In the previous episode, we had witnessed King Dhritarashra expressing his dismay and shock upon hearing Guru Dhronachaarya’s death on the Kurukshetra battlefield. This comes at a time when Sanjaya begins his narration on the “Dhrona Parva” – From the point where Guru Dhronachaarya takes over as the “Senapati” after Bhishmachaarya. Instead of narrating the events step by step, Sanjaya has a unique pattern of building the narrative wherein he first breaks the end-result and then starts building the narrative around it. In this way, he first starts with the news that Guru Dhronachaarya’s head has been chopped off by Drishtadhyumna, and this sends shockwaves to King Dhritarashtra. Upon hearing Guru Dhronachaarya’s demise and the way in which it was orchestrated, King Dhritarashtra questions the “Dharma” behind such a killing. For this, Sanjaya schools King Dhritarashtra that he doesn’t have any moral right to talk about “Dharma” or Ethics because, “Dharma” had been compromised in his own courtroom when Draupati was molested during that infamous gambling game episode. Sanjaya blasts King Dhritarashtra by saying that, all these incidents are nothing but a fallout or a consequence of that gross act of “Adharma” which happened during that time, which King Dhritarashtra never had the guts to question about. Then, why does he talk about “Dharma” now, if he did not question the “Adharma” of his own son then?
Saying thus, Sanjaya continues further – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! You should remember one thing clearly – When you’re performing an act of “Adharma”, things will seem very happy and enjoyable for you at that moment. Bhagawan too would motivate you indirectly further and further to go into “Adharma” more and more! However, when you’re facing the consequences of all the “Adharma” that you’ve done, things will start getting painful. This is exactly what has happened in your case as well – When your son Duryodhana was winning over Yudishtra in that infamous gambling game, you were very happy! When Duryodhana was going overboard because of that illegal victory to insult the Paandavas and Draupati, those things did not appear as serious offences to you at that time, because your son’s future and your affection towards him came in the forefront like a screen and blocked you from seeing the reality! In the same lines, when Duryodhana refused to part with even an inch of land and when he insulted Bhagawan Krishna publicly, it did not appear to you as a crime once again because of your unending affection towards your son! If this would have been done by Yudishtra or someone else, you would have taken strict action against them, but just because it was your son doing all these, you were silent! You were partial towards your subjects, and where did “Dharma” go then? Can a leader show partiality towards his subjects? Is this “Raaja Dharma”? As a leader you should have been fair to everyone. Just like how Duryodhana is your son, Yudishtra is also your son only, even though he might be Paandu’s son biologically. But you never understood this aspect of “Dharma”! So after all this, why are you complaining about the lack of “Dharma” on Yudishtra’s side? Afterall it’s a human life that has been lost, and there should be no complaints about it!”
Sanjaya continues further thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! You’re now talking about arrows hitting your sons and Guru Dhronachaarya, Bhishmachaarya, aren’t you? But imagine this – Your sharp-pointed arrows have already been fired on Yudishtra and Co. during the gambling game – When Sahuni rolled the dice every time, each roll was an arrow that was pointed towards Yudishtra, which tore him to pieces! Who is answerable to Yudishtra’s suffering? Who is answerable to Yudishtra getting insulted for no fault of his? Who is answerable to Yudishtra’s illegal loss? It is solely you! Oh King! When you’re making a mistake, the ill effects and the consequences of it will never haunt you at that time. However, at a later point of time when the consequences of your mistakes start getting on you, you will comfortably forget the mistake that you performed previously and instead you will only keep lamenting about the consequences that you’re facing! How unfair this can be? What you sow, so you reap!”
Saying thus, Sanjaya says that there’s no point in lamenting now. Guru Dhronachaarya has attained the “Svarga Lokha” and he is now the thing of the past! Upon hearing this, King Dhritarashtra asks Sanjaya – “Oh Sanjaya! Please tell me in detail as to what exactly happened on the battlefield after Guru Dhronachaarya took over. How did he fight? Why did this unfortunate incident happen during the fifteenth day of the war?” As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Sanjaya is now going to begin his narrative from Day Eleven of the war. So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall wait till the next episode to witness things further! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 