In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sage Maithreya providing some valuable advice to Duryodhana and Co. Sage Maithreya emphasizes on the key point that nothing in this world can be achieved through enmity or by seeking revenge. He indirectly advises Duryodhana to give up his revengeful attitude towards Yudishtra and Co. and asks him to hand over the Indraprastha kingdom rightfully to Yudishtra, which would solve the issue once and for all. Instead, if he is going to continue this jealousy into the coming years, a huge disaster cannot be averted. Sage Maithreya also reminds Duryodhana about the enormous raw muscle power of Bheemasena and how he had single handedly killed many famed Raakshasas within minutes! Subsequently he also reminds about Arjuna’s prowess with the bow and arrow and how he is the best student of Guru Dhronachaarya. He reminds of how Arjuna was extremely successful in the past with his expertise and concentration and what kind of disaster would Duryodhana confront if all the five Paandava brothers come and stand in front of him.
As Sage Maithreya explains to Duryodhana thus, what should Duryodhana ideally do? He should listen to the great Sage and atleast try a little bit to mend his ways, isn’t it? Or, to the minimum extent possible, he should atleast send off Sage Maithreya with some assuring words, isn’t it? Duryodhana did none of the above! As Sage Maithreya finishes his accord, Duryodhana taps his thighs and fumes with anger! Duryodhana gives a pointed backlash towards Sage Maithreya thus, “Oh Sage! Till now I was thinking that atleast you would talk in favour of me, but you are also only interested in supporting that useless and reckless Yudishtra! What do you even know of Yudishtra and Co.? They are my bitter enemies and they would continue to be, irrespective of whether you advise me or not. Nobody in this world thinks of my future and my tenure as a king. Oh Sage Maithreya! I’m not interested in your words and I straightaway reject them! You just mind your business and get out of here! Nobody wanted your stupid pieces of advice!”
Saying thus, Duryodhana once again taps his thighs with his hands with anger and arrogance. Upon seeing this, Sage Maithreya becomes extremely angry! He immediately replies back to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! You do not need any enemy to finish you! You yourself are the biggest enemy for you! Your arrogance and anger is crossing all limits! Now let me tell you one thing – Today you had tapped your thighs with this deep arrogance in front of me, didn’t you? You did the same in front of the Paandava brothers when Draupati was insulted amidst the public courtroom. Hence, for this horrible act of yours, I’m hereby cursing you straightaway – You would be killed by none other than Bheemasena, who would plunder these thighs of yours into pieces! This will happen very soon! I tried my best to save you from the imminent danger, but you’ve decided not to save yourself! Hence, your end is nearing and it is going to come through Bheemasena himself!”
As Sage Maithreya says this with extreme anger, he quickly gets up and walks out of the Hastinapura palace! As Sage Maithreya walks out, King Dhridiraashtra starts shaking with fear! Till now, Duryodhana had tapped his thighs on many occasions with his arrogance, but King Dhridiraaashtra never took it seriously. But now, when he does so in front of Sage Maithreya, and as Sage Maithreya curses him with these same thighs as a “road to hell”, King Dhridiraashtra doesn’t know what to do! Of course, a curse from the mouth of a great Sage like Sage Maithreya is bound to come true at any point of time. However, he wants to somehow nullify this curse. With this in mind, King Dhridiraashtra stops Sage Maithreya mid-way as he was exiting the palace. He falls on Sage Maithreya’s feet and pleads with tears in his eyes thus, “Oh Great Sage! I understand the root cause of your anger. The behaviour exhibited by Duryodhana towards you is extremely unpardonable! On behalf of Duryodhana, I seek unconditional apology under your divine lotus feet! Please take back your curse if at all it is possible. I know that once a curse is given, it cannot be taken back. But as a special case, please consider my request! I shall make sure that Duryodhana mends his ways and he repents for what he did to you!”
So for today, let us understand up to this point. We are at a very important juncture here, wherein Sage Maithreya paves the way for the huge disaster that is unfolding for the Kaurava camp. This curse given by Sage Maithreya is going to go a long way in haunting Duryodhana! However, as King Dhridiraashtra pleads to Sage Maithreya thus, we’ve to understand what Sage Maithreya’s reaction is! Does he discard King Dhridiraashtra’s request? Or, does he relent and take back his curse? An interesting and important accord awaits us tomorrow! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 