The Mahabharata Read online

  “What is important for those who sow? What is important for those who seek prosperity?” Before Yudhistira could complete his sentence with “Rain,” he also had to be answering the next question with “Offspring….”

  The yaksha went on to ask, “What is weightier than the earth?”

  “Mother.”

  “Higher than the heavens?”

  “Father.”

  “Faster than the wind?”

  “Mind.”

  “What sleeps with eyes open?”

  “Fish.”

  “What remains immobile after being born?”

  “Egg.”

  “Who is the friend of the exile?”

  “The companion on the way.”

  “Who is the friend of one about to die?”

  “The charity done in one’s lifetime.”

  “Who is that friend you could count as God given?”

  “A wife.”

  “What is one’s highest duty?”

  “To refrain from injury.”

  To another series of questions on renunciation, Yudhistira gave the answers: “Pride, if renounced, makes one agreeable; anger, if renounced, brings no regret; desire, if renounced, will make one rich; avarice, if renounced, brings one happiness. True tranquility is of the heart…. Mercy may be defined as wishing happiness to all creatures…. Ignorance is not knowing one’s duties…. Wickedness consists in speaking ill of others.”

  “Who is a true brahmin? By birth or study or conduct?”

  “Not by birth, but by knowledge of the scriptures and right conduct. A brahmin born to the caste, even if he has mastered the Vedas, must be viewed as of the lowest caste if his heart is impure.”

  There were a hundred or more questions in all. Yudhistira felt faint from thirst, grief, and suspense, and could only whisper his replies. Finally, the yaksha said, “Answer four more questions, and you may find your brothers—at least one of them—revived…. Who is really happy?”

  “One who has scanty means but is free from debt; he is truly a happy man.”

  “What is the greatest wonder?”

  “Day after day and hour after hour, people die and corpses are carried along, yet the onlookers never realise that they are also to die one day, but think they will live for ever. This is the greatest wonder of the world.”

  “What is the Path?”

  “The Path is what the great ones have trod. When one looks for it, one will not find it by study of scriptures or arguments, which are contradictory and conflicting.”

  At the end of these answers, the yaksha said, “From among these brothers of yours, you may choose one to revive.”

  Yudhistira said, “If I have only a single choice, let my young brother, Nakula, rise.”

  The yaksha said, “He is after all your stepbrother. I’d have thought you’d want Arjuna or Bhima, who must be dear to you.”

  “Yes, they are,” replied Yudhistira. “But I have had two mothers. If only two in our family are to survive, let both the mothers have one of their sons alive. Let Nakula also live, in fairness to the memory of my other mother Madri.”

  The yaksha said, “You have indeed pleased me with your humility and the judiciousness of your answers. Now let all your brothers rise up and join you.”

  The yaksha thereafter revived all his brothers and also conferred on Yudhistira the following boon: “Wherever you may go henceforth, with your brothers and wife, you will have the blessing of being unrecognized.” The yaksha was none other than Yama, the God of Justice, and father of Yudhistira, who had come to test Yudhistira’s strength of mind and also to bless him with the power to remain incognito—a special boon in view of the conditions laid down for the last year of exile.

  The Pandavas’ final trial seemed to be over. They had recovered and restored to the brahmin ascetic his churning staff and the burning sticks. Now they could sit calmly in front of their hermitage and talk of their future.

  Yudhistira said, “Our twelve years’ trial is over. We have one more year to spend. Let us pass it in a city—we have lived in the forests long enough. Arjuna, you have travelled much; suggest where we could spend the coming year.”

  Arjuna rose to the occasion. “We have the grace of Dharma, your father, and shall not be recognized wherever we may be. All around, there are a number of kingdoms abounding in wealth, comfort, and food. I could mention many prosperous countries—Panchala, Chedi, Matsya, Salva, Avanthi. You could choose any of these for our remaining year’s residence. Any one of them will be agreeable and we will not be recognized.”

  They thought it over. “No, not Panchala, our father-in-law’s place, that would be impossible. We must select a place where we may live without fear. The country should also be pleasant and agreeable.”

  “Of all those you mention,” said Yudhistira, “I feel Matsya will be the most suitable one. Its ruler, King Virata, is a good, generous man. Let us spend the year there. Let us seek work in his palace. How shall we enter his service? We have to decide that. As for me, I shall call myself Kanka and offer to keep the King engaged and amused—playing dice with King Virata… ”

  “Dice!” his brothers exclaimed in unison. “Oh!”

  “No harm in it,” Yudhistira said. “We’ll play without stakes, just to while away the time.” For a while he was lost in visions of the game. “How pleasant to roll the dice and the tinted pawns of ivory in one’s palm….” He roused himself from the colourful vision and continued, “I have no doubt that Virata will find my company most engaging. If he questions me at any time, I’ll have to tell him that I used to keep Yudhistira constant company—it would not be a falsehood anyway! What would you choose to do?” he asked Bhima.

  Bhima reflected for a moment and said, “I’ll name myself Vallabha and offer to work in the King’s kitchen.” He indulged in a loud dream of how he would enjoy this role. “The King will not have tasted such delicacies in his life. Oh, what a chance to try out my ideas!” He revelled in a vision of feasting and feeding the royal household with divine food and added, “I will also show them some physical feats as a side entertainment, controlling their elephants and bulls, which may prove truculent. I will wrestle with their champions and put them to shame, taking care not to kill anyone. If I am asked to explain my past I will tell them that I was a cook in the employment of Yudhistira and also amused my master with wrestling feats. That wouldn’t be a lie, would it?” he asked Yudhistira with a sly smile.

  Yudhistira turned to Arjuna and asked, “And how will you take it?”

  Arjuna said, “It is going to be difficult to hide the deep marks of the bowstring on my arm, which may betray me. I will have to cover them with a stack of conch bangles up to my elbow. I shall wear a long braid and brilliant ear drops, dress like a woman, and call myself Brihannala, and pass myself off as a neuter. I will seek employment in the ladies’ chambers, to guard them, teach them dance and music, and to tell them stories.”

  “This would be the most complete falsehood!” sighed Yudhistira. “Well, you have no other course, I suppose… ”

  Arjuna explained, “I was cursed in Indra’s world by Urvasi to be called a eunuch, and that curse has to be fulfilled. We can’t help these things.”

  “I will call myself Granthika,” Nakula declared. “I will take care of the King’s stables. I love horses, and understand them. At my touch, the most vicious animal will turn docile and take on a rider or draw a chariot. I can make them fly like a storm. I will say that Yudhistira had engaged me as his stable steward….”

  Sahadeva said, “I will offer to look after the King’s cattle. I know all the auspicious marks on a bull, and the moods of the milch cow. At my touch, milk will flow from an udder. I love cattle, and am prepared to spend the rest of my life in their midst.”

  The brothers looked happy for the first time in twelve years, especially at the prospect of indulging in their favourite hobbies. Yudhistira then thought of Draupadi. “You are delicate, and unused to drudgery,” he told h
er. “You should do no harder job than choosing your perfume or jewellery for the day.”

  “Don’t forget that I have not seen a mirror for twelve years,” answered Draupadi, catching their light mood of jocularity. “There is a class of women called Sairandhari who serve as companions or handmaids, mostly in royal households. I shall be the Sairandhari, one skilled in grooming and dressing hair, in Virata’s women’s chambers. If questioned, I shall state that I served as Draupadi’s companion, and that would be as near the truth as need be.”

  After this they consulted Daumya, their priest. He said, “I don’t doubt that you will be happy in the Virata kingdom, but still I warn you. You must take special care of Draupadi. Do not expose her too much to the public gaze. Virata himself is a noble person, but there are one or two in his court who may not be as good. Take special care of her. And another point. In the proximity of a king, you will have to keep in mind a few important rules. Being a king yourself, you will not have known them. Only a commoner serving a king could realise that it is a knife-edge existence. Far happier are those who never see their king except when he passes along, riding an elephant, in a procession. One who serves a king is serving an embodiment of God and must adjust his distance suitably. Never enter the King’s presence without announcing yourself and seeking his permission. Never occupy a seat at the court which may rouse the envy of another. Don’t offer any counsel unasked. Don’t talk unnecessarily or carry any gossip, but remain silent and alert at all times. Never give any occasion for him to repeat a command. In the King’s presence one should be gentle in speech and avoid vehemence and the expression of anger or contempt. One should not laugh too loudly nor display undue gravity. One should not dress like the King, nor gesticulate while speaking, nor mention outside what has transpired in the King’s presence. Be available to the call of the King but don’t be obtrusive.” Thus Daumya went on expounding the code to be followed by a courtier. Then he bade them farewell and left to reside in Panchala.

  Leaving the forests once and for all, the Pandavas reached the Virata country. Outside the capital, they bundled up their armour, mailcoats, bows, arrows, and swords in a sack and tied it to the top branch of a banyan tree standing in a burial ground. With their hands bare of weapons, they reached the palace gate and announced that they had come to serve the King, who summoned them one by one and engaged them. They remained unrecognized through the grace of Yama.

  For almost a year there were no untoward incidents, and they pleased Virata by their diligence and integrity. Only a few days remained to complete their term of exile when a last-minute complication arose unexpectedly.

  As feared by Daumya, Draupadi came to be noticed by Kichaka, the Queen’s brother and the general of the army, a handsome, powerful man. He had suddenly spied Draupadi while she was serving the Queen, and pursued her with determination as she went about her duties in the palace. Although her husbands noticed her plight, they could not help her without betraying their identity. They comforted her in secret and promised to protect her at the right time. Not only Daumya, but even the Queen had anticipated this situation. “Men, being what they are, will not leave you alone,” she had said. “Your beauty frightens me. I fear even my husband, Virata may succumb to your looks. How can I have you in the palace, and avoid complications?”

  Draupadi had answered quickly, “Have no fear; there will be no complications. I am married to five gandharvas who are ever watchful though unseen, wherever I may be. They will protect me, and if anyone molests me the gandharvas will kill him immediately….” This had somehow satisfied the Queen, who loved Draupadi’s company. She warned her brother not to go near Draupadi, but he ignored her in the fever of his infatuation.

  Kichaka asked her to send Draupadi to him on some errand, and when she arrived, tried to take her in his arms. When she repelled him, he was angry and assaulted her. She went tearfully to the King and complained while he was playing dice with Yudhistira. Neither the King nor Yudhistira paid any attention to her, though the latter felt shocked, and checked himself.

  She then sought Bhima’s help, bitterly complaining against others, particularly Yudhistira, who would not interrupt his play. Bhima promised her his help, and they evolved a plan. She was to lure Kichaka to visit a dance hall late at night, promising to yield to him there. Kichaka fell into this trap, and when he stepped into the darkened hall, he was hugged by Bhima, and disposed of quickly.

  Kichaka’s death created a sensation in the country since he had been a powerful man and the head of the army. Draupadi explained that he had been destroyed by her gandharva husbands. There was public mourning, and the citizens looked on Draupadi as an evil spirit in their midst, seized her, and prepared to cremate her on Kichaka’s funeral pyre. Bhima rescued her at the last minute, secretly destroying, in the operation, Kichaka’s soldiers, who were carrying her off to the pyre. When she went back to the palace, both the King and Queen became nervous. The Queen pleaded, “Sairandhari, please go away. We dare not keep you with us. The fate that overtook my brother and hundreds of his followers may overtake us too. We are afraid of your gandharva protectors, not knowing when they will be roused. I like you but I cannot have you here. Please leave us. Go far away.”

  Draupadi said, “Please don’t be harsh. Your brother provoked my husbands—otherwise, no harm would have come to him. I assure you they will not harm you, since you have all been so kind to me. Please let me stay for only thirteen days more. I have some special reason for making this request, and I will go away after thirteen days, I promise. Please show me this consideration.”

  The Queen thought it over, looked at Draupadi searchingly, and asked, “Why thirteen days?”

  “I can’t explain now, but you will know… ”

  “Will you keep off your gandharvas?

  “I promise on my honour. They will never come near this palace again.”

  “You may stay on. I shall trust you.”

  10 Servitude

  DURYODHANA FELT UNEASY as he realised that only a few more days were left for the completion of the Pandavas’ thirteenth year of exile. He had sent his spies to find out their whereabouts, but they came back to report that they could find no trace of them, producing thereby a general feeling of relief in the Kaurava camp.

  The spies, desiring to add more information to please their masters, said, “During our journeys, we found that the Virata army chief, Kichaka, had been slain by certain gandharvas who were enraged at his attempt to molest one of their women.” This was especially welcome to the Trigarta’s chief, Susurman, one of Duryodhana’s allies, who had repeatedly suffered defeat at the hands of the Virata forces. The news also produced some uneasy reflections in Duryodhana. He kept asking, “Does anyone here believe this gandharva story? Who was that woman? We should try to learn something more about those gandharvas.”

  Karna suggested, “Let us send out abler spies once again. Let them go round to search every mountain, village, city, and forest, and the crowds at every festival and marketplace, keeping their eyes wide open. They must also pay a second visit to Virata and watch, lynx eyed, any and every group of six. They must do all this speedily, as we must discover them within a few days.”

  Dussasana supported this idea and added as a sort of soothsaying, “The Pandavas must have perished, there can be no doubt about it. O brother, act on that basis and enjoy life, and do not bother about them any more.”

  Drona, their preceptor, warned, “It is unlikely that persons of the calibre of the Pandavas could ever perish. When they return, beware; they will come back with redoubled energy. Your next step should be to make peace with them, and also to prepare an abode to receive them. This time, send out spies who will understand the qualities of the Pandavas and look for them….”

  Bhishma agreed. “You should decide judiciously what must be done at the end of the short time left, taking into consideration the fact that if Yudhistira vowed to remain incognito, he would remain so, being a man of firm vows, and none
of your spies will ever be able to track him. When the time comes, it may be advantageous to receive them in a friendly spirit.” He added another piece of advice. “Where Yudhistira resides, the country will be flourishing. The air will throb at all times with the chanting of Vedic hymns, the clouds will gather and precipitate rain at the proper time. The fruits of the orchards will be juicy, and the corn ripening in the fields will be full and nourishing; cows will yield milk that is sweet and will become golden-hued butter at the slightest turn of a churner; people will be cheerful and contented and free from malice and pettiness. Fields and gardens will for ever be green and flowers will be in perennial bloom, the air charged with their fragrance. Let your spies look for a country displaying these qualities and when the time comes, send your emissary there with a message of good will. They have kept their word, and it would not be proper to spy on them and discover them before their time is up.”

  Kripa said, “Take stock of your strength and resources and increase your own powers in the short time at your disposal so that you may be in a position to negotiate a treaty with the Pandavas when they appear before you—or form alliances to fight them, if necessary. There can be no doubt that you must be in a strong position when you meet them again. After all, they are going to be deficient in troops and equipment just at this moment.”

  Susurman, the ruler of Trigarta, said, “Now that we know Kichaka is dead, let us invade Virata and acquire their wealth and cattle. I have often suffered at the hands of that King, and this is just the time for us to act, when they are left without a commander.” He added that if the Pandavas were alive, they would be bankrupts and weaklings and not worth their notice. His own conclusion was that they had all perished and gone to the world of Yama, and no further thought need be wasted on them. Without any hesitation, he suggested that they should invade Virata and strengthen their resources and empire.

  Duryodhana turned to Dussasana and said, “Work out the military details for the campaign immediately. We have no time to lose.” He added, “The manner of Kichaka’s death leaves no room for doubt—the hand that crushed his life out must have been Bhima’s and no one else’s. Only Bhima attacks and kills with bare hands. Sairandhari can be none other than Draupadi. And all that account about the protecting gandharvas must be fiction. Bhishma has described the flourishing nature of the country where Yudhistira stays. Our spies have told us how rich the Virata country is, how green its fields, how numerous their kine. All indications are there. Within the few days left, we must attack and subjugate Virata. If we expose the Pandavas before their time their exile will be extended for thirteen years. On the other hand, if we are mistaken about their presence there, we may at least enrich our coffers with the Virata wealth.”