Prince Duryodhana of Hastinapura was never going to take lightly the unmatched prosperity of the Pandavas that was reaching sky high, their incomparable acclaim spread throughout Aaryavarta and their friendship with Krishna of Dwaraka that was renowned everywhere. Actually, he was not the prince of the Kurus of Hastinapura. But he had declared himself the prince even before the separation of Hastinapura and Indraprastha. As soon as the Pandavas left Hastinapura he had assumed the position of the prince over there. He would make his blind father Dhritarashtra dance to his tune. In fact, he had almost usurped the position of the ruler by his own actions, even without sitting on the royal throne of his blind father.
Indraprastha became a thorn in the flesh for Duryodhana. He had not come to his senses even after returning from the Rajasuya Yajna and witnessing the chilling execution of Shishupala with his own eyes. The Kuru prince who was still full of hatred for Krishna would mention my dear friend Krishna among the people as ‘a cowherd whose feet are soiled by cow dung and urine’.
A man always behaves according to his inborn nature. An arrogant man never lets go of his arrogance. If such a person comes to power his ego inflates. And Prince Duryodhana was actually using two kinds of powers – one was that of the royal throne, another was that of emotional blackmail. Since childhood he was used to keeping his ninety-nine brothers under his thumb. Once we came to Indraprastha he began considering himself as the undeclared king of his blind father’s Hastinapura. Hastinapura was a mighty kingdom due to the wealth, military power and old alliances with other kingdoms. Duryodhana who was the heir to its throne was now getting extremely jealous of the prosperity of Indraprastha. He had begun arranging meetings with his political advisers and planning incredible schemes of bringing Indraprastha down. He still didn’t have a complete idea of how much support the kingdom of Indraprastha had in the form of Krishna. His cunning inner clique included Shakuni mama and his brother, the self-proclaimed political advisor Kanaka, Dushasana and his prominent brothers, and Kuru’s Chief Minister Vrishavarma who obeyed all his commands.
According to the news that I received from the informers, Duryodhana and Shakuni were trying their best to get Karna into their inner clique, but they had been unsuccessful in doing so. We received clues about that too in Indraprastha. I got a bit worried while listening to the details about it. Karna, the king of Anga, was strongly against any kind of political machinations. He had only one yearning – directly challenge the Pandavas to war, and fight a conclusive battle with them upfront. This persistence of his had got me worried. It is true that I had once felt an unknown attraction for him, but it was not physical lust. He was an ardent devotee of the sun and I was a fire-born daughter. After giving it thorough thought I feel today that it was an attraction due to the connection with the effulgence. I was afraid of the impenetrable Kavacha-kundala of Karna. To top that, in the presence of grandsire Bhishma he had taken a vow of conquering the four directions of Aaryavarta and had just recently returned after fulfilling it successfully.
Duryodhana’s seizure of Hastinapura which was the kingdom of my father-in-law Maharaja Pandu, was sheer injustice. Yet my husbands had accepted the region of Khandavavana and had worked hard to erect Indraprastha there, which would put Hastinapura to shame. Obviously, I was very proud of them. After all I was the Maharani of this newly built kingdom.
Any calamity befalling Indraprastha was unacceptable to me. Duryodhana was astutely going to take advantage of world conqueror Karna who was wounded by my words during the Swayamwar ceremony. But now I had firmly decided not to be afraid of anyone when I had my best friend Krishna supporting me. I had strong faith in his friendship.
One day Vrishavarma, the Chief Minister of the Kurus of Hastinapura arrived in Indraprastha with a royal invitation. He stood in the Sriprasada royal assembly and presenting the royal invitation to me and Maharaja he bowed and humbly said, “Grandsire Bhishma and Maharaja Dhritarashtra of Hastinapura have invited all Pandavas of Indraprastha – for Vishnuyaga! An invitation for the Yadavas has also been sent to Dwaraka. Maharaja Srikrishna will certainly come for the Yajna to Hastinapura along with Prince Balaramadada. You all should come too. Please don’t miss the opportunity to attend the religious ritual in the original abode of your clan.”
While listening to Chief Minister Vrishavarma’s invitation in extremely modest language, I don’t know why, my right eyelash fluttered. A suspicion arose in my mind. I instantly said, “The invitation is for a yajna. There is no need for us to come there as a couple. If there is such need then Subhadra and Bhanumati would come with their husband. The rajmata will be there for sure.”
At that the experienced senior Chief Minister said, “No, the Pandava Maharaja and Maharani are especially invited. This invitation is not only from the Maharaja and Maharani of Hastinapura, but also from grandsire Bhishma, Mahatma Vidura and the citizens of Hastinapura.”
Now Indraprasth got engaged in preparations for the travel to Hastinapura. I sent a message to Dwaraka for Krishna with a special messenger. It said, ‘It is okay if nobody else comes, but you must come to Hastinapura. We have to go to Hastinapura for Vishnuyaga.’
Indeed, he came to Hastinapura at the right time as per my message, but in such a different way and form! He came in the form of apparel that a noble lady like me would never be able to forget!
I don’t even want to remember the incident that happened in Hastinapura at that time. Narrating it myself is highly impossible for me.
I had great respect for my five husbands in my heart. But only the eldest Pandava – Yudhishthira, the king of Indraprastha was responsible for whatever happened in Hastinapura during this visit. He otherwise possessed many rare qualities. He was suitable to be the leader of his four brothers and to take care of the Indraprastha kingdom. But I don’t understand what happened to him after coming to Hastinapura. Some events are indeed so difficult to explain in any way no matter how hard you try. My virtuous, righteous eldest husband who wouldn’t even think of committing a sin, lost his mind. He became delusional and a slave to addiction beyond any kind of justification. His gambling addiction threw the Indraprastha kingdom that had reached the apex of glory within a short time, in to a deep chasm of destruction in an instant.
This wise eldest Pandava played the game of dice with the Kauravas even before the Vishnuyaga. He put the kingdom of Indraprastha at stake along with the military, maids and servants, wealth and animals, and lost it. Then he put his four brothers at stake one after the other and lost them too. He forgot that he was a formally crowned king of an established kingdom and therefore responsible for the woes and comforts of his subjects. He put himself at stake and lost that bet too. In the gambling hall, he was disgraced by the vituperations of the Kauravas who were giggling hysterically in the frenzy of victory. He became so insane and irrational that he put me – his wife – the Maharani of Indraprastha – the daughter of Maharaja Drupada – the sister of Dhrishtadyumna – Yajnasena – also at stake in the gambling Yajna of the vile Kauravas. And… and he lost even that very last bet.
Fortunately for the Pandavas none of the Kauravas romping in victory and bursting with joy came up with the idea of challenging Yudhishthira to put his widowed mother, who had suffered a lot in her life, at stake. Had it happened, then I am quite sure that he would have put his mother at stake too!
I am not saying this just because I am overly emotional. On that day, due to the encouragement of the shouting Kauravas who had lost their minds, shameless and mean Dushasana ultimately touched the saree I was wearing. Dushasana who was eager to disrobe me had lost his senses even more than Yudhishthira who was playing the dice game.
In that ancient gambling hall of the Kurus I spread my hands in front of each warrior and implored them desperately to protect my honour, beating my chest and crying out loudly. None of them except Vikarna got up; no one said anything. Karna, the king of Anga intimidated him and made him sit down. Karna’s intellect had also gone corrupt! Dushasana who had g
one crazy determinedly put his hand on the saree that I was wearing!
I got furious. I completely lost my mind and had no clue what I was saying or where I was. Only an iridescent peacock feather with bluish, purplish, greenish, golden shades kept revolving in front of my tearful eyes!
When I regained my consciousness the only thing I heard was an unfamiliar tune of the flute fading away somewhere far. Grandsire Bhishma was giving me support and taking me out of the gambling hall, covered in a heap of sarees. At that time that indistinct tune of the flute had stopped completely.
My honour was saved. I understood very clearly who had done it.
When I entered my chambers. and saw Rajmata Kuntidevi in front of me, I couldn’t control my tears. I ran to her and putting my arms around her neck I started crying uncontrollably. She did not say anything else except, ‘be quiet, my daughter’ and simply kept patting on my back with deep affection. I could never forget that touch throughout my life. Her words ‘my daughter’ were engraved on my heart forever. That touch of hers was exactly like the touch of the peacock feather, and her words were like the tune of the flute that I had just heard. Today I realized very strongly that Rajmata Kuntidevi was not my mother-in-law – not the mother of Pandavas – but my own mother! I was away from Sautramanimata of Panchalas. This strong-hearted, extremely tolerant woman had taken her place. From that moment, itself I had again found my mother!
Did my eldest husband Yudhishthira learn a lesson and control himself even after unprecedented heinous events in the gambling game? Did he act like a human being? No! When Shakuni and Duryodhana provokedhim, he played another game of dice – Anudyuta – again, and lost that too. In the previous game of dice, he had lost material wealth like the army, animals, money, and kingdom. In the sequel, he lost the most valuable wealth of all –Time. He was the owner of all the material things that he had lost in the first game of dice. But did he have any right over Time which he lost during the second game of dice? Can anybody ever claim any right over Time?
The bet that my eldest husband had lost in the second game of dice was that all five Pandavas would have to go to live in the forest for twelve years along with their wife, followed by one year of living incognito.
The news that we were leaving for the forest spread everywhere. It was obvious that we couldn’t go back to Indraprastha. So, without visiting Indraprastha and saying farewell to our subjects we were directly going to the forest. Valiant Arjuna implored his eldest brother for quite some time, to go to Dwaraka at least once. Bhimsena also seconded him. I was already feeling that I should meet Krishna who had saved my honour, at least once. If we were going to any forest, we should go to a forest in the direction of Dwaraka. But no – I couldn’t say anything. Because the eldest Pandava Yudhishthira kept reiterating only one thing – ‘I won’t go there. You all can go if you want, only if Duryodhana permits you to do so.’ I couldn’t even understand what had gone wrong with my eldest husband. Not only did he play the first and second game of dice losing his senses, but in spite of being a king of a sovereign kingdom he did not play the second game of dice with a condition that ‘we will decide which forest to go to’.
Duryodhana and Shakuni’s intention in giving the Khandava vana to the Pandavas was that they should fall prey to the attacks of the wild tribes; they should be devoured by wild animals. Now we had to face wildlife for not a day or two but for complete twelve years.
We removed our royal attires as they were of no use in the forest and put on plain, white dresses. We began fasting to get used to starving as we might have to go without food occasionally. That is why within only two days everybody’s faces started looking drawn. Especially while bidding farewell to Rajmata Kuntidevi they became miserable and dark. She was now going to live with Mahatma Vidura in Hastinapura until our return. She kept saying only one thing again and again, “I am used to living in the forest. Let me come with you.”
This request of hers was presented in front of gambling expert Shakuni. That so-called great man who wouldn’t let go of any opportunity to cause pain to the Pandavas gave an insolent reply with false helplessness, hiding his sly smile. She was not put at stake! She cannot go to the forest even if she wants to! She is a rajmata indeed – only without a kingdom! All the citizens of Hastinapura have tremendous respect for her. She is indeed a rajmata – the one who rules the hearts of the citizens of Hastinapura. She should happily live with Mahamantri Vidura!
My husband Bhimsena was the one who seethed the most at this answer given by Shakuni. But he just couldn’t do anything. Sometimes even mosquitoes get miraculously powerful!
The men and women of Hastinapura who had tremendous respect for Maharaja Pandu and were very grateful for the services that he had rendered came to the borders of Hastinapura to bid farewell to us. Among them were grandsire Bhishma, Mahatma Vidura, minister Sanjaya, guru Drona, Kripa, and the royal priest of the Kurus. The six of us whose lives were tied to each other’s joys and sorrows, determinedly turned around to leave. We got ready to face any kinds of odds that were coming our way and complete the Yajna of our life of twelve years of forest life and one year of living incognito.
Now we were facing the thick and green darkness of the forests! We started walking from the western side of Hastinapura. The first river we reached was Bhagirathi. We took our first break under a sprawling banyan tree on her banks. All travellers called this tree ‘Pramaana Vatavrikasha’. The life mission of this tree was to provide a cool shade to the traveller while bearing the heat of the scorching sun above. Were we going to be successful in our future life with the blessings of this tree? As we did not have a single grain of food with us we drank the crystal-clear water of Bhagirathi for our dinner.
We woke up early in the morning, even before sunrise, and after bathing in the river Bhagirathi we continued our journey. All six of us were bare feet. Fearless, mighty Bhimsena was leading us. The only thing he had in his hands was a sharp hatchet to cut the branches of the trees and the thorny bushes coming in our way. By evening we reached Kurukshetra which was surrounded by lakes. Now Arjuna took Bhima’s place. We went wherever he took us. While walking, he said to Yudhishthira, “We are going towards Sanneth sarovar. During my world-conquering mission, I lived here at Kurukshetra for one whole month. Every day I used come to this Suryakunda for bathing. As Kurukshetra is surrounded by many lakes, lots of devotees come here. Throughout the year, they perform many religious rituals. Therefore, this place is also called Dharmakshetra.”
“Looks like you have forgotten one thing master archer Partha. On the day of the solar eclipse…”
“It was here that we met Srikrishna – my best friend – for the first time.”
“Let’s stay here for a few days. Draupadi can wash her thick, long hair properly in the waters of the lake,” Bhimsena said looking at me and smiling.
Meanwhile though no one had told them to, Nakula and Sahadeva had collected firewood. Bhimsena tucked his dhoti, found three good stones and made a neat stove. Arjuna and Yudhishthira collected food grains like Sattoo, Godhoom, and rice from the devotees in Dharmakshetra. It was collected in alms. They also got copper vessels with them. Bhimsena washed the rice grains in the lake and put a copper vessel on the stove. On the auspicious land of Kurukshetra, the rice started boiling for satiating the hunger of the world-conquering sons of Maharaja Pandu!
We felt refreshed after drinking the waters of rivers like Drishadwati, Saraswati and lakes like Brahmakunda and Jyotikunda and crossed the forests in the west one after the other, finally reaching the Kamyakavana. Here Nakula, the land expert, chose an open space on which we wanted to build a cottage, near a crystal-clear stream of water. All five brothers fastened their dhotis tight and raised a neat and beautiful east-facing cottage by the evening. It had a separate chamber for me, a bathroom, and a kitchen. As a child Bhimsena used to make sticky clay balls and throwing them far away would be a part of his exercise. He chose some fine sticky clay and kneaded it with his feet. Wit
h that he made two-three beautiful jars of different sizes, and seven-eight earthen pots. Sitting on a grass mat Yudhishthira kept staring for a long time at the different-sized platters that he had created. The pots, jars and platters that Bhimsena had created were indeed beautiful. Unwittingly I put the biggest platter in front of him. Then throwing his head back he laughed loudly and said, “You did exactly the same thing that Kuntimata would have done. Keeping my voracious appetite in mind I have created this big platter! The platters for the others have also been made according to their appetite.
Meanwhile, in the front yard of the cottage Arjuna had created five beautiful bows from supple wooden sticks. Far away in the distance horse expert Sahadeva had tamed a wild horse that he had captured. He had mounted it and was making it run in circles at a constant pace. Nakula had created neat arrows from bamboo sticks and copper. Yudhishthira had walked through the forest and collected multi-coloured flowers and Bela leaves and had kept them in an earthen platter near his mat. I had daubed the entire cottage floor and made a small shrine using wood and clay in a corner. I had kept it in the direction facing Dwaraka. A Shivapindi made of sand was clearly visible in the shrine.It was affixed to a plattersized image of the Moon. In front of the pinidi was a tiny statue of Nandi in a sitting posture. I had also kept a colourful flute made of bamboo resting against the platter-shaped moon behind the Shivapindi. A fresh peacock feather was also kept on the Shivapindi along with Bela leaves and white flowers.
As two thick layers of thin-bladed soft wild grass covered the roof of the cottage the temperature inside the cottage was maintained. It didn’t get too cold during the rainy season and winter and during the summer it remained pleasantly cool.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 59
