In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sanjaya coming back to Hastinapura and King Dhritarashtra welcoming him with all respects. King Dhritarashtra is very anxious as to what would have been the reaction from Yudishtra and Co. as Sanajaya had gone there to meet them. As Sanjaya comes back, King Dhritarashtra asks him to detail out everything that happened during the course of the conversation. However, Sanjaya only gives a jist of what had exactly happened, and that too in a coded manner! He says to King Dhritarashtra that Yudisthra is still sticking to his “Dharma” even though he had to undergo so many ordeals in his life! These words from Sanjaya make King Dhritarashtra jump up in joy! He thinks that Yudisthra’s “Dharma” is to keep compromising for Duryodhana and to avoid a war from happening! King Dhritarashtra clearly did not understand the deeper meaning of what Sanjaya tries to convey and hence, his joy is short-lived!
As King Dhritrarashtra is seemingly in joy, Sanjaya is now trying to clarify thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Let me clarify an important thing here – Yudishtra’s “Dharma” is to fight a war as he is a “Kshatrya” himself! Hence, the “Dharma” that I had mentioned for Yudisthra is to stand up and fight, and not to compromise! Oh King! I tried to speak to Yudishtra and everyone present there! Their opinion is very clear – Duryodhana should mend his ways and you should strike a balance between “Putra-Vatslyam” and “Dharma”. If Duryodhana is giving back Indraprastha to Yudishtra, war can be avoided. However, if this doesn’t happen, Yudishtra is ready for a war as well! Oh King! Please understand – In life, we would go through certain situations which we would like and rejoice, and also certain situations wherein we would be uncomfortable! We will not be able to get what we like every time! At times, we need to sacrifice and maintain the balance. This is the characteristic of a learned person. Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please do not think that you would have happy situations all the time in life. There will be certain times when the going will be tough! You’ve to accept those situations with glee and take it in a balance. If you’re unable to understand this, then there is no point in being a good administrator!”
As Sanjaya keeps saying all this, King Dhritarashtra thinks within himself thus, “Oh wow! Why is Sanjaya doing all this “Gita-Upadesha” to me? 🙂 Who asked him for all this? I’m more interested in what Yudishtra said and whether Yudishtra is ready to compromise Hastinapura for Duryodhana and whether my son Duryodhana can be coronated the next king of Hastinapura!” Thinking thus, King Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya thus, “Oh Sanjaya! Whatever you’re telling is right! You’re saying that Yudishtra is sticking to his “Dharma”. What is his “Dharma”? What is his opinion about Duryodhana? Come to the point straightaway!”
As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Sanjaya is deeply pained! Irrespective of how much ever he is advising King Dhritarashtra, he is not even showing an iota of change in his attitude! Pained thus, Sanjaya replies back thus, “Oh King! I’m very tired after a long journey from Viraata Desha all the way to Hastinapura! Give me time till tomorrow morning to rest. I shall explain the entire message of Yudishtra in the courtroom tomorrow! Please wait till then, and anyway it is very late into the night. Please go and rest and let us talk in detail tomorrow morning!” Saying thus, Sanjaya walks away, leaving King Dhritarashtra sinking in a lot of thoughts! King Dhritarashtra is all confused with Sanjaya’s “bits-and-pieces” answers! So for today, let us understand up to this point. In the next episode we shall witness what happened to King Dhritarashtra next! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 