In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra and Co. coming to know Duryodhana’s whereabouts through their cook, who acted as a spy in finding this out. The moment Yudishtra and Co. come to know of Duryodhana’s exact location, all of them quickly put on their protective shields and commence their journey from their tents to the lakefront, with Bhagawan Krishna’s approval. As the Paandavas trudge along quite fast, the sound of their chariots are being heard by Ashwatthama, Sage Kripachaarya and Krita Varma, who try to flee away from that place. Till that point, the trio is talking with Duryodhana who is sitting below the waters of the lake. However, upon seeing the Paandava chariots, all of them escape off from that place, to hide amidst a few tall trees in the vicinity! They did not want to be near the lake and thereby disclose the whereabouts of Duryodhana. Meanwhile, Yudishtra and Co. make their way to the lakefront and as Yudishtra knows already that Duryodhana is hiding there, he directly strikes a conversation with him.
Moving on further from here, before Yudishtra could talk to Duryodhana, Bhagawan Krishna quickly intervenes with a very important one-liner. Bhagawan Krishna talks loud enough to Yudishtra, so that Duryodhana can also hear this dialogue! He says thus, “Oh Yudishtra! It looks like there’s someone who is high on “Maaya Shakti” (Illusionary power), hiding beneath the waters of this lake! If you’ve to defeat a person who possesses great “Maaya Shakti”, you also need to fight and defeat him through the same “Maaya Shakti” only! Oh Yudishtra! I know you’re an epitome of “Dharma” and you would like to wage a war only according to the “Raaja-Neeti” and “Yuddha-Neeti”. However, if the other person is not following the “Yuddha-Neeti”, what is the use of you alone following it? You’ve to know how to adapt yourself to change!” As Yudishtra hears this from Bhagawan Krishna, he quickly understands the message that Bhagawan is trying to convey here. Keeping Bhagawan Krishna’s words in mind, Yudishtra strikes a conversation with Duryodhana, in a way that would irritate him and make him come up from the waters of the lake.
Yudishtra talks to Duryodhana thus, “Oh! From whatever Bhagawan Krishna has told till now, I understand who is beneath the waters. Oh Duryodhana! I’ve known you for several years now and till date, you’ve never shown any characteristics pertaining to “Dharma”. However, I was happy that you had the valour and intention to fight it out with all of us. But today I’m proved wrong on that front too! I never anticipated that a person like Duryodhana would go inside the water and hide like a coward, unwilling to fight any further! Oh Duryodhana! I can very clearly see you getting scared now! At a time when you’re going to taste a humiliating defeat, you are trying to run away from the battlefield! If you really have the guts to fight and prove a point, come out of your hiding spot and wage a battle against us immediately! Do not hide like a coward! Take your weapons and continue fighting. Oh Duryodhana! Till now you had several people to defend you and you were hiding behind all of them. Bhishmachaarya protected you for the first twelve days. Guru Dhronachaarya protected you for the next three days. Karna protected you for the next two days and until today morning, King Shalya protected you. Now that all of them have died, you are left alone to fend yourself. Atleast now, do not hide behind anybody or beneath the waters. Be courageous and face the war by yourself if you really have the guts!”
As Yudishtra says thus with a loud tone, this irritated Duryodhana as expected! His ego has been deeply hurt by Yudishtra. Now Duryodhana fumes with anger from beneath the waters and replies back to Yudishtra thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Do not talk whatever comes to your mouth! I’m beneath the waters at the moment, not because of fear or cowardliness. I’m here just to take rest and also to heal my body of all the bruises and injuries. Once that is done, I will definitely come out and face you on the battlefield. Meanwhile, I’m sure you will also be bruised badly. You too go and rest for a while and then come back. We shall commence the fight thereafter, maybe by tomorrow morning when all of us are fresh.
As Duryodhana says thus, Arjuna quickly intervenes and says, “Oh Duryodhana! We’ve taken ample rest and we are already fresh. You’ve also taken ample rest under the waters. Please remember – There is no nineteenth day of this war! We only have eighteen days in total and we’re on the last day. I do not want to extend this any further! Come out immediately and commence the fight. Do not keep dilly-dallying like this and run away!” This interlude from Arjuna irks Duryodhana even further, and for today, let us understand up to this point! We shall continue with this important discussion in the next episode! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 