TWENTY-TWO
Across the green world flashed the news that the Pandavas had returned. In every kingdom, north and south, east and west, kings and commoners alike spoke of nothing else. A current of excitement surged through the holy land and everyone speculated, what would Duryodhana do next? Would he return their kingdom to his cousins?
Meanwhile, the Matsya king gave the Pandavas another city within his borders in which to live, to be their home for the time: excellent Upaplavya. Once they settled in Upaplavya, in relief that their exile was over, Yudhishtira sent messengers to all those he loved. The first ones he sent word to were Krishna and Drupada. He said to them that the ajnatavasa had ended and Abhimanyu would marry the princess Uttaraa in the Matsya kingdom.
The Yadavas were the first to arrive in Upaplavya. Yudhishtira and his brothers, Virata and his sons and brothers, all went out to the city-gates to receive them. Balarama alighted from his chariot and Virata and Yudhishtira came forward to embrace him. The other Pandavas and Virata's family greeted Balarama. The second chariot from Dwaraka drew up and in it rode he whom they had all been waiting for: Krishna arrived with Subhadra and Abhimanyu.
As always, Yudhishtira was overwhelmed when he saw Krishna and he wept. They embraced and the Pandava said, "The exile is over and now that you have come, I leave everything else in your hands. Krishna, I bless our exile for one reason: it has made me more certain than ever that our fate always rests in your hands and our future depends on what you decide. My Lord, I submit to you, do whatever you will."
Krishna's eyes were not dry, as he hugged his cousins one by one, Arjuna clinging to him. At last, Draupadi came and stood before him. She only said, "Krishna."
Then she knelt before him, her tears flowed and neither of them could speak for a while. Krishna took her hands and raised her up. Softly, he said, "Dry your eyes, O queen, the time for tears is past. Let me see you smile. You have such a lovely smile, to light up the very world. Do you remember what I promised you, thirteen years ago in the Kamyaka vana, when you had just been banished? I always keep my word, Panchali. I intend to cure your sorrow, whatever saddens you."
Even as they spoke Drupada arrived and with him, Dhrishtadyumna and Shikhandi. Drupada had also brought the other Pandava-putras with him. Draupadi had not seen her sons for thirteen years and they were all young men now. With a cry, she clasped them to her. She sobbed for joy and bitterly, as well, for the thirteen years of motherhood of which Duryodhana had robbed her.
Virata said, "Let us not stand here for ever, the city has been waiting to receive all of you. Come, let me welcome you to Upaplavya."
Once they were in the city, their hearts turned to the wedding and for the moment, the past was forgotten. There were many arrangements to be seen to still, for a host of friendly kings would soon begin to arrive with their armies. Everything was perfect on the day of Abhimanyu's wedding to the princess Uttaraa. Like a flame, himself, was that young lion as he sat before the sacred fire and another flame was his bride.
Dhaumya was there as chief priest for the occasion, grave and radiant, as he intoned the mantras that joined two lives as one, forever. The wedding of Abhimanyu and Uttaraa was like a dream, almost too good to be true. Krishna and Arjuna sat next to each other. All that day had a wonderful auspiciousness about it, as if the sun of fortune rose again on the Pandavas, after the long night of their trials. They cherished the solemn ceremony deeply, as they perhaps could not have, had they not tasted privation and shame these thirteen years.
Yet, even while the wedding was underway there was a certain tension among the other kings who had come here at Yudhishtira's invitation. All of them knew the very future of Bharatavarsha must soon be decided. What would Yudhishtira do now? And Duryodhana?
None of the royal guests breathed a word of those momentous matters today. This was the day when Arjuna's son Abhimanyu married Virata's delectable daughter Uttaraa. And how splendid the kalyana mantapa was: with Balarama and Krishna there, like the Sun and the Moon and the others like stars around them. Upaplavya was like Indra's Amravati; Draupadi and Subhadra were queens of the palace and Sudeshna their sakhi. Enchantment was in the air and bright, whispering petals fell out of the Devas' realms, to bless the young couple.
Abhimanyu looked into his bride's eyes and saw a love there so strong it startled him. When the last mantras had been chanted and they were man and wife, singing and dancing broke out in the palace and in the streets and never paused for a week.