THE MAHABHARATA: A Modern Rendering, Vol 2 (12 page)

Krishna took his hand. “That is the Bheema we know! This is no time for softness. We are on the brink of war and you are the greatest force we have, our strongest warrior. More than on any of the others, we rely on you. If you turn to fine feelings now, what will become of the rest? Who doesn’t know that Bheema is no coward, but the bravest kshatriya on earth? I only said what I did because I want Bheema to be himself.”

He embraced his cousin. “Never fear, there will be a war. No one will stop it and you will have your revenge. I swear you will wash your shame and your anger in streams of blood. Don’t speak of peace any more. There will be no peace, but war!”

Bheema gave a growl of satisfaction and sat down. Now, Krishna turned to the third Pandava and Arjuna said, “I agree with you, Krishna. Duryodhana will never accept peace. He has gone too far down the way of sin. I feel we should not compromise Yudhishtira’s dignity while suing for peace.”

Then he smiled. “But, finally, only what you want will come to pass, my Lord. All this is just your maya! If you are determined there shall be peace between us cousins, then peace there will be; and even Duryodhana will do what you ask. But if you decide there should be war and the earth’s burden removed—as the rishis say you have—so it shall be. Whatever it is, we will walk the path you choose for us, happily.”

Krishna laughed. “Arjuna, I wish it were as simple as that. I will do my best to convince Duryodhana that we should have peace, not war; and I will not bargain with Yudhishtira’s dignity. But there is no other miracle I can work. Like you, I fear Duryodhana has gone too far down the way of evil to turn back willingly. He is hardly master of himself or his own fate, any more. He is an instrument of other sinister forces; they will not relent, even if Duryodhana wants to. But I will go to Hastinapura to clear Yudhishtira’s name with the people, because he is the noblest man alive.”

Krishna turned to Nakula, who said in his soft voice, “The thoughts of men are like the shapes of clouds in the sky, always changing. When we were in the jungle, or on our tirtha-yatra, we did not think much of a kingdom. When we first came to Virata for the ajnatavasa, we thought only of not being recognized and of our exile’s end. Now the thirteen years are over and we are thinking of nothing but the kingdom, how we can win it back.

Krishna, I think we should sue for peace. Speak gently to Duryodhana at first; if he does not listen, use strong words, threaten him. Tell him about the kshatriyas who are with us. Duryodhana is just a man, like any other; he can be frightened into accepting peace on our terms. And when you are the messenger, Krishna, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.”

Krishna smiled and did not have time to turn to Sahadeva, before the youngest Pandava sprang up and cried, “We must have war, Krishna! You must make certain we do. Let the Kauravas beg for peace, if they like; but we must have war and only war, with them! What else can we want after what they did to Panchali in their sabha? How can we think of peace for even a moment? I don’t agree with my brothers. If Yudhishtira, Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula want peace, let them make shameful peace with those animals. I mean to fight, if I have to fight alone and to see Duryodhana dead. Tell him from me, Krishna, that Sahadeva says he will die.

If my brothers decide that virtue lies in seeking peace with Duryodhana, let them keep such virtue for themselves. I will fight and kill that devil!”

Satyaki jumped up and cried, “I am with you, Sahadeva! We shall have no peace with the Kauravas. Death is what Duryodhana deserves and death he shall find. Krishna, you saw these Pandavas in the forest, wearing valkala, like beggars. How can you make peace with the men who reduced them to that? The Kauravas must die, every one of them!”

The sabha resounded with the approval of the kings in it. Suddenly, Krishna turned his face to where the most beautiful woman on earth sat. Krishna asked gently, “Panchali, what have you to say?

Her lovely eyes were full of tears and she rose without wiping them, so they fell down her face. Draupadi said fiercely, “I bless Sahadeva and Satyaki! Who, it seems, are the only kshatriyas in this sabha. Krishna, you know everything that happened. I beg you, if you care at all for my honor, use no soft words with Duryodhana. Gentleness wins only good men, not fiends of hell. Hastinapura is a nest of demons; it must burn!

I wonder that you can even ask me what I have to say. I want war, Krishna, a bloody war to avenge what I suffered on that terrible day and for thirteen years after. I want every Kaurava killed. The elders who sat by, not lifting a finger to help me when I begged them to, I want to see them dead! I know Yudhishtira was always for peace, at whatever cost to himself and his family. But when I hear Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula talking of peace today, I can hardly stand it. I want neither peace nor friendship with the Kauravas. If you love me at all, Krishna, if you ever felt sorry for what happened to me, make sure there is war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. I must see my enemies lying dead on the field, as carrion for jackals and vultures.”

She lost control of herself. Convulsed with sobs, she took her hair, hanging behind her like a dark serpent and brandished it at that court. “I have not tied my hair since the day Dusasana dragged me by it! Look at my hair, all you kings. I carry it like a stain on my very soul, that the beast defiled it with his filthy hands.

In the forest, Yudhishtira said to me that I must be patient for thirteen years. I have waited thirteen years and only I know how long the wait has been. And now what do I hear from Yudhishtira? Not a word of war or revenge, but again words of peace. And today I am amazed to hear Bheema talking of peace! Duryodhana was not mistaken when he called these cowards. How lofty it is to talk peace. But who will bring peace to my heart?

For thirteen years, every night I was awake thinking of just one thing: the day I would see Dusasana’s jeweled hand cut off and lying on the ground streaming blood. I will have no rest until I see that sight before my eyes. Krishna, think of me when you are in Hastinapura. For it was I who was dragged like a whore through the palace there, I who was shamed in front of all the Kuru sabha. And I say to you, there is a fire burning in my heart and the only cure for it is war. I beg you, Krishna, don’t come back from that evil city without declaring war!”

And she stood trembling, while her tears flowed. Krishna said to her, “As you cry today, Panchali, I swear the wives of the Kauravas shall weep very soon. But there will be no cure for their tears, because they will have lost everything. Not one Kaurava shall live. I have not forgotten what I promised you in the Kamyaka vana. I have come into the world for this war.” His voice was wistful, “The earth must be rid of her burden of kings and so she shall. Dry you eyes, Panchali, let me see you smile. The thirteen years of exile are over. I promise you, Yudhishtira will be lord of the earth again.”

Draupadi wiped her tears and smiled wanly at Krishna. He said, “It is decided then, I will leave for Hastinapura tomorrow.”

Thus, the second council at Upaplavya ended.

The next morning dawned, bright and auspicious and Krishna was up early. The Dark One bathed. He worshipped the sun and the fire and then called Satyaki.

“Prepare my chariot, Satyaki. See to it yourself that my weapons are in it. Duryodhana and his brothers are not to be trusted and I must not let them find me unprepared.”

Now Yudhishtira came there and said, “Satyaki, you must go with Krishna. I am reluctant to send him at all on this pointless mission and I will not let him go alone.”

The chariot was ready and all the Pandavas came to see Krishna and Satyaki on their way. Yudhishtira’s last words to him were, “Give our mother our love and tell her we shall soon be with her.”

Krishna embraced them all and, cheerful as ever, set out for the Kuru capital.

ELEVEN
KRISHNA ARRIVES IN HASTINAPURA 

The morning Krishna set out on his mission to Hastinapura, the strangest omens were seen. There was not a cloud in the sky, yet suddenly, in diverse parts of the land, thunder and lightning erupted in the vacant azure and uncanny rains lashed the earth. On that day, rivers turned around and flowed back to their sources; deep and quiet wells gushed forth in geysers.

On his way, Krishna saw none of these omens, but only nature’s bounty: trees laden with flowers and fruit and birds singing in their branches to mark the savior’s passage. In every town and village he rode through, the people came out in crowds to greet the Avatara and they stood enchanted by the sight of him, blue and ineffable. At Vrikasthala, beside a pool of lotuses, Krishna stopped his chariot.

“Night grows on us, let us rest here tonight.”

Meanwhile, in Hastinapura, his spies came to Dhritarashtra in his sabha and said, “My lord, Krishna is on his way here, bringing an embassy of peace from the Pandavas.”

Dhritarashtra sent for Bheeshma, Vidura and Sanjaya. Drona and Duryodhana were already in the court. When the Pitama and the king’s brother had joined them, Dhritarashtra said in some excitement, “I have wonderful news. Krishna is coming to Hastinapura! Vidura, let no effort be spared to give him a grand welcome. All the munis say no one on earth is as worthy of worship as Krishna. Besides, we need his blessings more than ever and his good offices.

Open our wayside retreats for him, along his journey; and when he arrives, we must receive him with gifts of chariots, elephants and jewels. Krishna honors us by coming to Hastinapura. I will go out myself to welcome him. Vidura, you must arrange the reception; overlook no detail. He will spend tonight at Kusasthala and be with us by midday tomorrow.”

There was a brief silence in his court and the king turned his face this way and that. He asked, “Vidura, don’t you approve? Don’t you think Krishna deserves the gifts I mean to offer him? Why are you so quiet?”

His brother laughed. “Of course, my lord, he deserves your gifts. Why, no man who was ever born into the world, or ever shall be, is as great as Krishna. Not just your gifts, he deserves the very earth.

Yet, that is not what makes you so generous; nor is it any love for Krishna. You want to bribe the incomparable one. You mean to try to buy him to your side, to drive a wedge between him and the Pandavas with your gifts. You will not part with five towns to your nephews and now you speak of giving horses and elephants, chariots and jewels to their messenger.

I beg you, my lord, do not be foolish; don’t insult Krishna with such a barbaric gesture. He will not take what you give him, but scoff at you. His very life is bound to Arjuna’s. How can you hope to part him from Arjuna and his brothers with your paltry gifts?

If you really want to honor the Dark One, accept the terms he brings for peace. He comes in the hope that you and your sons will see reason. He comes in a last effort to make peace in the House of Kuru and save the world from war.

Dhritarashtra, remember the Pandavas have no father. At least for Pandu’s sake, think that you should be like a father to them. There is still hope, my brother; if you turn back to dharma, Krishna will heal the bitterness between the Kauravas and Pandavas. He will even persuade Draupadi to forgive your sons for what they did to her. But you must take the first step toward peace yourself; no one can do that for you. The fate of the world as we know it is in your hands. I pray that you make the just choice, though I fear you will not.”

Duryodhana rose and, surprisingly, said, “I agree with Vidura. It is foolish to think we can estrange Krishna from the Pandavas. He will laugh at you if you try to bribe him; worse, he will think we are afraid of him. No, we must not insult Krishna by trying to buy him to our side. We must receive him with dignity, or we shall be the laughing-stock of the world.”

Bheeshma said, “It will make no difference to Krishna if you honor him or not; he is above your honoring or insulting him. Nor will you sway him with foolish gifts, because he is a man of truth. He comes not to seek some petty wealth for himself, but genuinely to secure peace. He comes to see you acknowledge the injustice done to the Pandavas. He comes with the faint hope that dharma may be restored to the House of Kuru without bloodshed. The only way you can honor Krishna is to give the Pandavas back their kingdom.”

Duryodhana jumped up and cried, “Pitama! You always take our cousins’ side, but I will not give in to them or to you. I will never share what belongs to me. Why should I? After the Vaishnava yagna the kingdom is mine and I mean to keep it.”

Bheeshma said in despair, “Dhritarashtra, this son of yours is so full of evil that he has lost his reason. I fear his time has come to die and he will not listen to anything that might save him. And I cannot stand any more raving.”

Bheeshma rose and walked out of the sabha and that was an end to the day’s deliberations. Late the next morning, Krishna arrived with Satyaki and Dhritarashtra went to the city-gates with Bheeshma, Drona and Kripa to receive him. Duryodhana went, as well and his brothers. The people of Hastinapura milled in the streets of the city of elephants to welcome the Avatara. They reached out loving hands and chanted his name, as he rode through them. The women flung flowers down on him from their balconies.

Krishna came to Dhritarashtra’s palace and was ushered into the sabha of Hastinapura. The king had asked for a jeweled throne to be set beside his own and Krishna was shown to that seat. When he had greeted the Kuru elders, the Dark One sat chatting to the Kaurava princes and he was full of smiles. It seemed this was another day like any other and he had come to the city for a friendly visit. Then, Krishna said, “If you allow me, my lords, I want to meet Vidura in his palace and pay my respects to my aunt Kunti.”