NINE
Duryodhana saw his father terrified and he rose in sorrow. “Why are you so afraid, my lord? The news Sanjaya brings about the Pandava army is nothing new to me. I am aware they have a vast and powerful host. But our cousins have been in exile for thirteen years, while we have prepared for this war. Father, do you think me a fool that I am not aware of what we are going into?
No, I remember my own anxiety of thirteen years ago, when dark Krishna, Satyaki, Drupada and Dhrishtadyumna went to meet Yudhishtira in the Kamyaka vana. They had mustered an army for him. They saw the Pandavas wearing deerskin and tree-bark and they told Yudhishtira to march on Hastinapura straightaway and take back his kingdom. If he had listened to them, we would have been finished. For then, all the kings of the earth were against us; only this loyal Karna was on my side.
I heard an army had gathered near the Kamyaka aranya and I was afraid. I went to Acharya Drona and I said, ‘What will we do if they attack us now?’
Drona said, ‘Don’t be afraid, Duryodhana. Any one of us, Bheeshma, Kripa or I, can defeat them. When he took the princesses of Kasi, your Pitama vanquished an army by himself. With Bheeshma on your side, you need never fear.’
My lord, even when the Pandavas had all the kings of Bharatavarsha with them and we had none, Drona said we would beat them. Today I have more friends than they do and I have nurtured my friendships. Our cousins have been in the wilderness for thirteen years and they have been all but forgotten. They are like some dim memory now, their power barely real any more. If they have seven aksauhinis, I command eleven. Moreover, most of those who will fight for them are their own blood: which is seldom any guarantee for having the best warriors.”
He paused and his lip curled. “As for Bheema, father, I am the better mace-fighter. I have spent hours, every day, perfecting my skills. Even when we were students, our guru Balarama would always say, ‘Duryodhana is my best sishya. He is my equal, none of you others can touch him.’ Bheema knows I am better than he is and so do Krishna and Arjuna.
As with everything else, my cousin is a crude mace-fighter. He has brute strength but few finer skills. I long to meet him on the field! I have loathed Bheema since we were boys. He always thought he and his brothers were superior to everyone else. I look forward to the moment when we come face to face and I smash his soft head like a melon. After Bheema is dead, even I will be able to kill Arjuna. The Pandavas’ spirit will break and we will rip through them.”
As he spoke, Duryodhana paced the sabha like a lion in his prime. Honor and morale were at stake here; this was as crucial a moment as the hour of battle. It was here, in this sabha, that he would win the hearts of his own kshatriyas; here that he would exorcise the specter of fear that Sanjaya, Drona and Bheeshma had raised among the Kurus. Hearing his son so assured, Dhritarashtra stopped trembling.
Duryodhana had not finished. “And then how can you be afraid, when you think of our own army? Only a coward would predict defeat for us after he has seen my legions.”
The Kaurava’s voice rose, “My lord, Bheeshma is with me! Bheeshma of the awesome vow, Bheeshma of the boon that death will come to him only when he summons it. Is Bheeshma just any man, that these Pandavas dare challenge us? He, by himself, can raze our cousins and their army. But we also have Drona! Was Drona born like an ordinary man? He is the Acharya of us all and he fights on our side. No sishya is greater than his guru, not even Arjuna.
Shall Aswatthama, born by Siva’s grace, whom many say is an amsa of the Lord, be conquered in battle? Can Acharya Kripa be defeated? No! These men could oppose the legions of Devaloka. Yet, even having such heroes with us, we seek to set fear among ourselves. I say to you, the Pandava army will not defeat us; but we will vanquish ourselves, before battle is even joined.”
Briefly, his face was dark. “Then, I have Karna with me. I know there are those in this sabha who differ, but Parasurama Bhargava said that Karna is his equal. My Pitama says Karna is not powerful, any more, because Indra came to him like a beggar and Karna gave the Deva his kavacha and kun-dala. But what Bheeshma does not know is that Karna had something from Indra in return; something he would not have taken, except for his love for me. Karna has Indra’s Shakti.”
A murmur arose in the sabha. Duryodhana cried, “And yet, like women, we let fear rule us? Listen to me, all of you, my loving friends. Let me name some of the warriors who will fight on our side and then decide if your hearts still quail at the thought of the Pandavas.
Hear their names: Bheeshma, who by himself would do for the enemy, Drona, Kripa, Aswat-thama, peerless Karna, Baahlika, Brihadratha, Bhagadatta, Shalya, Sala, Vinda, Anuvinda, Jayadratha, my hundred brothers led by my ferocious Dusasana, Shakuni and I myself. I have eleven aksauhinis against their seven. I ask you, should I spend sleepless nights, as Sanjaya wants, in terror that we shall be defeated, when my reason cries out that victory will be ours? No! I am no coward. I will not give in to the Pandavas. We will fight and I will win!”
There was some applause in the Kuru sabha, especially from those close to Duryodhana. Dhrit-arashtra sat much straighter in his throne and there was a proud smile on his lips to listen to his masterful son. Sensing the tide of opinion turn in his favor, Duryodhana pressed on.
“Why should I tremble at the decrepit Virata’s name, when the tameless Trigartas are with me? Susharma smashed Virata’s chariot and seized him. Susharma will crush the old Matsya again for me. Will Arjuna fight all the Trigartas by himself? Ah, my father, be at peace. Listen to your own counsel, as you always have, because you are wiser than those who presume to advise you. I tell you, I will win the war!”
Duryodhana went back to his place and sat down, amidst loud cheering from all the Kuru sabha, except Bheeshma, Drona, Sanjaya and a few others. Dhritarashtra’s fear had not left him entirely and the king said, “I have a last question for you, Sanjaya. Tell me, are the sons of Pandu as confident as my son? Are they prepared for war? Do they also feel that victory will be theirs?”
Sanjaya laughed. “They are better prepared than we are. Yet, they are not eager for bloodshed as your son is. Yudhishtira begged me to prevent the war if I could. Shall I tell you what the Pandava said?
‘Sanjaya, go back and say to Duryodhana, “Because of you, cousin, we have suffered in exile as you cannot begin to imagine. More than anything, it is what you did to Panchali that we cannot forgive. But you are our blood and we do not want war with you; I only want my kingdom back. Why, Duryodhana, even if you don’t give me back my kingdom, I still do not want this war. I shall be content with just five towns.
Give me Indraprastha, Vrikaprastha, Jayanta, Varanavrata and a fifth of your choosing and I will be satisfied. Why should we make war on each other? Let brothers live as brothers and fathers not be riven from their sons. The Kauravas and the Pandavas are one blood; let us live in peace. Cousin, for the sake of peace I will give up my kingdom. I have no wish to be the cause for eighteen aksauhinis slaughtering one another. But these five towns you must give me.”
Sanjaya, I have no secrets. Look over our forces if you wish and see what they are. But then, go back to Hastinapura and tell Bheeshma and Dhritarashtra that, if it is fought, this war shall be the end of the rule of the kshatriyas on earth, regardless of who wins or loses.’
So I went among those legions, I spoke to kshatriyas and common soldiers. I asked them who would be their Senapati and I learnt that it would most likely be Dhrishtadyumna. However, they have not decided yet and there is to be a council to make the choice.
But I did learn that their plans for war are carefully laid. They have even agreed among themselves which of them will kill which of us.”
Sinking swiftly back into fear, Dhritarashtra whispered, “How is that?”
“Shikhandi has chosen Bheeshma for himself.” The Pitama felt a tremor, as of fate. He saw Amba’s face before his eyes. Sanjaya knew the Pandavas’ plans well. “To keep his vow, Bheema will hunt Duryodhana and his brothers. Arjuna has marked Karna, Aswatthama and Jayadratha. The Kekaya brothers say they will kill their cousins who have joined Duryodhana. The Malavas and Salvas will confront the Trigartas. Abhimanyu, who bears both Arjuna’s and Krishna’s blood in his veins, has chosen the Kosala king Brihadbala and Duryodhana’s sons to be his prey. Dhrishtadyumna will stalk Drona, with the Pandavas’ sons to help him. The fire-born prince swears he will kill the Acharya and fulfil his destiny. Satyaki is furious with Kritavarman for joining Duryodhana and swears to kill him. Sahadeva means to keep his oath and have Shakuni’s life and Nakula Uluka’s.
My lord, they are well prepared for war. The thirteen years of exile have strengthened their bodies and spirits, while your sons have lived in luxury’s soft lap. The Pandavas have no doubt that, since dharma and Krishna are both with them, victory also shall be theirs.”
Once more, cold terror gripped Dhritarashtra. His voice unsteady, he said, “You are right, Sanjaya. We shall all die if we don’t give Yudhishtira back his kingdom.”
Duryodhana cried angrily, “My lord, how can you let fear move you so easily? It is the only way we can lose this war and that is exactly what the Pandavas intend: to frighten you with their cunning talk of peace and dharma. Can’t you see they are afraid? Here they are, agreeing to settle for just five towns and you speak of us losing the war to them!”
But after last night’s encounter with Vidura and Sanat-sujata, Dhritarashtra was not convinced by his son. Weak with fear, he said, “War is a great evil, as Yudhishtira says. How can we think of sacrificing so many lives for our selfishness, our greed? It is not dharma that we keep a kingdom that belongs to Pandu’s sons. Duryodhana, listen to me, I speak from love. Neither you nor I will profit from keeping what is not ours. Turn away from evil, it is still not too late. The world will praise us and we shall have our honor back.
It is harder to seek peace at this stage, I know. But just think, Duryodhana, all these kings gathered here, who have come with their armies because they love you: in their hearts, they would much rather not fight this war. If you make peace with the sons of Pandu, every one of these kshatriyas will bless you.
Duryodhana sprang up and cried furiously, “Very well! None of these kings need stay and fight for me. Let them all leave and take their legions with them. No one here need fight for me. I have Dusasana and I have Karna. The three of us are enough to demolish the Pandava army!
Hear me clearly, my lord, all of you: I will never return their kingdom to the Pandavas, not all of it, not five towns, not five villages. Why, I will not give them land to cover the point of a needle! I have heard enough craven talk of peace. I want no peace with them. I want war. I have always wanted war with my cousins. I want to see them dead!”
Silence fell on the sabha. In a lower voice, Duryodhana went on, “Of course, Yudhishtira wants peace, but not for any reason of dharma, as he makes out; he wants peace because he is afraid. He begs me for just five towns. I can easily give him what he asks. But if I give him even a speck of earth, I would be admitting that he is right and I am wrong.
Once, I used to admire Yudhishtira. I thought he was wise, that he was brave and noble. Now he sends word begging five towns to escape fighting a war. Yudhishtira, who was lord of the earth! Exile has broken his spirit, if he ever had any. These Pandavas are cowards and I do not respect them any more. They are not fit to rule one village, let alone five towns, or a kingdom. I will give them nothing, except battle!”
Vidura rose and said, “Do you believe Yudhishtira is a fool, because he is gentle? Haven’t you noticed for which towns he has asked? He doesn’t for a moment believe you will give him what he asks. He knows you will refuse and there will be war. But by naming just these towns, he is reminding you and the wise men of this sabha, of the trail of the Pandavas’ suffering.
Vrikaprastha, first: Pramanakoti where, Duryodhana, you poisoned Bheema and pushed him into the river. Varanavrata, where you had Purochana build the house of lac. Indraprastha, the wasteland you gave them, Dhritarashtra, as their patrimony. Jayanta: Duryodhana, you have not forgotten the sabha you built in envy of the Mayaa sabha, after you came home from the Rajasuya; the sabha that was your pretext for calling the Pandavas to Hastinapura for the game of dice.
The trail that led to exile; are you so dull that you can’t see what Yudhishtira is saying to you? He says, ‘After all you have made us suffer, you say I must be patient. Who is there as patient as I am? But now, the fifth town I leave to your choice. If you do not give me Indraprastha, I shall take Hastinapura. If you don’t give me back my kingdom, we will have war.’“
Dhritarashtra breathed, “He is not afraid, but angry! Arjuna befriended Agni Deva when the Khandava vana burned. The God of fire will help the Pandavas against us. Arjuna fought his father Indra for Agni’s sake and now Agni will burn the Kauravas to repay his debt.
Have we all lost our wits that we forget who these sons of my brother Pandu truly are? They are no blood of ours, but Devaputras! Won’t Dharma, Indra, Vayu and the Aswins help their natural sons? They are Gods; how will we resist them? Why, Varuna has already given Arjuna the Gandiva.”
Dhritarashtra was beside himself, almost raving. “When Bheema met his brother on the mountain, Hanuman swore he would sit on Arjuna’s banner. The Gods are with the Pandavas and we are on the side of darkness. We have no hope of winning this war; my sons will all die. No! We do not want this war with the Pandavas. We must give back his kingdom to Yudhishtira.”
Duryodhana was on his feet, roaring, “Father! How can you be so sure the Devas are with the Pandavas? The Gods are indifferent to our petty quarrels. They have no attachments or enmities in earthly affairs; we are too far beneath them. If Indra, Vayu, Dharma and the Aswins were concerned about their sons, would they have waited before avenging them? Thirteen years is a long time.
Perhaps, as you say, they have dharma with them. But shall we fear them just for that? Dharma is with me, as well. I have been a good king, our people will tell you as much. The rains fall in season over our kingdom and my subjects are not poor or unhappy. Ask my friends, they will tell you I am loyal and loving. How can the Gods judge a king like me harshly? No Deva is against us, be certain that we shall win this war.”
With that and sudden tears stinging his eyes, Duryodhana walked out of his father’s court. The next moment, Karna was up and had followed his friend. Then, in a show of solidarity, the other kings and princes all stood up, as a man and went after the Kaurava. Slowly, Bheeshma and Drona also left. Dhritarashtra was left alone with Sanjaya. The king sat in his throne, sobbing.