SIXTY-FIVE
A few days later, Balarma, Krishna, their wives and a company of Yadavas arrived in Indraprastha. Nakula and Sahadeva came to the gates to receive them.
The people of Indraprastha flocked into the streets to welcome the one who had raised their city in the wilderness. Of course, now that city was many times as populous as it had been when Krishna was last here, twelve years ago. Many of the Kurus had never seen the Dark One about whom they had heard so much, who lived in legendary Dwaraka on the sea and whom the world called the Avatara. The women of Indraprastha were excited. They crowded the balconies and rooftops and showered wildrose petals on him as he rode by in his chariot, waving to them.
The women saw he was handsomer than they had dreamt and even more mysterious. They favored him with sultry glances and inviting smiles; even shy housewives were strangely overcome. He smiled at them and the men of Indraprastha never noticed the intimate exchange.
At the palace, Yudhishtira, Bheema and Arjuna waited on the shining steps. Yudhishtira ran to Krishna like a child and embraced him; and then Bheema did and Arjuna. Balarama was warmly welcomed. Bheema, especially, was pleased his master had come. Ceremoniously, Balarama gave the gold and the ornaments seldom seen in the world, the thousand chariots, the thousand horses and the thousand virgins, all of which they had brought as Subhadra's dowry, to Yudhishtira.
Inside the palace, Kunti was waiting for them with Draupadi and Subhadra herself, looking radiantly happy. When they all sat together, Yudhishtira said, "I hope you have come to stay with us for some time."
Balarama replied, "Ten days we shall spend together, Yudhishtira and may they be joyful. But after that I must return home and the others with me."
There were protests from the Pandavas. "Why only ten days, after coming all the way from Dwaraka?"
Balarama held up his hand. "Let me finish, cousins. We Yadavas also have enemies we must fear and our women and children are at home. It would be dangerous to leave Dwaraka unprotected for more than ten days. If word goes abroad that Krishna and I are away, there are those that will seize their chance to attack our city." He paused, "But Krishna can remain here with you as long as he likes."
The Pandavas' faces lit up. A delighted Yudhishtira said, "You can't imagine how pleased I am."
Merry as always, Krishna replied, "I am happy to stay, Yudhishtira." He glanced at Arjuna and added cryptically, "These are momentous times and your city is the eye of the coming storm."
When they pressed him to explain, he would only say, "Everything will be made plain in good time; for time reveals all things to all men. Now we are hungry after our journey. We hear the cooks of Indraprastha are the finest in the world and wonder if they deserve their reputation."
Bheema sniffed the air and cried, "Food is served!"
Arm in arm and all of them except Krishna quite innocent of what the future held, they went in to the banquet prepared by the gifted cooks of Indraprastha's palace. Bheema had lured these men away from Hastinapura and almost every other kingdom. He wanted the cuisine to be exceptional and eclectic: and to please any guest that came to their city, even from the remotest corner of Bharatavarsha.
Krishna and Balarama were seated at the head of the king's table; and served in golden and silver dishes, the fare was every bit as delectable as reputed. Bheema glowed when he saw how his guests enjoyed the meal and he made a point of asking each Yadava if he liked the food. Bheema's appetite for compliments was as insatiable as it was for the food itself.
Ten days of swimming in the sparkling pools of Indraprastha, hunting in the forests around the city, feasts every evening supervised by the son of the wind, marvelous entertainment every night in the halls of the palace and in the open, music and dancing in courtyards where fountains plashed under the moon and the stars: ten perfect days and nights flashed by and too quickly it was time for Balarama to return to Dwaraka.
Yudhishtira and Bheema came to the older Yadava and pleaded with him to stay. And they were so keen and Balarama was having such an excellent time, that, when Krishna added his voice to theirs, his brother was persuaded to remain for another fortnight. But at the end of those fourteen days, it was time to go back. Balarama set out for Dwaraka, leaving Krishna behind with Yudhishtira and his brothers.
Colorful flags waving and a thousand conches booming under the sky, the force from Dwaraka set out for home, flowing over the land like another great river: with Balarama at its head and the legion of Yadava heroes behind him.