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News of Arjuna's oath reached the enemy. The spies informed Duryodhana's
friends that Arjuna, having learnt that Jayadratha was the cause of Abhimanyu's death, had
vowed to kill the Sindhu king before sunset next day.
Vriddhakshatra, the illustrious king of the Sindhus, was blessed with a
son, who was named Jayadratha. At the time of the birth of the prince, a voice was heard
to say: "This prince will attain great glory and he will attain the happy regions
above, slain in battle. One who, among the warriors of all ages, ranks among the most
illustrious will, in the field of battle, sever his head from the body."
All living beings must die but hardly any, however wise or brave,
welcome it. Vriddhak shatra was grieved to hear the voice declare his son's end.
In his disturbed state of mind, he uttered a curse: "He, who shall
cause my son's head to roll down on the ground, shall have his head burst at that very
moment into fragments."
Jayadratha grew up and, when he reached manhood, Vriddhakshatra handed
over the care of the State to the prince and retired to the forest, where he spent the
evening of his days in austerities in an ashrama near the plain, which after wards became
the Kurukshetra field of battle.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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