Dream - A Karna SI

44. MAHASANGRAM - 4

Note 1:

The great war is ongoing. Its day 4 of war.

I have taken inspiration from various sources and primarily from Dr. S. Bapat of BORI and his descriptions of the Mahabharat.

The war started after making the below rules and each of them were violated by the end of the war, by both sides.

1. Everyone will fight with there equal. A Maharathi with Maharathi, an atirathi with atirathi, a Hasti (elephant) with a hasti.

2. Nobody should attack a weaponless opponent, no should one attack an opponent who is fleeing.

3. People should declare there leanings and issue challenge, before attacking. The challenge must be accepted by your opponents.

4. No poisons, should be used in the battles.

5. The attackers should not gang-up on a single warrior.

Note 2:

Pandavs vyuh in blue and Kauravs vyuh in red. Karn with his Vahini in yellow.

Note 3:

The battle scenes have been inspired from the persian and roman tactics of dealing with the elephants. There are some wonderful military books on the topic.

I have always regretted how the Indian ruling class was dependent on the use of war elephants. Part of it was necessity and part was lack of innovation in war technologies. Porus initimidated Greeks by his elephants, but a mileaneum later Indians were using the same tactics against the Huns, Shakas, and Kushans. The attackers achieved victory by using novel techniques, but the next generation of rulers again adapted to elephants. Right from, Porus, Jaichand of Kannauj, Maharana Sanga, Hemu, Ibrahim Lodhi, Jehangir, Shahjahan and even the British have used elephants to attack at some point.

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Karn - 43 years

Yudhisthir - 40 years

Bheema & Duryodhan - 39 years

Arjun - 38 years

Nakul & Sahadev - 36 years

Abhimanyu - 16 years

Kurukshetra, End of Day 3 of war

(Karn's POV)

"What is the plan for tomorrow, Gurudev?" Maatang inquired, his voice tinged with the fatigue of battle yet driven by the urgency of what lay ahead.

"We are free to pursue any plan as per our wish," I replied, my gaze fixed on the plains of Kurukshetra sprawled before me. The plains once having vast emptiness, now seemed a haunting reminder of the dead and dying who had fallen on this cursed land.

"I don't understand, Gurudev," Maatang's brows furrowed in confusion, mirroring the uncertainty that lingered in the air.

"Yeah, what does that mean?" Prativindhya echoed, his voice edged with the same apprehension.

"It means," I began, a smirk playing on my lips, "that tomorrow will be much like the first day-every man for himself, free to do as he wishes, without expecting support from others."

"Don't they need us to fight alongside them?" Prativindhya asked calmly, though his tone carried an undercurrent of disbelief.

"It's not about need," I explained, "it's about willingness. Baring few exceptions, nobody wants to fight beside us, not directly, but they won't say it outright."