The Greatest Indian Epic - Mahabharath

Each army consisted of several divisions; the Kauravas had eleven while the Pandavas controlled seven. A new division ("akshauhini") includes 21,870 chariots and chariot-riders, 21,870 elephants and riders, 65,610 horses and riders, and 109,350 foot-soldiers.
At various times during battle, the Supreme Commander could order special formations ("vyuhas"). Each formation had a specific purpose; some were defensive while others were offensive. Furthermore, each formation had specific strengths and weaknesses. The formations were named after the animal or item it resembled as follows:
·Krauncha vyuha- Heron formation
·Makara vyuha- Fish formation
·Kurma vyuha- Turtle formation
·Trishula vyuha- Trident formation
·Chakra vyuha- Wheel or Discus formation
·Kamala vyuha- Lotus formation

Here's a little something on samsaptakas of the Trigartas.

Warriors Sworn to Victory or Death

Thanks a.r. That was very interesting.Even though they knew, they would never be able to kill Arjuna, they still wanted to batlle him till the last.They were the earliest "suicide squads".

In that site
http://members.cox.net/apamnapat/ent...tadhyumna.html
it is mentioned that Drishtadyumna is killed by ashwatama.Is this true? I thought he will survive the war.can somebody clarify this?

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Originally Posted by viggop

Thanks a.r. That was very interesting.Even though they knew, they would never be able to kill Arjuna, they still wanted to batlle him till the last.They were the earliest "suicide squads".

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Their main objective was to challenge Arjuna and drag him away from the main stream war area so that Drona can have an unrestricted access to Yudhistira and capture him alive...

THis was a ploy by Drona ( as Duryodhana wanted Yudhistira to be captured alive )

Quote:

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Originally Posted by viggop

In that site
http://members.cox.net/apamnapat/ent...tadhyumna.html
it is mentioned that Drishtadyumna is killed by ashwatama.Is this true? I thought he will survive the war.can somebody clarify this?

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Drushtadhyumnan will be killed in the night after the war gets over ( I mean when Duryodhana was down ).. Besides Drushtadyumanan, the sons of Draupadhi will also get killed by Aswathama...

What a wasted life for Drishtadyumna.He was born for taking revenge and his life ended after the objective.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by viggop

What a wasted life for Drishtadyumna.He was born for taking revenge and his life ended after the objective.

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I too wonder .. I dont see any justification at all for the creation of Drishtadyumnan... As his father had ditched his childhood friend Drona and Drona took revenge and there ended the matter.
The reverse revenge which Durupadha wanted had no justification at all...

Balaji
If you do holy yagas with such objectives such as revenge and vengeance,it will bring destruction only.It'll never turn out to be positive nor will it bring good things to the world.Ravana also did his tapas asking for immortality.But, he did not get it and finally he died causing a lot of deaths.Look at Vibhishana.He did not ask for immoratlity but still got it.

just to extend what you so correctly pointed out.......draupadi who was also born of the yagna ended up childless (her sons were killed by ashvatthama, kripa, and kritavarman after duryodhana was mortally wounded), and indeed indirectly caused the decimation of the kuru race including her own clan (the panchalas).

what comes around goes around...........

dhristhadyumna- born to kill drona............killed
shikhandi-amba reborn to kill bheeshma.......killed


if you ask me the whole story hinges around bheeshmas vow or around shantanu preventing ganga from drowning her eighth child. either way the events triggered off seem to inevitably lead to the division and ultimate ruin of the dynasty.