In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura once again highlighting the importance of “Sharanagathi” and”Bhakti” towards Bhagawan Krishna and how this would melt His heart towards His ardent devotees. This comes at a time wherein King Dhritarashtra still contemplates how to bring Bhagawan Krishna into Duryodhana’s fold so that his life and kingdom would be safe. Now, King Dhritarashtra’s plan is to give 50 villages to Bhagawan Krishna to bring Him into his fold. However, Vidura has a counter here which is very important – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! If you give just five villages to Yudishtra, the entire problem would be put to rest, isn’t it? Bhagawan Krishna would be the happiest person if this happens. However, you’re not ready to solve the problem! You are only interested in bribing others so that the situation gets more and more complicated by the day!” This is how bribery and other social evils would become the order of the day in this “Kali Yuga” and the Mahabharata text is a perfect illustration of the same!
Meanwhile, moving on further, Duryodhana comes to know of King Dhritarashtra’s plan of giving 50 villages to Bhagawan Krishna and he fumes with anger! He immediately rushes to Sahuni (Duryodhana’s uncle) and is now going to chart out an unwanted plan. Duryodhana talks to Sahuni thus, “Oh uncle! Do you know what my father is planning to do? He’s planning to gift away a substantial portion of our Hastinapura kingdom to Bhagawan Krishna! I wouldn’t allow this to happen! I’m not ready to part with even a single inch of my land! We need to somehow stop King Dhritarashtra from doing all this nonsense! I know that he is planning such useless stuff out of fear and frustration. Vidura and Sanjaya are constantly brainwashing my father in all aspects! Both of them talk of “Dharma” through which they are indirectly trying to favour Yudishtra and dump me! Hence, we need to stop this immediately! For this I have a plan!”
As Duryodhana says thus, Sahuni asks for the plan, and Duryodhana discloses thus, “Oh Uncle! Let Bhagawan Krishna come to Hastinapura tomorrow. I’m going to dig a huge pit, cover it with a nice cloth and put an “Aasana” over it. Once Bhagawan Krishna arrives at the courtroom, I’ll invite Him to sit on that particular “Aasana”. The moment He sits on it, the “Aasana” along with Bhagawan Krishna sitting on it, will fall into the pit. Before Bhagawan Krishna gets up from the pit, I shall arrest Him and threaten Him to come into my fold. Through this, the entire Yaadava and Vaarshneya community will also come into my fold completely! With this, Arjuna and Co. will be completely rendered powerless and I shall easily win over them!” As Duryodhana says thus, Bhishmachaarya is also present in the courtroom, and he is stunned to bits! He did not expect Duryodhana to go down to this level. Unable to bare this “Adharmic” plan of Duryodhana, Bhishmachaarya quickly gets up in anger and walks out the courtroom! He could not stand this anymore! While leaving the courtroom, Bhishmachaarya says only one sentence to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! You’re trying to do what you shouldn’t ever be doing in your life! If at all you try to materialise this plan, your destruction is going to be confirmed! Take it from me!”
As Bhishmachaarya storms out of the courtroom thus, King Dhritarashtra is completely helpless. He is once again totally confused! On one side, Vidura and Sanjaya are educating him on the path of “Dharma”, and on the other side, an unruly Duryodhana is planning to trap Bhagawan Krishna, which is clearly a path of “Adharma”! So what is going to conspire in King Dhritarashtra’s courtroom when Bhagawan Krishna arrives? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 