THE MAHABHARATA: A Modern Rendering, Vol 2 by Ramesh Menon Read Free Book Online

longer than you have: life is shorter than you think. It is full of grief and sickness and it ends quickly in death. You may win back your kingdom; you may perform the Aswamedha and the Rajasuya yagnas. But when you die and that will be all too soon, my son, this dark deed of yours will cover your glory with shame and sin.
    Thirteen years ago, you suffered what you now perceive as an injustice. Why didn’t you fight my sons then? Krishna, Balarama, Drupada, the Kekayas and Satyaki were all with you. Your friends and your brothers begged you to declare war. But you would not; you were stubborn and steadfast. Now, suddenly, after thirteen years, you decide to fight. Why, Yudhishtira? You have been patient for so long. If you continue to be patient until you die, the world will remember you as a saint.
    Anger is a demon that cripples the mind. Munis say that a man who swallows his anger comes to peace. What will you get, even if you can kill Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa, Shalya, Duryodhana, his brothers and Karna? What will your final reward be? This vast earth bounded by the sea? But you will not escape old age and death. Once you have actually killed those you now set out to kill, you will mourn them. You will bitterly regret what you have done. Heed what I say, Yudhishtira my son. One must never betray one’s own nature. I know your nature, you are a gentle man.
    My last word to you is, give up your anger. Forget everything that happened and return to the forest. Spend the rest of your life in quest of nirvana and win undying fame and joy for yourself. Or else, live with Krishna in Dwaraka; live off the alms of the Vrishnis, they will see to your every need and comfort. You have walked the high road of dharma for so long, why leave it now for the alleyways of sin? I beg you, forget the bloodshed you are planning. Live in peace.’
    So said my king Dhritarashtra to you,” said Sanjaya in Upaplavya. Having delivered his message in full, he sat down and was silent, waiting for Yudhishtira’s response.

SIX
THE PANDAVAS’ REPLY 
    At first, Dhritarashtra’s message stunned the sabha of kings in Upaplavya and no one spoke. For a moment, it even seemed the Pandavas were the ones who wanted war and a festival of bloodshed; while, the blind king in Hastinapura and his sons were men of dharma, praying for peace. Then the cold evil of the whole thing struck that court.
    Bheema jumped up and, his eyes turning crimson, began to pace the floor like a great tiger, growling from time to time. Sahadeva’s face was dark, his chest heaved as if his rage would erupt from him in fire. Arjuna, his mouth a grim line, glanced at Krishna. Krishna read his impulse clearly: to stop this negotiation with evil, to ride to Hastinapura and burn its malignant king.
    Drupada sat stricken, hardly able to believe what he heard. Draupadi trembled where she sat. For a moment, perfect silence held the sabha. Yudhishtira also was too shocked to speak. He had not dreamt his uncle would go to this insane extent. The Pandava’s mind flashed back to all the years when he had obeyed Dhritarashtra implicitly, loved him like a father, trusted him absolutely. Coldness gripped his heart; he felt invisible hands were strangling him.
    Then he realized that his brothers and all the kings were waiting for him to answer Dhritarashtra. Panic swept over Pandu’s son; for the thing that held him in a vice would not allow him to breathe, let alone speak. At that moment, he turned to Krishna. In the Dark One’s eyes he saw complete understanding of what he felt and a wave of relief flooded him. At Krishna’s look, the evil that seized Yudhishtira faltered and released him.
    His heart still pounding, but fury driving fear from his body, the Pandava found the courage to speak. In a steady voice, he said warningly, “Sanjaya, you are only a messenger so I will not show you my anger. But from now, be careful what you say in this sabha. Don’t forget I am not a brahmana, but a