In the epic Mahabharata, the curse of Vriddhakshatra plays a pivotal role in the death of Jayadratha during the Kurukshetra war. Jayadratha's demise is intricately tied to the curse uttered by his father, King Vriddhakshatra, which ultimately leads to his own downfall. Vriddhakshatra had given a boon to Jayadratha that whoever Vriddhakshatra had granted Jayadratha a boon: whoever caused his son's head to touch the ground would be shattered into pieces.
Arjuna's vow to kill Jayadratha before sunset to avenge
death of his son Abhimanya and this adds tension to the narrative. To make matters
worse Arjuna vows that he will jump into fire if he is unable to kill
Jayadratha. With the impending deadline looming, Dronacharya strategically
deploys three military formations to shield Jayadratha from Arjuna's wrath.
However, driven by grief and determination, Arjuna, along with Bhima, breaks
through these defenses, showcasing their fierce resolve for revenge.
As the sun begins to set, Krishna intervenes with his divine
powers, creating an illusion to make it appear as though sunset is imminent.
This illusion tricks the Kauravas into lowering their guard, prompting
Jayadratha to emerge from hiding. In a moment of strategic brilliance, Krishna
dispels the illusion, exposing Jayadratha to Arjuna's wrath.
Guided by Krishna's counsel, Arjuna directs his arrow to
sever Jayadratha's head, fulfilling his vow in a manner that aligns with the
curse of Vriddhakshatra. The arrow swiftly finds its mark, sending Jayadratha's
head flying into the lap of his meditating father.
In a tragic twist of fate, Vriddhakshatra's curse manifests
in a cruel irony. Unaware of the severed head in his lap, he inadvertently
fulfills his own curse when it falls to the ground upon his rising. Thus, both
Jayadratha and his father meet their ends as victims of destiny and divine
intervention, sealing the tragic fate of the cursed lineage.