FOUR
Duryodhana surveys the field of Kurukshetra, the ruin of kshatriya kind. He realizes what Vidura had meant when he said to him, “You will destroy the race of kings.”
Duryodhana’s head reels. He wonders if Vidura had seen, in his mind’s eye, the spectacle he now confronted himself. The Kaurava sits astride a horse, an animal wounded by many arrows. Then, even that beast folds under him and falls dead. Now he is truly alone. Sobbing like an orphaned child, when this final companion also left him, Duryodhana staggers away from Kurukshetra.
His mind ranges over the past eighteen days, but no grief touches his heart for the millions who had died for him. Only one face rises before his eyes: how Karna must have suffered when he knew the Pandavas were his brothers! Yet, he had not abandoned Duryodhana. Where would he find another Karna in this world? Nowhere, even if he lived a hundred lives. As he walks dimly on, hardly knowing where he goes, Duryodhana’s body begins to burn as if a rain of fire fell on him.
He sees a blue lake ahead. Then all he wants to do is cool the fire in his body in the water, to immerse himself forever. Eighteen days ago, he had six million men to fight his cause. Now Duryo-dhana has his mace in his hand and it is his only guardian. For a moment, he stands gazing at the lake, somehow unable to move into it yet.
Just then, Sanjaya comes running through that place. He stops still to see Duryodhana standing there, lost, his eyes full of tears. Before him is the man who was sovereign of the earth a few days ago.
Now he stands bereft, alone. His father’s sarathy approaches Duryodhana and says, “My lord, it is I, Sanjaya.”
Duryodhana turns slowly, like a dreamer. A smile lights his face and he embraces Sanjaya fervently. “Thank God you have escaped with your life!”
Duryodhana holds Sanjaya’s hand, as if it were his own sanity. Sanjaya says, “When they had finished killing all our soldiers, the Pandavas arrived in our camp to look for you. They found only me and Satyaki took me prisoner. When Dhrishtadyumna saw me, he began to laugh. He said, ‘What are you going to do with this poor fellow? What does it matter any more if he lives or dies?’ Satyaki growled, ‘I will kill him then.’
The Yadava raised his sword when, suddenly, Vyasa muni appeared there and said, ‘This man must not be killed; let him go back to Dhritarashtra.’ Reluctantly Satyaki released me and I ran away before he changed his mind.”
Sanjaya sees the blank look in Duryodhana’s eyes and cries, “But, my lord, I cannot bear to see you like this. I fear your mind is unhinged after what has happened.”
Duryodhana smiles, “Ah, Sanjaya, if only I could lose my mind! I would be spared this agony. Look at me now: I have no one left, no one to even cry for me. Why, I can hardly cry myself.”
Duryodhana falls silent for a moment, then, says, “Go to my father, good Sanjaya, tell him his son Duryodhana sent him a message. Tell him I have entered the Dwaipayana lake, because my body burns and I mean to submerge myself to cool my limbs. Anyway, of what use is my life when all my brothers and my friends are dead? And the Pandavas have won the war.
Sanjaya, tell my father I will never see him again in this world and say his son begs his forgiveness for all the grief I have caused him. He has always loved me and I am sure he will forgive me. Then go to my mother Gandhari and tell her that her Duryodhana says he is not fit to be the son of a great soul like her. Tell her that I, who have never bent before anyone in my life, now set my head at her feet and beg her forgiveness. And tell her I have just one prayer left: that in every life to come, I am born her son. Go now, my friend. I must cool my limbs for a while, ah, they are on fire! Let me enter the water before anyone else finds me. I must cool myself, Sanjaya, I must cool my burning body.”
Mace in hand, he walks slowly into the lake until it covers his head. He makes the blue water still above him; he knows the secret art of not breathing for as long as he wants. Sanjaya stands a moment, gazing sadly after him, then the sarathy turns and makes for Hastinapura again.
On his way, he meets Kripa, Kritavarman and Aswatthama. They say to him, “You are lucky to be alive, Sanjaya. Have you seen Duryodhana anywhere? Is he alive?”
Sanjaya tells them how Duryodhana had submerged himself in the Dwaipayana lake. “He said his body was burning and he needed to cool it.”
Aswatthama cries, “He thinks we are also dead. The four of us could still kill the Pandavas!”
Suddenly, they hear the voices of men coming toward them through the trees. It is some Pandava soldiers searching for Duryodhana and the four vanish into the forest.
Celebrations rule the Pandava camp. The war is won and Yudhishtira is lord of the earth. The cost has been stupendous, but victory belongs to them. Meanwhile, the Kuru princesses are sent home to Hastinaoura in palanquins and carts, the widows wailing, pulling their hair and raking their breasts with their nails. It takes the Pandavas a while to realize that Duryodhana is nowhere to be found; when they do, they send their men out in every direction to look for him.
Duryodhana’s horse is discovered, dead, but there is no sign anywhere of its master. They never dreamt he was a coward; yet, now, there is no trace of him and it seems he has run away. The Pandava soldiers comb the woods around Kurukshetra, but they do not find the Kaurava. Evening sets in and they return to Yudhishtira’s camp, having failed their mission.
When the enemy soldiers have gone, Kripa, Aswatthama and Kritavarman come quietly to the lake. They call, “Come out, Duryodhana, we three are alive.”
There is no reply. Aswatthama says, “The four of us can still win this war. The Pandavas have hardly any army left. If we win, you will be king; if we lose, we will find Devaloka for ourselves. Come out from the water and lead us to victory!”
For a moment, there is no answer. Then Duryodhana’s voice speaks to them softly from the lake. “I am so happy you are alive. Yes, my loyal friends, we will fight the Pandavas and kill them yet. But not tonight. Darkness has fallen and my body is on fire with the wounds I have received. I am exhausted and so are you and my mind is full of sorrow. The lake waters will revive me in the night; tomorrow we will fight the Pandavas again and destroy them. We shall win this war yet.
More than anything, I am moved that you are still loyal to me. I cannot think what I have done to deserve such love. That will suffice for me tonight; tomorrow, we will face the enemy.”
Aswatthama is impatient. “Why wait until tomorrow, my lord? Let us fight them now. I swear we will kill them all!”
The three do not notice the knot of vetalas, carrying loads of fresh meat from their hunt, who have come to Dwaipayana lake to drink its sweet water. The hunters move as silently as wild animals. They stand hidden in the trees, listening to every word Kripa, Kritavarman and Aswatthama say. At first, they wonder whom the warriors address. Then they hear Duryodhana’s ghostly voice float out of the silken water. Those hunters had heard the Pandavas are looking for Duryodhana, when they came across some of Yudhishtira’s men scouring the forest for the Kaurava.
They melt back into the jungle and run through evening’s shadows toward the Pandava camp. The hunters arrive at Bheema’s tent. The guards outside try to stop them, but they barge in. When Bheema hears their news, he brings the foresters to Yudhishtira.
Yudhishtira rewards the vetalas and sends them on their way. The Pandavas set out at once, with Krishna leading them. Dhrishtadyumna, Satyaki, Draupadi’s sons, Yuddhamanyu and Uttamaujas and Shikhandi go with them to the lake. The sun is low in the western sky; dusk is upon the world. Aswatthama hears the Pandavas coming. He says to Duryodhana, “The Pandavas are coming! We must hide.”
Duryodhana’s voice answers, “Go, my friends.”
Kripa, Kritavarman and Aswatthama run from the lake. They find a large banyan tree in the depths of the jungle and sink down under it, exhausted. They speak in whispers among themselves, “What will happen now, will they find Duryodhana?”
“Will he fight them, if they do, or will he remain under water?” “It all depends on what the sons of Pandu decide.”