56. KRISHNA'S MISSION :-

SATYAKI accompanied Govinda
(Krishna) to Hastinapura. Before setting
out on his journey, Krishna had a lone
discussion with the Pandavas. Even the
mighty Bhima, rather surprisingly,
supported a peaceful settlement.



"Let not the race be destroyed. Peace is
very much to be preferred," said he. The
poet Vyasa makes Bhima speak thus in
order to show that truly great warriors
desire peace, and that to seek peace is not
a sign of fear.



But Draupadi could not forget her
humiliation. Holding her locks in her hand
she stood before Krishna, and in a voice
quivering with grief, she said:



"Madhusudana, look at these tresses of
mine and do what honor requires to be
done. There can be no peace with honor.
Even if Arjuna and Bhima are against
war, my father, old though he is, will go
to battle, supported by my children. Even
if my father can keep out, my children,
with Subhadra's son Abhimanyu, at their
head, will fight the Kauravas. I have, for
the sake of Dharmaputra, these thirteen
years, suppressed the burning flame of
anger within me. I can restrain myself no
longer." And she sobbed, remembering
the great outrage.



Krishna was moved and said: "Weep not.
Dhritarashtra's sons will not listen to my
words of peace. They are going to fall and
their bodies will be food for wild dogs and
jackals. You will live to see us victorious
and the insult to you will be fully
avenged, and that too, soon." Draupadi
was satisfied.



Madhava (Krishna) halted for the night
near the city of Kucasthala. When news of
Krishna's forthcoming visit came, the city
was in great excitement.



Dhritarashtra issued orders for decorating
the city and arrangements for receiving
Janardana (Krishna) were in full swing.
Dhritarashtra issued instructions that
Duhsasana's palace, being bigger and
more beautiful than Duryodhana's, should
be got ready and placed at the disposal of
Krishna and his entourage and large tents
were erected at several places outside the
city, along the route which Krishna's
chariot was to take.



Dhritarashtra consulted Vidura. He said to
him: "Make arrangements for presenting
Govinda with chariots and elephants.
Presents of other kinds should also be got
ready." But Vidura said:



"Govinda cannot be bought with presents.
Give him that for which he is coming to
the land of the Kurus. Does he not come
here seeking a peaceful settlement? Make
that possible. You cannot satisfy Madhava
with other gifts."



When Govinda reached Hastinapura, the
citizens had thronged in such numbers in
the decorated streets that his chariot could
only progress very slowly. He went first
to Dhritarashtra's palace and then
proceeded to Vidura's house. Kuntidevi
met him there.



Thinking of the sufferings of her sons and
overpowered by grief, she wept. Krishna
comforted her and, taking leave of her,
made for Duryodhana's palace.



Duryodhana gave Govinda welcome and
invited him to dinner, but Krishna said
with a smile: "Emissaries eat only after
their mission is fulfilled. You may give a
feast when my work here is completed."
Declining Duryodhana's invitation, he
returned to Vidura's house where he
rested.



Vidura and Krishna took counsel together.
Vidura told him that Duryodhana's
arrogance was based on his confidence
that no one could defeat him as long as
Bhishma and Drona, who, he knew, were
under a moral obligation not to abandon
him, stood by him.



Vidura said that it would be a mistake for
Govinda even to enter the wicked man's
court. All, who knew Duryodhana and his
brothers, apprehended that they would
plot, through fraud and deceit, against
Krishna's life.



"What you say about Duryodhana is true.
I have not come here with any hope that I
would be able to secure a peaceful
settlement, but only in order that the
world might not hold me to blame. Have
no fear for my life," said Krishna.



The next morning, Duryodhana and
Sakuni came to Krishna and informed him
that Dhritarashtra was waiting for him.
Govinda went to the court along with
Vidura.



As Vasudeva came into the court, that
great assemblage of kings stood up.
Saluting the elders with folded hands and
with a word or a smile for the others,
Krishna took his seat. The introductions
over, Govinda rose from his seat and,
turning to Dhritarashtra explained the
object of his visit. He made clear what the
Pandavas wanted.



"Dhritarashtra, do not bring ruin to your
people. You regard as bad what is good
for you and as good what is bad. It is your
duty to restrain your sons. The Pandavas
are prepared for war but they desire peace.
They wish to live in happiness under you.
Treat them also as your sons and devise
an honorable solution, and the world will
acclaim you," said Krishna.



Dhritarashtra said: "My friends know that
I am not to blame. I desire precisely what
Madhava has stated but I am powerless.
My wicked sons do not listen to me.
Krishna, I entreat you to advise
Duryodhana."



Krishna turned to Duryodhana and said:
"You are the descendant of a noble line.
Pursue the path of dharma. Your present
thoughts are unworthy and befit only men
of low birth. On account of you, this
famous line is in danger of being
destroyed. If you listen to reason and
justice, the Pandavas themselves will
install Dhritarashtra as king and you as the
heir apparent. Make peace with them by
giving them half the kingdom."



Bhishma and Drona also pressed
Duryodhana to listen to Govinda. But
Duryodhana's heart could not be softened.



"I pity Dhritarashtra and Gandhari whom
Duryodhana is dooming to bereavement
and desolation by his misdeeds," said
Vidura.



Dhritarashtra once again said to his son:
"If you do not listen to Govinda's advice,
our race will perish."
Drona and Bhishma also tried repeatedly
to persuade Duryodhana and turn him
from error. Duryodhana was furious with
everyone for pressing him in this matter to
agree to a peaceful solution. He rose, and
said:



"Madhusudana, you wrong me out of love
for the Pandavas. The others here also
blame me, but I do not think I am one
whit to blame in this matter. The
Pandavas, of their own volition, staked
their kingdom at play and, being defeated,
justly forfeited it. How am I responsible
for it? Losing the game, they went to the
forests as in honor bound. For what fault
of mine do they now seek battle and wish
to slay us? I will not yield to threats.



When I was young, the elders did us
grievous wrong by giving the Pandavas, I
do not know why, a part of the kingdom
to which they had not a shadow of a right.
I acquiesced then but they lost it at play. I
refuse to return it to them. I am utterly
blameless. I will not give the Pandavas an
inch of land, not even a needle-point of
it!"



When Duryodhana said that he had not
committed wrong, Govinda laughed and
said: "The play was fraudulently arranged
by you in conspiracy with Sakuni and you
afterwards insulted Draupadi in an
assembly of princes. And yet, you have
the impudence to say that you have
committed no wrong," and reminded him
of the other iniquities he had perpetrated
against the Pandavas.



Duhsasana seeing that Bhishma and others
were accepting Krishna's indictment of
Duryodhana said: "Brother, it seems that
these people have a plot to bind you with
ropes and hand you over to the Pandavas.
Let us get away from here," and
Duryodhana, accompanied by his
brothers, walked out of the court.



Govinda addressed the court again and
said: "Sires, the Yadavas and Vrishnis live
happily, now that Kamsa and Sisupala are
dead. In order to save a whole people, it is
some times necessary to sacrifice an
individual. Does it not happen
occasionally that a village is abandoned in
order that the country may be saved? I am
afraid you will have to sacrifice
Duryodhana if you want to save your race.
That is the only way."



Dhritarashtra said to Vidura: "Bring farsighted
Gandhari here. It is possible that
Duryodhana might listen to her."
Gandhari was sent for and, when she
came to the court, Duryodhana was sent
for.



Duryodhana, his eyes red with anger,
returned and Gandhari tried by all the
means in her power to bring him round to
reason. Duryodhana said 'No' and again
walked out of the hall.



He and his friends had plotted to seize
Krishna. News of this reached the court.
Govinda, who had anticipated all this,
laughed and disclosed his divinity.
The blind Dhritarashtra, by the grace of
Krishna, temporarily regained his sight
and was able to see Krishna in his
Visvarupa presence in every form.



"Pundarikaksha, (lotus-eyed Krishna)
having seen your Visvarupa, I do not wish
to see anything else. I ask that I should be
blind again," said Dhritarashtra, and he
became blind again. "All our efforts have
failed. Duryodhana is obstinate," said
Dhritarashtra to Govinda.



And Krishna rose and, with Satyaki and
Vidura on either side of him, left the
court.



He went straight to Kunti. He told her
what had happened and she asked him to
convey her blessings to her sons.
"The time has come," said she, "for that
for which a kshatriya woman brings forth
sons. May you protect my sons!"



A kshatriya mother brings forth children
to be sacrificed in war. Purushottamat
(Krishna as Supreme Being) got into his
chariot and sped towards Upaplavya. War
became a certainty.


NEXT :-57. ATTACHMENT AND DUTY


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