This news brought Yadava’s mighty pennant Garudadhwaja halfway down on the flagpole. A mournful Sudharma royal assembly was held. Nobody was in their right minds to talk about anything with anybody. The senior Maharaja, Vasudevababa, had not even come to the council due to the hear- breaking news of his dear sister’s demise. As he did not come, the Rajmata also did not come. Distressed and numb, both of them sat in their royal palace. Sri had first consoled them and then arrived at the council hall along with dada. Tai had remained behind, in service of her father-in-law and mother-in-law. I was also thinking of doing the same. But when Sri told me to go along with him, I sat in the chariot and went with him. While going, he said to me in a low but firm voice, “Rukmini, I don’t think there is any truth in this news! Maybe this is some kind of cunning, unsuccessful political machination of Duryodhana and Shakuni in the name of Maharaja Dhritarashtra. No, I simply cannot visualize the fiery flames that would burn the mace maestro Bhima alive.”
While listening to his words, even in such an unpleasant situation, I wondered about how thoroughly Sri was informed about Hastinapura, the royal capital of the Kurus.
In the Sudharma royal assembly of the Yadavas, who had familial ties with the Kurus, minister Vipruthu raised the royal sceptre and put forth a brief proposal – ‘Our Maharaja Vasudeva’s sister, Rajmata Kuntidevi, and her five sons have perished in an accidental fire in the forest of Varanavata. Due to their sad demise, this royal assembly will now observe the mourning period. On behalf of all Yadavas, Prince Balarama and Srikrishna, the Lord of Dwaraka will leave for Hastinapura to attend the funeral rites. This assembly is dismissed now.’ The royal assembly was dismissed within minutes. Dada and Sri immediately left for Hastinapura along with Daruka.
One week passed by. I kept thinking about the doubt that Sri had expressed in the chariot. ‘There is no truth in this news about the Pandavas and their mother.’ Why would he say such a thing? And if he believes that there is no truth in this news then why should he keep all the Yadavas of Dwaraka in the dark about this? I just couldn’t understand.
Only recently we had received the very optimistic news that guru Drona had organized a grand seasonal championship contest of the Kauravas and Pandavas in spring. During that contest the fresh young gutsy Kauravas and Pandavas had performed extraordinary feats gratifying the citizens of Hastinapura. Guru Drona had put the championship garland around Arjuna’s neck. Then suddenly a radiant youth entered the contest arena and directly challenged Arjuna for a duel. That was Karna, a charioteer’s son. Drona’s brother-in-law Kripacharya raised a question, ‘How can there be a conclusive duel between a Kshatriya and a charioteer’s son at all?’ Duryodhana immediately took action and instated Karna as the king of the Anga. Thus, the rivalry between the Kauravas and Pandavas deepened even further.
Following that news, we had received this shocking news – that Kuntidevi had been consumed by fire in Varanavata along with her five sons. Sri left for Hastinapura along with dada and Uddhavabhauji to carry out the religious duty of performing the last rites of the deceased Pandavas and their mother. This was Sri’s first visit to Hastinapura. I spent that entire week thinking about what would happen during this visit. I was experiencing a void due to the shocking news and then Sri’s departure right after that. I went to original Dwaraka, consoled the senior Maharaja and Devakimata, and returned. It was true that though both of them were senior to me, whenever I told them something sincerely they listened to me. They treated me with tremendous respect and honour. Within a short time, they had become as close to me as my own parents. This was one of the main reasons among many others why being in Dwaraka for me was like being at my parents’ house. Besides, there was another reason. My aged in-laws had got the insight to examine the character of a person as a result of the tremendous calamities they had endured in their lives. Jambavati - the tribal daughter, had succeeded in getting closer to their hearts though not as close as I was. But Bhama had been still unsuccessful in doing so. I wondered about it and would say to myself, ‘How is this Bhama going to get along?’
One day Bhama entered my chamber wailing loudly, beating her chest with both hands in such a way that it made me shudder from top to bottom. The human mind is so given to apprehensions! I momentarily had a terrifying suspicion, numbing my entire body. My heart froze. ‘Did something happen to Sri who had gone to distant Hastinapura?’ Initially I didn’t even understand what Bhama was saying. She lamented continuously, “Rukminitai! Betrayal...Yadava Maharani. What should I do now?”
I held both her arms tightly and chided her, “Bhama, get hold of yourself. Tell me properly what has happened.” She momentarily suffocated due to uncontrollable sobs. Then word after word she broke the heart-wrenching, terrifying news - “Tai, that traitor has viciously murdered my father in his sleep. He broke into our palace and that scoundrel stole the Syamantaka jewel and escaped right under the nose of our warriors and commanders. If he wanted to steal anything at all, that scum should have only taken the Syamantaka. Why did that creep murder my beloved Satrajitababa....despite being a Yadava?”
Even I felt awkward listening to her words. While breathing a sigh of relief that Sri was safe, my breath choked for Bhama accepting the bitter truth of Satrajita’s assassination. As a Maharani, I intensely felt one thing – never before had such a heinous crime taken place in our newly built kingdom – the murder of a Yadava in his sleep! Within moments, unknowingly, the Maharani in me rose. I held Bhama’s arms tightly again and shaking her vigorously I asked her, “Who is the culprit? When did it happen?” She embraced me tightly and spoke slowly, “Shatadhanwa! Last night!”
I went numb listening to the bitter truth. I was truly proud of each small and big heroic exploit of the Yadavas. I genuinely felt proud about the tenacity they showed while facing Jarasandha’s seventeen attacks. Many Yadava warriors had sacrificed their lives in those wars. Sri was the reason and inspiration behind their sacrifice. This was the first shock for me that any Yadava, no matter whoever he was, can commit such a heinous crime – theft and murder at the same time! Indeed, I felt it very deep as the consort of Sri and as the Maharani of the Yadavas.
My usually operative intellect was not being of much help while consoling Bhama. I kept patting Bhama with great affection, and felt lost as if Satrajita was my own father. I simply kept saying to her, “Be quiet. Calm down. Behave like the courageous Yadava daughter of your father. Stay calm. Let Sri come back to Dwaraka. Believe me, he will definitely find out that scoundrel and punish him severely.”
“No tai, my whole body is burning with fury. I just can’t wait. Send Vipruthu with me. I am directly going to Hastinapura! I will return to Dwaraka with him only!” Bhama said, determinedly controlling her emotions. Leave alone me, nobody was going to be able to stop her now.
I properly instructed Vipruthu and sent him with her along with the chariot, a charioteer and some travel accessories. She left along with a troop of guards. She took only one charioteer with her. At times, she herself was going to drive the chariot to give him a break. She entrusted me with the responsibility of performing the final rites of Satrajita.
This unforeseen calamity that had befallen the Yadava royal family made one thing clear to me. I came to know what kind of an iron-willed, resolute Kshatriya lady Bhama was. I myself realized that a competent Maharani capable of taking decisions resided within me.
A few days passed by and Bhama returned with Sri, as she had resolutely said. As an emissary reported the arrival of Sri, dada and bhauji, I immediately presented myself at the Shuddhaksha gate to welcome them. I approached the Yadava king descending from the Garudadhwaja chariot along with others. Due to the recent events in Dwaraka we were not going to be able to talk at length. I felt relieved as I saw him. The first time when our eyes met, then itself he gave me such a smile that only I could understand the deeper meaning of it among all the people present there. It meant that Kunti aatya was safe and sound along with her sons.
While walking towards the Sudharma royal assembly he asked Anadhrishti, “Commander, were the final rites of Satrajitakaka performed as per the tradition? Do one thing. Spread the news everywhere that I am still in Hastinapura. Within four days I should receive all the minute details about Shatadhanwa’s whereabouts. Send his brothers Hardikya and Kritavarman to meet me immediately, send Akrurakaka too.” I was surprised when I heard that only the two of them had not come to receive Sri at the Shuddhaksha gate as they usually did. Sri had unmistakably noticed it. It clearly meant that both of them were up to something. Another thing was equally clear that no matter wherever Sri went out of Dwaraka he was receiving minute details of each and every event happening back here. Indeed, he was the ‘Lord of Dwaraka’ though he was not enthroned on the royal throne of Dwaraka.
Now the hunt for Satrajita’s assassin began in full swing. When Sri wanted to chase the truth, he had his own special ‘Srineetee’ – strategy that nobody else could think of otherwise, of spreading his web everywhere.
The search to find the assassin moved one step further. First Sri called Kritavarman in his private chamber and inquired about the Syamantaka jewel. Kritavarman was Shatadhanwa’s brother. Both were the sons of the senior Yadava Hridik. He was an honourable minister in the royal ministry of Dwaraka. Shatadhanwa was meddlesome. He lived in the distant Shursena kingdom. He had desired the valiant and beautiful Satyabhama, though he was not worthy of her. He had put forth the marriage proposal to her father. Satrajita had astutely avoided it. Sri knew nothing about this. Satyabhama was married to him because of the Syamantaka jewel. Impressed, Satrajita had offered her hand to Sri in the Sudharma assembly. Shatadhanwa felt deeply offended by this act and hence had resorted to the heinous act of murdering him.
His brother Kritavarman was well aware of the consequences of what had taken place, before he came to visit Sri. He entered Sri’s chamber, determined in his heart to present whatever facts he knew in front of Sri. Sri welcomed him hospitably and offered him fruits and milk with saffron. After having a general chat, he asked Kritavarman directly, “Kritavarma, it is quite possible that our Maharaja and the Sudharma assembly might give you the charge for the search of the Syamantaka. What are you going to do?” Kritavarma shuddered due to the diplomatic strategy used by Sri which caught him off-guard and confused him. He instantly replied, “I know who has the Syamantaka presently! My brother Shatadhanwa has thoughtlessly murdered Satrajita like an idiot. Presently he has sought asylum with the king of Kashi. He has handed over the Syamantaka jewel to Akrura for safety, in front of me. You should ask for him and check out the truth.”
Sri got another clue leading to the truth of Satrajita’s assassination. Now the wheel of the search was going to move further. It was an unexpected, shocking truth that the Syamantaka had gone into Akrura’s possession for the sake of protection. A more shocking truth was soon revealed. As soon as the honourable elderly Akrurakaka who now possessed the Syamantaka jewel heard the news that Sri had invited Kritavarman to visit him, he suddenly absconded from Dwaraka along with the jewel.
There was no way of knowing how many problems this Syamantaka jewel was going to create now, and how many people were going to be affected by it.
By this time Satyaki had become a close, loyal maharathi among the trusted few of Sri. It was as if there was an unwritten arrangement made between him and Anadhrishti about the responsibility of the army. They both had accepted the agreement on their own. Anadhrishti took charge of protecting both the islands of Dwaraka kingdom. He vigilantly kept an eye on the borders of Dwaraka reaching up to Saurashtra, Bhrigukachchha and Aanarta. Satyaki would accompany Sri within the Dwaraka kingdom and outside throughout Aaryavarta. The external military strategies were designed under his guidance.
As soon as Sri came to know the whereabouts of Shatadhanwa, he left Dwaraka again, along with Satyaki and the four-fold army. Balaramadada accompanied him as usual. That is why I was not at all worried about this expedition.
The army left, and after that the news of their journey kept arriving in Dwaraka one after the other – Sri’s army has travelled along the banks of the Narmada and passed through the city of Mahishmati in Avanti kingdom. Sri has reached the Chedi kingdom along with the Yadavas, crossing river Vetravati. Though it was the kingdom of his aatya, Sri has skipped Shuktimati, the royal capital of Chedi, keeping in mind Shishupala’s fanatical behaviour and travelled further ahead.
Finally, the expected news also arrived. Sri has reached the borders of the kingdom of Kashi along with dada, and has beheaded Shatadhanwa in the battle. Shatadhanwa had formed an alliance with Subahu, the king of Kashi and had arrived at the border coming from Varanasi. The king of Kashi ran away after the battle, Maharaja Srikrishna chased him and directly invaded Varanasi. Balaramadada and Satyaki remained at the border. The king of Kashi surrendered after his defeat. As a tribute, he offered a lot of riches at the feet of the venerable Yadava. Sri took leave of the king of Kashi and returned to the Yadava army. Here again an undesirable dramatic event took place due to the Syamantaka jewel.
Balaramdada was never interested in wealth and riches as such. He never even visited the treasury of Dwaraka. But that troublesome Syamantaka jewel had bred irresistible curiosity in the mind of this valiant Yadava warrior. As Sri appeared in front of him he smiled and said, “Dhakalya, let us at least see that Syamantaka jewel once. We have come following it such a long distance from Dwaraka. Now all hurdles in our path have also been cleared. Our Satyabhama has lost her father for the sake of that jewel. A look at it would make her feel a bit better. Come on, show me the jewel!”
Sri shrugged his shoulders, smiled and said, “I don’t have it. It is with Akrurakaka. First, we will have to find him, and obtain it from him. Only then you and I will be able to take a look at it!”
Usually, Balaramadada never had any misunderstandings about Sri. Unfortunately, it happened that day at the border of Kashi kingdom, in the army camp. He expressly kept saying again and again, “Just show me that jewel, only once. I have no desire for it.” Sri kept trying to convince him, “I really don’t have that jewel with me, at this moment.” Suddenly dada lost his temper and said angrily, “That mere stone of a jewel means more to you than your respectable elder brother. Keep it with you then! I am leaving right now, and will go wherever my feet take me! I don’t want to see your face anymore!” And just as he said it, Balaramadada picked up his mace and left the base in a fit of fury. His Yadava followers went after him. They crossed river Ganga, river Sharayu and reached the banks of Gandaki. He directly reached Janakapuri of Mithila.
Thus, for no fault of his the Syamantaka jewel had given Sri a solid emotional blow! That of the misunderstanding of his beloved elder brother and his heart-breaking separation!
After punishing Shatadhanwa, victorious Sri returned to Dwaraka. But this time Balaramadada was not with him. Even the troublesome Syamantaka that was the reason of the rift was not with him. The Yadavas in the royal capital strongly felt both the things. Yet they welcomed Sri joyfully, as usual. The Yadavas loved Sri more than themselves. Sri also loved all of them unconditionally. But I just couldn’t comprehend the fact that dada had left in anger. I simply couldn’t digest it. I could not remain without meeting Revatitai immediately. But it was she who consoled me. She instantly reduced the heavy burden on my mind saying, “You are worrying for no reason, Rukmini. The prince won’t go anywhere. He will return soon. He can’t live without Srikrishna bhauji.”
It looked like Sri’s imperial life didn’t have any stability. It was just not meant to be. That was the reason why minister Vipruthu presented him with the news, in front of me. It made one think really hard. A group of women from the Kamarupa kingdom on the east of Aaryavarta had met him. That group presented a story of the dire life conditions for the women of Kamarupa and the surrounding countries in front of the Yadava minister. They expected some kind of response from him. In Pragjyotishapura, the royal capital of that kingdom, the life of women, e
specially beautiful and healthy women was in danger. There the king Narakasura alias Bhaumasura had forcibly imprisoned not just one or two, but sixteen thousand beautiful women of Kamarupa to use and exploit them physically to satisfy his own lust. New women were being added regularly in the prison.
‘Is there any saviour at all, in the entire Aaryavarta, for thousands of these innocent women? Is there any valiant man who will protect the basic right to live for these powerless women?’ They asked such heart-piercing questions and demanded to visit Sri and were waiting to meet him.
This was a unique problem. It needed to be handled delicately and adroitly. For that purpose, one would have to cross over the entire Aaryavarta region and attack the Kamarupa kingdom which was thousands of yojanas away. I was fully confident in my mind, that Sri would definitely accept this challenge also. And that is what happened. His face brightened with the same unique radiance it reflected when he meditated in the wee hours and when he recited the divine mantras of Sudarshan. He resolutely uttered only one sentence to the minister. I will go to Kamarupa kingdom, to Pragjyotishapura, to emancipate my sisters!
According to his instructions the minister arranged an urgent council of the Sudharma royal assembly. Only Sri addressed the council. It was his exclusive, unparalleled speech expounding his own views about the essence of femininity. I can never forget it. He said, “My dear Yadava warriors, no matter whatever accolades virility achieves, it is conceived in a woman’s womb! A manhood that cannot honour and respect the feminine, is futile. Narakasura has been brutally abusing women. That is precisely why I have taken the decision to attack Narakasura along with the four-fold Yadava army. I am confident that you all will comply with my decision.”
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 28
