swords, Agnikankanas, and pestles would be considered in the same way.”
The council now got engrossed in detailing the subtle rules of war.
“A group of warriors will be prohibited from surrounding a single warrior. It would be considered against the rules of engagement.” said Grandsire Bhishma.
“The holy land of Kurukshetra will serve as the battleground for this Great War. It is expected that no disregard for Dharma takes place here. The battlefield should always be clear. Therefore, both armies will have to arrange their military formations on a completely new battlefield every day.”
The Lord of Dwaraka had mentioned an unarmed charioteer. “What about an unarmed warrior?” Karna, king of Anga questioned Krishnadeva.
“Good question, munificent Karna!” Krishnadeva said smilingly and continued, “Weaponry as well as Astras will be used in this war. Therefore, it will have to be defined as to who should be considered unarmed. I think it should be decided according to the situation.”
“In the Great War between the Kauravas and Pandavas no woman would be allowed on the battleground. What if that happens?” I raised a question in the council.
“A woman is not expected to participate in this war of gallant warriors. If she comes at all, her life should be spared.” said grandsire Bhishma.
“Un-charioted and injured warriors should be permitted to retire from the battlefield.” Aacharya Droa looked expectantly at Krishnadeva.
“Indeed, it should be allowed. But aacharya, a real warrior does not retire even in his sleep.” The Lord of Dwaraka answered smilingly.
“This is the month of Kartika. The cold weather is severe. Therefore, an appropriate day for the commencement of the war should be fixed in this council itself.” Experienced Drupada said while looking at grandsire.
“Vaasudeva Srikrishna knows the perfect technique of measuring the time. He should decide the appropriate day for commencing the Great War.” The grandsire said coming towards the conclusion of the council.
“I will set the date after going to Upaplavya and checking everything thoroughly and will let everybody know. But the battleground will be this holy land of Kurukshetra only. Does anyone have any objection to that?” Krishnadeva asked with a pure smile as usual.
“No…!” Everybody responded in unison. The special council at Kurukshetra was over.
The very next day select warriors like Grandsire Bhishma, Drona and Duryodhana on behalf of the Kauravas and Krishnadeva, Dhrishtadyumna and I on behalf of the Pandavas surveyed the vast land of Kurukshetra. At many places, there were various sprawling trees. It was decided to cut down the trees and level the land out. As this land was naturally thriving with plenty of lakes there was no question of water availability for drinking, cooking and bathing. Orders were also given to remove the thick reeds near the banks of the lakes.
We bade farewell to Grandsire and returned to Upaplavya with Yadavaraja. Krishnadeva summoned the expert astrologer of the Viratas and after having a thorough discussion with him finalized the day for the commencement of the war. It was conveyed everywhere – to Hastinapura, Panchala, Madhyadesha, the eastern and western region. The day of the commencement of the Great War that was going to take place between the Kauravas and Pandavas that Krishnadeva had declared was – ‘The second day of the dark fortnight of Margashirsha’.
Then we had to go to Dwaraka again to seek the blessings of the elders. So, the Lord of Dwaraka and I began preparations for that. The Lord of Dwaraka summoned Maharaja Virata and Drupada and gave them final important instructions. Drupada’s son Dhrishtadyumna began huge preparations for the Great War in Kampilyanagar with the assistance of his brothers Shikhandi, Sumitra, Priyadarshana, Chitraketu, Suketu, Dhwajaketu, Viraketu, Suratha and Shatrunjaya.
The Matsya kingdom of the Viratas was much closer to Kurukshetra than the Panchala kingdom. That is why it was possible only for the Matsyas to supply food to the Pandava army. They were given that responsibility. Though Indraprastha was the closest kingdom to Kurukshetra it was now under the rule of the Kauravas. It was going to be advantageous for Hastinapura to supply food for their mammoth army from Indraprastha. It was an irony. The puissant kingdom that the Yadavas and Pandavas had strived to erect in Khandavavana was going to be advantageous for the Kurus. Indraprastha was located right between Kurukshetra and Viratanagar of the Matsyas. A rival like Duryodhana was never going to refrain from taking political advantage of that situation. If he sealed the borders, then the food supply to the Pandava army on Kurukshetra would be completely blocked. Then it would be mandatory to go around Indraprastha to reach the kingdom of Mattamayura. Only after forming alliance with their ruler, the food could be supplied to the Pandava army. That is why the Lord of Dwaraka had promptly dispatched the Chief Minister of Viratas along with a royal emissary to the kingdom of Mattamayura.
Now as the final authority on the Pandava side the Lord of Dwaraka took charge of the Great War in his hands. I came to Dwaraka along with him. Meanwhile the news that there was going to be a Great War between the Kauravas and Pandavas, had already reached Dwaraka. As soon as we reached, Krishnadeva had to face a very difficult situation.
Balaramadada had become irate over all the events that had taken place in Hastinapura, Upaplavya, Viratanagar and Kampilyanagar. Without waiting for Krishnadeva to come to visit him, he himself came to his young brother’s chamber, stomping his feet. Castigating his brother as usual he directly said, “Srikrishna, what are you up to? Both Kauravas and Pandavas are closely related to us. You went there for reconciliation! And came back after fixing a catastrophic Great War between them! I am tired of your political games. You should have just left and come back to Dwaraka once you realized that reconciliation between them was not possible. Instead you have also dragged the Yadavas into this old dispute between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Our Yadava kingdom itself has clearly got divided into two factions of Kritavarma and Satyaki. Why are you doing all this?”
Dada’s questions were apparently appropriate to a listener. But were they really appropriate? Not at all. The objective of the war was no longer just the right of the Kauravas and Pandavas over the Hastinapura kingdom. Almost the entire Aaryavarta and the region from Kapisha to Kamboja were involved in it. In such a situation, would Dwaraka have been able to protect itself in future by staying aloof from the war? Once Duryodhana had defeated the Pandavas wasn’t he going to swindle the remaining eastern, central and northern parts of Aaryavarta by the end of the war? Had that happened wasn’t it going to create a risk for our allies in the east – the Magadha and the Kamarupa kingdoms? After that for how long would we have been able to keep the Dwaraka kingdom safe? Before forcing an entry into one’s home the enemy first takes over the front yard! This is what dada did not understand. As his best disciple, he always considered Duryodhana as his friend. Due to his short-tempered nature, no one could stand up to him and explain it to him.
The Lord of Dwaraka could think of only one person who could be assigned with that task – Uddhavadeva. He summoned Uddhavadeva. The three of them decided to organize a final conclusive royal assembly of the Yadavas before leaving Dwaraka to go to Kurukshetra.
The Sudharma royal assembly in Dwaraka today was unprecedented. Every single Yadava had made it a point to be present in this assembly.
As per the tradition Chief Minister Vipruthu raised the jewel-studded royal sceptre of the Yadavas and stated the objective of the assembly. He said, “Very soon the Lord of Dwaraka, Maharaja Srikrishna is going to enkindle a great yajna on the holy land of Kurukshetra. It is going to be the great yajna of an unprecedented decisive Great War to determine the fate of justice and injustice of not only the Kauravas and Pandavas but also of the entire Aaryavarta, and the human race!
“Recently, Duryodhana on behalf of the Kauravas and Arjuna on behalf of the Pandavas had come to Dwaraka to meet Krishnadeva to seek military assistance from the kingdom of Dwaraka. During this visit the eldest Kaurava Duryodhana accepted the
assistance of the fourfold Yadava army. But Arjuna selected only Srikrishnadeva as his charioteer. He will do charioting without carrying any weapons. He will only offer his wise advice to the Pandavas if need be. He will be holding only the whip to steer the four white horses of Arjuna’s Nandighosha chariot. Only time will decide who will be the winner between the whip and the fourfold Yadava army!
“The Lord of Dwaraka has granted the freedom to all Yadava warriors to choose whatever side they deem appropriate between the Kauravas and Pandavas. That is why mighty Satyaki is going to fight on behalf of the Pandavas with his troop and gallant Kritavarma is going to fight on behalf of the Kauravas in this Great War along with one akshauhini Yadava army. All sons of Krishnadeva are going to remain in Dwaraka for its protection with the remaining Yadava army. Prince Pradyumna will be leading them. Balaramadada’s sons and brothers will also stay in Dwaraka and assist him.
“Prince Balarama and Krishna’s sakha Uddhavadeva have not expressed their views about this Great War. I request them to share their views about this.”
Balaramadada got up to speak his mind in front of the overcrowded Sudharma royal assembly of Yadavas. It was his first time ever to openly speak his mind in public. He cleared his throat for a moment trying to find words. Then in a husky voice he said, “Politics is not my forte. I am just an unsophisticated Yadava warrior. I lay bare my heart so all my Yadava brothers will understand my clear views about the war. In my opinion the Yadavas should take no part at all in this dispute between the Kauravas and Pandavas. Both sides are equally close to us. No good will come out of it if we participate. Therefore, today itself I am leaving Dwaraka and going towards the Himalayas. I will come back only when I feel like doing so. I might not come back at all if I don’t feel like it. Therefore, I pay obeisance to everyone from the bottom of my heart. If I have unwittingly insulted anybody so far due to my short-tempered nature and straight talk, I request them to kindly forgive me,” Balaramadada requested the entire assembly. Many people felt sad on remembering his previous sentimental reunion with Krishnadeva in the same assembly hall.
Hearing Balaramadada’s firm decision the assembly hall fell silent. Now Uddhavadeva got up from his simple sandalwood seat located next to Aacharya Sandipani and Gargamuni. His glowing, virtuous, round face was tranquil. There was no turbulence whatsoever on his face, and in his eyes. Moving his loving, peaceful eyes over the assembly hall once Uddhavadeva said, “Oh Yadava brothers, I am also going towards the Himalayas like Balaramadada! But there is a difference in his leaving and mine. Both of us have talked about it. We will leave Dwaraka together. Both of us will travel together till the holy place of Badri-Kedara on the banks of river Ganga. I will stay at that holy place. Balaramadada will travel further to go wherever he wants.
I am going to Badri-Kedara as per the wish and command of the Lord of Dwaraka! Krishnadada wants to raise an aashrama like that of Aacharya Sandipani’s Ankapada aashrama in that tranquil and holy place of Badri-Kedara. He has chosen me to make preparations for that. Therefore, I consider myself most fortunate. I give my word to this assembly in front of Vasudevababa, both rajmatas and venerable Aacharya Sandipani that I will make preparations for the Srikrishna aashrama befitting the acclaim of Dwaraka.
“Krishnadada will certainly succeed in the Great War for which he is going to Kurukshetra. For the past many days, I have been attentively listening to his thoughts about this great yajna. He is going to participate in this Great War as an unarmed charioteer of Arjuna holding only the whip. Yet I have full confidence that whatever he will do with master archer Arjuna will guide many future generations of the Aaryavarta. I believe that Dharma and Victory will be present where master archer Arjuna and Sudarshan-wielder Srikrishna will be present. All you elderly Yadava men and women should give your blessings to my dearest dada for that. At this moment, I pray to our Goddess Ida that, ‘My dada should always have her blessings for success!!’”
Upholding the words of Uddhavadeva all Yadavas in the assembly hall raised both their hands and looking at Krishnadeva they shouted with irresistible love and devotion – ‘Hail Lord of Dwaraka!!’
Finally, Krishnadeva on whom the eyes of the entire assembly hall were fixed stood up. He bowed to pay obeisance to Maharaja Vasudeva, Rajmata Devakidevi and Rohinidevi sitting behind her, Balaramadada and Revativahini. Immediately turning his eyes to Aacharya Sandipani he paid obeisance to him also. He threw a smiling glance at Rukminidevi sitting on his left. He cast a glance over the Sudharma royal assembly once. Then only three words came out of his mouth. Those two words were so powerfully inspirational that goose bumps arose on everybody’s body and within a moment the Sudharma royal assembly of Yadavas reverberated with continuous rounds of loud applause like the rain showers of Mriga. Those inspirational words were – ‘Hail…Goddess Ida!!’ The entire assembly hall shouted again and again – ‘Hail…Goddess Ida!’ The conclusive Sudharma royal assembly in Dwaraka was over.
The next day Kritavarma left Dwaraka to go to Kurukshetra after paying obeisance to Maharaja Vasudeva and both rajmatas. One akshauhini Yadava army was with him. As announced in the royal assembly Balaramadada left for the Himalayas with Uddhavadeva and select Yadava warriors. Finally, Krishnadeva left Dwaraka after seeking the blessings of all elders and meeting all his queens and sons and daughters. Daruka, a few Yadava warriors that he himself had selected and I were with him. All of us crossed the creek of Dwaraka and reached the shore of the western ocean. Daruka had kept Krishnadeva’s adorned Garudadhwaja chariot ready. As per Krishnadeva’s wish the royal priest Gargamuni had already gone ahead to the Shiva temple at Somanath with Aacharya Sandipani. All of them had made thorough preparations for Maharudra Abhishek. Daruka brought our Garudadhwaja chariot near the Somanath temple. We came to the square in front of the of the Somanath temple. Krishnadeva stopped near a stone statue of a tortoise at his feet. Putting his arm around my shoulders he said, “Satyaki, one should regard the tortoise as his ideal. It has drawn in six enemies such as lust, anger, pride, greed, and envy along with its legs. It is sitting at Shiva’s feet with a stable mind. In a similar manner one should also go with a stable and pure mind to seek the blessings of the cosmic dancer Shiva. Gargamuni, Aacharya Sandipani and many more sages who were standing at the entrance of the shrine approached Krishnadeva respectfully when they saw him. Stooping down Krishnadeva descended into the shrine along with everybody. The smooth, stone Shivapindi of Somanath was shining under the trickle of water falling from the gold-plated vessel for Abhishek. Many hands had contributed in the thorough preparations for the Maharudra-Abhishek. The Lord of Dwaraka sat on a short stool placed in front of the Pindi. Gargamuni, Aacharya Sandipani and other sages
began singing the hymn of Shiva as described in the Vedas. Krishnadeva closed his fish-shaped eyes. Seeking control over the seventy-two thousand Nadis in his blue-complexioned body he began meditation as a Shiva devotee. Daruka and I stood in a corner of the shrine with hands joined in prayer, and our eyes closed. The shrine echoed with the inspirational hymns of Shiva’s praise.
All the assembled Shiva devotees were offered Tirtha-Prasada of Maharudra Abhishek. The people gathered outside to seek blessings were offered charities. From there we came to another Shiva temple at Nageshwara in Aanarta. Here also a Maharudra Abhishek was performed. Devotees were offered Tirtha-Prasada and charities. After the Shiva worship at both these places Krishnadeva’s virtuous face began looking very different. It looked as lustrous as the Shivapindi glowing under the trickle of the Abhishek. Looking keenly at him I clearly felt that his blue throat had become dark blue now.
Out first stopover was in Kuntibhojanagar. We intentionally did not wait in the Avanti kingdom. Vinda and Anuvinda of Avanti were brothers of Mitravindadevi. They were Krishnadeva’s paternal cousins. But they were going to participate in this war on behalf of Duryodhana’s Kaurava army. They had already left for Kurukshetra with one akshauhini army equipped with weaponry.
Our second stopover wa
s in the kingdom of the Dasharnas. The Dasharnas were going to participate in the war on behalf of the Pandava army. They had also left for Kurukshetra. Our last stopover was in Upaplavya of the Matsyas. The Matsya king Virata had also reached Kurukshetra with his army and his sons Uttara, Shweta, Shatanika and Vasudana.
Now it was the second week of the dark fortnight of the month of Kartika. The atmosphere was still chilly. Towards the end of the month of Kartika our troop entered Kurukshetra along with Krishnadeva. From the direction that we entered, first we came across the huge camp of the Kauravas’ united army. While passing through their camp only by looking at it Krishnadeva had estimated the size of the Kaurava army. He also told me, “Satyaki, for sure the Kuru army is more than ten akshauhinis. It looks well organized. The soldiers are exercising regularly. This war is not going to be easy for the Pandavas!”
Worried by his words I was also keenly watching the Kaurava encampment. Our charioteer Daruka had to stop the chariot in front of a huge pavilion. It was the pavilion of grandsire Bhishma who was appointed the commander of the Kaurava army. He was standing right in the middle of the path with his attendants. Seeing grandsire in a warrior’s attire and armour Krishnadeva promptly descended the chariot. He started bending down to touch grandsire’s feet for blessings. Without allowing him to do that, grandsire quickly pulled him up and embracing him he muttered, “Vaasudevaa…! I don’t care if I die on the battlefield of Kurukshetra now. I got to see you first. The Kurus have formally appointed me as the commander. I am going to appoint the rathis and maharathis today.”
We bade farewell to grandsire and arrived at our Pandava base. Here too the news of Krishnadeva’s arrival had spread everywhere.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 82