Vraja Kishor das when he was 5 years old

Blind King Dhritarashtra sat on a throne forged of worry, plagued by a question: "My sons stand upon the battlefield of Kurukshetra to wage war against the Pandavas. O Sanjay, What will happen to them?"

Gifted by the mystic Vyas, Sanjay could see and understand the happenings at far distant Kurukshetra, yet it was more difficult to understand the mind of the king sitting next to him. Why did Dhritarashtra say "my sons" and count the Pandavas as outsiders? The Pandavas were also his sons, placed in his care when their father King Pandu died untimely. And why ask, "What did they do?" He knew the hatred his sons cherished towards the Pandavas, and their willingness to cross all limits of morality. Could there be any doubt that they would fight to the death?

But a blind man perceives much in silence. The king therefore explained, "Of course my son Duryodhan is eager for war, but the battlefield of Kurukshetra is a religious place. Will it influence him? Will he repent his treacheries and desist from war?"

Surely this was an underestimation of Duryodhan's obstinacy. If even Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, and Vidur could not turn that wicked mind, What could inanimate Kurukshetra do? But the king had another, more realistic apprehension: "The Pandavas are righteous, and so is Kurukshetra. Though my sons have an invincible army I fear that pious Kurukshetra will favor the Pandavas with victory." He had good reason for this fear, because the truthful and righteous are always victorious in the end. Kurukshetra was to be the end of Duryodhan's evil. ( 1 ) Sanjay could only inform the king of Duryodhan's stern determination to perish:

"O King," he said, "after looking over the Pandava army your son went near Acarya Drona and spoke kingly words." Kingly words! The words of a politician always plot and fret for allegiance and loyalty. Duryodhan's words had difficult work:

His most powerful leaders and warriors - Drona, Bhishma, and Kripa - were righteous, virtuous people. Their allegiance to his impure ambition was frail and circumstantial. His kingly words now faced the ponderous task of confirming and solidifying their allegiance at this crucial moment. ( 2 )

"Acarya Drona," Duryodhan spoke as if to an audience, "behold the great militia of Pandu's sons!"

Pandu's sons - No one was dearer to Drona and Bhishma than Pandu's sons, whom they had personally trained as kings and warriors, and who were living symbols of truth, morality, and justice. They had no desire to fight and kill these dear grandsons and students. Duryodhan, however, could not let affection and leniency jeopardize his victory. He had to make Drona want to fight Pandu's sons, But how? "Behold this powerful army," he said, "so expertly arranged by your own studentI the son of Drupad."

Drupad!

No sound could send so fierce an echo through the halls of Drona's mind than the name of Drupad, his avowed enemy. By mentioning Drupad's son, who was born explicitly to kill him, Duryodhan hoped to fix this great man's heart on the war. ( 3 )

However expert Duryodhan's diplomacy may have been, Grandfather Bhishma did not like it. To be expert in the pursuit of immorality is worse than being a fool.

© CHAKRA 29-Nov-2003

Go to the “Philosophy Page”