The Mahabharata: A Modern Rendering (2 Vols.), page 92
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 Duryodhana 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 towards 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 Kauravas. 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. Duryodhana 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.”
He saw Shalya flush. Yudhishtira looked at him curiously. Shalya took a deep breath and said, “Yudhishtira, I have promised Duryodhana I will fight the war on his side.” He told Yudhishtira how he had been enticed into making that promise.
As he spoke, he saw Yudhishtira’s eyes fill. When Shalya finished, and lapsed into a sorry silence, the Pandava said gently, “I understand how it happened, my lord. Duryodhana planned the whole thing. But it pains me that we will have to fight our own uncle in this terrible war.”
Red-faced, Shalya mumbled, “Yudhishtira, you know how much I love you. Especially when I think of your exile, I could cut my tongue out for giving my word to Duryodhana. But having given it, I must keep it.”
Yudhishtira was thoughtful. Suddenly, he said, “I think I have a way in which we can turn this defeat into a victory. As a kshatriya, you must not break the word you gave Duryodhana. But you must make me also a promise.”
“I will do anything except break my word.”
“It is not an honourable thing I am going to ask you, but it is something that must be done. When I think of all the enemies ranged against us, I truly fear only one of them: Karna. Only he can kill Arjuna, the rest are no match for my brother. Perhaps Karna is not his equal either, but my heart tells me to beware of him.
“Krishna will be Arjuna’s sarathy during the war, and Karna will want a sarathy who is as good as Krishna. We all know you are the finest sarathy on earth, my lord. At some time, Duryodhana will ask you to drive Karna’s chariot. I am certain Arjuna and Karna will come face to face on the field, and the duel between them shall decide the outcome of the war. Dharma is with us but, somehow, I fear that against Karna dharma alone won’t suffice.”
“What would you have me do?”
Now Yudhishtira spoke as if he was another man. He whispered, “Talk to Karna when he rides into battle. Dishearten him! Compare him to Arjuna. Extol my brother to the sky, and make Karna believe he is inferior to him. Fill his heart with doubt. Tell him a sutaputra can never be the equal of a kshatriya and a Devaputra. I know it is base; but I fear the earth shall be lost to us, if Karna fights as he can. His inconfidence is his only weakness, we must take advantage of it.”
A grim smile touched Shalya’s face. “Perhaps it was a Godsend, after all, the rashness which made me commit myself to Duryodhana. It may be that I shall be a deadlier foe when I am near him. As you say, it is hardly what a kshatriya should do; but when I think of the thirteen years you spent in the wilderness, and of Draupadi’s shame, my blood cries out for revenge. Yes, at the critical time, I will whisper doubt and fear into Karna’s soul. I bless you, Pandava. Victory shall be yours, and you will rule the earth as you deserve to.”
More than a little ashamed, Yudhishtira said, “Of all of them it is only Karna I fear. I am not sure why.”
It was as if some part of his mind murmured to him, insistently, that Karna was not what he seemed. Yudhishtira could never quieten the niggling fear he had of that warrior, not though Arjuna had beaten him convincingly outside Virata. When it came to a duel to the death, Yudhishtira was afraid Karna would prove invincible.
Shalya left Upaplavya, and marched to Hastinapura with his legion. Duryodhana welcomed him like a brother.
The first of Yudhishtira’s allies to arrive in Upaplavya was Satyaki, with his one aksauhini. Then, Dhrishtaketu, king of the Chedis, came with another aksauhini. Jarasandha’s son Jayatsena came from Magadha with a glittering legion, and the five Kekaya brothers, with theirs. Drupada arrived with his army, with the brilliant Shikhandi, whose roots were deep and strange, the fire-born Dhrishtadyumna, and with Draupadi’s sons, the young tigers chafing to prove themselves worthy of their fathers in battle. Virata brought one aksauhini, as well, from his capital, and came to Upaplavya with his sons and brothers, and Uttara Kumara who was a celebrated kshatriya now! The Pandya king, and Neela, king of Mahishmati, came with their legions.
Seven oceanic aksauhinis flowed across the earth, a tide of fighting men, and swarmed around Upaplavya; and they were the Pandavas’ to command.
But if immense legions came together at Upaplavya, the legions that swelled the ranks of Duryodhana’s army in Hastinapura were vaster. Bhagadatta was the first to answer the Kaurava’s call, and he brought an aksauhini. Then Shalya arrived with his army, as did Bhoorisravas. Kritavarman came from Dwaraka with the promised Yadava force. Jayadratha of Sindhu, Sudakshina of Kambhoja, Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti, all brought an aksauhini each. And there was a host of other, lesser kings of the earth, loyal to Duryodhana, who answered his summons to war, and their combined forces amounted to another three aksauhinis.
The Pandava army numbered seven aksauhinis, and Dhritarashtra’s son had eleven to call his own. Duryodhana kept his legions on the banks of the Ganga, and employed another army of servants to cater to the soldiers’ every need. The Kaurava was lord of the earth. After the years of the Pandavas’ exile, his coffers overflowed with their wealth and his own. Duryodhana’s army camped outside Hastinapura was well cared for.
FIVE
The messengers
MEANWHILE, THE BRAHMANA FROM DRUPADA’S COURT ARRIVED IN Hastinapura, and was shown into Dhritarashtra’s palace. He was an imposing figure, with clear, sage eyes. When Bheeshma, Dhritarashtra and Vidura heard the Pandavas had sent him, they received him with honour. When the brahmana’s comfort had been seen to, the blind king called a council to hear what he had come to say.
When all the royal and powerful in Hastinapura filled the Kuru sabha, Dhritarashtra said, “The Pandavas have sent this good brahmana from Drupada’s court as their emissary. Let us hear what he has to say.
The brahmana had been well looked after, and perhaps they hoped to hear words of conciliation from him. He rose and a bright and imposing figure he was, that old man. He began, “This is an ancient house in which I am honoured to speak today. My lord, yours is a noble line, and all your ancestors who sat before you on the Kuru throne were men of dharma. Which is why the House of Kuru has lasted so long upon the face of the earth, and its glory did not diminish.”
The brahmana looked around him leisurely; he was at his ease.
“Yes, this is an august sabha into which I am privileged to bear my message. You all know, far better than I, the dharma that a kshatriya is sworn to. Dhritarashtra and Pandu are sons of the same father; no one doubts that. The world knows that Pandu conquered most of the present Kuru kingdom. Thus that kingdom belongs equally to the sons of Dhritarashtra and the sons of Pandu.”
The brahmana lowered his voice, to make his point better. “The sons of Dhritarashtra have a kingdom to rule today. Why is it the sons of Pandu do not? The kingdom you bequeathed to them, Dhritarashtra, the wilderness that flowered when Yudhishtira sat on his throne in Indraprastha. In this house of dharma, time and again, Dhritarashtra’s sons have tried to be rid of their cousins; even to kill them. Force was of no avail and Duryodhana and his uncle Shakuni resorted to deceit.
“They took Yudhishtira’s kingdom from him at a game of dice. The world knows that Shakuni is not only a master player, but also a master of cheating. It was not as if the elders of this sabha did not know Shakuni was using loaded dice when he played Yudhishtira. Yet, the Kuru elders sat and watched, as Shakuni took everything Yudhishtira owned from him. Was this the dharma of one of the noblest houses on earth? Was this how Pandu’s sons should have been treated in Pandu’s brother’s court?”
He paused, and a hush had fallen on the council in Hastinapura. From the brahmana’s tone, it was abundantly clear the Pandavas were not offering any compromises.
“But the Pandavas do not want revenge for all they have suffered. They only want back what is theirs by right. They want half the Kuru kingdom, which Dhritarashtra himself once gave them. I have come here to ask the Kuru elders to give back what belongs to Yudhishtira, what was to be returned to him once his exile had been served. Yudhishtira is a man of peace. He does not want a war in which kshatriya kind itself will be destroyed.
“But if his kingdom is not returned honourably, he will have no choice left except to fight. Let this august sabha know that the sons of Pandu are far from helpless. Seven aksauhinis have gathered at Upaplavya. If Duryodhana does not put his greed behind him, and relent, there will be a war like the world has never seen. Kshatriya blood will fall upon the earth like crimson rain!
“When Satyaki, Bheema, Nakula, Sahadeva and Yudhishtira take arms against you, how will you resist them? When Indra’s son Arjuna, with Krishna as his sarathy, blows at you like a gale of death, how will you contain him? O Bheeshma, Dhritarashtra, Vidura, you are all wise and experienced men. Kuru elders, I have come to ask you to persuade Duryodhana to relent. Do as I ask, I beg you; or the House of Kuru will be destroyed, and with it, the very race of kings.”
Having delivered his message, the brahmana sat down.
Bheeshma responded to him. “I am pleased to hear the Pandavas are well, that Krishna is with them, and they have no wish to leave the path of dharma, though they have an army of seven aksauhinis. Yet you bring a haughty message from my grandsons, Brahmana, and your tongue is sharp.
“However, what you have said is not false, and I honour your words. It is true the Pandavas have suffered as kings of the earth hardly do. They and their queen were forced to live like hermits in the prime of their lives. It is true that they, too, have an equal right to this kingdom of their fathers. And it also true there is no kshatriya in the world like Arjuna, and any army will find it hard to contain him. Yes, all of us here know these things well.”
Bheeshma had not finished, when Karna jumped up and cried, “Is there no end to this? We hear the same things repeated in this sabha. Brahmana, you have said nothing new or very wise. Yes, we all know Yudhishtira lost a game of dice to Shakuni, and he gambled away everything he owned, including his freedom. We know that without your telling us, messenger. But now Yudhishtira dares send you here to threaten the Kuru sovereign! Because he has Drupada’s support? And old Virata’s? Has Yudhishtira lost his wits in the forest, that he thinks he can threaten Duryodhana? Listen to me, Brahmana, Duryodhana will not give Yudhishtira a foot of land out of fear. But if it is for dharma, he will give away his entire kingdom! Have the Pandavas forgotten the real conditions of their exile? That if any of them was seen during the ajnatavasa, they would all go back to the forest for another twelve years. Yudhishtira himself agreed to this condition.
