YUDHISHTHIRA – THE REASON FOR WAR

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 45 - YUDHISHTHIRA – THE REASON FOR WAR

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘When that foremost of yagnas, the Raajasooya so difficult of accomplishment, was completed, Vyaasa surrounded by his disciples presented himself before Yudhishthira. Yudhishthira, upon seeing him quickly rose from his seat, surrounded by his brothers, and worshipped the Rishi (Vyaasa) who was his grand-father, with water to wash his feet and the offer of a seat. The respected one (Vyaasa) having taken his seat on a costly carpet inlaid with gold, addressed Dharmaraja Yudhishthira and said ‘Take your seat.’ After the king had taken his seat surrounded by his brothers, the illustrious Vyaasa, truthful in speech said, ‘O son of Kunti, you grow from good fortune. You have obtained imperial rule so difficult of acquisition. O preserver of the Kuru race, all the Kauravas have prospered in consequence of you. O Emperor, I have been duly worshipped. I desire now to go with your leave!’

“Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, thus addressed by the Rishi of dark colour, saluted his grandfather and touching his feet said, ‘O chief of men, a doubt difficult of being dispelled, has risen within me. O bull among Dwijas, except you there is none to remove it. The illustrious Rishi Naarada said that (as a consequence of the Raajasooya yagna) three kinds of omens – divine, atmospherical and earthly ones happen. O Pitaamaha, have those omens been ended by the fall of the king of the Chedis (Shishupaala)?’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Hearing these words of the king (Yudhishthira), the noble son of Paraasharaa, the island-born Vyaasa of dark colour, spoke these words, ‘For thirteen years, O king (Yudhishthira), those omens will bear mighty consequences ending in destruction, O king of kings, of all the Kshatriyas. In course of time, O bull of the Bharata race (Yudhishthira), making you the only cause, the assembled Kshatriyas of the world will be destroyed, O Bharata (Yudhishthira), for the sins of Duryodhana and through the might of Bhima and Arjuna. In your dream, O king of kings, you will see towards the end of this might the blue throated Bhava (Lord Shiva), the slayer of Tripura, ever absorbed in meditation, having the bull for His mark, drinking off the human skull, fierce and terrible, that lord of all creatures, that Devadeva, the husband of (Devi) Uma, otherwise called Hara and Sarva, and Vrisha, armed with the Trishul and the bow called Pinaaka, and attired in tiger skin. You will see (Lord) Shiva, tall and white as the Kailaasa mountain and seated on His bull, gazing non-stop towards the direction (south) presided over by the king of the Pitris. This will be the dream you will dream today, O king of kings. Do not grieve for dreaming such a dream. None can rise superior to the influence of Time. Blessed be you! I will now proceed towards the Kailaasa mountain. You rule the earth with vigilance and steadiness, patiently bearing every hardship!’”

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Having said this, the illustrious and island-born Vyaasa of dark colour, accompanied by his disciples ever following the dictates of the Vedas, proceeded towards Kailaasa (mountain). After the grand-father had thus gone away, the king pained with anxiety and grief, began to think continuously upon what the Rishi has said. He said to himself, ‘Indeed what the Rishi has said must come to pass. Will we succeed in protecting off the fates by efforts alone?’ Then Yudhishthira filled with great energy addressing all his brothers, said, ‘O tigers among men, you have heard what the Dwaipaayana Rishi (Vyaasa) has told me. Having heard the words of the Rishi, I have arrived at this firm resolution viz., that I should die, as I am ordained to be the cause of the destruction of all Kshatriyas. O my dear ones, if Time has intended so what need is there for me to live?’

“Hearing these words of the king (Yudhishthira), Arjuna replied, ‘O king, do not yield yourself to this terrible depression that is destructive of reason. Gathering bravery, O great king, do what would be beneficial.’ Yudhishthira then, firm in truth, thinking all the while of Dwaipaayana’s (Vyaasa’s) words answered his brothers thus, ‘Blessed be you. Listen to my vow from this day. For thirteen years, what ever purpose have I to live for, I shall not speak a hard word to my brothers or to any of the kings of the earth. Living under the command of my relatives, I shall practise Dharma, demonstrating my vow. If I live in this way, making no distinction between my own children and others, there will be no disagreement (between me and others). It is disagreement that is the cause of war in the world. Keeping war at a distance, and always doing what is agreeable to others, evil reputation will not be mine in the world, O bulls among men.’

“Hearing these words of their eldest brother, the Paandavaas, always engaged in doing what was agreeable to him, approved of them. Dharmaraja Yudhishthira, having pledged so, along with his brothers in the middle of that assembly, pleased his priests and also the Devas with due ceremonies. O bull of the Bharata race (Janamejaya), after all the monarchs had gone away, Yudhishthira along with his brothers, having performed the usual auspicious rites, accompanied by his ministers entered his own palace. O ruler of men (Janamejaya), king Duryodhana and Shakuni, the son of Subala, continued to stay in that delightful sabha.’”