We’re at an important juncture wherein Brihannala has taken Utthara Kumara to the battlefield for the marquee battle against the likes of Bhishmachaarya, Guru Dhronachaarya, Sage Kripachaarya, etc. All throughout the journey towards the battlefield, Utthara Kumara boasts about his prowess and keeps proclaiming that he can defeat any enemy with ease! He even talks to Brihannala that this battle would be over within just 15 minutes or so, and they should return back to the kingdom to protect the king who is busy defending the kingdom from the other end! As all these talks happen, the chariot reaches the battlefield, and a sea of an army stands in front of Utthara Kumara. However, Utthara Kumara is going on talking about himself and at one stage, Brihannala tells him thus, “Oh Utthara! Please stop your talks and have a look at what is in front of you! There are around a lakh people standing in front of you, who have also abducted almost all the cows from our kingdom! Now think of how you’re going to fight them, instead of doing some meaningless talks!”
As Utthara Kumara lifts his head up and sees, he is shell-shocked! Till this day in his life, he has never seen such a huge army standing in front of him to fight against him! Unfortunately, due to his overconfidence, Utthara Kumara has come all alone to fight! There is no backup army at all! Now, how is he going to single handedly take on the ocean of an army standing in front? Shivering with fear thus, Utthara Kumara says – “Oh Brihannala! I think we’ve made a mistake! We shouldn’t have come this way! Upon seeing this huge army waiting to attack me, I’m starting to shake with fear! Oh Brihannala! Please turn the chariot and let us first get out of here! If we stand here even for a minute, we are in great danger! This army cannot even be defeated by the Devas! We’ve made a foolish decision to fight! Do you know something? As per the “Dharma-Shaasthra”, you should not fight with an enemy without understanding his strengths and weaknesses. Now that I’ve clearly understood the enemy’s strengths, I think it is better for us to go back, rather than getting ourselves hurt in the process!”
As Utthara Kumara talks this way in fear, Brihannala tries to motivate him now! Brihannala explains thus, “Oh Utthara Kumara! From the way you were talking till now, I was thinking that you’re a great warrior! 🙂 But is this all what you have in your heart? By merely glancing at the army, how can you conclude that you would not be able to win over? Moreover, as a Kshatriya prince, what is your duty? Your duty is to fight with the enemy, no matter whether he is big or small, and in the process, if you attain “Veera Gathi” (Killed), that is your biggest significance! This is what “Raaja-Dharma” says. But you’re trying to act totally against it! You’re saying that you want to run away like a coward without even firing a single arrow! How is this justice to your kingdom and to your people?” As Brihannala asks tough questions thus, Utthara Kumara tries to give even smarter replies, just to escape from that place! 🙂 He says thus, “Oh Brihannala! Whatever you’re saying is right! But if all of us in the kingdom are killed, who will run the kingdom and administer it in the future? We would need atleast one person to do that, isn’t it? Hence, let me be that one person who will take care of the kingdom!”
As Utthara Kumara says thus, Brihannala gets angry now! He asks back thus, “Oh Utthara Kumara! Don’t you think whatever you’re saying now is so foolish and cowardly? Please remember – They’ve abducted our cows! If we do not recover them, it is a huge insult to the Viraata Desha! Moreover, please remember your promise that you’ve made to all the women back home! You’ve said that you’ll bring all the enemies’ “Vasthras” (Clothes) to them for playing! Have you forgotten all of it? Now if you go back empty-handed, won’t they make fun of you? Won’t you lose your respect?” Even as Brihannala asks some firm questions, Utthara Kumara’s fear is not letting him overcome his shackles! He replies in fear thus, “Oh Brihannala! I do not care whether women laugh at me! I do not care whether our cows are abducted or not! Let them do whatever they want to do! I want to live my life and I do not want to die! I would not like to sacrifice myself for all these!”
Saying thus, Utthara Kumara quickly jumps out of the chariot and starts running away! Brihannala follows him! 🙂 So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode we shall witness what happened next! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 