Ajaya by Anand Neelakantan

Author:Anand Neelakantan [Neelakantan, Anand]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9789381576045
Publisher: Leadstart Publishing

44 THE MESSENGER

“I KILLED THE NISHADA,” said Krishna, each word falling into the stillness of the Sabha with the force of thunder.

Suyodhana drew his sword and rushed towards Krishna in speechless rage, but Aswathama restrained him, with both arms around his friend’s trembling frame.

“Suyodhana, if I had not killed the Nishada, your daughter would have remained unmarried. I killed him to save my son,” Krishna said, drawing an almost imperceptible nod from Bhishma.

Suyodhana did not miss the gesture and his rage exploded into angry words. “I made a great mistake in permitting my daughter to marry your degenerate son, Krishna. It was not Ekalavya who deserved to die, but your son. How dare you come here and declare your guilt before us all?”

“To kill evil is my dharma,” Krishna said softly.

“You kill whoever you please and then claim your victim is evil. Is that dharma?” Suyodhana’s voice shook with all the emotion he had buried in his heart since he had watched his beloved daughter being carried home in Karna’s arms, battered and deflowered.

“Suyodhana,” Bhishma stood up. “Let us hear why Krishna has taken the trouble to visit us. He has come with a request from Yudhishtra, as I surmise,” he said in the calm voice of reason.

“There is nothing to discuss, Pitamaha. The Pandavas must extend their exile for another thirteen years. You yourself fixed the terms. I do not wish to talk to this manipulative man.”

Aswathama put a hand on Suyodhana’s shoulder, urging him to sit down.

“I regret the Crown Prince prefers to place his own emotions before the good of his country,” said Krishna calmly.

“You killed my friend...” Suyodhana gazed at Krishna with loathing.

Bhishma intervened again. “This is neither the time nor the place to discuss the Nishada’s death. We are here for something important and are duty-bound to hear the respected messenger.”

“Pitamaha, Ekalavya was not just any Nishada...”

“Do not drag me into your petty squabbles, Suyodhana. I am here because King Dhritarashtra requested my presence. Now let us hear what Krishna has to say,” Bhishma said with utter finality.

“Your Highness, with your gracious permission,” Krishna said, bowing to Dhritarashtra, “Prince Yudhishtra has sent me to stake claim to half the empire.” There was pindrop silence in the Sabha.

Suyodhana sprang up like a man possessed. “That is pre-posterous!” he shouted, shoving away Aswathama’s restraining hand.

“Suyodhana, it would become you to display some of the dignity attached to your exalted station. The Sabha is here to listen and to respond,” Bhishma said in a voice that allowed no argument. He turned to Krishna. “As per the terms of exile, the Pandavas are required to repeat their twelve-year stay in the forest and one year incognito. It is perhaps unfortunate they were discovered just a few days short of their term.”

“Revered Lord Bhishma,” Krishna said, his charming smile once again lighting up his face, “they were never found during their exile.”

“That is absurd!” protested Suyodhana. “We were all there at Virata. We saw them with our own eyes.”

“The Pandavas were never found during their period of exile.

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