In the previous episode, we had witnessed some of the key takeaways from the two important events that we had witnessed – One of Mother Sita and the other of Savitri. The underlying message here is that we should never buckle down under pressure when we are suffering. Rather, our faith in Bhagawan and perseverance should increase further and further. Sage Markandeya gives this accord to make Yudishtra understand that he needs to get up from this situation and move on further in life, instead of brooding over whatever happened in the past. Sage Markandeya tries to motivate Yudishtra by talking about all these great people and how they led their lives to glory even though they had to undergo a lot. With this, we come to the end of the two important “Upa-Parvas” – The Rama-Upaakhyaana Parva and the Pathivrata-Maahaatmya Parva.
Moving on thus, we are now coming towards the end of the great “Vana-Parva” and almost twelve years of Yudishtra in the forest is inching towards a close. At this point in time, the Paandavas decide that they would move to the “Dvaitha Vanam” area. Till now they were spending time at the “Kamyaka-Vanam” and now the twelfth year is running. The next year should be the “Agnyaata-Vasam” wherein they should live in a disguised manner for a period of one full year. But before this, Yudishtra and Co. decide that they would spend some more time in the “Dvaita Vanam” and they move in there. As the Paandavas settled down in a beautiful forest area, there was a Brahmana Rishi who came running all the way to see Yudishtra. As the Rishi comes closer, Yudishtra senses that there is some problem going on with him. As the Brahmana Rishi comes to Yudishtra, he explains his situation thus, “Oh Yudishtra! I need your help urgently. I had kept a very sacred wood piece near my place for performing my “Agnihotra Karma”. However, I saw a deer taking away that wooden piece with it. I need your help in getting it back, so that I would be able to perform my “Karma” without any problem. As a “Kshatrya” prince, isn’t it your duty to protect the Brahmana Rishis? That’s why I came to you. I know you are residing here. So, please help me in getting back my wooden piece from the clutches of the deer!”
As the Rishi says thus, Yudishtra is more than happy to help. He assures the Rishi that the five brothers would somehow help him get back the wooden piece. First, Sahadeva goes in pursuit of the deer. Hr goes deep into the forest and spots the deer with the wooden piece roaming around here and there. Sahadeva tries to give chase, but the deer is very smart. It somehow keeps escaping from Sahadeva’s eyes and runs all along. After a long pursuit, the deer wins the race and Sahadeva is all tired and hungry! More than hunger, it is the thirst for water that dominates Sahadeva. As he searches for a good source of drinking water, Sahadeva comes to a beautiful pond, which is full of crystal clear water. Deciding that he would drink water from this pond, Sahadeva bends, takes a handful of water and drinks it. However, to his horror, Sahadeva falls on the ground unconscious immediately after drinking the water from that pond!
Now, as Sahadeva has met with such a disaster, Yudishtra and Co. are getting tensed every moment. Yudishtra sends Nakula to check for the whereabouts of Sahadeva, and Nakula initially goes for the pursuit of the deer. However, the deer once again acts smart and eludes Nakula’s eyes. Finally, Nakula too lands up near that fateful pond and to his horror he finds Sahadeva unconscious there. Overcome by thirst, Sahadeva too tries to drink some water from that pond, only to fall unconscious too! As Nakula also meets with the same fate, Yudishtra is puzzled and sends Arjuna and Bheemasena subsequently. Both of them also meet with a similar fate, falling unconscious after drinking the water from that pond.
As all the four brothers fall unconscious one after the other, Yudishtra senses that there is a huge disaster in the making! Thus, he himself makes his way to that place and sees what happened and to his dismay, he sees all his four brothers lie unconscious! So what does Yudishtra do from here on? We shall witness in the next episode an interesting set of events that is about to unfold! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 