The Complete Life of Krishna by Vanamali

Author:Vanamali
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Religion/Hinduism
ISBN: 9781594776908
Publisher: Inner Traditions Bear & Company
Published: 2012-05-21T21:00:00+00:00

While the Lord was thus engaged with Salva, momentous happenings were taking place at Hastinapura. At the emergency council meeting held by Duryodhana after his ignominious departure from the Maya Sabha, his friend Karna, to comfort him, proposed with his usual impetuosity that they should immediately march to Indraprastha and wipe out the Pandavas!

Shakuni said scornfully, “We will never be able to beat the Pandavas in an open battle, especially now, when they have the entire Bharatavarsha on their side. Though Karna is always boasting of his prowess, he has already been defeated once by Arjuna. So let’s not talk of battle. I have a plan that will deprive the Pandavas of all their possessions without shedding a drop of blood. Yudhishtira has a weakness for gambling, and I’m an adept at dice. If we can persuade him to accept a match on some pretext or other, I can assure you that I’ll deprive him of everything.”

Duryodhana was delighted by this simple solution to his problem and pestered his aged parent to send an invitation to the Pandavas. Since a pretext had to be found to invite them, a magnificent assembly hall similar to the Maya Sabha, but far inferior to it, was constructed. It was called the Jayanta Sabha, the Victory Hall. The invitation had to be sent through a person revered by the Pandavas or else they might not accept it, so Duryodhana persuaded his doting father to write the invitation and instructed his uncle Vidura to take the message. The latter protested in the most vehement terms when he was given the order.

“Why are you stooping to such an atrocity?” he asked his nephew “This will surely lead to your downfall. If you really covet the wealth of the Pandavas, you have only to ask them openly. I assure you that Yudhishtira will be happy to hand over everything to you and retire to the forest, and his brothers will never disobey him.”

Duryodhana was furious when he heard this and called his uncle an ungrateful wretch. “You eat our food and enjoy our shelter, but your heart is always with the Pandavas. Do what you are told!” he shouted.

Dhritarashtra also insisted that Vidura should go. It is strange that Bhishma, who was the soul of dharma, did not intervene. At last, Vidura agreed, for he thought that he had a chance of persuading Yudhishtira not to accept the invitation.

At Indraprastha, he was welcomed with the greatest of affection by the Pandavas and Panchali. He handed over the message and urged Yudhishtira not to accept it, since he was sure it was a trick concocted by Duryodhana and Shakuni. Yudhishtira then asked his brothers for their opinion. All of them except Bhima advised him to decline, but somehow he decided to accept.

“How can I refuse an invitation sent by my uncle who stands in the place of my father?” he asked.

Once again, Vidura urged him to decline, but Yudhishtira remained firm in his decision.

“After all, it’s only a friendly match,” he said, “and I’m as good a player as my cousin.

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