All this was happening just as my Lord had anticipated. This is how his military strategy was – beyond the grasp of all around him. Our army took rest and enjoyed the hospitality of the Bhojas in the city of Kuntibhoja in Madhyadesha, for an entire week. As it is our Uddhava Maharaja never took part in any battle. It was just not in his nature, yet he accompanied the Lord on many such ventures, like his shadow. This time too he was with the Lord.
As the news arrived that Shalva had descended from the dense forests of Mount Arbuda and was on his way to Dwaraka along with commander Kshemadhurti, our fourfold army resting in the city of Kuntibhoja began moving. Balaramadada, Satyaki, Kritavarman, Shini and Avagaha speedily cut across the kingdom of the Dasharnas in between and surrounded Mount Arbuda. This blocked Shalva’s path back to the city of Martikavati now. I descended into the Sauvira kingdom along with the Lord, Uddhava Maharaja and select Yadav warriors. This was the westernmost end of Mount Arbuda. Just as the Lord of Dwaraka had constructed a planned harbour at Dwaraka and erected the Kroshtu lighthouse in the ocean, the rulers of Sauvira had built a port on their western border. They had also erected a lighthouse. Along with the Lord and Uddhava Maharaja in the chariot, I began steering the Garudadhwaja chariot towards the port of Sauvira. A few select armed Yadav warriors followed us. Now the Lord was neither in Dwaraka, nor in Pragjyotishapura, nor in the siege around Mount Arbuda. Nobody had any clue as to exactly where Maharaja Srikrishna, the Lord of Dwaraka was. As soon as we reached the port of Sauvira the Lord cautiously used only one strategy. The island of Dwaraka was closer by way of the ocean through this port. Through a few skilled fishermen of Sauvira he arranged to convey to Shalva, who was trying to enter Dwaraka, news that the mammoth Yadava army had surrounded the entire Mount Arbuda to destroy the city of Martikavati. He was to get the news before he reached the Shuddhaksha gate, and that would surely leave him sleepless.
Now Shalva who had reached close to Dwaraka was immediately going to return to protect his royal city. He was going to send his army back by way of land, and he himself was going to descend in Sauvira by way of air in the Saubha aircraft. From there he was going to assess the siege and the strength of our army and then plan further strategy. All this was going to happen sequentially just as the Lord had prudently anticipated.
Uddhava Maharaja, I and select armed horse riders stood behind the Lord in the port of Sauvira, facing Dwaraka in the southern direction. We waited there for a good one hour. Now the overhead sun began his descent towards the western ocean. The Lord would sometimes restlessly cast an intent gaze far away in the southern direction on the western ocean holding his left hand over his eyebrows. Now the boats of Sauvira fishermen with tall sails could be seen returning. The Lord ceaselessly kept looking at a faraway distance in the ocean and kept walking restlessly on the wet sand in the port as nothing was happening as per his anticipation. Uddhava Maharaja and I had also gotten anxious and were dragging ourselves behind him. I had never seen him so perturbed before. He grabbed the blue shawl on his chest tightly and suddenly stopping in the middle he muttered to himself, “This – this is very strange. Not the whirr of the aircraft … but I can hear somebody shouting my name in heart-wrenching cries – Madhava, Milinda, Madhusudana…! Who could it be?”
The evening was approaching now. We could see flocks of chirping ocean birds with long wings and long tails, returning home.
Suddenly we heard a whirring sound. None of us had ever heard such whirring before. It kept increasing every moment. From the southern end of the western ocean an eagle-like figure in the sky was slowly moving in our direction. The whirring kept increasing as it came closer. Spellbound, we all kept staring at the eagle-like figure. That diverted our attention away from the Lord. What is this thing Lord? I wanted to ask the Lord, and so l looked at him. And I kept looking at him agape. Uddhava Maharaja and all the Yadava warriors accompanying us were in the same shocked state as I was. On the shore of the western ocean the Lord was now looking like he was not amongst us. The Lord had completely closed his fish-shaped eyes; he seemed taller and in a meditative trance. He was whispering something. A terrifying cacophony of war trumpets was heard. The whirring noise that we had heard just before was nothing compared to this sound. The Lord’s face had turned red like the fruit of Kokum. The Lord who otherwise looked bluish, dusky, almost black, now started looking bluish red, golden and extremely resplendent. We could hear the words of mantras vaguely coming out of his normally rosy but now blood red lips. The right hand of the taller looking Lord was raised. The bright Sudarshan chakra with twelve spokes emitting millions of rays of light and revolving rapidly around itself, manifested instantly on his right index finger!
That brilliance dazzled us. The western ocean spread in front of us glowed in that brilliance. Because of the loud, piercing sound being emitted from the radiant chakra we were unable to hear the sound of the ocean and the strange whirring that we had heard a few moments before. The brilliance of the chakra and the cacophony of various war drums prevailed over the expanse of the western ocean. The Lord’s raised right hand flexed forward a little bit. The radiant Sudarshan chakra had been projected. The super swift Sudarshan chakra shot in the direction of the approaching eagle-shaped aircraft. Within moments it collided with the eagle-shaped aircraft. A terrifying, deafening sound of a blast reverberated. The next moment that eagle tumbled into the frothy waters of the western ocean with its broken wings and shattered body. That was the ‘Saubha’ aircraft with Shalva, its master, sitting in it! By this time, we all had dropped down on the ocean sand. Nothing was visible. My brain was completely benumbed with the loud boom and the bright light! All I could see vaguely was that the chakra had returned. It did not settle on the Lord’s index finger as usual. Instead with a roaring sound it moved in the direction where the Lord had pointed his index finger. In the direction of Kurus’ Hastinapura. Meanwhile the lustrous disk of the sun of Sauvira had touched the western ocean and was slowly sinking in the water. Throughout the night, the ruins of the Saubha aircraft wobbling on the waves of the western ocean were going to drift away slowly in the direction of the south. They were going to deliver the jubilant news to the citizens of Dwaraka and valiant Pradyumna – ‘The ungrateful traitor Shalva who collaborated with Shishupala and Jarasandha and invited Kalayavana from abroad to Aaryavarta, has been finished.’ With tremendous reverence in my heart I looked at my Lord and again found myself speechless. The Lord who had projected the powerful Sudarshan chakra and shattered the aircraft along with Shalva in it, looked very ghastly. He couldn’t even hold the golden-bordered blue shawl on his chest, which was already drifting away on the ocean wind following the Sudarshan chakra – in the direction of Hastinapura!
My Lord had already achieved the ‘Vaasudeva’ appellation – the highest glory of the Yadavas way back. Grandsire Bhishma himself had spontaneously addressed him so. All Yadavas in our Dwaraka kingdom, all Pandavas in Indraprastha along with Kuntidevi, Pandavas’ wives and their citizens also regarded the Lord so. The Pandava family in Indraprastha had also expanded now. In addition to Draupadidevi each Pandava had either one, two or three wives. The second wife of Maharaja Yudhishthira was Pauravidevi. They had a son named Devaka. His son Prativindhya, born to Draupadidevi was the firstborn in the second generation of the Pandavas. He was the future prince of Indraprastha.
The son born to the second Pandava, venerable wrestler and mace warrior Bhimsena and Draupadidevi, was named Sutasoma. He was well built just like his father. The notable thing was that just as the Lord had married Jambavatidevi, a daughter of a tribal king Jambavana, Bhimsena had married a Rakshasa daughter Hidimba. But Hidimbadevi lived in the jungle at her parental residence. Her son’s name was Ghatotkacha. He was the most powerful among all sons of Bhimsena with rare inborn qualities suitable for war. After the execution of Shishupala the Lord wished that the Chedis should have good relations with Indraprastha. He didn’t find it right that the Chedis should stand up against the Pandavas and Dwaraka.
Therefore, he convinced Bhimsena to accept Shishupala’s sister Kalidevi as his wife. She remained at her parental home in Shuktimati. Her son’s name was Sarvagata.
The Lords’ most favourite Pandava was master archer Arjuna. Just as he called me and Uddhava Maharaja, he also called Arjuna as ‘Sakha’. The Lord’s favourite, gallant Partha had two more wives besides Draupadidevi and Subhadradevi, called Uloopidevi who was a Naga daughter and Chitrangadadevi from Manipura. This was a rare blood relation of its kind between the Pandavas and the Nagas. The Pandavas were going to get the support of the Nagas’ military strength if needed in future. Uloopidevi’s son was Iravan and Chitrangadadevi’s son was named Babhruvahana.
The fourth Pandava was Nakula. The Lord himself had urged him to accept the hand of Shishupala’s daughter Karenumati as his second wife. This couple’s son was Niramitra. As Shishupala’s sister was married to Bhimsena and his daughter was married to Bhimsena’s brother Nakula the two Pandavas had now become father-in-law and son-in-law to each other. This entire emotional concord and act was indeed due to the intellectual genius of the Lord.
The last Pandava was Sahadeva. He was a connoisseur in the matter of horses. He had an alert mind just like the mind of a running horse. He was the only one besides the Lord who would talk to me in detail about horses, chariots, and taking care of the horses for hours on end. I had close emotional ties with two of the Pandavas. The first was Arjuna, who was as dear to the Lord as Uddhava Maharaja, and the second was Sahadeva. He loved horses just as much as I did. I was a charioteer; he was a mighty horse-lover Pandava. Still the disparity in our status was never apparent during our discussions. This fifth Pandava had a second wife in addition to Draupadidevi, Vijayadevi, the daughter of his mama Shalya, the king of Madra. They had a son named Suhotra. Sahadeva’s third wife was Bhanumatidevi. As she belonged to a Yadava family the Yadavas had formed a firm bond with the Pandavas through this marriage. This couple had no issue yet.
Just as the Lord and Balaramadada’s families had expanded in Dwaraka, so had the Pandavas’ family in Indraprastha. Both these royal strengths had come close firmly due to the relationships formed by marriage alliances. No matter how hard their enemies tried nothing was going to break this bond ever.
The Dwaraka kingdom for which my Lord strove throughout his life was now established. Throughout Aaryavarta it was renowned as ‘the Dwaraka of Srikrishna’. Populated by lakhs of pugnacious Yadavas, no one would now dare to confront the Dwaraka of Bhagvan Vaasudeva who had eliminated many insolent, arrogant rulers with a captivating display of his intellectual genius.
But lakhs of Yadavas and I were to be proved wrong. One day, a royal envoy arrived from a distant eastern kingdom in Aaryavarta. He had not brought any gift for Dwaraka, but an arrogant message! A daring message that directly challenged the Dwaraka kingdom and its leader, the Lord of Dwaraka. That envoy was from the eastern kingdom of Pundra. He delivered the message of his master, Paundraka to my Lord in the fully occupied royal assembly of the Yadavas. Using very arrogant and disrespectful language he delivered the message as it was given to him. He said, “My master the ruler of Pundra who is the one and only real Vaasudeva in the entire Aaryavarta has sent a message for you ...”
No royal envoy had ever behaved like this in the Sudharma assembly before. His actions left all Yadavas in the council stunned and they just kept listening to him intently.
“The message is that, ‘Just because he dons the same royal attire like me; wears the same Vaijayanti garland around his neck just like me; and bears a peacock feather in his crown, no cowherd who still exudes the strong odour of cow dung can ever become a Vaasudeva! Any Kshatriya of Aaryavarta who imitates me and calls himself Vaasudeva should fight a duel with me – Paundraka – the real Vaasudeva! This is my direct challenge to the warlock of the Yadavas who calls himself the Lord of Dwaraka and Vaasudeva.” That envoy was indeed loyal to his king, and fearless. While delivering his master’s message ‘as is’ to the royal assembly he literally trembled with rage. But the next moment a ruckus arose among the Yadavas – ‘Throw him out – capture him – kill him’. Fiery sparks of rage were being emitted from the eyes of angry Yadavas who were making an awful din.
The bloodshed that had never transpired in the Sudharma assembly from the time of its inception was about to befall.
The Lord would usually take his time to stand up, but this time he stood up at once; not because of the insolent and arrogant words of the royal envoy but because he believed that only he could control the violent Yadavas at this critical moment. He raised his arm high and roared loudly, “Wait! Drop your weapons and take your seats quietly!” His words were formidable like never before. I had never heard such intimidation from him before. I thought something untoward was about to happen. The Lord will probably close his fish-shaped eyes and project the Sudarshan chakra on the throat of the royal envoy that was holding his mouth with his arrogant tongue, and teach him a lesson. I was terrified that for the first time our royal assembly was going to witness bloodbath, and kept looking at the Lord in fear. But … but…
“Oh Yadavas! This royal messenger is not at fault at all! He is only a dutiful, patriotic servant of his master just like my Daruka and each one of you Yadavas. Calm down, and try to understand.
“All of you should learn an unforgettable invaluable lesson from this royal messenger- friend of mine! That of loyalty to the master.”
The next moment a command was given to the chief minister that left everyone stunned – “Vipruthu, please present a platter of my royal attire to be dispatched with this royal messenger as a gift to the real Maharaja Vaasudeva of Pundra! Don’t forget to keep a bright and large peacock feather on top of it!”
‘Your wish is my command, sire’ said the chief minister of the Yadavas and was about to leave when one more command of the Lord fell on his ears, “Please present one gift platter of fine apparel even for this royal attendant of Pundra! He has obeyed his master’s command to the word by jeopardizing his own life. I will definitely visit his master.”
Within a few moments two salvers covered by clothes with fine designs were presented in the Sudharma royal assembly, in front of Maharaja Vasudeva and Maharani Devakidevi. Both of them touched those as was the custom. The Lord also touched them after the Prince. The royal messenger felt deep regret and realized that instead of receiving fatal punishment he had received the royal gift of honour, that too from a great person who was revered as the Lord of all the people! But he had spoken in the worst possible way with the excuse of being a patriot. Tears of guilt flowed down his eyes.
Now the royal capital of Dwaraka was aroused by the ‘Paundraka Vaasudeva campaign’. It got busy with various tasks. The Lord had made the western region of Aaryavarta free of fear by killing Shalva. Now his target was the eastern region of Aaryavarta. The Pundra kingdom of Paundraka who was a self-proclaimed Vaasudeva was located near the eastern ocean, at the confluence of rivers Kaushiki and Ganga. His kingdom was neighbouring the Karusha and Vanga kingdoms. Paundraka had dispatched his royal envoy to Dwaraka with a careful thought and foresight. He had put up a front as if it was only him who was provocatively challenging the Lord of Dwaraka by calling him a duplicate Vaasudeva. But he had secretly formed a political alliance with Dantavakra and Viduratha of the Karusha kingdom and the ruler of the Vanga kingdom. This challenge by the so called real Vaasudeva was not the challenge of his small Pundra kingdom alone. It was the challenge of the strong alliance of three kingdoms. He had no clue that he was dealing with the Lord of Dwaraka who could turn the tables with his intellectual genius.
Even before the royal envoy of the Pundras could reach his kingdom in the east, the Lord’s best informers had already met with Bhagadutta of Pragjyotishapura. Detailed information collected about the three kingdoms – Pundra, Karusha and Vanga – started reaching Dwaraka. It was understandable that the self-proclaimed Vaasudeva, Paundraka, had gone against the Lord. But I couldn’t comprehend why the Lord’s two pat
ernal cousins had chosen to enter the thorny forests of enmity. Why they had taken shelter under the wings of Paundraka Vaasudeva was beyond my comprehension. The Lord easily understood everything that I, many others and all Yadavas could not comprehend.
The venerable Lord particularly left both the commanders behind in this campaign of the duplicate-Vaasudeva. Instead he took all the young Yadava warriors of the next generation with him. The Lord had thoughtfully planned this campaign to mainly shape the valour of the next generation.
The background of this expedition to the eastern kingdom was a bit complicated. The Lord’s paternal cousins Dantavakra and Viduratha belonged to the Karusha kingdom. Among them the elder brother Dantavakra was the ruler of the Karusha kingdom, and Viduratha was handling the military operations outside the kingdom. He was one of the kings who had returned empty-handed from the unsuccessful Swayamwar of Rukminidevi, and held a grudge against the Lord. He was also an ally in the conspiracy of the trio Jarasandha, Shalva and Shishupala to destroy the Lord completely. He had earlier joined hands with Jarasandha on behalf of Shishupala who was his maternal cousin. Naturally, he was furious with the Lord because Jarasandha had been killed.
The Lord crossed the creek of Dwaraka along with Balaramadada, Uddhava Maharaja and his armed youthful sons. The fully prepared fourfold army was already on its way to the east. Many experienced and trained informers from the adroit and efficient surveillance team of the Yadavas were dispersed in the eastern kingdoms around the Pundra kingdom. Those included the kingdoms of Uttkala, Magadha, Anga, Kamarupa, and Manipura. From among these the Magadha kingdom because of Jarasandha’s son Sahadeva, and the Kamarupa kingdom because of Bhagadutta had now turned into our allies. The Manipura kingdom was also our ally as Arjuna’s wife Chitrangadadevi belonged to that kingdom. So, we needed to befriend only the Uttkala kingdom till the successful completion of this mission. The Lord had already managed to do that by sending royal apparel and gifts to Kalinga and Bhuvaneshwara – the royal capital of Uttkala.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 48
