FIFTY-ONE
Vidura was overjoyed when he heard the news. He went straight to Dhritarashtra. Either he could never really believe his brother was party to what had happened in Varanasi, or he wanted to rub a little salt in the guilty king's wounds. Vidura walked into the chamber of private audience and said, "My lord, I bring the most wonderful news!"
Dhritarashtra knew Duryodhana had gone to Kampilya to vie for the hand of the princess whose dark beauty was a legend throughout Bharatavarsha. His heart blazing up in hope, he cried, "Tell me the news, Vidura!"
"Twice blessed is the House of Kuru."
"Ah!"
"Call for a celebration. Drupada's daughter has become part of our family."
"Well done, Duryodhana!"
"Duryodhana, my lord?"
"Yes, surely he won Draupadi's hand?"
Vidura laughed. "Perhaps I heard the good news before you. Haven't our spies told you yet?"
Instantly, the king's face was a mask; not even his brother could see through him when he was like this. A smile flickered on his lips, though this was a very different smile, if one could read it: one to hide the doubt that gripped him. Dhritarashtra said slowly, "No spies from Kampilya have come to me yet. Tell me, Vidura, you are dithering."
Vidura took his brother's limp hand.
"Kunti and her sons are not dead. Arjuna won the lovely Panchali's hand. And all five of them have taken her for their wife, as in the old days."
Not a twitch of his palm betrayed anything of what Dhritarashtra felt. The bland smile still played on his face, though it took all his guile to keep it there. He said mildly, "Good fortune indeed! Let our goldsmiths make the finest ornaments for the princess. Let those ornaments be set with the most precious jewels in my treasury. The sons of Pandu are as dear to me as they were to my dead brother. No, truly, they are dearer to me than to him: for I have watched them grow here in Hastinapura. Drupada is a formidable ally to have. He is a more powerful king than ever and his kinsmen are strong, especially his sons."
He paused for a moment, then, asked very softly, "But tell me Vidura, how did they escape that terrible fire? And where have they been since?"
"The people are saying they died in the fire and were reborn miraculously in a far country. And for a while they roamed the earth as brahmanas, not knowing who they were."
"Is that what they are saying?" mused the king.
Suddenly, the passage outside rang with footfalls, as two grim warriors strode along it and into the king's presence. Riding hard, they had just arrived from Kampilya, where they had been humiliated by some brahmanas. Duryodhana and Karna entered the king's chamber.
Dhritarashtra was saying to Vidura, "Ah, today is the happiest day of my life. Not only have my brother's sons returned to me alive, they come bringing a beautiful bride and the alliance of her great father and brother. Which king in Bharatavarsha would not be proud to have Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna for his kinsmen?"
Duryodhana and Karna stood stunned. Vidura nodded to them briefly, triumphantly. He said to the king, "May such wisdom always dwell in your heart, my lord. Now your son has come to see you and I will leave you together. I must visit the jewelers for Draupadi's trousseau." He turned and left the royal presence.
Dhritarashtra ordered his guards to leave them. When they had gone, he held out his hand to his son. At first, Duryodhana did not take it.
Dhritarashtra said softly, "You misunderstand me again, my child. Karna, explain to him that what a king says is not always what he feels in his heart. My son is too hotheaded. He becomes angry without considering why I spoke to Vidura as I did."
"Why did you, father?" cried his son.
"Why should I let Vidura, who loves the Pandavas, know how I truly feel? Least of all, I will make him privy to my feelings. Let him think that I, too, am a kindly old fool. So when I strike, he will be taken unawares. But what do you intend now, that the enemy has escaped your fire?"
Duryodhana knelt before his father. He took the king's hand and kissed it. He said, "I misunderstood you, my lord. Forgive me, I am upset. That bungling fool Purochana let us down. My cousins are back among the living and more powerful than ever by marrying Drupada's daughter."
"You cannot recall what is past; think what you will do next. Have you a plan? The Pandavas know we are their enemies, they are dangerous now."
Duryodhana was bristling with plots; he listed them excitedly. "Let us drive a wedge of envy between the sons of Kunti and Madri's twins: have our agents poison Nakula and Sahadeva's minds. We can bribe Drupada, Dhrishtadyumna and their ministers in Kampilya. Buy them with whatever wealth it takes."
Neither Dhritarashtra nor Karna said anything, so he plunged on to his next plan.
"We will send our subtlest spies to Kampilya and they shall befriend the Pandavas. Our men will win their confidence and fill their minds with how dangerous it will be for them to return to Hastinapura, since we, their enemies, are so well prepared. They must be convinced the Panchala kingdom is the safest place for them to remain."
Still, Karna and the king said nothing. Duryodhana had not exhausted his plots to be rid of his cousins. He had thought of nothing else, since he heard they were still alive.
"What if we have them seduced by the most beautiful women we can find in our kingdom and turn Draupadi against them? Discord sown within the home is best of all. Break their hearts first, then finish them off!"
No reaction came from his father or his friend. Duryodhana said, "But the finest plan and the one nearest my heart, is to kill Bheema. Snare him with friends, wine and treachery and cut his throat. The Pandavas are nothing without their beast.
Even Arjuna's assurance is three parts because Bheema stands behind him and just one because of his own skill. Arjuna by himself is not a fourth the archer our Karna is. With Bheema at his side, he feels invincible. I say kill Bheema and victory is ours."
His voice was tremulous when he thought of killing Vayu's son. Dhritarashtra was quiet and Karna shook his head doubtfully. Duryodhana cried, "You are shaking your head, Karna! Have you a better idea?"
"These devious plans won't rid you of the Pandavas. You forget that now they are bound not only by Kunti, but by dark Panchali as well. You will never divide them. As for seducing them with women, you saw Draupadi: what man who sleeps in her bed would even look at another woman?
As for Pnchali herself, she chose them when they were poor; she will not abandon them. Besides, a woman always likes have more than one husband and now she has five.
Buying Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna with wealth you can forget. Drupada is known for his frugality and so is Dhrishtadyumna. They are not men you can buy.
As for killing Bheema, I am certain that after Varanasi the Pandavas are on their guard against treachery. No, my friend, none of these schemes will work. Besides, they are worthier of your uncle Shakuni than a kshatriya like you. There is only one sure way for us: the way of the warrior. Let the future not say Duryodhana was a coward.
I hear Krishna of Dwaraka may come to Kampilya with his Yadava army, to help Yudhishtira take Hastinapura. I am told the Yadavas are hardly mortal and that any of them, especially Krishna's own blood among them, could easily have shot the matsya yantra; but Krishna forbade them to compete. We must arrive in Kampilya before the Yadava legions do.
Duryodhana, the direct way is the best one. We have such great kshatriyas in our army. Why should we resort to women's methods? Aren't you with us and I and your hundred brothers? You yourself say Arjuna is not my equal. Let us kill them in open battle and then rule the world without remorse."
Karna also trembled with what his fiery nature yearned for: battle, savage and honorable. But now, Dhritarashtra said, "Karna, you speak as every warrior should. Yet, I am not certain yours is the best course. We have to contend with the people of Hastinapura; by now, they have heard the Pandavas are alive. We have to take Bheeshma, Drona and Vidura with us on this matter. We cannot act alone."
Surprisingly, Duryodhana agreed, "So be it. But let us not waste time."
Duryodhana and Karna had already anticipated that, after Varanasi, Dhritarashtra would insist on having the elders of Hastina with him. If there was to be a confrontation, the two friends were prepared for it. Between them, they had agreed it would be politic for Karna to espouse the cause of war in the court. It would keep Duryodhana in the background and, at this stage, that was wise.
The king said, "If you are ready, I will call the sabha."
"We are ready," said Duryodhana and Karna together.
Dhritarashtra sent a guard to summon an immediate council of elders and ministers in the king's court. Duryodhana and Karna retired to a corner to confer in whispers, of which Dhritarashtra missed not a word with his acute hearing. In half an hour, the guard returned to say the sabha was sitting and awaited the king.
"Come," said Dhritarashtra, "let us go. Only, remember I cannot show open support for your cause yet. But the day will come, I feel sure it will."
He did not speak with any enthusiasm. Their young blood alight for swift action, they followed him through the lofty passages of the palace to the hallowed sabha of the Kurus.