THREE
Duryodhana is frantic. In front of the other kings and his brothers, he says to Drona, “You asked me if you could do something exceptional for me and I told you to take Yudhishtira alive. You had every chance to take him today, but, Acharya, you didn’t keep your word.”
Drona bristles at the censure. He says coldly, “I said I would take Yudhishtira, if Arjuna was far from him. The task of keeping Arjuna away was yours. If Arjuna had not descended on me, Yudhishtira would be here now, bound hand and foot.”
Susharma says, “We Trigartas have old enmity with Arjuna. All these days we have tried to kill him, but his blue sarathy is as elusive as the wind in the trees. Tomorrow we will challenge Arjuna as soon as battle begins and lure him away to the south of the field; there, either he or we will die. Drona should have all the time he needs to take Yudhishtira.”
Duryodhana cries, “An excellent plan! And if you can kill Arjuna while the Acharya captures Yudhishtira, not even Krishna will deny us victory. But to make resolutions here in the safety of the camp is easy. I have seen you face Arjuna many times, Susharma and each time you Trigartas fled from him.”
Susharma’s face twitches. “We will swear an oath by Agni that either Arjuna or the Trigartas will live at twilight tomorrow: but not both.”
At once, Duryodhana orders the sacred fire fetched. The Trigarta brothers—Susharma, Satyar-atha, Satyavarma, Satyasu, Subahu, Sudhanva and Satyadharma—swear a solemn oath that they would not leave the field of war unless either Arjuna or they were dead. With this oath, they are called the Samsaptakas. After the grim brothers return to their tents, Duryodhana says to Drona, “With Arjuna out of the way, I hope you won’t balk at taking Yudhishtira tomorrow.”
Drona says woodenly, “If Arjuna is kept away, I will bring Yudhishtira to you alive.”
He also walks out of Duryodhana’s tent, disgusted at what noble war has come to, at what he himself has fallen to. Duryodhana smiles at Shakuni, Dusasana and Karna.
Dawn of the twelfth day; Drona forms his legions in the garuda vyuha and, across the field, Dhrishtadyumna has chosen the chandrakala, the phalanx of the crescent moon. Battle begins, the two forces fall at each other. Arrows cover the sky, fingers of orange flames in the early light. Swords and maces gleam in the morning and again Bheeshma on his arrow-bed hears the roar and the scream of the slayer and the slain.
Arjuna sees Susharma and his brothers with their men at the southern wing tip of the Kaurava eagle; usually, they would come from the rear as the day’s battle grew. He sees all their burning gazes fixed just on him. He sees Duryodhana staring intently at the Trigartas and guesses what is afoot. Arjuna says to Yudhishtira, “The Trigartas mean to challenge me again and I cannot refuse to fight them.”
As he speaks, Susharma hails him harshly across the field, “Arjuna! Come and fight us. We have sworn by Agni that today either you or we, but not both, will live to see the sun set. We are the Samsaptakas, Arjuna and we challenge you!”
Yudhishtira is alarmed. “You must stay beside me, Arjuna. I don’t care to be taken by Drona!”
“I cannot refuse a kshatriya’s challenge. But here is Satyajit: let him be your custodian today. As long as he has life in him, not Drona or anyone will come near you. But if he should be killed, Yudhishtira, promise me, my brother, that you will be a coward for all our sakes and flee.”
“Drona will not take me, Arjuna. Answer Susharma’s challenge, let this be the Trigartas’ last day on earth.”
“Bless me!” cries Arjuna.
Leaving Yudhishtira in the care of Satyajit, who is Drupada’s brother and no less a kshatriya than him, Arjuna says to Krishna, “Come, my Lord, let us ride at the Trigartas.”