BRAHMANAS ON STRIKE

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > ANU DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 80 - BRAHMANAS ON STRIKE

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Defeated at dice, after the Paandavaas had gone to the forest, Dhritarashtra, O king (Janamejaya), was overcome with anxiety. While, he (Dhritarashtra) was seated restless with anxiety and sighing in grief, Sanjaya approaching him said, ‘O lord of the earth, having now obtained the whole earth with all its wealth and sent away the Paandavaas into exile, why is it, O king, that you grieve so?’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘What is there not to grieve for who will have to encounter in battle those bulls among warriors – the Paandavaas – fighting on great chariots and aided by allies?’

“Sanjaya said, ‘O king (Dhritarashtra), all this great hostility is inevitable on account of your mistaken action, and this will assuredly bring about the wholesale destruction of the whole world. Prevented by Bhishma, by Drona, and by Vidura, your wicked-minded and shameless son Duryodhana sent his Soota messenger commanding him to bring into court the beloved and Dharmic wife of the Paandavaas. Devas first deprive that man of his reason to whom they send defeat and disgrace. It is for this that such a person sees things in a strange light. When destruction is at hand, evil appears as good to the understanding polluted by sin, and the man adheres to it firmly. That which is improper appears as proper, and that which is proper appears as improper to the man about to be overwhelmed by destruction, evil and wrongdoing are what he likes. The time that brings on destruction does not come with upraised club and smash one’s head. On the other hand, the peculiarity of such a time is that it makes a man see evil in good and good in evil. The wretches have brought on themselves this terrible, wholesale, and horrible destruction by dragging the helpless princess of Paanchaalaa into the sabha. Who else than Duryodhana – that false player of dice could bring into the sabha, with insults, the daughter of Drupada, filled with beauty and intelligence, and knowledgeable with every rule of Dharma, and did not sprung from any woman’s womb but from the sacred Agni? The beautiful Krishna (Draupadi), then in her (menstrual) season, attired in one piece of stained cloth when brought into the sabha cast her eyes upon the Paandavaas. She saw them, however, robbed of their wealth, of their kingdom, of even their attire, of their beauty, of every enjoyment, and plunged into a state of bondage. Bound by the tie of Dharma, they were then unable to exert their prowess. Before all the assembled kings, Duryodhana and Karna spoke cruel and harsh words to the distressed and enraged Krishna (Draupadi) undeserving of such treatment. O monarch (Dhritarashtra), all this appears to me as foreboding fearful consequences.’

“Dhritarashtra said, ‘O Sanjaya, the glances of the distressed daughter of Drupada (Draupadi) might consume the whole earth. Can it be possible that a single son of mine will live? The wives of the Bharatas, uniting with Gaandhaari upon seeing Dharmic Krishna, the wedded wife of the Paandavaas, filled with beauty and youth, dragged into the sabha, set up frightful wail. Now, along with all my subjects, they weep every day. Enraged at the ill treatment of Draupadi, the Brahmanas in a body did not perform that evening their Agnihotra yagna. The winds blew mightily as they did at the time of the universal dissolution. There was a terrible thunder-storm also. Meteors fell from the sky, and Raahu by swallowing the Sun unseasonably alarmed the people terribly. Our war-chariots were suddenly ablaze, and all their flagstaffs fell down foreboding evil to the Bharatas. Jackals began to cry frightfully from within the Agnihotra-chamber of Duryodhana, and donkeys from all directions began to bray in response. Then Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Somadatta and the Maharatha Baahlika, all left the sabha. It was then that at the advice of Vidura, I (Dhritarashtra) addressed Krishna (Draupadi) and said, ‘I will grant you boons, O Krishna (Draupadi), indeed, whatever you would ask?’

“Paanchaali there begged of me the liberation of the Paandavaas. Out of my own motion, I then set free the Paandavaas, commanding them to return (to their capital) on their chariots, with their bows and arrows. It was then that Vidura told me, ‘This will prove the destruction of the Bharata race – this dragging of Krishna (Draupadi) into the sabha. This daughter of the King of Paanchaalaa is the faultless Sree (Mahalakshmi) Herself. Of divine origin, she is the wedded wife of the Paandavaas. The angry Paandavaas will never forgive this insult offered to her. Nor will the mighty bowmen of the Vrishni race, nor the mighty warriors among the Paanchaalaas suffer this in silence. Supported by Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) of unbaffled prowess (Satyaabhisanghena in Sanskrit), Arjuna will assuredly come back, surrounded by the Paanchaalaa army. That mighty warrior among them, Bhimasena filled with surpassing strength, will also come back, whirling his mace (Gada in Sanskrit) like Yama himself with his club. These kings will scarcely be able to bear the force of Bhima’s Gafa. Therefore, O king, not hostility but peace for ever with the sons of Pandu is what seemeth to me to be the best. The sons of Pandu are always stronger than the Kurus. You know, O king (Dhritarashtra), that the illustrious and mighty king Jaraasandha was slain in battle by Bhima with his bare arms alone. Therefore, O bull of the Bharata race (Dhritarashtra), it is your duty to make peace with the Paandavaas. Without hesitation of any kind, unite the two parties, O king (Dhritarashtra). If you act in this way, you are sure to obtain good luck, O king (Dhritarashtra).

“It was thus, O son of Gavalgani (Sanjaya), that Vidura addressed me in words of both Dharma and Arthaa. I did not accept this counsel, moved by affection for my son.’”