PAANDAVAAS TOOK VOW

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > ANU DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 76 - PAANDAVAAS TOOK VOW

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘Then the defeated Paarthaas (Paandavaas) prepared for their exile into the forest. They, one after another, in due order, removing off their royal garments, dressed themselves in deer-skins. Duhshaasana, seeing those punishers of enemies, dressed in deer-skins and deprived of their kingdom and ready to go into exile, exclaimed ‘The absolute sovereignty of the Mahatama son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana) has commenced. The sons of Paandu have been defeated and plunged into great pain. Now, we have attained the goal either by broad or narrow paths. For today becoming superior to our enemies in point of prosperity as also of duration of rule have we become praiseworthy of men. Paarthaas (Paandavaas) have all been plunged by us into everlasting hell (Naraka in Sanskrit). They have been deprived of happiness and kingdom for ever and ever. They who, proud of their wealth, laughed mockingly at the son of Dhritarashtra (Duryodhana), will now have to go into the forest, defeated and deprived by us of all their wealth. Let them now put off their multi-coloured coats of armour, their magnificient garments of divine make, and let them all attire themselves in deer-skins according to the stake they had accepted of Saubala (Shakuni). They who always used to boast that they had no equals in all the world, will now know and regard themselves in this their calamity as grains of sesame (Thil in Hindi) without the kernel. Although in this dress of theirs the Paandavaas seem like to wise and powerful persons installed in a yagna, yet they look like persons not entitled to perform yagna, wearing such a guise. The wise Yagnasena (King Drupada) of the Somaka race, having given his daughter – Paanchaali – on Paandavaas, acted most unfortunately as the husbands of Yaagnaseni (Draupadi) these Paarthaas are as eunuchs. O Yaagnaseni, what joy will be yours upon seeing in the forest these your husbands dressed in skins and thread-bare rags, deprived of their wealth and possessions. You elect a husband, whomsoever you like, from among all these present here. These Kurus assembled here, are all forbearing, self-controlled, and possessed of great wealth. You elect one amon these as your lord, so that these great calamity may not drag you to wretchedness. The Paandavaas now are like grains of sesame (Thil in Hindi) without the kernel, or like show-animals encased in skins, or like grains of rice without the kernel. Why should you then longer wait upon the fallen Paandavaas? Useless is the labour used upon pressing the sesame grain devoid of the kernel!’

“Thus did Duhshaasana, the son of Dhritarashtra, utter in the hearing of Paandavaas, harsh words of the most cruel meaning. Hearing them, the impatient Bhima, in angry suddenly approaching that prince (Duhshaasana) like a Himalayan lion upon a jackal, loudly and severly criticised him in these words, ‘Wicked-minded villain (Kroora in Sanskrit), you blabber so in words that are uttered alone by the sinful. You boast thus in the middle of the kings, as you are advanced by the skill of the king of Gaandhaara. As you pierce our hearts here with these your arrowy words, so shall I pierce your heart in battle, recalling all this to your mind. Also, they who from anger or greed are walking behind you as your protectors, I shall also send them to the abode of Yama with their descendants and relatives.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘To Bhima dressed in deer-skins and uttering these words of anger without doing any thing, for he could not deviate from the path of Dharma, Duhshaasana abandoning all sense of shame, dancing around the Kurus, loudly said, ‘O cow! O cow!’ (Gau, Gau in Sanskrit)

“Bhima at this once more said, ‘Wretch (Kroora in Sanskrit), how dare you, O Duhshaasana, use harsh words as these? Whom will boast, thus having won wealth by foul means? I tell you that if Vrikodara, the Paarthaa, does not drink your life-blood, piercing open your chest in battle, let him not attain to regions of blessedness. I tell you truly that by slaying the sons of Dhritarashtra in battle, before the very eyes of all the warriors, I shall pacify this anger of mine soon enough.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘As the Paandavaas were going away from the sabha, the wicked king Duryodhana from excess of joy mimiced by his own steps the playful lion-like walk of Bhima. Then Vrikodara, half turning towards the king (Duryodhana) said, ‘Do not think, you fool, that by this you gain any ascendency over me, I shall soon slay you with all your followers, and answer you, recalling all this to you mind.’ Seeing this insult offered to him, the mighty and proud Bhima, suppressing his rising anger and following the steps of Yudhishthira, also spoke these words while going out of the Kaurava court, ‘I will slay Duryodhana, Dhananjaya (Arjuna) will slay Karna, and Sahadeva will slay Shakuni – that gambler with dice. I also repeat in this sabha these proud words which the Devas will assuredly make good, if ever we engage in battle with the Kurus, I will slay this wretched (Paapam in Sanskrit) Suyodhana (Duryodhana) in battle with my mace (Gada in Sanskrit), and making him fall on the ground I will place my foot on his head. As regards this (other) wicked person, Duhshaasana, who is fearless in speech, I will drink his blood like a lion.’

“Arjuna said, ‘O Bhima, the resolutions of superior men are not known in words only. On the fourteenth year from this day, they shall see what happens. The earth shall drink the blood of Duryodhana, Karna, Duraatma Shakuni, and Duhshaasana that makes the fourth. O Bhima, I will, as you direct, slay in battle this Karna so hostile, jealous, harsh-speeched and vain. For doing what is agreeable to Bhima, Arjuna vows that he will slay in battle with his arrows this Karna with all his followers. I will send to the regions of Yama also all those other kings that will from foolishness fight against me. The mountains of Himavat might be removed from where they are, the maker of the day (Divaakara in Sanskrit) lose his brightness, the moon (Soma in Sanskrit) his coldness, but this vow (Satyam in Sanskrit) of mine will ever be cherished. All this shall assuredly happen if on the fourteenth year from this, Duryodhana does not, with proper respect, return us our kingdom.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘After Arjuna had said this, Sahadeva – the handsome son of Maadri, filled with great energy, desirous of slaying Shakuni, waving his mighty arms and sighing like snake, exclaimed, with eyes red with anger ‘You disgrace of the Gaandhaara kings, those whom you think as defeated are not really so. Those are sharp-pointed arrows from whose wounds you have run the risk in battle. I shall certainly accomplish all which Bhima has said broadcasting to you with all your followers. If therefore you have anything to do, do it before that day comes. I shall assuredly slay you in battle with all your followers soon enough, if you, O Saubala (Shakuni), stayest in the light pursuant to the Kshatriya Dharma.'

“Then, O monarch (Janamejaya), hearing these words of Sahadeva, Nakula the handsome of men spoke these words, ‘I shall certainly send to the abode of Yama all those wicked sons of Dhritarashtra, who desirous of death, driven by Fate, and also moved by the wish of doing what is agreeable to Duryodhana, have used harsh and insulting speeches towards this daughter of Yagnasena (Draupadi) at the gambling match. Soon enough shall I, at the command of Yudhishthira and remembering the wrongs to Draupadi, make the earth devoid of the sons of Dhritarashtra.’

“Vaishampaayana continued, ‘Those tigers among men, all endued with long arms, having thus pledged themselves to virtuous promises (Pratignyaa in Sanskrit) approached king Dhritarashtra.’”