The Pandavas finally completed their 13 years of exile. They went through lot of hardships both when they spent their 12 years in the forests as well as when they spent a year incognito. Especially the last year was quite tough.
The great warrior like Arjuna had to disguise as a dance teacher to the princess Uttara, daughter of King Virat. The all-powerful Bhima had to play the role of a cook in the kitchen of the same King! And Draupadi became queen’s maid! How humiliating. But they had to do that so that the spies of Duryodhana who were prying around would not recognize them. If they did, as per the rule of the dice game, they had to go through one more round of 13 years!
They did all that and kept their word. But wicked Duryodhana did not. In all fairness, Duryodhana should have given back their Kingdom to them. But it was too much to expect from Duryodhana. His main plan to send the Pandavas to exile was to buy time so that he could establish himself and build sufficient strength to face the Pandavas. He achieved that in those 13 long years. So, naturally he refused to give back their Kingdom.
Pandavas temporarily resided in a place called Upaplavya. Their close associates were all for waging war against the Kauravas and snatch back the lost Kingdom. Even the Pandava brothers, barring Yudhishthira were eager to get back their lost honor. Draupadi was waiting for her revenge to assuage the humiliation that she had gone through.
But Yudhishthira did not want to wage a war. He knew the consequences of any war. Whoever wins, a large-scale massacre of innocent people would be inevitable. Moreover, he felt no enmity to the Kauravas even after going through so much of hardship. No wonder he was called ‘Ajaatashatru ‘– the one who has no enemies! Finally, an emissary was sent to Hastinapur to gauge the pulse of the opponents. But as expected, Duryodhana and his coterie were in no mood to budge.
Arjuna set out to Dwarika seeking Krishna’s help. Duryodhana who got the scent of that through his spies, also quickly rushed to Dwarika. The Yadavas in Dwarika had a massive army. And Duryodhana did not want Arjuna to woo them. So, he reached Dwarika even before Arjuna.
When Duryodhana reached Dwarika, Krishna was taking rest. Duryodhana had no respect for Krishna. He was only interested in his army. Duryodhana waited on a seat near the bed on which Krishna was asleep. Very soon Arjuna too reached the place. Arjuna had high respect for Krishna and so he sat on the floor near Krishna’s feet.
After a while Krishna opened his eyes. Naturally, he saw Arjuna who was sitting near his feet. After exchanging pleasantries with Arjuna, Krishna also noticed Duryodhana sitting impatiently on a high seat. Krishna welcomed him too and asked the purpose for which he had come. Duryodhana had no interest in bonhomie. He came straight to the point.
Duryodhana sought Krishna’s support in the possible war between him and the Pandavas. Krishna just smiled. Krishna said that both the Pandavas and the Kauravas were his cousins. So, he could not be partial to any one side. Instead, he said that they had to choose between him and his vast army but not both together. Krishna gave Arjuna the first chance to choose since he was younger of the two, and also that he was the one Krishna saw first when he opened his eyes.
Without any hesitation Arjuna chose Krishna. Krishna cautioned Arjuna that he would be totally unarmed during the war and would not take active part in the war. But still, Arjuna wanted Krishna! He said that he wanted Krishna to be his charioteer to guide him through the war. The word ‘charioteer’ was a loaded one. Arjuna wanted Krishna more as a guide than being a mere driver for his chariot. Arjuna was confident that with Krishna’s guidance he would accomplish any act.
Duryodhana was quite elated by Arjuna’s choice. He had no interest in Krishna, more so when he was unarmed. Probably, Duryodhana mentally laughed at the foolishness of Arjuna who made a wrong choice. Arjuna had all the opportunity to ask for Krishna’s army which was very powerful. But he did not.
But Arjuna was no fool. He knew that with Krishna on his side, he can win any war even without any army. That is because Krishna was God incarnate. When God is on your side, victory is assured. But Duryodhana could not think of that. That was the first mistake he did which at last led him to his end.
Finally, it was decided that Krishna would be on Pandava side, and the whole of Yadava Army would fight on Duryodhana’s side. What about Krishna’s elder brother Balarama? Balarama was a great warrior too. Whom would he support?
But Balarama was very clever. He chose not to take any side. On one hand Duryodhana was his disciple to whom he had taught wrestling, on the other hand his own brother Krishna was siding with the Pandavas! Balarama decided to stay neutral. So, in the garb of going on some pilgrimage, visiting all sacred places all over India, Balarama left the scene.
Duryodhana returned happily having added the vast army of the Yadavas to his side. While Arjuna was content having Krishna as his friend, philosopher and guide. In fact, Arjuna had already won half the war! Foolish Duryodhana did not realize that. Arjuna returned to Upaplavya along with Krishna.
At Hastinapur, the blind King Dhritarastra was getting increasingly restless on the war mongering of his son Duryodhana. He knew very well that Pandavas were powerful enough to wipe out all his sons along with the vast army they had managed to put together. But he was helpless. He had no control over his son. He tried to advise Duryodhana but in vain. Duryodhana would not listen to anyone. He was not prepared to give up the Kingdom he had snatched from the Pandavas. He had friends and advisors like Karna and Sakuni who kept convincing him that Pandavas could easily be silenced.
After lot of consultations with Bhishma and others, Dhritarastra finally decided to send Sanjaya as his emissary to the Pandavas. Sanjaya was a great scholar and a wise man. Besides he was a close associate of Dhritarastra. Sanjaya very well knew the futility of his mission. The fact was that Dhritarastra was only worried about the safety of his sons. He was not very serious about amending the wrongs done to the Pandavas, his own brother’s children. In a way, Dhritarastra was no different from Duryodhana. Duryodhana too wanted peace with the Pandavas, provided they gave up their claim on the Kingdom and agreed to accept a subordinate role. It was an impossible situation.
Sanjaya reluctantly went on his mission to Upaplavya where the Pandavas were residing. Could he convince the Pandavas to accept the condition laid by Duryodhana? Could he bring the two warring parties any closer? Let us see that in the next episode.
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