Duryodhana and Arjuna in Dwaraka
Duryodhana’s spies soon briefed him about the deliberations that had taken place in Upaplavya. So he waited for Drupada’s priest to visit Hastinapur to know what he had to say.
Drupada had, of course, discussed the matter with his priest in great detail. ‘I have full faith in you,’ he said to him. ‘You already know what travails the Pandavas have undergone during the past thirteen years. But since Duryodhana’s greed and arrogance are irrepressible, your words are not likely to find much favour with him. So I wish to advise you to first approach Dhritarashtra, even though he is an indulgent father who seems to have forsaken all norms of justice and truth. But when you tell him that he has not been fair to the children of his late brother Pandu, he might feel a sense of guilt. Of course, you would not face much difficulty in striking a sympathetic chord in the hearts of Bheeshma and Drona. But they seem to have chosen to remain mute spectators to Duryodhana’s evil deeds. My real purpose in sending you to Hastinapur is not to persuade the Kauravas to return Indraprastha to Yudhishthira, but to gain time for us to mobilize support from as many kings as possible because we are, in fact, racing against time. Also, if you succeed in kindling a sense of guilt in the minds of Duryodhana’s supporters, this may weaken their resolve to engage themselves in a bloody war against the aggrieved Pandavas. Bheeshma and Drona are already only half-hearted players in this game of war. I am, however, apprehensive of the next move of Sakuni, whose diabolical mind always keeps devising new plots. But I am certain that you will succeed in your mission to push our enemies into a vortex of guilt, confusion and indecision.’
Meanwhile, Yudhishthira, Drupada and Virata started sending out messengers to solicit support from all quarters. Arjuna was asked to go to Dwaraka to seek Krishna’s blessings. When Duryodhana’s spies reported to him about Arjuna’s plan to visit Dwaraka, Sakuni advised him to pre-empt this move.
‘Don’t forget that Krishna is going to be an important player in this game. Since he is related to you as well, you must use all your charm to wean him away from the Pandavas, or at least to neutralize him. We are presently engaged as much in a battle of wits as in our preparation for war.’
Immediately, Duryodhana asked his charioteer to take him to Dwaraka before Arjuna arrived there. But when he reached, he was told that Krishna was having his siesta. So he took his stand at the head of Krishna’s bed and waited for him to awaken. A little later, Arjuna also entered Krishna’s bedchamber and was surprised to see Duryodhana already there. They greeted each other formally – each had fathomed the other’s motivation for being in Krishna’s chamber.
Since Arjuna had taken his stand near the foot of the bed, he was the first to be seen by Krishna as he opened his eyes.
‘What has brought you here, Arjuna?’ asked Krishna.
But before Arjuna could respond, Duryodhana coughed to attract Krishna’s attention. Krishna now sat up in his bed and turned his head around to see Duryodhana.
‘I am delighted to see you both,’ said Krishna. ‘It is a pleasant surprise, indeed. Looks like both of you are here to ask some favour of me. Is it to seek my support on one side or the other?’ He smiled. ‘Let me ask Arjuna since he was the one I saw first.’
‘That would be unfair to me,’ complained Duryodhana, ‘as I came here long before Arjuna arrived. So it is my right to speak first.’
Krishna now found himself on the horns of a dilemma. But since his heart lay with Arjuna, he found a way out of it, saying that since Arjuna was the younger of the two, he should be given preference. Then he placed two alternatives before both of them.
‘I have on the one hand my army of soldiers, called the Narayanas, and on the other hand I offer myself as a charioteer – single and unarmed. This is because I have vowed not to engage myself in this war.’ Then, addressing Arjuna, he asked, ‘What would be your choice – my army or myself?’
Prompt came Arjuna’s response: ‘I choose you, O Lord, not your army.’
Arjuna’s answer brought a sparkle to Duryodhana’s eyes, for he had already set his heart on the Narayanas. What could a weaponless person do on a battlefield?
‘I will take your army, O Krishna,’ said Duryodhana.
‘That settles it,’ said Krishna.
But as Duryodhana walked away, pleased with having scored over his enemy, Krishna turned to Arjuna. ‘Haven’t you been utterly unwise in choosing me over my army? What can an unarmed charioteer do on a battlefield?’
‘On the contrary, I am elated because I seem to have already won the war,’ Arjuna replied, his eyes glowing with joy. ‘When divinity holds the reins of my destiny, victory will fall on my lap like a ripe fruit. Duryodhana has unwisely picked your Narayanas, and not the divine force that drives all humans.’
Krishna embraced Arjuna and said, ‘Then I will be your charioteer and drive you to victory over evil. Now, let us plunge into action, for karma should always have supremacy over everything else. You should, therefore, advise Yudhishthira to mobilize all his forces while he awaits the return of Drupada’s envoy from Hastinapur.’
When Krishna told his brother Balarama how Arjuna and Duryodhana had made their choices, Balarama said, ‘I feel sorry for Duryodhana, as I still have a lurking affection for him. I believe he is not entirely wicked. It is Sakuni who is pushing him down the path of evil. But this time, the dice will turn in favour of the Pandavas. Duryodhana’s fate is now sealed. I wish I had been asked to go to Hastinapur as Yudhishthira’s emissary to make Duryodhana see reason. But it is too late now. The die is cast, and Duryodhana is doomed to disaster.’ He sighed. ‘As for myself, I have decided to stay away from this war. I feel horrified to see blood spilt on the battlefield. I have always been for withdrawal while you have always opted for engagement.’ He paused. ‘I wonder, however, if I can offer a suggestion for whatever it is worth. I feel that if Drupada’s priest fails in his mission, you should visit Hastinapur yourself, as the Pandavas’ emissary. Maybe you’d be able to turn things around. Let us try to avoid a bloody war as far as possible.’
‘Indeed, I will keep your suggestion in mind,’ said Krishna. ‘Let us see what providence has in store for us.’