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15. GITA
Killing of Dronacharya
According to the Mahabharatha, during the battle at Kurukshetra, (a war between the Pandavas and Kauravas) the warrior Acharya Drona was un-stoppable, until Krishna devises a plan. Krishna plots to trick Acharya Drona into believing that his son Aswatthama, has been killed. Krishna involves three of the five Pandava brothers(Yudishtra, Beemasena and Arjuna) to deceive Acharya Drona.
This incident is described by the following quotation from the Mahabharata, translated by C Rajagopalachari. Chapter XC, page 381-382, the 44th edition, 2004 states:
" 'O Arjuna', said Krishna, 'there is none that can defeat this Drona, fighting according to the strict rules of war. We cannot cope with him unless dharma is discarded. We have no other way open. There is one thing that will desist him from fighting. If he hears Aswatthama is dead ....'
Arjuna shrank in horror at the proposal as he could not bring himself to tell a lie. Those who were nearby also rejected the idea ... Yudhistra stood for a while reflecting deeply. 'I shall bear the burden of this sin', he said to resolve the deadlock.
'I have killed Aswatthama', Bhemasena uttered these words, greatly ashamed. "the elephant" in
mumble
# To kill Bhisma, Sikhandin was used as a living shield against whom that perfect knight would not raise a weapon, because of doubtful sex.
# Drona was polished off while stunned by the deliberate false report of his son's death. # Karna was shot down against all rules of chivalry when dismounted and unarmed;
# Duryodhana was bludgeoned to death after a foul mace blow that shattered his thigh. This is by no means the complete list of iniquities.
D.D. Kosambi
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