In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sanjaya filing his detailed report on his Viraata-Desha visit to meet Yudishtra and Co. in front of the Hastinapura courtroom amidst the presence of King Dhritarashtra and the others including Duryodhana. The message from Sanjaya is loud and clear – There is still time to broker peace between the two camps. The Paandava brothers are still ready to accept a deal of sharing the Hastinapura kingdom as per the earlier accord. If they get their Indraprastha back, there is no requirement of a war at all. However, if this is not done, there is no other option but to fight a war, no matter how disastrous it might be! Yudishtra is firm on his “Raaja-Dharma” and if a chance arises, he is ready to face a war at any point in time. Arjuna’s “Gaandeepa” bow is always ready to fire any time, however, if peace is brokered, the “Gaandeepa” will not have any work to do!
Saying thus, Sanjaya continues with Yudishtra’s message here. He says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Here is what Yudishtra had to say to all of us – We have lost a lot in our life till now to Duryodhana. We have been patient and enduring for all these years. The entire gambling game episode was an illegal event and we had to lose our kingdom for it. Yet, we never made it an issue at that time and obliged with whatever was meted out to us! Draupati was insulted in public and even then we were patient. Now there is nothing more to lose from our side. We’ve lost enough and more. We’ve lost not only our kingdom, but also our dignity as human beings. If not for Bhagawan Krishna on that fateful day, Draupati would have been stripped off completely in front of everyone! Is this the way you would treat a daughter-in-law of the family? Is this the way you would treat a woman in Hastinapura kingdom? We’ve endured all that patiently and we’ve also spent thirteen years in “Vana-Vaasam”. Now, we’ve decided not to bend down to Duryodhana’s atrocities any further. Bhagawan Krishna is by our side. We have great warriors by our side. More than anything else, “Dharma” is on our side. Hence, if there is a necessity of fighting a war, we are ready for it even today. But we do not desire for it to happen. We want Duryodhana to compromise and come to an agreement atleast now. If that happens, we would be extremely happy!”
Sanjaya continues with Yudishtra’s message further thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! When Bhagawan Krishna will serve as a charioteer for Arjuna and with Arjuna having the famed “Gaandeepa” in his hand and when “Dharma” is by our side, nobody is going to win over us easily. All five of us are equivalent to five huge armies in a war. We are extremely powerful people to face in a war and if Duryodhana still wants to fight us out, he is welcome to do so! Oh King Dhritarashtra, when it comes to a war, please understand that Indra would come and protect me from the front. Bhagawan Krishna Himself would take up the responsibility to protect me from the back. Yama-Dharma-Raja would ensure that I’m protected from either side of mine. Hence, I do not have any problem in fighting it out, if the necessity comes! Oh King Dhritarashtra and Duryodhana! You can still win over me and I’m sure you also have excellent warriors by your side as well. However, there is one person with us who can never be won against! That person is an epitome of all “Dharma” put together and He is none other than Bhagawan Krishna Himself! If Bhagawan is on our side, who else can win over Him? Thus, since Bhagawan Krishna Himself has given us the assurance of being with us during the war if it happens, I do not have any problem in fighting the war! The moment He decides that there is no way in which peace can be achieved, there will definitely be a war! Until now He hasn’t come to a conclusion like that. Hence, as a king, it is your responsibility to make the situation conducive enough to broker peace between the two rival camps!”
Saying thus, Sanjaya conveys Yudishtra’s message loud and clear even as Duryodhana is listening! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this accord in the next episode as well, along with what Duryodhana is going to reply to this! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 