DURYODHANA TUMBLED DOWN

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > SABHA PARVA > DYOOTA PARVA > CHAPTER 46 - DURYODHANA TUMBLED DOWN

“Vaishampaayana said, ‘That bull among men, Duryodhana, continued to stay in that sabha (of the Paandavaas). With Shakuni, the Kuru prince slowly examined the whole of that sabha, and the Kuru prince saw in it many divine designs, which he had never seen before in the city called after the elephant (Haastinapura). One day, king Duryodhana in going round that sabha came upon a crystal surface. The king, from ignorance, mistaking it for a pool of water, drew up his clothes. Afterwards finding out his mistake, the king (Duryodhana) wandered about the sabha in great sorrow. Sometime after, the king, mistaking a lake of crystal water adorned with lotuses of crystal petals for land, fell into it with all his clothes on. Looking Duryodhana fallen into the lake, the mighty Bhima laughed aloud and also the servants of the palace. The servants, at the command of the king, soon brought him dry and handsome clothes. Looking the plight of Duryodhana, the mighty Bhima, Arjuna and both the twins (Nakula and Sahadeva) – all laughed aloud.

“Being unused to putting up with insults, Duryodhana could not bear that laugh of theirs. Concealing his emotions, he (Duryodhana) did not even gave his looks on them. Looking the monarch, once more drew up his clothes to cross a piece of dry land which he had mistaken for water, they all laughed again. The king (Duryodhana) sometime after mistook a closed door made of crystal as open. As he was about to pass through it his head struck against it, and he stood with his brain go in circles. Mistaking as closed another door made of crystal that was really open, the king in attempting to open it with stretched hands, tumbled down. Coming upon another door that was really open, the king thinking it as closed, went away from it. O monarch (Janamejaya), king Duryodhana seeing that vast wealth in the Raajasooya yagna and having become the victim of those numerous mistakes within the sabha at last returned, with the leave of the Paandavaas, to Haastinapura.

“The heart of king Duryodhana, pained at sight of the prosperity of the Paandavaas, became inclined to sin, as he proceeded towards his city thinking on all he had seen and suffered. Seeing the Paandavaas happy with all the kings of the earth paying homage to them, and also everybody, young and old, engaged in doing good to them, and also thinking about the splendour and prosperity of the illustrious Paandavaas, Duryodhana – the son of Dhritarashtra, became pale. In proceeding (to his city) with a pained heart, the prince (Duryodhana) thought of nothing else but that sabha and that unrivalled prosperity of the wise Yudhishthira. Duryodhana – the son of Dhritarashtra, was so taken up with his thoughts then that he spoke not a word to Subala’s son (Shakuni) even though the latter addressed him repeatedly. Shakuni, seeing him absent-minded, said, ‘O Duryodhana, why are you proceeding thus?’

“Duryodhana replied, ‘O uncle, seeing this whole earth owning the rule of Yudhishthira in consequence of the might of the illustrious Arjuna’s weapons and also seeing that yagna of the Paarthaa (Yudhishthira) like to the yagna of Shakra (Lord Indra) Himself of great glory among the Devas; Being filled with jealousy and burning day and night, I am being dried up like a shallow tank in the summer season. Look, when Shishupaala was slain by the chief of the Saatwatas (Sri Krishna), there was no man to take the side of Shishupaala. Consumed by the fire of the Paandavaa, they (other Kshatriyas) all forgave that offence; otherwise who is there that could forgive it? That highly improper act of grave consequence done by Vaasudeva (Sri Krishna) succeeded in consequence of the power of the illustrious Paandavaa. So many monarchs also brought with them various kinds of wealth for king Yudhishthira, the son of Kunti, like tribute-paying Vaishyaas! Looking Yudhishthira’s prosperity of such splendour, my heart burns, pained with jealously, although it is my duty not to be jealous.’

“Having thought in this way, Duryodhana, as if burnt by fire, addressed the king of Gaandhaara (Shakuni) again and said, ‘I shall throw myself upon a flaming fire or swallow poison or drown myself in water. I cannot live. What man is there in the world possessed of strength who can bear to see his enemies in the enjoyment of prosperity and himself in poverty? Therefore, I who bear to see that accession of prosperity and fortune (in my enemies) am neither a woman nor one that is not a woman, neither also a man nor one that is not a man. Looking their sovereignty over the world and vast affluence, and also that (Raajasooya) yagna, who is there like me that would not smart under all that? Alone I am incapable of acquiring such royal prosperity; nor do I see allies that could help me in the matter. It is for this that I am thinking of self-destruction. Looking that great and serene prosperity of the son of Kunti (Yudhishthira), I regard Fate as supreme and efforts as fruitless. O Saubala (Shakuni), formerly I tried to achieve his destruction. But blocking all my efforts he has grown in prosperity like the lotus from within a pool of water. It is for this that I regard Fate as supreme and efforts as fruitless. Look, the sons of Dhritarashtra are decaying and the sons of Pritha (i.e. sons of Kunti) are growing day by day. Looking that prosperity of the Paandavaas, and that sabha of theirs, and those servants laughing at me, my heart burns as if it were on fire. Therefore, O uncle (Shakuni), know me now as deeply grieved and filled with jealousy, and speak of it to Dhritarashtra.’”