Sri unmistakably seized the moment of aatya Shrutakirtidevi’s gratification and gently disclosed the political motive in his mind. He said, “Maharani of Kekeya, do only one thing for this son-in-law of yours. My aate bandhus and your bhache, the Pandavas, have come along with me. Consider them in my place, and whenever they seek your support make sure that the entire Panchanada region stands behind them! Will you do it?”
With affection aatya cracked her knuckles on her temples as per the custom to shoo away the evil from her dear bhacha, in front of every one. She said, “Whatever you say will be done, my dear son!” They raised a grand pandal on the banks of river Iravati that flowed around their royal capital and got their daughter Bhadra married with grandeur.
This was Sri’s seventh wife, Bhadra.
Lakshmanaa and Bhadra, both daughters of the Panchanada region arrived together in Dwaraka along with commander Anadhrishti and the Yadava army. The populace of Dwaraka offered them a ceremonious welcome. Garagmuni hired expert woodcutters and plasterers to extend the Srisopana in Sri’s royal palace in original Dwaraka. Golden stairs in the names of the six wives of Sri who came after me and a few more were added. Now the Srisopana looked much wider, taller and grander than before. It got splendour due to the golden stairs.
As the days passed by my responsibility as the Maharani kept increasing. Meanwhile with dear Jambavati’s assistance I had transformed Pradyumna into a cultured Maharathi. My six sisters loved him immensely. He also treated all of them with respect. He wouldn’t let anybody feel Sri’s absence in Dwaraka. Nishatha, Ulmuka and Vipula were always around him. In the fresh oceanic atmosphere of Dwaraka Sri’s family tree flourished abundantly. It kept growing.
Now the chapter of the Pandavas in Sri’s life had begun in the true sense. He had sent Lakshmanaa and Bhadra directly to Dwaraka from the Viratanagar of the Matsyas. Sri himself had proceeded towards Hastinapura along with Balaramadada, Uddhavabhauji, Vipruthu and Satyaki taking Kunti aatya, Pandavas and Draupadi and a select Yadava army with him. They crossed river Yamuna near the thick Khandavavana and had reached Hastinapura in the east which was located near the banks of river Ganga.
From the borders of the Kuru kingdom, precious gift salvers were dispatched to Maharaja Dhritarashtra through minister Vipruthu and Uddhavabhauji. Uddhavabhauji was given cautious instructions to meet with Mahamantri Vidura, grandsire Bhishma, and minister Vrishavarma in private while coming back. He was told that he should astutely observe their exact reaction and that of the citizens of Hastinapura about the fact that the Pandavas were alive and were actually coming to Hastinapura. He should check if the citizens of Hastinapura had totally forgotten Maharaja Pandu or they still remembered him, and he was to collect exact information about the people’s opinion of Pandavas’ mother Kuntidevi. He should also meet Maharaja Dhritarashtra, eldest Kaurava Duryodhana, Shakuni mama, all the brothers of both of them, Kanaka, guru Drona, Drona’s son Ashwatthama, Aacharya Kripa, chief charioteer Sanjay and Karna, the king of Anga.
The minister and bhauji returned after successfully accomplishing their political mission as per Sri’s wish. During this important visit, after a long time, Pandava ladies – Kuntidevi and Draupadi – were going to stay in the chamber of Maharani Gandharidevi. By nature, Gandharidevi was truthful and tenacious. She still loved Kuntidevi and the Pandavas dearly as before. She was eager to meet all of them. It was the ill luck of the Kuru dynasty that Duryodhana was born to her and all his brothers considered him as their ideal.
The news of the Pandavas’ arrival produced conflicting opinions among the royal family of the Kurus. Maharaja Dhritarashtra’s psyche had become the most complicated one. The blind Maharaja of the Kurus was clearly divided into two Dhritarashtras. The first one was the pretentiously dutiful Maharaja Dhritarashtra and the second was the selfish father who always kept scheming, political machinations in his mind for the love of his own son.
He was getting all this done quietly, remaining behind the scene. A father entangled in the natural love for his son, who, with his mind’s eyes dreamt of seeing his firstborn son Duryodhana ascend the royal throne. The father who was dreaming of his son Dushasana, born after Duryodhana, becoming the commander of the Kurus. He wanted to eventually replace the Mahamantri Vidura by useful Kanaka, his political adviser. Maharaja Dhritarashtra had harboured this sweet dream in his mind, but outwardly he highly praised the valour of his brother Pandu, and the character and virtues of the Pandavas, Kuntidevi and Draupadi. He never spoke in simple sentences without adding quite a few undue, exorbitant accolades for the five Pandavas. He never forgot to defend wicked Duryodhana with the royal armour of his fatherhood, under the pretext of being blind and helpless. He never refrained from a display of false respect for the extraordinarily valiant, senior grandsire who was the last Kuru. But in private, he didn’t forget to weave complex nooses of political intrigues with his blind eyes yet alert and crafty brain, throughout days and nights along with Shakuni and Kanaka. Everybody in the royal palace of the Kurus had five sense organs. He had gained a sixth sense organ, that of hunger for power! For that reason, he had completely forgotten the fact that his younger brother Pandu had appointed him as a ‘caretaker’ of the Hastinapura kingdom. He strongly felt that he was deprived of the royal throne in spite of being the eldest son only because of the blindness and that was indeed an injustice done to him! Now that Maharaja Pandu had passed away, and he had become old, it was his firm belief and opinion that due to his seniority, his eldest son Duryodhana was the rightful heir to become the prince initially and the king subsequently. Time and again whenever he got an opportunity he was indirectly trying to convince it to Mahamantri Vidura and grandsire Bhishma. But those dauntless royal men were not giving in to him at all.
They were of the opinion that Yudhishthira is the firstborn among both Kauravas and Pandavas. His father, Maharaja Pandu had temporarily appointed Dhritarashtra to look after the kingdom. Now as per his royal duty Dhritarashtra should honourably return the kingdom to Yudhishthira – the eldest son of Pandu – who is now an adult. Yudhishthira must be crowned the prince. Yudhishthira should be offered the throne of Hastinapura after Dhritarashtra as the king. That is just and according to Dharma.
Thus, two groups with distinctly different opinions were formed among the royal ministry of Kurus about who should hold the right over Hastinapura kingdom. One group supported the Pandavas and the other backed the Kauravas. Hastinapura was not a kingdom ruled by a single ruler like Magadha. The third group in this democratic kingdom was that of its citizens. That was the most important group. The citizens still remembered Maharaja Pandu unanimously. They were eager to meet and welcome his virtuous sons, the Pandavas, rajmata Kuntidevi and Pandavas’ wife Draupadi.
The news of the Lord of Dwaraka, the leader of the Yadavas, Maharaja Srikrishna bringing the Pandavas with him spread throughout the city. Entire Hastinapura bloomed with a vibrant energy. Thousands of Kuru men and women heartily welcomed the Pandavas along with Sri, with showers of vermillion and flowers.
Sri had been to Hastinapura once before. But that was a sad occasion, for the last rites of the Pandavas. Today he was entering Hastinapura along with dada, Uddhavbhauji, Chief Minister and select Yadava warriors in a very different atmosphere. The five Pandavas were with him in person, like five mountain summits.
A mammoth crowd of Kuru men and women assembled at the western gate along with grandsire Bhishma, Mahatma Vidura, Chief Minister Vrishavarma, and minister Sanjaya welcomed the Yadava-Pandava warriors. But Maharaja Dhritarashtra, his sons, Shakunimama and Kanaka were not present in the welcoming congregation. Vidura had come as he loved the Pandavas and Sri. Actually, only one representative of the entire Hastinapura kingdom was present there. That was Chief Minister Vrishavarma, who had come to deliver the order of the king!
Sri stepped onto the land of Hastinapura from the Garudadhwaja chariot. The one who received him was the incredibly valiant, tall and well-built grandsire Bhishma, with his, t
hick white beard pulsing on his broad chest. As Sri saw him he started to bend down to touch his feet with respect when moist-eyed Bhishma spread his muscular arms wide and held him in a deep embrace saying, ‘Vaasudeva’ meeting after so many days! May your feet bring joy and peace to Hastinapura, this royal capital of the Kurus! Achyuta, it’s now only up to you to guide all of them on the right path! I am tired.’
Uddhavabhauji was the first to realize that the son of Ganga, disciple of Parashurama, the one and only Kuru by blood, grandsire, had addressed Sri as ‘Vaasudeva’. He moved forward and bowed down to touch grandsire’s feet and said, “Grandsire, this is the moment I was waiting for. When the right person will address dada as ‘Vaasudeva’! That moment has arrived today. You addressed him as ‘Vaasudeva’ – the highest honour, most precious epithet for the Yadavas. We feel blessed.”
Then the pious, fair, round-faced Uddhavabhauji did something very uncharacteristic, he raised his fist in the air and exclaimed with inspiration. All present on the holy land of Hastinapura responded to it, “Hail Venerable Yadava, Lord of Dwaraka, Vasudeva’s son Maharaja ‘Vaasudeva’! Victory to him...victory! Hail Venerable Kuru, Son of Ganga, grandsire Bhishma!” Amidst the acclamations and the flowers showered by the citizens of Hastinapura Sri started walking towards the royal palace of the Kurus along with Bhishma, Vidura, Sanjaya and the Pandavas. Just then Balaramadada who rarely spoke, said to Sri with a smile while bearing the flower petals on his body, “Dhakalya, this is a great achievement. The grandsire himself called you ‘Vaasudeva’. Vasudevababa and both our matas in Dwaraka would be happiest about this. You have become Vaasudeva, what about me?”
“Whether I become Vaasudeva or somebody else, may I always be under the protection of your brotherly love my dear dada. Please never ever think of deserting me.” Sri bound dada emotionally.
“Even if I try to go away from you, I am sure you will never let me go! I know very well that you still have the knack to attract everybody, even though your name ‘Mohana’ from Gokul has been left behind and you are Vaasudeva now.” Dada said.
“I got the epithet of ‘Vaasudeva’. You are wondering what you got, I will answer that in Dwaraka to Revativahini. Remind me.”
“As an elder brother, I can make you, the Vaasudeva of the world, listen to whatever I say. But there in front of Revati I can’t say anything!” Saying thus on the royal path of Hastinapura Balaramadada laughed heartily throwing his neck back and shaking the mace on his shoulder vigorously.
The royal party of the Yadavas and the Pandavas stayed at Mahamantri Vidura’s residence. Sri enquired about Maharaja Dhritarashtra’s welfare and sent a message to him through minister Vipruthu – ‘The sons of Pandu have arrived along with their mother to claim their fair share in the Kingdom. I request you to organize a royal council of the Kurus to listen to their appeal. Make your judgement impartial so as to avoid any long-term enmity among the family of Kurus.’
The Maharaja sent a reply through his minister Vrishavarma. That was also loaded with political sagacity. It addressed Sri as ‘Vaasudeva’ just like the grandsire had called him, and enquired about the welfare of Vasudevababa, Devakimata and the royal family of the Yadavas. It also offered the explanation that he couldn’t come to the western gate of Hastinapura to welcome them only due to his ‘blindness’ and also gave a clever justification that minister Vrishavarma was sent in his place. No mention of Duryodhana and Shakuni at all. It contained a hypocritical promise that, Pandavas who were regarded as his own sons and not just putane, will be judged impartially in the royal council of the Kurus tomorrow. Sri heard the message with a smile.
That night the ancient skies of Hastinapura heard two different discussions in two parties, with a detached and stoic mind. One party was that of the Maharaja of Hastinapura, Dhritarashtra himself. The political deliberation in his council chamber lasted well till midnight in the light of burning Karanjel lamps. The attendees were Shakuni and his brothers, Kanaka, Duryodhana and his ten brothers, Dushasana being one of them from among the hundred brothers, and the minister Vrishavarma. Grandsire Bhishma who shouldered a major responsibility in the Kuru kingdom was not involved in this council. Even Mahamantri Vidura was not there, as Sri and Pandavas had stayed at his residence. Though he was Duryodhana’s best friend even Karna, the king of Anga was not there, as he was not considered reliable due to being a son of a charioteer. For the same reason Sanjaya was also not there.
Finally, at midnight the political deliberation reached a conclusion. That of coercing the Pandavas to accept the desolate region of Khandavaprastha and Khandavavana having thick forests full of wild beasts. It was decided to take thorough precaution, to avoid their association with the royal capital Hastinapura in any way.
Kanaka, who was an equal match to Shakuni in matters of state, seconded the idea. He said, “ Khandavavana is so thick that it will be one big war-like task to make the sunrays reach its land. Pandavas will fall prey to wild beasts while fighting that war. Even if they are spared from that, the wild tribes of Khandava vana like Naga, Asura, Danava, Nishadha, Vyadha, and Barbara will kill them for sure. In the end, this council concluded in the early morning, after finalizing the decision and consuming goblets full of saffron mixed milk.
In the council arranged under Sri’s leadership at Vidura’s residence the same topic of Pandava’s fair share in the Hastinapura kingdom was up for discussion. The major attendees were Mahamantri Vidura, Balaramadada, Uddhavabhauji, Satyaki, and minister Vipruthu. The highlight was that Pandava’s mother Kuntidevi was also present along with her five sons. Only Draupadi was not there. She was discussing some family matters with Vidura’s wife Parasavi in the inner chamber. In the discussion minister Vipruthu and Vidura were insistent on dividing the kingdom along the shores of river Ganga that coursed through Hastinapura; the eastern side to be given to the Kauravas and the western to the Pandavas. As the Panchala kingdom related to the Pandavas was located on the eastern side, Yadava commander Satyaki was trying to suggest to them a division with the eastern side to the Pandavas and the western to the Kauravas. As Sri was present in the council all the five Pandavas were not speaking at all. They were only listening.
Finally, exactly at midnight Sri gently tapped Arjuna on the shoulder, and while leaving the council he said, “Whatever you are discussing and guessing today, nothing of that sort is going to happen in the royal council of the Kurus tomorrow. Grandsire Bhishma, who is the last senior Kuru will be making the final decision. I am going to accept his offer. May I? What do you brothers think? Think properly and tell me.” With his fish-shaped eyes Sri stared at the eldest Pandava, Yudhishthira.
“As you say Vaasudeva. But I think we should also take into account Kunti mata’s opinion about this.” Yudhishthira responded in a manner suitable to his disposition.
“You need not worry about her opinion. She will agree with whatever I say. What do you say dear aatya?” Sri openly asked aatya. She also looked at the peacock feather in Sri’s crown, just like Arjuna and smilingly said, “Vaasudeva, things will be carried out only in your way and just as you say!”
“Yudhishthira, tell me the decision of all of you.” Sri didn’t let go of the original point. At that moment, Bhima spoke fearlessly as usual and stated his opinion, interrupting in the middle, “When you speak on our behalf, you should insist on the division along the borders of Ganga’s course.”
Sri looked at Arjuna. He silently bent down and touched Sri’s feet. The very first royal council of the Pandavas in the council chamber of Vidura’s residence, held under Sri’s leadership was concluded, entrusting the decision with Sri.
The next day the royal council of the Kurus was held in Hastinapura. Today’s main topic was the systematic division of the Hastinapura kingdom among the Kauravas and Pandavas. The news of Sri’s arrival in Hastinapura along with the Pandavas, and that he would be present in the royal assembly with the Pandavas had spread like wildfire. Therefore, the citizens of Hastinapura had gathered in
groups in the royal assembly. They were all eager to see the virtuous Pandavas and their courageous mother along with Sri in person. After many years, the royal assembly of the Kurus was fully occupied.
Silence prevailed as Chief Minister Vrishavarma pounded the royal sceptre as per the tradition. The assembly proceedings commenced. First of all, on behalf of Maharaja Dhritarashtra and Maharani Gandharidevi, Mahamantri Vidura welcomed Sri, the Pandavas with their mother and the assembled citizens. He announced the purpose of the council in a few words. In that speech, he earnestly reminded everyone of the valour of his dear brother Pandu in a picturesque manner. He made everyone aware of the complicated problem the kingdom of Hastinapura was facing. In the end, he said, “The one and only senior heir of the Kuru kingdom, grandsire Bhishma should present the final and just decision about this problem in front of the assembly. Everyone should honour it.” Vidura fulfilled the duty of an experienced Mahamantri.
Today, on the right of the royal throne in the assembly, grandsire Bhishma was seated first, then Duryodhana, Karna, the king of Anga, Dushasana and his five brothers, Shakunimama and two of his brothers, Kanaka, Karna’s brother Shona, then remaining Kauravas, Shakuni’s brothers and leaders of various units were seated. On the left of the royal throne the members of the royal ministry such as Aacharya Kripa, Guru Drona, Mahamantri Vidura, minister Sanjaya, Chief Minister Vrishavarma were seated. Next in line after them Balaramadada was first, then Sri and Uddhavabhauji, and all Pandavas were seated. After them were the Yadava warriors like Satyaki and Vipruthu. Next the Panchala minister and the commander, who had come to show their support to the Pandavas were seated. Pandavas’ mother Kuntidevi and Pandavas’ wife Draupadi were sitting in the reserved section for the royal ladies along with other Kuru ladies.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 36