In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the conversation between Sanjaya and King Dhritarashtra. The latter is of the opinion that Bhagawan Krishna should have favoured Karna, rather than Arjuna at Kurukshetra, while the former is against this opinion. Sanjaya slams King Dhritarashtra for being opportunistic and against “Dharma”. He reiterates once again that Bhagawan Krishna will always favour the side of “Dharma” and unfortunately, Duryodhana is on the other side, along with Karna. Hence, there is no point in telling that Bhagawan Krishna should favour Karna. Moreover, Sanjaya also slams King Dhritarashtra that it is all because of his ignorance, the entire country along with several great kings have died on the battlefield today. He singles out King Dhritarashtra for all the mess that had taken place and quickly moves on with the proceedings of Day Seventeen at Kurukshetra. In fact, Sanjaya himself says that he doesn’t want to waste further time in explaining such things, because he would be forced to explain several aspects of “Dharma”, which anyway are going to be rejected by King Dhritarashtra! So what’s the point in explaining all these?
Saying thus, Sanjaya narrates what happens next at Kurukshetra. We’ve seen that Karna is taking a pledge in front of Duryodhana that he would somehow kill Arjuna during the upcoming battle. This conversation happens during the sixteenth night. However, Karna is of the opinion that he is missing something very important. Karna asks Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! I can single-handedly defeat the Paandavas, but I want something important from you – Just like how Arjuna has an able charioteer in the form of Bhagawan Krishna, I too need one! Amongst all our available resources currently, I feel King Shalya would be the right person to be my charioteer. King Shalya is a very able and a great strategist. Just like how Bhagawan Krishna is effectively guiding Arjuna by taking him to the right places at the right time, I’m confident that King Shalya can also do a similar job for me if he’s my charioteer. Hence, Oh Duryodhana! Please request King Shalya on my behalf to take the role of my charioteer for tomorrow’s battle!”
As Karna says thus, Duryodhana too feels that his suggestion is wise. However, Duryodhana had a small thought in his mind thus, “Oh! How can I ask King Shalya to do the job of a charioteer? He’s a very senior person and is a great king! Moreover, King Shalya is like a father-in-law for him and how would he go and request King Shalya to ride the chariot of someone else? Anyway, now that Karna has asked for it, we shall go and request King Shalya. Let us see what he says!” Thinking thus, Duryodhana approaches King Shalya and says thus, “Oh Madra Naresh! (King Shalya)! I have a request to be made to you!” King Shalya replies thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Please tell me! I’m ready to do anything for you! To be frank, I should have been representing the Paandava side, but because of the timely help that you did to me on that day, I’m on your side. Hence I’m indebted to you. Please tell me what I should be doing!”
As King Shalya says thus, Duryodhana now breaks the ice. He says with a slight hesitation thus, “Oh Madra Naresh! The request is this – On the other side, as you know, Arjuna is extremely powerful and this is primarily because he has Bhagawan Krishna as his charioteer and guiding him all the way. Here on our side we only have Karna who can match Arjuna in terms of valour and aggression. However, since Karna does not have an able charioteer like Bhagawan Krishna, he is requesting you to take up that role for tomorrow’s key battle with Arjuna! Will you be interested in taking it up and be Karna’s charioteer?” As King Shalya hears thus, he fumes with anger immediately! He replies angrily to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! Don’t you know who I am and what my status is? I’m someone who is equivalent to Bhishmachaarya and the late Guru Dhronachaarya! Do you want someone of such a stature to be a charioteer, and that too for someone called Karna who is nowhere close to what I am?”
As King Shalya angrily asks thus, Duryodhana replies politely and with some beautiful words – “Oh King Shalya! I understand your point and I know what your stature is. However, performing the “Saarathyam” (Charioteer) role isn’t something wrong! Moreover, see who Arjuna is having as a charioteer – Bhagawan Krishna is a great king and is ruling a great empire called Dwaraka! If He can do the role of a charioteer, why can’t you? Oh King Shalya! I see you as equivalent or even more powerful than Bhagawan Krishna! It is for this reason I want you to take over this role tomorrow. We should somehow focus on defeating Arjuna and make him run for his money! Hence, I came to you for help! Oh King Shalya! Please understand that this is a role that is going to be extremely important for your great stature!”
So for today, let us understand up to this point and till this moment, King Shalya isn’t very convinced to be the charioteer for Karna. However, after this convincing effort from Duryodhana, the important question here is whether King Shalya is going to accept Duryodhana’s request or not! Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 