The Mahabharata (16 page)

Arjuna said, “I will not shoot unless Drona himself shoots first,” and when he took his chariot close to him, Drona attacked him, and a well-matched, sophisticated fight ensued. Drona admired Arjuna's tactics. He matched astra for astra and Arjuna was able to attack and counter-attack with such grace that the gods gathered above to watch the fight. It was exciting, academic, and free from hatred or malice. Kripa, Bhishma, and Drona loved Arjuna but still had to participate in the battle out of a sense of duty towards Duryodhana. Their encounters with Arjuna had the appearance of a demonstration of the art of war, a friendly bout. But not so the encounter with Karna.

“You have boasted all your life of how great you are. Now prove it in action,” cried Arjuna. Reminding himself of Karna's savagery towards Draupadi at the gambling hall, he mauled Karna, who withdrew in a bloody state.

Next, Arjuna noticed Duryodhana slipping away, and suddenly veered round to block the route of his escape. Duryodhana's supporters surrounded him protectively, as he had swooned. At this, one of Arjuna's mystic astras put everyone in the field in a coma, whereupon Arjuna ordered Uttara to take the glittering clothes off every person, leaving them with a minimum of covering, and carried the booty off as souvenirs for the girls in the Virata palace.

Arjuna felt happy that he could thus, to some extent, redress the indignity perpetrated on Draupadi that fateful day. “The war has ended, and the cattle have been recovered,” Arjuna announced, and started back for the capital.

Arjuna returned to the banyan tree at the graveyard, and put away the weapons again. Hoisting Uttara's ensign back on the chariot, he advised him, “Let the messengers go in advance and announce our victory. Don't reveal who we are; it may disturb the King. Let the messengers announce that you have fought and won.”

On receiving the news of victory, the King became jubilant. “My son has been victorious over the cream of the
Kauravas; single-handed he has fought them.” He ordered public celebrations, but Yudhistira went on interrupting him with the statement, “Yes, yes, of course, if Brihannala was his charioteer, nothing but success could be expected.” The King was so thrilled by his son's achievement that he did not like Yudhistira's comments.

There was public jubilation, and festivities at the palace. Crowds lined the roads to receive the hero of the day—Uttara. While awaiting his arrival anxiously and proudly, Virata thought of whiling away his time by playing dice with Yudhistira, who resisted the idea. He was in no mood for the game, but Virata compelled him with all his authority, and they played. The King continued to praise the valour of his son, while Yudhistira praised his charioteer. Finally, this annoyed the King so much that he flung a dice piece at Yudhistira's head, and blood began to flow from the cut. Yudhistira stanched it with a cloth and Draupadi immediately placed a vessel below the wound to prevent the blood from dropping to the ground.
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Meanwhile Uttara had returned and, noticing the blood, asked, “Who has done this?”

“I did,” replied the King. “I wanted to teach this fellow a lesson for his obstinacy….”

Uttara was aghast. Although he could not yet reveal Kanka's identity, he scolded his father. “You have done a grievous wrong, the brahmin's curse will shrivel you up.”

Virata at once apologised to Yudhistira and ministered to his wound.

Yudhistira said, “O King, I understand. Those who are in authority naturally act with unreasonable severity when they are angry. However, I bear no grudge for what you have done. I have already forgotten it.”

The King now turned to his son to ask for details of his
encounters with warriors of the stature of Drona, Karna, and Duryodhana. Uttara explained, “I did nothing; it has all been accomplished by the son of a deity….” And he went on to describe how various figures collapsed on the battleground.

The King asked, “Where is that son of God?”

“He vanished immediately after the war, but may appear again tomorrow or the day after.”

O
N THE THIRD DAY
after the battle, Virata was shocked when he entered the assembly hall. On the seats meant for the kings were seated Yudhistira and his brothers: the courtier, cook, eunuch, and cattle and horse keepers, dressed in costly robes and wearing jewellery. Outraged at this impropriety, he ordered them all to get up and leave. Then Yudhistira announced himself and his brothers.

Virata was so overcome that he offered his wealth, cattle, and the entire kingdom to Yudhistira as a recompense for having treated them as servants. He then proposed his daughter Uttarai (Uttara was the prince) to Arjuna, but he replied, “I have been moving closely with her for a whole year in the women's chambers, and I view her as a daughter. I would rather accept her as a daughter-in-law, married to my son Abhimanyu,
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who will be a worthy husband for her.”

After all the tensions of thirteen years of exile, the wedding of Abhimanyu and Uttarai was a welcome change. Many kings and princes were sent invitations.
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The most distinguished among the guests was Krishna, who had brought with him his sister and her son, the bridegroom. From Dwaraka, Krishna had also brought ten thousand elephants and ten thousand chariots, as well as horses and soldiers. Krishna distributed presents to the Pandavas: several measures of gems, gold, and robes, and a large number of female slaves.

Conchs, cymbals, horns and drums, and other musical instruments were played in the palace courtyard. Delicate venison and other kinds of rare meat were provided in sumptuous feasts. Several kinds of wine and the intoxicating juices of rare plants flowed profusely. Bards and minstrels waited upon the kings and chanted their praise.

At the auspicious hour, the bride was presented by the King and accepted by Arjuna on behalf of his son. As a dowry for the nuptial ceremony, Virata gave Abhimanyu seven thousand horses which had the speed of wind, two hundred picked elephants, and wealth of many kinds. The sacred fire roared with enormous quantities of clarified butter, poured in to the chanting of Vedas and mantras.

On the following day, the hall of assembly was filled with distinguished guests occupying their seats of gold and ivory, according to their importance. The jewellery on their persons scintillated and the hall looked like a firmament spangled with brilliant stars. When the assembled guests had greeted one another and engaged for a little while in general talk, a silence ensued. Everyone knew that this silence was only a prelude to discussions of the utmost importance.

All eyes were now turned to where Krishna, with his
brother Balarama, was seated. It was a significant moment, the starting point of Krishna's leadership in the impending conflict with the Kauravas. Krishna addressed the assembly: “You all know how Yudhistira was defeated in a dice play by foul means. Deprived of his kingdom, he and his family were made to wander and suffer, all because he had given his word to remain in exile for twelve years, and then for a year more in hiding, which was perhaps the hardest part of their trials. They had to perform menial services and remain in constant dread of being discovered. Now having fulfilled their pledge to the last letter, the time has come for them to get back their kingdom, wealth, home, and royal dignity. But will they receive their due by fair means? Will Duryodhana respond to their appeal to give them back their kingdom? I doubt it. But still the Pandavas have the welfare of their cousins at heart and will not act precipitately. We must decide what we must do to regain our rights, if possible, without losing our desire for peace. Please consider the matter deeply, discuss it among yourselves and advise us. It is not possible to guess what Duryodhana may do, wants to do, or thinks of doing. I feel it will be difficult to plan anything at this stage, when we cannot fathom the mind of the other party. So I would suggest sending someone to Hastinapura, an able ambassador of courage and character, who can be persuasive as well as firm in speech, to get Duryodhana to give up half the kingdom to Yudhistira, who is not asking for more.”

After his speech, Balarama, who was Krishna's elder brother, said, “Remember that Duryodhana has complete hold on the entire kingdom. Yudhistira in his generosity is asking for only half of it. But will Duryodhana give up one half? We must try to know what he has in mind and then decide on the course of action. I do not at all think that any firm speech by an ambassador is going to help; it may only provoke a conflict. Duryodhana will not easily yield what he has possessed so long. Let a messenger be chosen who can
appeal with humility and win a concession; if we challenge, the Pandavas will not gain anything. Our messenger's language must appeal for an understanding. After all, Yudhistira had his kingdom but chose to gamble it away out of his own choice, in spite of advice from well-wishers who knew that he was a poor player. Yet he challenged, of all persons, the son of Suvala, known for his cleverness and deceit. There were many others in the assembly whom Yudhistira could have challenged, but he chose to play against only Sakuni, not once, but repeatedly. And so who is to be blamed for the present situation? Let us remember our own weakness and adopt a language of conciliation and not one of challenge.”

A ruler named Satyaki, a kinsman of Krishna and also his charioteer, said, “I do not agree with your statements, sir. They are not true. Yudhistira did not seek to play, but was challenged. As a kshatriya he had to accept. He did not ask Sakuni to play, Duryodhana had arranged it thus. They deceived Yudhistira. However, it is all past. Yudhistira has fulfilled his pledge. Still they dispute and hold on to their ill-gotten possessions at any cost, making hair-splitting arguments in regard to the calculation of the time at which the Pandavas had revealed themselves after the period of incognito. I would ask for no charity. Let our messenger go up and say that Yudhistira in his generosity is prepared to take back only half his kingdom. They should yield to him or face the consequences. The way to appeal to them will be with arrows and not words. I will gather my forces and send the Kauravas to the world of Yama if they do not bow at the feet of Yudhistira.”

Drupada, father-in-law of the Pandavas, added his voice. “Duryodhana will not give up anything by peaceful means. He is the kind to treat anyone speaking mildly as an imbecile. We cannot expect any improvement if Dhritarashtra intervenes; he will support his son in every way. Drona and Bhishma, whatever their personal views, will always support Duryodhana. The important step now must be to prepare
for war. We must send our messengers without a moment's delay to all the kings—north, south, east, and west, so that we may be the first to get their promises of support.” He mentioned over fifty rulers who should be approached at once. “In addition to all this,” he suggested, “a man of learning and intelligence should be sent to the other camp to convey our demand clearly and firmly, without fear or offensiveness. Our envoy should not be aggressive or servile.”

Krishna made preparations to return to Dwaraka with his retinue, feeling satisfied that a proper beginning had been made to reestablish the Pandavas. Before leaving he repeated, “Let us try to maintain a friendly relationship, but if Duryodhana spurns us, call me first, and then summon our allies. Then the Gandiva and all our other weapons can go into action.”

The Pandavas selected a priest who was scholarly, well versed in the science of politics, to go to Hastinapura as their envoy. Simultaneously they dispatched messengers to various principalities to seek allies. Arjuna himself set out to Dwaraka to formally request Krishna's help. Duryodhana, who was aware through his spies of all the plans brewing at the Pandava camp, also sent his messengers far and wide to seek allies, and set out himself to Dwaraka to appeal to Krishna for his help. Both Arjuna and Duryodhana arrived at the same moment, while Krishna was asleep, and entered his chamber together. Duryodhana chose a good seat placed at the head of Krishna's cot and Arjuna sat down at his feet, both waiting for Krishna to wake up. When Krishna opened his eyes, the first person he saw was Arjuna and, being aware of the visitor at the head also, he spoke words that were applicable to both, general greetings and enquiries of welfare.

Arjuna stood with folded hands and bowed to him. Duryodhana
spoke first. “Both Arjuna and I are your kinsmen and you must treat us with equal consideration. I was the first to arrive. The inflexible rule is that whoever comes first should receive the first attention. I am turning to you for help in the war which is threatening to break out.”

“I do not know if you were the first to arrive, but Arjuna was the first to be seen by me when I opened my eyes. He is the younger one, and the code lays down that the younger person, under these conditions, should always get the first choice. I am willing to assist you both. I have in my control over a million soldiers, strong and aggressive; I could say they are stronger than I am. These soldiers shall be available to one of you, this army of a million men. To the other, I shall be available as an individual person, but I will not fight; I will just be on the side of the one who chooses me, that is all. Now tell me your choice: The junior, Arjuna, shall first speak his mind.”