Bhima’s Exultation
Bhima could not contain his joy after bringing his main enemy down at the end of a grueling battle. He rushed to Duryodhana who was lying down soaked in blood. Recounting all the wrongs the Kaurava had done towards him and his people Bhima kicked the head and stamped on the face of his enemy with his own left foot.
Yudhishthira Sorry
Yudhishthira came rushing to the scene. He admonished his brother for his behaviour that was not becoming of a gentle prince. He said. “Bhima, you have done what you promised to do, by hook or crook. That is enough. After all, he is our cousin. Do not insult him any more. Remember, he is without his brothers and friends who have all been killed in the war. It is highly immoral to kick on the enemy who has already been fallen down in battle.”
He, then, apologized to Duryodhana. “Brother, please do not get angry on account of Bhima. You must remember that what you got is the result of your own action. You are, in a way, fortunate. You are soon to leave for the world where there will be no more sorrow. We are the unfortunate ones who have to continue living in this world with most of our dear ones already dead.”
Balarama angry
Balarama was beyond himself with anger watching Bhima hit his enemy below the waste which was against the code of mace fight. The mighty Yadava jumped up with his formidable weapon, the axe, raised high in the air. Shouting angrily at Bhima he started rushing to him.
Krishna caught hold of his brother just in time. “Brother, calm down. Think of all the injustice done to the Pandavas by Duryodhana and his people. You must also remember that Duryodhana had sealed his own fate when he received the curse from sage Maitreya. You know the wise saying that the welfare of the self, of the friends, and of the friends of friends is desirable. Similarly, the downfall of the enemy, of the friends of enemy, and of the friends of friends of enemy is also something to be cherished. (Aatma vruddhir mitra vruddhir mitra mitrodaya statha vipareetam dvishas tvetad shadvidhaan vruddhir aatmanah) The Pandavas are the sons of our own maternal aunt, Kunti”.
Balarama was somewhat calmed down by the words of Krishna. But, he said, still in an angry mood. “Whatever you say, Bhima was wrong in hitting Duryodhana on his thighs. He shall suffer for it.”
Krishna continued trying to pacify his brother further. “The epoch of Kali (Kali Yugam) has already set in. The moral codes of conduct will suffer greatly. Let us leave the act of Bhima as one of revenge.”
Krishna’s diplomacy worked. Balarama sat down, though he continued to speak angrily against Bhima for a while.
Krishna, then, spoke to those who had gathered around. “This sinner was already doomed to die the day he rejected the wise words of all his well wishers like Bhishma and Drona. Lucky, that he is now, finally, fallen down in the battle”.
Duryodhana’s rebuke
Duryodhana was listening to all the conversation around him. He raised his head with great effort pressing his two hands firmly on the ground. Then, he started to speak, addressing Krishna. “You, the son of Kamsa’s slave (Vasudeva)! Are you not ashamed to have prompted Bhima to act immorally? Do you think that I did not notice you persuading Arjuna to give the hint to Bhima? You were the one behind every act of unjust behaviour in this war. You persuaded Arjuna to fight against the grandsire keeping Sikhandi as a mere proxy. You asked Yudhishthira to tell the lie that made Drona to drop down his weapons. From then on every other act of cowardice had your stamp of approval on it.”
Krishna replied. “It was on account of your own sin that all the great warriors like Bhishma and Drona perished on the battle ground. All that primarily resulted from your greed for the land which legitimately belonged to the Pandavas”.
“I have acted like a king all through my life. I enjoyed everything that a monarch was entitled to. Now, I am going to die after fighting a battle which is the most covetous way for a king. Bhima would never have defeated me in a straight battle. There is no doubt about that. I am now going to heaven fully contented with the thought that I lived a life keeping my head high all along like a king.”
Krishna turned to the Pandavas around and said. “True, Bhima would not have managed to put down Duryodhana in any other way. If I had not done all those tricks at appropriate points in the war, you would never have won.”
(To be continued)
