In the previous episode, we had witnessed Yudishtra finally getting convinced to return back to Hastinapura, to take over the successorship from King Dhritarashtra. We’ve already seen at the beginning of the “Shanti Parva” that King Dhritarashtra is completely down and inconsolable after the loss of all his hundred sons to the Pandava brothers in the Kurukshetra battle. It is only after Yudishtra saw King Dhritarashtra and Mother Gandhari in such a pitiable state, guilt started haunting him. Yudishtra, for the first time felt guilty of being responsible for killing all the Kaurava brothers in the battle, which led to an entire “Vamsam” (Family) being destroyed. This led to Yudishtra thinking of going to the forest and performing penance, as a token of “Praayaschittham” for the big “sin” that he had committed. However, Yudishtra’s own brothers, Bhagawan Krishna, Sage Vyaasa, etc. felt otherwise. All of them unanimously advised Yudishtra to come back to Hastinapura and assume the responsibility of administering the kingdom (Which is his duty as a “Kshatrya”), rather than going to the forest for penance (Which is a duty of a “Brahmana Rishi”). The point here was that, Yudishtra was trying to disobey the “Varnashrama Dharma” itself, which is a major sin.
Paying heed to Sage Vyaasa’s words finally, Yudishtra relents from his stance. He now agrees to Sage Vyaasa’s words and calls all his chariots and elephants for a grand return. As the entire caravan moves towards Hastinaupra, Bhagawan Krishna, along with Sage Vyaasa and the other seniors in the group accompany them. As the entire set of people knock doors at Hastinapura palace, a grand “Pattabishekam” (Coronation) ceremony is arranged for. Yudishtra is now going to be officially declared as the king of unified Hastinapura. It is in the meanwhile, a person by name “Chaaruvaaka” comes and stops the caravan from proceeding into the territory of Hastinapura. Chaaruvaaka, as I had mentioned earlier, is a good friend of Duryodhana and has been part and parcel of Duryodhana’s life all these years. In other words, Chaaruvaaka was a childhood friend of Duryodhana in many ways and has been with him for several years together. This Chaaruvaaka comes in front of Yudishtra and Co. as they march towards Hasinapura. Chaaruvaaka doesn’t come alone. He comes along with a team of Brahmana Rishis. In fact, the agenda of these Brahmana Rishis is to welcome Yudishtra formally into the kingdom and Chaaruvaaka was an “odd-man out”! He is originally a “Kshatrya”, but gets dressed like a Brahmana Rishi and comes along with this team.
Upon seeing Yudishtra and Co. coming in front, Chaaruvaaka quickly emerges out and talks thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Why are you coming here? What work do you have in Hastinapura? You are a serial killer and an offender! You are an epitome of “Adharma”! Because of your rivalry with one person called Duryodhana, you’ve ended up destroying an entire “Vamsa”! Isn’t this the greatest sin that one can commit in his life? Hence, by doing this, you’ve lost the eligibility to be a king anymore in your life! Hence, please banish yourself from this place once and forever!” As Chaaruvaaka says openly thus, the Brahmana Rishis who were on his side are shocked and stunned! They never wanted to talk like this! Angered by Chaaruvaaka’s nonsensical words, all the Brahmana Rishis team up together and with their power of “Tapas”, burn him down with their mere looks! In other words, Chaaruvaaka is burnt to death with the Maharishis’ “Tapas”. In fact, Chaaruvaaka had obtained a boon from Bhagawan Brahma that he cannot be killed by anybody, except for the fact that if he obtains the ill-wishes of Brahmana Rishis, he would not be able to stand their fierce power of penance. This was exactly the same thing that happened – When Chaaruvaaka earned the wrath of Maharishis, he could not escape his demise!
Thus, the last hurdle for Yudishtra is over, and a grand “Pattabishekam” (coronation) ceremony follows. Yudishtra is officially crowned as the king of Hastinapura, with the divine “Anugraha” of Bhagawan Krishna and the others! So for today, let us celebrate this joyous occasion along with the others, and we shall wait till the next episode to witness the continuation of what happens next! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 