Mb097. The Thirteenth Day Of The Battle Poem by Rajaram Ramachandran

MAHABHARATH

Duryodhana passed a stricture,
Why Drona didn't capture,
Yudhishthira as a prisoner,
When he had chances earlier?

Was it due to his love for them?
Or, he wished victory for them?
Hurt by this unfair accusation,
Drona controlled his irritation.

"My dear, I'm doing my best.
Suddenly Arjuna came last.
You saw how he fought.
Havoc for us he brought."

"To me, leave the rest.
Today I'll do my best.
Keep elsewhere Arjuna busy
My job then is made easy."

Drona, in this manner, explained.
When Duryodhana complained.
To divert Arjuna, also this day,
The suicide squad took him away.

Drona arranged lotus formation.
The army was in this position,
Not so easy for one to penetrate!
What to do with this unbreakable state?

"Oh Abhimanyu, my son, see there
The "Padma Vyuha" and the teacher.
Brother Arjuna is absent here.
How to go inside that sphere? "

Yudhishthira asked this way,
Not knowing the pathway.
Arjuna knew it, but was away.
To send his son was the only way.

"I know how to go inside,
But can't come outside."
Not in full, I learnt this art,
When my father taught."

The young boy said so.
"Believe me. Now you go.
Closely we'll follow
To enter the gate narrow."

This Yudhishthira's request,
He had to hear and respect.
He broke the human chain,
In his chariot as he drove in.

There was no way out,
After the entry he got.
Alone he was caught.
Inside it became too hot.

He fought alone relentlessly.
Pandavas watched helplessly.
As Jayaratha came on their way,
How to go? They were in dismay.

Not an arrow missed its target.
Not a shaft missed its object.
An Arjuna in him Drona saw.
He praised the boy, in awe.

To hear this Duryodhana felt bad,
He shouted, "At once kill that lad."
Karna then broke the lad's shield,
Drona, Kripa and the rest killed.

Thus hero's death Abhimanyu had.
Kauravas danced around the lad.
Into the winds, rules were thrown.
Out the conduct code was flown

What a tragedy Pandavas faced?
Fate did its duty, as time raced.
His death, this tragic part,
Even today, chokes every heart.