Andha Yug (II)_Act wise Summary

 Act wise summary   

Act I:

• Two guards are marching outside the Kaurava palace. They are very tired.
• Suddenly, they hear the terrifying sound. It is the sound of the fluttering wings of thousands of vultures (गिधाडे). The vultures are flying towards Kurukshetra. According to them it is a bad omen.
• Dhritarashtra and Gandhari are waiting for Sanjaya. But instead of Sanjaya, there comes Vidura.
• Dhritarashtra tells Vidura that for the first time in his life he is feeling afraid. But according to Vidura, now it is too late.
• Vidura quotes Krishna: “Surrender your heart and mind to me… You must have faith”.
• Gandhari becomes upset with the mention of Krishna. According to her, Krishna himself has violated the code of honour again and again.
• The chorus proclaims: “There are still two fading embers (विझू लागलेले निखारे) left in the ruined city” (उध्वस्त शहर – हस्तिनापूर).

Act II:

· Sanjaya is lost his way to Hastinapur.

· In the forest, Sanjaya meets Kritavarma, Kripacharya and Ashwatthama.

· According to Kritavarma, only three people from the Kaurava side have been survived: he himself, Kripacharya and Ashwatthama.

· Ashwatthama is seen full of vengeance (सूडभावना). Ashwatthama tells the audience how his father (Guru Dronacharya) was killed treacherously by Dhristadyumna and how Yudhishthira is involved in this.

· Sanjaya tells Ashwatthama that Duryodhana is still alive and hiding in one enchanted lake. They all ask Sanjaya to take them to that lake.

Act III:

· Guard informs Dhritarashtra and Vidur that one monster has arrived in the city of Hastinapur. Actually, it is Yututsu who comes to the city. No one welcomes Yuyutsu because he has fought on Yudhishthira’s side in the war.

· The guard informs Dhritarashtra about the arrival of Sanjaya and the sad news of the defeat of Duryodhana.

· In the forest, Ashwatthama tells Kripacharya and Kritavarma that he was present there when Bhima killed Duryodhana, and he was killed by treachery.

·  Ashwatthama takes a vow to destroy all the Pandavas.

·  Duryodhana asks Kripacharya to appoint Ashwatthama as the commander.

·  Ashwatthama decides to go to the Pandava camp to take his revenge.

Act IV:

• The Pandavas were unarmed and asleep.
• Outside the camp, Ashwatthama prays Lord Shankar/Shiva who blesses him saying, “Ashwatthama, you will be victorious”.
• Sanjaya informs Gandhari how in the camp, Ashwatthama killed Dhrishtadyumna and other Pandava soldiers mercilessly.
• But Ashwatthama’s job is not yet over. He wants to kill the baby in the womb of Uttara so that there won’t be any heir to the Pandava dynasty.
• Gandhari asks Sanjaya to take off her blindfold so that she could transform Ashwatthama’s body into ‘a bright diamond’.
• Ashwatthama and Arjuna release the Brahmastra.
• Vyasa asks Ashwatthama to recall the Brahmastra. But Ashwatthama could not because his father had not taught him that technique.
• Krishna accepts the blow of Brahmastra; Krishna exchanges his life for the baby in Uttara’s womb.
• Krishna curses Ashwatthama; takes his ‘talismanic gem’ and leaves him to wander forever.
• Gandhari curses Krishna: “all your friends and kinsmen shall attack and kill each other… you will be killed by an ordinary hunter.”
• Krishna calls Gandhari his mother and accepts the curse.

Act V:

·       The scene takes place after some years of the great war.

·       Yudhishthira is now ruling over Hastinapur, but the city never regain its gone glory.

·       Frustrated Yudhishthira claims, “I am alone and defeated.”

·       Yuyutsu has lost his voice. He is insulted by everyone including Bhima.

·       Yuyutsu commits suicide.

·       Kripacharya tells Vidura that Yudhishthira’s kingdom is on the verge of collapse and so I’m leaving Hastinapur.

·       Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, Kunti and Sanjaya are in the forest. The forest is ablaze.

·       Gandhari repents over the curse she has bestowed on Krishna.

·       Gandhari, Dhritarashtra, Kunti die in the fire.

·       Yudhishthira understands that his victory in war was hollow. He too wants to commit suicide on the slopes of the Himalayas.

Epilogue:

·        It deals with the death of the Lord Krishna.

·       The chorus narrates that Lord Krishna was sitting under the shade of a peepul tree. He leaned the tree placing his left foot ‘shaped like a deer’s face’ on his right thigh.

·       Ashwatthama was watching Krishna. He accuses Krishna for his ‘adharma’.

·       Sanjay is also there and wants to surrender Lord Krishna.

·       There comes one hunter who mistakes Krishna’s foot for a deer and releases his arrow in that direction.

·       Looking at this, Ashwatthama laughs wildly, and Sanjaya screams and faints.

·       The chorus announces: “The moment Krishna was killed, Dvapara yug came to an end and on this god-forsaken earth Kali yug took its first step.”