Everyone’s eyes were fixed only on rajmata who was sobbing uncontrollably with her whole body shaking convulsively. No one could imagine the state of mind of that ascetic, exceptionally dutiful wife and royal lady who had lost one hundred sons in the Great War of Bharata. Not even dada!
She cried with convulsive gasps for quite some time and finally stopped, getting calmer on her own. She was exhausted by wiping away the tears streaming down her eyes continuously with the edge of her white shawl. She composed herself and spoke something vaguely as if she was speaking to herself – “I don’t – I don’t understand what is on your mind! You have destroyed my one hundred sons, killed them ruthlessly and on top of that you have come to meet me!” My dear dada held rajmata’s wrinkled hand resting on the settee, covered it with his palms and patting it affectionately he said, “No rajmata – never. Even when a son becomes a bad son, a mother can never be a bad mother. I have really come to only see you, and not to offer solace. I have given so many philosophical speeches but even I have no words at all to console you.”
“Do you think that you can fool me with your web of words like you fooled others? Once I had removed my blindfold and blessed my son Duryodhana with an invincible body. If I wish so today, at this moment I can again remove my blindfold and in a single glance burn you to ashes in front of all those who are present here! You are under the illusion that all the words of the world have surrendered themselves to you – you wrongly imagine that you are the only one who knows politics.” Gandharidevi roared.
Even dada who could otherwise guess precisely what was going on in anyone’s mind got confused. Still he said politely, “I know that too! Still I have come to see you with respect, earnestly.”
Now Rajmata Gandharidevi rose from the settee and stood erect. Gathering all the strength of her meditative powers the rajmata uttered a terrifying curse on dada in clear, sharp words that raised the hair on the skin of all present, in fear, “You are the one who ignited the Great War that got my hundred sons killed mercilessly, you left the Kuru clan bereft of an heir. You are the one who got all my daughters-in-law widowed. Obliterating only you is never going to give any solace to a mother’s heart. Therefore, this daughter of the Gandharas, rajmata of the Kurus, and devotee of Shiva, Gandhari, curses you from the bottom of my excruciated heart that Oh Srikrishna, the Yadava leader of Dwaraka, son of Vasudeva, Devaki, within thirty-six years from now you will also be destroyed like us with the entire Yadava clan! The Yadava women will also be widowed like our women. Oh Srikrishna, you who told Arjuna proudly that if he gets killed in the war he will attain heaven, and if he wins the war he will become the king of Hastinapura, I, the mother of one hundred sons curse you profoundly that you will not achieve the death of a hero, fighting as a brave warrior but you will die worthlessly, alone in some unknown forest and no one will even know about it. Both Devakimata and Rohinimata will be left heartbroken for you just as I am heartbroken in the grief for my sons. Your eight wives will become widows like all my daughters-in-law.” The old rajmata who was trembling pressed her thin fingers against her temples and cracked her knuckles loudly. Dada heard the curse with extreme composure while sitting on the rug at her feet. Even more calmly he said, “Oh rajmata, please calm down. Presuming that I will receive some kind of a terrible curse from you I have come here to see you! Don’t worry. I am not going to seek any kind of remission from your curse! I have accepted your curse with a composed mind. Even at this moment I respect you as much as I respect Devaki and Rohini mata. I regard you like Goddess Ida herself. Taking that into consideration, give me your blessings now – which will give me the strength to bear your curse.” With utmost humility dada put his head again on her feet. The rajmata who had considerably calmed down now leaned forward and with trembling hands she pulled dada up. The rajmata who had achieved sky-high greatness with her penance and veracity, held dada in a deep embrace effusively just like she would have held Duryodhana. For a few moments, both of them stood silently in each other’s embrace. As if, even the ever-running Time was brought to a standstill at that moment by both of them. Even Time may or may not have understood what and how much both of them spoke to each other silently in that moment except for themselves!
Without speaking a word further, dada started to leave the chamber after meeting Rajmata Gandharidevi. All of us who were moved by overwhelming emotion touched rajmata’s feet while lost in our thoughts and automatically followed him as if drawn. Once we came in the square he told eldest Pandava Yudhishthira, “All of you brothers should go to Vidura’s residence and stay at the feet of your mother. She will also be leaving for the forest later as per grandsire’s instruction. All of you should spend as much time as you can with Kunti aatya, and take care of her.” Saying ‘As you wish Lord of Dwaraka’ all Pandavas including Yudhishthira paid obeisance to dada and took his leave.
Now Garudadhwaja began the journey towards Dwaraka. Passing by Aanarta we came to the Shiva temple of Nageshwara in Saurashtra. Dada and I had been to this temple many times before. This temple and the Shiva temple at Somanath were dada’s favourite holy places. After performing Abhishek on the Shivapindi at Nageshwara we arrived at the western ocean creek near Dwaraka.
Dada sent Satyaki by a boat to go across the creek to give intimation of our arrival to Pradyumna. Within a short time, he came to greet us in two big boats with Chief Minister Vipruthu who had become very tired now, and his brothers and cousins such as Samba, Sangramjita, Vrika, Charudeshna, Brihatsena, Unnada, Praghosha, Vira, Shruta, and Bhanu. We boarded the boats and sailed to the Shuddhaksha gate of Dwaraka on the east side. Many times before I had entered Dwaraka from this gate along with my brothers Chitraketu and Brihadbala, Balidada and his brothers Gada and Sarana with a grand welcome from the citizens of Dwaraka. Today our entry into Dwaraka along with Daruka and Satyaki was so very different. We had returned after losing over one akshauhiniYadava soldiers on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. For a few moments dada kept gazing at the royal insignia on the gate. Then he simply whispered ‘Hail Idamata’ and leaning forward he touched the first step of the eastern gate and touched his head. He stepped on it with his right foot and began walking calmly, peacefully. I realized that from this moment a new chapter in his life had begun – because never before had he touched the step of the Shuddhaksha gate while entering from the east side and chanted the name of Idamata.
Detailed news of the war at Kurukshetra had already reached Dwaraka. That is why more than feeling jubilant for the Pandavas’ victory everyone was feeling dejected due to the sacrifice of lakhs of our soldiers in the war. Balidada, Vasudevababa, ministers of the Sudharma assembly – no one had come to the Shuddhaksha gate. It was the first time ever that dada was entering Dwaraka in such a dismal atmosphere. But he was calm. He was greeting everyone who had come to meet him with a smile and a polite bow. But this smile was not his usual smile. The citizens of Dwaraka felt it strongly.
First, he went to meet Devakimata. After entering her chamber, he touched her feet and took a seat. I stepped forward and touched the feet of Devakimata, but still she did not recognize me. Many saffron-clad yogis and ascetics visited Dwaraka frequently, she mistook me for one of them.
Pointing his finger at me dada said, “Soon I am going to send him to Gokul. Thorale, you did not recognize him! He is our Uddhava.” Devakimata kept staring at me. All the questions about the war at Kurukshetra that she had kept ready in her mind to ask dada vanished instantly like a wild bird flying away. Our Thorali mata who had now become quite old, her face wrinkled, approached me while narrowing her eyes. Staring at me to make sure she said, “Indeed, this is our Uddhava. I couldn’t recognize him. Son, why are you wearing such kind of clothes? Anyway, are you doing well?” She stroked my face and cracked her shaking, old knuckles near her temples to avert the evil eye. I couldn’t resist myself and put my head on her feet. Then for a long time she and I talked about many different subjects like the aashrama of Badari-Kedara, my journey, and everybody’s
health. No mention of the war at Kurukshetra at all.
Again, I came to witness dada’s precise genius. With just one sentence he had turned the atmosphere in the room around. How powerful a single word of his was that it could transform the atmosphere completely even if it was overcast with big, dark clouds. I got to see it one more time.
After meeting Thorali mata we went to see Vasudevababa. When we met him, he put his head on the feet of Vasudevababa and asked him, “Any news of Maharaja Ugrasena?”
With that question the mind of Vasudevababa who was older than everybody else in Dwaraka instantly reached Mathura. Shaking his head, he said, “It’s been a long time, no news from him. Only Goddess Ida knows how he and Mathura are doing!”
To ease his worries dada promptly said, “Maharaja, don’t worry about it. You have let our aged Chief Minister Vipruthu retire and take rest at home. His son Sukrita has been appointed in his place. We should send him to Mathura! What do you think?”
“How can I change your decision? It is the right thing to do.” said Vasudevababa.
Looking at me purposefully he smilingly said, “So be it then! I will send Uddhava to Chief Minister Vipruthu’s residence. He will also feel gratified.”
Weary Vasudevababa also did not broach the topic of Kurukshetra at all. Seeing dada safe and sound in front of him he just kept all his questions in his mind.
Then we met Rohinimata, Balidada, Revativahini, Aacharya Sandipani and his wife. As they all saw dada in person their depressed faces were refreshed. Only Balidada was still upset with his dear brother – due to the unlawful death of his beloved disciple Duryodhana. He spoke to dada using exactly the same words as Gandharidevi, “You are the sole reason of the catastrophic war of Kurukshetra. That poor rajmata lost one hundred sons. What must she be feeling? He may have been egoistic but Duryodhana was still the father-in-law of your own son. It was I who had taken the initiative to get Samba married to Duryodhana’s daughter Lakshmanaa, with only one objective in mind – that at least sometime in future you and Duryodhana will come together as friends!”
Hearing his naïve dada’s political calculations Krishnadada smiled with amusement. He said, “Jyeshtha, I thoughtfully met Gandharidevi and have returned to Dwaraka only after calmly receiving the terrible curse that she put upon me. As my elder brother, you will also have to bear the brunt of that curse. If you are upset about that and if you too want to curse me for that, I am ready to accept that too – with the same calm mind!”
“A curse? What kind of curse?” Balidada widened his big eyes.
“That of the extinction of the Yadava race!”
Now Balidada, who was such a great mace warrior, tough like Mount Raivataka and dynamic, also was benumbed – speechless.
Seeing him dumbstruck dada said to console him, “Balabhadradada, everything that comes to exist in this world is ultimately bound to be destroyed some time or the other! It is going to be consumed by fire. Can you tell me confidently that venerable Rajmata Gandharidevi who cursed me will never be engulfed by the flames of fire! I know it is not true that Dharma and victory will be present wherever master archer Dhananjaya and Srikrishna, possessor of the chakra are present. Dharma is only that which is the wish of Kala or Time which has no beginning and no end! And He is the only victor – this is the only truth. I would advise only one thing to you as a brother…”
“What advice? It has been already proved that your advice always involves some wily politics! Go on, what’s it?”
“Dada, you should control your temper. You get angry very quickly – and of late you have lost your old habit of calming down quickly. Just give it a thought whether you can get rid of both these habits and be stable-minded.”
Dada turned around to leave the chamber without giving Balidada any chance to raise any doubts or objections as usual. I followed him instinctively.
Within two days Balidada summoned the Sudharma royal assembly in his capacity as the crown prince of the Yadavas. The royal assembly was overflowing with Yadava men and women. Everyone was curious as to what dada was going to say. All the news of the catastrophic war of Kurukshetra which had gone on for eighteen days had reached Dwaraka. In this war, only nine warriors, along with an unarmed charioteer had survived except for Bhishma waiting on the bed of Shara grass for the sun to begin its journey towards the summer solstice. The Yadavas of Dwaraka had lost more than one akshauhini of soldiers in this war. Almost every family had lost at least one soldier on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Everyone was anxious to hear what dada was going to say about them.
Chief Minister Vipruthu had been practising disciplinary control over the proceedings of the assembly till date with his lofty frame and firm voice. Now he was really exhausted. But still because of his utmost love and devotion for dada he was present today to perform his duty. His recently appointed son Sukrita also sat next to him. As old Vipruthu took the place of the Chief Minister and raised the jewel-studded royal sceptre of the Yadavas, the assembly hall fell silent as if someone had switched off the volume except for the roaring sound of the western ocean that was audible.
Aged Chief Minister commenced the council in broken words, saying, “This is an – an auspicious occasion for – for the citizens of Dwaraka to – to see the Lord of Dwaraka in person after – after so many days.
“Since the time of Jarasandha’s attacks we – we Yadavas are used to – used to fighting battles. We – we have already – already prepared our hearts to bear the loss of lakhs of lives. One truth has been ingrained in every drop of our blood – that – lakhs may die while protecting Truth and Dharma – but their patron should remain safe.
“On behalf of all Yadavas and my own self I pray to Goddess Ida that – that the Lord of Dwaraka – Krishnadeva may live a long and healthy life! And I request Haladhara Balarama to take charge of the assembly.”
“Hail Goddess Ida!”
Though weary, the aged Chief Minister made the customary pounding of the royal sceptre quite forcefully so that everyone could hear it clearly.
Yadava prince Balidada arose from his grand golden seat. He glanced over the crowded assembly hall once and said, “Yadava brothers, giving speeches is not my forte. In fact, I am not going to speak at all today. I am only going to listen. Your Lord of Dwaraka, my younger brother Srikrishna should lay his heart bare in front of us today.” Balidada sat down while looking at us.
Now all eyes in the Sudharma royal assembly were fixed only on my dear dada. Vahini who was sitting near him and I also started looking at him with curiosity.
He stood up. With his peaceful eyes, he glanced around the Sudharma assembly once, in half circle. With his eyes, he paid obeisance to Aacharya Sandipani and the aacharya’s wife and began speaking. His eternal, mellifluous speech that was simply unforgettable to the Yadavas began flowing through his divine lips. Even today his speech was as melodious as his flute. He said, “Oh my dear Yadava brothers, the descendants of eighteen families, I can clearly see only one curious question in your eyes. Before I answer that question as per my understanding, I request Chief Minister Vipruthu who has been serving lakhs of Yadavas throughout his life and who is now exhausted due to old age that he need not stand waiting in this assembly as a formality. An attendant should arrange a seat for him. I assure the Chief Minister that if he sits down, the Yadava rule or the kingdom is not going to get any setback. It will always keep rising high like Garuda, the king of birds in our insignia, ready to take a flight and it will be everlasting!” The Yadavas responded to each word of his with a clamorous round of applause.
As the round of applause died down dada spoke again, “I have said earlier that I can clearly see only one question lingering in your eyes. That question is what did the war of Kurukshetra achieve? What did the Lord of Dwaraka gain by sending lakhs of soldiers of Aaryavarta in the jaws of death, putting forth the cause of the Kauravas and Pandavas? Who is going to console the lakhs of widows of Hastinapura, Dwaraka and Aaryavarta and how? Was this war rea
lly necessary for Bharatavarsha Why was this Great yajna of Death ignited?” He clearly worded the question lingering in every one’s mind. Because of that the already stifling silence became even more unendurable as if it had come charging in with the roar of the ocean. He intentionally stopped for a moment and glanced around the Sudharma assembly.
He continued further, “My dear brothers! Whether it is you or I, we tend to think about life from only one angle. We don’t even try to think from another point of view. All of you should also think what if the Great War of Bharata on Kurukshetra would not have taken place at all? Then what would be the state of affairs in the various kingdoms of Aaryavarta?
“Wouldn’t it be possible that kings of various kingdoms would have followed in Yudhishthira’s footsteps and played a game of dice by putting anyone – even their own mothers at stake? Wouldn’t they? Wouldn’t it happen that similar to Draupadi’s humiliation by the Kurus in the gambling hall many helpless noble women would have been put to shame on the streets of many royal cities? Should we have just kept watching it? What if the rulers of various kingdoms had felt inspired by Duryodhana’s arrogant attitude and self-centeredness to behave in the same manner? In what condition Aaryavarta would be then? What if cunning outsiders would have come here to settle down taking inspiration from Shakuni who came to Hastinapura from the distant kingdom of Gandhara and created political turmoil in Hastinapura?
“Oh brothers, just as sometimes the human race reaches the zenith of humanity, sometimes it also hits the rock bottom of brutality. Just as there is a day following the night, twilight also exists between them. This constantly roaring western ocean has the highest limit of the high tide as well as the lowest limit of the low tide. The ocean cannot feel sorry for the water that seeps into the sand on the shore at both these times.
“The Great yajna of the Great War of Bharata at Kurukshetra was also the same. I have always told my dear friend Arjuna, and my brother Uddhava that whether it be Duryodhana, Dushasana, selfless grandsire Bhishma or the world conqueror, munificent Karna, no one can experience the eternal truth by remaining confined in their life. To experience that, sometime or the other everyone will have to enter the battle of life under the glowing sun in the sky.
Srikrishna- the Lord of the Universe Page 96