THE MAHABHARATA: A Modern Rendering, Vol 2 (3 page)

He paused, as if a more attractive idea struck him. “And if it is war they want, why should we be afraid of them? Who in this world can stand against Arjuna and Krishna, or this Satyaki? Who will face Bheema? When Nakula and Sahadeva take the field, which Kaurava will ride against them? Who will fight Shikhandi and Dhrishtadyumna? How will they contain Gada, Samba and Pradyumna? Which of them will face Abhimanyu?

Our enemies are rotted soft with the sins moldering in their hearts. How will they stand against the forces of dharma? We all know Duryodhana. He will never give back the kingdom and I think gentle Yudhishtira knows this as well as any man here. Why should our emperor, for whom we are all ready to die, demean himself with an obsequious message to a serpent who has always done his best to destroy him and his family?

No! Yudhishtira should send word to Duryodhana that he must return what no longer belongs to him, at once, or prepare to meet death on the field of battle.”

Satyaki sat down with a final glower at Balarama. The sabha burst into loud applause. Yudhishtira smiled gratefully at the young Yadava. Krishna had an inscrutable and, now, rather faraway look in his eyes. The time had come for an elder to speak and Drupada rose. “What Satyaki says has the ring of truth. Duryodhana will never give back the kingdom without war; most likely, he already prepares for it. Dhritarashtra will stand with his son. Shakuni and Karna are with him. Bheeshma and Drona will be foolish if they take his part, but it is not impossible we find they do.

I differ with Balarama today. We must not send a humble message to Duryodhana; he must not think we are afraid of him. If there is any hope of his returning the kingdom without war, it is if he fears us. An animal like him does not understand gentleness or dharma, only violence and fear. We must send a messenger to Hastinapura; but he must carry our word in strength, not weakness.”

There were noises of approval from the council. Drupada went on, “But, to my mind, sending an ambassador to Hastinapura is not our most pressing concern. In all likelihood, our enemies already prepare themselves for war and so must we. Let word go out to all the kings of the earth who will ally themselves to us. I am an old man and I have some instinct for history. I sense a horrible war, formed like a fetus, growing in the womb of time and its birth drawn very near. A war such as this earth has never seen: a war between dharma and adharma, good and evil, for the right to rule the world. Let us not deceive ourselves with foolish hopes, but be well prepared.

There is an old saying that a kshatriya always agrees to support the man who goes to him first. We must not lose any allies because Duryodhana sent word to them before we did. Yudhishtira, this very day, let your messengers ride to the courts of Shalya, Dhrishtaketu and Jayatsena. Let the loyal Kekaya brothers not feel we have left them out of our deliberations. Let Bhagadatta be told of our plans and the hundred other kings we know
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. We must not underestimate Duryodhana. He is so charming he can turn our best friends against us, if we don’t make sure they are firmly on our side before he reaches them.”

Drupada glanced pointedly at Balarama. Drupada’s daughter had been humiliated in Hastinapura; she had been exiled. The Panchala king loved Draupadi more than his life. He would not rest until Duryodhana was dead. “Let me send my family priest as our messenger to Hastinapura. He is a wise and distinguished man and used to dealing with kings. He will not be cowed by the opulence of Duryodhana’s court, or cringe before the Kurus. Tell him what message to carry to Dhritarashtra, Bheeshma, Drona, Duryodhana and the others and he will deliver it without dishonoring the sender.”

Smiling, Krishna rose again. “Drupada speaks wisely, though he speaks on the part of the Panda-vas; and that is natural, since his daughter is their wife. I agree with what he says. But I must make one thing clear: the Yadavas are keen to see Yudhishtira’s kingdom restored peacefully to him. Strange though it may sound, I see the Pandavas and the Kauravas with equal eyes. I have no doubt that Bheeshma and Dhritarashtra, Drona, Kripa and Vidura will listen attentively to Drupada’s messenger.

We came here for Abhimanyu’s wedding. We are grateful to Virata that he has honored us by giving his lovely daughter to our nephew. The wedding is over and it is time we went back to Dwaraka. We hope Drupada’s wisdom will prevail upon Duryodhana and his elders and there will be peace again between the Kuru cousins.”

Balarama, who sat crushed by what Satyaki and Drupada had said, breathed a sigh of relief. Unpredictable as ever, Krishna had not turned against his brother in public, whatever he might have felt about his views.

Krishna turned to Yudhishtira, “If Duryodhana doesn’t see reason, if he is determined to have war, send for us and we will come to fight for you. We shall see how they face Arjuna and Bheema away from the dice-board!”

On that note, the sabha in Upaplavya concluded. Virata bid farewell to his guests, sending them home with many precious gifts. Krishna and Balarama left with the Yadava army and went back to Dwaraka, Balarama rather chastened and Krishna with a growing instinct of the war that plunged ever closer along the maze of time. The Dark One also had a premonition of a piquant choice that would soon confront him in his ocean-city, the prospect of which he quite relished.

Yudhishtira and Virata began to prepare in earnest for war. They sent messengers abroad, to kingdoms far and near, to warn their allies of the impending war and enlist their support. News of this traveled swiftly to Duryodhana and he, too, sent his own envoys to powerful kings who were his friends.

Soon, armies on the move covered the earth. Some went to the Matsya kingdom to join the Pandavas, while others marched to Hastinapura to be part of Duryodhana’s legions. And surely, the greater number went to the Kuru capital; for in those days, Duryodhana was at the height of his influence and power.

TWO
A CHOICE FOR TWO KSHATRIYAS 

Drupada sent his erudite and experienced priest to the Kaurava court. This man was a highborn brah-mana and presented himself with dignity before the blind king, Bheeshma, Drona, Vidura and the other Kauravas.

Earlier, before he left the Panchala capital, Drupada had said to him, “You know the gravity of the mission on which I am sending you. You are aware of all the circumstances, the injustice the Pandavas and my child have endured. You know Duryodhana’s character. Vidura was the only one in the Kuru sabha who spoke for dharma on the day the Pandavas were banished. But Dhritarashtra paid him no heed.

Shakuni is a malignant creature; he is the heart of evil in Hastinapura. Duryodhana and the others have gone too far down the path of darkness to turn back now; there is no point talking to them. Address yourself directly to Dhritarashtra. He is old enough to fear death and wise enough, at least by his infirmity, to acknowledge his fear. Yet, he dotes on his son and you might not persuade him. However, though you address the blind king, what you say can influence those wiser than him: Bheeshma, Drona and Kripa. And I am sure the good Vidura will support you.

If you speak of dharma in Hastinapura, at least you will sow some doubt in the minds of Duryodhana’s followers. If you speak of how much their deeds are at variance with the ways of the Kuru sires, the Kaurava may well have to spend some time winning back their hearts. That will be time won for us and we can strengthen our forces. This is the real purpose ofyour embassy to Hastinapura, a subtle and vital one. Set out under the Pushyami nakshatra, at the time of day called Jaya.”

In Upaplavya, Yudhishtira and Virata called Arjuna. Yudhishtira said, “Krishna hasn’t committed himself to our cause. He even said the Kauravas and Pandavas are the same to him and Balarama seems to be against us. More than anything else, this worries me. I want you to ride to Dwaraka and ask Krishna for which side he will fight. He is always mysterious and I will have no peace until I know what he means to do.”

Arjuna set out alone for the city in the sea. He had not gone far, when Duryodhana’s spies learnt of his mission and word reached the Kaurava. Duryodhana burst in on his uncle and main advisor, Shakuni.

“Arjuna is on his way to Dwaraka! What shall I do?”

Shakuni’s serpent eyes flickered for a moment. He said with rare urgency, “You must reach Dwaraka before Arjuna does and ask Krishna to support you in the war. Take your swiftest horses, go now!”

Within the hour, Duryodhana swept toward the ocean-city. Meanwhile, Arjuna went along with no doubt in his mind that Krishna would join the Pandavas. How would the love the Blue God bore his cousins allow him to fight for the Kauravas? Arjuna did not hurry, but went in faith and arrived in fabulous Dwaraka only after Duryodhana did.

It was early morning. The city of dreams lay languid on a sea tinted with the colors of a new day. Arjuna took his chariot across the bridge that led into Dwaraka; the city was just beginning to bestir itself. Still rubbing the sleep from their eyes, some Yadavas came out of their homes to worship the sun. They saw Arjuna, shouted his name in surprise and waved. He arrived in Krishna’s palace and a guard brought him to a waiting room. He saw Duryodhana sat there already, grinning smugly at him.

“Greetings, cousin! Whatever brings you to Dwaraka, young Arjuna? Could it be the same thing I have come for? But I came before you and I will speak to Krishna first.”

Arjuna sat as far away from Duryodhana as he could and said calmly, “What does it matter who came first or last? He who decides all things, for his own reasons, will decide this as well.”

“We shall see.”

Satyaki came into the room. He seemed agitated and flashed Arjuna a dark look as if to say, Why didn’t you come before him?’

He greeted them both perfunctorily and said, “Krishna is still asleep, but you can come in and wait beside his bed. He will speak to you when he wakes up.”

Duryodhana jumped up to follow Satyaki and Arjuna went after them at his ease. In his chamber, Krishna lay asleep. At the head of his bed stood an exquisite chair carved from dark rosewood. Duryodhana crossed to it and sat down. Arjuna went slowly to the foot of the Dark One’s bed and stood there, his eyes shut and his hands folded to the sleeper. Duryodhana fidgeted in his chair. He looked scornfully at his cousin; Arjuna stood motionless at Krishna’s feet, in prayer.

Satyaki had barely left the room, when Krishna opened his eyes, yawned and saw Arjuna at the foot of his bed.

“Arjuna!” he cried. “When did you come?”

“Just now, my Lord.”

Krishna was all smiles. As he rose, there was a cough behind him. He turned to see Duryodhana, sitting stiffly in his chair. The Kaurava said, “Krishna, I came before Arjuna and it is only just that you hear me first.”

Krishna said softly, “How nice to see you, Duryodhana. And I am glad to hear you speaking of justice today!” He scratched his cheek thoughtfully. “Yet, when I awoke, it was Arjuna I saw first. Well, I must be fair to both of you, since you have come so far to seek my advice or help, or…what is it you have come for?”

Duryodhana said, “Krishna, we mean to have war between us. There is no point pretending otherwise, since both of us are mustering armies. I have come to ask you, Krishna, to fight for the Kaura-vas. And I came before he did.”

Krishna turned questioningly to Arjuna, who inclined his head to say that he, also, had come for the same reason. Duryodhana went on smoothly, “Krishna, they say you favor neither the Pandavas nor the Kauravas. It is only dharma you join the one that came to you first. The rishis all say you are the greatest man in the world. You must not violate dharma.”

Krishna nodded gravely at Duryodhana and the Kaurava smiled as if he already had what he wanted; and if Krishna joined him, the Pandavas would be finished! He would have won the war before it began. He would not be surprised if Yudhishtira abandoned the thought of fighting and went back into the jungle for another twelve years. Sending him here was a masterstroke of Shakuni’s.

Krishna said gently, “Duryodhana, I don’t doubt you came before Arjuna; but when I opened my eyes, I saw Arjuna first. To be fair, I cannot turn either of you away. So I will offer you a choice.”

Duryodhana began to protest, but now Krishna’s tone brooked no argument, “Moreover, Arjuna is younger than you are, Duryodhana and he must have the first choice.”

Again, Duryodhana wanted to speak and again Krishna would not let him. “Listen to the choice I offer before you protest. I feel you will both be pleased with my offer. Can you agree to trust me? For once the choice is made, it will bind all three of us. I promise it will be fair to both of you: a choice after your own hearts and neither of you shall be disappointed. Will you trust me?”

Arjuna nodded at once and, after some hesitation, Duryodhana did as well. “Make your offer, Krishna.”

Krishna said, “On one hand, I offer myself, just me mind you and I will carry no weapons during your war, nor strike a blow regardless of who wins or loses. On the other hand, I offer an aksauhini of Yadava warriors
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and they shall bear arms and fight for one of you. Arjuna, you choose first.”

Arjuna did not hesitate. “This is the easiest choice I ever had to make. I choose you, Krishna! Who else do I need in this world, or the next?”

Duryodhana had to restrain himself, so he did not laugh aloud. On one hand, an unarmed Krishna who would not strike a blow and a formidable legion of Vrishni heroes on the other: if he had the first choice, he would certainly have chosen the Yadava warriors. What could Krishna do if he did not fight? It was a laughable choice and what was more, the fool of a Pandava had made it for him.