The Palace in Mourning

We are on the next “book of the womenfolk (stree parvam)” and the first chapter in it, “Paying the last tributes (jala praadaanika parvam)”. The opening scene has the blind Dhritarashtra in deep sorrow. His minister, Sanjaya, and the wise Vidura were at his side trying their best to console the king.

Sanjaya’s consoling words

Dhritarashtra had collapsed on the ground hearing the news of the death of Duryodhana and his other sons. Sanjaya asked him. “Why do you torment yourself with such sorrow? It is not only your sons who are dead. With them are gone men of the entire eighteen divisions (Akshauhinis). It appears that the earth, as far as one can reach, has been laid bare ”.

Dhritarashtra replied. “My sons have died. So have my ministers and all other friends and relations. I have been left all alone to live like an old bird with broken wings. This is the result of my not listening to the wise counsel from the like of Bhishma. Instead, I went by what my son, supported by his wicked friends like Sakuni and Karna, told me. I must have committed great sins in my past life to suffer thus”.

Sanjaya spoke in a matter of facts tone. “You, with your sons, ignited fire that was the wrath of the Pandavas. You, then, inflamed it further by pouring down ghee (clarified butter) made of your insulting words. The same fire has consumed your sons. There is no point in mourning their death now. You must now muster courage with your own wisdom”.

Vidura speaks

The wise Vidura spoke more gently in an effort to pacify the king. He said. “Why do you remain on the floor? Please get up. Death is sure for all living beings. The god of death pulls away the bold and coward alike when their time comes. That happens whether one fights a war or not. And you cannot catch up with them, even if you want to, just by brooding over them. Time (kaalam) is the great force that ends life selectively. Among the people who travel together (in life) one whose time has comes reaches (his end) first”.

“Then, think of the positive aspects. Your sons would now be enjoying the hospitality of the king of gods (Indra), something that is hard to achieve by other means, including by sacrificial rituals, long penance or making generous gifts. Hence, your sons are not to be mourned”.

Vidura spoke words at length giving courage to the king who had thought that all was lost to him.

Sage Veda Vyasa also arrived there at that time and spoke gentle, wise and loving words to the old king.

The journey to the battle field

Dhritarashtra was pacified to a great extent after he heard the wise counsel by Sanjaya, Vidura and Vyasa. He asked for Gandhari, Kunti, Draupadi and other women of the palace to be brought at once so that they could all go together to the site of the great destruction.

The palace of Hastinapura, then, witnessed a scene that brought tears to the eyes of those who were present. All the ladies of the palace, including Gandhari, Kunti, Draupadi, came out of their respective quarters, wailing loudly about the loss of their dear ones. Those who had lost their husbands had removed their entire ornaments and appeared wearing single garments to cover their body and had their hair let lose symbolic of their widowhood. The ladies, as though they had lost their whereabouts, ran here and their like mad women. They embraced one another and tried to find comfort in each other’s company. It was in the company of such a crowd of the royal ladies that Dhritarashtra started to the place where his dear sons had fought and lost their lives.

The Pandavas pay their tribute

Hearing the news of the visit of Dhritarashtra Yudhishthira went to the battle field in the company of his brothers and Krishna to pay his respects to the old king. The Pandavas came forward one by one by turn offering their obeisance as Yudhishithira announced each to the blind king. Dhritarashtra on his part, though burning inside with sorrow, embraced his nephews as they presented themselves to him.

Bhima in trouble

Krishna had come prepared for this difficult meeting. Duryodhana had practiced mace fighting on an iron statue of Bhima during the thirteen years of exile by the Pandavas. Krishna had brought that statue with him for this occasion. When the turn of Bhima came Krishna gave him a signal to stand aside and pushed the iron statue to the old king.

When Bhima was announced Dhritarashtra could not contain himself. The thought of the killing of each of his hundred sons flared up the suppressed anger in the blind king beyond control. It is said that he embraced the iron statue with so much power that it was crushed to pieces instantly. It was believed that Dhritarashtra had the strength of ten thousand elephants in his younger days.

The king quickly collected himself and was highly apologetic. He said. “Oh, what did I do? My anger got the better of me with the result that I have killed my son (nephew)!” Krishna, immediately, corrected him. “Do not torment yourself. Bhima is safe. Anticipating this I had offered the iron statue of Bhima to you. Please control yourself now and bless the Pandavs as they are innocent. You know how they had suffered because of all the injustice done to them by your sons. You ignored all the wise counsel offered by Bhishma and others. I had myself come for truce on behalf of the Pandavas. You ignored all that because of your blind love to your sons. It is not right to hold the death of your children against the Pandavas.”

Dhritarashtra was pacified by the turn of events and by the timely intervention of Krishna. He said. “I am not angry any more with my nephews. Let me embrace them once again and bless them”. The Pandavas, then, came in front of the king one by one and accepted his embrace and blessing.

(To be continued)