The average human mind gives up too early without striving enough. Even the almost impossible situations become possible if the actions are in tune with Dharma. In this section we shall see how Arjuna, backed by the wisdom imparted by Krishna, dealt with all the impossible situations that he faced in the Mahabharata.

In the 11th chapter of the Bhagawad Gita Arjuna gains an awe-inspiring vision of the Cosmic Form. He perceives many spectacular sights, some wondrous, some terrifying. In one scene he perceives Bhishma, Drona, Karna and Jayadratha entering the blazing mouth of the Cosmic Man. One cannot help but wonder why Arjuna had to specifically see these four men.

Arjuna always doubted and greatly feared that to conquer these four would not just be difficult but rather impossible. Besides being skilled warriors, all four were blessed with great boons.

Jayadratha, the King of Sindh, besides being an accomplished warrior, was blessed by his father with a boon that whosoever’s hands his head falls out of, that person’s head will burst into a thousand pieces. Early in the war we find him defeating Bhima, Yudhishtira, Nakula and Sahadeva when they attempt to protect Abhimanyu. Thus, only an equally powerful warrior would be able to vanquish him. But this would demand a supreme sacrifice on the part of the warrior, akin to a suicide squad. Arjuna could take this up, but then without Arjuna victory for the Pandavas is almost impossible.

Bhishma was blessed by this father that he would die at will and hence could not be killed. Drona, the teacher, undefeated hitherto, was known to posses a lot of secret weapons. Karna, yet another skilled warrior, was born with an armour which could not be penetrated by any weapon.

It is natural that by looking at a situation like this, one would give up saying it is impossible. But, when one is rooted within and tuned to Dharma, one develops clarity and even the seemingly impossible becomes possible. Krishna in his wisdom finds a way out of every impossible situation.

Keeping in mind Jayadratha’s boon, Krishna asks Arjuna to shoot in such a way that Jayadratha’s head lands in the lap of his father who is meditating in the forest. The moment the head falls in his lap, not knowing what has happened, he throws the head onto the floor, resulting in his head bursting into a thousand pieces.

Before the war commences Bhishma bestows Yudhishtira with the blessing of being victorious. Krishna asks Yudhishtira to return this blessing to Bhishma.

When Yudhishtira returns the boon to Bhishma, Bhishma laughs and asks Arjuna to tell the person who sent him there, that he does not take back anything he’s given. But Yudhishtira insists on returning the boon saying he doesn’t want Bhishma’s words to go untrue, since with Bhishma in the war Pandava victory was impossible.

Bhishma reassures him that they would be victorious as blessed by him. Of course, he would continue to fight till the end, but if they brought a woman into the warfield, he would put down his arms. When Yudhishtira questions this possibility, Bhishma laughs asking him to question the one who sent him there, as he knows everything. Later we see that Shikhandi, earlier born as a woman, disarms Bhishma and taking shelter behind him, Arjuna shoots an array of arrows which push Bhishma to the ground.

Drona had never lost a war till then and no one was equal to him. Drona’s only weakness, his deep attachment to his son Ashwatthama, was the only thing that could bring him to naught. Aware of this Krishna comes up with a strategy of killing an elephant named Ashwatthama. Yudhishtira, known to never lie, does not agree to this strategy. But Krishna convinces him to remain silent if Drona questions him and that at most he should answer that he is unsure whether it’s an elephant or a man that has died.

Bhima comes out yelling jubilantly that he has killed Ashwatthama. Drona knowing it is impossible for his son to be killed turns towards Yudhishtira to clarify. Yudhishtira answers “Ashwatthama is dead. I don’t know whether it is the elephant or man”. As Yudhishtira is replying, Bhima blows his conch which drowns the second line. Hearing this Drona puts his arms down. Drishtadyumna, Drupad’s son and the commander in chief of the Pandava army, then severs his head.

Blessed by his father Suryadeva, Karna was born with an impenetrable armour. But, Karna is well known for his charity and never to say no. Knowing this Lord Indra goes to Karna in the guise of a sadhu asking for his armour as alms. He gives away his armour, but is well protected by the merits of his punya (good deeds). Hence, later Krishna himself approaches Karna and asks him for all the merits of his punya.

Later, as Karna aims the nagastra at Arjuna, Shalya, Karna’s charioteer tells Karna to aim at Arjuna’s chest. But Karna does not pay heed to him as he wants to belittle Arjuna by shooting at his neck. But at the opportune moment Krishna lowers Arjuna’s chariot and Karna’s arrow hits Arjuna’s crown. Disarmed, Arjuna then kills Karna.

On the face of it these strategies might appear unfair. But it is important to note that walking into a war field with boons is in itself not fair. It is cunningness. And cunningness has to be dealt with cunningness.