Krishnavatara VII: The Book of Yudhishthira Page 7

  The young Rakshasa did not know how to fold his hands and Bhima had to adjust his palms before they could be brought under control.

  ‘What is the matter?’ Ghatotkacha asked his father.

  Bhima replied: ‘The venerable Muni is coming. Pay your respects to him’.

  ‘Mother gave me to understand that you were the greatest man in the world,’ said Ghatotkacha.

  ‘I agree with your mother,’ Bhima admitted indulgently. ‘But we can’t convince these people all at once.’

  Ghatotkacha immediately realized that the Master was the old man who, his mother had told him, had taken away his father from her.

  Bhima whispered to Ghatotkacha that he must fall at the feet of the Master.

  Ghatotkacha grumbled: ‘Mother can’t be wrong’.

  ‘Fall at his feet,’ said Bhima patting him on the back.

  ‘All right, all right,’ grumbled Ghatotkacha. ‘Mother says: don’t do so. Father says: do so. What am I to do? Well, father is present here and mother is not. So I will obey him.’

  As Ghatotkacha tried to offer a salutation by prostrating himself, untrained as he was to such a ceremony, he tumbled over. The diadem which he was wearing on his hairless head, fell off.

  When they saw Ghatotkacha was trying to catch it, himself laughing, everyone caught the infection and began to laugh.

  Yudhishthira perhaps for the first time in his life, laughed like a little boy, caught the diadem and tried to put it on the hairless head of this strange addition to his family.

  Still laughing, Ghatotkacha turned to his father and said in Rakshasi: ‘That uncle,’ he pointed a finger at Sahadeva—he delighted in mischievously calling Sahadeva ‘that uncle’—said I must wear it, because I am the son of King Vrikodara. If mother had been here, she would have thrown it away. But everybody here says ‘obey’ and Ghatotkacha obeys’.

  Bhima translated what the young Rakshasa had said.

  Yudhishthira said, turning to Bhima, that Ghatotkacha need not wear the crown. ‘We shall make him another one.’

  When this was translated to Ghatotkacha, he said turning to Yudhishthira: ‘This uncle is more sensible than that one,’ pointing to Sahadeva.

  When this was translated, Ghatotkacha turned to his father and grumbled: ‘It was that uncle,’ he pointed to Sahadeva, ‘who forced me to put on this thing. I have no hair on my head as you all have. Perhaps my hairless head might be considered as a diadem I am born with’. He laughed at his own joke; so did the others when Bhima translated this remark.

  Immediately he was surprised to hear the Muni addressing him in his own language. ‘My son, I am glad you are here. You were in my lap, drinking milk and honey when I last saw you. My blessing’. The Master patted him on the back and extended his hand in blessing.

  The young Rakshasa handed over the diadem to his father and prostrated himself, and Bhima had to help him to rise.

  ‘How did you fare, my son?’ the Muni asked. ‘You were asked to go to the land of the Rakshasas across the sea to make friends with its kings. What did you do there?’

  Ghatotkacha began to like the Master. ‘Oh! That uncle there,’ he again pointed to Sahadeva, ‘sent me to Lanka to make friends with the Rakshasa king. I went; I told them how powerful my father was; how nice my uncle ruling over Indraprastha was’. Then he looked at Sahadeva whimsically and said: ‘That uncle there tutored me properly. The King then gave all kinds of presents—baby elephants, ivory and many things, I forgot how many’.

  After the elders expect Bhima had left, Ghatotkacha became the centre of interest; the baby giant had made a great impression upon the youngsters. The sons of all the Five Brothers who clustered round Bhima, asked: ‘Is he our brother of whom you told us?’

  ‘Of course, he is,’ replied Bhima. He then turned to Ghatotkacha and in the Rakshasi speech said: ‘These are all your brothers’.

  ‘Are all these brothers!’ exclaimed Ghatotkacha. ‘And so little’. The young Rakshasa was so tickled at having these tiny boys as his brothers, he could not help laughing.

  Bhima took Ghatotkacha to the women’s apartment and introduced him to Draupadi and Jalandharaa. ‘These are your mothers’.

  The young Rakshasa was again overcome by a fit of laughter. He thought the whole thing was a joke.

  ‘These are my mothers!’ exclaimed Ghatotkacha. ‘Ha, ha, my little mothers. I had one mother,’ he began to count on his fingers. ‘This is the second mother. That is the third mother. The other women sitting here are all my mothers?’ Again he burst into explosive laughter; all this was a huge joke.

  ‘Now don’t laugh too much. You will burst,’ said Bhima patting him on the back.

  ‘I have been laughing all the time that I have been here.’

  ‘For the moment, three mothers are quite enough for you,’ said Bhima joining Ghatotkacha in his laughter. Then Bhima took him outside and went to another part of the mansion where the young princes slept.

  ‘Is he going to sleep here with us? Supposing he becomes hungry and eats us up?’ inquired Sutrasoma.

  ‘Ghatotkacha,’ said Bhima, explaining in Rakshasi, ‘they inquire whether, while they sleep here with you, you will eat them up?’

  Ghatotkacha laughed. ‘Mother said obey: don’t eat men. I obeyed. Father says: don’t eat men, I obey. But I won’t sleep here with my little brothers on the ground. I will only be comfortable sleeping in a tree.’

  ‘Do what you think best,’ said Bhima. Turning to the other princes, he said: ‘Ghatotkacha is a very kindhearted boy, but you should remember that he is not accustomed to our ways.’

  After some time, Bhima came to see whether he was comfortable.

  On seeing his father, Ghatotkacha slid down to the ground. ‘Father, mother wanted me to tell you something when we were alone.’

  ‘All right, let us go and talk,’ said Bhima.

  When they came away from the other princes, he whispered into Bhima’s ear. ‘Have you any enemies, father?’

  Bhima could not help laughing. ‘Oh, I have enemies all round.’

  ‘Point them out to me tomorrow.’

  ‘Why do you want to know my enemies? You had better think of my friends.’

  ‘No, mother has asked me to kill all your enemies and I must obey’.

  ‘Oh, Great God!’ exclaimed Bhima. It would be a tragedy, he thought, if the young Rakshasa decided to go about killing all and sundry.

  Bhima patted the young Rakshasa on the back. ‘Don’t worry about my enemies. Prativindhya and Sutrasoma will always be with you.’

  ‘But, I have to obey mother. She said I should kill your enemies’, insisted Ghatotkacha.

  ‘But you yourself said some time back that you will obey your father as he is here. Therefore, you must obey me’.

  ‘All right. If that is what you say, I obey you. Now, may I go up the tree to get some sleep?’ asked Ghatotkacha.

  9. AGRAPUJA TO SHREE KRISHNA

  According to Yudhishthira’s instructions, Sahadeva sent messages to the kings and invited the Srotriyas, Rajanyas, leading traders, agriculturists and Shudras to attend the Rajasuya.

  Nakula was specially sent to Hastinapura to invite the Kuru elders and other prominent members of the family.

  Before the session began, the venerable Mother, Vatikaa, the spouse of the Master, the Kashi princesses and Mother Sharmi arrived with all the daughters-in-law who had been sent to bring them.

  Mother Sharmi, though old, soon bustled her way into becoming the chief organizer of the kitchen arrangements.

  The Master arrived, accompanied by hundreds of Srotriyas who could conduct the Rajasuya with appropriate chants and ceremonies.

  Susharma, the best of Srotriyas, took charge of the ceremonials connected with the Sama Veda. Yagnavalkya, who was the best ritualist in Aryavarta, was nominated the Adhvaryu. Dhaumya and Paila, the disciples of the Master, were nominated Hotas.

  The Srotriyas divided themselves into separate academies, and after the daily
ceremonies were over, discussed intricate points of doctrine and ceremonial. The Srotriyas were housed in new houses, constructed for them.

  Everyday crowds came to listen to the different Srotriyas who recited the glorious deeds of heroic ancestors. Dance and song also provided an attraction for the thousands of sightseers.

  The dining halls, under the control of Mother Sharmi, provided rich food for all, including the poor and the destitute. The Master, as was his habit, took his meal after the children were fed.

  The royal guests began to arrive, each with his own retinue of maharathis. Sishupal of Chedi and Dantavaktra of Karush arrived with a large number of retinue of maharathis. Sishupal acknowledged the cordial salutation of Yudhishthira haughtily and without cordiality.

  Krishna arrived with his father, Vasudeva, his brother, the mighty Balarama, and other Yadava chiefs. Yudhishthira received them affectionately, happy at the thought that, without a war, Krishna had obtained for him the friendship of so many leading kings from all parts of the country from the Himalayas to the shores of the sea.

  From Hastinapura came his venerable Grandfather Bhishma; Dhritarashtra; the highly respected Minister Vidura; Duryodhana and his brothers; King Sabal of Gandhara and his son, Shakuni; Karna and Aswatthama; Dronacharya and Kripacharya, the teachers who had initiated the Five Brothers and the Kauravas into the art and science of war.

  Yudhishthira had decided to make the Rajasuya an occasion for bringing about harmony between the Five Brothers and Duryodhana and his brothers.

  To show his confidence in the members of his family, he appointed them to key positions.

  Yudhishthira begged of Bhishma as the head of the Kuru House, and his guru, Dronacharya, to oversee all the arrangements.

  Aswatthama, the son of Dronacharya, was requested to receive the Srotriyas and look after them. King Duryodhana was requested to receive the presents from the guests, a position implying great confidence. Yudhishthira hoped that this would be reciprocated by their cousins.

  He appointed Dushasana, the brother of king Duryodhana, and Sanjaya, the Minister of Hastinapura, to look after the royal guests.

  Kripacharya, the revered teacher, was entrusted with the work of evaluating the gold and jewellery presented.

  The Minister Vidura, wise and far-sighted was appointed to look after the disbursements of the valuables.

  Krishna took upon himself the sacred duty of washing the feet of the learned Srotriyas. He was the centre of attraction; if he happened to attend a discussion, he would even take part in it with learned ease.

  Yudhishthira was mightily pleased that things were going on smoothly. But sometimes he was disappointed at the attitude of some of the Princes who did not appreciate the significance of the Rajasuya.

  Of all of them, Sishupal was the most difficult to please. In spite of the years, he had never forgotten that Krishna, his cousin, had carried away his bride, Rukmini, and did not even acknowledge the greetings which Krishna offered him. He had been a close associate of Jarasandha’s and out of overweening conceit, had never cared to assess the position which Krishna had attained to in the life of the Aryas. But now after Jarasandha was eliminated, he saw the hand of his enemy in everything happening here.

  He was highly affronted at some of the guests, headed by Sahadeva of Magadha, treating Krishna like a divinity.

  When the planets were propitious, Yudhishthira was ceremoniously initiated as the yajaman, sacrificer. Then he went into the Hall of Sacrifice accompanied by the Rajanyas, where hundreds of Brahmans had already started the ceremony.

  On the first day at the end of the ceremony, Yudhishthira was crowned King of Indraprastha.

  On the second day, all the Strotriyas and Rajanyas were gathered in the Hall of Sacrifice. The God of Fire was worshipped by appropriate chants and oblations.

  Next was the important ceremony of offering agrapuja to a Muni or a King of the highest distinction constituting him the guardian of the sacrifice. The atmosphere was surcharged with tension.

  Sishupal and his friends expected that the choice would fall upon him.

  When it was announced that the auspicious moment had come, Bhishma turned to Yudhishthira. ‘My son, the ancient canons prescribed that when the auspicious moment comes, the sacrificial sessions shall begin with your offering agrapuja to the Muni or Rajanya of the highest distinction.’

  Yudhishthira’s heart missed a beat. This would lead to terrible disaster, he sensed. Sishupal and his friends clearly had decided to play a prominent role in the Rajasuya. Left to himself, he would have liked to offer the agrapuja to Bhishma, the oldest and the most respected of Rajanyas. The fact that he had foresworn the throne of Hastinapura only added to his moral stature. Yudhishthira paused for a moment and said: ‘I am ready to offer my greetings to whomsoever you suggest. But you are the most respected of Rajanyas……’

  Before he could complete the sentence, Bhishma intervened with a laugh: ‘I am your grandfather, the head of the house of the Bharatas, and I am glad you have left the matter to me.’

  Bhishma needed no time to make a choice. Krishna alone deserved to be worshipped. Without his guidance, the Kurus would have been destroyed, the Five Brothers would have been nowhere. Without his assistance, they would not have been able to marry Draupadi, or forge an alliance with King Drupad; but for his eliminating Jarasandha, the Arya world would not have survived. He paused, moved his hand over his beard.

  There was complete silence in the Hall of Sacrifice.

  ‘The greatest among us in valour, learning and wisdom’, said Bhishma, ‘who recently saved Dharma from collapse is….’

  Everyone felt the fateful moment had come.

  ‘…….Krishna Vaasudeva. He should be offered the agrapuja’.

  There were loud shouts of ‘sadhu,’ ‘sadhu,’ ‘Victory to Vaasudeva,’ from the Srotriyas and most of the Rajanyas.

  Sahadeva approached Krishna with offerings, washed his feet, placed the kum-kum mark on his forehead, performed the aarti by waving the light before him and offered him agrapuja. The decision of old Bhishma was welcomed by the Srotriyas led by the Master, who began to chant invoking the Gods for their blessing.

  Drupad of Panchala, Sahadeva of Magadha and many Rajanyas enthusiastically shouted: ‘Victory to Sri Krishna’.

  When the enthusiastic shouts abated, the Master stepped forward to where Krishna was seated and placed his hands on Krishna’s head. ‘May the Gods help you to be the Sasvat-dharma-gupta, the savior of eternal dharma.’

  Following his lead, the Srotriyas chanted Vedic mantras for peace.

  When the invocation for peace was finished, there was complete silence, which was shattered by king Sishupal.

  ‘I will not be a party to this sinful affront,’ he shouted.

  10. THE CHAKRA

  Sishupal was consumed by a terrific rage. His hands trembled; his eyes were bloodshot.

  When Sishupal could control his excitement, he addressed the Grandfather in a defiant tone. ‘Son of Shantanu, son of Ganga, in having the cowherd worshipped by agrapuja, you have been subservient to the Five Brothers. You have forsaken the righteous path for selfish ends.’

  After a pause, he continued: ‘Krishna is not a king. If you wanted to find a suitable Yadava, you could have selected his father, Vasudeva. If you wanted to find a king, old in years, king Drupad was here. If you wanted a hero who is a master both of Shastric lore and the art of war, Aswatthama was here. If you wanted to honour a venerable sage, Muni Dvaipaayana was here’.

  He then turned to Krishna and said: ‘Son of Vasudeva, you are greedy, ambitious and deceitful. The Five Brothers, out of cowardice, have paid you an undeserved honour. If you were an honourable man, Krishna, you would have refused this undeserved honour.’

  Saying this, Sishupal left his throne and so did his friends.

  Yudhishthira went up to Sishupal and in his most persuasive tone said: ‘Valiant son of Damakhosh, is it far to abuse the revered Bhishma, so noble and so v
aliant, who has been the living embodiment of kshaatra-tej?’

  Bhishma, by a restraining gesture, stopped Yudhishthira from speaking further and intervened, thinking that Sishupal, if handled tactfully, would allow the Rajasuya to be performed without a break.

  ‘Noble son of Damakhosh,’ he said,’ let not your anger cloud your vision. Think for a moment. What we have done is proper. We will adore Vaasudeva. He has rescued Arya dharma from one crisis after another. However, if you believe that we have been unfair to you or to those who think in the same way as you do, you can go your way. Leave us to go ours.’

  The Rajanyas felt that something terrible was happening. They left their seats and crowded round Bhishma, Krishna, the Five Brothers, Sishupal and Sunith.

  Sahadeva, who never spoke without being spoken to, departed from his usual habit.

  ‘King of Chedi’, he said, ‘let those who are against the agrapuja offered by me stand aside or depart. Let us complete the Rajasuya; all the Srotriyas and Rajanyas except a few desire to do it.’

  Sishupal turned to the Rajanyas who had gathered round him in support and said: ‘Noble Rajanyas, we will break up this Rajasuya; nullify the coronation of Yudhishthira and disown the agrapuja of the cowherd.’ His friends nodded assent.

  Sishupal was so excited that words continued to come from his mouth in a torrent. Pointing to the revered Grandfather, he continued: ‘You, son of Ganga which receives men indiscriminately—your words—are all false; so has your whole life been.’

  With withering contempt, he continued: ‘You claim that your Brahmacharya –celibacy is inviolate. This claim is made only to screen your importance. Today you will meet the desperate end you deserve.’

  Krishna, who was standing near Yudhishthira, came and stood beside Bhishma. Sishupal turned to him and said ‘by murdering your uncle and patron, Kamsa.’

  ‘You prompted this butcher,’ he said pointing to Bhima, to kill Jarasandha by a trick. Why are you here? You have no place among the Rajanyas’.