45. Karna and Bhishma speak their minds

Hearing Duryodhana’s words, Karna said, “Duryodhana, I don’t think that any of your methods will succeed. Earlier, you have tried such methods and failed. The Pandavas were young and inexperienced at that time. Now they have been hardened by age and experience. 

"You failed in your efforts to kill them when they were living near you. They are now living at a distance. I think they can’t be hurt by any of the means suggested by you.  

"Fate seems to be on their side. They are desirous of regaining their kingdom. They can’t be disunited by any of the methods suggested by you. Nor can Draupadi be alienated from them. She chose the Pandavas as her husbands when they were in adversity. Will she leave them now, when they are in prosperity? Drupada is honest and virtuous, He is not greedy. Even if we offer him our entire kingdom, he won’t abandon the Pandavas.

“Bharata acquired the whole earth through his prowess alone. Indra  gained the three worlds by prowess alone. Prowess is always hailed by the Kshatriyas. So, without losing time, let us fight Drupada using the power of our army and crush him. We can then bring the Pandavas here as prisoners. I don’t see any other means by which we may accomplish our end.”

Hearing the words of Karna, Dhritarashtra applauded him and said, “Oh, son of Suta, you are gifted with both wisdom and valor. So, your words favoring the use of prowess suit you well. However, you two take the counsel of Bhishma, Drona and Vidura and adopt a course that will benefit us.”

Dhiritarashtra then summoned his ministers and took their counsel.

Asked by Dhritarashtra to give his opinion, Bhishma said, "O, Dhritarashtra, I can never support a quarrel with the Pandavas. You are to me as Pandu was to me. In the same way, the sons of Pandu are as dear to me as your sons are. I should protect them as much as I should protect your sons. So, I suggest that you enter into a treaty with the Pandavas, by giving them half of the kingdom.

“Duryodhana, just as you consider this kingdom as your paternal property, the Pandavas also look upon it as their paternal possession. If you think that you have lawfully come into possession of the kingdom, the Pandavas lawfully came into possession of the kingdom, even before you did. So, give  them half of the kingdom. It will be beneficial to all. If you act otherwise, evil will befall all of us. You will be covered with dishonor. 

"Duryodhana, strive to maintain your good name. A good name is the source of one's strength. It is said that one whose reputation is gone, lives in vain. A person lives only as long as his good name lasts and dies when he loses his good name. 

"Follow the practice that is worthy of the Kuru race. We are fortunate that the Pandavas and Kunti have not perished. We are fortunate that the wretch Purochana had perished without accomplishing his goal.

"From the time I heard of Kunti’s death, I was not able to meet any living creature. The world, on hearing of the death of Kunti and the Pandavas, did not regard Purochana as much guilty as it regarded you. Therefore, Pandava’s escape from the fire will do away with your evil reputation. 

"The Pandavas are virtuous.Their rightful share in the kingdom is being wrongfully denied to them. If you want to act rightly, if you want to do what is agreeable to me, give half the kingdom to the Pandavas.”

Previous: Duryodhana's ideas to weaken the Pandavas

44. Duryodhana's ideas to weaken the Pandavas

The news that Draupadi was united in marriage with the sons of Pandu was carried to all the kings who attended the Swayamvara of Draupadi  

It was also conveyed to them that the hero who bent the bow and shot the mark to win the hands of Draupadi was Arjuna and that the person who dashed Salya, the king of Madra, to the ground and terrified others by uprooting a tree was Bhima. 

Since the kings had learnt earlier that the Pandavas, along with her mother Kunti, were burnt to death in the fire that engulfed the house of lac, they considered Pandavas to be of men who had come back from the region of the dead. Having come to know of the cruel scheme contrived by Purochana, they said, “Shame on Bhishma, shame on Dhritarashtra and shame on the Kuru race!”

The news reached Duryodhana when he was on the way to Hastinapura along with his brothers, his uncle Sakuni, Aswathama. Kripa and Karna. Duhsasana told his brother Duryodhana, "If Arjuna had not disguised himself as a Brahmin, he could not have succeeded in winning the hand of Draupadi. Whatever we do, it is the fate that decides the outcome. Oh, the Pandavas are still alive!”

Duryodhana and his brothers blamed Purochana for his carelessness in allowing the Pandavas to escape from the house of lac. They were also worried that the Pandavas had gained the support of Drupada, Drishtadyumna, Sikhandi and the other sons of Drupada. They returned to Hastinapura in a mood of despair.

Vidura  was elated by the news that the hand of Draupadi was won by the Pandavas. He also saw Duryodhana and his brothers entering the palace in a crestfallen state. 

Vidura went to Dhritarashtra and told him, “The Kurus are prospering by good luck!" 

While Vidura referred to the Pandavas as the Kurus, Dhritarashtra understood this as a reference to his own sons and assumed that Draupadi was won over by Duryodhana. He ordered a grand reception for Duryodhana and Draupadi. Vidura then clarified that it was the Pandavas who had won the hand of Draupadi.

Dhritarashtra said that the Pandavas were as dear to him as they were to Pandu. He also expressed his happiness over obtaining Drupada and his relatives as an ally.

Vidura said, “O king, let your understanding remain unchanged for a hundred years!'

Duryodhana, Karna and others entered Dhritarshtra's chamber just at that time.

After Vidura had left, Duryodhana told Dhritarashtra, “We didn’t want to express our feelings in the presence of Vidura. But your applauding the Pandavas amounts to your considering the property of your enemies as your own. This is not right. From now onwards, your actions should aim at weakening the Pandavas. The time has come for all of us to think and act together so that we, our children, our relatives and friends are not swallowed by the Pandavas."

'Dhritarashtra replied, “I will do what you want me to do. But I don’t want to give any indication of my thinking to Vidura. Now tell me what you have in your mind" 

Duryodhana said. “Using the services of some trusted and skilful Brahmins, we can bring about some dissension between the sons of Kunti and the sons of Madri. Or, by presenting a lot of wealth to Drupada and his sons, and all his ministers, we can make them abandon the cause of Yudhishthira. 

"Or, we can ask our spies to induce the Pandavas to settle in Drupada's country, by convincing them of the inconvenience of residing in Hastinapura. Or, we can create jealousy among the Pandavas on account of Draupadi. Or we can make Draupadi turn against her husbands, by inducing suspicions in her mind about her husbands.. 

"Since Bhima is the strongest of the brothers, we can plot to kill Bhima and thereby weaken the Pandavas. Without Bhima, Arjuna won’t be equal to even one fourth of Karna.

“Without Bhima, they won’t venture to recover their kingdom from us. If they become docile and obedient to us, we would repress them, following the dictates of political science, enunciated by Kanika.

“Or, we may tempt the Pandavas through some beautiful girls and alienate Draupadi from them. Or, we can send messengers to bring them here and when thy come here, we may get them killed. We should use one of these methods, which appeals to you as the most appropriate. We should act before their trust with Drupada is established. These are my ideas. What do you say, Karna?”

Next: Karna and Bhishma Speak their minds

Previous: Draupadi's Marriage

43. Draupadi's Marriage

After listening to Vyasa, Drupada said, “O, great Rishi. I cannot overlook what was ordained by the gods. I will go by your advice. Nothing in this world is a result of our own actions. When Draupadi had prayed to God to give her a husband, God, in response to her making the request five times, gave her five husbands. God knows what is right and what is wrong. Since this is God’s wish, no sin will attach to me. Let these five princes take the hand of Draupadi.

Vyasa told Yudhishtira,“Today is an auspicious day. The moon enters the constellation of Pushya. So take the hand of Draupada today before your brothers."

Drupada and his son made elaborate arrangements for the marriage. The king kept ready a large number of articles as gifts.

Draupadai was given a bath, adorned with  many jewels and pearls and brought to the stage. Ministers,  friends and relatives of the king and citizens came in large numbers to witness the marriage. All were seated according to their ranks.

The nicely decorated palace looked like the sky adorned by stars.

The Pandavas, after taking bath, wearing nice costumes and ornaments and after performing their rites, entered the arena along with their priest Dhaumya, who had the splendor of fire.  

Dhaumya, after performing the rites, gave the hand of Draupadi in marriage to Yudhishtira. Each of the other four  brothers were given the hand of Draupadi in marriage on the next four days, one each on every succeeding day. 

Draupadi regained her virginity every day after a previous marriage.

King Drupada presented the Pandavas with valuable gifts. Including hundred chariots, hundred elephants, hundred young maids and huge wealth including costumes, ornaments and gold.

The Pandavas spent time happily in the Panchala kingdom, in the company of their beautiful wife.

King Drupada was relieved of all his misgivings about the marriage and was happy about his daughter marrying the Pandavas.

Kunti  was treated with great respect by the people in Drupada’s palace. When Draupadi paid obeisance to Kunti and sought her blessings, Kunti  wished her happiness and heroic children with long life.

After the Pandavas' marriage with Draupadi, Krishna sent them a large number of gifts including jewels, robes, blankets etc. Yudhishtira accepted these gifts with great with great joy.

After the Pandavas marriage with Draupadi, Krishna sent them a large number of gifts including jewels, robes, blankets etc. Yudhishtira accepted these gifts with great joy.

Previous: Drupada's Predicament

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