The Gall of Gammon

Disclaimer: This story is my humble attempt to write a fanfiction of the epic Mahabharata. My intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiment.

Aum Namah Shivay!!

Major Jayant Roy, SM is a fictitious character. Any similarity with any living person is merely a coincidence.

Chapter 57

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Bhishma POV

"So, you are telling me that among the kings presented in there, only Duryodhana managed to lift the bow and fire an arrow?"

"Not only Duryodhana, but also Angraaj Karna managed to lift the bow. But before he could fire his arrow, Rajkumari Draupadi rejected him by saying that she will not marry a sutputra." Vidura said to me. A few moments before, he came to me with news from Kampilya.

I heaved a sad sigh. A Maharathi like him must not be insulted like that. But we must upheld social rules.

"After the rejection of Karna, Duryodhana left the palace along with his companions. But before leaving he literally threatened the Rajkumari saying that she had to pay for it and even Narayana could not save her."

"Vasudev Krishna was present there, right?" I asked him.

"Yes, Tatshri, he was present there along with Haldhar Balrama. Duryodhana could not pierce the eye of the fish. According to my spy, he was shooting the arrow while his eyes closed. From Hastinapur, it was clear to me that he did not even want to attend, let along win. But then something else happened. A young Brahmin came up. He had an aura just like a Devta. He easily picked up the bow, and his arrow pierced the eye of the fish."

Instantly, my mind was full with joy. Duryodhana was right! Kunti and her sons were alive!

"That Brahmin is Arjun!" I said to him. Vidura nodded affirmatively.

"So it means Duryodhana was right. But..." He could not finish his sentence because a guard had entered into the room. He told me that Duryodhana was standing outside.

"When did they reach Hastinapur?" I asked the guard.

"Just now, Mahamahim. He directly came here after entering the palace."

"Let him in.", I said.

The guard went outside and after a few moments, Duryodhana entered the room. He came to Vidura first then touched his feet. Vidura blessed him. Then he got up and came to me. He touched my feet and grabbed my right leg.

"What are you doing Putra?" I asked him in a shocked voice.

"I want something from you Pitamah. Until you give that to me, I am not leaving your leg."

I looked at Vidura and he looked at me. It seemed that Duryodhana wanted something valuable. But what did he want? He would not beg to us for the throne of Yuvraaja, no, he was not like that. He may choose to the path of weapons, and I was afraid of that day. If Duryodhana chose to rebel, then with a heavy heart, I have to fight against him. I was bound by my oath to protect Hastinapur.

"Putra, I can't give you the throne of Yuvraaja like that."

"What?" Duryodhana's face showed pure shock. Then he started laughing.

"Pitamah, do you really think that I will come and beg for the throne just after Arjun wins the Rajkumari? I know that Kakashri has his spies there and he already passed you the news. Am I right, Kakashri?"

Vidura silently nodded affirmatively. His two eyes were full of questions.

"Then what do you want Putra?", Now I was curious.

"I want the Praswapa Astra.", Duryodhana looked directly into my eyes, "Also the Samvodhana Astra."

My blood literally froze inside my veins. How did he know about those weapons? Did Bhargava tell him about those weapons?

Duryodhana probably noticed my expression. I looked at him. He was looking at me with expectation in his eyes; his hands still grabbed my right leg.

"But putra, those weapons can't kill your enemy. They are not useful in warfare." I said in a low voice.

"Then you should not have any objection. After all, these weapons can't kill my enemies."

He trapped me in my own words. But I was still shocked. Suddenly I heard his voice.

"If it was Arjun making this request, do you still hesitate so much?"

His words literally pierced my heart. I did not say anything but Vidura did.

"Duryodhana, you should not talk to Tatshri like that! Did you forget the meaning of relationship?"

Duryodhana, who was still grabbing my leg, said, no, he literally hissed like a snake.

"Look who is talking about relationships. A stone hearted man who gave the advice to a father to kill his firstborn son. The result of this sin is that you are childless. Sulabha Kakishri has been silently suffering for your deeds."

Vidura's face became pale. His eyes became moist. Now I was angry beyond limit. But before I could say anything, Duryodhana spoke again.

"You are hurt, Kakashri. Now I think you can properly understand my pain that your partiality caused me. In my childhood, whenever I went to Pitamah, I saw Bheem or Arjun already grabbed his lap. Whenever I went to you, I always saw Yudhisthir sitting under your feet, learning from you. But you always have work whenever I went to you. Do you disagree or do you still think me as someone who should be disposed at the first day of his birth?"

His voice had pain, real pain. But were those accusations true? Did we really push him away?

"Enough is enough Duryodhana, control your tongue now. I will give you those weapons, but use them wisely."

I raised my right hand and a white light came from my hand. Duryodhana was totally engulfed by the light. Then he stood up, glowing with power. His eyes became hard for a moment. Then his face and eyes became normal.

"Thank you Pitamah. You are the best." he engulfed me in a massive hug. His anger and jealousy vanished in a moment and a childish joy took his place. I was startled for a moment then hugged him too. If the throne and the kingdom weren't there, then the Kauravas and the Pandavas might be able to live together peacefully.

Duryodhana released me. He went to Vidura and hugged him too.

"I am sorry Kakashri for saying those words. Please forgive me. My heart was totally burning when that fire born daughter of Drupad insulted my friend. I have managed to contain it in my heart. But the hesitation of Pitamah showed his lack of trust towards me and that anger reached in my head."

Vidura placed his right hand on his head.

"Putra, never ever make any decision in an angry mind. Your anger should work as your weapon to end your enemies."

"But anger is a double edged sword, Kakashri. Sometimes, it can hurt me too."

"You are right putra, but it depends on the will power of the person to control it. I know that your mind is strong, and also your will. I have faith on you in this matter." Vidura said in a low voice.

"Okay, Pitamah, Kakashri, I have to go now. Today night, I will cook something special for you. Kakashri, don't you dare not coming by stating some rule or Dharma, I warn you. You will come along with Kakishri too."

I looked at Vidura, who had a small smile in his face.

"We will come, Putra, we will surely come."

Duryodhana walked towards the gate. But before he went out, he turned at us.

"Oh, and Pitamah, prepare yourself because we are going to a war a few days later."

"What?" I was shocked to my core.

"Yes. I want the crown of Jarasandha under my father's feet. I want Magadha."

"But Putra, Jarasandha is invincible. No one in the world knows how to kill him." I said in a desperate voice. Did my grandson become insane?

Then I saw his face. His lips had a smile, a calm, cold and calculating smile.

"Two persons in this universe know how to kill Jarasandha. One is Vasudev Krishna, the second one is Me.", His voice was cold and hard. There was no sign of insanity.

"I have got the news that Jarasandha has captured one hundred kings. He is planning to sacrifice them to Mahadev for gaining power so he can conquer Dwarka. Vinashkale Viparit Buddhi! Forget Ashutosh for a moment, you can't please even Mahakali herself with the blood of innocent; let it be animals or human. This foolishness will become the downfall of him."

His eyes were hard. His face was hard too.

"Now it's time to attack. I already sent a message to Dronacharya and Kripacharya. Now, I am just waiting for Pitashri giving him approval, which he will give me. Now it is time to free those hundred kings from their imprisonment."

With the speech, he left the room, leaving us speechless and baffled. But still, he was speaking like a true Kshatriya. I looked at my bow and arrows. The arrows needed sharpening. My sword needed sharpening too.

"If he managed to defeat Jarasandha, then we have no choice but to crown him as Yuvraaja." Vidura heaved a sigh.

"Tatshri, I saw his eyes. There are cold, hard fury and determination in his eyes. He knows that he can defeat Jarasandha. We stayed neutral when Jarasandha attacked Mathura. Perhaps, we can clear that sin a little bit by helping him. We must prepare for the war, Tatshri, we must prepare. But Tatshri, you said that the Praswapa Astra is non lethal weapon. Then why were you hesitating?"

I heaved a sigh.

"Vidura, I was hesitating because Praswapa Astra cannot be blocked by any other weapons."

So, this is chapter 57.

The Praswapa Astra is a celestial weapon mentioned in Mahabharata. The duel between Bhishma and Parashurama becoming a tie because both the teacher and student know the counter of every weapon fired by them. After 23 days of intense fighting, there was no result.

At the night, the 'Vasus' came to the dream of Bhishma and told him about Praswapa Astra. The next day, when Bhishma invoked the Astra, devtas came and ordered Bhishma not to fire the weapon, because if Bhishma made his teacher unconscious, it would be a grave insult of a great teacher and sage like Parashurama. So, Bhishma did not use the weapon, and Bhargava accepted his defeat.