MAARKANDEYA presents MAHAABHAARATHAM

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"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA

BHOORISHRAVAS

The BH in this name is pronounced like a hardened sound of 'b' in 'boom'. The SH is pronounced like one between 's' in 'son' and 'sh' in 'shut'. The last S is pronounced like 's' in 'bus'.)

Bhoorishravas was a kourava chief. He was grandson of Baahlika (Bheeshma's paternal uncle) and son of Somadaththa. Shala and Bhoori were his younger brothers. He was referred to as Yagnasheela and bhooridakshina due to his performance of sacrifices always. His flag too was yoopa ( a pole to which the scapegoat was tied in a sacrifice). He fought well in the war, many a time attacking Saathyaki in particular, due to some feud between the families.

When Somadaththa went to participate in the svayamvaram of Devaki, a Yaadava chief Shini defeated all the kings gathered and took Devaki for giving in marriage to Vasudeva, Krishna's father. Somadaththa could not tolerate his audacity and challenged him to a fight. Shini defeated him utterly, lifted him bodily, threw down on the ground and kicked with his foot, but kindly let him go free alive. Somadaththa felt ashamed. Burnt by shame and anger , he propitiated Lord Shiva and got a boon from him to beget a son who would defeat Shini's grandson (as Shini and his son were dead by that time), throw on the ground and kick with foot, in the battle field , right before all the kings.

In the war, on the fourteenth day, Arjuna went alone into Kouravas' formation to kill the hiding Jayadratha. After a few hours, Yudhishthira sent Saathyaki to help Arjuna. Later he sent Bheema too on the same mission. When Saathyaki defeated the lead fighters like Drona, Krithavarma, Karna and many others and finally reached Arjuna to his relief, Bhhorishravas attacked him. In the following fight, Bhoorishravas excelled him, defeated, threw on the gropund and kicked with foot.He stamped his foot on Saathyaki's chest, took him by his hair and drew his sword from its scabbard. Just as he was about to cut Saathyaki's head, Krishna prompted Arjuna to act quicklly and Arjuna chopped off his hand in a flash. Thus made unsuccessful in his attempt to kill his arch rival, Bhoorishravas reprimanded Arjuna for violating the war rules ( one should not hit another engaged in a fight with a third party) . Arjuna did not say much in his defence but quoted Abhimanyu's killing as a counter example.

Bhoorishravas then left Saathyaki, laid his arms off, spread his arrows on the ground with his left hand, sat on them and sunk into meditation through yoga. By that time, Saathyaki recovered himself and took the sword into his hand. He ran towards the meditating Bhoorishravas and cut off his head, despite shouts of proscription from Arjuna, Krishna, Bheema, Karna,Kripa,Jayadratha, Vrishasena and others. He too, quoted Abhimanyu;s example to them in defence of his action.

Interestingly, Saathyaki was ridiculed by Krithavarma for this thirty six years later, which lead to the destruction of yaadavas.

"After praying to Naaraayana, Nara, Sarasvathi and Vyaasa, then one should read the Jayam."

DEDICATED TO MY DEAR NIECE VYSHNAVI KRISHNA