In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra in utter shock and dismay, as several frontline warriors were brutally murdered by Ashwatthama overnight. Yudishtra initially faints and falls on the ground upon hearing the news from Drishtadhyumna’s charioteer, as Bheemasena and Arjuna wake him up by splashing water on his face. Getting back into his senses again, Yudishtra laments his lapse of concentration and focus after the war has ended on the eighteenth day. At a time when Yudishtra and Co. thought that everything was over with Duryodhana’s demise, things went awry and this disaster wasn’t expected to happen, and that too within a fraction of minutes! Now those who remain on the Pandava side are the five Pandava brothers, Satyaki and Bhagawan Krishna Himself! Everyone has been killed, and the damage is irreparable! As Yudishtra understands this, he turns to Bhagawan Krishna and asks Him whether this was the end result that He was expecting out of this war!
As this happens, Bhagawan Krishna signals to Arjuna to bring Draupati to the scene, to inform her of what has happened. Till now, only these people are talking and Draupati is somewhere away from this spot. She still doesn’t know that such a disaster has unfolded. Upon Bhagawan Krishna’s signal through His eyes, Arjuna slowly limps forward with swollen eyes and obeys Bhagawan’s words. He goes and brings Draupati to the tent where all the bodies of people are kept. Upon entering the tent, Draupati initially did not understand anything! Bheemasena quickly explains whatever has happened and how Ashwatthama had unleashed horror the previous night! As Bheemasena says this, Draupati sees her sons (Upa-Pandavas) dead on the ground! Unable to bear the pain of losing her sons, Draupati shouts aloud and cries profusely! She is shell-shocked! She falls on the ground, hugs her sons’ bodies and cries aloud!
Composing herself after a while, she turns towards Bheemasena and Bhagawan Krishna and says thus, “Oh Bheemasena! I understand that Ashwatthama has unleashed this cowardly act of killing all my sons at a stretch when they were fast asleep, for no fault of theirs! Now what is your elder brother Yudishtra going to do? Oh Bhagawan Krishna! What are you going to do now? Are you people going to take any action on Ashwatthama and kill him for what he has done, or, are you still going to talk about “Dharma”, “Peace”, “Patience”, “Perseverance”, “Yuddha-Neeti”, etc. and sit quietly in the corner of this room? Oh Bhagawan Krishna! I vented my frustration earlier when Yudishtra lost the gambling game and deserted me in front of Duryodhana and Co. on that fateful day. When I told Yudishtra that he has to kill Duryodhana and Co. on that spot itself, he never acted! Now see what has happened! If Yudishtra would have killed Duryodhana then and there, all these disasters wouldn’t have unfolded! Oh Yudishtra! You are a “Kshatrya warrior”! Your job is to go and fight! Your “Dharma” is killing enemies and not sitting in a corner and giving sermons! Atleast now, are you going to change your stance, or are you going to continue talking all your “Dharma” logics to me?”
As Paanchaali asks thus, Yudishtra replies calmly – “Oh Draupati! I understand your frustration and pain! Please be patient! Ashwatthama has committed a heinous crime and I’m aware of it. However, if you ask me to go and kill him immediately, where will I go and search him? All three of them – Ashwatthama, Sage Kripachaarya and Krita-Varma have swiftly disappeared into the forest, immediately after their pursuit was over! Now where will we go and find them? Even if we find them, what is the use of going after them now? The disaster has happened and nobody can change that now!” Saying thus, Yudishtra tries to console Draupati, who is still crying over the loss of her dear sons. So after listening to Yudishtra’s answer, what is Draupati’s reply going to be? Let us wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned!
The Indian Dharma 