Mb095. The Twelfth Day Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATA

In the eagle formation Kauravas,
In the crescent shape Pandavas,
Arranged their strategic position,
To challenge their opposition.

As support came batch by batch,
Yudhishthira alive, how to catch?
To slowly take Arjuna far away
That day, they found a way.

A specially formed suicide squad
They took this task on their head.
"Do or die" was their mission,
Bound by their self volition.

Ferocity easily one could see,
Like dashing waves in the sea,
When the two sides charged,
In the gruesome war they waged.

Countless heads rolled,
Countless elephants were killed,
Countless horses shot,
And countless chariots lost.

On the field blood soaked,
Right and left, they walked.
Like a lion hunting its prey,
They were in that wild fray.

Duryodhana was delighted.
From his chariot he alighted.
To meet Drona and tell,
That he had done so well.

The squad had a stiff fight.
Arjuna used all his might.
He was dragged outside,
To keep Yudhishthira aside.

When Drona was closing in,
All the Pandavas rallied in.
They fought think and thin.
In that wailing sound and din.

Every combat Drona won.
He was praised by everyone.
Duryodhana in admiration,
Spoke to Karna in emotion.

"Karna, see our leader's valour,
How hard he fights at this hour!
Karna shook his head and said,
"On his head, why so much load? "

"Pandavas never give up arms.
They can't forget your harms.
You tried to poison them
You tried to burn them."

"For your misdeeds of the past
They'll fight to win till the last.
Great may be our leader now,
But so many he'll face how? "

Duryodhana kept silence,
Untouched by his conscience,
To support Drona, they both went,
With a large division elephant.