THE MAHABHARATA: A Modern Rendering, Vol 2 (4 page)

“Krishna, are you sure you will not fight?”

“I swear it, Duryodhana.”

“Arjuna has chosen and I am content,” said the Kaurava.

He could not keep the glee out of his eyes and Krishna smiled to see it. Duryodhana thanked Krishna quickly and hurried away, thinking his war as good as won, since the Pandavas’ most dangerous ally would not carry a weapon or fight for them. He was so overjoyed he ran straight to his master Balarama.

“My lord!” cried Duryodhana, kneeling before his old guru.

Balarama raised him up. “Duryodhana, I am glad to see you. Have you heard how I defended your cause at Upaplavya?”

“I have heard, my lord and I thank you! I have come to tell you how much what you said there has helped me.”

“How is that? Krishna and Satyaki are against you.”

“Arjuna and I saw Krishna together. He said he would be fair to both of us. He offered us a choice and asked Arjuna to choose first.”

“I told you he favors the Pandavas.”

“Oh no, my lord! In this instance, he has been entirely fair. In fact, Arjuna made a foolish choice and Krishna smiled at me as if to say, ‘Now you have what you want, Duryodhana!’“

“What was the choice he offered?”

Duryodhana laughed, “On one hand, himself and he will bear no arms, nor strike a blow during the war, whatever its outcome. And on the other, a legion of Vrishni warriors who will fight!”

A knowing look had crept into Balarama’s eye. He said softly, “And Arjuna chose Krishna?”

Duryodhana cried, “I would have chosen the aksauhini, even if I had chosen first.”

“I feared as much,” said Balarama with a sigh. “It was no choice he offered you.”

But Duryodhana was too excited to notice his master was not enthused. The Kaurava was already saying, “So, will you fight for me, my lord, as part of the Yadava legion? Then the Pandavas’ fate will be sealed.”

Balarama shook his head. “How can I fight against my brother? I have already told Krishna I will take no part in this war. If you and your cousins do fight, I shall go away on a pilgrimage to pray for all of you. And for Krishna.” He sighed again and put his arm around his pupil’s shoulders. Kindly, he said, “Duryodhana, among all my sishyas, you were always my favorite. You are a brave man, born in a noble house. Fight your war like the proud kshatriya you are. You are a jewel of your line, don’t bring shame on yourself.”

There was such pity in Balarama’s voice, which Duryodhana in his jubilation did not notice. The Kaurava embraced his guru and strode out to his chariot to ride back to Hastinapura with his wonderful news
²
. How pleased Shakuni would be! When Duryodhana had gone, Balarama sat very still for a long time and a tear glistened in his eye. He rose and poured himself a bowl of wine.

There was no doubt now that there would indeed be war and blood would flow in scarlet streams. It would be Krishna’s great yagna, the one he had been born for and he would cleanse the earth with it. Balarama drained the bowl and set it down.

He whispered, “Oh, my brother, how savage are your ways. Choice! What choice did you offer? You knew both their hearts. The only choice you offered Duryodhana was his death.”

THREE
‘EVERYONE SEEMS TO KNOW ME’ 

When Duryodhana had gone, Krishna turned to Arjuna with reproach in his eyes.

“You made such a foolish choice! Didn’t you hear what I said, that I would carry no weapon during the war? Did you think the Sudarshana Chakra would be yours to cast at the enemy? I will not strike a blow, Arjuna. You had the first choice and you chose wrongly. Did you see the delight in Duryodhana’s eyes? Ah, what have you done, Pandava?”

Arjuna began to laugh. Krishna cried, “And laughing now? After being so rash.”

Arjuna said, “Don’t make fun of me, my Lord. I have what I came for, though I came slowly and arrived after my clever cousin. Krishna, I will raze the Kaurava army by myself. But will you be my sarathy? So I can fight in your name and in the name of dharma and rid the earth of the evil that chokes her. And if you will, my own name shall become immortal: for they will call you Parthasar-athy!”

Krishna’s accusing look evaporated. He took Arjuna’s hand and said, “I will be your sarathy, Partha. But are you certain you have made the right choice?”

“I know you, Krishna! Where you are, victory shall be. Life is a storm and you are our only shelter. You have come to the world to till this ancient land and let kshatriya blood in a sea to renew her. I will be your priest for that ritual, Krishna.

Spring will be greener, when we have finished our sacrifice. Rain-clouds will be darker and the colors of autumn more resonant. Winter will be purer and the summer more true because your blue feet walked the earth! My heart knows all this, why do you try to make me think it is otherwise? When Arjuna fights, Krishna’s will shall be done through him, not his own. Win or lose, no matter, for posterity will know that Krishna fought on the side of the Pandavas. Not I, or any of my brothers would have it otherwise.”

Krishna embraced Arjuna. Then he led him into another room in his palace, where Satyaki was pacing the floor. Krishna said, “Look, Satyaki, at what this Arjuna has done.”

Satyaki cried anxiously, “What did he do?”

“He chose to take my hand, even if it meant losing the war.”

Satyaki gave a shrill laugh. “I thank God! I was terrified Arjuna would make the wrong choice.” A shadow crossed his face. “But Duryodhana has gone to meet Balarama, to ask him to fight on his side. Kritavarman says your brother is already with him.”

Krishna said, “My brother will take no part in the war. He did his best to keep me out of it as well. But that would not do, would it?” He smiled, mysteriously as ever. “Balarama isn’t happy with his Krishna, but that can be set right later. The vital thing is, he will not fight.”

He took a grape from a silver bowl and chewed thoughtfully on its purple flesh. “It was surely Shakuni that sent his nephew to me in such haste and he will be overjoyed at the news Duryodhana takes back to him. That is the pity with people like Shakuni: they are satisfied with the skin of the fruit. But in the end, it is Arjuna and his brothers who will taste the flesh. This is always the way of time: that the righteous shall have lasting victory, while evil only appears to win and for a short while.”

He spat some seeds through a window, from the grape he had just eaten. “Anyway, I am thankful I did not have to turn Duryodhana down when he came to me. Now no one can say Krishna was not just. Though heaven knows what I would have done if I had not seen Arjuna standing at the foot of my bed when I awoke, while the Kaurava sat haughtily where I could not see him. I really wonder what I would have done.”

Satyaki said quietly, “Shall I tell you what you would have done? You would have told Duryo-dhana that you had already decided to join the Pandavas. That is what you would have done. I know you, Krishna!”

“Do you really, Satyaki? Everyone seems to know me, these days, better than I do myself. A short while ago, when I questioned the wisdom of the choice he made, Arjuna said to me, ‘I know you, Krishna!’ Just yesterday, Balarama said the same thing. Shall I tell you what my brother said?

‘I know you, Krishna,’ he said to me. ‘You will not rest until you see this war fought. You are determined that Duryodhana and Karna must die and I will not fight against you. I don’t much care what happens, either; I don’t care who wins or loses, lives or dies. But I feel sorry for Duryodhana. Time will remember him as the man who sent the Pandavas into exile, the kshatriya who cheated at dice. But what about his other qualities, Krishna? His generosity, his charm, his intelligence, his courage: who will say Duryodhana was a respectful pupil, a softhearted and loyal friend? He will be remembered only for one folly and not for his kindness toward Karna, whom he treats like his own brother. I ask you, would any of the Pandavas have been so generous to a man who is not their own blood, but a sutaputra. Would anyone?’

He sighed. ‘I wish I had gone to Hastinapura to negotiate with Duryodhana; he would never refuse anything I asked him. But that was not what you wanted, was it? I know you, Krishna. Only what you have decided will happen. The others are all your puppets and they don’t even realize it. Once Shakuni twirled loaded ivory dice; now you twirl the dice of fate in your hands, my brother. And they are loaded, too, with the deaths of Duryodhana and Karna, both of whom have never been given a fair chance in this life.’

He said again, ‘I know you, Krishna. I want no part in this war,’ and he stalked out.”

Krishna sighed, “My brother is very unhappy, Satyaki. I suppose it is true, what he says, that one fault has eclipsed all Duryodhana’s undeniable qualities. It is sad, but then this is a sad world, isn’t it? And should Yudhishtira, who is the noblest of men, suffer endlessly for no fault of his? Why should he? Because he is truthful and patient and because he never leaves the path of dharma? No, he has suffered enough for being righteous. The hour of reckoning has come, now Duryodhana must pay for his sins.

Shall Bheema not keep his oath, which he swore when Dusasana tried to strip Draupadi in the sabha of Hastinapura? Shan’t Draupadi have the revenge for which she has waited thirteen years? They shall! Or dharma has no meaning. But, Satyaki, my brother doesn’t really know me. If there was any way at all, I, as much as Yudhishtira, would prevent this war. But I do know Duryodhana. His hatred rules him and he will not relent. And I fear the war on the crack of the ages must be fought.” Softly he added, “As it was always meant to be.”

For a moment, he was plunged in some thought too deep to share. Then Krishna smiled brightly again at Arjuna and Satyaki. He put his hands on their shoulders and said, “But now we must hurry to Upaplavya. As Balarama says, the die is cast and Yudhishtira waits anxiously for us.”

FOUR
THE TWO ARMIES 

Madri’s brother and Nakula and Sahadeva’s uncle, the mighty Shalya, heard that the Pandavas’ exile was over. He was thinking of visiting them in Upaplavya, when Yudhishtira’s messenger arrived in his court.

“My lord Yudhishtira wants you to know there may be war between the Pandavas and the Kaura-vas. He sends word to ask you to fight for him.”

“Tell my nephews I will come at once to Upaplavya.”

Shalya set out the next day with one aksauhini. It was some way from his kingdom to the Matsya city and the going was hard. Duryodhana heard of Shalya’s march. He decided he wanted to win the powerful kshatriya to his side and strike the first blow off the field of battle.

Duryodhana arranged for luxurious camps for Shalya’s army along its tedious progress. Wine flowed, the food was fit for kings, the music was sweet and the dancing-girls were seductive. Duryo-dhana even had his agents lead Shalya some way from his true route and feted him lavishly in mansions built within Kuru lands. Duryodhana’s arrangements quite overwhelmed Shalya, who thought Yudhishtira was his host. Duryodhana had instructed his men not to reveal for whom they worked.

One day, in the fourth or fifth haven, Shalya was awash on his secret host’s hospitality, particularly on the heady wine. He said to the servants, “Call your masters who serve my nephew Yudhishtira. I want to thank them.”

A little puzzled, the servants bowed and withdrew. Duryodhana himself was waiting in that mansion. The servants came to him and told him what Shalya said. With a smile, the Kaurava walked into his unsuspecting guest’s presence.

Duryodhana bowed and said, “I hear you wanted to see me, my lord.”

“Duryodhana! But I thought…”

“I am pleased to be of service to such a great kshatriya.”

Shalya got up and embraced him. “You have looked after me and my men with unforgettable affection. I must reward you! Ask me for anything and it shall be yours.”

Duryodhana knelt before Shalya, “My lord, I want just one boon from you: that you fight the war for me.”

Having given his word, Shalya could hardly refuse. “I will fight my nephews for you, Duryodhana. But I was on my way to meet Yudhishtira. You go back to Hastinapura and I will come there after visiting Pandu’s sons. You have my word.”

Duryodhana said, “I trust a kshatriya will not forget his word?”

“No, Duryodhana, my word is sacred. I will fight on your side.”

Duryodhana embraced Shalya. “Then hurry to Upaplavya and meet your nephews. So you can join me quickly in Hastinapura.”

And Duryodhana was gone. Shalya was left wondering if he had not been more than a little rash under the influence of the excellent wine with which the Kaurava’s men had plied him. He pushed the thought aside and gave orders for his army to march within the hour to Upaplavya.

Shalya was quite sober when he arrived in that city. When he saw his nephews and they welcomed him so warmly, he regretted having agreed to fight for Duryodhana. He embraced each of them, crying, “My poor children, what an ordeal you have been through. I am so pleased it is over now and you are back among us. Draupadi, my child, how good to see you again. And just as beautiful as you always were!”

When they sat together in the palace, Yudhishtira said, “Our trials are not yet over, uncle. It seems we must still have war with our cousins.”