In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sudeshna’s brother, Keechaka falling in love with Sairandhri (Draupati), who is currently working as an attendant. Even though Sudeshna, the queen advises Keechaka not to fall in love with Sairandhri, owing to the danger that she has five “Gandharvas” who are protecting her all the time, and they can come and kill him if such a misbehaviour happens. Even as Sudeshna warns him thus, Keechaka is not really convinced. He is overconfident about his capabilities and is determined of defeating anyone who comes to fight against him. With this boldness, Keechaka approaches Sairandhri and proposes his love to her. So now, it is Sairandhri’s turn to respond. What is she going to say? Let us continue this discussion in today’s episode.
Listening to Keechaka’s words of love for her, Sairandhri renders some important words of advice thus, “Oh Keechaka! You are a great warrior with immense potential. You are ruling this kingdom single handedly in an efficient manner. Hence, you should focus on your wives, rather than looking at other people’s wives. This is not “Dharma” on your part. Hence, you should turn away from me and should not say these words. You should focus on your “Dharma” and should not desire for other’s materials including their wives. I’m already the wife of someone else!” As Sairandhri says thus, Keechaka replies back, “Oh Sairandhri! As you keep talking like this, my desire for you only keeps on growing. I challenge you that I will somehow attain you by any means!”
As Keechaka thunders thus, he walks out in anger, only for him to later sit and chart out a plan. He decides to talk once again to Sudeshna and plan with her together. Keechaka once again requests his sister thus, “Oh Sudeshna! See how elegantly Sairandhri walks! She looks like a majestic female elephant while walking, doesn’t she? Isn’t she extremely beautiful? I somehow want to attain her. I’m totally engrossed in her! Hence, I need your help in somehow convincing her to accept me. Please suggest a plan as to how we go about it. I want you to take the lead and talk to her about me. I want you to convince her to marry me. So what if she is already married? She is married to some invisible people, isn’t she? Convince her that there is no use of living with invisible persons in her life, rather than living with visible ones. Hence, tell her in this fashion again and again, so that she gets convinced! I need your help in this very badly!” As Keechaka says thus, Sudeshna warns him once again – “Oh Keechaka! You’re once again doing a wrong thing, and this may lead to your destruction. Please pay heed to my words as well as her’s. She has already told you that she is not interested. Hence, why do you want to go again and again behind her? Please don’t do this. This “Adharmic” act of yours might lead you to serious danger. Her husbands seem to be extremely powerful with the way she tells about them! Hence, my sincere advice to you is to move away from her quietly without making this an issue. It is better to act now, rather than feeling sorry later on!”
So now, Sudeshna also stands firm that she is not going to help Keechaka in his pursuit. Sudeshna explains the “Dharma” to him, but the bigger question here is whether Keechaka is ready to understand these words or not! So what is Keechaka going to do next? Is he going to pay heed to his sister’s words, or is he going to go against her? Let us wait and witness in the next episode! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 