We had seen the Panchala priest off to the Kauravas to bargain for peace on behalf of the Pandavas. Then we had turned our attention to the war preparations on both the sides as that was going on simultaneously. With that we have come to the end of the “Chapter on war preparations (Senodyoga Parvam)”.
Not even an inch of land
In fact, by the time the priest reached Hastinapura the city and its surroundings were already overflowing with armies in battle array. This must have hardened the tone in which he addressed Dhritarashtra. He went into all the sufferings the Pandavas had gone through on account of the Kauravas. The Pandavas had completed thirteen years of stay in exile and now were asking for their half of the kingdom. If that was denied, they were ready to meet the Kauravas in a war that would be disastrous for both the sides.
Bhishma agreed fully with the Brahmin. He praised the Pandavas, especially the righteousness of Yudhishthira and the valour of Arjuna.
Karna did not take the words of Bhishma kindly. He said that the Pandavas lost their kingdom through the game of dice which Yudhishthira did not know how to play. They did not abide by the terms of the game when they failed to live in hiding in the last year of exile. They now would have to go and live in the forests for another thirteen years. Duryodhana would not give even an inch of land to the Pandavas.
The grand sire of the Kauravas rebuked Karna for his thoughtless words. He asked Karna where his valour was, of which he boasts so often, especially on the two occasions when the entire Kaurava veterans were defeated single handedly by Arjuna.
The Kaurava envoy to the Pandavas
Dhritarashtra realized that he was in a vulnerable situation. He could never be sure that his sons could win the war against the Pandavas, especially, with Krishna on their side. So, he sent his minister, Sanjaya, as his envoy to the Pandavas to persuade them to avoid a war at all costs.
The meeting between Sanjaya and the Pandavas was mostly a formality. Both the sides exchanged cordial greetings. Sanjaya had brought no offers from the Kaurava king. He had only one request to make, to avoid war at all costs.
Yudhishthira reminded the emissary of the Pandava strength. He was only asking for what was his due. His was a message that if his rights were denied, the result would be fatal for the Kauravas. Finally, he said that he would abide by what Krishna had to say.
Krishna was angry hearing that the Kauravas asked the Pandavas to go back to the forest. He also went into all the hardships inflicted on the Pandavas by the Kauravas. He said that it was time for action. It was the duty of kings to fight for their rights through righteous wars. He asked Sanjaya to convey to the Kauravas the message that the Pandavas were ready for war.
Sanjaya returned to Hastinapura and briefly reported the message from the Pandavas. He would talk in detail the next day. With those words he retired for the day.
Thus ends “the Chapter on Sanjaya’s journey (Sanjaya Yana Parvam)”.
