaki accused Drishtadyumna since he killed Drona in a planned fight.
How did Bhima justify the killing of Drona?
Bhima justified the killing of Drona referring to the various incidences of Duryodhana. Bhima said he had been living only by luck and convinced all. Bhima had argued in the Duryodhana assembly in front of Drona that he had tolerated the unjust incidences whereas Drona silently supported all such unlawful actions. But there Krishna was absent then whereas Krishna was present in this war and Krishna should teach Ashwathama, son of Drona, the law and orders.
Why did the soldiers of Yudhishtira start running away from the battlefield?
Ashwathama had used Narayastra upon the Pandava army, as per the orders of Duryodhana. Nobody was able to withstand the irritation of that weapon there. Due to fear, the soldiers of Yudhishtira started running away from the battlefield.
Why did Satyaki wish to start a mace fight with Drishtadyumna?
Satyaki had killed Bhurishrava when he was preparing to jump into the fire. Also, Drishtadyumna had killed Drona when he was preparing to jump into the fire. After the war inclusive of Karna and Yudhishtira, Satyaki accused Drishtadyumna. An internal verbal fight started within them. But Krishna, Bhima, Yudhistira and Arjuna had together controlled the situation before their arguments turned into a mace fight. Then all of them agreed to the soft words of Krishna within the purview of Sanatana Dharma. Enemies had been killed in action.
What justification did Drishtadyumna provide to kill Drona?
Drishtadyumna was Ekalavya in his previous life. As the son of Drupada, he took his rebirth through the fire rituals in the Palace of Drupada. Drona could be a good teacher but he should not favour Duryodhana for unlawful activities or violence. Peace could be achieved in Hastinavati if Drona was given capital punishment. This was the justification provided by Drishtadyumna to kill Drona.
How did Krishna and Arjuna decide to extinguish the Narayanastra?
Narayastra had certain conditions to operate on the battlefield. If anybody wished to protest, it would kill undoubtedly. If surrendered before it, then it would do nothing but vanish away into the sky immediately. If the operator wished to reuse it for the second time, then it would kill the re-user. Krishna knew about it and hence Arjuna with Krishna requested all the soldiers to surrender before it. Accordingly, almost all surrendered before Narayanastra.
What did Bhima do on the side of Yudhishtira, unlike others?
Narayastra was like a fire from the sky. But Bhima was not ready to surrender before it and climbed his chariot to fight against it holding his mace.
How did Arjuna and Krishna save Bhima from the Narayanastra?
Narayanastra was about to kill Bhima but at once, Arjuna and Krishna had climbed the chariot of Bhima. They pulled down Bhima together and put him on the ground. Krishna and Arjuna had already surrendered before it. Then, Naryanastra had vanished away into the sky. So Krishna had extinguished the Narayanastra. Bhima was saved. The entire Pandava army soldiers were also saved.
How did Ghatotkacha escape from Narayanastra?
When Bhima was persuaded to surrender, his son Ghatotkacha understood the seriousness of the situation. He also surrendered before Narayanastra and it vanished into the sky. He also escaped into his camp and slept, thus saved on that night.
What did Karna do when Ghatotkacha had escaped from the battlefield?
Karna was happy to see the escape of Ghatotkacha in the thirteenth-day night war. Karna had posted the risk of fighting with Ghatotkacha for the fourteenth-day night war. Karna was anticipating the commander-in-chief post for the fourteenth day, so he wished to visit Duryodhana. Then he was thinking of Shalya as the charioteer for the daytime war. For the night war, no charioteer was required for Karna. Karna had slept comfortably in the war camp of Duryodhana on that night.
How did the desire of Ashwathama fail?
Narayastra was extinguished so the desire of Ashwathama failed.
What did Ashwathama do when he failed with the Narayanastra?
Emperor Dritarashtra being blind, Ashwathama could not consult with him for law and order issues. Ashwathama had many other wonderful weapons with him. Ashwathama had a sharp sword. He had Brahmastra with the name Aishikastra. A Brahma Shira Mani with powers was also in his head. Since his Narayastra failed, he approached Vyasa Rishi to clarify his doubts and get the correct reasons.
What did Ashwathama do after visiting Vyasa?
Ashwathama had gone away from the battlefield but carried out his duties as army intelligence reporter to Duryodhana. Based on his recommendations, Karna was installed as the commander-in-chief for Duryodhana for the next two days. Later, for the next two days, Shalya was installed as the commander-in-chief for Duryodhana. But on the seventeenth-day night, when all the soldiers were sleeping, Ashwathama had resorted to mass violence and its history would be described in the Souptika parva, Aishika parva and Ashwathama parva on the website.
What did soldiers do after the falling of Drona?
After Drona fell, the soldiers started debating over the incidences. Later, all slept.
How did the thirteenth day of war end in the late night?
Narayastra was extinguished and all soldiers were tired and slept in the army camps.
How long was Drona active in the Mahabharata war?
युद्धं कृत्वा दिनात्पंच द्रोणो हत्वा वरूथिनीं । ब्रह्मलोको गतो राजन्ब्राह्मणो वेदपारगः ॥
For five days, Drona had actively engaged in the Mahabharata war. Along with Bhishma, on the ninth day, Drona was very active. On the tenth day, since Shikhandi was in the front row, as per orders of Duryodhana, Drona was very active on Kaurava’s side.
From the above Sanskrit verse, it is very obvious that Drona’s active participation in the Mahabharata war was limited to five days. Out of these five days, for the last three days, Drona had led the entire Kaurava army being the commander-in-chief of Duryodhana.
Drona was well versed in Vedas but for his livelihood, he joined the army. After slaying many soldiers, and being killed by Drishtadyuma, Drona had gone to the world of Brahma. Ekalavya had been born as Drishtadyumna to kill Drona, so time had answered it.
Next post, Mahabharat: Karna Parva would be more interesting.
Mahabharat: Shalya vadha Parva would be presented separately in another article.
What are the benefits of reading this story?
On reading this story, children would gain more memory power, great moral strength in their lives in future; creating a sense of self-reliance, leading to peace and progress.
It is humbly prayed for the blessings of God Krishna upon us.
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