The two sides assembled at Kurukshetra by the side of the river, Hiranvati. The war was about to commence. Duryodhana consulted his close associates, Karna, Dussasana and Sakuni and hatched another game to hurt the Pandavas and to stir them to action. He called Sakuni’s son by name Ulooka by his side and asked him to convey his messages to the five Pandavas one by one. He did not spare even their friends like Krishna, Virata and the Panchalas.
Ulooka did as he was told. He announced in the middle of the Pandavas that he was a mere messenger and was simply repeating the words of the Kaurava prince. He, first, conveyed the message to Yudhishthira. Duryodhana’s words were, “you pretend outwardly to hold high moral values. But, now you are about to fight a war against your own people. You are like the cat which pretended to be a hermit by the side of river Ganga and ate several unsuspecting rats”.
The cat who gave up eating rats
Ulooka retold the story of the cat to Yudhishthira as he was asked to do. The cat in the story hit upon a plan to eat rats without much effort. He remained by the river Ganga with his arms held up, apparently in deep meditation. He continued keeping that posture for several days and became lean without eating any food. Several animals came near the cat taking him to be a true sage of high spiritual attainment. There were several rats among them. They were truly taken by the meditating cat which had, apparently, given up all worldly desires.
The rats were without a true leader, one who would protect them at all times. They thought that the cat would best serve their interests and approached him for protection and help.
The cat said that he would sacrifice his personal interest in meditation and look after the rats, purely out of kindness. But, he was too weak to move. Some of the rats should volunteer to carry him daily here and there for bath and other chores. The rats agreed to do the service gladly. The cat, thus found isolated places where he could kill and eat the rats that carried him. But, the game was up soon as the rats found their numbers dwindling and the cat getting fatter day by day.
Duryodhana asked Yudhishthira not to pretend to be a saintly figure outwardly, keeping high ambition for kingdom inside. He asked the Pandava to come out in the open and fight like a royal.
Bhima and Arjuna were ridiculed for their boasting of power and skill in warfare, at the same time acting like cowards. Duryodhana made fun of the two for taking up menial jobs in the Virata palace.
Duryodhana called the Pandavas, who failed to act even under extreme provocation, as impotent men. He dared the Pandavas to try and cross his army that was like a vast ocean. Bhishma stood like huge waves in it. Drona was like a dangerous crocodile and Karna and Salya were like gigantic whales in the sea of the Kaurava army.
When Ulooka finished all on the Pandava side stood up in extreme anger. Bhima’s eyes turned blood shot and he wrung his hands together, unable to hold his rage.
Each on the Pandava side gave his reply to Duryodhana. Each had his sworn enemy. Arjuna had Karna as his main opponent. Bhima had sworn that he would kill all the hundred Kaurava princes. Shikhandi had his revenge on Bhishma to settle. Dhrishtadyumna was born to kill Drona. In response to the provocating words of Duryodhana each reaffirmed his pledge to settle account with his enemy. Krishna smiled and sent the message, “Duryodhana, you know that I shall not take up arms. Then, why are you afraid of me?”
When Duryodhana heard what the Pandavas had to say in response to his messages, he ordered his army ready for combat by the very next morning.
Dhrishtadyumna on the Pandava side, meanwhile, selected veteran fighters to face each of the formidable enemy warriors.
The chapter on “Ulooka’s mission (Ulooka Dootaagamana Parvam)” ends here.
