SANMOHANA ASTRA!!!

Too often is Arjun’s single handed triumph at Virat war shrugged off as ‘only because of Sanmohan Astra’. Here’s the truth.

I} PRE-SANMOHANA Astra: Kripa says, “If we six car-warriors be united, we can then be a match for and fight with that son of Pritha.”

When Karna insulted Drona for praising Arjun, a bitter volley of words broke out between Drona, Kripa, Ashwatthama and Karna. Atlast, Bhishma pacified them all. Drona then outlined his plan of action, “Let such arrangements be made that Partha may not be able to approach Duryodhana in battle, so that king Duryodhana may not be captured in consequence either of his rashness or want of judgment.”

Bhisma’s plan, “Duryodhan, proceed thou towards the capital, taking with thee 1/4th of the army. And let another 1/4th escort the kine. With remaining 1/2 army, myself, Drona, Karna, Aswatthaman and Kripa will resolutely withstand Vibhatsu.”

Arjun, however, demolished their plan by directly attacking Duryodhan, “I suspect that anxious to save his life, Duryodhan retreateth by the southern road, taking away with him the kine. Proceed to him. I will fight him, for there the battle will not be fruitless. Defeating him I will come back, taking away the kine.'

Arjun succeeded in making the cattle turn and flee towards Viratnagar. At this point all Kaurava warriors attacked Arjun simultaneously to save Duryodhan. Arjun then rained havoc upon Kuru army, mangling and slaughtering them at will. “And the Kurus all lost their energy owing to the terror begot of Arjuna. And tossed and mangled by the Arjuna-gale, the forest of Arjuna's foes reddened the earth with purple secretions.”

He defeated Karna and made Kripa carless. Drona , however, he addressed in an humble and sweet tone, saying, 'Having completed our exile in the woods, we are now desirous of avenging our wrongs. I will not strike thee unless thou strikest me first.”

Followed a fierce Arjun-Drona skirmish. Ultimately Ashwatthama, “mentally admired that feat of Parth and rushed towards him. Partha gave Drona an opportunity to leave the field.”

After defeating Ashwatthama, Arjun (once again) defeated and forced Karna to flee the battlefield. Subsequently he defeated Bhishma.

Then he defeated Duryodhan till the latter ran away, “Duryodhana turning away his car precipitately fled in that direction where Partha was not. And when Duryodhana was fast running away in alarm, pierced by that arrow and vomitting forth blood, Kiritin, still eager for battle and capable of enduring every enemy, thus censured him from wrath…”.

Then all Kuru warriors attacked Arjun TOGETHER, whereupon he stupefied their senses. “… evolved another irresistible weapon called Sanmohana. And entirely covering the cardinal directions with sharp and keen-edged arrows furnished with beautiful feathers, that mighty hero stupefied their senses with the twang of the Gandiva. And once more, taking up with both his hands his conch, Partha, blew it with force. And those foremost of the Kuru heroes were all deprived of their senses by the sound of that conch blown by Partha.”

NOTE: Sanmohana was the weapon which shot forth arrows, whereas the twang of Gandiva and conch deprived Kauravas of their senses!!!).

II} POST-SANMOHANA Astra: Arjun did not flee away as his enemies lay senseless. He WAITED till they recovered their sense. “And Dhritarashtra's son, RECOVERING HIS SENSES, saw Partha standing alone on the battle-field.”

Bhishma explained to him, “Partha renounceth not his principles even for the sake of the three worlds. It is FOR THIS ONLY that all of us have NOT BEEN SLAIN in this battle.”

A crestfallen Duryodhan, “… no longer eager for battle, drew a deep sigh and became silent. The other warriors also resolved to return. Beholding those foremost of Kuru heroes departing for their city, Dhananjaya, with a cheerful heart FOLLOWED THEM. And having worshipped the aged grandsire, as also the preceptor Drona, and having saluted with beautiful arrows Drona's son and Kripa, Partha then BROKE INTO FRAGMENTS Duryodhana's crown.”

Thus,

A) Sanmohana was used much later in the battle, only AFTER all Kaurava warriors were soundly defeated one to one.

B) Arjun waited till they all recovered from Sanmohana. He neither slew them while they lay senseless, nor did he use the opportunity to escape the battlefield.

Salutes to this great warrior who stayed rock-steady on his battle ethics and who alone humbled his enemy with his prowess.