TWELVE
Krishna walked into Duryodhana’s palace and it was more opulent than Dhritarashtra’s. In his garish sabha, Duryodhana sat on a golden throne, with Shakuni, Karna and Dusasana around him. They all rose when Krishna entered and Duryodhana came forward, smiling, to welcome the Blue One. There was a place, lower than Duryodhana’s throne, set apart for Krishna, a silk-covered chair inlaid with ivory and precious stones. Krishna allowed himself to be led to it.
Duryodhana said, “Welcome to our palace, Krishna. Honor me by sharing a meal with us.”
Krishna replied, “I must decline your invitation for the moment, Duryodhana.”
The Kaurava’s eyes flashed. “You wound me, Krishna. Why won’t you eat with us? We have arranged music and dancing for you, as you love. Our cooks prepared a feast, but you went straight to Vidura’s home. Why?”
“A messenger may not eat until the task he has come for is fulfilled.”
“That hardly matters! I have heard you say you are impartial in the dispute between the Pandavas and ourselves. We are fond of you, Krishna; there is no enmity between you and me. When you go to Upaplavya you stay with the Pandavas, don’t you?”
There was an inscrutable look in Krishna’s eyes. He said, “I fear you will make me say things I never meant to, Duryodhana. One eats in another man’s house out of friendship, goodwill, or necessity; none of these applies between us. I do not care for the feast you have made for me; I never eat in a thief s home because his food is polluted. And I am not starving that I need your hospitality.”
Duryodhana’s eyes blazed. Krishna would not be interrupted, though he spoke equably still, “As for the Pandavas, I do not hold you and them in equal regard. The truth is, Duryodhana, I am the soul of the sons of Pandu. They are mine in a very special way, because they are men of truth. You have shown, repeatedly, that you detest them; often enough, you have tried to have them killed. You banished them by deceit, humiliated them in your sabha and now you refuse to give back what is theirs. You are my enemy, Duryodhana and I will not eat in an enemy’s house. I will eat in Vidura’s home, because he is a friend who loves me.”
Krishna’s voice and his presence were suddenly so awesome that even Duryodhana was tongue-tied. Smiling still, Krishna got up and walked out of that palace.
He strolled down the open street and the people ran to him, to greet him, to clasp his hand or offer him a flower. Bheeshma and Kripa came out and said, “Krishna, we have a palace ready for you to stay in.”
He answered them, “You are too kind, my lords, but I am going to stay with Vidura.”
They stared at him; but he waved to them and walked on to Vidura’s home. Vidura washed Krishna’s feet himself, in some ecstasy that the Avatara had chosen his home to stay in. It was late afternoon. They ate together and then Krishna said, “I am a little tired. I would like to rest for an hour.”
“Your rooms are ready, Krishna, I will show you to them.”
When Krishna had slept, he rose and bathed and now night had fallen. He went out to join Vidura. When they sat together, sipping wine in an open courtyard, with fateful stars shining down on them, Vidura said slowly, “I think your coming here was a mistake, Krishna. Perhaps you don’t realize how far down the road to ruin Duryodhana has gone. He is bent on having war and nothing will stop him. He thinks he will win with superior numbers. He says he has Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa, Aswatthama, Karna and Jayadratha with him, besides his brothers and the other kshatriyas of the eleven aksauhinis. How can he lose? Most of all, he depends on Karna.
Ah, Krishna, how much I have tried to tell him that his sins are ranged against him and they will drag him down to his death. How often I have begged him to relent. Not just I, but the other elders of the court. But he won’t listen and Karna, Shakuni and Dusasana tell him to fight. They are so certain they will win the war. It is no use your trying to make peace; Duryodhana is in no mood to listen to wisdom.
I beg you, my Lord, don’t go to Dhritarashtra’s sabha. It is not a court of dharma any more. I fear they will insult you and the thought distresses me.”
Krishna said, “Vidura, I am touched by your concern. I have nothing to hide from you, so listen to why I have come. I have not come with much hope that my mission will succeed. Yet, it is my dharma to try to save the lives of these men, who seem so eager to die. If I do succeed, Vidura, I shall have glory; and even if I fail, no blame will attach to me. At least, I will be satisfied that I spared no effort in a good cause.
Every man can be redeemed. If a man has sinful thoughts, but does not translate them into evil deeds, no sin clings to him. So I pray it might be with the Kauravas. I read their hearts clearly and see the darkness in them. But there is always hope. Suppose, by a miracle, they decide to give back the Pandavas’ kingdom because of my embassy? All men deserve every chance to save themselves; Dhrit-arashtra and his son do, as well. Most of all, the House of Kuru deserves a final chance to save itself. If I did not do everything I can to stop this war, I would fail in my dharma.
So here I am, to try to drag Duryodhana and his brothers back from the edge of a chasm. As for Yudhishtira, he still says he wants peace. Vidura, I know you will understand me when I tell you that Yudhishtira is the greatest man born into this age. Most of all, I have come here for his sake. To clear his name of any taint, so the world will remember his greatness forever.
Let the people know that it is not just anyone whom Duryodhana has sinned against, but the truest, most compassionate man on earth. Let the kings who have flocked to Duryodhana’s serpent-banner know against whom they are going to war. Let them realize they mean to fight on the side of evil and let their arrogant hearts tremble a little.
Yes, this is why I have come: to let Bheeshma know and Drona and Kripa know and the others, that they clasped danger to their souls when they chose to fight against the sons of Pandu. They cannot escape this truth, let them see it clearly.”
Now Krishna sighed. “Ah, Vidura, how I wish this war could be avoided. I don’t think even Yudhishtira or you, or any of the others realize how terrible it will be. But I fear that not all our prayers can prevent it. I have come to make it clear on which side dharma lies and on which, adharma. That is my real mission. Gentle Vidura, you are the only Kuru in Hastinpaura on the side of truth. That is why I am staying in your home. But let us speak of other things, because tomorrow I must be fresh for what I have come to say, in Dhritarashtra’s sabha.”
Late into the night, they sat talking of many things: of Dwaraka, of awesome kings of the past and how rapidly the times diminished. Until they turned in to sleep, they spoke of anything but the war.