40. DURYODHANA DISGRACED :

THE Kauravas reached Dwaitavana with a
great army and many followers.
Duryodhana and Karna went with
unconcealed joy at the very thought of
being able to gloat on the sad plight of the
Pandavas.



They themselves camped in luxurious rest
houses in a place four miles off the abode
of the Pandavas. They inspected the herds
of cows and took stock of them.



After counting the cows, bulls and calves,
they enjoyed the dance, the hunt, the
sylvan sports and other entertainment’s
arranged for them.



While hunting, Duryodhana and his party
reached an attractive pond near the
hermitage of the Pandavas and ordered a
camp to be put on its bank.



Chitrasena, the king of the Gandharvas,
and his attendants had already encamped
in the neighborhood of the pool and they
prevented Duryodhana's men from putting
up their camp.



They returned to Duryodhana and
represented that some petty prince who
was there with his followers was giving
them trouble.



Duryodhana was annoyed at this
presumption and directed his men to turn
the Gandharva prince out and put up the
tents. The attendants returned to the lake
and tried to carry out their orders but
found the Gandharvas too many for them
and had to retreat in precipitation.



When Duryodhana came to know of this,
he grew very angry and with a large army
marched to destroy the audacious enemies
who had dared to resist his pleasure. A
great fight ensued between the
Gandharvas and Duryodhana's army.



At first the fight went in favor of the
Kauravas. But the tables were quickly
turned when Chitrasena, the king of the
Gandharvas, rallied his troops and began
using his magic weapons.



Karna and the other Kaurava heroes lost
their chariots and weapons and had to
retreat in haste and ignominy.
Duryodhana alone remained in the
battlefield but he was soon seized by
Chitrasena, who placed him in his chariot
bound hand and foot, and blew his conch
in token of victory.



The Gandharvas took many of the
prominent Kauravas captive. The Kaurava
army fled in all directions and some of the
fugitives took refuge in the hermitage of
the Pandavas.



Bhima heard the news of Duryodhana's
defeat and capture with delight and
amusement. He said to Yudhishthira:
"These Gandharvas have done our job for
us. Duryodhana, who must have come
here to mock at us, has got what he
deserved. I feel like thanking our
Gandharva friend!"



But Yudhishthira reproved him: "Dear
brother, this is not the time for you to
rejoice. The Kauravas are our kith and kin
and their humiliation, at the hands of
strangers, is ours. We cannot hold back
and take this lying down. We must rescue
them."



Bhima did not think this very reasonable.
He said: "Why should we save this sinner
who tried to burn us alive in the wax
house? Why should you feel sorry for the
fellow who poisoned my food, bound me
hand and foot and wanted to drown me in
the river? What brotherly feeling can we
really have towards these vile wretches
who hauled Draupadi by the hair to
theassembly and disgraced her?"



At that moment a cry of agony from
Duryodhana reached them faintly from the
distance and Yudhishthira, greatly moved,
overruled Bhima's objection and bade his
brothers go to the rescue of the Kauravas.
Obedient to his behest, Bhima and Arjuna
rallied the routed Kaurava forces and
offered battle to the Gandharvas. But
Chitrasena had no wish to fight with the
Pandavas and at their approach, released
Duryodhana and the other prisoners
saying that all he wanted was to teach a
lesson to these arrogant Kauravas.



The dishonored Kauravas returned in
haste to Hastinapura, with Karna, who,
having been, driven off the battlefield,
joined them on the way.



Duryodhana, in great shame and
dejection, felt it would have been far
better if be had been killed by Chitrasena
and announced his wish to fast unto death.
He said to Duhsasana: "Be crowned and
rule the kingdom. I can no longer continue
to live after having become a laughing
stock to my enemies."



Duhsasana protested his unworthiness to
be king and caught hold of his brother's
feet and wept. Karna could not bear the
sight of the brother's sorrow.



Karna said: "This does not befit heroes of
the Kuru race. What is the use of just
collapsing under sorrow? It will but make
your enemies happy. Look at the
Pandavas. They have not taken to fasts in
spite of the disgrace they have suffered."



Sakuni interposed and said: "Listen to
Karna's words. Why do you say that you
would give up your life when the kingdom
seized from the Pandavas is yours to
enjoy? Fasting serves no purpose, for if
you really repent of what you have done
till now, you should make friends with the
Pandavas and give them back their
kingdom."



When Duryodhana heard this speech, his
evil nature regained ascendancy, for
giving back the kingdom to the Pandavas
was to him a hundred times worse than
defeat or disgrace. He shouted: "I shall
conquer the Pandavas."



Karna said: "That is the way for a king to
talk."



And he added: "What sense is there in
dying? You can do something worthwhile
only if you are alive."



While returning home, Karna said: "I
swear to you by all that is holy that, when
the stipulated period of thirteen years is
over, I will kill Arjuna in battle." And
then he touched his sword in token of the
oath.