"...I'm going to narrate to you ...the story of Mahabharata ...the great immortal epic ...It's not an ordinary tale of battle;" "Its the story of the rise and fall of Indian Culture Of battle between good and evil" " Light and darkness" "No one else can narrate this story;" "since I alone saw it happen" "I know all its characters and incidents," "I'm Duryodhan as well as Ariun." "I'm Kurukshetra the battle field." "It's a story of conflict between relationships and its concluding outcome which is the elixir of our lives," "Every era has to go through this conflict" "It's a continuous battle between good and evil till I exist it'll continue to be fought and I'm perpetual and endless." "This story must be heard and assessed all the time ...so that each 'present' can prepare itself for its future" "...I prepare each generation to fight this battle by narrating this great epic." "Sometimes as a teacher, sometimes as a mother, ...and sometimes as a an ascetic" "This story didn't begin the day Lord Krishna ...sermonized the Geeta" "neither on the day Drupadi made fun of Duryodhan" "It started the day King Bharat ...returned to his capital after his victories." "The story started in his court" "Long Live the victorious Emperor" "King Bharat's greatness doesn't lie merely in the fact that he extended his frontiers," "Or because our country is named after him." "His greatness is also acknowledged because ...the process of democratic thinking started in his Court;" "He gave preference to Karma (deeds) over birth" "Battle of Kurukshetra is in fact a symbol of moral duty" "May the King live Long" "Sire, our frontiers to-day, have spread;" "from the Himalayas to the shores of Kumari Antari;" "the country is renamed after you." "It's the right time, Sire to nominate your successor." "We will do so on the auspicious day of the full moon" "Going somewhere, Son?" "Yes mother; after returning from the War" "I haven't been to see sage Kanva" "I'm going to meet him." "Don't address him only as a Sage" "He is like your grandfather because he brought me up." "Give him my regards" "I'll do that, Mother." "May I leave now?" "May you live long." "Come, son of Shakuntala" "My regards your Holiness" "I bless you, son;" "how is your mother?" "She is well and was complaining that you've almost forgotten her" "Now ask, what you've come to ask," "I'm faced with a problem" "I've nine sons, but I can't decide who should be my successor" "You have conquered the earth but You've yet to conquer yourself" "You must conquer yourself" "The day you do so you'll find the answer to your question." "My blessings" "Hastinapur is glittering with the glory of King Bharat" "Even history is waiting to hear the name of King's successor." "This is the first unwritten page." "...of the great Immortal epic" " MAHABHARATA" "Attention in court," "Defender of the people ...Source of justice" "Victor of the Earth" "Emperor of Hastinapur" "Is on his way to grace the Court," "My respects." "Mother" "Prime Minister" "I, son of King Dushyant ...would first of all ...like to thank my brave soldiers" "...Who have helped me ...to enlarge my Kingdom" "I'm also grateful to my subiects... who not only gave me their blessings." "...but also gave me their brave sons;" "Some died on the battlefields," "I salute their parents" "I pronounce from my throne... that no King is greater than his Country." "...or its people," "A King has 3 duties to perform to defend his people, to impart Justice... and to nominate his successor Who would be just to his people," "and able to protect them." "I do not find these qualities in any of my sons" "I therefore adopt Bhumanyu - son of Bhardwai ...and proclaim him as my successor." "My respects, Mother." "May you live long" "you look disturbed, mother" "I'm disturbed" "Why so?" "You deprived your sons of their rights." "What kind of a father are you?" "I'm not only a father I'm a King as well," "But every son has certain rights" "You say so, because you've a mother" "I'm a King." "I must be just," "I've a large family, Mother, the young man I've nominated as my successor" "...is also my son as he is one of my subjects." "If I were to nominate one of my sons... as my successor" "it would be unfair to my people" "you should be proud of me for I'm a just King" "But this blossom of Democratic thinking ...faded away after a few generations" "These values were set aside during the reign Of King Shantanu..." "When birth got preference over deeds (Karma)..." "When the present was staked... for an unknown future" "In fact ever since that day the battle lines were drawn on the field of Kurukshetra" "The story of King Shantanu." "Starts thus" "One day King Shantanu was out hunting ...near the banks of the river Ganga" "I'm Shantanu King of Hastinapur" "I'm Ganga" "I was out hunting" "What happened then, Sire" "I don't really know as yet; but it seems ...that a deer eyed woman has made me her victim" "ITS MOST UNFORTUNATE" "WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO HASTINAPUR NO W?" "ITS FATE IS IN YOUR HANDS NO W" "HO W COME SIRE?" "I'LL ASK YOU ABOUT IT TOMORRO W" "WHY TOMORRO W" "EVERY QUESTION MUST BE ANSWERED ...AT AN AUSPICIOUS MOMENT!" "Did you have to wait long for me?" "Not too long" "So you were saying..." "the fate of Hastinapur ...Is in my hands and I had asked..." "How Come?" "Let us proceed further now if you agree to become my queen..." "Hastinapur and I would be saved." "I can accept this honor, but..." "I'm a Kshtriya and words such as "but"" "...do not exist in our vocabulary" "Then you must make me a promise" "Anything you say just one promise" "Command me" "You'll never question me about anything" "I give my word" "I'll be free to do anything without question" "I promise never to interfere, nor question you." "If you fail to do so ...the day you question MY actions..." "I'll leave you for ever..." "I agree to whatever you say" "Sun is about to rise, sire" "What have you been looking at, all night?" "I've been looking at my moon faced queen... at your eyes that hold my future" "I wish I were a poet;" "I only learnt the language of weapons, if I were a poet I would've described... the depth of your eyes and your petal like lips" "Hold Me, oh lady of the river;" "I can't swim" "I'm drowning in the fathomless depths of your eyes" "I don't want to come to surface" "I'm enjoying going deep down your eyes" "You must not neglect your Kingdom, Sire... the people of Hastinapur will blame me," "Right now I do not want to even think about it" "Why, Sire?" "I'm enjoying my dip in the ocean of love." "What is happening to our King?" "Stop worrying" "I'm the Commander-in-Chief of Hastinapur and I've not spoken to the King for months now ...Looks like the King has forgotten Hastinapur." "With an able general like you" "Why should the King Worry?" "Kingdom is safe in your hands" "The King is busy with the affairs of heart" "But he is responsible for the State as well," "A King is also a human being..." "He has a right to enjoy matrimony" "He looks after the happiness of his people the people must look after his happiness" "Let him enjoy while he can" "But for how long" "For as long as he wants to" "How long would that be" "You needn't worry," "Matrimonial pleasures are essential" "Let an heir be born to the King the day it happens" "...he'll come out of his ecstasy" "Lo!" "The day has arrived." "Congratulations, on the birth of a son, sire" "Describe his complexion" "Like a pink rose" "Describe his eyes just like yours sire" "Long Live the King" "YOU'LL NEVER QUESTION ME!" "I GIVE YOU MY WORD" "I'LL BE FREE TO DO ANYTHING" "I PROMISE NEVER TO INTERFERE" "If I Wasn't Time..." "I would have become stone-eyes..." "With what I saw Just now" "Shantanu hasn't got my eyes" "He is only a father ...for him the pain is impossible to bear" "A mother drowning her very first born is hard to explain, and" "Shantanu is tongue tied because of his promise ...to Ganga." "Who smiles ...and leaves" "But I'm Time;" "I know the fate of Ganga's second child as well" "WHATEVER WILL BE, WILL BE" "ONLY HE KNO WS" "THE DESIGN, IN HIS SCHEME OF THINGS" "so late at nights Sire?" "I'm surrounded by darkness, your Holiness;" "Even my days are dark like a night;" "What else do you expect, if... you close your eyes" "open your eyes and see" "Sun rises and sets everyday the moon also showers Its light" "Enlightenment is in our soul" "Nothing is possible without our soul" "Why can't I see this light?" "Because you're not trying to see it." "Darkness around you must be because of" "Some personal problem;" "it must be faced." "But I can't;" "What is your problem?" "The queen killed my two sons and I couldn't stop her" "Why oh King?" "I've given my word to her to let her kill your children?" "You're the King of Hastinapur;" "You've no right to Give such a word" "It's a curse" "I'm living that curse" "You call it living?" "What is death then?" "A King who can't protect his sons how can he protect his subiects." "I'll pray for your weakness" "Can't you see the iniustice of it all" "As a King I to;" "Then why don't you stop it?" "The individual in me stops me" "A King is only a King." "He can't be an Individual." "A King is for the welfare of his subiects," "You've been unfair to your subiects" "I seek your help." "Its not nice for a king to seek." "Then what should I do?" "Suffer in your self created hell" "That alone is your destiny and your penance." "Listen to the curses of your people." "Only self help will bring you out Of your predicament and show you a way out" "Have you heard the news from the palace?" "Yes, But I do not want to believe it ...no mother can drown her own children ...even in the sacred river;" "A mother's love is proverbial" "She is a strange mother" "She has drowned her 3 sons," "Have you heard the latest from the palace" "A Fourth Prince is born to the queen... , ." "And the King's condition is causing concern to all" "The Princes do not belong to the Queen alone." "Why doesn't the King ask the Queen?" "If things continue the way they are..." "Our King's family tree would be uprooted." "If the King remains silent he would lose the fourth prince as well" "Your Majesty;" "You here at such a late hour?" "I'm here to express my grief Over the death of the fourth prince" "Why call a murder a death?" "If its murder, why hasn't the culprit been punished?" "The fact that the culprit is alive implies ...that it is not murder!" "Why taunt me so?" "You must ask the queen to explain her conduct," "What kind of a woman Is she?" "Who is she?" "A woman must have 3 qualities." "Consciousness, inspiration and compassion" "She has none of them" "If YOU cant question her as her husband." "Question her as her King" "It is your duty to give the Kingdom successor if I could do so, there would be no need" "...for you to be here today" "What is worse, in case we get a fifth son his fate is also sealed;" "I'LL BE FREE TO DO ANYTHING WITHOUT QUESTION" "I GIVE YOU MY WORD" "I PROMISE NEVER TO INTERFERE IN..." "WHATEVER YOU DO;" "A PROMISE GIVEN WITHOUT A THOUGHT," "CAN ONLY BRING YOU GRIEF" "SO THINK BEFORE YOU ACT" "I am Time," "Neither sorrow can impede my flow nor happiness" "But sometimes my flow is impeded by the lines of fate" "I stand on the banks of River Ganga caught up in the story of Shantanu's lineage" "Ganga, the daughter of Lord Brahma has killed seven of her own sons born of Shantanu by drowning them in her own waters" "The King of Hastinapur also stands on the bank with me ...watching quietly, unable to do anything ...tormented like a fish out of waters" "...because he is bound by his own oath" "He can only weep and so, he weeps" "But he cannot question Ganga and so, he remains silent" "let's see sister ...what happens to the eighth prince" "What a mother!" "I cannot even congratulate the king" "The king does not even ask her the meaning of her outrageous act" "what a mother" "Killing her own children On birth" "When she went to drown the seventh prince ...I followed her" "She placed the baby on the water... like an offering to God" "Now she will drown the eighth prince" "There she goes!" "No, my queen!" "No!" "I can bear this no longer" "You are bound by your oath my King" "A King of the Lunar Dynasty gave the oath" "But I am only a father now" "You have drowned seven of our new-born sons" "But I will not allow you to kill this one" "Why are you doing this?" "A mother killing her own off-spring!" "What a mother you are!" "I have not killed these children my king" "I have freed them from a curse" "A curse?" "Yes my king." "A curse" "I, Ganga, a princess from Heaven... am also living a curse on this earth" "And you my king, are also living a curse" "What curse?" "Whose curse?" "My father Brahma's curse" "Tell me the story my queen" "You were King Mahabhishak in your previous birth" "God Indra was a friend" "You would Come to his court to see the dancers" "One day I came there with my father Lord Brahma" "You too were there" "You Saw me" "I, too, saw you" "'We mere lost in each other" "Just then a light breeze ...blew away my scarf" "All those present averted their gaze but you kept looking, at me." "And I at you" "This angered my father" "., and he cursed us to be reborn on Earth" "Mahabhishak you have transcended the bounds of propriety" "And Ganga you too are responsible" "I curse both of you with rebirth on earth" "I curse both of you" "Since your oath is broken..." "I am released from the curse which means that" "I must leave You now" "What about my sons who died?" "Were they mere pawns?" "Do not hold a grudge, my king" "Your sons are Vasus who were... cursed by Sage Vasistha to be re-born on earth" "Seeing their, anguish" "I promised them that I would give birth to them on Earth... and then release them from the curse " "But unfortunately this last Vasu is not yet free of the curse" "He has to live with it" "I will now take your leave" "But my son?" "It least leave." "Him with me" "At the proper time my king" "For now, I shall take him with me and return him to you soon" "I have named him Devavrata" "But who knows what his name will be in the future" "After Ganga had left him ...Shantanu's life lost all meaning" "and direction" "It was as if his Soul had left him" "But the longing for his beloved remained" "And whenever this longing tormented him" "He would go to the river bank ...and search for his beloved Ganga..." "There is a moral of life ...in ancient histor7" "As long as there is the breath of life ...there is hope in the heart" "Let's go charioteer" "Where to, my lord?" "Wherever you wish to go" "A deerskin mat and a holy vessel!" "These seem to be children of some sage" "But why has he left them here?" "We are but ordinary mortals" "It is not for us to understand the ways of Sages... or the language of their mercy" "This is Divine Mercy and so, I will call this boy Kripa" "What about the girl?" "If the boy is Kripa his sister must be Kripi" "Welcome my king" "Will you not ask me about these children Royal Sane?" "How can I ask questions?" "I am here to answer them" "But I see you have a question to ask" "I found these children in the forest lying on a deerskin mat... with a holy vessel nearby" "No one else was around" "And so I brought these orphans with me" "There are no orphans in God's world my king" "God works in mysterious ways my king" "No one knows how but" "He is All-Seeing" "., ." "And" "., He is All-Knowing" "He is the Only One" "Think of it my king" "God saw these children through your eyes" "and used you as an instrument... of His mercy and placed them in your care" "Look upon them as Lord Shiva's blessing and bring some joy into your childless life" "Do not call me childless Great Teacher" "You know that" "Ganga has promised to return my eighth son" "I am merely waiting for his return" "I cannot look after these children" "I am a king" "I cannot do them an iniustice" "They are Brahmins" "You look after them" "My entire life will... be spent between the palace and the river bank" "In this manner tormented by separation waiting for Ganga" "sixteen years went by" "But one day when longing had reached its peak... he saw through the palace window that a dam of arrows had" "Stemmed the flow of the River Ganga" "He frowned and ...strung an arrow on his bow but when" "he pulled the bowstring..." "Ganga appeared before him" "My king" "So, at last you have come" "How are you my king?" "How is the Body without its Soul my love?" "Do not delay my love" "Let us free the river water and return to the palace which, without you, has become" "dark and grim like a light-less Diwali and colorless festival" "Let us lead a peaceful and happy life again, my love" "Water once flown cannot return my king" "No, I cannot return" "The past can never replace the present and I am your past..." ". who has come to return your future without you there is no future" "Yes there is my king" "I have brought your future with me" "Because in essence, the future is born from the past" "There is your future" "Mother look I have stopped the river again" "I have seen it my son and so has your father" "My father?" "What is it, my king?" "Here, take care of your son" "Son, bow down to your father" "Hope tells the breath of life" "Learn to be patient" "You may get pearls without asking" "But aims are not got for the asking" "What's your name son?" "Mother has named me Devavrata" "Who has taught you archery?" "Sage Bhargava my father" "What did you think?" "That my love would compel me to call him Crown Prince?" "I know the Indian tradition my king" "That they believe in Action, not Birth" "That they are Doers and not mere Inheritors" "Our son had to be worthy" "Not necessarily!" "Only the Doer can sit on the throne of Hastinapur" "That is why I arranged for" "., Sage Vasistha to teach him the Vedas and" "Lord Brihaspati to teach him Politics" "He studied all this" "And so when Sage Bhargava said... none in the Universe could stand up to Devavrata..." "I thought that the time was ripe... to return the Crown Prince to Hastinapur" "Hastinapur is grateful to have him" "Now return to Hastinapur with your father ...where History awaits you" "And you mother?" "The shadow is bound to the tree" "It cannot leave with the traveler" "To you I am a shadow which is bound to the Tree of Time" "Now go with your father and fulfill your duty unto Hastinapur" "Your blessings mother" "I take your leave my king" "Beloved!" "Why are you sad?" "Because of my incompleteness father" "I am not destined for both my mother's and father's love" "I Will try to give you both my son" "Come now" "Bow to him my son" "He is not only my charioteer but also a friend" "That's necessary" "Long live the prince!" "No!" "Long live Hastinapur" "Nations take precedence over kings and princes" "Long live Hastinapur" "Long live the prince!" "A long life to you my son" "But my son your mother has taught you all the wisdom there is" "A student will always remain a student father" "Only God is All-Knowing" "We can attain only a Part of this knowledge" "Share your knowledge with me my son" "Knowledge begets Humility" "Humility makes one Worthy" "True worth brings in wealth" "Good acts bring happiness" "Well said my son" "Knowledge begets humility" "Humility makes one Worthy" "True Worth results in Wealth" "Wealth if used for righteous acts ...leads to Happiness very beautiful" "After partaking of this no other desire remains" "Be happy!" "There is nothing but, happiness under your shadow my father" "Only a disciple of Sage Vasistha can say this what else did he teach you?" "He also taught me that ...the Swan flies on two wings" "The Wing of Knowledge and The Wing of Action" "If it had only one wing it would be of no use because flight would be impossible" "What, a poetic thought!" "What did Lord Brihaspati teach you?" "If you decide to Act see the Act to its completion or else the Act will be' the end of you" "And what does Ethics say?" "Ethics says that" "The eventful result determines" ". whether the act was right or wrong" "What did Sage Parshuram teach you?" "He said that, obeying one's father is the ultimate Good" "That is the only path to happiness" "What about the mother?" "About her he said" "The Sage's right is ten times more than the Teachers" "A fathers right 100 times more than the Sage's" "A mother's right is 1000 times that of the father" "Why so my son?" "Because a son can be a bad son" "but a mother can never be a bad mother" "Very true" "Any mother is like Mother earth" "And, Mother Earth can never betray her own fruit" "without mother there would be nothing but God" "In Heaven how do Gods entertain themselves?" "They also play Dice" "But the game is played differently" "Men are used as pawns" "I see" "Yes father" "There is another difference" "Death throws the dice" "He moves the pawns;" "...and eliminates them too" "Long live the King" "Long live the Crown Prince" "How did you know of Devavrita's return?" "The entire Universe knows of it my king" "You traders are clever talkers!" "What have you brought?" "A horse my, king" "Only one horse?" "This is a unique horse worthy of the Sun God's chariot" "A mighty horse my king" "This we must see" "If the horse is not good enough I will order your death" "And suppose he is better?" "I will make you a king and ...give you 25 villages to rule" "Come son" "You have rejected every horse in my stable" "why these arms son?" "Arms are the warrior's pride for a warrior without arms seems hare" "The horse is an excellent one" "I have roamed all over India" "There isn't a single warrior who can saddle it" "It is not good for a trader to have such pride" "I had warned you my king" "It's a rebellious horse" "I Will saddle the horse myself" "You should not demean yourself my king" "Allow me to do it" "Don't my son" "Forgive me my king" "My mind is made up" "Your father is right prince" "Don't take this risk" "Princes are born to take risks" "With your permission sire" "Be victorious My son" "Never again test the courage of a soldier or a king" "It was afraid of its own shadow" "May I take it for a run?" "Sure my son" "Long live the prince" "Halt!" "This arrow marks the border of Hastinapur" "Return with your army" "We have come to conquer Hastinapur" "Go home child before you get hurt" "I am warning you again Shalva Kumar" "Who are you?" "Devavrata, son of Ganga" "Go away" "Forward march" "The enemy was stopped ...by the thunderous assault" "This is Devavrata's... very first assault." "Forward" "The arrow on Devavrata's bow has the ability to change History" "But the story of Devavrata and his arrow has lust begun" "His arrows have scattered the Shalva army" "Shalva Kumar's arrogance" ", was burned to ashes in, ." "The fire of his arrows" "In Hastinapur King Shantanu was waiting eagerly ...for Devavrata's return" "Devavrata should have returned by now" "Send a rider to investigate" "Yes my king" "And ready my chariot" "This horse is excellent" "Why were you delayed?" "I was about to start" ", when I saw the Shalva army crossing the Hastinapur border" "So, I stayed back" "Shalva's army?" "Yes." "And this S is Shalva Kumar" "A prisoner of war" "What would you like to do with him?" "Prime Minister" "Come son" "prime Minister" "What does the Law say?" "The enemy's son is also an enemy" "So, he deserves the death sentence" "May I say something?" "Yes my son" "Killing the enemy ...cannot end enmity" "in fact, enmity increases with killing if you want to make India an ideal nation we will have to end enmity with friendship" "Because only friendship can lay the foundation for a secure and progressive future" "I entreat you to not only pardon Shalva Kumar... but also free him and send him back to Shalva" "Shalva Kumar is free ...and may return to Shalva" "Victory to the Prince" "No, not the Prince but the Crown Prince" "Victory to the Crown Prince" "I take great pride in naming Devavrata as the Crown Prince of Hastinapur" "I am proud to be his father and" "I am sure that Hastinapur is also proud of him" "Devavrata was made the Crown Prince" "Father and son established a bond of happiness and love" "Time went by and soon ...Devavrata was a young man" "Everything ready for the hunt?" "Waiting for your orders to start my king" "But where is Devavrata?" "He is coming" "sorry for the delay" "That's okay my son." "Shall we start?" "Yes sire" "bring the chariot" "Stop" "wait for a moment" "Who are you?" "Dashraj's daughter" "Whom are you waiting for?" "Some travelers who want to cross the Yamuna" "will you take me across?" "Why not?" "Here's the bank" "This, is not my destination" "Maybe it is the other bank" "Take me there" "Here we are" "Take me to the other side" "Where do you wish to go?" "I don't know" "Surprising!" "You don't know where... you want to go?" "Do not be surprised Satyavati" "My journey will come to an end when I will have the courage." "To tell you what's in my heart 'what is it... that you need courage to tell Me" "Maybe courage is the wrong word" "But till I get the right word go on paddling the boat" "Has father returned?" "No" "Looks like he has gone far" "Found the right word?" "Or should I take you back?" "Maybe I'll find the word there" "Let's go" "You sent for me?" "Father should have returned by, now" "He often loses track of time while hunting" "I am his son" "I am worried" "I am Shantanu" "King of Hastinapur" "Your personality and dress..." "Made that obvious" "Then you should have guessed what I want to say" "How can I guess?" "Your beauty and fragrance, has captivated me" "I want to marry you" "It is my father who will decide" "Whether I should marry you or not" "But I should know your mind." "Before I speak to your father" "By now your heart should have heard" "What my heart saying" "Welcome sir" "Thank you" "Have a Seat" "You seem to be a king" "I am King Shantanu of" "Hastinapur" "Have a seat Dashraj" "You have honored me by coming to my house" "How can I serve you?" "I have come here to ask you for something" "What can I, a poor man, give you?" "Every person has something to give and every person needs something but I have nothing which could please a king" "If you do not wish to give it's okay" "But I have come to ask for something" "Which only you in the Universe have" "I don't understand" "What could it be?" "What I want... is not a thing." "Then?" "I am talking of a fragrance which is incomparable" "Do you really mean what I understood?" "Yes If you have really understood..." "what I said." "This is no time for riddles my king" "Let these walls hear what a king wants from me," "I am honored to ask Dashrai" "The throne on my right is empty" "I want your daughter Satyavati to sit on it." "This is indeed a great honor for my daughter but the Truth is" "I have been waiting for you for years." "Waiting for me?" "Yes my king." "Waiting for you." "Her horoscope say that she will be a queen" "And whose queen can she be but yours" "The Moon rules the Sky and you the Earth..." "Does this mean You accept?" "Which father will not... accept an offer such as this?" "But..." "But what Dashraj?" "My King, I have told you about Satyavati's horoscope but I have not told you what my heart says" "And what does your heart say?" "That Satyavati's sons should rule over Hastinapur" "That is the obstacle my King" "But Devavrata is already the Crown Prince" "I know" "That is why I made this condition" "But this is no condition" "Do you realize what you are saying?" "I am willing to do anything... even the most impossible things to win Satyavati's hand... but I cannot do an iniustice to Devavrata... because Cupid has pierced my heart" "Any other condition is acceptable ...but I have given my word to Devavrata" "You are willing to accept conditions..." "I do not want you to but you will not accept the condition I made forgive me my King" "You are trying to change her luck" "This I cannot accept" "If her sons are destined to rule;" "then rule they must" "Satyavati's luck will being the king who will accept my condition" "What manner of king is he who will break a promise" "Wait then for another king Dashrai for" "Shantanu will never Seize someone's right to give it to another" "Ready my chariot" "Do not worry prince" "The charioteer mill return if anything happens" "Where were you father?" "We were all worried" "I strayed from the path" "Didn't the king look worried'" "A king has many worries my prince" "Don't worry my child" "Man is the only creature... who tells a lie" "Nothing else in Nature, ever tells a lie" "Your horoscope cannot be wrong" "Your luck will bring back the king" "Sleep now" "such an injustice Will never happen" "Even if life is lost." "...as love and duty struggles" "You are trying to change her luck" "This I cannot accept if her sons are destined to rule;" "then rule, they must" "Satyavati's luck will bring the king... who will accept my condition" "Greetings my king" "If it suits you we could leave for Hastinapur at sunrise" "Not tomorrow son" "As you wish father" "0 it's you son:" "I can bear the wounds of a thousand arrows" ". but not your silence father" "What is it?" "Please tell me" "What can I say?" "What is responsible for your silence?" "There is nothing to tell" "So, what do I say?" "If it concerns the state... as the Crown Prince" "." "I must know of it" "Sure" "But even a king cannot confide all his worries" "True." "But cannot a father confide in his son?" "No." "He cannot" "But..." "Go my son" "Rest now" "As you say my father" "The Prince wants you" "Come" "I am worried about the king" "You are his friend and charioteer where do you take him everyday?" "Wherever he tells me to go" "And where is that?" "Wherever he wishes" "I admire your loyalty" "But it seems to me that your loyalty is to the king... and not the state" "The king's mind is in turmoil and so I must know where he goes everyday after sunset" "I do not ask you this question;" "it is Hastinapur" "Answering this question... will prove your loyalty to Hastinapur" "Forgive me prince but I cannot betray the king" "But you can betray his happiness and Hastinapur?" "You can betray India and the Dynasty of Bharat?" "What you think is your loyalty is not really that" "Everyday he ...goes to the Yamuna bank" "The Yamuna?" "And what does he do there?" "From the river bank he keeps looking at" "...Dashraj's daughter" "From the bank?" "Yes the whole day?" "Yes" "Has father met her" "Yes." "He has" "And Dashraj?" "He has met him too" "Ready my chariot" "Devavrata is here" "Bring him in with respect" "Yes sir" "This way prince" "At this hour, prince?" "Greetings from Devavrata your coming here... has brought honor to my house" "But why at this hour?" "I am worried about the king" "Why does the king... spend his time between" "Take a seat first" "This is no time to sit" "Tell me what has happened" "He wants to marry my daughter Satyavati" "What is the problem?" "Do you find the king, my father... unsuitable for her?" "What are you saying?" "What then?" "There is a problem" "What's that?" "Satyavati's horoscope says that her son will rule" "The king will not accept that" "He cannot do that" "I don't understand" "It is not in his power to give this assurance" "Cannot a king decide who will ...rule after him?" "Yes, He has the right" "But the king has already practiced this right" "He cannot promise the same thing to two persons" "You have not understood my father's predicament" "You explain it to me" "He has promised the throne to me and I shall ascend it after him" "So it is impossible for him to promise it to someone else" "It would be unjust" "Yes, If I want to I can give away the throne" "I give you my word that ...that Satyavati's eldest son" "will sit on the throne of Hastinapur" "You are blessed Devavrata" "My house is honored by your presence" "Blessed is the country which gave birth to you" "You have given up your right for your father's happiness" "Not everyone can do so" "No Dashraj" "Whatever is happening is in accordance with Fate" "If I was destined for the throne ...Satyavati's horoscope would not oppose it" "The lines of Fate do not oppose one another" "So, I bow to Satyavati's Fate" "Now, can I take her to my father?" "But" "What is the meaning of this but?" "Just as your father could not speak for YOU ...you cannot speak for your children" "What if your children lay." "Claim to the throne ...of Hastinapur?" "Your fear is not baseless" "I shall end your fears forever" "Yes." "I cannot speak for my children" "But I have every right to remain childless" "I, Devavrata, son of Ganga, in the presence of the Gods all over swear this oath that" "I shall never marry" "I shall live childless ...and die childless" "This is my eternal oath" "The Sun, the Moon, the Himalayas Himalayas may not remain forever" "Devavrata's terrible oath will be remembered forever" "Yes." "I cannot speak for my children" "But I have every right to remain childless" "I, Devavrata, son of Ganga... in the presence of Gods all over swear this oath that" ", I shall never marry" "I shall live childless... and die childless" "This is my eternal oath" "I am no one's friend nor anyone's enemy" "Nor am I related to anyone" "I am free of all relationships so, listen carefully to what," "I am about to say because this concerns the Ideal Man Devavrata... who, in a twinkling of an eyelid... became Bhishma (the Terrible)" "I salute this Great Hero" "Because I am Time..." "I know of all the oaths sworn before and after... , Devavrata's oath" "So, only I can say that no such oath... was ever sworn before" "or after his oath" "I salute this Great Hero... who has made his mark in the Universe" "Found Anything No" "It is surprising that no one, ...should know where Devavrata has gone" "He has never disappeared like this before" "I am getting worried" "Please stop the chariot" "Sure" "What's the matter?" "Once we reach Hastinapur" "I will become your mother, ...and then it will not be possible for me to do., ." "...what I want to do" "Even now you are my mother" "But what is it you want to do that would be impossible later?" "I want to touch your feet" "No mother" "If a mother touches her son's feet it will upset the social order" "This son of yours is the keeper., ...of your chariot and your mind" "Sons like you will never be born again" "Never!" "Father" "Welcome home mother" "Why did you hesitate to promise that, ." "Mother Satyavati's eldest son... would reign in Hastinapur?" "But son, ." "I am your son, not attached to the throne" "To serve you is my duty" "So, I have sworn to remain unwed all my life" "What a terrible oath, my son" "No Devavrata, you should not have sworn such an oath" "Forget it father" "How can I forget my son" ", that you have sacrificed" "., your own happiness for the sake of mine?" "But father my happiness is a part of your happiness" "But how can I forget" " , the fine Indian tradition initiated by Bharat..., that Worth and not Birth... should determine the heir to the throne?" "How can we determine the Worth ...of an unconceived child?" "The king has another duty:" "To protect the rights of his subiects" "That is true my son but whose rights have I not protected?" "My father" "You have." "Not protected one of my rights which one my son?" "You are denying me the right to make a promise" "What can I say to that?" "YOU surprise me" "What you have done will be remembered forever" "Today, standing on the crossroads to peace and war happiness and unhappiness" "I, Shantanu, grant you a boon" "Unless you desire your death ...you Will not die" "Your name will become immortal" "You will live forever" "Death will not touch you" "Mother please explain to father ...that whatever has happened to me... is of my own doing" "From today we shall call Devavrata, Bhishma" "Not only us but the entire Universe will call him Bhishma... because of his oath" "Greetings mother" "A long life to you my son" "I wanted to talk to you mother" "About what son?" "About whether I did the right thing." "You cannot do any wrong my son" "You are, born to do the right, thing and lead by example" "I am proud to be your mother" "I need your blessings" "They are always with you my son" "You have given a new meaning to the word oath" "What you have done would be impossible for man or God what you have done is worth emulating," "Any, order for me, my mother?" "You are beyond orders" "You do not have to be told to do your duty" "You are among those who are born to do their duty" "Why are you looking at the moon?" "Forgive me my king" "But why?" "I have committed a grave crime" "Such beauty and fragrance!" "You can never be guilty" "It is my beauty which has eclipsed your life" "If I were not beautiful Bhishma would not have to suffer this iniustice" "If man began to think like this life would be impossible" "And yet, that is the truth" "No" "It is not the full truth" "The truth is that this" "is a web made by the lines of fate where man is caught helplessly like a fish in a net" "He cannot avoid this web even if he wishes to" "I remember" "When Ganga wanted to drown this child..." "I could not keep quiet" "I broke my oath and questioned her" "To which she said that our sons were Vasus" "who had been cursed with birth on Earth... and the fact" "that I had broken my oath Meant that... the eighth son was fated to live" "Which means that" "Bhishma's fate was sealed much before our love was" "Our love." "Was merely an excuse" "Even if we had not met" "Bhishma, would have to follow his fate" "Does your conscience agree to this?" "What wrong had I done that I became the excuse for Bhishma's destruction" "Don't you think ...that we are lucky to have a son like Bhishma?" "Of course, but isn't it 8hishma's bad luck that he has Satyavati for a mother?" "Heartless, harsh and selfish," "Do not insult his filial love by saying this" "But by not saying it am I not insulting Bhishma?" "If anyone is to blame it is I because when Bhishma took the oath you were not his mother but I was his father even then" "I staked Hastinapur's future for my Present... , ." "Not you" "Protector of his Subjects" "Idol of Justice" "Protector of Religion" "King Shantanu is passing by" "What's wrong Honoured teacher?" "Why is the Crown Prince's throne empty" "The King is sworn to keep it so till a son is born to the queen" "Who made this promise?" "Who else but the King?" "Who gave him the right to swear this oath?" "Does a king need permission?" "'Why?" "Does the king own this land?" "My lord you forgot that... you are merely a representative" "only God is the owner" "You had no right to make that promise" "I would like to know what was wrong with Devavrata" "that you thought of a new Crown Prince?" "Even if Devavrata has faults ...what is it that recommends a prince who is yet to he conceived?" "Do the citizens have a right to ask this question?" "The citizens have a right to ask any question" "May I answer the Sage's question my king?" "No." "I don't want an answer." "I want justice" "Time" "Let us not talk of Time O Sage!" "Time is only a witness" "Talk of Action" ", ." "Because we are Man of Action, of Deeds... , responsible for our Acts" "Isn't this true O Sage?" "Yes." "It is true." "Then why are you blaming the, king for my actions?" "It was not the king who swore the oath; it was I" "Had he stopped me from doing so ...he would have done me an iniustice" "The king had already told Dashrai, ...that he could not change his decision" "It was I 'who gave the promise that Satyavati's son would he king" "Had I not, done so ...I would he failing in my duty" "Why do you say this Prince?" "I swore the oath because an unhappy king ...can never make his subiects happy" "And who will be responsible if the unborn prince" "is unworthy of the throne?" "Look at Hastinapur's Fate line and determine that" "But if my word has some value then today I make a promise Hastinapur that whoever ascends the throne" "I shall see my father's image in him and serve him with the same devotion" "What have you done?" "0 Shantanu of Bharat's Dynasty?" "You have staked Hastinapur's Future for your Present" "Father" "Bhishma" "Is it my father or or the king who worries" "Both" "Then should I ask my father first or the king?" "First ask that weakling who could neither be a king nor a father" "who could keep neither's honour" "and who has made both helpless" "Father!" "What kind of a father am I" "Helpless in my thirst for Love" "I condemned my son to an eternal thirst" "And what kind of a king am I" "I have removed a worthy Crown Prince" "., and placed the future of Hastinapur in the hands of ...another who is yet unborn" "and about whom no one knows... whether he will be worthy or not" "By my act I have insulted My ancestors" "Do not trouble your heart my king" "Had you ordered me to take the oath you could have blamed Yourself" "But this oath was of my Own doing and so will be the result" "I swore this oath because... fathers often sacrifice for their sons" "so, why shouldn't a son do the same?" "Your happiness means a lot to me" "You are more valuable to me than the throne" "Even then..." "What father?" "What happens if your brother is not worthy ...of the throne" "In that case, I shall repeat the assurance" "I gave Hastinapur" "That all my life I shall serve and protect the throne of Hastinapur" "and till it is secure from all dangers and in need of my services" "I shall not allow Death to claim me" "You are blessed on Earth and in Heaven" "May I make a request father?" "Sure" "A King should never by lonely or sad because if his mind strays so will the nation" "because it is the king who leads the nation" "I am honored by your coming horn why did you not call me?" "Even Lord Brihaspati will be honored to be ...the Sage of a family in which you are born" "So what if I have come?" "Even the Gods will come here some day" "To see if have fulfilled my duty?" "Or to see the unvanquished Devavrata defeated by his love for his father?" "Do not go contrary to your Fate prince" "You are a man of Action" "Do your duty" "Who knows for what Future the Present in preparing you" "And now you too are leaving" "I would come to you when I had a problem... , and you would solve it" "Where will I go now?" "That is why I have brought Kripacharya" "After I leave I want you to accept him as the Royal Sage" "He is the son of Sage Shabdavan and my disciple and" "under the king's protection..." "I cannot break the king's silence" "And reach out to him" "So look after your father's ward... and give him your protection" "A Sage requires no protection but your order will be obeyed" "Please accept me as your friend 0 Sage" "You had a sister too?" "Yes." "She is married now" "To whom?" "Dronacharya" "So Dronacharya our relative" "If I were young I would learn archery from him" "That is your modesty No" "The one who holds Brahma's weapon is to be respected" "I am honored to be living in his era" "We are all honored." "To be living in yours" "Being a Brahmin you cannot ask for a blessing but you can give him one" "There's no need for that" "He has been blessed by God himself." "What blessing should I give you prince?" "Bless me so that" "I am able to break my father's silence" "Which even that Sage could not do" "Father's silence is like an egotistic bird pecking at Hastinapur" "with its beak" "Two moons rose ...in Hastinapur" "Satyavati gave birth to two sons" "Chitrangada and Vichitravirya" "But instead of being happy" "Shantanu became even more depressed" "So depressed was he that the entire palace was enveloped in it" "The mind is saddened by the turn of events" "The mind cannot forget ...the quilt it accepts" "What's wrong?" "When I try to weigh our happiness" "our Love and our children" "...against ..., the injustice done to Bhishma" "I find that my happiness," "., vanishes and ...I start crying" "I had heard that ...crying lightens the heart" "But my tears cannot lighten my heart" "It is not that" "I do not love my sons but my kisses turn to ashes" "when I am reminded of Bhishma and the injustice done to him" "This wound will not heal easily" "Why do you blame yourself beloved" "I am the one to blame for having staked the country's future for my love" "I will have to face my ancestors" "No" "You are not to blame" "You had in fact told my father that his condition was unacceptable" "But I allowed Bhishma to cajole and coax me into accepting his oath" "I could have told him that" "I did not want my peace of mind at that price" "But I did nothing of the kind" "You too were there my beloved" "You tell me" "Did I ever tell him that" "I did not want Satyavati or my peace of mind at this price" "In spite of this I granted him a boon" "Go my son and, ., ...live this colorless life" "We are both to blame my king" "Just think ...thanks to God we are blessed" "with two handsome princes but the darkness in my heart." "...goes on increasing" "It is this darkness that I am afraid of" "Afraid?" "Why are you afraid?" "And of whom?" "Sometimes I am afraid of my Present ...and sometimes of Hastinapur's Future" "Let us then ...go to Bhishma" "and request him to withdraw his oath" "You have not understood Bhishma my love" "His oath is very sacred to him" "Like a commitment made to Cod" "We have no alternative." "But to go on living in this hell" "We can do nothing but accept our Fate" "Yes my king" "that will be our penance... and our repentance" "I am tired now beloved" "Tired and broken" "I had granted Bhishma a boon to die when he wished but I wish I had the boon" "The dark depression in Shantanu's heart enveloped the entire palace" "Lying on his death bed, Shantanu could say nothing" "but his expressive eyes bade a final goodbye to Satyavati" "He entrusted his sons to Bhishma and passed away" "The guilty heart wishes for death" "Gone is the chariot of fire left are flowers on the pyre" "Inspite of Bhishma's best efforts to console Shantanu he could not get over his guilty conscience." "He handed over his sons, Chitrangadh and Vichitraviry, ...to Bhishma and died" "Bhishma made Chitrangadh the King but he did not live long and was killed" "...in battle with a Gandharva chief also named Chitrangadh" "Then Bhishma made Vichitravirya the King" "With great pomp and show" "Long live the King" "my respects, mother may you live long Son" "Did you call me Mother?" "Yes" "There is an important matter to discuss" "What's worrying you, mother" "Son" "Shouldn't Vichitravirya get married now and add to the Kuru dynasty?" "I was about to suggest the same, Mother what do you propose, then?" "3 daughters of the King of Kashi" "Amba." "Ambika and Ambalika will be choosing their husbands soon" "Take Vichitravirya there.," "Let us get their Invitation first" "It will surely come" "Fine, Mother I Shall wait for it," "The moment it comes, I shall take him there," "Long live the Kashi King" "This Is the royal court of Kashi or shall we say." "It is the Court" "Of Ambika, Ambalika and Amba's father." "...Where Bhishma's death was decided" "Whatever it may be called." "It is an Important place in the history of Mahabharat," "Traditions born in the mist of history." "Will soon be slaughtered here" "Prime Minister" "I await your command Sire." "Invite all the Kings and Princes in India for my daughters to choose their husbands" "As you wish, Sire" "But don't send an invitation to Hastinapur may you live long." "Sire." "But why this hesitation only diplomacy Sire" "I don't want the storm of Bhishma's arrows" ". to reach Kashi;" "so I'm taking this liberty to suggest that we be friendly to Hastinapur" "As our Princess Sunanda was married to ...King Bharat Of Hastinapur" "It would be appropriate to invite the King of Hastinapur on this occasion as well" "Relations must change with times;" "Each Relationship has to end some day." "The relationship you mention ended the day" "King Shantanu ridiculed the marriage proposal ...of our sister with Devavrat" "That Wound of humiliation is still sore." "... in my heart." "Now is the time to take revenge" "Hastinapur must not be invited." "It's an order" "As your Prime Minister Sire it's my duty to warn you" "that to invite the wrath of Hastinapur will prove suicidal for Kashi." "Insulting them will be harmful to us." "Kshatriyas do not worry about such trifles" "They only care for their self esteem" "Which was hurt by King Shantanu of Hastinapur" "We'll certainly take revenge" "Couldn't." "We take revenge and yet be discreet" "How?" "Sire; only the Princesses will choose their husbands;" "if they ignore Vichitravirya" "Our revenge will be complete" "They refused to accept your sister" "We'll refuse to accept their King" "He'll be publicly, insulted in our court no, Prime Minister;" "One who insulted us" "Can't be our guest" "As you wish my Lord but tit for tat is not always a good policy" "Making friends is more effective" "Such a diplomacy may suit you." "But for me, revenge calls for revenge" "Hence." "I order you ..., not to invite anyone from Hastanapur" "As you wish., MY Lord." "My regards, Gurudev" "What are you discussing ...in such hushed tones?" "It is most insulting, Sir" "For whom?" "For Hastinapur, Gurudev for our King as well in fact for all of us who has insulted us?" "3 daughters of Kashi King are to choose their husbands, but there's no invitation for our King" "most insulting" "Does Prince Bhishm know about it" "It's an insult to our Royal House" "I won't tolerate it" "What happened?" "You seem very upset" "It is a grave matter." "Kashi King1s daughters are to choose their husbands" "Good" "They are Our Old friends our King Bharat's queen was also from Kashi" "It's time for them to have a matrimonial alliance with us." "I also had that in mind" "Then what's the hitch?" "King of Kashl" "He has forgotten that Once he was proud of our friendship but to-day when he is giving away his daughter." "In marriage, he dares to Ignore us." "So what" "Are these the only Princesses in the country" "But Mother if we tolerate this humiliation to-day," "'We'll Suffer loss of face before others as well," "Its imperative that we bring these Princess... to Hastinapur and prove to the World that" "...we are still a power to reckon with.," "But how would you do it?" "I'll go there and show them the power we still are if you're determined to go," "then take my blessings with you." "Ambe, are you thinking the same as I am?" "What art you thinking My Lord?" "After the function tomorrow our lives will be changed" "In what way?" "No more secret meetings nor freedom to roam about." "Only ever-lasting love instead." "Pure and sacred like the waters of Ganges that never stop moving." "It'll be love day In and day out." "On our wedding night when I'll lift your veil" "I'll be seeing a new moon delicate and pretty like a lotus" "you'll be in my arms and we'll be in Heaven" "With dreams fulfilled and future secured" "Heavenly existence for us both" "In the royal Kashi Court all the Kings emperors and Princes" "are Present to win a bride for themselves" "The 3 Princesses, Amab" "Ambika and Ambalika are entering the Court" "Amba knows who to garland" "You two also choose your bride-grooms" "Prime Minister, start the ceremony" "Certainly, my Lord Attention please" "I announce the arrival of King Shalva." "Be seated My Lord." "Attention for the warrior Prince Bhishma" "It seems Bhishma has forgotten his vow;" "Beauty." "Has taken its toll" "Why this urge to prove his youth at his age?" "Such beauty can lure even saints;" "leave alone a middle aged Prince" "It seem he was waiting for his father's death" "Satyavati broke her wedding bangles, and he his vow." "His vow too was brittle as glass" "Attention" "Its an assembly Only of invitees" "I know" "Since they're guests, I've not cut their tongues." "I'm here to represent King Vichitrevirya" "For centuries Kuru's have married Kashi Princesses it'll be so even to-day" "I'm taking the 3 Princesses to marry Vichatravirya." "Who has been ignored and insulted by you;" "I forgive you for that" "Princesses have a right to choose their husbands" "Not these Princesses Even if they had none of you is worthy of them" "Bhishma, put a rein on your tongue" "I put a rein on my horses only." "As for you Shalva King had I not gifted life to You once." "I'd have." "Killed you for Insulting me before this assembly" "I declare in this court that I've come to take away these princesses... and an doing so now" "is there anyone to stop me?" "Is there?" "Permit the Princesses to leave." "Oh King" "I was afraid this would D3432happen, My Lord 'Charioteer" "Turn the carriage" "Shalva King" "Yes, It's I" "But, this Road doesn't lead to Shalva.," "You're no warrior, Bhishma you're an evil magician" "You didn't display Valor in the Kashi Court" "You displayed evil magic." "Now face my arrows" "Beware you're a great warrior," "and we are not enemies" "I can't take away the life I gave you once ...So, go back to Shalva," "I'm not here to show my regrets" "I'm here to spare you your life" "I'll forgive you if you return to Hastinapur" "Or else lift you bow Beware" "I forgive you for this wound too go back while you can." "I'm not here to return, Bhishma." "I've no dearth of arrows, shalv King, But" "I don't wish to take away the life I gave you once." "So I pardon you again," "Proceed to Hastinapur" "Prince is back, Queen Mother is that so?" "Yes, my lady; he has brought 3 Princesses too." "Congratulations for 3 lovely brides." "Mother" "welcome, son she is Amba" "She is Ambika" "And she Ambalika" "And she - their maid" "Am I permitted to speak, your maiesty?" "Call me mother, Amba" "But my request Is to Her Maiesty" "Make it" "Before Bhishma came to Kashi, I had accepted Shalvraj as my husband why didn't you tell me this then princess?" "Fear." "Sire;" "I was scared of you" "Then she can't marry vichitravirya, mother." "You're right Bhishma." "Don't despair." "Princess" "We'll send you back to Shalvrai with respect" "You've my blessings." "Amba" "Queen mother" "With great pride and honour." "The Jewel princess merrily departs full of hopes to meet her lover" "And full of happy dreams" "Bhishma, gave me a new life" ". and now he has given you to me" "We will name our first son after him " "Certainly, my love." "You know." "When I told the Queen Mother that even before Bhishma arrived in Kashi" "I had accepted you as my husband he shuddered" "...and I knew then" ". that our union was assured" "You're now entering the Shalva territory." "Tell Bhishma that once I've lost something," "I do not take it back in charity inform him" "that by sending you back here he has insulted me" "When Bhishma learnt that I love you" "he himself sent me back to you" "Bhishma defeated all of us and won you." "So you belong to him" "Kshatriya code of conduct says, so when I was to choose my groom he was there" "But the choice was mine" "Only I could choose my life partner" "I'm not a Kingdom." "That Could be won or lost in a battle" "Or gifted away in charity" "Prior to Bhishma's arrival in Kashi" "I had already chosen ' you as my husband indeed I'm grateful to you Princess;" "but you'll have to so back to Bhishma by sending you here he has insulted me and humiliated you as well." "Let the Princess come in" "Long live the King" "I'm here to seek iustice" "You'll surely get it, Princess my Lord, after defeating all the Kings and Princes" "Bhishma won me" "But I was committed to marry the King of Shalva so You sent me back to him." "But he refused to accept me" "He Shouldn't have done so." "I'll send my army to avenge this humiliation." "But what has the King of Shalva done my Lord?" "Why should your men invade his Kingdoms?" "I have been insulted by Bhishma" "What are you saying princess?" "Bhishma can never Insult anybody" "I'm not talking about anybody" "I'm talking about myself." "I'm the one who was insulted and only I can tell who Insulted me" "I was Insulted by Bhishma if he hadn't sent me back to Shalva" "I wouldn't have been insulted" "So." "I beg you to order him to perform his duty as a true Kshatri by accepting me as his wife." "May you live long, my Lord" "I'm bound by my oath" "I can't marry" "Then why did you bring me here?" "I had announced in Kashi that." "I was only representing Vichitravirya there" "I was abducted My Lord" "When I was about to choose my husband my sisters have accepted you as a husband" "but I have not." "I wish to choose Bhishma as my husband it isn't possible Princess." "Why ever not?" "Because I'm pledged to celibacy beware of a wounded female serpent a wounded tigress and a woman humiliated Bhishma." "You're bound by your oath which forbids you to rescue me from my predicament" "So." "In this Kuru Court., with your King as my witness" "I too." "Take an oath" "Gangaputra, Bhishma never to forgive you for this insult even if" "I've to be born again and again to take my revenge" "One day I'll be the cause of your death." "I'll certainly take my revenge" "She was like an angry serpent, in a beautiful forest;" "None could be blamed for this but deadly deeds of destiny" "Kashi Princess." "Amba left to seek her revenge" "She'll Certainly do So" "But when and where?" "As Yet Only I know" "But when this epic reaches that stage" "I'll tell you all about it" "Right now Hastinapur feels secure." "King Vichitravirya has married." "Ambalika and Ambika." "With pomp and Show" "The Kingdom is being looked after by" "Wise and learned Bhishma, vichitravirya spends all his time" "With his two Queens" "What's wrong..." "My Lord?" "Mother dear" "What's happened, son?" "May he live long" "Give him some holy water" "The light of the Kuru clan, was extinguished long before its time," "Leaving the throne empty" "And the royal Palace deserted." "Get a hold on yourself, Mother" "I'm trying." "Son" "But I'm unable to face the truth" "I feel lonely and helpless." "Truth doesn't make you helpless, Mother" "It does, son." "It makes you very helpless.," "You're ambitious so you can't see my helplessness" "I had wished, my son to be the King;" "So I removed you from the throne ...that was yours" "Look, What happened" "The throne of Hastinapur is looking at me and asking me" "to give it a King now." "Where can I find a King?" "Both my sons passed away" "They left no heirs" "I have let down..." "My subjects" "Accidents and Incidents are inevitable, Mother" "Whatever has to happen must happen" "Destiny always finds its way." "Man can't read the script of fate" "He's sometimes baffled by happiness and sometimes by Sorrow" "But how can I give a King to Hastinapur time alone will tell" "Time has all the answers." "But you too are pledged to Protect the throne," "Certainly." "Mother so fulfill your Promise son" "Is anyone about to invade Hastinapur?" "The truth is." "That it has, it has already been invaded" "By whom?" "Your Oath" "Mother you promised your father to keep Hastinapur safe" "To keep that promise You'll need an heir" "YOU can't serve a throne without a King," ", or protect it without one" "After the death of my two sons, the Kuru" "Royal House is in danger of extinction, only you can save it from dying out" "On one side is your Oath." "And on the other the word given to your father" "The decision is yours," "What do you mean?" "According to our custom It a your duty" ". to marry Ambika and Ambalika and thus save the Kuru clan" "As your mother I wish you to do so it's my duty to obey you, mother" "But I'm pledged to celibacy" "Bhishma can't break his oath, and be called a liar." "Sun can cool down, and Moon become a ball of fire" "The truth, Bhishma, is that the enemy has already attacked" "Who's that mother?" "Your oath." "Mother!" "You had promised to serve and protect the Kuru clan" "If the clan does not survive whom will you serve?" "After the death of my sons... the clan is in fear of dying out" "and only you can save it from extinction" "On the one hand is your path and" "On the other is your promise" "You have to decide" "I do not understand" "Tradition demands that you marry Ambika and Ambalika" "and continue the Kuru lineage" "As your mother, that is also my wish" "To obey you is my duty but I am bound by my oath" "I had asked you for the oath Bhishma" "Today I release you from it" "Forgive me Dashraj" "For a Kshatriya an oath is sacred" "If I break my oath now I will not live" "The only alternative now is to call Sage Vyasa Will you do that?" "But why Sage Vyasa?" "He will tell you that when you call upon him" "As you wish" "Bhishma had correctly predicted that" "Hastinapur would come to me with its question because only I know the answers to all questions" "But there is a difference between knowing and actually answering" "If I answer questions which only the future will reveal then life itself will come to a standstill" "So, let Satyavati grapple with the answers" "Bhishma is here" "Bring him in with respect" "As you wish O sage" "Greetings" "I know why you have come here Bhishma" "What is your answer?" "Because Satyavati is not your mother you chose not to obey her" "No oath is greater than the wish of a mother or a nation" "Isn't this to be decided by the one bound by the oath?" "TRUE" "I crossed my bounds Bhishma" "The truth is that" "Satyavati is not your mother which is why you refused to obey her" "But she is my mother" "Your mother?" "Yes." "So, I must obey her Let's go" "Do not be afraid Satyavati" "I am Parashar" "Forgive me O sage" "I did not recognize you" "Man cannot recognize himself" "How then will he recognize others?" "There is one thing you should know" "You are meant for greater deeds" "History awaits you" "Awaits me?" "Yes" "The time has come for you to blossom out" "So that your fragrance will permeate the world" "But for that you will have to conceive" "But Sir I am a virgin unsullied" "I know that Satyavati" "You will remain a virgin" "But O Sage" "Your slender shoulders will carry the weight of History" "It is your duty to be worthy of this task" "Do your duty" "Decide quickly" "How can I decide?" "But" "From today I am responsible for all your 'buts'" "Thus I was born of Parashar and Satyavati" "So I must carry out her wishes" "Let's go" "Mother, Sage Ved Vyasa is here" "Come sir" "Greetings mother" "What do you wish?" "Come" "Sit son" "Why do you worry mother?" "I am not worried son" "I do not know how a mother can say" "what I want to tell you" "Did not my father predict that you would influence History?" "I understand everything" "Maybe you have begun to feel the pressure now" "My father's ambition has brought me to this crossroad" "It is quite possible that" "I was born to serve you in this moment" "What do you wish me to do?" "Since you already know why do you ask?" "This doesn't concern a mother and son alone" "It concerns many others" "It concerns Hastinapur as also the history of India" "Besides, you are not only my mother" "You are also the Queen Mother" "Do your duty mother" "The Queen Mother has a problem" "The throne of Hastinapur is empty" "Both my sons are dead" "The King's eldest son is bound by his oath" "And so, I have turned to my oldest son for help" "It is your duty to impregnate both Ambika and Ambalika" "because you are my eldest son" "As you wish mother but give me some time to fulfill my duty" "I am doing severe penance" "I came the moment I got your message" "I could not even receive Bhishma properly" "I cannot do what you want in my present condition" "Wait for a year and I will do your bidding" "I cannot wait for a year my son" "But mother just look at me" "It is my wish that you do your duty now" "As you wish mother" "What has to happen will happen" "Man's duty is to do what he can and go ahead" "Mother!" "Why did you take the trouble" "You could have sent for me" "No, my daughter" "The matter was such that I had to come myself" "Sit down my daughter" "My daughter autumn has come into your life" "even before spring" "But one cannot control life" "The seasons are not in our hands" "This earth is like an examination hall" "Give your examination and leave" "This is a test for you" "My daughter" "As you wish mother" "It is not a matter of my wishing" "It is a question of your giving yourself" "Tradition demands that if the husband has not fulfilled his duty" "then it is up to the wife to do so" "It was my son" "Vichitravirya's duty before he died" "to give an heir to Hastinapur" "But he did not live long enough" "It is now your duty to give an heir to Hastinapur" "Sage Vyasa is waiting for you my daughter" "Greetings mother" "Come son" "You seem unhappy" "Yes mother" "But why son?" "The very reason" "I was afraid of" "Which was why I wanted you to wait for a year" "Ambika was scared of me" "She closed her eyes" "The result is that she will give birth to a blind baby" "This is probably God's will" "I will explain all to Ambalika" "You are standing at the door of Hastinapur's future" "Come." "Do not be afraid" "What could I do mother?" "I do not control time" "Ambalika did not close her eyes but she turned pale on seeing me" "Her child we be an unhealthy one" "Give it one more try son" "Whatever mother may say" "I shall not go to the Sage's room" "Why don't you go?" "I would rather die than go there" "I will not go" "But what about the Queen Mother?" "That thought worries me too" "But I will not go to the Sage's room" "Okay, don't go" "I will send a maid" "Yes, let's do that" "What?" "A maid?" "Yes mother" "The child will be a learned one and as long as this Earth exists" "his name will be respected" "The two princes he will serve will also find a place in history and will become famous" "Hastinapur will forever be grateful to you" "I take your leave" "There's only one life-giver the fore-sighted God" "Each is given what he deserves" "The trait that dominates the mother's nature" "and her emotions the child too imbibes" "Long live the Queen" "Any news yet?" "A son has been born to Ambika" "Did you see him?" "Very beautiful" "Fair skin and a face like the rising Sun" "Tell me how are his eyes?" "0 my God!" "The royal doctor" "Has he seen him?" "What did he say?" "Come on tell me!" "Please go" "Long live the Queen" "What news have you brought?" "A son has been born to Ambalika" "Has the doctor seen him?" "Very beautiful" "He is fairer than the moon" "There's no need to say more" "Your eyes have told me the truth" "God knows what's wrong with me" "I am trying to find out what I already know" "As if Fate can be changed" "Go" "Leave me alone with," "." "Hastinapur's Fate" "0 my God" "For how long will I be punished for my father's ambition?" "Forgive me 0 Lord" "Why punish Hastinapur for what my father did?" "Why?" "Why?" "Long live the Queen" "I know what you want to tell me'" "Ambika's chief maid has delivered a bonny baby" "Yes Queen Mother" "Look after the mother and child" "He represents the future" "As you wish" "The three princes were born thanks to Sage Vyasa" "His predictions were correct" "Dhritirashtra, Ambika's son was blind" "Ambalika's son Pandu, suffered from ill health and was pale" "But the maid's son Vidur was healthy" "When the three princes came of age" "Bhishma took them away from the palace" "When he was satisfied with their learning he brought them back to the palace, to present them to the" "Queen Mother" "Coma Bhishma" "My respects" "Come here." "Sit next to me" "Now tell me how your students are faring" "How are they?" "Why not ask them yourself?" "Long live the princes" "I am Vidur's mother" "Come Dhritirashtra" "Come Pandu" "Come Vidur" "Sit there" "Forgive me Grandsire" "My seat is not there but here" "I have taught Pandu whatever" "I learnt from Sage Bhargava" "There is none in India today who can face Pandu's arrows" "The knowledge imparted to me by..." "Sage Vasistha and Lord Brihaspati..." "I have passed on to Vidur" "His name will live forever as the... foremost scholar of ethics" "What about Dhritirashtra?" "Dhritirashtra is the eldest Kuru son" "He is very strong" "He can break a stone in minutes" "In knowledge he equals Pandu and Vidur" "Who are his eyes" "So, I can say with confidence that Dhritirashtra should be made." "King of Hastinapur" "As you wish Bhishma" "May I say something Grandsire?" "Sure" "May I say something?" "This is something you have taught me" "No person should be made king unless he is physically whole" "Dhritirashtra cannot ascend the throne because he is blind" "Pandu is worthy of the throne" "Only Pandu" "No Vidur" "I will not be king while my elder brother in there" "Beloved brother" "Suppose I escort you to the throne myself and order you to sit there?" "Vidur is right, How can I." "...who cannot protect himself ...protect the nation?" "Only one person is worthy of the throne" "My brother Pandu" "Why are you quiet Bhishma?" "The decision is yours mother" "I am bound to the clan and the throne" "I shall serve and protect... whoever sits on it" "But you have to decide who sits on it" "Long live Pandu, King of Hastinapur" "Long live King Pandu" "Satyavati's penance and Bhishma's sacrifice" "have brought glory to India" "Brave Bhishma's pupils" ", are equally fearless" "The moon has risen again piercing the darkness" "Victory to King Pandu" "Hastinapur was happy to get a strong king like Pandu" "But Satyavati was not Hastinapur to be so easily satisfied" "She was already dreaming of grandsons" "One day she called for Bhishma" "What news of Hastinapur my son?" "The universe wants Pandu to become Emperor" "For you the universe is more important than your mother" "Can you think of nothing but victory and defeat?" "I do not understand mother" "Is a king born only to be an Emperor?" "There is more to life than that" "A person is not merely a king" "He has the responsibility of carrying on the lineage" "I have thought of that too mother" "Dhritirashtra is the eldest" "He should be married first" "But his wife should have the ability to see with the mind's eye" "Anyone in mind?" "Yes, Gandhari, Princess of Gandhat... worshipper of Lord Shiva" "Then go to Gandhar with my blessings" "As you wish mother" "You have lost Shakuni" "That's true father" "How do you like losing Shakuni?" "I don't mind losing to you" "But no Kshatriya likes being defeated" "Even at Dice?" "A battlefield is a battlefield:" "Wherever there is defeat and victory, it is a battlefield" "This is only a game son" "Wherever there is defeat and victory it cannot be a mere game" "Besides, no one plays to lose... just like no one goes to battle to lose" "Protector of the Kurus" "Unvanquished Bhishma is on his way" "Welcome Bhishma" "Touch his feet my son..." "It is a holy experience" " Greetings" " God bless you" "My son Shakuni" "Do come in" "Please be seated" "This is the juice of Gandhar's pomegranates" "Nothing is sweeter than this" "Very sweet indeed" "But there is something sweeter than this" "Please do not misunderstand me" "Your accepting my request will be sweeter than these pomegranates" "Do not talk in riddles" "I have come to ask for Gandhari's hand... for Prince Dhritirashatra" "Why not Pandu?" "Why this blind man for my sister?" "Forgive me father" "You have come to ask for my daughter's hand but you should realize" "that Prince Dhritirashtra is blind" "What difference would it make to him whether he marries or not?" "His life is wedded to darkness" "Don't say this father" "According to tradition... the right to decide is mine" "It is for me to decide whom I shall marry" "Will you deny me that right?" "In the presence of..." "Lord Shiva... my father and brother..." "Grandshire Bhishma I choose Dhritirashtra as my husband" "Daughter!" "I have not yet finished father" "It is an honour to be Prince Dhritirashtra's wife" "It is my good fortune" "For, even if I lose my beauty... my married life will be unaffected" "because Prince Dhritirashtra will not be marrying me for my physical beauty" "What's this?" "It is necessary" "Give me your blessing" "But Gandhari..." "Isn't it the wife's duty to share her husband's world?" "I have enveloped my life in the same darkness that has enveloped the Prince's life" "Why should I look at all that he cannot see?" "A wife's fate should match her husband's" "Bless you" "May you have a thousand sons" "That is a terrible oath you have sworn" "It transcends any blessing" "And yet my best wishes" "If this is what you wish... then take my blessings too" "Make God keep you happy" "Prepare for the marriage Bhishma" "Shakuni will escort Gandhari to Hastinapur" "Thank you" "Long live King Dhritirashtra" "Long live Queen Gandhari" "One day, as Pandu's army was returning victorious... they saw another army waiting for them" "Who is this courageous leader... who refuses to acknowledge our might?" "This is the army of Madra my king" "Prepare to attack" "Forward, charioteer" "What kind of warrior... is he and what kind of a battle is this?" "O king of Madra" "If you seek friendship you are welcome" "If not, stay there" "Friendship is between equals" "Then why come here with an army" "This army is yours and so are... the flag under which it fights" "It is not that we do not know how to fight" "We do!" "And though we may not be the first in battle... we are not the last" "But it does not hurt our honour to bow before you" "Will you accept my friendship?" "If not... we are prepared to fight unto death" "We believe in friendship O King of Madra" "There is nothing more beautiful than friendship" "What friend is he... who would dethrone a friend?" "You will still be a king" "But you will have to accept my gift" "Accepted" "Without knowing it?" "A friend's gift will be pleasant" "A friend can never betray" "This is a gift from a friend" "This charioteer?" "This charioteer will guide your life's chariot" "My life's chariot?" "This is my sister Madri" "Please accept her" "You have placed me in a predicament" "A predicament?" "I do not understand" "Do not be angry" "Only a blind man... will be oblivious to Madri's charm" "Her beauty will light up my heart and... bring colour to my life" "But only Kunti can accept her" "If she has no objection... then the gates of Hastinapur and my heart... are open for her" "Please take me with you to Queen Kunti" "Let her decide" "My brother has already given me away to you" "Let me test my Fate" "O king of Madra" "Allow us to take your leave" "Okay" "Victory to King Pandu" "King Pandu has reached Hastinapur" "The citizens have stopped the King's chariot" "They are all dancing with joy and showering flowers" "The king's chariot heads this procession" "Follower by the conquered crowns... gifted animals... heaps of rare jewels... and then our army" " With the king is..." " Who?" " How can I say it?" " Is the king okay?" "O yes" "If the king is okay... then everything else is okay" "The Princess of Madra is with the king" "The Princess of Madra?" "This is Madri, Princess of Madra" "Welcome little sister" "My respects" "Congratulations" "It is all due to your blessings." "Queen Kunti wishes to see you" "Does she need permission" "Come Kunti" "Sit" "This is Madri mother" "Who's she?" "Princess of Madra... your new daughter-in-law" "Oh I see!" "My blessings" "Have you met Ambalika?" "I am going there Queen Mother" "I am your mother-in-law now" "Gandhari- the maids were saying... that Madri is very beautiful" "Like the full moon" "Young Pandu is like an alchemist" "Whatever he touches... turns to gold" "Everyone here is an alchemist" "How else could Dhritrashtra have got someone like you?" "You are the eldest" "You must look after both Kunti and Madri" "I would like to know whether..." "Pandu will spend his entire life on the battle field?" "God forbid" "Hastinapur's borders have reached a point where they can go no further" "He must now begin a family" "Now that he has two wives... he will have to begin family" "Look here they are" "Madri is here for your blessings" "Gandhari- the maids were saying..." "Madri is really beautiful" "The King's efforts have made Hastinapur... a rare jewel in India's crown" "Everyone in India is talking about Hastinapur" "Our king has returned victorious" "Do we not have a duty towards him?" "Grandshire Bhishma..." "Brother Dhritrashtra... and friends" "Can we not give the king a gift?" "What do you want to say Vidur?" "What can we give their king except love, respect and loyalty?" "Leisure, Grandshire" "The happiness of the citizens... is the king's leisure" "Vidur is right my king" "The king is not so unusual a person... that he needs no leisure" "The greater the victory... the greater is the feeling of tiredness" "So, in times of peace, the citizens have the right... to ask the king and his queen to take some rest" "Dhritrashtra is here to look after your affairs" "How's that possible?" "Brother Dhritrashtra will also accompany me" "What will I do there?" "A blind man... and his blindfolded wife" "For us, this eternal darkness is leisure enough" "Allow me to stay here my king because..." "I am Hastinapur's shadow" "I have no separate existence" "Do not address me as 'king' my brother" "What else can he call you my king?" "You are younger than Dhritrashtra but this throne is greater than... both of us" "Victory to the king" "We have received news that... the Panchals have declared independence" "The king should not look into small matters" "People will say... why should the king bother about the Panchals" "This is Hastinapur's insult" "This is a job for Bhishma" "I will attend to it" "Your wish is an order Grandsire" "But I have already left my seat" "Now I have to go" "Positions prepare to attack" "Retreat" "The other day we were interrupted... and so we could not talk of the king's holiday" "Isn't the time right now Vidur?" "So, what do you suggest?" "Whatever you suggest" "The arrangements have been made." "Than I suggest that... the king should leave immediately" "As you wish Grandsire" "But before I leave I wish to make brother Dhritrashtra the king" "till my return" "He should be shown the same respect as the king" "Come brother" "Please accept the crown" "Here give it to me" "Come my lord" "Look at this crown!" "Look" "This is your bedroom my lord" "Don't bring your state affairs here" "How does the crown look on my head?" "It must be looking good" "But remember it is King Pandu's crown" "I don't know!" "What do you mean?" "As the eldest Kuru son the crown was actually mine" "but my eyes betrayed me" "Take off the crown my lord" "Or your head will begin to ache" "No Gandhari, not yet!" "You are born in a royal house" "Do not mistake the moon's reflection for the moon" "My lord, you are so strong that you can crack a rock in minutes" "Why then these dreams?" "Break them my lord" "Allow me to dream as long as I can" "Pandu's return will break this dream automatically" "What a beautiful scene!" "Not as beautiful as you are" "Let us ask the king" "Keep me out of your discussions." "This will not do my lord" "You have to mediate" "Okay, but answer my question first" "Is one flower fairer that the other?" "Come sister" "He is an Emperor now" "He will never admit defeat" "Let's go horse riding" "Let's go horse riding" "What if I win?" "Impossible" "What do you wager?" " What will you wager?" " Anything" "If I win I'll take sons - that, too, five" "Agreed" "Two and a half sons each" "No." "Kunti is elder" "So, she will give you three and I will give you two" "What if you lose?" "If I win I'll take sons If I lose I'll give sons" "Heard that sister?" "Heads I win, tails you lose" "Inspite of that I'll win" "Let's go horse riding" "No." "You go" "I'll arrange for lunch" "Let's go" "I win, where's my son?" "Why should I give you one?" "Kunti is elder." "Ask her" "Sage Kindom" "Welcome to my dwelling O king" "Rest here a while" "As you wish Grandshire" "Here my king" "These fruits are sweet and tasty" "This is for Kunti" "My blessings" "Come on sister" "Let's play Dice with the king" "You play" "If I play alone I'll definitely lose" "Your grandfather was of the Naga clan" "The Nagas are expert players" "The king has won great battles" "Let him taste defeat once" "His defeat will be our defeat Madri" " Please" " Okay" "But I will not play, I'll only watch" "Why will you only watch?" "I don't know... but ever since Pritha because Kunti my mind is not in that game" "I have started hating it" "Every time I see the dice" "I feel something bad is going to happen..." "You are good at recognizing sounds" "Have you also heard the sound of your future?" "My future is always with me" "Every passing day... brings Pandu's return closer" "That is worrying me, too" "The moment Pandu returns the crown will no longer be yours" "The crown belongs to Pandu" "Grandsire was about to crown me when Vidur began to talk of Ethics" "and my blindness became the reason for my defeat" "I have compromised with my Fate" "That was a mistake" "One compromise for friends and since when has Fate been our friend" "There are two ways of drawing the line of Fate:" "With the point of the arrow or... with one's intelligence" "But you have accepted defeat even before playing the game" "What could I do Shakuni?" "Wait for the right moment" "No one knows what will happen and when" "Life is its own definition" "It is water as well as thirst" "Life is a river which flows between the banks of Truth and Untruth" "Both exist in the River of Life" "The truthful person is one..." "Who extracts Truth from the River and does not let Untruth even touch him..." "Like a Swan differentiating between milk and water" "Does Life only mean exacting Truth by means of knowledge, of experience and struggle?" "What can we do with that Truth?" "Throw it back into the River?" "One need not spell it out to the disciples of the Great Bhisma" "The Indian tradition is inherent on you my king." "You need not be told that once... you have distilled Truth... you need not throw it away" "When you have realized Truth... the knowledgeable persons knows that he is in debt" "He has to fulfill three debts before he dies" "God's Debt" "Sages debt" "Ancestral Debt" "A person should fulfill these debts before death" "In case he does not... life will be insulted" "What if he is not fated to do so?" "Deeds should be stronger than Fate my king" "If it were not so, a Man's Fate would never change" "If Fate has to be changed to clear these three debts... then he should try to do it" "for these are no ordinary debts" "The Sage's Debt is that of Lord Shiva" "The God's Debt of Lord Vishnu" "The Ancestral Debt is that of Lord Brahma" "How can a man betray these three Gods?" "How does one fulfill these debts?" "The first debt of God's Debt and it can be fulfilled through charity" "The second debt is Sages' Debt" "It is fulfilled by the Acquisition of Knowledge" "Ancestral Debt is fulfilled through procrastination" "What are the duties of the wife O Sage?" "Woman means Awakening, Inspiration and Enthusiasm" "Woman is Earth my queen" "She has the seeds of life in her" "She is the soul of married life" "Married life is defined thus:" "The Gods live where" "Woman is worshipped one who disrespects a woman... is not a Man" "It is a Man's duty to protect a woman" "It is an obligation" "Okay my king, let's go" "May you have sons!" "What's it brother?" "You seem to be very happy today?" "The news is such my lord" "What is it?" "Your younger brother..." "What happened to dear Pandu?" "Nothing as yet... but soon it will" "He had gone for recreation... and is now busy with Sages" "He has started the long journey... from the palace to the hermitage" "The hermitage has an important place" "Many princes have retired to the hermitage" "The company of Sages is a sign of a good person" "There is no one here a part from me... listening to you" "I sincerely mean what I am saying" "Even King Shantu's... elder brother had renounced the world." "If it were not so King Shantanu would never have been king" "The crown is where it should be" "I, too, hope that Pandu stays in the forest... and you rule here" "No." "No." "This crown is Pandu's" "The crown is not Pandu's it is only Vidur's perverted Ethics... which placed it on Pandu's head" "This blind Dhritrashtra is the creation... of God not Vidur..." "That is mere consolation" "I'll never forgive that slave-born Vidur... for his conspiring ways" "If you do not have the strength to fight you should compromise" "Isn't it enough that..." "Pandu's first order as king... was that I, too, should be called king" "No king before him has done this." "And no king has given up his right... before this" "It is an insult" "No brother Shakuni" "Do not poison my mind against Pandu" "May God grant him a long life" "Had I not been blind, I would have renounced the world" "Had you not been blind you would not be a Sage..." "You would have been the king" "Welcome" "This is my sister Queen Kunti" "Please be seated" "Sage Kindam has gone to see the king" "He will be back soon" "Madri has found a short-cut but the sage will take the straight road" "I am fond of finding short cuts" "Man is a strange creature" "He does not think of what would happen if both... the Sun and Moon shortened their paths" "It is not right to take short-cuts" "The straight road is the best" "She is still young." "She will understand when she is older" "Why were you looking at the flower?" "I was thinking my queen" "The Earth's womb has fertility... just as a flower has fragrance" "A woman has many forms... but her basic purpose is growth" "It is she who fulfills a man's Ancestral Debt" "Children are a woman's adornments" "A woman's life is fulfilled on motherhood" "The Earth is the mother of Life itself" "When I think of this I become sad... that I have not yet fulfilled my debt to Earth" "May you have sons!" "May your sons light up Hastinapur's future... and receive the blessings of History" "May the Gods and Sages... give you this blessing" "May your children live long and bear children" "Pleased with Kunti and Madri, Sage Kindam blessed them with sons... and so, the two queens had to beget sons" "Sage Kindam's story marks a crucial point in the Epic" "He blesses the queens... with sons so that they can fulfill their duty... but the Sage and his wife have yet to fulfill theirs" "The queens were happy to receive the blessing... but their story does not end here" "They have yet to go to Hastinapur... because Satyavati is getting" " My respects" " God bless you" "Did you..." "Yes, I did call you" "Hasn't Pandu had enough rest?" "Please call him back, I'm restless without him" "As you wish mother" "Ask Dhritirashtra to send a personal message to Pandu" "As you wish mother" "Send for Pandu before mother asks you to do so my lord" "Why Gandhari?" "Don't you want Pandu to rest a little?" "He can rest here too" "Besides, his prolonged absence doesn't look good" "I am afraid that you may get too used to the crown" "I have sacrificed seeing... not thinking my lord" "You, too, have not given up thinking" "Have you forgotten what Shakuni said?" "What did he say?" "That the crown should be mine" "Such things should be forgotten lord" "Grandsire!" "You are so attuned to sounds my son" "Even a normal person would see less" "A long life to... you and your husband" "Please be seated" "At this moment I'm my mother's representative" "Mother has sent a message for the king" "She has asked him to call back Pandu" "Is this a message or an order?" "A message from an older person is an order my lord" "Ask Pandu to return" "Look at the king's pleasure at being called back" "It is were not the Queen Mother's order... he would have stayed back" "Learn self control Madri" "My mind is not a deer that I can control it with an arrow" "Life is for living" "But there are certain rules to living" "And one rule is that... we must return on getting mother's order." "You always side with the king" "We are both born to side with him" "The tiger seems near, kill him for me my lord" "What has the tiger done that you wish it killed?" "At least have your lunch my lord" "After I return" "I had sent the arrow after hearing the sound O Sage" "You have no right to use such a weapon if... you can't differentiate between sounds" "You have crossed the limit of your rights O King" "You should be punished" "Forgive me O Sage" "O king you have ended my dynasty" "So, I curse you" "You will die the moment... you embrace your wives" "No!" "Why this sudden silence Madri?" "Something tragic has happened" "The king, too, has not returned" "Something tragic has happened" "What?" "I had used the arrow on hearing the tiger sound" "But when I reached the spot I found that... my arrow had killed Sage Kindam and his wife" "Sage Kindam?" "O my God!" "I did not mean to kill him Kunti" "I know that my lord" "A king of Hastinapur is incapable of killing a sage" "But an accident has taken place" "I am now responsible for a Sage's death" "No my lord you are not responsible" "I am the killer" "You were to have lunch... but I was tempted by the tiger skin" "No!" "This death is mine" "I am responsible" "I must do penance" "Since I am also responsible..." "I will join you in the penance" "Which means..." "I am left all alone" "I did not expect this Madri" "I allowed you to share my life" "And now in this moment of crisis... you have both left me out" "That is not so sister" "You are our strength... our courage, our honour... our identity" "Why then do you say this?" "Victory is the king" "King Pandu is coming straight here on his return" "He has returned very quickly" "But why is he coming here instead of going to Mother?" "Is he suspicious... that I may not return the crown to him?" "Why do you think so my lord?" "A king is always worried about the state maybe that is why he is coming here first" "Welcome him with open arms" "I'll have to welcome him" "I'll welcome him as well as bless him" "How was your stay in the forest?" " Something tragic happened" " What?" "I have killed Sage Kindam" "Was it murder or accident?" "You cannot kill and... you cannot control accidents" "Only Vidur has an answer for such problems" "Wear this crown and ask Vidur this question in court" "Grandshire will be there" "There is no problem so why a solution?" "Of course, there is a problem Gandhari" "Here brother" "Wear this" "You will get a solution only in court" "Let's go" "Whatever you may say... a death has occurred and that, too with King Pandu's arrow" "But it is not murder" "Pandu did not do it knowingly" "So, it is not a sin" "And if it is not a sin then why a penalty" "This is a mere accident" "It is an accident and so penance is necessary" "Had it been murder, it would have been the death sentence" "I agree with Vidur" "As the King of Hastinapur" "I pronounce sentences that..." "I should renounce the world as a penance" "I wish to be an example for my people" "You were the only witness" "Had you wanted to, you could have kept quiet" "But you did not" "For you are the Law and the Law giver" "If you disrespect the Law... so will your subjects" "Your decision will be remembered with honour" "Now, in my place... my elder brother" "will rule Hastinapur" "Okay my brother" "If God desires it, so be it" "Come brother" "You are like my father" "I give you this Kingdom" "Grandsire" "I salute the King of Hastinapur" "Is it true that Pandu is... renouncing the world?" "Yes mother" "And you said nothing?" "It is not for me to say" "Why such a great penalty when..." "Pandu is blameless?" "This is King Pandu's judgment" "I am asking for your judgment Bhishma" "I am bound by the King's judgment" "And if you were not bound?" "A mother should not be so weak" "You should be happy with this judgment" "Pandu has shown that the Law is greater than a king" "Pandu has done what was expected of him" "Bless him" "I have already given all my blessings to you my son" "God knows... when I'll be free of Hastinapur's debt" "Come Madri" "What's this?" "Why are you surprised my lord?" "But these clothes?" "Anything wrong with these clothes Madri?" "No sister, in fact, they match our lord's clothes." "Do not take this lightly Pritha" "You are elder." "Explain it to Madri" "There is nothing to explain my lord" "Explain Kunti... that I killed the Sage" "So, I must so the penance" "Why should you follow me to the forest?" "What did Seeta tell Lord Rama?" "We are your wives" "You cannot do any penance without us" "Can you deny this truth my lord?" "My lord, did we not, with the Fire God as witness... promise to share your joys... and sorrows?" "Our relationship does not end at the palace" "We will come with you my lord" "You are incomplete without us my lord" "For your penance you have to be complete" "Lord Rama's penance was incomplete without Seeta... and so is yours without us" "Okay my brother" "Come" "Grandmother" "Bless me so that... my penance is successful" "A mother will always bless her child" "But son... what will happen to her?" "It is my mother... who is the inspiration behind this decision" "You are going" "but why are you taking them along?" "What will I tell their fathers?" "That I have sent their daughters... into the Forest?" "Look at Ambalika my son" "How will she, a widow, live without her son?" "In the same manner... as I will live without both of you" "Our lord was not willing to take us but we insisted" "But why my daughter?" "Because we are merely his shadows" "We cannot live without him" "Okay my son, go... and God willing you will, one day... return home" "Victory to the king" "Do not leave us my king" "We will not let you go" "I am grateful for your love... but go we must... because we must do penance for our sin" "Allow us to go" "Why this chariot?" "It is necessary" "Maybe not for you... but it will take Kunti and Madri" "to the forest" "May you live long" "May you have sons" "That Life is blessed... which shares joys and sorrows" "The palace and the forest... both are the same for it" "Come Shakuni" "Why are you sad my king?" "Pandu's going away has saddened me" "This is the moment we were waiting for" "Now this crown is all yours" "The injustice done to you... is now over" "It is rightly said that justice takes its own time" "Congratulations King Dhritirashtra" "Now you will rule while..." "Pandu stays in forests" "Where to Pandu?" "I am going to Brahma's World" "Take me with you" "I am sorry to say that you are... not allowed there" "Why?" "Neither are you a Sage nor an Enlightened Man" "You are also childless" "You cannot enter unless you fulfill your Ancestral Debt" "What thought is that my lord which is more important than your wives" "That thought... is hell" "A living... terrifying hell... in which every moment of my life... is burning like dry wood" "I am your wife my lord... and so, entitled to half that hell" "Tell me my lord" "Do you remember that day... when we all went horse riding?" "Both of you had agreed to give me sons if I won the race" "What if I win?" "Impossible" "What do you wager?" "Anything" "If I win I'll take sons - that, too, five" "Agreed" "Two and half sons each" "No." "Kunti is elder" "She will give you three and I will give you two" "What if you lose?" "I'll take sons if I win I'll give sons if I lose" "Heard that sister?" "Heads I win, tails you lose" "Now you cannot fulfill that promise" "Why my lord?" "That is Sage Kindman's curse" "Curse?" "I am cursed to live" "and die childless" "There is a solution" "A solution?" "Pleased with my service" "Sage Durvasa had given me a spell whereby I can call upon any God" "It is a seduction spell" "Then use that spell" "If the spell can really seduce Gods" "then call Lord Dharamraj" "this child is a part of me" "He will be a Man of Ethics and Truth" "He will steady in battle" "So, O Kunti... name him Yuddhistir" "Accept my blessings my king" "A prince has been born in the Kuru clan" "Meaning?" "A son has been born to Pandu" "He's name Yuddhistir" "Please send him our congratulations" "Yes my king" "I conceived before she did" "As God wishes!" "Now call upon the Wind God" "Like this stone whoever faces him in battle... will be broken" "Great warriors will fear him" "So, O Kunti... name him Bhim" "He has broken the stone" "He is very strong" "Let's call him Bhim, a terror to his enemies" "In the hermitage, Kunti gave birth to Bhim while... in the palace, Gandhari gave birth to Duryodhan" "But these lineage do not stop here" "Kunti is to give birth to Arjun and Madri to Nakul and Sahadeo while..." "Gandhari will give birth to 100 sons and a daughter" "But there's time for that" "So, let us leave Kunti and Madri at the hermitage and Gandhari at the palace... and go to Mathura" "where the central figure, the Great Hero... of our story is going to be born" "His name is Vasudeo Krishna" "Shri Krishna" "Sometimes we forget... the world belongs to the Lord" "He carries the world on the edge of his weapon" "The Crown Prince of Mathura... the powerful but agoistic Kansa had 1st loose a reign of terror" "Maybe he likes the ruins because whenever his army passed by" "it seemed like a dark ominous whirlwind passing by" "Probably he did not like any other living creature which is why" "whenever he returned after his campaigns... one could smell the odor of Death" "Welcome O King of Magadh" "My son-in-law" "I was going to Mathura to congratulate you on your victory" "But when I heard you were on the way I returned" "There is none in India greater than you" "This armour seems to be a part of your body" "I have seen many warriors but none greater than you" "What are you saying?" "I speak the truth O Prince" "Let's dine at my camp and then... proceed to Mathura" "How is that possible?" "You are within the Mathura border" "You will dine with me and then come with us to Mathura" "There is no need to go to Mathura now" "I merely wanted to congratulate you" "Yes, I will surely dine with you" "Come let's go" "If you praise me so much" "I'll start believing you" "Do not think Kansa that I am praising you because you are my son-in-law" "I am praising you because you deserve it" "You are the future of India" "Your father and I... we represent the past... the last rays of the setting Sun" "You will be the king soon" "Kansa, the King of Mathura" "With your blessings O King of Magadh" "My blessings are always with you" "Attention!" "Attention!" "King Ugrasan is on his way" "Yes Akrur" "A few citizens would like to see you" "The doors of the palace and my heart are open to all citizens" "Your face speaks of a grave problem" "The problem is grave" "What is it?" "It is better that the delegation tells it... because it is best heard from the horse's mouth" "Bring him into the court with respect" "Present the delegation" "Victory to the king" "Why this delegation?" "I was afraid to come alone" "You were afraid to see your king?" "Which means I am unworthy of the throne because even the palace should be open for the citizens" "State your problem without fear" "There is only one problem" "What's that?" "Prince Kansa" "Kansa?" "What has he done?" "Whatever it is, it is not good" "You're his friend Vasudev" "Friendship does not mean that one should support a friend's misdeeds" "Prince Kansa has hurt the very soul of Mathura" "May God grant you a long life" "It is your duty to think of Mathura's future" "Victory to the king" "Go ahead citizens" "We regret to say O King that..." "Prince Kansa's atrocities have crossed all bounds" "Neither our lives nor our culture is safe" "The honour of our daughters is not safe" "Our city based on the banks of the sacred Yamuna... has become a city terror" "I'll talk to Kansa" "Victory to the Prince" "The citizens made a representation" "What did father say?" "Vasudev did the talking" "But father must have said something" "He listened to him with care and was pained" "Is that so?" "Where's the king now?" "Consulting the astrologer about your sister's marriage" "Find an auspicious day so that my dear Devaki's married life will be an eternal happiness" "Of course" "Prince Kansa is coming here my king" "Without bathing?" "Smelling of the blood of innocents?" "And that, too, at this auspicious moment?" "My respects father" "You should have had a bath" "It seems my father dislikes the smell of victory" "Success soaked in the blood of innocents is defeat" "I think you are unworthy of becoming the Crown Prince" "And you are unworthy of being the King." "What are you saying my son?" "What you heard my father" "And what I am saying is the truth" "You may now give your last order" "Will you take off the crown or should I do it?" "You are taking a long time to decide father" "Tell me will you take off the crown or should I?" "No, I will take off the crown" "But remember this Kansa" "The Sinner's sins are enough to kill him" "Your end is near" "Fear the wrath of God" "I'll take care of God later" "First let me deal with you" "Take Mathura's deposed King to the darkest dungeon" "You are not even worthy of my curses Kansa" "See that my father has no problems" "As you wish" "The only problem I have is that you are my son" "It is time for you to renounce the world" "Consider this to be your hermitage and begin your prayers" "And if you still want to think of politics then you should realize that" "a weakling has no right to be a king" "History has insulted Mathura by making you its king" "I can say nothing about History but Time has insulted me" "by making you my son" "You are not my son but a punishment for the sins of my past life" "You are not my son... but a curse to Mathura and India" "But every curse has an end" "Kansa, I shall wait for your end" "Do that!" "Wait for my end!" "It will help you pass the time" "O my God!" "In my next life give me a son if I deserve one" "If not, give me a stone which I shall worship as a symbol of Lord Shiva" "But do not give me another Kansa" "How did this happen Akrur?" "Kansa imprisons the king and we could say nothing?" "Such a big insult to the throne and humanity!" "Anger is Man's greatest enemy Vasudev... because Logic is the first casualty of Anger" "So, should we watch all this silently?" "We have a duty towards Mathura?" "Does friendship mean that we silence our Conscience?" "Yes, Ethics says that!" "In it lies the ultimate good" "He needs your friendship" "He will ask for it" "Give him whatever he asks for" "People like you must live so that Kansa can be destroyed" "So, stay on in spite of the humiliation and sorrow" "Victory to the king" "What's it?" "Vasudev would like to see you" "Bring him in" "Come in my lord" "Come in my lord" "You may not have liked the manner in which I became king" "What does it matter" "You were to be the King... today or tomorrow" "Even then... tell me the truth my friend" "If my eyes were at the throne of Mathura I may have felt bad" "If you are really happy on my becoming king will you listen to me?" "You have to merely order" "No." "Not an order my friend" "Merely a suggestion from a friend" "A friend's mere suggestion mere suggestion is an order" "Tell me" "I would like you to wed my sister Devaki... so that we will be bound together" "But Rohini?" "Is your heart so small that you cannot find place in it for both Rohini and Devaki?" "Won't you give me some time to think?" "No" "There should be no wall of thought between friends" "So, honour my friendship by accepting my proposal" "I cannot refuse my king's order... nor a friend's proposal" "Come embrace me" "We are related now" "Find an auspicious day... for the marriage between Vasudev and Devaki" "As you wish Prince" "Not Prince, call me King" "As you wish my king" "Find such an auspicious date that this marriage strengthens the bond between us" "This marriage should be celebrated with great pomp and grandeur" "Bless you my friend" "I am happy to see you a bridegroom today" "Till today you were a friend" "Now you are my brother-in-law" "Take good care of my sister Devaki" "My lord the chariot is ready" "Not you charioteer" "Today I'll be my sister's charioteer" "As you wish my king" "Come Vasudev Come Devaki" "Praise Lord Shiva" "Welcome O Sage" "You have come at an auspicious moment" "Bless Devaki and Vasudev" "I have come here to bless them O King" "I was waiting for this marriage" "May you have eight sons" "O King not only I but Death itself was waiting for this marriage because Devaki's eighth son will cause your death" "and free Mathura from your atrocities" "Don't invite your own death O Sage" "I have prophesied the future" "I have been waiting for this moment for years" "Do not fear." "This monster cannot harm you" "You are a liar O Sage" "Sages do not lie." "God give me a sign" "Kansa your end is near" "Devaki's eighth son will cause your death... and free the world from your atrocities" "Good you warned me" "I will not allow Devaki's sons to be born" "Then what will you do?" "I will kill Vasudev and Devaki" "Then, how will they give birth to sons?" "Don't do that Kansa" "Don't kill your sister" "It is her son who will cause your death" "Kill him but not her" "What if you don't hand him over to me?" "Put us in the dungeon... and release us only when you are free of fear" "Kansa I am your oldest friend" "I have risked my life for you" "Why penalize us for the fault of our son?" "You loved me and yet now you want to kill me?" "Yes, Kansa you are a brave warrior" "Fight and vanquish your Fate" "Draw a new Fate line on your palm" "Imprison them in the dungeon and kill their sons" "If you kill their eighth son you will become immortal" "So be it!" "Throw Vasudev and Devaki into the dungeon" "And till I kill the eighth son... imprison this Sage too" "I will punish the Sage after killing the eighth son." "Put this sage into the leper's cell" "What has Devaki done?" "How can she... bear the rigours of the dungeon?" "Not Kansa father" "Call me King Kansa" "Put these two in this cell" "Devaki will bear eight sons in this cell" "Inform me of every birth" "As you wish O king" "Listen to me brother" "What have I done?" "Am I not your favorite sister?" "Then why this?" "If I did not have to prove to Brahma that a brave man can write his own Fate" "I would not have punished you" "Your Fate line does not favour your brother;" "it favours Brahma" "If I did not have to show Brahma that I am not afraid of my Fate..." "I would have given you the death sentence" "I will allow your eight sons to be born kill them and then ask Brahma... what happened to my prophesied Fate" "Victory to the king" "Rohini would like to see you" "Rohini?" "Who's that?" "Vasudev's first wife" "Yes my king" " Bring her in" " Yes" "Come sister" "You have betrayed a friend How then am I your sister?" "I had merely come to see how arrogance and the fear of death" "can destroy a friendship" "Please sit sister" "When you have no place for your own sister... why bother about me?" "Sister" "I am still fond of Devaki and Vasudev" "My fight is with Brahma" "My fight is with the Prophecy" "I do not like to see my dear friend in prison" "That very thought makes me spend sleepless nights" "But what can I do?" "Please go and tell them that I am still fond of them" "After killing their eight sons" "I shall bring them back to the palace with honour" "But the prophecy concerns the eighth son" "Why then do you want to kill all eight?" "That is the problem Rohini" "How does one decide which is the first son?" "What is the problem O King?" "Can you not count up to eight?" "I do know how to count Rohini" "But from where does one start counting?" "Suppose someone draws sight points on this circle" "Now, if I am not present when the points are marked... how will I know which is the first point and the eighth point" "It is my duty to protect any life" "It is also my right" "What else can I do?" "Go there and give them courage because I have heard" "that Devaki is pregnant" "How unlucky I am!" "I cannot show my happiness at becoming a mother" "Because I know that this child" "is condemned to die at birth" "Trust in God Devaki!" "For only He knows what is in our Fate" "Man is helpless" "If this dungeon is the essence of our Present then it is certain that our eighth son is the essence of our Future" "Wait for our eighth son Devaki" "He will be our Fate, our Religion... and our Prayer" "When he comes, he will be the salvation of the world" "You are blessed O Devaki" "For, you will be the child's mother" "And blessed is this dungeon" "For, this will be his birth place" "Vasudev is right Devaki" "Waiting is now the essence of our lives" "Wait for that Great Man for the entire world is waiting for Him" "There is none brave enough... to challenge Kansa" "If our eighth son is his death then why kill seven innocent children?" "This is how sin accumulated" "Now be quiet my dear" "Have you remembered any other prophecy?" "If so tell me!" "I'll say only this" "Your death is eight steps from you" "You cannot escape the prophecy" "You are a great humorist O Sage" "But do not forget O Sage that my sword can cut through every prophecy" "That's enough." "Take him away" "What kind of an uncle is he who will kill his own nephews?" "Is this a punishment for our past deeds?" "Do not be sad my king" "This is not a punishment for our past deeds" "If that is not the case then... why are we here?" "We have come here to welcome that Great Man who will destroy Kansa and his atrocities" "this is a great honour for us" "You are my son-in-law Vasudev and I am ashamed at this treatment" "Please forgive me" "This is not a penalty but a blessing" "We have been trusted with the Future" "Just dream of Kansa's downfall and the dungeon will not seem all that bad" "God Himself will have to take birth... to free the world of Kansa's atrocities" "My blessings" "How are you my lord?" "All right but I cannot bear to see Devaki suffer" "I do not have the strength to give her courage" "Please explain to her" "Give her courage" "Come sister" "Please lie down" "No." "I am okay" "It is my bad luck sister that I had to meet you here" "There's no place for you to even sit" "Do not be sad Devaki" "Wherever my lord is that place is honoured for me" "But for Kansa's permission I would have come here to wait for your eighth son" "Wipe your tears Devaki" "And remember that even God needs a mother to be born on this Earth" "Learn to bear these days because you will nurture the seed of Man's welfare" "There are no days here sister" "So, how can I bear them?" "Here, there is only one long night... away from the warm Sun" "I will be happier once the child is born" "Do you think Kansa will kill this child too?" "Why should he do that Devaki?" "Like us, he, too, is waiting for our eighth child" "Do not consider me to be a stranger Devaki" "I share your every grief" "Come again sister" "Of course" "I'll go now" "O Woman, the Lord shares your sorrow" "Do not weep, the Lord... will be born to you" "Devaki's first son is about to be born" "Which means Kansa's death and Mathura's freedom is just eight passes away" "Devaki knows this but her tears have misted her foresight" "Which is why she cannot see my presence in the darkness of the dungeon" "But I have always had two forms:" "I am Light as well as Darkness" "I am day as well as Night" "When, as light, I am in the womb of the horizon..." "I am also manifest as darkness" "The dungeon is dark... but the son is of the new era... is a mere eight paces away" "The Sun is about to take its first step" "Even Kansa knows this!" "But his arrogance has blinded him" "Even he know that the prophecy is true" "But his pride wants him to prove it is a lie" "This is not a guard... but a representative of Kansa'a Fate" "He has brought the news that Death has taken its first step towards Kansa" "Victory to the king!" "The jailer has sent a message for you" "Do not look at me accusingly" "Accuse Brahma because he has made your womb my battlefield" "What can I do sister?" "I am myself caught in this predicament" "Give me that son of yours" "No I won't" "I will seize him" "Our eighth son will cause your death Kansa" "This is only our first son" "Why kill him?" "A snake is a snake my friend... whether the first or the eighth" "Do not become so heartless Kansa" "This child is your nephew" "No, not my nephew" "He is Brahma's first arrow aimed at me" "Brahma will send eight such arrows... all of which I will destroy" "Even the demons love their kin, brother" "Do not try to weaken my resolve Devaki" "What a sister you are!" "Do you not want your brother to live?" "Why kill this child brother?" "Kill me... so that the eighth son will not be born" "Give me the child" "No brother" "Give me the child!" "The bloodstain that Kansa saw on the dungeon wall was not a bloodstain... but the footsteps of Destruction" "And it was not Kansa who laughed at it... but his Death" "And now he is coming to the dungeon again to witness the second footsteps of Death" "Give the child!" "No!" "Kansa has killed six sons" "But the seventh is sternal" "A son with two mothers" "The powerful elder Belram" "What are you thinking?" "That... the child in my womb will" "also be killed" "What a mother am I?" "I have lost six children before my eyes but I continue to live... in hope!" "I cannot bear it any more" "That is why I have come to take your pregnancy" "Take my pregnancy?" "Yes, Give it to me... and stop worrying" "I'll never let the child fall in Kansa's hands" "Take him sister" "You have every right to him" "What are you saying?" "Even I am surprised my King" "How could it have happened?" "Devaki was pregnant the day before... and today there is no sign" "Could be a miscarriage" "No" "Could it be that she has delivered before her time?" "That, too, doesn't seem possible" "Do you realise the meaning of this?" "What?" "This means that the unborn child is afraid of Kansa" "Even the future is not that bold to cross my borders" "without my permission" "Kansa does not realise that he is laughing at himself" "His fate is playing hide and seek with him" "He thinks that he can escape fate" "But only I know that his fate will soon catch up with him" "And that day is not too far" "So, keep a close watch on Vasudav and Devaki" "Be patient" "Our wait is almost over" "I keep explaining myself that my lord but the mother in me does not understand" "I have already lost six sons... after hiding them in my womb for nine months" "after feeding them on my blood... what happened?" "My brother comes and seizes the child and there is one more bloodstain on the wall" "I no longer understand the word 'patience' my lord" "Under such circumstances patient means... courage" "Just think that our supreme test is almost over" "You are now carrying our eighth son" "It is not that..." "I do not trust the prophecy" "But as a mother" "I have a right to cry over my sons" "Do not stop me from weeping my lord" "Do weep Devaki... but within yourself" "Do not show your tears to Kansa" "Okay" "I'll try my best" "But these tears do not stop my lord" "Hush my dear" "I cannot bear to see the Princess's sorrow" "She gives birth to sons and then witnesses their death at the hands of Kansa" "I had neither heard nor seen such cruelty" "A brother killing his sister's offspring!" "I cannot bear to look at the Princess" "And now the next child will also be killed" "I wish we could do something" "But what?" "Do not cry my child" "Be quiet or your uncle will come here" "Let him cry Devaki" "Come my child" "Let Kansa be informed... that our eighth son is born" "Let him be in my arms for a few moments" "After all, he is moment's guest" "No, not a guest!" "This is our eighth's son... who will vanquish Kansa" "There is no time to lose" "Kansa must have left the palace by now" "Let me gaze at my son's face before he comes" "Do not be afraid" "This child represents Man's future" "Take him across the Yamuna... to the village of Gokul and leave him with your friend Nandrai" "But how will you go?" "You are in chains" "Look Devaki our chains are broken" "What about these iron doors?" "What about the guards?" "What can I do?" "The One who has... released us from these chains" "will take care of the rest" "Do not lose any more time Vasudev" "Take this child and leave" "Be quick" "The eighth day of the second fortnight on Wednesday midnight" "In the dungeon of Kansa..." "Krishna Incarnate is born" "The Sun is in Leo... the moon is rising high" "O God!" "The clouds shower the face of the Earth" "With its plentiful bounty" "The lightning crackles across the sky" "To reveal the Lord's face" "The Sacred Cobra fans its hood" "To protect the Lord" "What Mathura has lost through sacrifices" "The Braj has gained" "The Yamuna knows what the world does not" "This is the Lord Incarnate" "Which is why the Yamuna's waters swelled" "To touch the Lord's feet" "When, lost in thought, Vasudev... could bear it no longer" "The Lord allowed the waters... to touch his holy feet" "Who's that?" "Vasudev!" "I was waiting for you" "Do come in" "How did you escape?" "The chains broke, the door opened and the Yamuna gave way" "Here is our eighth son!" "Come!" "Vasudev's eighth son!" "Young Vasudev!" "Come!" "Come to Nand son!" "I am grateful to you Vasudev that you should think of me in this crisis" "You have honoured me" "This is no ordinary child" "He will free the world from Kansa'a atrocities" "You have fulfilled your duty by giving birth to him" "Now, Yashoda and I have to fulfill our duty" "O Destroyer of Kansa!" "Accept my greetings" "Your coming here has blessed this house... and this country" "How can you leave this house empty-handed?" "Just a minute!" "Wait" "Do not go away" "There's no time to think Vasudev" "No time at all" "Kansa will definitely come to claim the child" "What will you tell him?" "Look Vasudev I am your friend and Yashoda is Devaki's friend" "This girl has been born today" "Girl?" "No one knows about her birth" "Not even Yashoda" "She is still unconscious" "So, you want to switch babies?" "But how can I be so selfish and sacrifice this girl to protect my son?" "No my friend" "Maybe Kansa's mind will change on seeing the girl" "Have faith Vasudev" "Do what I say" "I'll do what you say" "Selfishness makes a man blind" "You are not selfish my friend" "It is Kansa who is selfish... and blind" "He does not realise the result of his Sins the curse of his Actions" "Go now, do not delay my friend" "And do not think this to be an act of selfishness" "This is the only way to Man's welfare" "Kumari Nandini has been replaced by Nanda Kumar" "The world's uplift is impossible without sacrifice" "What happened?" "I have exchanged Yashoda's daughter for our son" "My lord" "What's it?" "My lord, the jailer" " Bring him in" " Yes" "Victory to the king" "What's it?" "Daveki has given birth to a girl" "A girl?" "Is it a girl?" "But the Sage had..." "No one can kill me now" "I am immortal now" "Which means..." "I unnecessarily imprisoned" "Devaki and Vasudev" "I killed without purposes" "That Sage deserves the death sentence" "Bring him here" "Victory to the king" "You said Devaki's eighth son would kill me" "Of course" "But there is no eighth son" "Devaki has given birth to a daughter" "Devaki's horoscope does not show a daughter" "Her eighth son is already born... and he will definitely kill you" "That is the eternal truth" "No!" "Powerless became the sword of the powerful Kansa" "Your sins will one day prove to be your end" "Kansa's fate will not allow him to believe the truth of his life" "He did not believe the Sage... that Devaki's eighth son would kill him" "He did not even believe... the prophecy" "However, when he heard that..." "Devaki had given birth to a girl... his Fate whispered that he believed it he thought that he had become immortal... but when the Sage said that" "Devaki's horoscope did not show a daughter he began to think" "Sword drawn he went towards the dungeon..." "Devaki had Yashoda's daughter on her lap and was praying... that Kansa would take pity on the girl" "But she did not know that the word 'pity' did not exist in Kansa's dictionary" "Crying does not solve any problems Devaki" "It merely weakens your resolve" "What is the fault of this girl my lord... that she will fall prey to that monster?" "It is the blameless who get killed" "Just think that Yashoda, too, shared your sacrifice" " Even then..." " No, my love" "The prophecy had spoken about the eighth son" "Who knows Kansa may see the girl and return without killing her" "He wants our son" "But this is a girl" "Where's your eighth son Devaki?" "It is a daughter this time" " That is impossible" " No brother" "Where's your son?" "Fear the wrath of God Kansa" "I do not fear God" "I only fear Devaki's eighth son" "You have changed babies" "How's that possible?" "These chains, these walls, this prison..." "It's all yours" "These guards do not even allow air to pass through" "Don't be silly!" "Who will help them and how?" "You must have bribed the guards" "Bribe?" "What can we bribe them with?" "I don't know but I will kill your eighth son" "No Kansa it is he who will kill you" "I do not like counting up to eight" "I am not the one you seek Kansa!" "Your Destroyer is already born" "Whenever Religion and Piety decreases" "And Sin and Arrogance increases" "At such times the world is blessed" "With the arrival of the Lord" "Kansa was shaken by the prophecy" "He began to think" "But Gokul had nothing to do with Kansa's fear" "A unique happiness had spread all over Gokul" "If was as if Nature... had blossomed in all its rare beauty... as if Spring had come all over again" "Everyone wondered:" "Whom was nature welcoming?" "Was it God Himself?" "Or was it Devaki's eighth son?" "The Lord has come to Gokul" "The drum beats in Nand's house" "Announcing the happy occasion" "With Gokul on this side and Mathura on that" "Separated by the deep waters of the Yamuna" "There's happiness in Gokul and sorrow in Mathura" "Kansa's face has become a mask of sorrow" "There's happiness in Nand's house Long Live the Lord!" "He has given presents to celebrate the occasion" "I want..." "Devaki's eighth son not your obedience" "This much is definite:" "The girl is not Devaki's" "Where's Devaki's eighth son?" "They must have performed some magic" "How else is it possible... for the child to vanish" "Even if it is some kind of magic the child should be within our borders" "Send out the army to kill all children born yesterday" "As you wish my lord but this will cause a revolt" "Do you know what will happen if you don't?" "I do my lord" "However, the child will not grow up in a day" "We still have time" "Let us send our spies and find out how many children were born yesterday" "A spy wants to report to you" "This is a good omen" "You spoke of sending spies and here is one" "What's the news?" "Gokul has changed overnight" "Flowers have bloomed and a celebration seems to be on" "We can heat it across the river" "This can only mean... that the boy is in Gokul" "You may go now" "Send the army to Gokul" "Why send an army for a mere child?" "There is another solution:" "Puttana" "Okay, send for Puttana" "You were my wet nurse Puttana" "You need not bow to me" "May the king live for long" "I am in trouble Puttana" "You have to merely command" "Can you kill an army of mine?" "I, my king?" "The enemy is a child Puttana" "Who's that?" "I don't know" "But I know he is in Gokul... and that he was born yesterday" "But it could be that... more than one child was born yesterday" "Yes, It's possible" "What should I do?" "Kill all of them" "Can you do it?" "Do not worry my lord" "I will apply a sweet poison on my breast... and give suckle to them" "With your permission..." "You may leave" "What are you doing uncle I must greet you first" "Is everything okay Rohini?" "Come Balram my child" "I have been waiting for you" "Yoshoda, too" "She is upset that you didn't come earlier" "There was a celebration here yesterday" "So, you have come at last!" "I have been waiting for you" "What took you so long" "I was back in Mathura, I just got back" "I have brought a gift for Kanha" "Had you come yesterday you could have seen the celebration" "Yes." "It could be heard in Mathura" "You all should have been quieter" "Yashoda has become a mother after a long time" "How could I ask the villagers not to celebrate the event?" " What's this?" " Some butter" " Congratulations" " Thank you" "I had a dream earlier this morning" "I saw your son... asking me to get him butter" "So I brought him some butter" "Aren't you taking the butter to Mathura?" "No." "The butter is for your son" "We all dreamt that... he was asking for butter" "Look how he is lapping it up" "What happened?" "Where had you gone?" " Sukhanand's son is dead?" " How?" "Someone poisoned the milk" "Who's poisoning the milk?" "Please do something Mandrai?" "Even the doctor from Mathura is unable to understand this illness which kills only infants" "I do not understand" "All those dead were born on the same night as my son" "We did not think of this" "But you are right!" "They were all born on the same night" "What's it Nandrai?" "I don't know" "As our leader you have to show us the way" "How many of those infants left?" "My own son and..." "Mine!" "Victory to the king!" "Come Prince Minister" "Congratulations" "All but two of those infants are dead" "Which?" "Ramnetra Yadav and Nandrai's sons" "By tomorrow Puttana will finish her job" "O Kanha's mother!" "Speak softly." "My baby will wake up" "He wakes up at the slightest sound" "Isn't he the sweetest child?" "Of course." "He is unique" "We are really blessed to have him" "Let him get bigger." "I will nurture him on butter" "And what about the palace?" "Don't you know that we have to send the butter there?" "Let the king buy his own cows" "Silly, But how can you understand such things" " What happened?" " Yadav's son is dead" "What happened?" "Ramnetra's son died" " How come" " Poisoned milk" "O my God, okay you carry on I'll follow you" " What happened?" " Ramnetra's son died" " Why's the cow mooing?" " Ask her" "A mother's heart is always worried" "My son!" "Kanha!" "He's not there!" "That demons has got Kanha" "That's Puttana!" "Who's that?" "Kansa's nurse" "How did Puttana die?" "Who could have killed her?" "That's the news we got" "We have also found that all the infants are dead" "The spy reports that he last heard..." "Yashoda weeping" "Now I can ask the Maker:" "What about my Fate?" "Burn down Gokul for harbouring my emeny" "Let's celebrate the Maker's defeat" "God... write... my Fate!" "I am afraid" "You are right Yashoda" "Gokul is no longer safe for us" "Yes." "Let's leave tomorrow" "Devaki worries about her son" "Saddened at the thought of parting" "Tears flow from her eyes" "A sorrowful mother weeps" "for a son separated at birth" "A son, whose face she did not even see" "Life is darkness without him" "O Woman you are a mother... but dependent on others" "Made helpless by my own brother... who will help me?" "Devaki is weeping for her eighth son" "All around her is... the darkness of Kansa's black deeds" "The only ray of hope... is across the Yamuna" "The moon rises... only when it has to" "A cloud in the sky may hide it... but it is there" "The black clouds in Mathura's sky are hiding the moon... but it can be seen in Nandgaon's clear sky" "Devaki's moon-like son has risen in Yashoda's house... and Yashoda is now singing him to sleep" "O God!" "This is Yashoda's son!" "Why are you eating mud?" "No grandma!" "Yashoda!" "Come here!" "Your son is eating mud" "Come out Yashoda!" "Come son" "Come!" "Come!" "Yashoda your son is eating mud" "Did you eat mud Kanha?" "Tell me!" "I had to tell you that Savitri has son" "Here." "Take care of your son" "Did you eat mud?" "Open your mouth" "What's this Yashoda?" "I am petting my son" "Okay." "Come here Kanha" "I won't let him go" "This is injustice." "He is also my son" "No." "He is mine." "Only mine" "I'll steal him one day" "I was only joking" "I don't like such jokes" "I cannot live without him for a minute" "Do not be so attached to him" "Why not?" "Trying to capture sunlight" "Weeping does not solve any problems" "It is easier said than done!" "If you were a mother... and had seen the death of six sons... you would have never said... that crying does not solve any problems" "My tears are not searching for a solution" "In fact, these are not tears" "This is the milk... that my sons were denied" "This is my motherhood which is flowing" "I know that my son is in Gokul... being looked after by Yashoda" "I know he is safe there" "But how do I explain this to the mother in me?" "I am a mother of eight sons... but if anyone were to ask me... how to look after them..." "I would have to confess that I do not know" "Do not worry my dear" "Everything will be okay" "I do not want to insult Yashoda by worrying but allow me a mother's right to weep" "Aren't you hungry Shreedhama?" "Let's eat butter" "Of course, I am hungry Let's go" "My stomach's full but my heart is not content" "Let's go." "There's no shortage of butter here" " Listen Paro" " Yes mother" "Take this milk" "Yes mother" "Close the door" "You'll never know when Kanha will turn up" "I don't understand you mother" "You are uneasy if he comes and restless when he doesn't" "You just close the door and fill the water" "Yes mother" " Respects grandma" " Come son" "Where's Kanha today?" " He hasn't come" " Why not?" "How do I know?" "Your cow gives a lot of milk grandma" "This is nothing son!" "It is only half of what she gave earlier" "Is that so?" "The cows were productive when Ugrasen was king" "You could bathe in milk then" "God knows what has happened now... but the cows are not yielding as much" "Now don't you cast an evil eye on my cows" "O Kanha wait a minute" "I'll take you to task today" "Wait." "Here I come!" "This boy really harasses me" "Kanha has let loose the cows" "Doesn't your father own cows?" "Why not free them too" "But what have I done?" "Why don't you allow the calves to drink milk?" "First the calves will drink and then the children" "What about Mathura?" "There's no need to send milk to Mathura." "Come" "Respects grandma" "O God." "Give some sense to the boy" "There's no point in telling Yashoda anything" "Why are you sad?" "I am thinking of Devaki" "Go and see her tomorrow" "but you know that..." "I cannot bear to see their condition" "They haven't seen the Sun or Moon in many years... and I am here in Nandgaon... enjoying life to the fullest" "Isn't it my duty to be with them... and share their sorrow?" "No." "Your place is here" "Your duty is to raise..." "Balram" "Do not torment yourself" "Sleep and dream of the better days to come" "Sleep now" "What's it Devaki?" "Why aren't you sleeping?" "It seems Kanha is still awake" "Why do you feel so?" "Because I cannot sleep" "I hope he is not unwell" "No" "If that was so..." "Rohini would have informed us" "Do not worry about him" "He is born to end all worries" "It's late now." "Go to sleep my dear" "How can I sleep without a story?" "Like Balram!" "That's different" "Don't be stubborn Kanha." "You are harassing me" "Don't you like my harassing you?" "I like everything about you" "Even my..." "Yes" "My mischief?" "My stealing butter?" "Yes my darling." "Yes" "Tell me a story mother" "Any place." "Why does it matter?" "How many times have I told you not to interrupt me" "But you don't listen" "He was the King of Ayodhya named Dashrath" "What's it?" "I know the story" "He had three queens and four sons:" "Ram, Laxman, Bharat and Shatrughen" "Ram was the eldest but..." "Bharat's mother Kaikeyi... extracted a promise from the King" "Ram honoured his father's promise" "It's better to die than break a promise given" "Ram was exiled while Bharat was crowned king" "However, Bharat went to the forest to call back Ram" "When Ram refused, Bharat started penance" "Ram was at Panchvati... with younger brother Laxman... and wife Seeta" "One day, a demon king... disguised as a golden deer passed the cottage" "Seeta told Ram that she wanted the deer" "As he left the cottage Ram told..." "Laxman to look after Seeta" "This was a trick played by Ravan, King of Lanka" "Moments later Seeta heard Ram scream" "She asked Laxman to rush to his brother's help" "Laxman drew a circle around the hut" "But when Ravan, disguised as a Sage, came..." "Seeta crossed the protective circle... and Ravan kidnapped her" "Seeta called out to her lord..." "Laxman where's my bow?" "Where's my arrow?" "What's wrong son?" "What are you doing?" "Go to sleep" "What's it Yashoda?" "Why's Kanha shouting?" "God knows!" "He was pretending to be Ram and wanted his bow" "I was afraid." "Sleep now" "Hide the butter" "Yashoda's son will be here soon" "Hide the butter..." "Okay mother." "You go now" "Hand it up in a pot" "Okay mother" "Going home!" "Listen Kanha!" "What are you doing here?" "Waiting for our friends so that we can play" "Without eating my butter?" "Mother will scold me" "It is my butter... why should Yashoda scold you?" "Paro has hung up the butter in a pot" "But I am telling you to go there and eat" "Forgive us" "We are late" "Let's go and play" "Let's eat butter first" "Paro's mother has called us" "That's good news." "Let's go" "Come on!" "No Kanha!" "No butter today" "Don't lie." "I can smell it!" "Listen to me Kanha!" "Remove the covering" "Bring down the pot" "Give!" "Don't eat the butter Kanha" "What should I do?" "Wear it?" "Mother will scold me." "Why don't you listen Kanha" "We are all going to eat this butter" "But my mother will scold me" "So what?" "Can't you bear that for my sake" "Come Shamsakha." "You also eat" " Did Kanha come?" " Yes mother" "Did he eat the butter?" "I don't understand you mother" "First you tell me to hide the butter and then... when he comes you are uneasy... and when he doesn't you are restless" "You won't understand" "The day he doesn't steal the butter... the cows don't give milk" "Don't pay any attention to me" "Feed Kanha whenever he comes" "Eat to your heart's content my son" "That's difficult mother" "Look." "Do whatever mischief you want at home but... there should be no complaints" "There's butter here" "But my friends don't get butter" "Tell father that the children have a right... to the butter" "Don't talk like an adult" "What's going on between mother and son?" "Kanha is already talking... about rights" "Is it?" "Now, why don't you tell your father?" "Want some butter?" "Let's go" "Stay here Shamsakha" "Caught you!" "Back so soon from the wall?" "Now I'll get you to fill the water" "What's this aunty?" "Don't you dare call me that!" "What kind of an aunt are you?" "I haven't seen an aunt are you?" "An aunt would give me butter... and insist that I have more" "You have had enough butter" "You should be punished" "I'll complain to Yashoda" "Why don't you take your friends to your house?" "Yashoda thinks you do not steal butter" "Today I'll prove it to her" "Wait here." "I'll fetch Yashoda... and ask her whether... she believes me or not" "O Yashoda" "O Nandrani" "O Kanha's mother" "What's it Malati?" "Come in" "I have not come visiting" "I am here to fetch you" "Where?" "To my house where I have tied up the butter thief" "See with your own eyes and decide... whether your son steals butter or not" "What are you saying?" "He is a mischievous boy but not a thief" "We have enough butter so why should he steal?" "So, come along and see for yourself" "Why should I?" "I know where he is" "I am not going to listen to you today" "I have caught him Red-handed" "Come in for a minute" "There is Kanha" "O my God!" "My respects aunty" "I told you not to call me that!" "When did you tell me?" "But how's it possible?" "The Lord's charm destroys..." "Ego and Arrogance" "The Lord's Smile entices the World of Illusion" "The story of the Mahabharat and the story of Braj cannot be compared" "And yet, without understanding this story it would be impossible to understand the Mahabharat because Lord Krishna is the Great Hero of Mahabharat" "Which is why I have paused in Nandgaon" "So, sit by my side like a disciple and listen to the story" "I, too, will enjoy it" "I have been listening to this story for ages yet, it gives me the same enjoyment that it did before" "The story of how Vasudev brought his eighth son to Nand Yashoda's love and Radha's adoration or Lord Krishna's friendship with Shridhama..." "See the story of the boy who came to be known as Nandlal (Nand's son), Kanha, Krishna Yashoda's son Neelmani (Blue skinned), Butter Thief, Murlindhar Gopal (Cow-Tender), Manmohan (Heart Stealer) and understand the essence of India" "Why don't you take your friends to your house?" "Yashoda thinks you do not steal butter" "Today I'll prove it to her" "Wait here I'll fetch Yashoda and ask her whether she believe me or not" "Butter-thief" "What are you saying sister?" "He is a mischievous boy but not a thief" "We have enough butter so why should he steal?" "So, come along and see for yourself" "I am not going to listen to you today" "I have caught him red-handed" "Come in for a minute" "There is Kanha" "O my God!" "My respects aunty!" "I told you not to call me that!" "When did you tell me?" "But how's it possible?" "Kanha do something I am hungry" "The entire village is alert" "If you are hungry then come with me" "No Kanha." "No!" "We were caught here last time" "But we escaped" "Aunty complained to mother But she did not believe her" "She will not complain again" "What's wrong Malati?" "Go in and see for yourself" "Kanha... your mother!" "Come down!" "Jump!" "Isn't there enough butter at home?" "Now I have realized that you are really a thief" "Mother!" "You are harassing the entire village" "Today I have caught you red-handed" "Didn't you eat the butter?" "Mother O Mother!" "I did not steal the butter!" "What are you waiting for?" "Let's play" "How?" "Kanha is yet to come" "He won't be coming" "Don't you all tease him" "Yes, because he bosses over us" " But we enjoy it" " Isn't that so?" "Of course, we enjoy it" "When Kanha is here we all tease him and he gets angry" "But yes, he does boss over us" "Balram has assured us that he won't boss over us now" "Yes Balram has said that if he bosses again he will scold him" "Then let's call Kanha" "He won't come." "He is sulking" "We will coax him" "Let's see what Kanha does Let's go" "Shridhama is to blame" "I don't know about that" "But he is Kanha's true friend" "He is restless without him" "Come Kanha let's play" "I don't want to!" "Okay, you win we lose" "Come on Kanha." "Listen to them" "Now you'll be caught Kanha" "O God!" "It's my turn!" " You are bossing again" " What did I do?" " Liar!" " No." "I am not!" "Now your telling a lie" " I did not lie" " I won't play with you" "Look Balram he is pressurizing us" "He is a big man's son so he thinks he can boss over us." "Liar!" "Ask him to play with me Tell him I don't cheat" "How can I say that?" "You do cheat sometimes" "But I don't understand this trait in you" "We are an honest family" "Our parents are both straightforward" "Now I understand" "Our parents are fair but you are dark." "Why?" "I know why!" "You are not their son" "You are adopted" "You, too, have joined them?" "Come let's ask mother whether I am her son or not" "I have my doubts Kanha" "I won't play with you all" "Kanha has run away!" "Come Narayandas." "Sit down" "Two more cows have disappeared" "What happened?" "The cows were at the river when they fell in" " Fell in?" "That's what I said" "What shall we do now?" "If this goes on there won't be a single cow left in Nandgaon" "We should do something about Kalia Naag" "But what can we do?" "That's true!" "How long can this go on?" "Kansa made us leave Gokul and now Kalia Naag will make us leave Nandgaon" "This, too, is Kansa's doing" "He has poisoned the water" "It looks like we will have to leave Nandgaon" "Once we do that we will be outside the land of Braj" "Do not be disheartened" "Everything will be okay" "Trust in God." "He will protect us" "Where to Kanha?" "I am going out to play" "Wait!" "I am coming" "Kanha has come!" "We have been waiting for you Kanha" "Where's the ball Shridhama?" "Here it is!" "Let's play!" "Hit Kanha!" "This time Shridhama was hit, Shamsakha" "Throw it here Kanha!" "I want my ball back" "I don't know!" "I want my ball" "From where will he get the ball?" "He can dive into the Yamuna but I want my ball" "Okay!" "I'll dive into the Yamuna and get it" "Stop him Shridhama!" "Stop him!" "Why should I?" "Let him get my ball" "But the Kalia Nag!" "So many cows have died here" "Are you Kanha's enemy?" "Wait Kanha!" "Wait!" "Are you mad Shridhama?" "He will be killed" "I want my ball back" "I'll get you a new ball" "I want my ball." "Not a new one" "That was a wicked thing to do Shridhama" "Shridhama you compelled Kanha to dive in" "Hit Shridhama!" "Hit him!" "O God!" "Protect Kanha!" " What's wrong?" " Mother..." "Kanha..." "What happened to Kanha" "Tell me Shridhama" "I didn't do anything" "We were playing when the ball fell into the Yamuna and Kanha jumped after it" " Kanha's father" " What?" "Kanha has dived into the Yamuna" "O my God!" "Kanha!" "My Child!" "Take me there someone" "What happened Shridhama?" "Go straight Shridhama" "Mercy my Lord!" "Mercy!" "You are the eternal Truth" "You are my refuge Lord" "Forgive me!" "Then give me your word that you and your family will leave this place" "It will be as you say my Lord" "Spare his life my Lord" "Forgive him my Lord" "Go in peace!" "Kalia has been vanquished and the waters purified" "The sweet music of the flute will be heard on the bank forever." "If I were not Time then seeing Lord Krishna dance on Kalia's hood I would have paused in Nandgaon" "But it is my duty to move ahead" "I have to keep moving because it is not in my power to pause" "I have seen so many forms of that Butter-thief that it surprises me how one person can have so many forms." "Is the Krishna who danced on Kalia's hood the same Butter-thief who told Yashoda:" "Mother, I did not steal the butter?" "Is the Krishna who displayed the Universe in his mouth the same who told Yashoda:" "...O Mother!" "Brother teases me so!" "There are the many forms of the same person seeing whom dance even the peacock was ashamed and who has made even me dance to his tune" "But now he, too, has lost his peace of mind" "The one who made all of us dance is dancing to someone else's tune playing his flute for her" "I wonder what has happened to Radha?" "She has forgotten us" "Our life is full of unhappiness" "When Kanha comes here we cannot get along with him and when he doesn't we are restless" "You are right!" "We were so happy with him but now he doesn't even come here" "You can see him through your mind's eyes" "Radha, how will you escape Kanha's flute?" "Why?" "Let him come here an play to me" "Why should he come here?" "Why then did he come to Braj?" "He has come here for my sake" "Where are you going Radha?" "I have come to this land for you" "Will you listen to me play?" "Hmmm!" "What is it then?" "When you play the flute I lose myself in the music" "Isn't that nice?" "I wish I could lose myself like that" "Wouldn't it be nice if you played the flute" "Here!" "Why don't you play it" " No" " Why" "Your lips have touched it!" "Balram, where is Kanha?" "I was also going to ask you that" "Did I not ask you to look after him?" "So many others are looking after him that finding him is a problem" "Don't talk in riddles." "Tell me where's Kanha?" " Shall I tell the truth?" " Of course!" "The truth is that he is in your heart in your eyes" "Mother!" "That's the first time you have petted me" "Rohini is really lucky!" "Rohini!" "Come Sister!" "How are you Devaki?" "Forget about me!" "Tell me how's Kanha?" "Yes." "How's Kanha?" "Very naughty" "But why has Kansa not released you yet?" "Forget that!" "A tyrant can only oppress" "Does Kanha trouble Yashoda a lot?" "Good you reminded me of that" "The entire village talks of his mischief and agility" "The cowmaids complain to Yashoda about him that he did this and that but when he does nothing they get restless and wish he would do some mischief" "One day the girls went to bathe in the river" " O my!" " What's it?" "I am to shy to tell you" "Say something" "Our clothes have disappeared" "O my!" "Where have they gone?" "Kanha must have taken them" "Let's go and complain to Yashoda" " How will you go?" " O my!" " What if some one comes?" " I didn't think of that!" "Then think about it!" "You like to think of Kanha" "And what about you?" "Yesterday, he did not touch our butter because you took him home to feed him" "Liar!" "Why should I do that?" "Paro's mother says that the day Kanha doesn't steal the cows don't give milk" "Think about our clothes" "He must be hiding somewhere and watching us" "There he is!" "Kanha." "Return our clothes" "Return our clothes Kanha" "Come and get them" "How can we do that?" "Walk up!" "Without our clothes?" "You went in without them" "No one was here then" "How can you say that?" "Wasn't this tree here?" "And the wind?" "Wasn't the river here?" "And what about the sky and the Sun?" "But you were not there" "Where am I not present?" "When am I not present?" "Doesn't Yashoda scold him?" "As if he is in her control" "The entire village is in his control" "Yes." "Even the cows go a-grazing according to his wishes" "O my!" "As for Yashoda if she does scold him she herself starts crying later" "One day, the cow maids complained and Yashoda got angry and tied Kanha to the pole" "Now you won't even get butter" "I am sick of complaints" "Now, there will be no complaints" "Don't call out to me" "You are no better than him" "Even if you stay there till tomorrow Nandgaon will survive" "I am not asking you... to untie him, I can do that for you" "I won't ask you to" "Should I untie him without your say-so?" "Look how he is crying" "I am not blind." "I can see that" "It's not good to be so mischievous" "But he does not listen to me" "Breaking pots..." "Stealing butter" "Everyone probably thinks that I don't feed him which is why he steals" "What will Devaki say!" "What are you saying?" "You have given him the love of all the world's mothers" "Go Balram." "Untie Kanha" "No." "Only mother will untie me" "No, never" "Then I will stay like this forever" "Okay." "You win I lose" "Finally Yashoda had to untie him" "She kept crying as she untied him and Kanha kept wiping her tears which made her cry even more" "How can I ever repay Yashoda's debt?" "This debt cannot be repaid Devaki" "Such debts are unforgettable and it is a sin to think of repaying them" "My lord is right Devaki" "There are so many debts to be repaid not Yashoda's alone" "You are indebted to the cows of Nandgaon the River Yamuna the cowherds of Nandgaon the broken pots of butter" "It will take you many lives to repay these debts" "This eleven-year-old child gets what he wants and what he dislikes does not happen" "For them he is not a mere child but a God!" "Why are you alone?" "All of them have gone leaving me alone" "But why?" "They said you are Shyam's friend hold his finger and follow us" "I am blind and so they all say whatever comes to their mind" "Who says you are blind?" "All of them!" "Everyone is a little blind" "They do not see what is to be seen but see only what is not to be seen" "I only want to see my Shyam" "You will see him" "When will that be?" "Some day very soon" "Don't you believe me?" "If I don't believe you... whom can I believe in?" "Then tell me how do I look?" "Like the Sun... eyes like the dark night... a peacock feather on your crown... clad in yellow robes... a flute tied to your waist..." "A doe's eye on your left toe..." "Later." "Come along with me" "Where?" "To free Nandgaon from Mathura" "Okay." "Let's go" "No butter for Mathura starting today" "Allow us to go Kanha" "The butter will be spoilt by mid-day and King Kansa will be very angry and will burn down the village" "How can the village burn with the Yamuna" "You won't understand my child" "So play with your friends" "We are playing" "From today no butter will be sent to Mathura" "We serve the cows churn the butter and send it to the king" "This is an injustice" "Don't talk of injustice in Kansa's reign" "Go now." "We have a long way to go." "No butter will be sent to Mathura starting today" "Do not be stubborn" "Go and ask your father my child" "This is not mere butter This is the king's tax" "What do you get in return?" "Does the king protect you from famine?" "If not, why this tax?" "A king who cannot help his subjects has no right to impose a tax" "Take these pots back" "Find a way out of this problem Nandrai" "How can I?" "He does not listen to me" "Ask Yashoda to explain it to him" "No." "Don't tell Yashoda anything" "She'll scold and hit him" "Why don't you explain it to him" "If he asks us not to send the butter, we won't" "But with what result?" "We fulfill his every wish but this will be a revolt against the king" "That is true!" "He gives the milk to my calves and can smell butter from miles" "Wherever you may hide it he finds it and eats it" "Breaking pots is okay but not sending butter to Mathura!" "What will happen?" "You know what Kansa is like" "Where can we go from here?" "Ask Yashoda to explain this to Kanha" "The children have a rights to the butter ...If the child is not a king why do mothers treat them like kings?" "That is different!" "If a child is not given butter he will not attack" "This is a tax that has to be sent to the king" "Do you understand?" "A king who steals from children has no right to impose taxes" "Citizens pay taxes so that their rights are protected" "Whatever butter is left can be sent" "If not, I'll stop eating butter" "Don't be stubborn" "Why not?" "We will have to stop sending the butter because Kanha is angry" "No milk and butter has come from Mathura" "What!" "Again!" "Prime Minister" "My lord" "Send a regiment to Nandgaon and bring back their cows" "What's the matter Sukhdev?" "Saw the result of not sending the butter" "How can we live without our cows?" "So, why don't you protect your cows?" "It is Kansa's army!" "How can we cowheards face it?" "He is right Kanha" "Can we cowherds face Kansa's army?" "How can this bamboo stick match their weapons?" "You do not realize the strength of the bamboo" "Come with me" "Kansa's soldiers!" "Chased away by cows!" "I have nothing to offer you but death" "Mercy my lord!" "Mercy?" "I do not have that!" "Devakasur!" "Tulambasur!" "Yes my lord!" "The citizens of Nandgaon have revolted" "Burn the village down" "As you wish my lord" "Destroy Nandgaon" "What's it Shridhama?" "Two demons are burning down Nandgaon" "What?" "Let's go" "Look!" "The fire has spread!" "What destruction!" "Look Kanha!" "Everything is burned down" "Careful Balram!" "The two sinful demons:" "Ego and Pride" "Both have been vanquished by the Eternal God" "What can I say about the Lord?" "Whether one understands him or not He is still the Lord!" "He belongs to everyone:" "Men, women and children" "So, unless children see Him as a child how will they accept Him?" "Parents and teachers give children their love but also scold them" "So, children want to see the Lord in a form which is as mischievous as they are which is as stubborn as they are and who is given a scolding as they often are" "So, this story is for children and also for those who are old but still young at heart" "Which is why this part of the story is different from the second half of His life" "This story also has a message for children:" "That children should not only play pranks but should also protect the environment around them" "This is the story of Nature and relationships" "As long as demons continues to destroy our forest and dwelling it is necessary for us to go on repeating the story of Krishna's childhood" "Two demons are destroying Nandgaon" "I still cannot understand of which metal these two boys are made" "You should have seen how they thrashed the demons" "That's true!" "It was real sight!" "This is due to Lord Indra's blessings" "We must worship him" "Ask Yashoda to prepare for the worship" "Let's go" "What's going on Mother?" "Worship!" "Ask your father sometimes" "Why should he?" "He will only ask his mother" "Do not come between me and my son" "I am warning you" "Go my dear." "Have some butter" "But what's all this?" "Preparations for the worship of Lord Indra" "But why worship him?" "Don't say that my child!" "His wrath can be terrible" "Why worship such a terrible God?" "It is not good to get angry" "A God who gets angry if you don't worship him is no God" "To worship is divine but no God can compel you to worship Him" "Don't laugh!" "Explain it to him" "No." "You explain" "Why should I interfere?" "But you must admit that what he says is logical" "You are his father" "At least do not encourage him" "No one can misguide Kanha" "The other boys take their cows grazing but Kanha takes Nandgaon a-grazing" "There will be no worship of Indra" "But my child this is an ancestral custom" "Life is worship, my son" "Then worship the worthy" "And who is worthy of worship?" "We are cowherds father" "Our life is linked to the cow" "So, we should worship the cow" "She gives us milk and butter" "So, worship the cow, mother" "The cow, in turn, lives on the forest" "If there were no forests where would the cows graze" "So, mother, worship the forest" "If there were no forests, there would be no cows" "Worship the Yamuna which waters the trees" "Worship the mountains against which the clouds burst because of which the forests remain green" "Worship these mother" "They are worthy of worship as is the Govardhan mountain" "Do not fear Indra's wrath" "Only he is worthy of worship who does not get angry" "You are worthy of worship since you never get angry" "Don't say this my son or he will destroy us" "He holds a terrible weapon" "I am not afraid" "Come Sakha." "Let's find Shyam" "Ask for his forgiveness or else nothing will survive today" "Do not smile Kanha!" "Do not fuel Lord Indra's wrath" "Didn't you prevent His worship" "Now ask the Goverdhan to protect us!" "The Goverdhan was lifted the Lord of Braj" "Because of this feat of His He will be known as Giridhar" "Indra begs for forgiveness the Lord extracts a promise" "I Indra keep an eye on my friend Arjun" "What!" "Nand's son lifted the Goverdhan?" "Yes my lord" "But how can Nand have a son?" "Didn't Puttana kill him?" " Didn't you bring the news?" " Yes" "Then?" "Maybe this is another son" "Did you see him lift the mountain?" "Yes my lord" "Then he cannot be Nand's son" "He is definitaly Devaki's eighth son" "But I am not Puttana whom he can kill" "Nor am I the Goverdhan which he can lift" "I am Kansa, King of Mathura" "I accept the Creator's challenge" "He says Devaki's eighth son will kill me and I say that I will kill Devaki's eighth son" "Will you go there yourself?" "No, prime Minister" "I won't go there" "He will come here" "I am going to invite my nephew and when he comes here I shall embrace him" "Do you understand?" "Yes my king" "But will he come on your invitation?" "Yes." "He will come because Vasudev's dear friend Akrur will fetch him" "Devaki also looks upon him as a brother" "When Akrur goes, there will be no cause for suspicion" "He will definitely come!" "Call Akrur" "Yes Sire!" "Quickly!" "Come my friend" "I seems you have forgotten me" "It is impossible to forget you, my king" "You were so busy with state affairs... that I did not want to disturb you" "Why don't you say that you are angry with me... because of Devaki and Vasudev" "But now even I... am ashamed of myself" "After all, she is your sister... and a friend is a friend" "I am sure if you embrace them, they will... forgive you" "Are you sure?" "Yes, my king!" "But I must take them a gift... which will bring them... happiness" "What can be that gift, my lord?" "The prophecy was that..." "Devaki's eighth son would kill me" "I cannot fight the Creator any longer" "I cannot live such a life" "I shall take their eighth son to them" "I shall tell my nephew in their presence" "My child, kill me... and perform your duty" "But to do this you will have to help me my friend" "I await your orders" "Take a message for me to Nandgaon... and bring back my nephew" "What if Nandraj does not allow it?" "He cannot refuse you" "Call all of them to Mathura for Dhanur Yagya" "As you wish!" " Prime Minister" " Yes, my king" "Prepare the arena... for my nephew Krishna's arrival" "Let him see for himself how much his uncle loves him" "As you wish!" "Where are you going Radha?" "Won't you listen to Kanha's flute?" "Whenever he wants to, he comes and plays it for me" "Now, Kanha won't come to you" "Where else can he go?" "Don't show off!" "Why should Kanha play for you alone?" "Are we not worthy of him?" "Why!" "He will play only for me" "Don't be silly." "Why should he do that?" "Everyone listens to him play but he plays for me" "Ask him if you don't believe me" "Let's go Kanha" "Where are your pots?" "Are you here to tell me or ask me?" " To ask" "Then ask!" "Who has the greatest right on your flute" "Not Radha, I hope?" "She is not even from Nandgaon and your flute is made from Mathura's bamboo" "Do you know the limits of Nandgaon?" "It can extend to the three worlds and can shrink into my mother's lap" "But my flute is for you alone" "Tomorrow I'll play it for you alone" "Why are you so sad Radha?" "I feel something is about to happen" "Yes Radha" "Will you play for me alone" "Everyone listens to me play the flute but I play it for you" "I will not allow anyone else to listen today" "What about the world Krishna?" "Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" "Okay Radha." "I have to leave" "Wake up!" "The time has come!" "But why has the king called my son?" "Don't ask." "Both you and I know and even the king knows whose son Kanha is" "I don't trust the king" "Look Akrur" "We have sacrificed many children to save him" "Is that what the sacrifice is worth?" "That we send Kanha to the king?" "No." "My Kanha is not the King's chattel that he can be called when needed" "If you wish that the army destroys Nandgaon then I have nothing more to say" "And think!" "Who can kill the boy who has lifted the Goverdhan?" "Our respects uncle" "May you live long!" "My son, he is here to take you to Mathura" "It is said that Mathura is more beautiful than Lanka" "Since Akrur has not seen Lanka how can he answer you" "Then we must see it for ourselves" "Yes." "We must go" "I will not allow you to go" "Mother!" "Don't mother me Kanha!" "I won't let you go" "Why don't you say something Rohini?" "Your mother is right" "Do not stop him Yashoda" "You cannot understand a mother's heart" "I am his mother." "How can I let him go?" "He is the only one left from those children" "Should I send him to that killer?" "That's not possible" "Mother!" "I am not going to tell the king my birth date" "Keep quiet!" "I won't let you go" "Akrur will look after him in Mathura" "When even I cannot handle him here how can he look after him in Mathura?" "He is so carefree and unaware of his needs" "Stealing butter in Nandgaon is okay because everyone here loves him" "If he breaks pots no one says anything." "The day he does not steal butter people enquire whether he is feeling well or not" "Wherever he goes people are watching over him" "Who will do that there?" "Your friend Devaki will look after him there" "But she is in prison" "I want to see Mathura" "You will leave your mother to see Mathura?" "How far is Mathura mother?" "You have to call out to me and I will return" "Mother!" "King Kansa called him and he is ready to go!" "I never thought he would be so heartless" "He is so busy that he has not come here to eat butter" "Can we live without him?" "Let's ask Radha" "You are here!" "We have been searching all over the place" "Why are you so scared?" " Don't you know?" " What?" "Kanha is going to Mathura." "Stop him!" "He'll listen to you" "How can I stop him?" "I am a mere worshipper" "All I know is that He is for sharing" "Did I not share him with you?" "He is not mine alone that I can hold on to him" "He belongs to the world and let him settle there" "He is like that wealth which increases when distributed" "The tree becomes greener in the Sun of separation" "Why don't you say you will not stop him?" "It's not right to stop a flowing river" "Do cry for its departure but do not stop it" "If the pot of water feels that it contains the moon the fault is not the moon's" "The pot is at fault" "The moon is merely distributing its light" "Why try to possess what belongs to everyone?" "Separation is also a part of life" "Kanha's leaving will make you richer" "Be content with that" "Mother wake him up!" "We have to go far" "Let him sleep" "Mother" "How will you manage there Kanha?" "Get up and get ready for travel" "Be quick." "Uncle is waiting for us" "Come now." "Have your bath" "I am going to bathe him today" "Why do you laugh?" "Mother your son has grown up" "For a mother, her son never grows up" "The more he grows, the fonder a mother gets" "Come Kanha" "Worshipping the cow and anointing the Lord" "After having bathed in the Yamuna inhaled the air of Gokul Brindavan and Nandgaon I am blessed" "I was the butter which Kanha ate and was touched by his naughty fingers" "I was the ball which fell in Kalia's den" "I was the cowmaid who complained to Yashoda" "I was the cow which followed Him" "I was the Goverdhan which He lifted" "Today I shall go To Mathura with the Krishna of many forms:" "Nand and Yashoda's son!" "Vasudev and Devaki's son!" "It is here that the last chapter of this story is waiting for him" "Do not be sad to leave Nandgaon, Krishna" "I am leaving my friends and relatives behind" "You have friends in Mathura, too" "The trees of Nandgaon are my friends and so are the people" "The butter is mine" "Who is there Martha?" "The king is your uncle" "O!" "Is he Mother Yashoda's brother?" "No!" "He is your Mother Devaki's brother" "Whoever may have given me birth I will always remain Yashoda's son" "Where are my parents?" "And why did they send me to Gokul?" "I have no answer Krishna" "But one thing is certain:" "The King will be able to answer all your questions" "Okay!" "I will ask him" " Who's that?" " Radha" "Who's Radha?" "All of them come to me but I go to her" "Won't you say anything?" "One can tell the unknowing but both you and I know" "So, what can we tell each other?" "Here!" "Keep this flute" "Keep it with you as my Keepsake" "My heart beat is in this flute" "Only I will listen to that" "For the world, it will remain silent" "Now go Kanha!" "Where can I go" "Wherever you are, I shall be and Wherever I am, I shall be and..." "Go forth for the welfare of the world" "In our separation lies the future of the world" " Our respects" " Blessings!" "Are you going somewhere?" "I am going to inform the king that you have come" "Do that but with your permission we would like to see Mathura" "You may go but remember this is not Nandgaon" "People here may not understand your mischief" "Hold on to your brother's hand" "I have never left his hand to this day" "Look Sakha how eager the people of Mathura are to see Krishna" "How beautiful!" "Smell this flower" "Let me also see!" "It's very crowded uncle!" "My wife says that these two boys look like Ram-Laxman" "The eyes which see them cannot speak while the tongue that can speak cannot see" "Let go of my hand Kanha" "How can I?" "Look at that girl with a hunched back with sandalwood paste" "Listen!" "Give me some of that sandalwood paste" "This sandalwood paste is meant for the king but I'll give you some" "Here, I'll apply it!" "Thank you" "Why are you hunched?" "At least try to walk erect" "We are here to help you" "Long live Lord Krishna!" "Where are they?" "O washerman!" "Do not glare at us!" "Want a whack?" "That's why uncle had asked me not to let go your hand" "Sir!" "Who are these clothes for?" "For the palace" "Why not give us a set?" "Stupid fellow!" "Wants the King's clothes!" "Come here boy!" "Want to wear the king's clothes, do you?" "Do you want them?" "Take them!" "Here they are!" "I will string the bow" "Friends!" "This boy will string the bow" "Boy!" "Let alone stringing it you will not even move it" "What is that sound Akrur!" "I don't know" "For the first time in my life, I was afraid" "The king afraid!" "Listen to the echo!" "It is a fearsome one!" "Victory to the king!" "A boy has broken Rudra's bow" "What?" "A boy has broken the bow... which even I had difficulty in stringing?" "A boy?" "Who's this boy?" "I don't know." "He is a newcomer to Mathura" "Leave me alone" "As you wish" "Victory to the king" "Glory of Mathura... of the Yadu clan..." "His Excellency Kansa is on his way" "Be alert!" "Victory to King Kansa" "Who will win this year?" "Victory to the king" "Whoever you favour my lord I know that you do favour me the most" "Think and speak." "Everything is ready, my king" "Have you explained it to the mahout?" "If he does not complete this task..." "I will punish him" "I have told him that" "Save me!" "Help!" "The elephant is so wild that he will not spare Death itself." "This is a mere child" "Where's Kanha?" "He should have been here by now" "This should be the end of Devaki's son" "Then, I will ask Nand..." "But Akrur should have been here by now" "What are you saying?" "The wild elephant saluted him!" "Strange!" "Very strange!" "The brothers have entered" "What are your orders?" "Mushti!" "As you wish my lord!" "Our respects" "Welcome!" "Welcome O Mountain Man!" "I am mountain-blaster Chanur" "Enough of playing around" "The Death Dance begins!" "As you wish so shall you get!" "Your wish will be fulfilled" "The Death Dance!" "Fulfill his wish Kanha!" "Start the wrestling!" "Start the wrestling!" "These are children!" "This is injustice" "This is morally wrong" "The two boys are no less!" "Long live Krishna and Balram!" "Long live Krishna and Balram!" "Our respects Uncle!" "Come O son of Devaki!" "I was eager to meet you" "Come and embrace me so that the fire in my heart will be cooled" "I, too, have been waiting for this moment" "Neither Protector nor Killer He looks after the welfare of Man" "The demon has met an honourable death ...by being killed by the Lord" "Bad thoughts have given way to good" "Ego has been dissolved" "Seeing the Lord in his true form" "Kansa was at last quieted." "I had almost forgotten that I was narrating the story of Mahabharat" "I was totally lost in the story of Krishna" "But it does not mean that the stories are not related" "Krishna is the Great Hero of Mahabharat" "So, how can his story not be part of Mahabharat?" "Which is why, with respects to Sage Vyas I started narrating the story of Krishna" "I admit that I was mesmerized by Gokul and Vrindaven and would have stayed on there had it not been for the shock of Kansa's death" "Then I saw..." "Lord Krishna entering the dungeon to free... his parents and King Ugrasen" "Devaki, God alone knows when... the Sun of Happiness will enter our lives" "Your uncle Sudama is hatching a conspiracy" "A part of the army may also revolt" "Carry on Kanha." "I will take care of Uncle Sudama" "Where has uncle Kansa imprisoned my parents?" "Come Sir!" "Who are you?" "Recognize me" "I am Yashoda's son, your eighth son." "Why did she allow you to come here?" "I was born to come here mother!" "But if Kansa sees you, there will be trouble" "Kansa is beyond all that" "He will never know because... your son Krishna has killed him" "He is here to unchain you... and seek your blessings" "Why are you surprised?" "You knew the future" "You, too, bless me father" "What blessing can I give you my son?" "You are a blessing for us!" "There is nothing greater than parental blessings" "Release my parents now" "No my son." "Release king Ugrasen first" "He has the first right to be free" "As you wish father!" "I am Nandlal." "Nandlal who?" "Son of Nand and Yashoda of Nandgaon" "I am here to release you" "Release the king" "Yes sir" "Bless you" "You are free now my king" "Do not call me king, my child" "My son forced me to abdicate" "If you have killed him then you are... the heir to that crown" "O Son of Devaki, you have won Mathura" "No." "I have merely served my motherland" "No." "A warrior cannot accept charity... even if it is from you" "This is not charity, my king" "My crown is this peacock feather" "Only you are worthy of the crown of Mathura" "My work in Mathura is over" "Then crown Vasudev as King of Mathura" "If he desired that he would never have... told me to release you first" "Why don't you ask Krishna to ascend the throne?" "He has released us from Kansa's atrocities" "His every desire is an order" "I will ask Devaki to explain it to him... that I can no longer protect Mathura" "Take me to her" "Come my lord" "Please order the release of my parents" "Explain to your son that the one who has lost... cannot wear the crown unless he wins it back" "There is no end to this dilemma" "My parents will stay in chains together" "Only you can have them released" "I have not even seen my son properly" "Allow him to come near me my king" "It is for him that I accepted this darkness" "Have these chains cut... so that I can kiss my son" "I, too, would like to go to Heaven my king" "If that is so, I will break the chains myself" "May you be happy!" "Long live Vasudev Krishna" "Long live King Ugrasen" "Long live King Ugrasen" "Long live Vasudev Krishna" "Long live Vasudev Krishna" "No." "Don't say that!" "Say:" "Long live Truth and Peace" "Long live Justice and Gokul" "Long live Brindawan and Nand" "Long live Yashoda" "I, Vasudev Krishna, pay respects to..." "King Ugrasen, Mathura and Nand" "Victory to India" "How's the butter from Mathura?" "It doesn't taste the same here, does it?" "We must leave now my friend!" "I take your leave" "Yashoda is alone in Nandgaon" "We cannot stop you from going, can we?" "I, too, will come!" "No." "You stay here" " No." "I'll come" " Do not insist Kanha" "Children have... a right to be stubborn" "But children must... listen to their parents" "Okay father." "I'll do what you say but... first I must meet Mother Yashoda" "Sure son!" "Yashoda and Nand have a right over you" "But now you must go to Sage Sandipan for your" "What's the hurry?" "Time is going by!" "You have had the boys with you for years Rohini" "You are satisfied!" "But think of me!" "I have spent half my life in the dungeon... waiting for this day" "Krishna will have to be crowned Prince" "You, too, have joined them" "Your son is the hope of the future Devaki" "Okay." "Do as you think right" "Okay friend." "We must reach Nandgaon before sunset" "As you wish my friend" "Any message for Yashoda?" "Tell her that..." "Devaki is indebted to her... and she must have given him a mother's love" "I am grateful to her" "Father, tell mother that... my love is hers forever... and her blessing will always be mine" "Where's my Kanha?" "He has become very naughty." "Is he hiding?" "Where's he hiding?" "When he comes, he'll ask for butter" "And I'll say:" "Did you tell me that you are coming?" "There's no butter" "But the butter is ready" "I have hidden it in that pot" "But where's Kanha?" "Hasn't he come?" "I am sure he is hiding to give me trouble" "I'll search for him" " Where are you going?" " To search for him" "Don't go" "Why?" "Where will you search for him?" "Devaki did not allow him to come" "He must have wanted to return... but Devaki must have refused" "Had I been his real mother Devaki could not have... stopped him" "He would be mine!" "He is yours alone" " But..." " But what?" "Devaki and Vasudev have a right over him" "Mathura, too, has a right over him" "The entire Universe has a right over him" "He cannot stay yours alone now" "Do not be selfish Yashoda" "Share him with everyone" "He is not butter that can be shared" "What has the Universe done for him?" "Has it stayed awake at nights for him?" "Has it taught him to laugh?" "Did the cowmaids take their complaints to the Universe?" "Did he not insist on returning to me?" "Returning?" "What are you saying Yashoda!" "He told everyone not to... cheer him alone but to... also cheer..." "Nand and Yashoda" "Yashoda you should be so proud that you looked after... the world's Protector" "That is more important than just giving birth" "Your son will always be known as the Butter Thief" "Had you not taught him to walk... how could he have reached Mathura" "Had you not given him your love how could... he have killed Kansa?" "I have understood" "Will my Kanha... never come back to me?" "Yashoda, he has never left you" "He is still in your heart" "He will always be near the pot of butter" "He will come to meet you every evening" "Never again say that he has left you... because staying is not in his control" "Besides, he cannot go because" "Do not be sad Yashoda" "Till today you belonged to Nandgaon but now you belong to the entire Universe" "Do not be sad Yashoda Do not cry" "The story of Krishna ends here" "The entire story is a teardrop in Yashoda's eye ...which will light up her life forever" "The teardrop in Yashoda's eye... freed Mathura from Kansa's atrocities" "In Ujjain Sage Sandipan's school... gets two brave students in Krishna and Balram" "So, what shall I do here?" "Let me also go to the forest... where Pandu's sons are growing up" "Yuddhistir!" "Bhim!" "Arjun!" "Nakul!" "Sahadev!" "Yes mother!" "Yes mother!" "The Sage must be waiting for you" "Come on!" "Get going!" "Okay sister, I shall go now" "What does it mean?" "The same God is known by different names" "What is the meaning Yuddhistir?" "God is one!" "He is the Lord of the Universe" "Who is a 'king'?" "The one who rules is a king" "What does that mean?" "To show the path" "Only that?" "Also to bring happiness" "Give me something to eat mother" "How is it that you are always hungry?" "You are neither the eldest nor the youngest... how can you eat first?" "Let Nakul and Sahadev eat first" "They are never hungry!" "How can they be?" "Your hunger is enough!" "Keep quiet now" "Shall I keep looking at the food?" "Okay!" "I won't eat anything" "Can't you control your hunger for your brothers?" "I wish I was reborn as the youngest" "At least not as the middle brother" "Mother we are hungry" "Come." "The food is ready" " Now can I eat?" " Yes" "Where's father?" "He will be here soon" "Come here" " No" " Why?" "You are very beautiful" "No my lord." "No!" "Come near" "The moment you embrace your wife you will die" "Sister" "O God!" "Yuddhistir!" "Look after your brothers" "Open your eyes my lord!" "Say something" "Why don't you say something?" "I tried to stop him Sister" "It is all my fault" "I could not protect my husband" "I do not have your will power" "I was helpless Sister" "We are all helpless before Fate" "This was fated to happen!" "What's this?" "What a sad thing to happen!" "I have lost everything in this forest" "Do not cry sister" "This is God's will" "Be patient!" "You will have to be brave" "My problems are over today" "It was you who had... put me on the Chariot to Hastinapur" "Today send me on my last Journey" "I will not let my lord go alone" "No sister." "No." "I will accompany him" "No Madri" "I have a right to that honour" "I am the eldest... the first wife" "You have given in every wish of mine" "The children are fond of you" "Yes that's true" "But you cannot take... my rightful place" "You are the eldest" "You have given a mother's love to my sons... so that they have grown up with yours" "My heart is not big enough... to give equal love to all five children" "Besides, Nakul and Sahadev are almost your sons" "They always go to you:" "They eat when you give them food" "They even sleep and wake up when you tell them" "Do not disturb the flow of their lives" "The fire of Pandu's funeral pyre ...cleansed Madri's sins" "Madri could not bear the fact... that Pandu died because of her" "Kunti was left with the five sons of Pandu" "Behind her was the sunset of the past... and before her the dilemma of the future" "The question before her is:" "Where to go?" "Her younger brother Vasudev... wants to take her and the children to Mathura" "Why can't I take my Sister to Mathura?" "Because she is still the queen" "In fact, the Queen Mother" "I will personally escort her to Hastinapur... because she is my responsibility" "If Hastinapur allows it... you may take her and her sons to Mathura" "It is only today that I have become blind" "I will personally go... to the City Gate to bring Pandu's sons" "No my son" "I'll bring them back" "My dear son Pandu" "What have you done!" "You have left us alone!" "O Sages!" "I thank all of you!" "Welcome!" "No Bhishma." "Our work is over" "Allow us to go!" "Come Kunti!" "Take me to the door Duryodhan" "Why have they returned from the forest?" "Where else will they go?" "This is their house" "This is our house" "Yes." "But this is also their house" "Sometimes Duryodhan's talk scares me" "That is the sign of a Prince" "How far is the door?" "The Queen has come!" "Brother!" "With Pandu's death I have lost my strength" "I cannot raise you any longer" "Do not touch my feet" "Embrace me!" "I have come back alone sister!" "Why alone?" "You have brought back five jewels" "This is the eldest Yuddhistir" "May you live long!" "Pay respects to your eldest brother!" "No!" "Pay respects to your brother, Duryodhan... and take him inside" "Come Kunti, mother is waiting for you" "Don't ask that of me Ambalika" "Understand my sorrow" "I am mourning my grand-child" "How long will I have to pay for the injustices done to Bhishma?" "I mourned my sons... and now my grandson" "God knows... how many more tears are there in these eyes" "Where have you left my son, Kunti?" "Where?" "Kunti has lost her husband" "Her sorrow exceeds yours" "Come here Kunti" "Mother!" "Think positively" "She took Pandu to the forest... and returned with five Pandavas" "The Soul is Eternal" "There is nothing to fear" "Pandu is part of the five elements" "Here are the five Pandavas!" "He knew that Pandu's sons belonged to Hastinapur and could not go to Mathura" "Hastinapur's heirs would obviously go there whether the palace welcomed them or not" "But if the heirs too, are unhappy then the meaning of events also changes" "Which is why Sage Vyas had to meet Satyavati" "He knew Satyavati could not bear to witness what was in Hastinapur's Fate" "Fate does not mean Luck" "Fate means:" "If the choice of bricks is incorrect the wall will not be straight" "The first brick of this wall is Dhritirashtra" "If this brick is crooked then how can the wall be straight?" "Another crooked brick is Satyavati's ambition" "Which is why I say that it was right for Sage Vyas to meet Satyavati" "By taking Satyavati away he will fulfill his last duty" "Do not rise for me mother" "I am not rising for you my son" "I rise in the honor of the Great Sage Vyas" "Sometimes a mother is even greater than God" "There is nothing greater than a mother's sacrifice" "How come you are here?" "I have to fulfill my last duty towards my mother" "Last duty?" "Yes mother." "Last duty" "Time flows like a river but the body cannot remain steady like a boat" "The Soul is a traveler who is forever in search of its shore, its aim" "What are you saying my son?" "You will not understand" "A mother has no knowledge of her motherhood" "How long will you stand on the shore of motherhood?" "To cry over drawbacks is not the aim of life" "Get rid of attachment mother" "And go where?" "To the hermitage!" "Your work in Hastinapur is now over" "Take Ambalika and Ambika with you." "Why are you so heartless today my son?" "Dhritirashtra is blind" "He will be unable to see but you will not be able to see" "It is good that Man is unable to read the future" "What is fated to happen will happen" "Your leaving is preordained" "And this is as it should be because you will be unable to see what is fated to happen" "What is going to happen my son?" "Why do you want to know?" "Sometimes ignorance is bliss and pre-knowledge a cause for sorrow" "I can only say one thing:" "You will be unable to watch what I have seen in the future" "Which is why it is best that you should leave" "Come mother, I am here to take you away" "I have heard that Sage Vyas is here" "He is here to meet grand-mother" "Grand-mother!" "Why did you not call for me" "Bless you!" "Blessings to you!" "My respects" "Yes my daughter" "Vyas says that my days in Hastinapur are over" "I am going to the forest with Ambika and Ambalika" "Is something wrong?" "No." "Not so far!" "It is our good fortune that you have come" "Just as you recognize the slightest sound recognize the ominous sound of the Future" "How can this unfortunate Dhritirashtra How can I recognize anything?" "Do not blame your Fate for the turn of events because if Fate is everything then action will have no meaning" "Man himself is responsible for whatever happens" "Fate means that only God knows What is in store for an individual" "But He never interferes in the affairs of Man" "That's why do not close your Soul's eyes like Gandhari has closed hers" "Never forget that thought..." "Duryodhan is your eldest son Yuddhistir is the eldest Kuru son" "Take me with you O Sage!" "Renunciation does not mean running away but facing one's problems squarely" "If possible, try to live an austere family life" "An austere family life?" "Yes." "It means that what does not belong to you is not yours" "You should know this!" "Come mother" " Dhritirashtra" " Yes mother" "I am leaving Pandu's sons in your care" "Watch over them carefully" "They are the heirs of your younger brother" "Rear them with love" "In case they are stubborn do not shoo them away" "Be patient with them" "And when they grow up give them their rights" "Do not make them ask for their rights because then there will be bitterness" "Remember Duryodhan is your son while they are Pandu's sons." "My daughter" "I am leaving Hastinapur in Dhritirashtra's care and Dhritirashtra in yours" "Look after him well" "May your husband live long" "May God grant you strength to do justice" "Wait here!" "Gandhari accompany us beyond this" "That's enough" "You cannot accompany us beyond this" "This is the limit of family life." "Look after Kunti and her sons" "I shall take your leave now" "I, too, will come with you mother" "Allow me to do so" "How can I allow you to do that?" "You are bound to the throne" "This is your renunciation" "This is your worship" "But the Kuru throne is now secure" "Have you looked into the future?" "Do not forget that you can die at will not live at will" "You are bound to the Kuru throne till death" "Till then, live!" "Living is difficult O Bhishma" "Look after the family because now you are the eldest" "May you live long!" "Be victorious!" "Come Gandhari" "Why are you so tense?" "This crown!" "Looks like it will slip out of my hands again" "The crown cannot be the only aim in life" "You will not understand this pain" "It can only be understood by some one who has lost a thing dear to him" "I can never forget this bitter truth of my life that I am the eldest son" "I cannot forget this Gandhari" "Did you meet Kunti?" "I am going now" "I had come to ask for your permission" "Why do you need my permission?" "You are the queen" "The palace is under your control" "Look after Kunti well" "You are the eldest" "Her sons are my brother Pandu's heirs" "Look after them well" "They should not feel orphaned and living on Duryodhan's left-over love" "Why should they feel that?" "After all, Duryodhan is their brother" "That means nothing!" "I am actually the eldest Kuru son but now Yuddhistir holds that position" "He is the eldest son" "I was explaining to Duryodhan that Yuddhistir is his elder brother" "But you know how stubborn he is" "You, too, explain to him" "When I could not explain to myself that no injustice was done when Pandu was crowned because I was blind and unworthy of being King how can I explain this to Duryodhan" "He is not even blind" "Why don't you allow this old wound to heal?" "What can I do?" "The wound refuses to heal" "Think of it Gandhari!" "Duryodhan has always been told that he will be the king after my death" "I, too, have told him that" "His entire education was towards that end" "So, how can I tell him that Yuddhistir is his elder brother and so now he will have to prove his worth before he lays claim to the throne?" "But why do you think my lord that he will not be able to do so" "Today, he is ahead of Pandu's sons and he should remain ahead" "What if he doesn't?" "If he doesn't then it will prove that he is unworthy of the crown" "It is a matter of Fate!" "Fate again!" "Why does Fate keep crossing my path?" "You cannot erase your line of Fate" "Does this mean that I am not responsible for my Actions?" "No." "It does not mean that!" "We are responsible for our Actions" "Fate is merely a mirror which reflects what is before it" "The Fate Line does not bind man" "It is the story of his life" "So, my lord, do not accuse Fate for your Actions" "Do not preach to me Gandhari" "Give me your support" "Do not leave me alone with my ambitions" "Sometimes I fear myself" "No descendant of Bharat should be afraid" "It is not good to be too ambitious" "Do not think of Yourself as Duryodhan's father" "Think of yourself as the King of Hastinapur" "To do justice is your duty" "Say your prayers and go to sleep" "Mother has asked us to sleep Bhim" "How can I sleep when I am upset at Duryodhan's bad behavior" "But that is the way he is!" "To forgive is divine!" "Forgiveness is a weapon which has no equal" "You should think of food" "That only makes me hungry" "You will never improve" "My respects!" "Where's Kunti?" "In her chamber" "What's this Kunti?" "Why?" "I have a right to your blessings" "But what's this?" "Why did you not call me instead of coming yourself?" "I came to see if you needed anything" "Are you comfortable?" "What are you saying Sister!" "I am not a guest" "I have returned to my own house" "Come." "Come in" "Come Sister." "Sit here" "Your return has brought joy to this house" "If you need anything do not hesitate to ask the maids" "Why should I hesitate?" "By giving me this chamber you have satisfied my needs" "I had come to this chamber as a bride." "No Kunti." "Tears do not solve any problem" "You have to rear Pandu's sons" "You do not have the time to cry over yourself" "Sister!" "I also wanted to apologize for Duryodhan's bad behavior" "Do not say that!" "If you apologize to me I shall have sinned" "No." "Kunti." "He should not have done all that he did" "Your sons have come to their father's house" "They have as much right to live here as Duryodhan" "I have not returned to establish my right" "I have returned to give back the family its heirs" "What rights they have only the elders can determine" "You are the Queen of Hastinpur" "My sons are now in your care" "Don't say that Kunti" "If God's blessings remain on this family your sons will definitely get justice" "Yuddhistir is the eldest Kuru son" "I will not say that I do not grieve for Duryodhan" "Of course I do" "Like every fond mother I wanted to see him crowned king" "But that cannot alter the truth" "And the truth is that Yuddhistir is older than Duryodhan" "But it does worry me that my brother Shakuni that his heart is not clear" "I cannot explain this" "I am afraid that he may mislead Duryodhan" "There should be no misunderstanding between brothers" "I will not allow my five sons to be misled" "I do not have your will power" "Probably even Death does not have an antidote against Shakuni" "Pray Kunti!" "Pray!" "Yes Sister!" "Hail to the king's Justice as well as his injustice which King Dhritirashtra" "...has been done to his own son Duryodhan" "My lord your name will go down in History in letters of silver and gold" "But I will not allow this injustice against my nephew" "What can I do?" "Should I ask Kunti to take her sons back to the forest?" "I did not say that" "You will have to look after your brother's orphans" "But there was no need to give them high hopes" "By doing so you have sown the seed of ambition in them" "Kunti will eventually become Queen, my brother" "You should have thought of your son before giving so freely of your affection" "Bhishma is protecting the country's future" "So you will have to protect your son's future because he is still a child" "Besides, just think" "How can Pandu's sons who have stayed in the open air among the Sages be happy in this crowded palace?" "They will never be happy and satisfied here!" "The palace will seem like a cage to the free bird" "But Kunti told Gandhari ...that they are all happy here" "Don't talk of Gandhari" "She does not know how to think and differentiate" "As for Kunti, she had to admit that" "Even then the Pandavas have an equal right to the palace" "They have no right." "I will kill all five." "I can't sit with Bhim" "And that Arjun!" "What does he think?" "Climbing on to Grandsire's lap with dirty clothes" "They are not worthy of the palace" "My child, do not get angry" "Learn to bear your father's injustice" "Take some rest my king" "But never forget to hold on to your throne at all costs" "Come son!" "My respects Uncle!" "You seem to be lost in some deep thought" "Why?" "Don't you know the reason?" "Today Hastinapur is on the doorstep of the Future" "Aren't you lost in thought nowadays?" "Don't you have doubts?" "Can you not see that the values our ancestors had nurtured to create a strong society are crumbling today?" "Politics has become blind and the king swayed by temptation is encroaching on the rights of others" "When the gardener himself finds his flowers unworthy and wants to nurture the other flowers at the cost of one bud then what is the future of the garden?" "Another sad thing:" "That bud, too, will die an untimely death" "If the farmer finds fault with his own product what will happen to the farm?" "That is the question which keeps haunting me" "I am dissatisfied with the present..." "...and worried about the Future" "Time is a flowing river" "It is we who have divided it into Past, Present, and Future" "Today's Past was Yesterday's present and today's Present will be tomorrow's Past" "I am not talking about the philosophy of Time" "I am talking about harsh reality" "When the present becomes the Past will be History" "Now we are the characters of the present living our roles" "But shouldn't we know what roles we are playing?" "You have always told me that the beauty of life is that we knew our Future then Action would have no meaning" "Man is the only creature who has a choice of Action" "What should I do?" "Desert Dhritirashtra?" "How can I say that?" "I know that you have already made you choice" "Should I close my eyes?" "Ask yourself this question and answer it yourself because I cannot answer it" "Pick an auspicious day and send the Pandavas to Sage Kripacharya" "Now go!" "I wish to be alone" "With your mother?" "May you live long!" "Don't bless me thus mother" "I am already bound by my father's blessing" "Do not be sad Son" "Sadness has no limits" "What are you so sad today?" "What can I say mother?" "I am mourning those values which have been murdered before my eyes" "I am mourning the erasure of the line drawn by our ancestors between Truth and Untruth" "I am weeping at harsh reality" "The throne I had promised to protect to serve with sincerity is being insulted by Dhritirashtra's filial love" "Greed has closed his mind's eyes and Ego has replaced intelligence" "And I cannot give the Pandavas anything more than my love and blessings" "Do not sadden yourself Son" "Then what should I do?" "Whenever you are restless, come to your mother" "You are yourself a learned man of this era" "You know there is only one staircase which goes both up and down" "And however high the staircase goes it always has an end" "When societies and cultures reach the top they have to come down" "And when they do so, values are trampled upon values which were once treasured" "To escape falling they hold onto whatever comes their way" "Politics, too, is a part of this cycle" "This era will witness the decline of India" "But there is no need to be sad because Man knows how to survive" "Remember son to get nectar you have to churn the ocean" "The first output of this churning is poison and somebody has to drink this poison" "You are born to drink this poison my son" "That is your Fate!" "The King's duty is different from politics" "The king who forgets his duty and walks on the path of politics will definitely stray" "He will have reached the realms of Ego" "The essence of God which is in Man is killed by this Ego" "Therefore, a king must know about politics as much as his duty" "The question is:" "How does one define a king's duty?" "Where there is duty there can't be temptation" "The two are incompatible" "Temptation is blind whereas duty is Light" "What does this mean Duryodhan?" "Duty requires no help to walk on the path of Righteousness" "With the acquisition of Knowledge of what is right and what is wrong no other help is required" "Never forget this" "Temptation is the king's enemy" "It can make him forget that he is not the owner but the representative" "My father, my son, my friend, my enemy" "This self-centeredness is a doorless prison without any escape" "Like God, everyone has a right on the king" "If the king is in the prison of temptation then he cannot help anyone." "My respects O teacher" "My blessings!" "My respected uncle has sent kind Pandu's five sons in your service" "There is only one king in Hastinapur King Dhritirashtra and I am his son" " I'll thrash him" " No" "I, the king's nephew, Yuddhistir humbly greet you" "May you live long and acquire learning and prestige" "You are all welcome here" "Come children sit next to me" "I will sit here" "No!" "You'll sit where you are" "That is your place" "Yuddhistir is the eldest Kuru son" "He will sit here" "That's why it was kept vacant" "The king has called you" "I am leaving this place and the others in your care" "Come Vidur" "Tradition, Ethics, Knowledge, Humility are the four doors to a good mind" "Only he is worthy of love whose heart is generous" "It is the teachers' job to teach but the parents' duty to create the proper atmosphere" "Which is why children were sent to their teachers" "So that the tensions of the family did not affect them" "This system should not be confused with hostellife" "In ancient society, the teacher was next to God" "But Man was the basis of ancient society ...and Man has his share of weaknesses" "If the king wanted some students to remain behind he did not have to tell the teacher to keep them behind the class" "He wouldn't allow the teacher to remain at school" "He would call him on the slightest pretext" "Something similar happened in Hastinapur" "Dhritirashtra did not want the Pandavas to study in peace and so, at the slightest pretext he would call Kripacharya to the palace" "So, even before studies could begin, Kripacharya was called" "But Dhritirashtra did not think that his action would be an excuse for" "And if I did not know that Kunti's eldest son was in Adirath's care I may not have gone to the palace with Kripacharya because my main characters are in the classroom" "But then, I cannot give up Action" "Which is why I am taking you all to the palace where you will meet Adirath and Sanjay" "Adirath's problem was a minor problem my lord" "There was no need to disturb Kripacharya" "He is now the family's Sage and so, I called for him" "But the Pandavas have gone there today" "Kripacharya should have been there" "Duryodhan is there to look after his brothers" " Respects my king" " Come O teacher" "I have brought Vidur along" "Please have a seat" "I hope the Pandavas are studying well" "Do not worry, my king" "A student is like land" "If it is fertile a seed will take root" "If not, the seed should not be blamed" "But the Pandavas are diligent students" "What about Duryodhan?" "Duryodhan is also a deserving student" "But the mind, like a horse, has to be reined or else it will stray" "However, you need not worry my king" "Duryodhan can be very generous if he wants to give something" "But he can be stubborn" "If he does not want to give, he will not budge" "But is he studying diligently?" "I am teaching him diligently" " So, I need no worry" " Don't" "Okay Uncle" "Let us consider the problem raised by Adirath" "Sure" " Yes, my king" " Call Adirath" "What is Adirath's problem, my king?" "I'll tell you in a minute" "Blind kings have peculiar problems Vidur" "I am wearing Pandu's crown sitting on the throne" "I am on the throne because it can't be left vacant" "But who will know better than I what it means to be blind?" "Uncle is looking after the nation and you, Vidur, are helping me" "Maybe that is why Hastinapur is safe and secure" "But now Adirath wants to leave" "Why?" "He says that if he stays tied down to me Radheya's education will suffer" "Who's Radheya?" "Charioteer Adirath is here" "Come Adirath" "Respects my king" "Vidur wants to know who Radheya is" "Radheya is my son" "Your son?" "He is not actually my son but I look upon him as my son" "Who's son is he?" "I do not know that, my king" "You know that my house is on the bank of River Bhagirath" "One day my wife Radha did not return all night" "Frightened, I was about to go to her friend Sulabha..." "Where were you all night?" "My friend Sudha has given birth to a baby boy" "It is a matter of Fate my dear" "Why am I so unlucky?" "Don't say that" "Maybe God wants to gift us with a special infant" "Don't you know God works in mysterious ways?" "Who's child is this?" "Let's find out" "Who knows?" "It may be the child intended for us" "I cannot hide anything from you" "So, I told you the truth but no one knows about it." "Not even the child" "He thinks he is my son" "Because he is not my son, my responsibility increases" "That's why I want to leave" "You are right" "But how can a blind king live without a loyal charioteer?" "I have brought another loyal charioteer" "He is no less than I in loyalty and exceeds me in knowledge" "Who is this loyal person Adirath?" "His name is Sanjay" " Call him" " Yes Sir" "Uncle?" "If Adirath has faith in Sanjay's loyalty there is no harm in retaining him" "What do you say?" "I agree" "Ask Vidur if he, too, agrees!" "I only agree to what my intelligence says is right" "Accept my greetings O king!" "What is a charioteer's prime duty?" "His first duty is a willingness to die for his master" "And his second duty?" "His second duty is to do whatever is good for his master without fear whether the master likes it or not" "And...?" "To protect the master from the elements, like a mother" "And...?" "To look after the master's good" "And...?" "The master's honor is greater than one's life" "I think he is worthy of being your charioteer" "What do you say O teacher?" "I agree" "Okay" "You are my charioteer from today" "May you live long" "Be happy!" "My responsibility has ended my king" "Allow me to leave" "Go!" "But you will always be in my thoughts" "Bless me, my king so that I can complete my other responsibility" "Go and may your son bring light to the entire world" "Be generous, my child" "Can you give me a handful of grain?" "Sure" "But I had only asked for a handful, my child" "I have a small hand sir" "Ask for a blessing, my child" "I do not like to ask" "Generous child!" "May God fulfill your every wish" "May your name be listed among the brave" "May you live long" "From tomorrow I will teach you chariot riding" "I do not wish to be a charioteer" "Then what do you wish to be?" "I want to learn about arms and warfare" "But that is for warriors" "I had heard that formerly Action and not Birth determined caste" "That's true my son" "But we all have to bear the" "Let's see father!" "Between Birth and Death ...is a Life of Action" "The one whose actions are good his life is worth while" "Uncle!" "Uncle!" "What's it Bhim?" "He ate my porridge" "He is younger to you" "What will I eat now?" "Didn't you eat my food yesterday?" "Mother gives him twice the amount of food but he is always in the kitchen where he must be eating" "In spite of that he grabs our food" "I go to the kitchen to learn cooking" "Besides, I like the smell of food" "Grandfather ask him to return my porridge" "How can he do that?" "He has already eaten it" "Tomorrow I will get a lot of porridge made for you" "Now go!" "Your mother must be waiting" "If I go with him, he'll beat me" "Of course, he loves me but at the moment he is angry" "The problem is a serious one" "May I sleep here uncle?" "Silly boy!" "Haven't I told you that I am not your uncle" "I am your father's uncle" "Now my child, Go!" "Tell mother I'll bring him when he is asleep" "Have your studies begun?" "Not yet uncle" "Again uncle!" " Okay Grandsire" " Right" "No studies as yet" "Teacher hasn't returned from the palace" "So, I thought I would begin on my own" "There were some weapons kept there but only the bow and arrow attracted me" "But when I stretched my hand to take it elder brother stopped me saying that without Teacher's permission I should not touch the weapons" "He told me that the weapons would be worshipped before studies began" "Are weapons God that we should worship them?" "No my child." "Weapons are not God" "Then why worship them?" "My child, God is worshipped and not the weapons." "We should take God's name before beginning any work because whoever is the teacher knowledge is God's gift" "Greetings Prince" "Why do you behave thus uncle?" "I behave thus because every person should know his position" "Like the planets, every person has a position and a path" "If he leaves his position or path there will be chaos" "You are the Crown Prince and will be the king" "As the Prime Minister, I must respect you" "Kripacharya cannot teach you to accept respect" "Only I can teach you that" "Okay, I accept your greeting" "Will you allow your nephew to touch your feet and ask for your blessing?" "You know more of politics than any other intellectual of this era" "May you live long!" "It is this very knowledge which has created a dilemma" " Dilemma, uncle?" " Yes" "But you are much too young for all this" "But Life itself will ask you this question some day" "That's why I have come to ask you what you are doing here instead of being at school?" "That day the king had called the teacher to the palace" "From there, he went to his sister so I thought I would stay here till he returned" "You know that Duryodhan and Bhim do not get along" "I told Bhim that Duryodhan is his brother and he should ignore his mischief" "But you know how Bhim is!" "Why don't you say that you have run away from school" "If you cannot accept this challenge how can you face life's challenge?" "The king's duty is an onerous one" "He should learn to sacrifice the individual for the family, the family for the region the region for the nation" "You have run away to escape your brothers' mischief" "If you cannot survive this how will you survive the battlefield" "As the eldest Kuru son your burden is the heaviest" "Running away will merely taint your soul" "So, accept the challenge of duty and return to school with your brothers." "It will be as you wish uncle" "Do your duty" "May you live long" "He is a better player to whom even the dice obey" "If we need five what is the use of twelve" "I need six to oust your pawn" "Now see" "Six" "Which means your pawn is out" "Always play to win" "You should also know what you need to win" "But uncle..." "Don't interrupt." "Listen" "Many years ago Bhishma had used Vidur to vanquish your father" "Had it not been so your father would have been the king" "Today, Bhishma is using Vidur to play a game on Yuddhistir's behalf" "That son of a maid, Vidur, will definitely prove that Yuddhistir is the eldest Kuru son ...and that he should get the throne" "So what if he is the eldest Kuru son?" "He is the eldest son of Pandu but you are the eldest Prince and so, the throne is yours by birth" "Never forget this!" "Do whatever your uncle tells you to" "So, even if Times wishes it cannot steal the throne from you" "What should I do?" "The Pandavas represent the five fingers which together form a fist" "There is great strength in a fist" "We are a hundred brothers" "A hundred fingers do not form a fist Duryodhan" "I do not even like to look at them" "Even I don't like it but look we must both you and I" "We will have to cut these five fingers, one by one" "But not with a knife" "Then?" "With sweet talk" "Trap them with your friendship" "That's not possible for me" "Make it possible" "Remember, you will never beat Yuddhistir in intelligence" "In physical strength Bhim is your equal" "Arjun is more loveable while Nakul and Sahadev are more peace loving than you are" "They lack only are strength:" "Conspiracy" "Use this strength and Hastinapur will be yours" "Bhim loves to eat" "He is a greedy chap" "Then he will even eat poison" "Start your war from here" "But remember..." "Eight" "What are you doing all alone?" "Nothing" "We are playing and you are alone here?" "I am not in the mood" "Want an apple?" "Last night Arjun ate my porridge and hid in Grandsire's room" "Grandsire said:" "Let it be Bhim I'll get more porridge for you tomorrow" "In anticipation, I did not eat lunch properly" "Tell me, how can I play on an empty stomach?" "Grandsire must have forgotten" "But I am hungry" "Come to my place." "I know you like porridge so I have kept some aside for you" "But not enough for all of you" "I have asked Dushasan to stand guard" "He must have finished it by now" "No." "He will definitely do as I say" "Let's leave quietly" "We can play after eating" "Caught you!" "Now, that's a miracle!" "Bhim and Duryodhan, together!" "You had explained to Bhim, that's why!" "Or else they would never be together?" "Why don't you eat?" "No." "You eat first." "We'll eat if it is left over" "I doubt it" "Enough!" "I cannot eat anymore" "I have never known you to refuse food before" " Dushasan" " Yes, brother" "I am feeling sleepy" "I'll eat more after a nap" "Bhim should be here by now" "Do not worry." "He will definitely come" "I am worried because I saw him leave with Duryodhan" "I have not seen him after that" "That's good!" "You, too, wanted brotherly love amongst all" "Be quick." "If someone comes there will be trouble" "Let's throw him in the River Ganga" "That is one Pandava less" "You are worrying unnecessarily" "He must be sleeping somewhere" "He has never done this before" "I think he must have gone to the palace" " I, too, think so" " Let's go" "Today, you have pleased your uncle" "If you listen to your uncle like this then you will go places" "Why do you think I am here instead of my own country?" "Only one ambition has kept me here" "What did you say?" "Bhim has not returned from school?" "Where's Duryodhan?" "He is with his uncle" "Why do you always suspect Duryodhan?" "Unlike his father I know his good and bad points" "Sometimes the boy frightens me" "Whenever he comes to me it is as if a terrible force is following him" "Control him, my lord or else ...History will hold us responsible" "When History comes here with its questions we will be beyond its reach" "I have no time for History" "Do you at least have the time to wonder why Bhim has not returned?" "Found anything?" "It is surprising that the Prince should be lost" "What can these trees tell us?" "Do you know what I think?" "Duryodhan is behind Bhim's disappearance" "Shh!" "Quietly!" "Such things should not be said loudly" "Enough!" "Let's search for him" "Blessings" "Yuddhistir says that he saw you with Bhim" "Yes." "He did come with me" "Yesterday, uncle scolded me:" "Aren't you ashamed of fighting with your brothers?" "So, first of all, I made up with Bhim" "We played for some time and then he left to go to Yuddhistir" "It was my turn at play but I kept quiet not wanting to make it an issue" "But he did not go to Yuddhistir" "I, too, am worried as to where he has gone" "Greetings!" "And news of Bhim?" "Soldiers are searching but there is no news as yet" "I am worried" "You should be" "But Bhim is like the wind" "Who can tie him down?" "He must have gone somewhere" "He will return on his own" "You will not understand the worry of a mother of orphans" "With uncle Bhishma and the king these children are not orphans" "Trust them" "Wherever he is, Bhim is safe" "Victory to the king" "Why have you brought this child?" "This is no ordinary child" "He has destroyed our outpost" "This child?" "Yes my king." "We found him unconscious" "Taking him to be a spy we attacked him" "When the soldiers bit him he because conscious and created trouble" "It seems he had poison which we neutralized" "Come here my child" "Who are you?" "I am Bhim, son of Kunti" "Kunti's son?" "Then you have come to your great grandfather" "Just as Bhishma is your paternal grandfather..." "I am your mother's grandfather" "Kunti is my daughter's daughter" "May you live long!" "How is Kunti?" "She is always sad after father's death" "Does she know you are here?" "How can she when even I did not know?" "I think Duryodhan and Dushasan gave me poison and threw me into the Ganga" "Then she must be worried" "You cannot stay here for long" "Drink my child" "It is a potion" "It has the strength of ten elephants" "Have some more" "Wipe your tears Kunti" "My heart tells me that Bhim is well and my heart has never lied to me" "I have been telling her the same thing but even for a brave mother it is difficult" "Let her cry because only Bhim can wipe these tears" "Mother!" "Bhim my son" "Where had you gone?" "Duryodhan gave me porridge which put me to sleep" "When I woke up I was among the Nagas" "Their king told me that he was my great grandsire" "Yes." "He is my grandsire" "Anyway let that be!" "Seek the blessings of your senior mother" "Here's Bhim" "Where were you my child?" "Live long and be powerful!" "I have become powerful." "I had a potion which gives the strength of ten elephants" "So, now he will eat more food" "What happened?" "Bhim is back" "Back?" "But how?" "But uncle said that the poison had no antidote except with the Nagas?" "I don't know" "But now he is boasting that the Naga King gave him a powerful potion" "Will he expose us?" "How can he?" "It is his word against ours" "Besides, father will side with me" "And mother?" "You know mother!" "Yes." "I know!" "I am afraid of Bhim" "Be at my side." "He cannot fight us together" "I will break Duryodhan's head" "Don't say that" "Heard that Arjun?" "Duryodhan gave me poison and I am supposed to embrace him" "What then is the difference between Duryodhan and you?" "Remember what teacher said" "Be humane!" "Be human!" "Humans do not poison people or break heads" "Learn to forgive." "Duryodhan is our brother" "Then should I thank him and ask for more porridge?" "No, don't do that either" "Then what should I do?" "Quiet!" "This is an internal matter" "Apart from mother and we brothers no one should know about it" "Once it leaks out everyone will know and our senior mother will be pained" "Is this an order?" "You can take it as such!" "Yes." "It is also my order" "Do not even talk to Duryodhan about it or else I'll tell Grandsire that you do not listen to me" "As you wish" "Mother is the idol of motherhood" "Five worshippers of the soul" "The mother's is the welfare of her sons" "Kunti told him to keep his mouth shut and let no one know" "that it was Duryodhan who tried to poison him" "But these things cannot be hushed up" "Besides, Vidur knows the knack of extracting the truth from half-spoken rumors" "Vidur is an awakened mind" "History has placed him in a unique position where everyone, except him, is tied down" "Even the Lord himself" "This is why Vidur is always alert" "He is not prepared to be a pawn in the political chess" "being played in Hastinapur and thus get ahead or he defeated and removed from the scene" "So, where should he go with his dilemmas?" "There was none other than Bhishma whom he could trust" "But Bhishma was imprisoned by his own oath" "But the story of the Bhim-Duryodhan fend which even reached Naglok was something Vidur could tell Bhishma" "When Bhishma heard the story he could not believe his ears" "Are you sure that" "Yuddhistir stopped him from saying anything?" "Yes, Uncle Mother Satyavati left the Pandavas in my care" "Am I fulfilling my duty of looking after them?" "It is important Uncle that you call Duryodhan and explain to him" "Duryodhan is merely a mirror of Dhritirashtra" "He has no individuality of his own" "Dhritirashtra wants him to fulfill his own shattered dreams" "They just won't allow me to die in peace" "Look at my helplessness Vidur" "I cannot even tell the throne of Hastinapur" "Go away!" "I will not side with you in this injustice" "Man should be careful when it comes to taking oaths because an oath once taken cannot be broken nor fulfilled" "I cannot even say that my broad shoulders cannot carry the weight of my own oath" "Time!" "What are you saying Uncle?" "You are the elder of this royal house" "If you despair then what will happen to this royal house" "If you are to afraid to face reality then living itself will lose its meaning" "What can I do Vidur?" "I fear the ominous shadow of the Present" "I fear Dhritirashtra's ambition" "I fear the thought of what will happen in the future" "Politics has only one solution" "This ambition must be nipped in the bud" "No Vidur, no!" "If we do that" "Hastinapur itself will be endangered" "And I have sworn to protect the throne" "Duryodhan is still a child" "He can be controlled" "Even Dhritirashtra is incapable of conspiracy" "He feels he has been denied his right and so he is burning" "But the real villain behind Duryodhan and Dhritirashtra is Shakuni who still feels that the Kurus have insulted Gandhar by asking for Gandari's hand for Dhritirashtra" "He is playing dice with Hastinapur" "For Hastinapur's sake" "I am afraid" "You, too, should be afraid Vidur" "That is our duty towards Hastinapur" "Come O sons of Gandhari!" "Why should we Uncle" "We gave the poison you had given us to Bhim and threw him in the Ganga but he returned healthier than before" "Threw him in the river?" "But I had not asked you to do that" "Because that is where the Naags live" "Learn to obey your uncle to the letter" "If you add your own ideas to what I say things are bound to go wrong" "Did he tell Gandhari that you had poisoned him?" "In a tight spot I may rely on Bhishma but never on your mother" "At least not such a delicate matter" "Sometimes I fear her goodness" "But he hasn't told anyone as yet" "Not told anyone!" "In that case someone has silenced him" "Both of you will have to be very careful now because he will be waiting for a chance to get even" "Wait for a few days and let him make the first move" "When he does, complain to your father" "Uncle, I think I should not go to school for a few days" "Don't make that mistake" "If they are pretending that nothing has happened you, too, do the same!" "Seven!" "The mangoes are sweet" "But we will have to climb up the tree" "When are you going to give me some more porridge?" "I am too busy to talk to you" "We are going to eat mangoes" "Before that, please scratch my back" "We are not your servants" "Come Dushasan" "You should have scratched my back" "I will explain to my father" "Sweet!" "Very Sweet!" "Why did you do that Bhim?" "Because my back was itching" "He is telling a lie" "Are you telling a lie Bhim?" "Yes mother" "But why my child?" "Because the truth will hurt you" "Duryodhan" "Yes mother" "If Bhim is naughty why didn't you tell your elder brother?" "He will side with his brother" "Yuddhistir is also your elder brother" "No, I am the eldest of that family and he is the eldest of that family" "Come here Bhim" "Brothers should learn to live together" "But he doesn't want to He calls me greedy then I get angry" "One day we went to collect mangoes" "That's enough Okay" "These mangoes are dirty" "You take some rest here" "We'll wash them Okay" "Come on." "Let's eat these mangoes" "Come brother" "What's this?" "Only seeds." "When we were washing them the juice flowed away leaving the seeds" "Now tell me is this a sign of brotherly love?" "Don't tell Kunti anything" "I will explain to Duryodhan" "My lord?" "Don't blame Duryodhan" "It is only the pain in my heart which is reflected in his heart" "I have learned to control myself but he is still a child" "He too is facing the demon of Ethics and tradition which trampled on my ambitions" "Fate will do the same injustice to him that it did to me" "This question stings me like a scorpion because of which I can neither sleep nor stay awake" "We will have to confront this question some day as to who will be the Crown Prince" "But my lord" "in age and merit" "Yuddhistir should be the Crown Prince" "How easily you have said it" "I was not made King because I was blind but Duryodhan is not blind" "Let me now see what Vidur's Ethics has to say" "Hastinapur today is like an old pool with centuries-old water which is now stinking" "I feel as if my legs are caught in its mud" "Its politics and tradition are now crumbling" "I am suffocating here and so, I am now going to Ujjain" "and shall return after I have recovered" "I am going to Ujjain because the Lord is there in human form" "If the Lord has taken a human form he has to live like a human" "He will have to demonstrate how one can escape this world of illusion" "He will have to go through all that a human being faces" "He will have to take sides and thus demonstrate its limitations" "He will have to also show that to oppose untruth, injustice, and exploitation is Man's duty" "He will have to learn to live like Man as well as show his gratitude to his teacher" "because who else but the Lord can tell what the student owes the teacher" "That's why the Lord is studying with" "Sage Sandipnee who is a sea of knowledge" "He is learning to flow from this river" "It is a sight worth seeing" "I did not understand today's lesson" "You are a Brahmin." "You explain it" "This universe is made up of five elements" "In every human being permeates God the Giver of Light" "He exists in everything even animals" "He is the leader as well as the judge of all action" "It is his essence which exists in all living creatures" "And yet, he is untouched by all this" "Everything exists in Him, because of Him" "You forgot the most important part" "He is a witness to truth action and word" "However alone one may be," "He is always there watching and listening" "Sometimes I do not understand you but you talk intelligently" "Respected mother!" "You are here!" "Krishna and Balram must be hungry" "Your teacher's still at worship" "Even I am hungry" "Being a Brahmin, you can bear hunger but the other two?" "Don't talk about them!" "Krishna was famous for stealing butter and Balram is no less" "Feed me." "I cannot bear this hunger any more" "No food till Krishna comes" "Sit quietly!" "May I sit in the kitchen and smell the food?" "Don't think of food." "Meditate on God!" "At least think of the children" "Worship is the food of the soul" "But the body needs food, doesn't it?" "Come child I have prepared some butter" "I gave up butter when I left Nandgaon" "Why do you say that?" "I may not be Yashoda but" "I, too, am a mother" "Wash your feet." "I will set lunch" "Please take pity on me." "And come for lunch Okay" "Enough" "How will you concentrate if you don't eat" "I am not hungry" "If you are not hungry give it to me" "Quiet!" "I'll feed Krishna myself" "I do your work and you pet him." "This is because you are elder" "Were you younger" "No." "I am okay as I am" "Now eat quickly and go to sleep" "Krishna, Sudama Yes" "Tomorrow go to the forest and gather some wood" "Yes teacher" "May I also go to the forest" "You have to plough the field tomorrow" "Yes teacher" "There is no need to hurry their education" "They have filled the gap left by our son" "No one can stop Krishna from going" "Why?" "He did not stay back for Yashoda Why then for you?" "You are his teacher." "He cannot disobey you" "A teacher is not a fisherman who traps students in the net of his knowledge" "Besides, Krishna doesn't need a teacher" "He knows all the answers" "You cannot hope to capture sunlight" "You know the pain of losing a son" "Then, think of Devaki" "Then ask him to stay in return for your teaching" "That's not possible" "I had learned to live without a son but Krishna's coming has opened the wound" "He has brought light into my life" "That doesn't mean anything" "If you can give him something, give" "A mother has no right to ask" "I did not say I have a right to ask but I at least have a right to cry for him" "You know who he is Devaki" "Yes, I know" "But I also know that he is my son and I have brought him into the world" "After his birth" "I had not even seen him properly when you took him to Gokul" "Yashoda sang the lullaby which" "I should have sung" "Yashoda got the pleasure that I should have got" "I am indebted to Yashoda" "I cannot return that debt" "Nor do I want to return it" "Will I insult Yashoda's motherly love?" "Think my lord!" "He went to Gokul at birth" "He returned only to go to Ujjain" "My motherhood was left all alone" "Recognize yourself Devaki" "He is your son" "By giving birth to him you have indebted the world" "Your son Krishna is not yours alone" "I never said that Yashoda's right is lesser than mine" "I am not talking of Yashoda but about the world" "Everyone has a right over him and yet, no one does" "He belongs to everyone and yet, no one" "He is a sea of sweet water" "Quench your thirst but do not establish your right" "Listen Sudama." "Look after Krishna" "He never remembers to eat on time" "That's why I am sending you" "Don't worry about me" "Why not?" "You don't eat unless I feed you" "Mother Yashoda has spoiled him" "No my son" "She has nurtured him" "Mischief is the soul of childhood" "He is mischief personified" "As the elder, why didn't you stop him?" "That's good!" "Who can stop him?" "He stops when he wishes" "He is good at telling tales" "Whenever I complained, he would say that" "I was teasing him" "That's why I don't interfere" "If he has finished talking, we will leave" "Take this to eat" "Mother, why trouble this Brahmin?" "Give." "I'll take it" "Don't rely on him or you'll go hungry" "Come!" "I heard you used to play the flute" "I did a lot of other things too." "Did the cows come listening to your flute?" "Gather wood." "It is about to rain" "No." "It won't rain These clouds will pass" "Play the flute for me." "Are you a cow?" "Please." "Play for me" "There is a time and place for everything" "The time to play the flute is gone" "To look back is to stray" "I don't understand" "That why I am telling you" "Gather wood!" "Let's go." "We have enough sticks" "It will be night soon" "We are caught by the time we reach the river it will be flooded" "and I cannot swim" "We will go after it has subsided" "If it doesn't?" "We'll go tomorrow" "And spend the night here?" "When you can't swim, we will have to!" "What if some wild animal eats us?" "Let's climb a tree" "Yes." "Let's do that" "Have they come?" "No" "Not yet!" "This terrible rain" "Don't worry mother" "Krishna will look after Sudama" "What a brother you are!" "Aren't you worried?" "He is very capable and does not allow us to worry" "I am hungry." "Give me something to eat" "No food for anyone till Krishna returns" "Don't be afraid" "I am here" "If you were not there I would be afraid" "Hold the tree and imagine it's me" "Mother has asked me to look after you" "Tell her that I did look after you" "Look after yourself" "I am really hungry" "The food packet is with me but" "Krishna must be as hungry as I am" "Krishna, don't sleep or else you will fall off" "Okay" "I can't eat without offering him but one bite is nothing" "How will I take this food to him in this rain?" "Not the rain but what if some wild animal comes?" "How to get to him?" "Are you sleeping?" "I can't sleep since I am hungry" "That's true" "If I feed him, he will go to sleep" "It is not right to sleep" "Aren't you asleep?" "How can I sleep in this weather" "He had lifted the Govardhan in this weather" "I told you not to worry and go to sleep" "Where's the food packet?" "Well, little by little" "I ate it all" "Had you not eaten you would have slept and fallen off the tree" "Had I eaten I would have slept and fallen off" "But now you owe me a meal" "Now don't feel sad." "It is almost dawn" "Everyone must be worried Let's go" "May you live long!" "What's wrong?" "Why are you so sad?" "I have sinned, teacher." "What happened?" "Mother had given us food but I ate it alone" "That's really bad!" "You have transcended forgiveness" "You will be cursed to eternal poverty" "Only Krishna can save you now" "You forgot that even my blessing cannot save you" "But since you have admitted your sin" "I shall pray for you" "Mother is calling you" "Did you tell her?" "Why?" "It is a matter between friends" "A true friend is God's blessing" "How then can I lose you for a little food?" "Mother is very happy" "She's made porridge." "After eating that we'll play" "Look at this ball mother made" "The ball fell in" "What do we do?" "What's wrong?" "Did a child fall in?" "May you live long" "You haven't answered me" "Our ball fell in" "If you cannot save your ball how can you protect this earth?" "There's a difference between a ball and the Earth" "Can you help us to take out the ball O Sage?" "Sure" "Get me some branches" "As you wish O Sage" "Here you are" "Grandfather!" "Have you eaten Bhim's porridge again?" "No grandfather" "First sit on my lap" "Now tell me what's it?" "We were playing with the ball when it fell in is it?" "We tried to take it out but couldn't" "Did Duryodhan and Bhim fight?" "Not today, but they fight everyday" "But listen to me" "Okay" "We could not take out the ball" "Then a voice from behind said" "Did a child fall into the well?" "Is that so?" "We turned around and saw a tall hefty Brahmin" "wearing white clothes" "We told him that our ball had fallen in." "He said" "If you cannot save your ball how can you protect the Earth" "Do you know what he did?" "My child how would I know unless you tell me?" "He said: ' Bring me some branches'" "So, we brought some branches" "Then he threw the branches into the well and they joined by themselves and the ball was out" "the ball came out?" "Yes" "With branches?" "Yes" "Where's this person?" "He's still standing near the well" "Whom are you saluting?" "Sage Dronacharya Come my child" "My respects" "Hastinapur is blessed by your coming" "What about you?" "What do you feel?" "It was my duty to receive you on behalf of the king" "What would you have done had he not allowed me to come?" "You know the answer to that" "You are welcome into my heart" "How's Kripacharya?" "Did you not meet him?" "He had gone to fetch you" "To bring us here?" "Why?" "His duties have increased and hence he cannot look after the education of the princes" "He suggested that you be asked to do the work" "I hope you will agree to be their teacher" "It will be an honor for us" "Come my child" "My respects O teacher" "Please accept this small gift of gold coins" "I accept a gift after I have taught" "Please forgive me" "Education cannot be equated to gold" "The relationship between teacher and taught in sacred" "Knowledge, intelligence and analysis presides at the Kuru schoolhouse only the righteous can recognize the righteous" "The war of Kurukshetra is still far away but the seeds have been sown" "The main characters are coming together" "However, every character of this Epic has its own story to tell" "On the one hand is Shakuni who has left Gandhar and grown roots" "in Hastinapur" "On the other hand is Bhishma who is bound to the throne of Hastinapur by his oath" "Then there is Gandhari who has bound her eyes" "Had her eyes been unbound she could have guided Dhritirashtra" "But her loyalty and responsibility towards her husband had compelled her" "to bind her eyes" "So, she continued to live with her eyes bound" "As for Kunti, she is caught in a forest of loyalties on the doorstep of hope and despair looking at the days go by" "Even Sage Dronacharya has an unknown pain" "He carries the scar of an insult in his heart and the corpse of a broken friendship" "Today, the cross roads at which the story is the Kurukshetra war is still far away" "The young princes are yet to worship their arms" "Both will recite the same shlokas together and study weaponry from Sage Dronacharya" "Neither the Kauravas nor the Pandavas know" "that the weave is broken and the thread will now start getting tangled" "They do not even know that their paths will separate from this very arms worship" "These separate paths will eventually converge on the battle field of Kurukshetra" "But why should I talk of war?" "Let us first attend the arms worship" "We worship our weapons, O Lord" "Grant us humility" "Grant us large-heartedness O Lord" "In service of our teacher" "Grant us goodness of thought and action" "We beseech thee a hundred times O Lord" "Grant us strength" "On the path of justice O Lord" "May we walk fearlessly" "Grant us humility" "Protected by the nation, O Lord" "May we protect the nation" "Help and guide us O Lord" "When we need it most" "In the field of good deeds, O Lord" "Grant us victory" "We worship our weapons." "O Lord" "Grant us humility" "Why are you so impatient Shakuni?" "What can I say?" "You cannot see and Gandhari refuses to see" "Who else is there apart from me to think well of you and your family" "What happened?" "Dronacharya's arrival is worrying me" "An arms-bearing Brahmin should never be trusted" "But now this has become a place for such Brahmins" "First Kripacharya and now Dronacharya" "This is your uncle's strategical move" "No one can criticize the choice of Dronacharya" "I am worried about Duryodhan but you do not seem to be bothered" "So, you tell me what to do?" "I cannot even talk without someone's help" "I am here to help" "Never again seek Gandhari's advice" "The paths of politics and worship are different" "She is my sister which is why I am here and not in Gandhar" "She cannot distinguish between people" "She is always after Kunti" "Between Gandhari and Dronacharya how will I save my Duryodhan?" "I am worried about one thing" "Once Duryodhan is named Crown Prince" "I shall return to Gandhar" "Gandhari is the Queen" "It is her duty to look after the Pandavas" "She is also a mother" "It is also her duty to protect her sons' rights" "But she is not her sons' enemy?" "There's a thin line between friendship and enmity" "Sometimes one does not know when one has crossed it" "What's wrong with Dronacharya?" "Do you think that he will distinguish between pupils and teach accordingly?" "That's what I fear" "Arjun's innocence will definitely attract him" "There is only one way out" "To bring Ashwathama" "Is a student more important to the teacher than a son to his father?" "Your question is incorrect" "Both water and air are important for life" "A son is important to his father just as a student it to the teacher" "If the sun rises but there's none to benefit from it then the sun's rising has no meaning" "What is the need?" "If it rains and the Earth refuses the raindrops" "then what is the use of that rain?" "Just as a son brings credit to his father a student does so to his teacher" "But there is one major difference" "The son belongs to both the father and mother" "His love and loyalty is divided between the two" "But the student is the teacher's alone" "Why did you ask this?" "I have to decide whether I should be a student or a son" "Knowledge cannot be passed on from father to son" "It has to be earned" "Whoever does that has a right to it" "Then I will be my father's student" "Attention!" "Body straight!" "Eyes on target!" "Get ready!" "Bow's ready!" "Take aim!" "Fire!" "Whose arrow is this" "Mine O teacher" "What is the duty of a warrior?" "To take up arms against injustice and exploitation" "And the duty of a prince?" "To protect the lives and rights of the citizens with one's own life" "What is your identity?" "I have only one identity" "I am your student" "Come" "Live long" "I am indebted to you" "Mother, too, had come" "This is not the time to meet Kripi" "My heart has been wounded by an insult" "I shall meet her after it has healed" "Come son" "I was worried about your education" "Who's this youth?" "Teacher is hugging him just like father hugs you" "I am sure he is teacher's son" "Then we should make friends with him" "You should know about it" "Why did he say he cannot meet you now?" "And what is that insult which has wounded his heart" "Tell me Kripi, who has insulted him" "And why did a brave man like Drona keep quiet" "If I know I would have told you brother" "Think Kripi." "A brave man should not be insulted thus" "Ashwathana is your only son" "I do not want him to inherit this insult" "So, Kripi, try to remember because no ordinary insult can would Dronacharya" "I do not know the full story but I do know that" "at school he became friendly with Prince Dhrupad" "After their education when they were to part" "Prince Dhrupad said" "Do not forget me whatever is mine is yours" "and whatever will be mine is also yours" "Who told you this?" "He himself told me" "When Ashwathama was three years old he insisted on having milk" "There was no milk in the house" "Even he knew this" "One day, when he was worried I went to him" "What are you thinking?" "I was thinking that you have spent your life in poverty" "but should we give the same life to Ashwathama?" "Why do you despair?" "If God wishes it then so be it" "Besides, not all fathers can give their sons a throne" "That night he told me of Dhrupad's promise" "I told him that he must have forgotten a promise made in school but he insisted that it could not be" "and left" "I do not know what happened there because he did not return" "It may be that it was Dhrupad who insulted him" "Adirath pays his respects O teacher" "You were the King's charioteer'" "Yes Sir!" "Is this your son?" "Yes sir!" "What is your name?" "Radheya" "Radheya?" "Why?" "His mother's name is Radha" "Your name does not match your personality" "You are as impressive as the sun" "Call him Karna" "Yes sir" "Why have you come to me?" "He wishes to study the art of weaponry for which there is none other than yourself" "I would have been happy to teach him" "Forgive me." "I cannot accept charity" "Besides, knowledge cannot be gifted" "May you live long" "Only Princes and warriors may study here and Karna does not fit any of these categories" "Look around for another teacher for him" "Is knowledge a gift?" "Does God ask for the father's name?" "Whatever the world calls me." "Please call me Radheya father" "When you call me Karna it seems I am not related to you" "May I ask a question?" "Sure" "Who is this youth?" "My son Ashwathama" "Which means he is neither a prince nor a warrior" "My respects" "Please forgive his insolence" "This is the Circular Formation" "It is difficult to enter it and leave it" "Can I sit next to you?" "Don't you like to play, my child?" "When the teacher is teaching it is not the time to play" "Looks like you will learn everything" "Sit down" "Now listen" "A good student learns everything from his teacher" "When the teacher has exhausted his knowledge only then can he ask for a gift" "No one can beat him at talking" "There's no question of a defeat" "The teacher and the student are not at war" "Every teacher has something to offer" "But sometimes a teacher gets a student who has no need to be taught" "His joining is an honor for the teacher" "We must go now" "If Krishna reaches home late Mother will scold you all" "Like everything else, there is a time for meals" "Yes." "It's time for food" "Let's go" "Bhim!" "You?" "Quiet!" "Or someone will come" "Here have some" "This is very little" "No brother!" "If you give me, you will remain hungry" "But tell me" "How can you eat in the dark?" "Even the hands have eyes, Arjun" "The mouth is fixed so, why should the hands err" "Study, Arjun Study!" "Study?" "Forget the past Drona, childhood is irresponsible" "You have passed your childhood" "So have I" "Have you not realized this simple truth as yet that friendship is between equals?" "Ask for anything but do not talk of friendship" "You are a Brahmin." "I will not disappoint you" "Forget your childhood, forget the past" "Sir" "I have not yet taught you this" "It is your teaching, sir but the idea comes from Bhim" "How come?" "His love for food!" "I saw he was eating in the dark and yet, his hand never missed the mouth" "When I asked him about it he said that his hands had eyes" "In that case, we should be able to use the bow at night" "I am trying to do that" "If I have done wrong please forgive me" "No, my child" "You have pleased me greatly" "You are the ideal student" "If a student is not keen what can the teacher do?" "Knowledge is a seed, Arjun" "The mind should be fertile" "You show all the signs of a great warrior Arjun" "I will make you the greatest archer and teach you the secret of Brahma's weapon" "The warrior has two enemies" "Sleep and tiredness" "He has two friends" "Hardwork and caution" "The warrior who can vanquish these enemies and befriend the two friends will be undefeatable" "I bless you with this gift" "I ask for new strength from the Sun God" "You have passed your test Arjun" "Test, Sir?" "Do not be surprised" "It was not a crocodile" "It was merely a contraption" "Here!" "We had gone for help" "Gone for help or did you run away?" "Am I a coward?" "No." "But your arrogance has eclipsed your bravery" "Arrogance does not suit warriors because it shows weakness" "learn to conquer your arrogance learn humility humility leads to progress" "My respects Uncle" "May you live long!" "What are you thinking?" "When the mind strays" "I go towards history" "I ask my ancestors how to break this impasse" "History is the life story of the past" "We must learn from the past and its mistakes" "we must learn from both victory and defeat" "What made you think of history today?" "You are also seeing what I am seeing" "I am bound by my oath, but you?" "I know my rights Uncle" "The day I am required to speak" "I shall definitely speak" "Is there a way to nullify Shakuni?" "No Uncle" "But there is a way out" "What?" "The solution is not to let him meddle" "I cannot hide from circumstances" "I know the cause of Shakuni's anger" "In that case you cannot watch this in silence" "You are the eldest in this family" "End this game by making Yuddhistir the Crown Prince" "Do not wait for him to grow up" "I know what Dhritirashtra will say to that" "Shakuni will talk of merit and for that the princes will have to grow up" "Besides, that alone is not the solution" "Who else, besides me, will know of this" "This is the result of my love for my father" "It is for this that I cannot face Hastinapur" "Do you now feel that you should not have sworn the oath?" "No!" "I cannot even think like that" "Even if I face the problem a hundred times" "I will take the same oath" "But like I said earlier we must learn from history" "Filial love" "Paternal Love!" "A person is a citizen first and an individual next" "but a person forgets his duty as a citizen" "This harms the nation" "The citizens had no hand in Sage Kindam's death" "But sometimes control is defeated and the nation suffers with the individual" "That is what I am afraid of" "No Uncle." "No." "If the sea fears the water there will be chaos" "True, we must learn from the past" "but we should not lose ourselves in it" "Dhritirashtra is blind" "but Gandhari has blindfolded herself" "Fear the day when" "Gandhari opens the blindfold" "God knows what she will see" "And what she will not" "Where are you coming from my dear sister" "From Kunti!" "You are the Queen of Hastinapur" "Why should you go anywhere?" "Call whoever you wish to see here" "Kunti is not just anybody" "She is part of us" "I didn't say she was not a part of us but she is younger" "You are the elder brother's wife and she is the younger brother's widow" "That's not her fault" "When will you understand?" "When will you open your eyes?" "After the Pandavas have grabbed the kingdom" "When the dogs start barking" "You should become cautious" "I cannot wish evil on them" "Stupid!" "Why don't you go back to Gandhar for a few days" "No, not yet" "Not till I see that Duryodhan's rights are secure" "I will not go anywhere" "The Lunar Dynasty is marred by poisonous black arrows" "Those who wish to prosper must get rid of evil minds and evil friends" "The stream that flows out of the womb of knowledge has neither color nor taste" "It is a cool, clear stream of water" "It takes on the color that is mixed in it" "It takes on the taste that is mixed in it" "If you mix poison, it will be poisonous" "If you mix nectar, it will be nectar" "This was established very forcefully in Hastinapur" "The mace is the same but when Duryodhan holds it" "it means something and in Bhim's hands, it means something else" "Dronacharya stands helpless at the door of knowledge" "You are all familiar with this weapon" "This is the mace" "Just as you must concentrate in archery you must concentrate in mace warfare" "But you must remember that the mace should never be used below the waist-line" "This is the basic rule of mace warfare" "A warrior who uses the mace below the waist is not a good one" "Yes sir Take this" "Go practice Yes sir" "Don't you feel, sir, that Duryodhan will, one day, become an expert mace user?" "Sure, my child" "Quiet you dog!" "I'll teach you a lesson" "Look sir" "Strange!" "Let's go and see" "O warrior!" "Who are you?" "Please accept Eklavya's respects, O teacher" "How are you teacher's student" "My respects, O brother!" "You did not answer Arjun's question" "I have never taught you" "That's true but" "How, then am I your teacher?" "Because I have learned from you" "When I have not taught you, how can you learn from me" "Please come and see for yourself" "I learned archery from your image" "I hide and watch whatever you teach these princes at school" "and try to learn" "Identify yourself fully Yes sir" "I am the son of Hiranyadhanu a general in the army of Jarasandh, King of Magadh" "Will you be friends?" "Yes." "If Hastinapur and Magadh remain friendly" "You are an impressive warrior, Eklavya" "It is your blessing" "This image is my witness" "But to learn you need the teacher's permission" "Your image gave me that permission" "Then what about an offering?" "I await your orders!" "I want the thumb of your right hand" "As you wish!" "Dronacharya asked for Eklavya's right thumb" "The blood that flowed from Eklavya's wound was to have flowed at Kurukshetra" "Dronacharya had to honour the promise that he had made to Arjun that he would be the world's greatest archer" "But there is another archer besides Eklavya who is learning to equal Arjun" "Dronacharya does not know of him" "Had he even known that Kunti's eldest son Karna was learning from Sage Parshuram what could he have done?" "But I do know" "Why!" "I can even hear the storm raised by arrows" "Rest for some time" "Be a leading archer!" "Come" "This is the same Parshuram who fought the warriors for years" "and nearly made them extinct" "This land he gave to King Prajapati whose son, the Sun" "created the solar dynasty" "When Lord Ram was born in this very solar dynasty" "Parshuram was given Lord Vishnu's bow with which he conquered the sky" "But with the exception of Devavrata, son of Ganga he took no other discipline" "The archer's soul is in his arrows" "It is therefore his first duty to see that his arrows are not insulted by siding with injustice, corruption and exploitation" "If the archer forgets his duty his arrows will become soul-less" "and knowledge will forsake him as if he never had it" "After Devavrata no teacher had such a worthy pupil" "But if you ever insult your arrows then I shall take back whatever you have learned" "when you need it the most" "When you leave me you shall make no ritual offering" "If the student it worthy the teacher's knowledge prospers" "The student who protects the teacher's honour is himself honorable" "Why are your eyes colored by competition, my son?" "I am your son but you love Arjun the most" "Why should I not be competitive?" "You wanted to be my student" "God made you my son" "But I made all of you my students" "This is a school; not my house" "At home you have the greatest right but at school the most worthy pupil has a right" "Arjun is the man because of whom we shall see God!" "Without a test, how can you decide that Arjun is the best?" "Okay" "I shall take a test to satisfy you" "Princes, there is a dummy bird on the tree" "That is your target" "Yes sir" "Take aim" "What do you see?" "The sky, the earth No" "There's a bird on the tree Yes sir" "Take aim Yes sir" "What do you see?" "A bird hidden by leaves" "Okay" "Should I fire?" "No" "Take aim Yes sir" "What do you see?" "Your feet, trees and the bird in the leaves" "Okay" "Go Yes sir" "Take aim" "What do you see?" "I can only see the bird's head" "And now?" "I can only see its eye" "Okay my son" "An archer should see nothing but his target" "I beg your forgiveness, sir" "You are the light of my life, son but it is not good to be jealous" "Jealousy neutralizes a person's good points" "You, my son, are my heir but my best pupil is undoubtedly Arjun" "He took the gift of knowledge from the teacher and gave him honor and name in return" "He brought fame to the school" "The pupil Lord Krishna" "You called for me, sir?" "Call Krishna Yes sir" "My respects, sir" "I kept you back to satisfy your mother on the pretense of education" "This is not worthy of a teacher" "So, you two brothers leave before sunrise without meeting your mother" "As you wish, sir" "But mother is waiting for us for dinner" "May I go there first?" "Go wherever you wish" "How can I go?" "I must make an offering to you first" "Playing games with me, Krishna?" "Even in play, I must do my duty" "Without a ritual offering knowledge cannot be attained" "Should I leave without doing this?" "I leave the offering to you" "I want mother's contentment" "I, too, wish that" "but a teacher cannot be selfish" "But a pupil can be selfish, can't he?" "Mother has given me love which a mother gives to her son" "I can never leave that love" "Where will you search for him?" "It happened many years ago" "After you leave, she will learn to live without a son" "I will definitely search for him" "But where?" "I must go!" "From where he was lost" "Won't you come for dinner?" "I won't let you go" "I am indebted to your love" "I cannot leave without fulfilling that debt" "Who's asking you to leave?" "I have even forgotten my son after getting you" "Have you seen me cry for him?" "I am not comparing myself to Devaki or Yashoda" "But can you pay back a mother for her love?" "Even God cannot understand a mother's heart" "He is the Universal father and not the Universal mother" "Mother!" "This is unworthy of a mother" "It is time for Krishna to leave for Mathura" "Accept as God's wish whatever he gives" "He may go." "I am not stopping him" "But if he thinks I will accept it smilingly then it is his mistake" "We must leave." "At least feed me now." "I remained hungry in Mathura and Nandgaon" "I am repenting having become the elder brother" "Whether you are the older or the younger you'll repent" "This is an injustice" "As the elder brother I have the first right to your love" "All sons have an equal right to a mother's love" "Let's have dinner now." "I am hungry" "After that, we have to search for your son" "Today you will feed the first mouthful to me" "My going is necessary" "Why?" "To protect my mouthful" "To protect his right, Balram left with Krishna for Daitya Nagri, the land of demons" "With this journey, Lord Krishna proved that without an offering knowledge is incomplete even for God himself" "The journey has another significance" "The demons gave him his famous Panchjanya Conch" "This Conch is an important part of this story because it will be blown at Kurukshetra" "So, this journey and Krishna's return is an integral part of the epic" "Seeing them return, the Sage's wife ran towards them with great happiness" "Mother your son" "My respects mother" "I don't know if I am happy to see you or sad to see Krishna leave" "I won't be leaving you mother" "That is Krishna's best point" "It is difficult to attain him and then, difficult to lose him" "May you live long" "My respects" "Father!" "What's this?" "We did not see." "They gave it to Krishna" "So, he accepted it on your behalf" "This is the Panchjanya Conch" "For Mother, we brought back her son" "We brought this for you" "No Krishna" "It is yours" "It was meant for you" "Blow this to announce the end of old era and the beginning of the new" "As you wish!" "The New era begins" "announces the Panchjanya Conch" "the sound is welcomed by the Good" "the Evil find it unwelcome" "Respects O teacher" "May you live long" "Please come" "Please be seated" "This seat is yours" "No one else can sit here Please sit here" "I was talking to Vidur about you" "What news of school" "My pupils are studying well" "The time is ripe for Hastinapur to see what the princes have learned" "I am sure they have all studied diligently" "Do not talk like a minister, Vidur" "I am sorry" "Then shall we organize the convocation?" "The King has decided to offer you a palace one hundred thousand gold coins and a heap of jewels as a humble token" "The King has been kind to me but an offering cannot be made without being asked for" "I shall ask for it at the proper time" "O teacher!" "Do not worry Bhishma" "No teacher can ask for the impossible" "Ask the King to prepare the arena" "Victory to the King!" "I did not hear you come in." "I came as quietly as possible" "Why?" "Learn to reorganize without hearing the footsteps because a person can change his walk" "And if he does so his footsteps will sound different" "I say forget all other sounds" "Just listen to your son Duryodhan's footstep" "That is the problem" "Ever since the Pandavas have come the footstep of my son's future is lost in the other footsteps" "Yuddhistir is the oldest Kuru son and I hear that" "he is also worthy" "Uncle just told me that Drona had told him that the Princes' education was over and that the arena should be built Why does Drona" "always confide in your subjects" "Does he imply that only they matter?" "Drona should have told you this" "It was you who appointed him as the teacher" "Now your son has grown up" "Forget these bitter moments" "If they want the arena constructed let it be constructed" "But the decision of who will be the Crown Prince will have to be taken by you" "Duryodhan will prove himself in the arena" "Make him the Crown Prince" "I cannot be openly unjust to the Pandavas" "I am not asking you to be" "Besides, a king should never be openly unjust" "But justice does not mean injustice for your son" "Who are we to criticize God?" "God?" "What else!" "If God did not feel that Duryodhan was worthy why would he make him the eldest son?" "Are Drona and Uncle Bhishma greater than God?" "It is not good to stay awake with fear" "Order the construction of the arena" "Those who consider History to be a corpse are often heard to say that the people of the era in which this story took place wore clothes of tree bark" "They had not seen jewels and silk did not exist while talking thus people forget that" "History was unborn when this story took place" "History is actually the essence of these Epics" "Had these things not existed how would Sage Vyas know about it?" "Man can only try to touch what he can see or what he has heard about" "I am Time and so, today's liars cannot fool me" "I had seen this arena" "The jewels equaled the light of the sun" "There were delicate designs on the walls and pillars" "Rare pearls decorated the arena" "Today, I am standing next to Hastinapur" "I stand on my toes, trying to see what is happening" "All eyes are on the gate" "From which King Dhritirashtra will enter" "Men, women, citizens are all seated" "waiting for the royal family" "Suddenly there is a sound" "Victory to the King!" "Victory to Queen Gandhari!" "Victory to Queen Kunti" "Please sit sister" "Tell me what's happening" "Become my eyes today" "I can see through my mind's eye but tell me Yes Sister" "The stadium is full" "The king is on his throne" "On his right is Uncle Bhishma" "Vidur is busy organizing everything" "Victory to Sage Kripacharya" "Come Kripacharya" "When will Sage Drona come with his pupils?" "There he is!" "Hail Sage Dronacharya" "Respects O teacher!" "The king is the greatest warrior of this era" "Everyone eagerly awaits the beginning of the new era" "If history were here, I would ask it to watch carefully" "the sight I am now witnessing" "Such an illustrious gathering will never come together again" "Among the teachers are Bhishma, Kripacharya" "Dronacharya and his son Ashwathama" "Among the pupils:" "Yuddhistir Duryodhan, Bhim" "Dushasan, Arjun, Vikarna" "Nakul and Sahadev" "Let us salute this gathering of brave warriors" "So, wait with bated breath the Princes of Hastinapur are about to enter the arena" "When will Sage Drona come with his pupils?" "Looks like Sage Drona has come with his pupils" "Hail Sage Dronacharya!" "Respects O Sage!" "Kuru Prince" "Yuddhistir, elder son of King Pandu" "Hail Prince Yuddhistir" "Yuddhistir is paying his respects" "May you live long" "Honor of the Kurus, Brave mace warrior undefeatable Prince Duryodhan" "Hail Prince Duryodhan" "May you live long" "Open your blindfold and see Duryodhan" "He looks so impressive" "Speedy as the wind, Man of action" "Mace warrior Bhim" "Hail Prince Bhim" "Honor of the Kurus Peoples' Favorite" "Undefeated warrior Arjun, son of King Pandu" "Hail Prince Arjun" "Brave son of Dhritirashtra" "Strong Prince Dushasan" "Hail Prince Dushasan" "May you live long" "Lover of Justice soft-spoken" "Vikarna, son of Gandhari" "Hail Prince Vikarna" "Vikarna is paying his respects" "Live long!" "Expert horse riders" "Handsome sons of Madri" "Nakul, son of Pandu brave son of Pandu" "Sahadev" "Hail Prince Nakul" "Hail Prince Sahadev" "looking at the Princes the crowds were delighted" "Today, the city of Hastinapur is happy beyond compare" "Victory to the princes" "Why are the people silent?" "Uncle has got up to say something" "Shall we start the function, my King?" "Why do you need my permission, Uncle?" "Can I ever deny any request of yours?" "Yes." "Let's begin" "Isn't that Uncle Bhishma's Conch?" "Yes." "He has announced the start of the function" "Now the family's Sage has got up" "Hail Lord Shiva" "Hail Hastinapur" "Hail citizens of Hastinapur" "Hail Bhishma" "Hail King Dhritirashtra" "Hail Sage Dronacharya" "Before this function begins" "I would like to tell you that this is not a playground" "These are not games for your entertainment" "Today, Hastinapur shall see for itself what their princes have learned at school" "This is not a function but an arena for the princes" "First, I invite the eldest Prince" "Yuddhistir" "My respects" "Prince Yuddhistir" "Introduce yourself" "I am Yuddhistir, eldest son of Pandu" "King Kuntibhoj is my grandfather just as you are" "I have heard that he is very tall, Kunti" "Yes sister" "If you wish to kiss the forehead you have to stand on your toes" "Yuddhistir is paying his respects to you" "May you live long" "Prince Yuddhistir has chosen the spear" "His brothers will attack him and he will defend himself" "Hail Prince Yuddhistir" "Sage Drona feels that Yuddhistir is an expert spear warrior" "If Sage Drona says it, it must be true" "Who's next?" "Ashwathama is bringing Bhim and Duryodhan" "Sister, it seems if the two cooperate they could lift the Earth itself" "Introduce yourself" "Elder Kuru son Prince Duryodhan pays his respects" "May you live long" "Introduce yourself" "Second son of Queen Kunti" "Prince Yuddhistir's younger brother" "Sage Drona's disciple Bhimsen" "Both have selected the mace" "Begin the fight!" "Come on nephew" "O God!" "I don't understand" "What happened?" "The brothers are fighting in real earnest" "Yes, my king" "This does not seem to be a game any more" "Stop the contest" "Stop it!" "This is not a battlefield" "What happened" "Sage Drona has stopped the contest" "Who was winning?" "Only Sage Drona or Uncle Bhishma can answer that" "Can't you give me a straight answer" "When it is in Hastinapur's benefit" "I'll give a straight answer" "But the question you asked is inappropriate now" "Is the function over?" "No, my king" "Ashwathama is taking the Princes back to their seats" "Duryodhan" "You always scold me not Bhim" "You are both of the same age" "There should be nothing but love between brothers" "You are large-hearted enough to love all your brothers" "I'll try" "Introduce yourself" "Arjun, disciple of Sage Drona" "My respects O King" "Apart from this do you have no other identification" "A worshipper is known by his God and a pupil by his teacher" "Man should have only one identification or else there will be confusion" "Arjun is paying his respects" "The weapon of storm" "Fire" "Illusion" "Hail Arjun!" "What weapons did Arjun exhibit?" "If my eyes could speak they would have told you" "Sage Drona is saying something" "Citizens, I am not saying this because" "Arjun is my favorite disciple" "It is the truth" "Arjun is the greatest living archer today" "No O teacher!" "How can you say he is the best without taking a test" "Except one, I have all qualifications that Arjun has" "That is:" "You are not my teacher or else, I too would have lost my thumb" "In Eklavya I saw a threat to Hastinapur" "Then my thumb is saved because I respect Hastinapur" "To Hastinapur and its king" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sage Kripa and you my respects" "This garland smells of Sage Parshuram" "Who can this warrior be Vidur?" "If the contest is not fixed" "Sage Kripacharya will ask him that" "What are you thinking?" "Do you feel that your pupils cannot face me?" "I have a bow and a quiver full of arrows" "In this arena, I challenge Arjun" "After this contest, let Hastinapur decide who the best archer is" "Shall I contest O teacher?" "Forgive me, Sir!" "Come here" "This is an arena for the Kuru Princes" "No, sir, this is a public arena and I am making a public challenge" "Either declare me the best archer or allow me to duel with your best and prove that he is really the best" "Allow me to introduce the archer you have challenged" "He is Prince Arjun, son of Pandu of the Lunar Dynasty" "He is son of Queen Kunti and a pupil of Sage Drona" "Now, introduce yourself" "The one who knows, does not talk" "The one who talks does not know" "How can Karna tell who he really is" "Looks like you did not hear my question" "I introduced Arjun to you and asked you who you were and from which dynasty" "My bow is my introduction and my arrows my identity" "This introduction is enough for the battlefield not the arena, if you are not a prince you cannot challenge Arjun" "That's why identify yourself" "What are you saying O sage?" "The sun and the moon are their own identification" "Can a deer give birth to a lion?" "He is undoubtedly a warrior born of some brave mother" "I did not say he was not a warrior" "But rules are rules" "For a duel he has to be a Prince or else he cannot challenge" "Why should anyone be afraid to name his parents?" "I will not ask the name of your parents" "I will not even ask which dynasty you belong to" "Is it enough for me that you are a brave warrior" "You do not need any other introduction" "But if Sage Kripacharya says that as per the rules you have to prove your royal descent" "to challenge Arjun then let it be so" "I would never have thought" "instead of welcoming him but today is such a day" "I do not know who this archer is but I do know he is brave" "Today, I make use of the authority my father has given me and of which" "Grandsire is a witness" "What is your name?" "Karna" "The Land Anga is mine and today I name Karna as the King of Anga" "Hail King of Anga!" "My friend" "I am forever indebted to you" "My life is yours" "My loyalty is yours" "My death is also yours" "Please crown my friend Karna, O sage" "What's wrong?" "I am worried about our son" "What has he done?" "I don't know what he wants to do" "I had not seen him for days" "When he returned he refused to say anything" "And now he has gone to the arena" "Sometimes I fear his nature" "Sometimes I feel that our world is too small for him" "Uncle" "Who's that?" "Take a breath" "What's it?" "Don't ask!" "O my God!" "Will you say something?" "Hail King of Anga?" "Are you mad?" "Karna challenged Prince Arjun to a duel" "Sage Kripa said that only a Prince could do that" "Hearing this Prince Duryodhan said if that is the case" "I'll make Karna, the King of Anga" "You are here and Karna is being crowned there" "Is that the truth?" "Take an oath" "Karna, King of Anga!" "Which friend has Duryodhan made King?" "Describe him" "No one knows who he is but he is an impressive as the Sun" "It is his own personality" "From where has this Sun come?" "Today I present King Karna with my friendship" "This crown is yours and so the head under it" "I will introduce myself to the Sage" "Will you still allow me to challenge Prince Arjun" "Why should there be a problem now?" "The arena is a place for a duel, not war" "Make a request for a duel" "As you wish!" "If I meet Arjun on the battlefield your words will not be able to shield him" "Please allow me to wage war O sage because I wish to end this new threat" "before it grows roots" "Do you only have words?" "Is this bow and arrow for show?" "Remember I have every weapon that you have" "So, let your weapons be" "Today, we shall use only arrows" "A donated kingdom does not make anyone a warrior" "A brave warrior is known by his wide chest and muscular arms" "Greet Duryodhan and go to Anga and rule if the people accept you" "You are insulting my friend" "How can he be insulted by the truth?" "My arrows will tell the truth" "Beware Arjun" "What's happening?" "Respects are being paid" "King Karna is paying his respects to Adirath" "Adirath?" "I don't know what to do" "The moment I heard that Prince Duryodhan has crowned you King of Anga" "I came running" "I didn't wait for your mother" "With this crown you really look like a king" "He is the son of a charioteer, Duryodhan" "Give him the reins of a chariot" "He is not worth fighting Arjun" "Who bothers from where the river started?" "Do not forget, Bhim that questions can be asked about your birth, too?" "I am not a charioteer's son" "Karna had challenged only Arjun" "I challenge all five of you" "Come on, prove yourselves!" "There can be no fighting after sunset" "The function is over" "The Conch has sounded the end of the function" "This end is such an end it leads to the battlefield of Kurukshetra" "Hastinapur to the mouth of a volcano" "Had the Kuru honor not stopped Kunti from telling Hastinapur that" "the so-called son of a charioteer was actually her son" "then the story may have taken a different turn" "But Kunti fainted and the danger was averted" "But by making Karna, King of Anga, Duryodhan has once again focused on the danger" "So, I once again waited with bated breath" "But the setting of the Sun again averted the danger" "But has the danger really been averted?" "Because this Epic is the story of dangers and teaches Man how to face it" "The Epic is a many pronged spear each prong of which" "represents an individual character" "Dronacharya is one such prong of the spear" "He is burning in his own private hell" "His heart is full of honor, ego, and revenge" "which has made his nights sleepless" "The wound of insult makes the soul restless" "An apt revenge is the only solution" "Forget your childhood" "A child is foolish!" "Neither you nor I am a child any longer" "Don't you know this minor aspect of social life that friendship is between equals?" "Why did you come so late in the night?" "I have come with a request from Kripi" "Please return home" "Not now Kripacharya" "But why?" "I had told Kripi while leaving that I would get a cow for my son" "How can I go home without a cow?" "By God's grace we have many cows now" "But it is not the cow I wanted" "Didn't Dhrupad have a cow?" "He had a cow as well as an insult" "He did not give me a cow but insulted me" "Insult?" "Yes" "I can still remember that day" "Dhrupad's looks were like an arrow across the heart" "Forget your childhood" "Childhood is foolish" "Both you and I have crossed our childhood" "Have you not yet realized a small social truth that friendship is between equals?" "Ask for anything without talking of friendship" "I shall give it to you." "You are a Brahmin" "But forget your childhood" "Why did you not punish Dhrupad then?" "Had he been an enemy I would have dare so" "He was a friend and yet he spoke of equality" "He told me to ask for an offering but not to talk of being his friend" "Friendship, he said, was between equals" "Had we been equals, I would have punished him then" "But the time to punish him has come" "Now go Kripacharya" "My pupils will be coming" "As you wish!" "The wound of insult makes the Soul restless" "An apt revenge is the only solution" "Our respects O Teacher!" "Education is incomplete without an offering" "We can get heaps of gold and silver for you" "What will I do with gold and silver?" "We are willing to offer our lives" "Only the soul-less will ask for other lives" "Then what do you wish?" "I wish that one of you wages war against King Drupad" "and brings him back a prisoner" "I will go and kill him" "I did not ask you to kill him" "Forgive me O Teacher!" "A pupil should be cultured" "Going beyond the order is like violating it" "Give me the order" "I wish to do something now" "Go!" "I will bring back King Drupad and throw him at your feet" "Allow me to go!" "Go my child!" "What's it?" "Nothing O Teacher!" "Are you angry?" "Can a pupil be angry with his teacher?" "Why not my child?" "The dearer the pupil the greater is his right to be angry" "But why are you angry, Arjun?" "Why didn't you send us?" "Your education is over but Duryodhan has one more lesson to learn" "Which lesson?" "The lesson of honor and arrogance" "Arrogance is the warrior's enemy" "God knows how long it will take Duryodhan to learn this" "Attack!" "Attack!" "I thought someone was to bring back King Dhrupad before the teacher" "Do not make fun of your brother" "Someone has to lose in a war" "I was unsuccessful" "Forgive me" "No, it is enough to have tried" "Failure is immaterial" "Your effort is your offering and I have accepted it" "Any orders for us?" "I am asking for the same offering from you" "Bring back Dhrupad if you can" "As you wish!" "Which flag will you fly?" "It cannot be the flag of Hastinapur" "Why?" "That flag cannot be used in this war" "But why?" "Because you have not asked Hastinapur for the offering" "So, we cannot fly the flag of Hastinapur" "It would not be correct" "I had the right" "And you honored it!" "Bhim!" "Forgive me" "I cannot keep quiet" "It is good you are not the eldest" "Yuddhistir is right!" "Both of you do not have the right to fly that flag" "He is also correct" "I did not ask Hastinapur" "So, why fly Hastinapur's flag?" "You always side with them" "Whatever flag they fly they cannot win the war" "I could not win" "You are not time" "You are a prince" "You know nothing about the future" "Nor can you predict who will win or lose" "Only the arena can decide" "Be victorious!" "Only five!" "Attack!" "Beware!" "I capture you in the name of Sage Drona!" "Can I call you my friend today?" "You are not equal to even my disciples" "So, how can we be equal?" "I am still the same Brahmin and you are a friend" "You broke your promise but I'll keep mine" "What is mine is also yours" "So, I return half your kingdom and keep the other half" "We are now equals" "Today you are standing before me so, I will punish you" "The cows you own will also be divided" "After this division, I shall take one cow from your lot and" "then go to Kripi and say:" "Here Kripi" "I have brought a cow from my friend Dhrupad" "My dear" "My lord" "May you live long!" "I have brought a cow from Drupad" "I know it took time but I have no control over time" "When the waiting is over who remembers how long the wait was or how difficult!" "It seems yesterday that you went away" "Come now." "Give this cow's milk to your crowned son" "Of course." "Come son" "Come." "Please sit" "I will call Brother Kripacharya" "He, too, was waiting Sure" "Sit, son, sit" "Now, you are a king" "But that does not mean you are a warrior" "You are a teacher's son." "So, you must study and what you learn you must distribute" "Worth is more important than learning" "The river's water cannot fit into a pot" "A drop does not swell the sea" "What are you thinking?" "One question troubles me" "Can I ask it now?" "Whom do you wish to ask?" "Father or Teacher?" "Teacher" "Ask" "Why did you ask for Eklavya's thumb?" "Because he wasn't a warrior?" "Even you are not a warrior" "But I am a Brahmin" "Who came first?" "Man or caste?" "No one can be a Brahmin by birth alone" "A Brahmin will not be one if he forgets his duty" "I did not ask for his thumb because he was a low caste" "No caste has a right to learning" "Nor can we deny learning to anyone" "I asked for Eklavya's thumb because he stole knowledge" "Had it been a Brahmin or a warrior" "I would have done the same" "Without an offering to the Teacher knowledge has no significance" "What belongs to others others have a right" "My lord" "Why are you late?" "Shakuni insisted that I go with him" "So I went with him" "It's alright to go with him" "But, in the process do not forget the path of the mind" "My mind is a vacuum" "I do not wish to return there" "My heart is a forest of dry trees" "The sun shines intensely leaving you thirsty" "Not an oasis in sight" "Nothing to keep my hopes alive" "I was hoping that Duryodhan would prove to be the best in the arena" "and the crown would return to me through him" "But the darkness has increased intensified" "Looks like there is no sunrise in my Fate" "If I were to meet my fate" "I would strangle it to death" "You are tired" "Rest a little" "I cannot say about the others but I do not tire of dreaming" "What else can I do?" "So let me do what I do best" "My lord." "This does not befit the elder Kuru son" "Do not call me that!" "It sounds like a joke" "Fate has done me an injustice" "Whom can I ask for justice?" "Only God can give you justice" "You look so happy as if you were waiting to leave" "It is sad parting from friends" "But I am not parting" "The chariot's waiting" "Balram is waiting" "That does not mean parting" "Do not make fun of me" "I cannot even think of parting with you and you are smiling as if it is just a game" "I will come to Mathura to meet you" "But after you become a Yadu Prince you may not recognize me" "Who told you that friendship is only between equals?" "This is the wealth of the heart and everyone is equal in the realm" "of the heart" "Never again speak of being poor" "Neither are you poor nor am I rich" "You are my Sudama my friend" "and I am Krishna your friend" "Friendship is higher than anything" "There is love in friendship" "Friendship is greater than life" "The one who wins the heart of a friend has won the world" "Don't come to Mathura" "Why?" "I won't meet you in Mathura" "But meet you I must because you are in debt" "Debt?" "Yes" "How come?" "Remember the night when we slept on different trees and you ate my share of food?" "Remember?" "Now I cannot let that debt go" "So I must meet you" "My God!" "What a memory!" "I had forgotten that!" "Naturally!" "You forgot because you owe me" "I have to get back the debt" "How can I forget?" "Come on." "Let's go!" "The chariot's waiting" "What's the hurry?" "Wait!" "But why?" "Give me one reason" "We will never see this place again" "This place is purity itself" "Such purity is now lost forever" "You, too, breathe in this pure air" "Besides, I am waiting for someone" "For whom?" "Greetings O Teacher!" "Sudama Yes sir" "Ask mother to prepare food for Sage Parshuram" "Yes Sir" "You have not blessed me, O Sage" "Why do you need my blessings?" "But now that you have asked I must give something" "Meeting you is a blessing in itself" "Enough of games, Krishna" "I am here because you called me" "I await your order" "What order can I give?" "Call it an order or a blessing" "I would have left this world long ago but the warriors are getting out of hand again" "Here take your weapon" "and look after your era" "Being a warrior does not mean you have total right over society" "You have eaten enough butter played the flute" "and romanced" "Now do the work for which you were born" "Go to Mathura which has been attacked by Jarasandh" "You killed Kansa but Mathura is suffering" "As you wish!" "Do your duty unto others" "This is the call of Time" "Ponder over why you have taken birth" "The time for Krishna to leave Mathura is near" "So, it is important to go to Mathura" "As I have already said:" "This is not the story of Bharat's descendants alone" "It is a story of darkness and light, truth and untruth" "On one side is Krishna the root of truth and light" "On the other side is Dhritirashtra the root of untruth and darkness" "and Duryodhan is the result the tree of untruth and darkness" "This is the clash between Krishna and Dhritirashtra which is why this story moves towards Krishna" "Remember the moment when Sage Pasrshuram was called by Krishna" "and he came to Sage Sandipnee's school" "Greetings O Teacher!" "Sudama Yes Sir" "Ask mother to prepare food for Sage Parshuram" "Yes sir" "You have not blessed me, O sage" "Why do you need my blessings?" "But now that you have asked I must give something" "Meeting you is a blessing in itself" "Enough of games, Krishna." "I am here because you called me" "I await your order" "What order can I give?" "Call it an order or a blessing" "I would have left this world long ago but the warriors are getting out of hand again" "Here take your weapon" "and look after your era" "Being a warrior does not mean you have total right over society" "You have eaten enough butter, played the flute and romanced" "Now do the work for which you were born" "Go to Mathura which has been attacked by Jarasandh" "You killed Kansa but Mathura is suffering" "As you wish!" "Beware!" "Attack!" "Attack!" "Hail Krishna and Balram!" "Had Krishna and Balram not come on time" "Mathura's defeat was certain" "Mathura is indeed indebted to them" "Forgive me" "A motherland is never in debt" "If anyone thinks he has obliged his motherland then he is mistaken" "I only did my duty and in future, too" "I shall do my duty" "In this moment of victory I wish to say that Jarasandh will attack again" "Why should we worry?" "It is not right to be afraid" "I agree with Balram" "Even then we must listen to Krishna" "How can we forget that he is Devaki's eighth son" "who has freed the land of Braj from the atrocities of Kansa" "But Mathura is free of Kansa now" "What about Jarasandh who keeps attacking Mathura?" "The war is not yet over" "I agree with my father" "Then let Jarasandh attack again" "This time we will end the war" "A brave man should not be eager for war" "A brave man knows when a war is necessary" "Only an egoist wages an unnecessary war" "Then should we go to Jarasandh and say:" "Though you lost the war we will not fight any longer" "If saying that will avoid war then we should do so" "What are you saying Krishna?" "Should we surrender to Jarasandh?" "No." "That would be cowardice" "How can I suggest that?" "We must fight to protect ourselves and the nation" "What then?" "What do you mean?" "My proposal is this:" "We should leave Mathura" "We will not leave Mathura" "Anger retards intelligence" "Then, why get angry?" "Don't change the topic" "Aren't you asking us to leave Mathura because of Jarasandh?" "History will call this cowardice" "Do not insult you land thus" "I am not insulting my motherland" "I am protecting it" "Jarasandh wants me for having killed Kansa" "His daughters were widowed because of me" "Then why should Mathura suffer?" "You are enough for him" "That's not the point" "War should be waged when all options are exhausted" "What alternative is left?" "One option is still left" "To save Mathura from the terror of war" "And what option is that?" "To go elsewhere, my king" "Our days in Mathura are over" "We should create a Dwarka to welcome the new era" "A Dwarka protected from all sides" "Should we run away?" "If you do that people will call you a coward" "I don't mind what people call me as long as my action saves Mathura from the clutches" "of Jarasandh" "What's in a name?" "Names are a mere convenience" "People may call me by any name but the day I feel they are calling out to me" "I shall answer" "And I shall always be the same!" "Take out your weapon No brother." "Not yet" "If pride is more important to you, let us stay here" "If the land of Braj is more important then we must leave" "It was my duty to tell you this but the decision is the king's" "I agree with Krishna" "I knew you would agree with Krishna" "Who will construct this Dwarka?" "Vishwakarma, the celestial architect" "I welcome you on behalf of King Ugrasen" "Mathura will always be grateful for the trouble you have taken" "Why have you called me here?" "Why call the celestial architect?" "The king desires that you create a city protected by the sea" "If the city is to be called Dwarka then the plans are ready." "Look!" "The plan is beautiful, what do you say brother?" "Why ask me after you have decided?" "We have liked the proposed city" "Please begin your work." "The city of the Gods is beyond my reach" "A moment there is probably equal to a year because Vishwakarma created Dwarka very quickly" "And so, the Yadus settled in Dwarka far away from Braj" "but just like it" "Protected on all sides by the omnipresent sea" "Peace and prosperity reigned in Dwarka" "You have to admit that Krishna was right" "Krishna is always right my king but I do not like being called a coward" "The result is more important" "Today there is peace on all sides which will lead to progress and prosperity" "Greetings" "When did you come from Hastiapur, Sartaki?" "Yesterday, my king" "What news of Hastinapur?" "Everything is fine but there is turbulence" "under the calm waters" "But why?" "The tradition of Bharat says" "Yuddhistir should be the Crown Prince" "Even the people want it" "What's the problem then?" "There is a tussle between" "Hastinapur's throne and the king's heart" "The throne wants Yuddhistir and the king's heart wants Duryodhan as the Crown Prince" "because he is the elder Kuru son" "That's not good!" "But why doesn't Bhishma say something?" "He is helpless" "He cannot decide" "What about Dronacharya and Kripacharya?" "Why are they quiet?" "Yes." "Why are they quiet?" "They are also helpless" "If such great people are helpless then be sure that danger is not far away" "Why the delay in choosing the Crown Prince?" "This is not an ordinary problem, Uncle" "I asked the king" "I answered on behalf of the king" "Cannot the king answer himself?" "His respect for you prevents him from answering" "Besides, you forgot that an oath has" "bound you to the throne" "So, you can only side with the king and not question him" "I remember the oath and to whom it was given" "I do not know to whom you are loyal but I am loyal to Hastinapur and its throne" "Also, I know that the kind does not doubt my loyalty" "What are you saying Uncle?" "You have to order" "It is not for me to order" "You are the kind and it is your duty to choose the Crown Prince" "But remember that the basis of politics is the welfare of the people" "Also, understand this" "Not listening to the people can cause problems" "See to it that your choice is the peoples' choice" "However, it is your choice as to who will be the Crown Prince" "Brother Shakuni" "Did Uncle mean that if Duryodhan is selected the people would rebel?" "He didn't merely say it" "He threatened us" "I don't believe it!" "I can't believe it!" "Uncle doesn't ever threaten" "He merely enforced us" "Only cowards threaten" "And even I can see that he is not a coward" "So, if he has told us about a rebellion" "there will be one" "Ask your spics to find out how deep-rooted is this idea" "As you wish!" "I have heard that pressure is being brought on the king to select Duryodhan" "Who is pressuring him" "He must be an enemy" "Why make Duryhodan the Crown Prince when Yuddhistir is there?" "He is truly blessed" "Whoever he blesses is sure to find riches" "Why then select Duryhodan?" "People will revolt" "You are right" "Who are we to talk?" "The Kingdom is theirs" "Who told you this?" "The Kingdom is not theirs" "It is not their personal property" "The Crown Prince is ours" "Who is the king to decide?" "This is an injustice" "You are right" "Did you hear?" "The king cannot decide on who will be the Crown Prince on the one hand is Yuddhistir" "on the other his own son Duryhodan" "What is there to decide Why?" "Even the common man knows that Yuddhistir is the ideal choice" "He is also the eldest Kurus son and deserving" "If I were king" "I would appoint Yuddhistir" "Even Duryhodan is deserving" "What did you say?" "Nothing" "I'll leave now" "What kind of people are there" "Not a thought in their heads" "Let's go Yes" "Five plus two seven!" "Hail Prince of Gandhar!" "Come!" "What is the good news?" "The news is not good" "Bad news, eh?" "Okay go!" "I'll see!" "This is no time to sleep, my child" "Wake up" "Uncle!" "At this time!" "Do not sleep so deeply that you become oblivious to everything" "Has anything happened?" "Not yet." "But it will!" "Your father is being pressured to make Yuddhistir the Crown Prince" "Impossible!" "Father cannot be unjust to me" "My dear Duryhodan." "You are still sleeping" "When your eyes open you will see" "that the crown will be on Yuddhistir's head" "He is Bhishma's favorite" "What should I do?" "Wake up your father and ask for your rights" "Ask for your rights" "You have to take your rights!" "Grab them Duryodhan!" "Father" "My son!" "What's it son?" "That's what I have come to ask" "I have heard that father is going to crown Yuddhistir" "Who is pressuring the king of Hastinapur" "Do not be agitated" "Why not father?" "Should I not be agitated to know that my own father is giving my rights to someone else?" "I am the king's eldest son but another will be chosen" "I cannot bear this!" "It is not enough to be the eldest" "Even King Bharat" "Don't talk of King Bharat" "That was centuries ago" "If Time kept looking back then society will never progress" "Father had a right to this throne" "It was Vidur who interfered" "Father is blind, mother not I" "I am the eldest son of the eldest son" "It is my right to be the Crown Prince" "If someone else is chosen it is an insult to me" "You have taught me not to bear insults" "The first rule of politics is never to get angry because anger blinds the seeing" "How ill-fated I am" "Father blind from birth" "Mother blind by Fate" "And I blinded by insult" "If you can sleep after killing my rights, do so!" "But remember the game will not end here" "Son!" "My lord!" "Hold my hand" "I am afraid" "Looks like our love has spoiled Duryodhan" "I feel he has raised an apt question" "If I were not blind why would Pandu have become king?" "Why should my son be punished for my blindness?" "Let's see how Vidur answers this question" "Do not fear Vidur's ethics" "Look at your Uncle" "He can never be unjust" "Greetings" "Live long" "Why are you sad and worried?" "When will I be free of this place?" "When Hastinapur is safe and secure" "You have great will power, my son" "Live to fulfill your oath" "After Pandu became King I thought" "Hastinapur was secured" "But" "You are not God, my son" "Earth is your realm of action" "Walk on the path of duty and action till the path side" "This path is of my own choosing" "I have chosen it myself" "I have never had your father's love at the same time" "I am greedy for love" "Where else can I go for love but you?" "When I see you" "I know that I am not alone here" "Tomorrow is crucial for Hastinapur" "So, I come to you for some relief" "Tomorrow will see a tussle between father and king, justice and injustice" "And I will have to side with injustice" "because injustice is on the throne" "Please ask God to save Hastinapur from this Fate" "What is to happen will happen my son" "But mother" "Uncle" "You are the eldest Kuru" "What is the answer to Duryodhan's question" "Duryodhan's question does not concern the Kurus but politics and Hastinapur" "The king will have to answer the question" "Duryodhan's question is this:" "Had you not been blind" "You would be the king" "It would be your right" "Then why should he be punished for your blindness" "Yes." "And I have no answer" "Besides, I find the question is right" "Your problem is that you find the question appropriate" "Then us the question inappropriate?" "Isn't it true that the question arises because he is a blind father's son" "Pandu's sons are as beloved to me as my own" "I do not want to take away Yuddhistir's right from him and" "give it to Duryodhan" "But I do not wish to take away Duryodhan's right either" "That is why I have asked you this question" "I will abide by your decision" "What do you think O teacher?" "Both are your students" "Do not feel that I hesitate to answer" "But as you said both are my students" "Both are dear to me but as everyone knows" "Arjun is my favorite student" "So, if I put in a word for Yuddhistir then Duryodhan may feel that" "I am siding with Arjun" "So, you feel Yuddhistir should be Crown Prince" "If Yuddhistir is not chosen there will be a revolt" "and I, too, will side the rebels" "If a king does injustice in fear of revolt then he is unworthy of becoming a king" "A king should be just and should think only of the peoples' welfare" "I agree with the Army Chief" "Are you threatening the King?" "Do not forget that I stand between you and the king" "No one can threaten the king when you are there Uncle" "But, my king" "I find the question baseless" "How come Vidur?" "A son is an heir to his father's wealth but the kingdom is not your property" "If Yuddhistir, too, was unworthy he, too, would not get the throne because he is Pandu's elder son" "You are not even a representative" "You are his representative" "If the son had a right even then it would be Yuddhistir's" "Why don't you say that even you wish Yuddhistir to be the Crown Prince" "When the time comes to say that" "I will definitely say so" "What will I tell the people tomorrow?" "When Time asks a question it also answers it" "When Time asks you this question tomorrow it will also answer it" "But it is up to you to accept or reject the answer" "Wait for tomorrow, my king!" "A sword divides" "Greed and right" "Its sharpness is such it will cut anything" "The sword is placed between Selfishness and Right" "The question is:" "What will it cut?" "This is the moment of test for the sword" "This is the first serious danger in the immortal story of the Mahabharat" "The tension of choosing the Crown Prince is the seed of the Kurukshetra war" "The people want Yuddhistir to be the Crown Prince" "The Family Sage, too wants this and so does sage Dronacharya" "But the father's heart is still unwilling" "The representative of the representative Dhritirashtra still feels the problem will resolve itself and the crown which eluded him will go to his son Duryodhan" "Dhritirashtra knows politics and so knows how to hide his feelings" "Even Gandhari does not know that he wants to give Yuddhistir's right to Duryodhan" "Dhritirashtra knows that even a clever player like Shakuni cannot influence the political game" "He wants to keep one option open:" "If Yuddhistir is selected he will embrace his brother's son so that Hastinapur can see that he is impartial" "But Duryodhan does not know politics" "His ego and aspiration compels him to grab at shadows so as to prove his right" "But now that he sees his ambition being seized his heart is full of rage which is being fueled by his uncle Shakuni and friend Karna" "God knows what decision they will take and what they will announce tomorrow" "A brave man does not wait for tomorrow" "He creates his own future" "Whatever decision they will take we will take our own decision" "Your attitude pleases me" "Hastinapur has now become a city of sad faces" "Gandhari and Dhritirashtra are worried there" "Duryodhan and Dushasan are worried here" "You are the only brave man" "You refuse to accept defeat and always fight back" "God alone knows what is written in your fate" "But even I know how to write your fate" "As long as I am alive no one can seize the crown from you" "Not your father or even God himself" "But Uncle" "If Yuddhistir is chosen as the Crown Prince what will happen?" "If they know how to create I know how to destroy" "The son is the enemy of Justice" "Temptation is the enemy of Friendship" "Whom should the heart adopt?" "Whom should it betray?" "Hail King Dhritirashtra!" "I am pleased to announce that in a few moments from now the king will name the Crown Prince" "Hail King Dhritirashtra!" "What does your heart say Kunti?" "Both of them are my sons" "Why on this happy occasion?" "Must be a serious crime" "What is it, Vidur?" "The prisoners are here" "Announce their crime" "Long live the King" "They have committed a murder" "What do they say?" "They accept their crime" "In that case..." " Forgive me, my Lord" " Want to say something?" "With your permission" "Yes" "Today you will choose between the two princes" "Why not ask them to do Justice so that the people can see their worth" "Uncle" "I agree with Vidur" "We should also ask Shakuni" "Forgive me Uncle" "This is Hastinapur's problem and an assembly of Kurus" "Shakuni now belongs to Hastinapur" "Forgive me Uncle" "But he is still not from Hastinapur" "But I am from Hastinapur!" "I must get the first chance to do Justice because I am the King's eldest son" "That's not the reason" "You will get the first chance because you are younger" "Duryodhan is given the first chance" "Long live the king" "What punishment should be given to these criminals" "There is nothing to decide" "It has been our tradition to award the death penalty to murderers" "Hence, I award the death penalty to those murderers" "Very good nephew" "Hail Prince Duryodhan" "It is ordered that these four murderers..." "Forgive me, my lord" "What's it now?" "You did not give a chance to Prince Yuddhistir" "But justice has been done" "Yet, the chance must be given" "Who knows Prince Yuddhistir may not agree with Prince Duryodhan" "What is there to disagree?" "If Prince Yuddhistir disagrees he will say so himself" "Okay!" "Prince Yuddhistir should now do justice" "Long live the king!" "Do you agree with Duryodhan's justice" "How can I answer without knowing the facts?" "What is there to know?" "I would like to know their castes" "How does that matter?" "It is necessary to know that" "What are your castes?" "I am a low-caste" "I am a trader" "I am a warrior" "I am a Brahmin" "According to the rules of justice the low-caste is sentenced to four years the trader to eight years and the warrior to 16 years" "The Brahmin cannot be sentenced to death" "So, Sage Kripacharya will decide his fate" "What justice is this?" "One crime and four sentences" "The crime is not the same, Uncle" "The low-caste is an illiterate" "So, only four years" "The trader is not an illiterate and so twice the sentence" "The warrior is the protector" "If he turns murderer he should get twice that sentence" "The Brahmin is enlightened" "He has killed a man knowingly" "His crime is the most heinous" "I would like to immolate myself for my crime" "Sage Kripacharya will decide that" "But your justice is unequal my child" "Everyone cannot be judged equally, uncle" "Hail Crown Prince Yuddhistir" "Justice is done" "I now entreat the King to announce the name of the Crown Prince" "I entreat Uncle Bhishma to blow his Conch and announce the selection of Yuddhistir" "Justice has prevailed" "The veil of greed has been removed" "Truth has finally prevailed" "Truth has finally shone" "Come my child" "My respects elder father" "Lord Krishna is now in Dwarka while in Hastinapur, Shakuni, Karna Duryodhan and Dushasan are licking their wounds because Yuddhistir has become Crown Prince without their wanting it" "Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, and Sahadev have left on a victory tour" "This means that till Shakuni's wounds are healed nothing of great importance will happen in Hastinapur" "This is the opportunity to get away from Dwarka and Hastinapur to another place" "There are three options" "One road goes to Chedi where rules an important character, Shishupal" "The other road goes to Vidarbha where Rukmini has blossomed like a rare flower where scent has permeated..." "The third road goes to Magadh where Jarasandh is waiting for revenge" "He is unwilling to forgive the Yadus for the murder of Kansa" "But Jarasandh cannot vanquish Dwarka all by himself" "So, he wishes an alliance with the King of Chedi, Damghosh so that he can use his four sons in a war against Dwarka" "Damghosh is married Vasudev's Sister Shutashsubha which makes Shishupal Krishna's cousin as well as the Pandavas' cousin" "See how the story revolves around one family" "So, Shakuni in Hastinapur and Jarasandh in Magadh" "Both have laid before them the game of political dice" "Shakuni's ace card is Duryodhan while Jarasandh's ace card is Shishupal" "Jasasandh feels that if Vidarbh Princess Rukmini marries Shishupal then her brave brother Rukmi will also help to vanquish the Yadus" "Which is why we must accompany Jarasandh to Vidarbha where he is about to initiate his game" "Long live the King!" "We have entered Vidarbha my lord" "Long live King Bhishmat!" "Victory to the king" "Any news?" "The King of Madagh is here, my lord" "Rukmi ride out and welcome my friend Jarasandh on my behalf" "Yes father but what shall I do on my behalf?" "Ask for his blessings, my son" "He is not only my friend but also the most powerful king in North India" "Bring him here with respect" "As you wish, father" "The King has never come unannounced" "What could it be?" "Must be something special" "We will find out when he comes here" "Victory to the king" "What's the news?" "Prince Rukmi is here to welcome you" " Eklavya" " Yes Sir" "Welcome Rukmi on my behalf" "The bitterness in your eyes proves that Sage Dronacharya did you an injustice" "How come Prince?" "He had the right to ask for an offering" "And it was my duty to give it to him" "My hand is my teacher's blessing which will compel people to remember me along with Sage Drona and Arjun" "I, too, have become immortal with them" "Whenever anyone talks of a student's loyalty my name will be taken before Arjun's" "That's true my friend but an injustice is an injustice" "Let's go" "We should not keep the king waiting" "Come" "What's this my child?" "When father asked me to welcome you I asked him what I should do" "He told me you are like my father so, I should ask for your blessings" "I am doing that" "May you live long" "Come on my chariot" " Yes Sir" " Come" "Charioteer, let's go" "I hope your father is well" "Lord Shiva's blessings" "He keeps thinking of Rukmini's wedding" "Which means I have come on time" "How come?" "I have come with a solution to this very problem" "Your father is a very close friend" "Rukmini is like my daughter" "I, too, have thought of her marriage" "Do you know why the king of Magadh is here?" "He is father's friend" "He must have come to consult father" "No" "Why don't you tell us?" "Why are you so secretive" "I won't tell unless I get to wear gold bangles" "Then go home and wear them" "Why?" "I will take them from the Princess" "I won't give you anything just like that" "What if the news is good?" "Don't overdo it" "The King of Magadh is here to arrange your marriage" "What did you say?" "Yes Princess." "With Prince Shishupal of Chedi" "Shishupal?" "Vasudev's enemy" "If the King of Chedi is your friend then he is my friend, too" "The entire nation knows of Shishupal's brave deeds" "Should I take it that you are agreeable?" "Greetings father" "May you live long" "This is my second son Rukman" "Greetings King of Magadh" "Live long my son" "Sit son." "You have come at the right time." "We were talking of Rukmini's marriage" "I would like to say something" "Yes son" "Rukmini is our only sister" "Except for Panchali, she cannot be compared to any other Princess" "Neither in culture nor personality nor beauty" "Hence, her husband should be one in a million" "Who is like that?" "Vasudev Krishna" "Impossible" "Why?" "Because by naming him you have insulted the king..." "The king is our father's guest" "Insulting him is like insulting our father" "The second reason is:" "Rukmini is a Princess" "She can only marry a Prince" "The third reason is:" "Who knows whether he is Vasudev's son or Nand's" "Who knows whether he is" "Devaki's son or Yashoda's" "How can we give our sister to someone whose family is indeterminate" "But brother Didn't you hear?" "We cannot give our sister to that coward" "Besides, this marriage will be politically helpful" "A brave man does not take refuge in politics" "Only a disciple of Sage Dhrum or a student of Sage Parshuram can utter such words" "But life is not strength alone" "It extends much beyond that" "Look into the past" "Even Ravan, King of Lanka made that mistake" "He, too, was very strong" "Why this debate, my friend?" "After the marriage no king in India can dare attack Chedi or Vidarbha" "I agree to your proposal" "Please invite Shishupal on my behalf" "Your desire is an order" "We will be honored to have Shishupal as our brother-in-law" "But I do not agree with the King" "I do not claim to be a strategist but I have studied in the school of life and that's my experience" "Your father and I are the present" "So, what we say goes" "You are the Future" "So, wait to become the present" "But if you do not accept Shishupal then..." "A proposal you have brought and father has accepted is acceptable to us brothers" "It is good that we meet Shishapul here rather than in the battlefield" "Please do invite him" "Hail O King!" "This letter reflects my trust in you" "I'll protect it with my life" "In case the letter is lost my life, too, will be lost" "I'll reward you when you get the answer" "A brave man does not work for rewards" "Besides my only desire is to wage war with Arjun" "Which means you haven't forgiven Sage Drona" "No." "I have nothing against him" "As my teacher he had every right to ask for a ritual offering" "To make this offering was my duty which I fulfilled" "But when I see my hand I think had my thumb been there I would have been the greatest archer" "Arjun has taken my place" "But my lord I have learned to use this bow again" "Which is why I want to face Arjun and defeat him so that I can ask for my teacher's blessings" "I do not wish that my teacher remains in my debt" "You are blessed" "Take this letter to Chedi and give it to Shishupal" "As you wish" "Victory to the King" "Has the enemy attacked?" "Who will dare attack?" "Then why have you disturbed me?" "The King of Magadh has sent a messenger" "But the King of Magadh is in Vidarbha" "Who's this messenger?" "Eklavya, my lord" "As you wish" "The Prince has called you in" "Greetings Prince" "Come, sit" "Thank you Prince" "I can only rest after I have delivered this letter to you" "Is the king well?" "How was the journey?" "When I left the king he was pleased about something" "His joy made my journey easy" "Have the wedding preparations begun?" "Yes Prince" "The preparations are in full swing" "Invitations have been sent to all the Princes" "Has Dwarka been invited?" "I do not know" "Only royal houses have been invited" "Dwarka is not even a kingdom" "So, how can it be invited?" "Had it been invited and had Rukmini chosen me in Vasudev's presence ...I would be happier" "Go and rest" "You will have to take back my answer" "As you wish" "Listen carefully to what I say" "I always listen carefully o what you say" "Father, too, desires ...what I am going to say" "Why such a lengthy introduction?" "It's a sensitive proposal" "What's it?" "Curtailing your right a little" "What right?" "Father wants you to choose Shishupal" "Suppose I do not wish to?" "Then what?" "What if I have already chosen someone else?" "Have you?" "A question is not an answer" "Even if it is true father wishes you to choose Shishupal" "The Lord read the letter listening to the call of love" "Every letter opens the door of love" "Lord Krishna's letter to Rukmini is very important from the sociological point of view" "Today, we have forgotten that in ancient India the girl chose her husband" "In India today it is the husband who chooses" "If Rukmini does not wish to marry Shishupal then no one can make her marry him" "If need be the Lord himself will intervene because society cannot seize this right from her" "Krishna's visit to Kindampur on receiving the letter proves that a woman was not a dependent" "She could take her own decisions" "Which is why I hail Rukmini who lit a lamp on the doorstep of society" "What's it, child?" "Why do you always emphasise my being younger?" "I enjoy it" "I am going to Vidarbha" "Vidarbha?" "Why?" "Someone has asked for help" "Who's that?" "Vidarbha Princess Rukmini" "King Bhishmak and Crown Prince Rukmi are pressuring the princess to marry Shishupal" "Which means a woman has no rights in Vidarbha" "Why blame Vidarbha?" "The royal family is to blame" "We will have to teach them a lesson in culture" " I'll prepare the army" " Why?" "Rukmini has called for my help" "Don't be stubborn" "Rukmi will be waiting" " Brother" " Don't 'brother' me" "I'll not allow you to go there alone" "Okay" "I'll go there ahead" "You follow with an army" "You'll come, won't you?" "You'll honor my trust, won't you?" "You'll come, won't you?" "Brave warrior" "Eldest son of the King of Chedi" "Crown Prince Shishupal" "Hail Prince Shishupal!" "I'll welcome you Prince Shishupal" "Welcome me like a friend, Prince" "Please come!" "Welcome Prince Shishupal!" "Please accept my greetings O King" "Father has sent some gifts for you" "Will you honor us by accepting these gifts" "Sure, Prince!" "Where are you going?" "Where else, brother?" "I am going to the temple" "Good!" "Good!" "One minute!" "You must have heard that Shishupal is here to take you away" "I must leave" "The Lord will be waiting for me" "Listen carefully to this blessing" "O golden complexioned Rukmini" "Your husband will be the Lord himself" "He will take you away with full respect" "You have been blessed" "What are you looking at?" "My future" "Wait, charioteer!" "You are welcome to my chariot" "Did you come alone from Dwarka?" "With you, I won't be alone" "How can I thank you for coming here to fetch me?" "There is no question of thanking me" "If anyone calls to me sincerely I have to answer" "There is no greater pleasure than this" "Can we leave now?" "Why ask me?" "Because you called me" "We can only leave when you order it" "In that case, let's go" "I come without announcing but to leave like that will be cowardice" "I am not kidnapping you" "I am taking you away" "Throw the dice" "That is Krishna's Conch" "Krishna's Conch!" "Here?" "This is the Vidarbha capital Kindampur" "Krishna can't come here" "Throw your dice" "No." "That's his Conch!" "He must be here" " Hail Prince!" " What's it?" "Dwarka's army is at the capital's gates" " Hail Prince!" " What's it?" "Krishna has kidnapped the Princess" "What?" "What cheek!" "You go after Balram, I'll see to Krishna" "No friend" "You are still not related to Rukmini" "You take care of Balram and his army" "I'll go after Krishna" "Wait Vasudev Krishna" "You cannot take away my sister" "I have already done that!" "Rukmini is not a thing which you can pick up" "If you are a warrior, fight!" "I am also a warrior!" "Any other weapons left, Rukmini?" "What have you done that I should kill you" "You came to protect your sister, Prince" "That was your duty" "I am forgiving you because that's my duty" "Let's go charioteer" "When corruption enters politics it becomes contaminated" "Definitions change" "Loyalty to the king becomes the norm" "The one who does not agree is branded a traitor" "If Truth does not side with the king it becomes an Untruth" "Riddles attain importance against this background" "Politics wished to buy every person who stands before it" "Words like friendship, loyalty lose their meaning" "This is what happened in Hastinapur" "Things did not quiet after Yuddhistir became Crown Prince" "Duryodhan and Shakuni were seething with anger" "Every moment was a burning Hell" "Even Dhritirashtra's heart was burning" "Shakuni recognized this fact and further fanned those flames and kept them alive" "Shakuni advised Duryodhan to open the treasury" "It was Hastinapur's bad luck that after Yuddhistir became Crown Prince Duryodhan was placed in charge of the treasury" "He was using the treasury to undermine Yuddhistir's popularity" "He was buying all those who could change opinion" "Loyalties were being bought" "Rebellion was being suppressed with gold" "Psychological pressure was being brought on Dhritirashtra to the effect that..." "Yuddhistir was the obstacle to his dreams" "It was helplessness that he could not talk about it to anyone" "He was a lonely man" "Even the wind's scent has changed" "And so is its flow" "Are we outside the city?" "Yes." "We are in a green forest" "Greenery?" "How do I know?" "What is greenery?" "Were God to grant me sight I would not recognize myself" "What is a forest, Sanjay?" "What is green?" "Does the wind have a color?" "Does the scent have a color?" "Become my eyes, Sanjay" "I am honored my king but how will you know I am telling the truth" "Truth and lies have different scents" "But truth can be sweet as well as bitter" "I know!" "Then what do you wish?" "I am not talking of the taste of Truth" "I am talking of Truth" "I trust you completely" "Don't you trust Drona, Vidur and Bhishma?" "I have ordered you to speak the truth not to ask questions" "Forgive me" "Speak now" "The first truth, my Lord is this:" "Yuddhistir has become so popular that he can get back his father's crown" "Is Yuddhistir thinking of that?" "In that case, he would not be popular" "The people will only prefer those who place the people before the crown" "But in case you refuse him the crown the people will see to it that Yuddhistir is crowned" "What do you wish?" "I am your charioteer" "I only wish to drive your chariot through safe paths" "So, even you wish that I give Duryodhan's right to Yuddhistir" "Who am I to wish?" "I am only your well-wisher" "I say that is good for you" "I will listen to you Sanjay" "Uncle Bhishma loves the Pandavas more" "So, he looks to their interest" "Sage Drona's favorite disciple is Arjun" "He has accepted our favors but his heart is full of Arjun and his blessings are for Arjun" "But no one tells me what is Duryodhan's fault" "Arrogance does not befit a warrior" "Return to Hastinapur" "As you wish, my king" "Victory to the Prince" "Charioteer, stop!" "What happened?" "I am the widowed mother of a girl" "There is none to help me marry her" "What are you saying?" "No one is an orphan in Hastinapur" "I will get your daughter married" "For the moment take this gift and go home" "May God grant you a long life" "May He grant all your wishes" "Never call yourself an orphan again" "Let's go charioteer" "This impatience does not befit the future King of Hastinapur" "The first rule of politics is:" "No one should know the King's mind apart from the king himself" "And in your case anyone can see what you are thinking" "Uncle!" "I do exactly what you say" "But there is no result except that the treasury is almost empty" "But Yuddhistir continues to be popular" "My dear Duryodhan" "The results will show themselves" "I have asked Purochan to carry out a task" "Purochan?" "That old architect?" "What can he do?" "Purochan will be more effective than an army" "The Shiva festival will take place in Varnavat" "Yes." "And I am going there" "No!" "This year Yuddhistir will go" "Don't talk in riddles, Uncle" "The problem with you is that you don't listen" "You interrupt with your observations" "I am sending Purochan there to build a house of wax for Yuddhistir" "One tiny spark and Yuddhistir's story will come to an end" "House of wax!" "Forgive me, Uncle" "My mind is contaminated that..." "I doubted your intelligence" "Your youth is at fault Duryodhan" "But your co-operation is very essential" "How come?" "Your fathers sometimes sways to that side" "He wants, to see you king without harming the Pandavas" "He refuses to believe that it is impossible" "You have to persuade him to send Yuddhistir to the festival this year" "Tell him that you will be happy if this happens" "If you are successful in doing this then be assured that Yuddhistir will be out of the way for ever" "Victory will be ours" "I will convince father" "My dear Duryodhan" "Do you want to say something?" "Don't be afraid Duryodhan." "Say it!" "Father, I have a request to make" "You broke your promise that you would make me the Crown Prince" "But I kept quiet" "You allowed Yuddhistir to be the Crown Prince" "I kept quiet and so did my brothers" "Dushasan kept quiet on my say-so" "But now we cannot keep quiet any longer" "Duryodhan is speaking the truth" "But what is he saying?" "I am saying:" "You never leave the palace" "We do not tell you many things because that will increase your worries" "What has happened, my son?" "What has happened is Yuddhistir has won the hearts of the people" "You should be happy about this" "No." "Neither should I be happy nor should you be happy" "Why?" "Because Yuddhistir's popularity means he now has one more weapon to use against you" "But why?" "Because he is impatient to become king" "The throne is a peculiar thing" "It has defeated the most fervent patriots" "By God's grace you are still healthy and we hope you will live a long life" "So, rather than wish you were not there it is better that the people pressure you to make Yuddhistir the king" "In any case you are Pandu's representative" "Now I have no solution to this problem" "Yuddhistir will never do this" "He won't do it himself" "The people will do this on his behalf" "Pandu's friends will ensure it" "Don't you remember that your Army chief sided with Yuddhistir" "The main thing, father is that I do not wish to be dependent on Yuddhistir" "If you do not find a solution soon I vow that I will commit suicide" "What are you saying?" "What else can I do, father?" "I cannot order you, can I?" "Okay!" "Tell me what should I do?" "Send Yuddhistir to Varnavat to take part in Lord Shiva's festival on your behalf" "Varnavat?" "I have always gone there myself" "You went there because no one else could go" "It is the Crown Prince who usually goes there so that he can meet the people" "Now, Hastinapur has a Crown Prince" "It is right that he should go" "But Shakuni..." "Politics means not to ask questions" "You know that I will always do the best for you and your family" "I trust you Shakuni" "I will think about your proposal" "It is true that I wish to see the crown of Hastinapur on my son's head" "But it is also true that I will never do an injustice to Pandu's sons" "Yuddhistir is dear to me" "He also obeys me" "Then please order that..." "Yuddhistir goes to Varnavat" "The matter ends there" "There is no doubt that when Yuddhistir becomes king, Hastinapur will be secure" "But..." "Why do you always add that 'but'?" "This is the era of 'buts' Uncle" "Nothing is certain" "Things are altered at the last moment" "Who would have thought that Sage Kindem would die at Pandu's hands?" "Who would have thought Pandu would abdicate?" "Who would have thought Dhritirashtra would be king?" "But all this happened" "Who knows how many more thorns and how many more 'buts' are in store for Hastinapur" "And remember Uncle the most personous but for Hastinapur is King of Gandhar, Shakuni" "There must be some reason for Shakuni's stay in Hastinapur" "Are you saying that Yuddhistir may not become king even now?" "I have no doubt about that" "But..." "Go on!" "What is this 'but'?" "Does it mean I cannot leave Earth, as yet?" "We made a mistake by putting Duryodhan in charge of the treasury" "He is emptying it pretty fast buying loyalties" "The treasury is very important today" "Which is why I fear Yuddhistir may not be crowned soon" "The future is a volcano" "The nation faces uncertainty" "The brave are worried" "The brave are helpless today" "Underhand methods result in tragedy" "However, if Truth is on one's side then Religion will also side with you" "There are two types of politics:" "One based on the treasury and the other based on Truth" "One serves the King's personal interests while the other serves the nation" "The aim of the first is to be on the throne forever while the aim of the second is to remain in the hearts of the people" "Both these alternatives can be seen clearly in the politics of Hastinapur" "Duryodhan, under the guidance of Shakuni is walking along the first road" "Yuddhistir follows his duty along the other road" "Durodhan has the Royal Treasury while Yuddhistir has Religion" "In that sense, Mahabharat is the story of the conflict between Materialism and philosophy" "When the story finally ends people will realize on which of the two roads one must walk" "But listen to what Gandhari has to say" "Sister!" "Come Kunti." "Sit" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "May you shine!" "How did you think of your Elder Mother today?" "I am so glad to hear that your popularity has transcended that of your ancestors" "Remember, popularity is a king's most powerful weapon" "It is only your shield" "The king who has this weapon and shield can never be defeated" "Your blessing is my weapon as well as my shield" "Sit, my son!" "As you wish!" "Aren't Kunti's blessings enough for you?" "My mother's blessings I distribute among my brothers" "I'll give you another blessing today" "May God grant that you never go against your Elder Father" "What are you saying?" "I felt like blessing you thus so I blessed you" "Obeying my Elder Father is my duty" "I give you my word that I will never fail in my duty" "Kunti, you are lucky to have got a son like this" "It is also my good luck to have got a brother-in-law like the king a sister-in-law like you and a home like Hastinapur" "I shall always worship these three" "But fear seems to be looming over me" "This fear has no specific shape or reason or direction" "Which is why it frightens me all the more" "Greetings Purochan!" "What's this?" "Why stand up for me?" "For two reason:" "Because you are elder to me" "As a creator, you are a part of God himself" "This is Purochan who is making the house of wax at Varnavat" "Come now." "Pay your respects" "May you live long" "Please be seated" "Thank you" "Today, I'll give you a wine made from Gandhar's grapes" "So, what news of the Varnavat house?" "It is complete" "Will one spark be enough for it?" "A spark!" "Half a spark will be enough to reduce it to ashes" "Very good Purochan!" "History will remember you along with the house you have built" "If you have made exactly the kind of house that Uncle wanted then you will be amply rewarded" "So much so that the wealth will last you for many generations" "Thank you" "You must be tired" "Rest a little" "Take him to the guest house" "I do not agree with this house of wax" "This is a cowardly act" "We should defeat the Pandavas in battle" "The way Dhrupad was defeated?" "I cannot be a party to this cowardice" "You were saying, Duryodhan that you have total faith in Karna that he will give his life for you" "But he is unwilling to play the first game of politics" "I am not a gambler to play games" "I am a warrior" "Politics is not a game of Dice for me" "Then what game is it, King of Anga?" "Do not insult me by calling me King of Anga" "This crown is not the basis of my friendship" "I will always be Duryodhan's friend" "But every person has a right to follow his own Ethics" "Do not insult me by removing this Crown" "You are the King of Anga and so, you'll be called that" "I, too, will call you that" "This Crown suits you" "My dear friend" "If you are really my friend never call me the King of Anga" "Whether I remain the King or not I will always be your friend" "You will always be my friend" "However, your anger is always on the surface" "Forgive me, Uncle" "That's all right, my son" "It is not your fault but that of your youth" "Let us now prepare to welcome the Pandavas from their victory tour" "I have heard that Bhim has studied mace warfare from Balram" "What else could he have learnt?" "Poor Balram must be tired by now" "Come friend" "Why are you panting Vasudha?" "I ran all the way" "You should not run" "I ran from Balram's anger" "Is Brother angry?" "Then you face him Rukmini" "Okay." "You go" "But why is Brother angry?" "He needs no reasons" "His anger visits him like an unwanted visitor" "Have I done something?" "No." "It's not you" "Then have I..." "No, my dear." "You are the darling of this house" "Then why this anger?" "Tell me, are the Pandavas related to us or not?" "What are you saying?" "Tell me, how are they related to us?" "They are Aunt Kunti's sons" "So, they are our aunt's sons" "Then why are they returning to Hastinapur without coming to Dwarka" "Shouldn't they have..." "But Bhim was here" "He had come to learn the mace not to meet us" "But then why didn't Arjun come?" "What about the twins?" "Don't they need our blessings?" "But they are on a victory tour" "How can they come to Dwarka?" "Had they come, Brother would have been angry!" "How dare they attack Dwarka?" "Bless them, Brother, that they are victorious" "I'll have to bless them" "How can you bless them when you are angry" "First, smile and bless them with victory" "Of course, they will be victorious" "How was it?" "See for yourself" "How's everyone at Dwarka?" "Everyone's fine" "The food was ever better" "Then you must be very happy" "Which means mother does not feed you properly" "You are distorting my words." "Don't tell mother or..." "I don't want to be beaten by you for doing that" "I'll tell her that you ate well but were not happy" "Why talk of food?" "But that is the truth" "Without you mother would not be happy feeding us" "And we would not be happy eating" "This is the end result" "That's very good" "I had heard in Dwarka that Duryodhan has emptied the royal treasury" "He is a large-hearted fellow" "But there is no place in his heart for the likes of us" "Friend Duryodhan" "Come friend" "When did you return?" "Yesterday" "What's it?" "You seem to be very happy" "I have good news" "Share the news with me" "Come sit" "Whatever Uncle Shakuni says treachery does not befit warriors" "A decision is made when the maces spout fire when arrows collide" "When the blood of one warrior mixes with that of another" "You are a brave warrior" "The wax house does not befit you" "This does not mean that I'll desert you" "Because that is impossible" "I am your shadow which will not leave you even in darkness" "My fate is linked to yours" "If a brave man like you kills his opponent by treachery he will never be able to face his soul" "The Soul is not a battle field from where you can run away" "I am silent because I will always side with you because you have honored me with friendship knowing I was a charioteer's son" "Cowards are of different tribes but all brave men belong to one tribe" "If this is true, then the Pandavas are of our tribe" "There is no doubt about their bravery" "So, they must be killed in battle" "Don't you consider the wax house a strategy?" "No" "But do not lose sight of the final battle" "That is the good news" "If there is a battle the King of Magadh, Shalva Shishupal will side with us" "Even Rukmi will have to side with us because he is unhappy with Rukmini's kidnapping" "Congratulations King of Anga" "I, too, have good news" "Duyodhan has won Ashwathama's heart" "If he sides with us his father Dronacharya will also side with us because he cannot battle against his son" "Which means..." "Kripacharya will also side with us" "As for Uncle Bhishma if there is war he will have to fight for us" "Then why so we need the wax house?" "The army has Grandsire Sage Drona Kripacharya, Aswathama King of Magadh, Jarasandh Chedi Prince Shishuapal Vidarbha Prince Rukmi will be undefeatable" "When the child in you grows up you will realize the need for the wax house" "Language is like an arrow, my child" "The arrow which can kill a coward can also pierce the chest of a brave man and kill him" "Which is why I want this war to end in the wax house before it reaches the battlefield" "Prime minister Vidur is here, my king" "Okay" "You all leave now" "My respects" "Come Vidur" "The king has not called you today" "Your brother has called you" "Come sit next to me" "Thank you, my king" "How is Grandsire?" "Very well by God's grace" "We brothers..." "I am the son of a maid" "Whether the pot is of gold or mud the water of the Ganges is the same" "The mother is not a pot" "The seed has no significance unless the Earth receives it" "It cannot grow in a vacuum" "If the Earth had no meaning why would God make it?" "We are sons of the motherland" "Being a maid does not lower my mother's position" "My mother is my identification" "Man should never lose his sense of identification" "That is why I like you Vidur" "Your thinking is very dear" "Any news of the Pandavas?" "I hear that Bhim has learnt the mace from Balram" "I hear the brothers are now returning" "What should I do after they return?" "Should I crown Yuddhistir and go to the forest?" "Or should I wait for the coronation?" "You know how stubborn Duryodhan is" "He has still not understood that Yuddhistir was the correct choice" "Wouldn't it be right to give him some more time?" "You have to take that decision" "In fact, you have already taken the decision to send Yuddhistir to Varnavat when the Pandavas return" "Who told you that?" "The whole city knows of it" "Then tell me what you think?" "Should I send him or not?" "Shakuni must have advised you after some thought" "It is the festival of Lord Shiva" "People participate in large numbers" "Let them all see their Crown Prince" "But I think Yuddhistir should not go alone" "Why?" "People may think there is no unity in the royal family" "Send Duryodhan or Dushshasan so that people will see there is unity in the family" "Or you could go yourself and introduce him to the people" "That will be a good play" "People think that you chose Yuddhistir under pressure though you wanted Duryodhan" "These doubts are not good for the future of politics" "The people should trust their king completely" "If you take it on yourself you can purify the atmosphere" "That's a good idea" "I'll think about it" "What's the problem?" "Ministers always have problems" "I know those problems" "This is different" "Looks like the king said something which is worrying you" "How do you know?" "I have been your wife for so long" "Don't I know the difference?" "You have been worrying after your palace visit" "Obviously, the worry stems from there" "It has come from the palace" "You are right" "I don't understand why Shakuni wants to send Yuddhistir to Varnavat" "I am sure there is something foul about the plan" "Dear Duryodhan" "We both think alike" "I, too, want what you want" "But I cannot do anything because I am surrounded by people:" "Grandsire, Vidur Dronacharya and the citizens" "And all of them are on Yuddhistir's side" "Whatever is to be done you and Shakuni will have to do it" "You had asked me to send Yuddhistir to Varnavat" "When I spoke to Vidur he said there is no problem in that but I should accompany him" "In case I cannot go I should send you or Dushshasan" "How can that be, father?" "That's what I am saying" "That's why, whatever you do do it very carefully" "I am taking the greatest care, father" "Just arrange to send Yuddhistir to Varnavat" "Why do you and Shakuni insist on it?" "What's the mystery?" "Forget that." "If you do this it will make me very happy and get me the crown" "Okay" "I'll ask Grandsire" "Hail Grandsire" "Why are you here so late?" "The king is here" "The king!" "Here?" "Who else is with him?" "The king is alone" "Why did you take the trouble?" "If the matter was so urgent you should have called me" "You are the king" "You should not bow to anyone but God" "Have I lost the right to your love after becoming the king?" "Am I not the Dhritirashtra who learned to walk holding your fingers" "Come" "Sit down" "Now tell me what's the problem?" "The problem is many people feel that I do not wish to crown Yuddhistir" "People feel that I am on my son Duryodhan's side" "To end the suspicion I want to send Yuddhistir to Varnavat as Hastinapur's representative so that people will know that their next king is Yuddhistir" "You are right" "I also feel that I should send Duryodhan with Yuddhistir so that all doubts are cleared once and for all" "People will also realize that Duryodhan has accepted Yuddhistir" "The king's duty is not to fear his people" "The king's duty is to love his people" "It does not befit a king to fear his people" "Hence, Duryodhan should not accompany Yuddhistir" "Send Yuddhistir to Varnavat when the Pandavas return" "As you wish" "I shall do exactly that" "Hail Pandavas!" "The Pandavas are paying their respect" "Live long!" "They wish to present the wealth they have conquered" "Yes" "The treasury is gone but these fellows have come back richer" "You don't know Yuddhistir" "Keep quiet and watch" "Hail Yuddhistir" "My king" "The Pandavas have kept the wealth at your feet" "I am very happy to learn that you have returned wealthy" "Hold a celebration for their victory" "From the prisoners so that they bless these sons with a long life" "Feed the priests so that they bless them with victory" "May you prosper with this wealth" "What wealth, my king?" "The wealth that you have brought back" "That wealth is at your feet" "It belongs to Hastinapur" "No" "My son" "You are large-hearted but this wealth is yours" "To whom do we belong?" "We belong to you and you to Hastinapur" "So, this wealth is Hastinapur's" "For us the blessings of Sage Drona Sage Kripa and yourself is the true wealth" "You are the Crown Prince and soon you will be the king" "Your Fate is taking you in that direction" "And so is your Action" "You have to fulfill one task as Crown Prince" "You have to represent Hastinapur at Lord Shiva's festival at Varnavat" "This is the tradition" "Hastinapur had no Crown Prince for a long time" "But now you are there" "So, go to the festival this year and meet the people" "Give the people an opportunity to see their king" "I suggest the king goes with the prince and introduces him to the people" "I do not think it is right" "Then it is not appropriate" "I agree with Grandsire" "I would have sent Duryodhan but the treasury is empty" "It is not right that he leaves the city now" "Purochan has built a house for brother" "He says the house is unique unparalleled in history" "The house is a miracle of construction" "Then we will definitely go Duryodhan" "Uncle's orders were enough but now we can please Duryodhan" "The greed of the unenlightened" "The cunning of the Evil mind" "The use of underhand methods will lead to a conflagaration" "I am a poet" "I can view reality from all sides" "I am a mirror" "But people have forgotten to look into the mirror" "Which is why they can't see reality properly" "Which is why they wish to define it add footnotes to it so they can understand reality" "However, this is not essential for me" "I am narrating the story of Mahabharat not explaining it since you have to understand it" "If I were Fate I would have tried to explain" "I am the path of Action which is why there is no need to explain" "Shakuni conspired with Purochan to embark on a successful scheme" "Even Duryodhan and Karna were included" "No other comment is necessary on this conspiracy" "I am not Shakuni's path of Action alone" "There are others on this path" "So, listen to the tale but do not add footnotes" "It was decided that Yuddhistir go to Varnavat" "But that was not enough for Shakuni" "He has called the Pandavas a five-pronged weapon" "The point is:" "What of the other four brothers and Kunti?" "Come sons of Gandhari" "I have never seen you scratching your beard" "What's the matter?" "There was no need for that to this day" "The matter is serious" "Very serious indeed!" "If Yuddhistir goes to Varnavat alone you will get nothing" "But how to send the other four with him?" "If Kunti, too, goes with them that will be best" "You are worrying unnecessarily" "Let Yuddhistir burn first then we will find ways to eliminate the other four" "No!" "You do not know Vidur" "He will guess immediately and go to your Grandsire who will in turn ask your father:" "What is going on Dhritirashtra?" "The well-planned game will be spoilt" "If you want to attack in the dark do it with great caution" "Should I talk to mother?" "When will you grow up Duryodhan?" "No!" "Your mother should know nothing of this" "Let her eyes remain closed" "Her closed eyes inspire me" "Eight!" "Duryodhan has always worried me Kunti" "He is large-hearted" "He will even give his life if need be but he cannot mix well" "But Yuddhistir seems to have taught him this" "No sister" "Water cannot be divided by a stick" "My sons are no different from your sons" "They are streams of the same river" "They had to meet some day" "Sister I am very happy" "Duryodhan has built such a huge place for Yuddhistir in Varnavat" "May God grant them a long life and may their love increase" "Duryodhan can never be so loving" "Do not doubt your brother's love, Bhim" "I know that" "But remember, he was the one who poisoned me and threw me in the river" "Bhim is right" "I will not let you go to Varnavat alone" "You have still not understood Duryodhan" "What is there to understand?" "What is his advantage in building a house for me?" "There is one" "He knows you will be the king soon" "The treasury will no longer be in his hands" "He is using the treasury for his benefit" "What will he do after you become king?" "He knows he will be dependent on you" "This is a way to keep you happy" "There may be some other scheme" "God knows what scheme he has cooked up with uncle Shakuni and Karna" "If they could prevent you from becoming king they would do so" "He's not the king yet" "That's why you should not go there alone" "I, too, wish to take all of you along so that we can enjoy" "But we will need mother's permission" "Sahadev you tell her" "She listens to you" "Let's take mother along" "Then we will have real fun" "Besides, if she is not there who will feed Bhim?" "You, too, have started teasing me about food" "No brother!" "When you eat, I feel satisfied" "Don't be suspicious about Duryodhan" "He is arrogant but not a coward" "He will fight but will never scheme" "Arrogance is a coward's shield" "Mother?" "Please come" "Sit my sons" "What is this discussion?" "Who's a coward?" "What shield?" "Nothing." "Just passing time" "Sahadev has suggested that we all go to Varnavat" "That's a good idea" "I did not like your going alone" "But will it be right for me to accompany you?" "What are you saying?" "If you don't go, I will not go" "If I don't go, no one will go" "Mother you must come" "Okay." "I'll come" "The Pandavas could not understand the trap laid with cunning" "They accepted unquestioningly and with love Duryodhan's treacherous love" "My respects!" " When did you return?" " Now" "Anything special?" "You'll have to decide that" "Okay." "Tell me" "Purochan has built a superb house" "But no one knows why he bought butter, oil, fats, wax and shellac" "Butter, oil, fats, wax, wood shavings..." "Understood!" "Don't talk about this" " Yes" " Go now" "Yes sir" "Fats, oil, wax..." "Tell me, dear Duryodhan when are the Pandavas going to Varnavat?" "The travel plans are being decided" "After that, we will find an auspicious time" "The Crown Prince is here" "I'll bring him in myself" "How Duryodhan has changed" "At one time he would not even talk about them" "Now he has gone to receive him" "I appreciate the change in him" "Come brother" "My respects" "Live long, my son" "Come sit here" "Sit Prince" "My son" "When do you leave for Varnavat?" "I have a request on that matter" "Do you wish to cancel the visit?" " In that case..." " No, no" "How can I hesitate to obey an order from my Elder Father?" "What's the problem, my son?" "There's no problem" "I wanted to ask you if I could take my mother and four brothers with me" "There's no need to take permission for this" "Do take them." "The youngsters will enjoy" "And mother must be going because if she does not who will arrange for Bhim's food" "Quiet!" "Control your quicksilver tongue" "You should not talk like this about your brother" "So what should I do?" "Do take them along with you" "Duryodhan's happiness knew no bounds" "The Pandavas had themselves walked into the trap" "Come Vidur" "I had come to meet the Crown Prince" "Nakul told me he has gone to meet the king" "Don't call him Prince." "Hen is like your son" "I like to call him Prince" "I would be happier to call him King" "Allow me to leave now" "I'll ask him to see you when he returns" "No, I'll come and see him again" "My respects" "Wasn't your uncle looking worried?" "To worry is his nature" "All ministers look worried" "Hail King of Gandhar" "What's the news?" "Vidur was in his office in the morning" "After lunch, he went to the Crown Prince" "But he had gone to meet the King" "Do you know what Vidur wanted?" "No, my lord" "Victory to you Uncle!" "Uncle you are really great today" "You may go" "The first rule of politics is:" "After entering a room, do not speak unless you make sure you can speak or not" "But he was only our spy Uncle" "Who else could it be?" "Anyway, let it be!" "Tell me what makes you so happy?" "You, too, will be happy" "Yuddhistir is taking his brothers to Varnavat" "You are hiding something" "Even Mother Kunti is going with them" "How did you perform this miracle?" "I did nothing, Uncle" "Brother himself wanted it" "I only agreed with him" "Agreeing is an important part of Politics particularly if it is in our interest" "When are they leaving for Varnavat?" "When the moment is right" "But I now feel that Fate is on our side" "Fate!" "On our side?" "Only cowards depend on fate" "You just watch me play the game" "I can control even my dice" "Now I'll see what Grandsire and Vidur can do" "My respects Aunt" "It's you Prince!" "I am like your son" "Does it mean that a Crown Prince is any less than a son" "Princes are not sacrificed for a son but sons are sacrificed for a Prince" "Who can beat you or Uncle at debate?" "Where is Uncle?" "The King called him about your travel" "When he came to me, I was with the King" "Now when I am here, he has gone to the King" "I will come again" "My respects" "Wait for sometime, my son" "We have to leave at sunrise" "I cannot wait now but I'll come tomorrow to pay my respects" "May you live long" "My respects Uncle" "May you live long" "I was returning from the king so I came here" "I had gone to see you" "Aunt told me you had to see the King" "Yes" "Arrangements for your travel have to be made" "Prince Duryodhan and the King of Gandhar are here" "At this time?" "Come my child" "My respects, Vidur" " Greetings" " Our respects" "May you live long" "I am indeed very lucky" "I was just telling Duryodhan that I had not seen Vidur in months" " How are you?" " Well" "Please sit, Uncle" "Of course, we have come here to sit" "I heard that you are leaving at sunrise" "Yes, Uncle" "May your travel be safe and comfortable" "This is the season of blossoming flowers" "When the flowers blossom it seems as if the forest is on fire" "It is a very pretty sight" "Tell me which animal need not fear a forest fire" "Tell me Duryodhan" "Who could it be?" "Who indeed?" "You tell me Bhim" "Yes, Uncle" "Fire is his favorite because food is cooked on it" "Do not tease Bhim, Duryodhan" "But no one has yet answered me" "Who is secure in a forest fire?" "Only the rat remains secure because he is in the rat hole" "That's an intelligent answer" "I must leave now" " So soon?" " Yes" "They will have to leave early" " Okay" " Our respects" "We, too, must leave now" "No, Uncle." "Please sit" "If you insist we'll have to sit" "Besides, you are going tomorrow" "How about a game of dice?" "Yes, yes let's play" "Okay!" "Our respects" "May you live long" "Duryodhan, you came here pretty early" "Yes, Grandsire" "He has not gone home as yet" "I do not understand" "Duryodhan came here last night and has been here ever since" "We were playing dice and Duryodhan lost" "Yes." "I lost all night" "May you be happy" "May you have grandchildren" "Before entering a new house look out for the exit first" "Look after your younger brothers" "See that they do not stray" "Keep a watch on the roads." "Come" "As you wish!" "What are you doing?" "What's the problem?" "Have you ever heard Uncle speak anything meaningless?" "Meaningless" "No." "He is particular about words" "He measures every word he speaks" "He speaks only what is essential and needed" "Remember last night when he blessed us for our travel why did he talk of blossoms?" "His exact words were:" "This is the season of blossoming flowers" "When the flowers blossom it seems as if the forest is on fire" "But this is the season" "Don't we know that?" "Had anyone else said this I would not think about it" "I think he was trying to tell us something" "He was warning us" "Remember his words:" "After the talk of the forest fire why did he have to add who is secure in a forest fire?" "He asked Duryodhan this question" "Okay, let's follow up on this" "A question is first asked to the youngest" "Then why did he ask Duryodhan?" "But that fool could not answer" "Duryodhan's face fell when Brother said that only a rat could be secure in his hole" "Even Uncle Shakuni was all praise for the answer" "The rat stays in a hole" "Yes of course" "That's the point" "Why did he talk of a forest fire to state this simple truth" "Was he warning us against a forest fire?" "What if we keep sleeping and fire surrounds us?" "From tonight, we will not sleep at once" "One of us will stay guard" "Brother" "But we are on a pleasure trip" "But Uncle was warning us against a fire" "He did not agree that we are on a pleasure trip" "Long live Queen Kunti" "Come!" "Come!" "You are welcome" "I have named this house 'Shivam'" "Very appropriate" "I hope you will all be comfortable here" "I hope you like this place" "How can a house built by you be unsuitable?" "Next to Vishwakarma you are the best architect" "Come sit" "My room is next to the main door" "Do call me if you need me" "You are a respected person, Purochan" "People will line up at the main door" "Your room should have been at the back so that you are not disturbed" "No trouble at all" "It is an honor to serve you" "I'll take your leave now" "Understand the essence when you enter the house" "Think well and understand Vidur's veiled message" "You are right" "The house does not have a back door" "I thought as much!" "Which is why Uncle spoke about the rat who stays secure in a forest fire" "We, too, should dig a hole because this house will surely be set on fire" "Let's fight it out" "Why live under such circumstances" "No" "Why would Uncle talk about a rat-hole?" "Until Uncle Shakuni believes ...we are dead we will not find out what he really wants" "Purochan should not realize that we know all this" "Let him be happy that we are trapped here" "We will stay alert at nights but go out during the day as if we are unaware" "I wish I could really thrash Purochan and teach him a lesson" "No" "We should attack when there is no other alternative" "It is also strategic to keep a low profile" "Let the enemy think that his plot is successful" "We will need an experienced miner to dig the hole" "Where will we get a reliable miner here?" "Mother" "If Uncle fears that all of us are to be burned alive in the house then he will also send a miner" "Just like every flower is separate in a garland every person in the family is separate" "Just like a thread holds the flowers together same such thread holds the family together" "Without this tread no garland can be made" "Nor a family" "But this does not mean that the thread is all important" "A garland is neither flowers nor thread" "It is a combination of the two" "In a good family the unifying band is invisible" "This thread should remain invisible the garland should be visible" "The family should be visible" "Every flower in the garland can be different in color and scent" "This enhances the beauty of the garland" "But the colors and scents should not clash" "They should be properly balanced" "The same applies to the family" "If ambitions clash the garland is to blame" "This is what happened in Hastinapur" "Dhritirashtra blamed his Fate and repeatedly said then he was blind and so could do nothing" "The swamp in which Hastinapur is caught is of Dhritirashtra's making" "This is the Kurukshetra towards which the story is moving" "Purochan's house of wax is the outer limit of Kurukshetra" "The bodyguards of the Crown Prince are all Duryodhan's men" "The only reason they are around the house is to prevent the Pandavas from leaving the house of wax once it catches fire" "So, it is a race between the planned day and the miner" "How are you feeling nowadays?" "I am experiencing a new happiness" "Three more days and you will be the Crown Prince" "Three days are nothing" "If you wish, you can even feel your new future" "Close your eyes and imagine" "The house of wax is burning" "The five Pandavas are running about like rats searching for a safe place" "But they will never find one because there are no safe places" "So late!" "Sorry to come here so late but the news is very important" "What's it?" "Shakuni has decided to burn the wax house on the moonless night" "Who told you this?" "Purochan's associates" "Who will start the fire?" "Purochan" "Go to Varnavat and tell the Crown Prince to leave a night before the moonless night" "As you wish!" "Moonless night." "Hmm." "The fire will start on the moonless night" "You should leave a night before that" "Okay" "Mingle with my own attendants" " Take some rest" " Yes prince" "Prince go and enjoy yourself" "This is no place for a walk" "I am busy." "Please forgive me" "I have a message from Yudhishtir" "Then why are you wasting time" "Give it to me and let me work" "You are very rude" "I am not here to be polite" "I am here to dig a tunnel" "This work should be finished a day before the moonless night" "We will burn this house and leave on that day" "Which means there are only two days" "Yes." "Two days" "If you allow me to work I should finish by tomorrow night" "Tell the Crown Prince that the tunnel will open in his room" "Greetings." "O Queen!" "Greetings Prince!" "We are obliged to you" "What are you saying O Prince?" "Protecting the nation is the duty of every citizen" "Even a Prince is a citizen" "If he is not, he should try to be one" "This tunnel is ready cover it" "Allow me to leave now" "My lord!" "What happened Gandhari?" "Why did you wake up?" "I dreamt a terrible dream my lord" "What dream?" "I was worshipping Lord Shiva when he got up and began the Dance of Destruction" "The third eye on his head opened" "I stood there frightened" "I picked up courage and asked:" "O Lord Shiva!" "Why do you perform the Dance of Destruction in my house?" "The Lord did not answer" "He looked at me with pity and left" "In the deafening silence someone called to me:" "'Gandhari'" "I turned" "The Lord of Fire stood before me" "I bowed to Him respectfully" "He said:" "O Worshipper of Shiva" "Your house is to be destroyed by fire" "Give me your word not to curse me" "I asked Him:" "What is my fault?" "He said:" "When lord Shiva refused to tell you how can I?" "Saying that he turned into a flame and this house began to burn" "We all began to search for a way out of the fire" "But we could find no way" "I called out to Lord Indra" "Lord Indra help me!" "Order your clouds to rain and put out the fire" "Lord Indra appeared and heard me out but kept watching me" "After that I woke up" "Don't cry Gandhari" "Your tears cannot put out the fire that Lord Shiva..." "Besides, Gandhari it was only a dream" "Lord Shiva himself danced the Dance of Destruction" "That was no ordinary dream" "If I could interpret dreams would I not interpret my own" "So, sleep Gandhari" "Try and see another dream" "After this dream I am unable to sleep" "Purochan you are much too old to wander about at night like this" "Sit down" "Bring some wine for Purochan" "Drink some more!" "The palace built by you and your sons will be gone tomorrow" "So, why don't you stay there for one night?" "I have come to invite you to the palace after sunset" "There will be plenty to drink" "I have also arranged for meat" "Let us celebrate our success tonight" "No." "We are not interested" "Let's go mother" "Let's taste the royal life" "Okay." "If you want to" "We'll come Purochan" "What's it uncle?" "You seem to be very happy today" "Yes, my son" "It is very difficult to attain happiness" "But when you do so your happiness needs no bounds" "What's the good news?" "Haven't you heard of the proverb?" "The traitor brought down Lanka" "Purochan?" "The Chief of Bodyguards will take care of him" "Tell me Uncle..." "Learn to trust your Uncle Duryodhan" "Don't worry" "The Pandavas will never return from Varnavat" "Yes, Their bodies will return for their funeral rites" "What's this?" "What's wrong?" "There's still time" "Stop this treachery" "How often will you keep saying that?" "Till you say to me:" "Don't tell me what your heart feels" "Till then I'll repeat this" "...before and after the deeds" "Will you really be happy... after becoming Crown Prince?" "I doubt it" "Even I have my doubts" "My father lost the Crown because of King Pandu" "I cannot bear to watch his son become king" "I'll agree to your becoming king but never Yudhishtir" "Even if opportunity presents this crown to me I'll not accept it and present it to you" "Never talk of the Crown again, my friend" "If I have to choose between you and Yudhishtir I will always choose you" "I do not like being indebted" "Even after I have fulfilled the debt of friendship I'll still be indebted to you" "I may not like the path you are walking along I'll follow you" "The king wanted me to welcome you to the palace I have constructed with..." "We'll drink to the king's health" "The Pandavas must be sleeping" "This wine has a strange taste" "This wine is from the palace" "Drink carefully or it will give you a kick" "Give me a kick?" "Impossible!" "We should leave before midnight" "The tunnel is ready" "They are celebrating our death outside" "I'll never forgive Shakuni for this treachery" "Remove the carpet" "We are not running away, Arjun" "We are leaving" "There's a difference" "Besides, Uncle Vidur wants it that way" "Probably he wants the conspirators to think that the plot was successful" "Remove the Carpet" "You light the torch mother" "No Sahadev" "Mother is above this conspiracy" "You go first, mother" "No." "Sahadev will go first." "Go!" "Vidur's strategy has shown the way" "May lord Krishna bless it" "The dangerous flame may itself light up the path of freedom" "Guard!" "Did anyone leave?" "No" "How could anyone leave?" "Poor Pandavas" "Whom the Lord protects" "Who can harm him?" "None can harm him even if the world turns against him" "Has Purochan gone mad?" "He burned the house a day in advance" " was anyone saved?" " None" "And Purochan?" "He, too, was burned in the fire" "Good, Very good" "Give Duryodhan the good news" "Ask him to wait for me" " I am coming" " Yes, my lord ...why hasn't Uncle come as yet" "Uncle will come" "Brave warriors should die on the battlefield" "I'll always regret this all my life" "You cannot fight their Fate, can you?" "Even you have to admit that they deserved a better death" "If that gives you any happiness I'll admit it" "But I cannot resurrect them to give them a better death" "They were burned alive with their mother" "What?" "Which is why I, Shakuni, King of Gandhar heartily congratulate and salute..." "Duryodhan, Crown Prince of Hastinapur" "You are indeed great, Uncle" "May you live long!" "Show us how you look on the throne" "If you really want to see his glory see him on the throne of Hastinapur" "Come" "Come Brother" "Sit on the throne." "It is all yours" "At last my age-old dream is fulfilled" "Now this throne is yours forever because now your father will renounce the world" "Has father been given the news?" "Not yet because only you have a right to this news" "Only you" "Now Let's go and give him the news" "Wait" "You will not be able to hide your joy" "You sit here on the throne and get a feel of it" "Long live the king" "The king of Gandhar is here" "My lord" "His coming here at this time is a bad omen" "That's true" "I hope the Pandavas are well" "Why do you say that?" "I don't know." "It just came out" "Let's see what Shakuni has to say" "Shakuni" "Long live the king" "Is everyone all right, Shakuni?" "If all are well why would I disturb the king at this time?" "What bad news have you brought?" "Queen Kunti and her sons are no more, my lord" "No." "No." "How did they die?" "The palace which Duryodhan had built caught fire" "The fire was so fierce that no one was saved" "Don't drag Duryodhan into this" "You had built it and for this very purpose" "I wanted to see Duryodhan Crowned but not at the cost of the Pandavas" "Brother" "Don't say anything now, Gandhari" "Leave my room, Shakuni" "I wish to mourn my dear Pandavas" "But I do not wish that you witness my tears" "As you wish" "This is terrible, Gandhari" "My lord" "I do not know Gandhari if this is an accident or murder" "What are you saying?" "Duryodhan cannot do such a thing" "But your brother can do anything" "If this is murder I'll never forgive myself" "Never!" "Tell me how can I face Grandsire with this news?" "But I'll have to tell him" "God knows how many more deaths Grandsire will mourn" "Come" "Long live the King and Queen" "Tell Grandsire that Dhritirashtra is here" "Should I wake him?" "Yes" "God knows when he will get to sleep again" "Do come in, my lord" "What's wrong, my King?" "Do not call me 'king' tonight" "Call me 'son'" "What's wrong, my son?" "What's it?" "We have lost the Pandavas" "What?" "Yes Grandsire" "The palace which was built for Yudhishthir was burned to ashes" "Sister-in-law Kunti and the Pandavas died in those flames" "They were burned in those flames" "I am going to my room" "Tell everyone not to disturb me" "When I get the strength to bear the loss I will come out myself" "Bhishma's heart was aflame with the fire that burned the wax house" "He shut himself up and spent sleepless nights" "The house of wax caught fire centuries ago but I can still feel the flames" "The history of treachery in politics is an old one" "However, the fire in the wax house proved that whenever Man has strayed from the path of welfare a symbolic burning has resulted" "And that is exactly what happened" "The result of fire is:" "The foundation of the Future rises from the Past" "But none other than Yudhishthir could understand this secret" "What's wrong, Brother?" "You know what exactly is wrong" "I wish I could thrash that Shakuni so that he would remember it all his life" "Anger does not befit a warrior like you" "Does it befit a warrior to run away from the wax house?" "We did not run away Arjun" "Remember, Lord Rama's exile resulted in the destruction of Rawan, King of Lanka" "Who knows, the road along which we are walking may lead us to something worthwhile" "But we cannot leave Hastinapur" "It is our mother" "No, Its is not our mother" "This is our mother" "But we will have to go to Hastinapur" "Why?" "Why will we have to go?" "What has it given us but tears?" "Can you not see that the doors of Hastinapur are closed to us?" "Grandsire is bound by his oath... and Vidur is helpless" "All the others merely look to Duryodhan" "My sons" "This forest, too, is our mother" "It gives us shade when we need it" "It gives us wood to cook our meals" "It gives us fruits to eat" "I was happy with your father in this forest" "Now, I'll be happy with you" "I do not want a kingdom which can only offer a house of wax to its Crown Prince" "Mother" "If you like this forest we are all willing to stay here" "But we need to go to Hastinapur at least once" "Why?" "To emphasize that we did not run away to the forest" "We have come to this forest to honor our mother's wish and because it is her order" "Do not be disheartened" "We will definitely go to the Hastinapur but not now" "Why not now?" "This question does not befit Drona's disciple" "I know you alone are enough to tackle Duryodhan" "Do not forget that with Duryodhan will be Grandsire sages Dronacharya and Kripacharya" "Can Arjun fire arrows against Dronacharya?" "Can you arrest Grandsire like you did Dhrupad?" "+C1013" "Can you face Mother Gandhari after killing Duryodhan and Dushasan" "No" "Therefore." "Wait!" "You are large-hearted so, bear the onslaught of Duryodhan" "Your duty as his brother is to save yourself from the onslaught but not to retaliate" "Explain to him that a fight between brothers brings disrepute to the family" "I do not agree but if this is your order that we wander about like cowards while he enjoys at the palace then so be it." "Karna" "Aren't you happy to know that Duryodhan's problems are over" "Now the way to the throne is absolutely clear" "O King of Anga" "First your friend became the Crown Prince and soon he will be the King and sit on the throne of Hastinapur" "This is a time to celebrate, Karna" "I am both happy and sad, Uncle" "If a brave warrior is killed by treachery all warriors should mourn him" "We have to mourn five brave warriors" "Even I agree with Karna" "Now I will never be able to defeat him at mace" "That would have been sweeter than wearing the Crown" "Had I killed him in war I would have celebrated" "This is the problem with warriors" "They are very stupid" "Who says the Pandavas did not die in war?" "Conspiracy is also a weapon of war" "Just because you don't know its use it does not mean it is not a weapon" "The Pandavas died in battle" "Do not mourn them" "They were brave" "But your Uncle is braver" "But Queen Kunti, too died in the fire" "So what, Karna?" "The chaff is ground with the wheat" "So, Kunti also died" "Bhishma, too, has accepted defeat and retired to his room" "How can he come out?" "I have never laughed so much before" "Bhishma, son of Ganga" "Come, my king" "Yes, my king" "Do not call me 'king'" "Today I am your older brother asking you how to combat this danger" "One should not forget one's position even in such a moment" "Even in such a moment you are the King of Hastinapur" "Okay, call me 'king' but tell me when Grandsire will come out of the room" "When his tears dry up" "My tears have not dried as yet" "We must convince him to come out" "He is Hastinapur's soul and it's strength" "I am tired of calling out to him" "My voice does not seem to reach him" "Why don't you try?" "He may respond to you call" "Come Brother" "Grandsire" "Please come out, Grandsire" "The sun and moon refuse to rise because you have refused to leave your room" "Please listen to me, Grandsire" " Do not ignore me" " Brother" "No Vidur" "My voice did not even reach him" "But Vidur you can see" "Why don't you go to his room and see what he's doing" "Even dreams cannot enter his room without his permission" "How can I go in without his permission?" "I would suggest that you go back and wait for him to come out" "Come Brother" "Okay" "Let's wait" "Let alone Vidur" "Even I, Time, Cannot enter Bhishma's room without his permission" "Even the God of Death cannot hope to enter" "So, Bhishma is all alone in his room" "Even I am not there" "Outside his room the rules of Time Continued to be observed" "Days passed by but Bhishma's door did not open" "Then one day at the dead, of midnight When I was waiting outside the room looking at the door." "...it began to open slowly" "That is not necessary" "Don't the Pandavas deserve the last rites?" "No." "They don't!" "Because they were still living" "Living?" "Yes." "Ask Vidur" "Greetings Grandsire" "Why didn't you tell me the Pandavas were living?" "Forgive me but strategy demanded secrecy" "So, strategy is more important than Bhishma" "Had I told you that Shakuni and Duryodhan had conspired to burn the Pandavas" " What would you have done?" " What?" "I am telling the truth" "I'll ask Dhritirashtra about this" "I doubt Brother knows anything about this" "I'll ask Duryodhan, Shakuni That's why I didn't tell you" "You taught me what?" "Know of politics" "You had told me that in politics it is important to control your tongue and speak only when necessary" "Had I told you before, you would have asked Duryodhan" "The conspiracy would be broken" "We would never have known how far Shakuni and Duryodhan are willing to go against the Pandavas" "Now we know" "So, decide what has to be done" "Where are they?" "In a secure place" "What's wrong, mother?" "I am tired" "Let's rest here" "Even I am tired" "Let's rest for some time" "Hastinapur is not far from here" "If anyone passes by, we may be recognized" "But mother cannot walk any longer" "My son Sahadev is tired" "Let's rest for some time" "Okay but it is dangerous" "One suggestion" "What if mother, Sahadev and Nakul rest and we continue walking?" "But we cannot leave them in the forest" "I am not saying that" "Then what?" "I only said they should rest and we should walk" "It's the same thing" "No." "It is not" "I'll show you" "With his mother and two brothers Bhim walks along the path" "He had the swiftness of the wind" "Like the incomparable wind was he" "Stop him" "Whether anyone recognizes us or not, ...I order that we stop and rest here" "Yes mother" "Come sons" "I am feeling thirsty can we get some water?" "I'll see, mother" "Why don't you rest a little?" "Go back to sleep mother" "Who knows who will come in the forest?" "Why not wake up Arjun?" "I am older than him" "How can I ask him to stay awake in my place" "Why not wake up Yudhishthir?" "How can that be?" "I am younger to him" "It is my duty to serve him" "Go and sleep mother" "Wake up your brothers if there is danger" "What could be so dangerous that I have to wake my brothers?" "I am more dangerous than anyone else" " sleep now" " Okay" "Hidimba" "Wait brother." "I'll be back" "What's wrong?" "It's been ages since I ate human flesh" "My hunger is unquenched" "This wine cannot replace human blood" "No" "One... two... three... four..." "five... six Go Hidimba." "Tie up five of them and bring the sixth here" "Brother." "You know I do not like human flesh" "A demon who does not like human flesh" "Your in-laws will throw you out" "I will arrange for 200 humans for your marriage" "All the demons will talk about how I married you off" "Brother" "Okay don't eat but get them for me" "Okay" "Hidimba was mesmerized by handsome Bhim" "Love blossomed in her heart as she looked upon him" "Her heart full of love Hidimba prays to the Lord" "Lord Shiva grant me this boon" "May this warrior marry me" "That's a hefty chap" "Do you want to eat him alone?" "Aren't you slavering now?" "He is enough for tonight's dinner" "I have lost my heart to him, Brother" "Have you forgotten you are a demon" "Losing your heart to a human" "All the demons will laugh at us" "Love knows no barriers" "Shameless!" "Aren't you ashamed to hit a woman?" "No." "Arjun" "Two cannot battle one person." "It's wrong" "Now you can go without fear" "I have killed the demon who dared to attack you" "The demon was my brother" "Are you all right, Bhim?" "Yes mother" "Please accept me for your son" "They will make a good pair" "Your love has spoilt him, mother" "But he is right" "Even you, Brother" "What's your name?" "Hidimba." "That was my brother Hidimb" "Give me refuge" "There's no harm in that" "We all saw that she sided with Brother Bhim in the battle" "She now has a right over Bhim" "But we cannot leave Bhim here" "Nor can he marry her" "If that is what you feel allow me to give up my life at your feet" "No one has control over caste" "Why is your son penalizing me for my caste?" "It is true that I fell in love" "If that is false turn me away" "But Bhim cannot stay with you forever" "He can return after I have a child" "What do you say?" "What does Religion say?" "Your desire is the greatest religion" "I am in your refuge" "Please protect me" "Blessings to you" "May you have sons" "Congratulations, Brother" "Look at you sister-in-law" "Now our brother will get plenty to eat at his in-laws" "Then why don't you also come along" "The Pandavas did not want to kill Hidimb" "He was a mere milestone where they left Bhim with Hidimba" "But Hastinapur, caught in its problems is standing still where it was" "There is only Vidur who is privy to the Future" "He carries the weight of the Future on his shoulders" "Greetings" "Please be seated" "I have not come here to sit" "Greetings Grandsire" "My blessings to you" "Please ask your husband and tell me where the Pandavas are" "Why don't you ask me that?" "Yes but you refuse to tell me" "You keep telling me that they are safe" "I want to know where they are" "And don't tell me about security" "I have taught you Politics" "You taught me ideal Politics but this is not the age of idealism..." "One has to do a lot to protect ideals" "The Politics you taught me did not say anything about the house of wax" "I haven't come to the minister's house" "I have come to Vidur to ask where the Pandavas are?" "At Ekchakranagri" "Prepare for my journey to Ekchakranagri" "As a minister I would do it" "However, as Vidur I will oppose it" "If people come to know where the Pandavas are my efforts will be wasted" "Then promise to keep me informed" "As you wish" "But what are they doing there?" "God bless you" "Give alms!" "Time is all-powerful" "Makes everyone dance to its tune" "Even the Pandavas are forced to ask for alms from door to door" "May God bless you" "Please give alms!" "May God bless you" "What are you thinking?" "After a long time I experienced happiness in your house" "I was thinking of the Past" "What is happiness?" "It is a sweet" "Then, give it to me to eat" "You have it" "Where?" "In your sweet talk" "Then, you too eat it" "He's very talkative" "Father has come" "Coming" "Help your aunt to clean the rice" "Then what will I do?" "I'll go first" "Father" "How's my son?" "Giving sweets to aunt" "Where did you get these sweets?" "My words are sweet, aren't they?" "Where's your sister?" " With auntie" " Okay" "Greetings mother" "We have brought aims" "Distribute it amongst yourselves" "You always say that, mother" "But without Brother Bhim there's no fun in distributing food" "There's no scarcity of food there or else he would be back by now" "It has been quite some time" "He should have returned by now" "He must be well fed" "You tease him a lot" "That is because he is fond of me" "But mother the truth is there's no fun without him" "Why were you born so early, my child?" "Do you know what your birth means?" "Your arrival means time for your Father to leave" "What's going on between mother and son?" "I was telling him it is time for his father to leave" "Yes." "That's true" "Will you take your Son away?" "You have a greater right over him" "A mother has a greater right over the son" "It is she who nurtures him" "You are very sensitive" "That is because I know what a mother's love is" "A mother's love is unique incomparable" "A mother's love is all encompassing" "There's nothing greater than a mother's love" "Even if God were to be born as human he would crave a mother's love" "A child needs a mother's love just like a plant needs land" "I cannot seize my Son's mother from him" "Mother" " Greetings" " My blessings" "Come son" "Greetings Brother" " Greetings" " Welcome" "Your plate is waiting for you" "Let him have a bath first" "Brother must have already had a bath" "Today we will really enjoy our meal after a long time" "But it doesn't seem as if Brother Bhim has been fed well" "Quiet" "You take a bath, Bhim" "Mother, if you feed me why do I need to bathe?" "Okay." "Come" "Why are you worried?" "Let's go in" "Cry softly" "Do you want our guests to hear?" "Brother" "That's the only problem with her" "A small thing and she starts crying" "You are hiding something" "You gave us refuge in your house" "Your happiness is our happiness" "Your sorrow is our sorrow" "This is not sorrow but bad luck" "I have often told her there's no need to stay here" "Let's go somewhere else" "But she did not listen to me" "What we always feared has at last happened" "What's happened?" "She always told me the same thing:" "Your ancestors have lived here." "So should you" "I say the same thing today" "Allow me to go instead of you" "Don't repeat the same thing" "I won't allow you to go" "While marrying you I had sworn to protect you from danger" "You have spent a lifetime with me given birth to my children and looked after them" "I cannot separate them from their mother" "I'll go and that's final" "I have a duty towards you and the children" "I must do my duty" "What about my duty towards you?" "Your duty does not mean giving up your life for me" "Why this talk of sacrificing lives?" "One minute, auntie" "I want to ask my parents something" "Don't I have a duty towards you, my brother and this house?" "If yes then you cannot decide alone" "I'll go" "No!" "I'll not brought you up to be killed" "Have you brought me up to desert you... in times of need?" "That is not my duty as a daughter" "A daughter has to be given away some time" "So, give me away to the God of Death" "No" "You are not ours" "You are God's gift to us which has to be given to someone" "You are a life-giver" "Sacrificing you is like killing a generation" "I cannot do that to save myself" "Look at it this way" "The demon Bakkasur needs one person a week to eat" "You represent an entire generation" "Then I will go" "I'll kill the demon" "Brother, tell me what is your problem?" "Who is Bakkasur and what does he want?" "Bakkasur is a demon who lives outside the city" "Thirteen years ago he won this city from the king" "The king ran away and we were left to suffer the demon" "Since then whenever he is hungry he comes here... and takes people ...to eat" "Then we made a deal with him to supply a good meal every week along with a human sacrifice" "He agreed to this offer" "Every week we leave a good meal and a human outside his cave" "This week is our turn" "There isn't a single warrior in this ill-fated city who will fight this menace and save us from Bakkasur" "Who will protect us when the king himself has run away?" "When the king is weak and a coward the people should forget happiness because social life and family happiness is possible only when the king is strong" "I cannot sacrifice my wife or children" "So, I have to go" "You forgot about my five sons" "Impossible." "I cannot do that" "You are my guests" "This house has given us refuge" "Is it now our duty to protect it like our own house?" " But..." " But what?" "God has given me five sons" "Even if one is Killed I'll still have four sons" "But the house will suffer without the head" "This is my own experience" "Children should not be orphaned because then they will face bad days" "Therefore, it is important for you to live" "Tomorrow, my son will go to the demon" "Kunti's decision to send one of her sons in place of the Brahmin to Bakkasur is a significant one for the city of Ekchakranagri." "Kunti's decision is the foundation of life's ideals" "It is the duty of the guest to protect the house which has given them refuge" "Kunti's decision gave a new dimension to the meaning of 'guest'" "The guest, too, is a part of the house and it is his duty to protect it just as a family member would" "India's cultural history will always salute Kunti for her decision" "It is also true that such a decision should not be taken alone even if it is by someone like Kunti" "Yudhishthir" "What are you thinking?" "Isn't it my duty as a guest to help these people?" "Isn't it your duty as warriors to protect society from danger and free it from it?" "It's not that, mother" "Both your arguments are correct" "It is the duty of the guest to protect his benefactor and his house" "If the house catches fire will the guest escape the flames just because he is a guest?" "That is why I agree that your decision was correct" "The duty of the warrior is also clear" "He should do his utmost to protect his benefactor from all dangers" "Then what are you thinking?" "I was thinking as the eldest I should have gone" "How can I ask a Younger brother to endanger himself?" "I should go to this demon with the food" "But why did you not remember me?" "I salute your motherhood but regret that you thought of Bhim in this moment of danger" "You assumed I would not be hurt ...by your decision." "I cannot sacrifice you because you are not only my son but also the Crown Prince" "You belong to Hastinapur" "I cannot sacrifice you or I'll have to face Hastinapur" "Than this honor should be mine because I am the youngest" "What are you saying?" "When your older brother is still there, how can you go?" "Neither you nor Nakul can go" "Either I'll take the meal to Bakkasur or Bhim will" "You cannot go" "This is mother's decision and she has chosen me to go" "You did not answer me, mother" "Why can't I go?" "Can I say something?" "I am not merely the second son Just as you are not only the eldest" "I am indebted to my brothers" "How come, Bhim?" "From the beginning I have been eating your share of food..." "If I have a right to half the food then I have a right to half the danger" "Does anyone have an answer to what I say?" "Another thing" "How did you assume that Bakkasur would eat me the moment I go" "This is an insult, mother" "Brothers" "The alms that we get do not satisfy me" "Huge quantities are cooked for Bakkasur" "Allow me to satisfy my hunger" "You may go." "Return victorious" "Citizens." "Accept this gift of mine to protect this city" "Thank you" "You must be tired of pulling this weight" "So, it becomes my duty to lighten this load" "Besides, I am a little hungry" "Bakkasur is not going to weigh the food" "He won't miss it" "Both of you eat the juicy leaves in the forest" "Why hasn't my food come as yet?" "I'll eat everyone" "I'll have my revenge" "I'll eat everyone in the city" "Who are you?" "Why are you eating my food?" "Wait a minute" "Let me finish eating this" "The food is very tasty" "Even you seem very tasty" "Plenty of meat on you" "We should not have come this way at night" "Bakkasur stays nearby" "He has terrorized Ekchakranagri" " Who's this?" " Bakkasur" "Bakkasur is dead" "Listen friends Bakkasur is dead" "Let's tell the citizens" "We should organize a ritual worship" "Lord Shiva has favored us" "That's necessary" "We should also honor those who have freed us" "That, too, is right" "It is now our responsibility to look after the family" " Yes" " Whose turn was it?" "The Brahmin's family" "Let's honor them" "Let's go" "Teach me how to fight" "Or else I will fight you" "No." "You are a Brahmin" "You are also a Brahmin" "Teach me or fight" "Teach me or be killed" "He cannot fight you, my child" "Why?" "You will defeat him" "You are stronger than Bakkasur" "You are a human, my son" "You are the strongest" "Man is a representative of the Lord himself" "Who is more powerful than Him?" "But never misuse this strength" "Looks like they are coming here" "Of course, they are" "I'll see" "Yudhishthir" "It's time to leave this city" "Yes mother" "If we wait here, we will be recognized" "Panditji" "Greetings" "Congratulations" "Why congratulate me?" "Don't be modest" "No modesty but why congratulate me for someone else's work" "You freed us from the demon Bakkasur" "Can we not even congratulate you?" "I knew you would come but I did not kill Bakkasur" "Modesty again!" "I am telling the truth" "Then did he kill himself and carry his own body to the gate?" "No sir" "One of my guests has killed him" "Did one of them do this?" "The five of them have achieved this miracle" "Obviously they have a spell which could do this" "Call the five brothers" "We seek their blessings" "Sure" "Listen" "Coming!" "Call our guests" "The citizens want to congratulate them" "They have gone" "Gone?" "Where?" "They refused to tell me" "When I insisted, they said killing Bakkasur was not our life's aim" "Had Yudhishthir not insisted we would still be in the city" "Yes" "Why do you ask?" "The citizens would have organized a feast and we would be eating heartily" "I take the efforts and you feast" "Mother has spoilt you" "He is the youngest" "When you were with Hidimba he used to be sad" "Without you he said the food was tasteless" "I could not digest the food" "Am I a pill that your digestion improves when I come?" "How can anyone enjoy his food when he is unhappy?" "Everyone was unhappy when you were not there" "Because we were living on alms and you were eating two square meals" "Okay." "The Sun is about to set" "Let us all camp here" "As you wish, mother" "Nakul, get some dry wood so that I can prepare dinner" "Yes mother" "How long will we wander like this?" "Wait for things to change in Hastinapur" "Things will not change on their own" "We will have to change it" "Give it a chance to change on its own" "The seasons change in time" "The time is very near" "Luck will give it a change" "Have faith in the Lord" "It does not take long for the season to change in the arena of Politics" "However, it does not take any orders because change has its own speed and direction" "Every character chooses his own brand of Politics and its direction" "Which is why, sometimes the different brands of Politics clash in the open field" "For the moment, the open field is far away" "So, I can only do one thing:" "Walk along in any one direction and wait for the season to change" "Even Dhritirashtra is waiting for this change" "He is hoping that the Sun which rises on the Political horizon will bring sunshine into the darkness of his life" "What are you thinking, my lord?" "How did you know I was thinking?" "Had you not been thinking you would have reacted to the sound of my entering the room" "What are you thinking?" "What else can a person think of But the marriage of his son?" "I was thinking of Duryodhan's marriage" "If he wins the princess of Panchal, Draupadi Hastinapur will also benefit from the alliance" "If Lord Shiva wishes it so will it be!" "Draupadi's coming here will enhance our prestige" "We will be grateful if you could have dinner with us" "Looks like you have spent your life among warriors" "You have forgotten the way Brahmins speak" "However, we accept your invitation" "Are you all going to Kampilya?" "What is happening there?" "Why did you ask that question" "Draupadi will select her husband" "All the kings and princes are going there" "But surely the Princess is not old enough for marriage" "She is an unusual girl" "How come?" "It is a long story." "I'll tell you after dinner" "You don't know but the King of Panchal had a secret in his heart" "What was I saying?" "There was a secret in Dhrupad's heart" "Draupadi's birth was a result of that" "What was the secret?" "You must have heard of Sage Drona" "Who has not heard of him?" "Sage Drona and King Dhrupad were friends from childhood" "In an emotional moment the king told the sage that half the kingdom was his" "Sage Drona believed this oblivious that a Brahmin could not dabble in Politics" "When Dhrupad became king he went to him" "He did not ask for the kingdom" "Did he?" "Ego does not befit a Brahmin" "To achieve that he has to renounce the world" "Sage Drona forgot this and tried to equal the king" "Warriors are egoists" "Dhrupad did not like Drona's doing this" "He said this openly" "Drona kept this in his heart" "Why did Fate side with Drona?" "Only God can tell" "He was asked to teach the Hastinapur Princes" "After having taught them he asked his students to conquer Panchal for him" "Gandhari's sons failed But Kunti's sons were successful" "But I must admit that Drona was a true friend" "He told Dhrupad:" "You did not share what you had" "But I won't do that" "So, I give back to you half of Panchal which is now mine" "A Brahmin is a Brahmin" "Drona did not understand Strategy" "A kingdom cannot be shared" "Dhrupad's heart began to seek revenge" "His life had only one aim!" "To find a way to avenge himself" "He began to hope for a son who would kill Drona" "Such a son can only be conceived through mediation and prayer" "Dhrupad began to search for Sages" "When Revenge is the aim" "Intelligence is destroyed" "Dhrupad does not want a son" "He is in search of a weapon" "Greetings Sage" "You did not bless me" "No, because I do not have what you want" "I only want a son, O Sage" "Why do you want this son?" "You want a weapon not a son So as to kill Drona" "You are asking for a curse and I cannot give it" "O Sage you know that Drona humiliated me" "I am burning in that fire of hell" "You have invited this Hell" "Get out of this Hell Which you have created" "Life is priceless" "Revenge cannot be its only aim" "You are a Brahmin" "To bless me is your duty" "Instead of a blessing I'll give you a name" "Go to my elder brother, Sage Yaaj" "He cannot distinguish between pure and impure" "Knock at his door" "I am grateful" "Greetings" "Greetings O Sage" "How did you get here?" "I wish to meditate for a son who will avenge Myself on Sage Drona" "I will serve you in any way for that" "I'll give you an unusual cow" "Upyaaj must have shown you this path" "Yes, O Sage" "He thinks I accept everything" "But who will decide what is pure and impure" "Will Upyaaj?" "If you are destined to get a killer for Drona then you will get such a son" "I did not write your Fate" "God has done that" "Can God do something impure?" "If yes then why haven't I done it?" "If no then how can helping your Fate be wrong?" "I'll definitely help you" "Call the queen" "Yes O Sage" "Call the queen" "The queen is bathing" "The queen is bathing" "Time cannot wait for anyone" "In this unusual fashion were born Dhristadyuma and Draupadi" "It is this Draupadi Who is to be married" "I suggest you, too, go there with your sons" "You will get enough aims to last you a lifetime" "She must be beautiful" "She is not an eatable, Brother" "The ceremony must be worth seeing" "Of course" "The selection ceremony will be unparalleled" "Kings from all over India will be there" "The Yadavs of Dwarka will be there" "Then we must definitely go, mother" "Yes, my son" "I, too, want to see Draupadi" "Come, Please sit" "Father" "Son" "This gadget was installed with Arjun in mind" "I only hope Draupadi does not remain unmarried" "Why do you think like that?" "All the noted warriors are here including Sage Drona's disciples" "Go and get Draupadi" "Yes father" "It seems the Prince has gone to get the Princess" "Look everyone is getting ready" "Will you be taking part in the competition" "How can I enter?" "Why?" "Draupadi is like my sister" " Is she our sister, too?" " No" "The king is my father's friend" "I'm the family" "If you win this competition I will be very happy" "There can be no doubt about my winning this competition" "Be alert" "Princess Draupadi is on her way" "This is a significant moment for Kampilya" "I welcome all of you on behalf of my father" "Every brave warrior of India is present here today" "Those who are absent cannot be brave" "This is my sister Draupadi" "That Brahmin seems well fed" "He is not a Brahmin" "Why did he bow to you?" "I don't know" "Why don't you give Straight answers?" "Because your questions are not straight" "Do you know him?" "Even you know him" "The one in front is Yudhishthir" "The well fed one is Bhim" "Behind him is Arjun and then Nakul and Sahadev" "That's what I was going to say" "You cannot see anyone but the Pandavas" "They were burned at Varnavat" "Let me listen" "My father has invited all of you" "That is your aim" "The eye of the revolving fish" "You will have to look at the reflection of the eye and hit the aim." "My sister will wed whoever is successful in achieving this" "So, warriors that is the target" "Those five arrows and that is the sacred bow" "Draupadi you are lucky" "The bravest warriors are here for your hand" "I welcome all of you to begin your attempt" "Look at his style" "I am looking" "Come on nephew" "Did you see that?" "Looks like Sage Drona has not taught him to control his arrogance" "Why are you dejected?" "Hastinapur has been shamed" "I will not allow Hastinapur to be shamed" "Long live King of Anga" "Wait" "I cannot wed a charioteer's son" "If that is so you will have a long wait ahead" "Sages, rivers and warriors have no source" "My friend has been insulted in this court" "If that was the condition why did you not announce it in the beginning" "Do not insult the host by protesting loudly" "Karna is our guest" "He should know the traditional rules" "As Sage Drona's disciple you should know that a relationship is between equals" "My divine born sister Draupadi holds the garland" "Surely it is her right to decide who she'll wed" "In any case, Karna was right about one thing" "At a ceremony where the bravest warriors like Duryodhan, Sartaki, Jaivat, Jarasandh are present, how can no one be successful?" "I was sure someone would win my sister's hand" "Looks like the art of archers died out with Arjun" "Is there none so brave who can pierce the fish's eye?" "The bow is not made of wards, Brahmin" "Nor is the target easy" "Will you be able to string the bow which none of us could string?" "He doesn't seem to be a Brahmin" "Look at his body" "He has great strength" "Look at those muscles" "He looks like a winner to me" "Long live the Brahmin" "Time selects the winner" "The brave select the weapon" "Arjun aims at the fish's eye eventually achieving his aim" "People may accuse me of stopping the story at a point where it should not be stopped" "If the arrow has been strung and Arjun is ready to let go of it it should have been thrown" "I did not stop the story there because it is a point for thinking" "It is a point to turn around and take stock of what has happened and what will happen when the arrow is thrown" "Dhrupad is Sage Drona's Sworn enemy while Arjun is Drona's favorite disciple" "It is impossible that Arjun will miss" "So, what will happen?" "Brave Karna has already been insulted..." "Which neither Karna nor Duryodhan will tolerate" "So, what will happen once the arrow is released?" "This question is of importance because the answer to the question is the backbone of this story" "So, let me begin the story from the point where Draupadi stops Karna and no other Prince is willing to try" "So, Arjun left the group of Brahmins" "The bow is not made of words, Brahmin" "Nor is the target easy" "Will you be able to string the bow which none of us could string?" "He doesn't seem to be a Brahmin" "Look at the strength" "Look at those muscles" "He looks like a winner to me" "Long live the Brahmin" "O King" "You have insulted us by allowing the Brahmin to participate" "You have shamed yourselves by not achieving the aim" "Did you construct this device to insult me?" "You have insulted us" "You have insulted us" "Only Princes are allowed to participate in this ceremony" "Who say's that?" "I won't talk to a milkman and demean myself" "By saying this, you have insulted Dwarka" "Have you forgotten the day when we threw you out of Mathura" "He is our grandfather" "We must show him respect" "Do not waste your anger on him" "At least, see if the person is worthy of your anger" "Be careful while giving a blessing or a curse" "Nonsense!" "We are getting side tracked" "The point is:" "The King of" "Penchal has insulted us..." "...by allowing the Brahmin to take part" "He should be punished for this" "For what, King of Madra?" "How can allowing a Brahmin to participate be a crime?" "A Brahmin gave birth to the warrior caste" "We will not listen to you" "I know that, O Son of Gandhari" "Would I thrash them?" "You are as bad as Balram" "Keeping calm can be a great strength" "Look after Arjun" "There is only one solution" "Order your daughter to choose one of us or we will throw her in the fire... she came from" "Throw her into the fire" "No Prince" "She is my responsibility now" "Throw her into the fire" "Don't come nearer or else lf you agree I have won your hand honor me with your garland" "Here, Karna" "Beware" "No one could have done that except Sage Parshuram Sage Drona, Lord Indra and Arjun" "I salute your teacher" "Admit that they are the Pandavas" "I am pleased to see them" "Is that Bhim?" "Yes." "The other one is Duryodhan" "Okay." "Now stop this clash" "As you wish" "On behalf of the Yadavas I congratulate Draupadi and the King of Panchal" "This youngster has established his right over Draupadi in no uncertain terms" "Draupadi, too, has accepted him" "So, why should you be angry?" "You should be ashamed" "My blessings" "Take Draupadi home" "Brother" "Let us tell mother that we have brought aims and then present Draupadi" "Will you call her alms?" "What's the harm?" "What do you say?" "As you wish" "We have brought back aims" "Share it amongst yourselves" "Who's this girl?" "She's princess Draupadi of Kampilya" "Arjun has won her hand" "A happy wedded life" "But mother" "You have ordered that she be shared" "Share her?" "Am I an idiot that I'll ask her to be shared?" "You spoke about alms..." "You described her as alms" "Is a wife, alms?" "You lied to your mother" "Now share her if you can" "What's the problem?" "Ask your brothers for whom a wife is like chattel" "Is this Bharat's tradition?" "You are the epitome of Truth." "You tell me" "Woman is strength" "Man is incomplete without her" "She may be a mother or a wife a daughter or a sister she is to be respected" "Bhim and Arjun have insulted womankind" "A mother's word is to be obeyed" "Her order can never be unacceptable" "What are you saying?" "Yes" "Mother has never said anything unacceptable" "There must be something cosmic in her order" "Whatever is happening today has its roots in the past" "Are you saying that Draupadi should be shared" "I did not say that" "You said it." "You ordered it" "I thought it was aims" "That's true but think mother neither you nor I know what's going to happen in the future" "May be it was Time who spoke through you" "Can you give an example?" "Of course, mother" "Jatla had married seven Sages" "Pachchitti had married ten brothers" "What's the difference?" "I do not know how to escape the trap of Reality" "Accept my greetings" "Live long, my child" "How's everyone at Dwarka?" "Everyone is fine there" "What's wrong here?" "We are facing a grave problem" "Bhim and Arjun brought Draupadi and said to me:" "We have brought aims" "Without looking up I asked them to share it" "How can Draupadi be shared?" "Ask Draupadi" "What will she say?" "Ask her" "She was the one who asked for such a boon in her past life" "...from Lord Shiva himself" "When he said it was impossible she would not listen" "Even for Lord Shiva it was difficult" "What boon did you ask for?" "Will you tell them or should I?" "She asked for five boons instead of one" "She asked for a husband who was an epitome of Truth had the strength of Hanuman who was an ace archer exceptionally beautiful and very patient" "Did you not ask for all this?" "Did not Lord Shiva say:" "One person cannot have all those qualities" "Before asking you should have thought about whether your request was reasonable" "You asked for a boon and the Lord has granted it" "Yudhishthir is the epitome of Truth" "That's the first boon" "None is stronger than Bhim" "That's the second boon" "Arjun is today's ace archer" "That's the third boon" "Nakul is the handsomest man alive" "The fourth boon" "Sahadev is the most patient" "The fifth boon" "Now if you wish to insult the Lord by returning the boons, then do so" "Why are you looking at Draupadi?" "Arjun did you win her hand but she is not chattel" "A mother is like God and you lied to her" "Aunt Kunti" "Being a mother does not mean that you can give any order without thinking" "You have crossed the limits of motherhood" "From today, this life is your sacrifice and repentance" "Lord Shiva has granted a boon in your past life" "Draupadi has married five husbands each one of them with a special quality" "This means that the Pandavas did not die" "So, the Pandavas had come here" "Which means that it was Arjun who hit the target" "Even I wondered how a Brahmin could achieve a target meant for Arjun" "Aren't you happy that your sister is married to Arjun?" "Queen Kunti wants to marry her to all five of them" " What?" " Yes father" "Doesn't Queen Kunti know that Draupadi is not chattel" "I will ask Draupadi to refuse" "Krishna told her that the marriage was her repentance" " Repentance?" " Yes father" "Victory to the king" "Come Vidur" "You are sounding excited today" "There's news from Kampilya" "Has Duryodhan been successful" "No." "But Then it must be Dushasan" "He, too, is brave" "That is good news indeed" "Forgive me" "Even Dushasan was not successful" "Then what's the good news?" "It was Arjun who was successful at the ceremony" "But the five brothers..." "The real good news is that the five Pandavas are are still alive" "That is really good news, Vidur" "Now, I not need feel shamed before my ancestors" "There is no need for that my king because you were not a part of the conspiracy" "God speaks through the people and the people say that the ashes of Varnavat are smeared on your face" "Use this moment by welcoming the Pandavas and the new bride to wipe off the ashes from your face" "Send a messenger to Kampilya to convey how glad you are at their being alive" "Bless them and say you are eager to welcome the new bride" "Hence, they should return to Hastinapur at once" "But will they believe that I had nothing to do with the wax house?" "Yudhishthir will believe it" "As far the others they will obey him" "Why are you waiting?" "Go and tell Queen Kunti and the Pandavas that I am eager to meet them" "You know how glad I am that they are alive" "This unlucky king your unlucky brother has forgotten what happiness is" "After Pandu's death this is the first such moment" "Go Vidur." "Go quickly" "As you wish" "Greetings Grandsire" "May you live long" "Come." "Sit down" "Where have you been?" "I was with the king" "But why are you..." "An archer must keep his arrows sharp" "Who knows what they will be needed" "These, too, are bound to Hastinapur's throne" "You seem depressed" "This is the era of depression" "The values which were the foundation of society are crumbling like sand castles unable to protect us" "The nation is on the mouth of a volcano" "Who knows when it will erupt?" "If we cannot stop this, nothing will be saved neither life nor its values" "Looks like our society is beyond improvement" "It will break and from its ruin will rise another society" "My father's blessing has become a curse" "I could no renounce this world and Mother Satyavati burdened me with her sorrow" "But Grandsire" "I know the king is sending you to Kampilya" "That's why I am honing my arrows" "Grandsire!" "Did you not think Vidur how one nation can have two Crown Princes" "I have thought of that" "Whatever happens the King cannot go against the wishes of the people and the people want Yudhishthir" "Don't talk like a child, Vidur" "Filial love has enhanced Dhritirishtra's Blindness" "He prefers to listen to Shakuni rather than me" "Do you want me to prevent them?" "No" "But neither you nor I can control the events any longer" " Unfortunately yes." " No bad luck" "Whatever is to happen is the result of past events" "The Present is not born from the womb of Luck but from the womb of the Past" "I am Hastinapur's Past, Vidur" "What should I do?" "Go Kampilya and bring back the Pandavas" "Explain to Yudhishthir that the season in Hastinapur is not right" "The moment I swirled the mace he started running away" "He refused to listen to me" "Duryodhan" "None could be more foolish then you" "But what have I done" "What else can I call you when you laugh instead of crying" "Karna and Dushasan have nothing to lose" "Dushasan will remain a Prince for all times" "They won't seize Anga from Karna" "Who are they?" "The Pandavas, Karna" "Pandavas?" "But Uncle they..." "Don't be silly" "They are alive and well" "Your father is happy to hear that Arjun is returning with his bride" "Arjun" "Yes." "The very same Arjun whom you wanted to attack along with his brothers" "Let them be saved" "They cannot harm me" "I am already the Crown Prince" "The same stupidity again" "You have not understood your father as yet" "He will not be able to face Vidur's and Grandsire's loyalty to Hastinapur" "So, do not laugh" "Think" "What's there to think?" "Those who don't want to think, say that" "The King has asked Vidur to bring back the Pandavas so that he can bless them as well as give them the crown of Hastinapur" "Impossible" "I will not allow it" "If you sit there and laugh all this will happen in front of your eyes" "Can I talk?" "I know what you will say" "I also know what you'll reply" "Like true warriors we should kill them before they return" "One arrow was enough to break your bow" "You also saluted him for that" "I was not ready then" "Nor was I warned" "Who would be ready against a mere Brahmin" "You wait here." "I will go and stop them" "Sit down Karna" "Allow me to think" "Instead of reminding me of my failures think of your own failures since childhood" "You poisoned Bhim" "What happened?" "He came back stronger" "You conspired against Yudhishthir" "What happened?" "He became the Crown Prince" "He prepared the house of wax" "What happened?" "Thy have allied with King Dhrupad" "That is why I say:" "Let us face the situation like warriors" "In war, even the losers are respected because cowards do not lose" "They run away" "I do not wish to test you" " Who knows..." " Uncle!" "By God, had someone else said this I would have pulled his tongue out" "But lf there is a 'but' sit down and learn to listen to your elders" "Remember, Shakuni is not a coward" "I may not have any divine weapons" "But I know the art of warfare" "Please forgive my friend Karna" "Then ask him to sit down" "My friend, this concerns my future" "Please sit down" "For you I have sworn to die." "I'll sit" "Forgive me Uncle" "What should we do?" "The situation is very serious" "We can use Draupadi to cause quarrels between them" "Even you Uncle know that we have been trying to do that" "The five bodies have one Soul" "They will never quarrel between themselves even for a beauty like Draupadi" "Why not tempt Dhrupad with the royal treasury" "Why would he forsake his Son-in-law for that?" "You are getting old, Uncle" "Besides it may prove expensive for us" "How come?" "Because to get Dhrupad we may have to lose Sage Drona" "The two of them are sworn enemies" "How can they stay in one camp?" "I, too, do not like Sage Drona" "But we cannot lose him to get Dhrupad" "His disciple Arjun was enough to vanquish his army" "So, we need Sage Drona" "Whatever you say Uncle there will be war" "Then there is only one solution" "Be stubborn" "Duryodhan it is now in your hand" "I am a river" "You may sink or float in it according to your wish" "I cannot prevent anyone from their avowed intention" "Sorrow and happiness are my two shores" "I wash them with my waters and yet, they are not a part of me" "Take Shakuni, for example" "For him Dice is his field of Action" "Life is a gamble" "He is not living but gambling" "Duryodhan is following him blindly" "He has sacrificed his Ego and rooted himself in Reality he, too, would have touched great heights even without becoming the King of Hastinapur" "But who will tell him this?" "I cannot tell him this and he will not listen to anyone but Shakuni" "If he asks him to be stubborn Duryodhan will behave stubbornly" "What is this I am hearing?" "You tell me, my son" "You have asked Uncle Vidur to go to Kampilya and fetch the Pandavas?" "What else could do?" "Had you consulted me about the wax house I would have stopped you" "Besides, you failed" "After finding that they are alive I could do nothing else but express my joy and call them back" "I was sure you would not go so I had to send Vidur to Kampilya" "Why are you afraid of them?" "I am not afraid of them" "I am afraid of the people" "I, too, want what you want" "I, too, want to hear that you have become King to Hastinapur" "Brave mace warrior, charioteer King Duryodhan of Hastinapur" "Had you wanted it, you would not have allowed Vidur to play his games and make Yudhishthir the Crown Prince" "Talk of Vidur with respect" "The world does not have even half the knowledge that he has" "Learn to live with him and tolerate his criticism because he talks anything meaningless" "Try to fight him on his Ethics" "That day he made a helpless Yudhishthir, Crown Prince" "Yudhishthir is no longer helpless" "Both Panchal and Dwarka will support him" "So, welcome the Pandavas" "Had you listened to me and hidden your enmity from childhood things would be different today" "Learn to hide your ambition from everyone" "That's the first lesson of politics" "I cannot bear this insult that I abdicated from my position" "That's impossible" "I will not abdicate even for the Lord himself" "If you order me to do so I will convict suicide" "No my son!" "I am not as helpless as you think" "You have a right to the throne I sit on" "You'll have your right" "I give you my word" "The tongue is like a horse, my son" "It, too, should be reined" "The ideal rider is the one who can control his horses and not be in their control" "They know you were involved in the wax house" "They may even suspect me" "Therefor, you have to be careful" "There are many who will inflame them" "Hail King of Anga" " Who's it?" " Prince Duryodhan" "At this hour?" "Why, my friend?" "I had heard that if I was not found anywhere I would be in your heart" "You have heard right" "My heart is a part of your kingdom which you will never lose" "Why talk of victory and defeat?" "With friends like you who can defeat me?" "But I cannot understand the anger that I see on your face" "I am angry with Uncle Shakuni" "Why?" "What has he done?" "How can we face the Pandavas?" "The world may or may not know but the Pandavas know that there was a conspiracy at Varnavat" "They are not fools that they do not know who hatched the conspiracy" "And yet, Uncle will hatch another conspiracy" "Again you will listen to him and behave like a coward" "My friend you are a brave warrior an expert at race warfare but you trust Uncle's conspiracies more then your strength" "When you say this, it seems right" "But when Uncle starts talking it is as if only he is right and I become helpless" "We have to also find out how the Pandavas and Aunt Kunti were saved" "Yes." "The Bodyguard Chief was Uncle's trusted man" "A thin line separates trust and betrayal" "He may have sold himself" "No" "Uncle is a good judge of men" "But the question deserves an answer" "I wonder why Uncle has not found an answer as yet" "My Respects" "Come" "You have served me well" "Your greatest sacrifice has been your leaving Gandhar to stay here with me" "To serve you is my honor" "Wherever you are, there is my Gandhar" "I think you have stayed here too long" "As you wish, I shall leave for Gandhar tomorrow" "Not tomorrows Today" "As you wish" "But not for Gandhar" "Whose bodies were removed from the wax house?" "The five Pandavas and Queen Kunti" "The Pandavas and Queen Kunti are in Kampilya" "There are living and healthy" "You should have not lied to me" "In Politics, if one lie is caught the entire game is lost" "What punishment should be given to you?" "There can be only one punishment Death" "Exactly what I was thinking" "Maid" "Drink it" "Were you not dear to me you would not have such an easy death" "The easy death is a gift to your loyalty" "In case you meet my father after death do not forget to tell him Shakuni has not forgiven Hastinapur for its injustice to Gandhari" "Proceed to your death" "As you order" "May I sit, my king?" "Of course." "Sit" "That is your right" "I will never deny your right" "I do not wish to be indebted to you" "Only Yudhishthir will not get his right" "What have you decided Prince Yudhishthir?" "I do not want war" "I, too, do not want war I am talking about war" "Everyone knows that you are living" "So, it is necessary to ask for your rights" "It is your duty to ask for it" "If you don't do so another problem may arise" "Duryodhan may say you lost your right because you did not return" "But why would Duryodhan do that?" "Undiluted greed" "Krishna is right" "The crown is such a thing" "Even Drona fell to its temptation" "My army and the armies of my friends will fight under your flag whenever you need them to" "No." "King Dhrupad" "He needs confidence more than military strength" "A war will merely blur the question of rights" "People will say Yudhishthir attacked his Grandsire" "Grandsire will have to defend Hastinapur" "Truth is on Pandavas' side" "Let the flag of Truth fly because Truth will eventually prevail" "If there is to be war, Let them attack first" "The Pandavas should not be blamed for it" "Military strategy says one should attack first" "That's true" "But I am not talking about war" "I am talking of peace" "What would you have done if you were in the Prince's place and there was a conspiracy against your mother and four brothers" "You are talking of four brothers" "I lost six brothers" "My parents were imprisoned in a dark dungeon for years together" "But I did not attack Uncle Kansa" "I went to Mathura when he called for me" "Then should we wait for an invitation?" "What do you wish to do?" "I want to thrash that Duryodhan" "Bhim always talks of fighting" "Victory to the king" "Prime Minister Vidur is here and wishes to see you" "Show Vidur to the guest palace" "See that he gets a good night's rest" " We'll meet tomorrow" " Yes father" "Did you know that Vidur would come" "Even you knew he would come" "What else could King Dhritrashtra do?" "He must have wanted Duryodhan to go but he has more ego than sense" "May we go and greet Uncle Vidur" "No Prince" "He is not your Uncle today" "He is the King's representative" "You should talk in open court so that everyone knows what he said and you replied" "That is the way to combat evil planning" "My lord" "Why did you come in so softly that I could not hear your footsteps?" "I did not come in softly" "But nowadays I have noticed that you are lost in some thought" "You used to share your worries with me" "This worry I cannot even share with myself" "Don't worry" "After years we have had some good news" "The news that Pandavas are alive will end all other worries" "My worry has arisen from this good news" "What did you say my lord?" "Aren't you happy that the Pandavas are alive?" "Of course, I am happy but I am also worried" "But why?" "My problem is I cannot see" "Which is why I do not know who is telling the truth" "Unbind your eyes Gandhari" "No, my lord" "Don't make me do that" "Tell me the reason for your worry?" "Reason?" "My filial love" "I am afraid an injustice may be done to the Pandavas" "But why would that happen?" "When Duryodhan was made the Crown Prince you did not know that the Pandavas were alive" "My God's grace the news was false" "With Yudhishthir alive how can Duryodhan be the Crown Prince?" "That's the problem" "We both know Duryodhan well" "He will never abdicate for Yudhishthir" "But that is not his position" "How do you say that?" "He is my elder son" "Why don't you leave this mirage of ambition?" "I don't wish to leave this mirage of ambition" "But now I'll have to find a way out" "If the two Princes were dice I would ask Shakuni to make them fulfil my ambition" "But even he cannot solve this problem" "What's wrong Uncle?" "You appear lost in thought" "I cannot understand your father" "He should have sent me to fetch the Pandavas" "I would have ensured they did not come" "But who did he send?" "Vidur who always sided with the Pandavas and will always side with them" "He is not loyal to you" "But who will tell Dhritirashtra?" "Even I cannot accuse Uncle Vidur of partiality" "His stand has always gone against me but partiality?" "I won't accept it" "That is the problem with you Kurus" "You will not accept what is in your interest" "You are your own worst enemy" "My dear nephew." "You are not blind and nor are your eyes bound" "Therefore, try to see and understand" "God knows what that son of a maid is doing in Kampilya" "You?" "My respects" "How are you Vidur?" "That's difficult to answer" "I understand" "Things at home are not too good" "Brother's filial love is eating away at the foundation of Hastinapur" "Duryodhan's arrogance has reached the skies" "Shakuni's hold on Dhritrashtra is increasing day by day" "Then why have you come to my sons with an invitation from Hastinapur?" "Don't you love them?" "Who else in Hastinapur is worthy of love?" "My problem is that I also love Hastinapur" "Your sons are the Soul of Hastinapur" "They must return" "I am indebted to you, Vidur" "Had you not warned us in time about the wax house we would all be dead" "Now you want my sons to return to the conspiracies of Hastinapur" "If you trust me accept the invitation" "The throne belongs to Yudhishthir" "Someday, he will get it" "Okay." "If you say so" "Allow me to leave" "I have to meet King Dhrupad" "Be victorious" "Noted scholar and intellectual" "Hastinapur's pride" "Prime Minister Vidur is here to meet the king" "How fortunate am I" "My respects" "The pleasure is mine" "Give me your blessing" "Your blessing will indeed add to my good luck" "I cannot refuse my host, Prince" "I will indeed bless you" "But what do you lack that I should bless you with?" "You have a father like King Dhrupad a divine sister like Draupadi friends from the powerful Kuru clan" "What else can I give you?" "Bless me with success in my mission" "Who am I to interfere in God's schemes?" "If it is to be, it will be" "If it is not to be it will never happen" "You can't win him my son" "Come Vidur" "You are welcome" "You are indeed blessed" "I have brought gifts and good wishes from King Dhritirashtra" "I thank you for the honor he has ...bestowed on me" "King Dhritirashtra has also sent gifts and good wishes for Draupadi" "May I present these gifts?" "The King's blessing were enough" "I thank the king for having honored her with these gifts" "Now please sit, Vidur" "My work is not yet over" "The king has also invited his daughter-in-law to Hastinapur" "If you permit me I can take the Pandavas and Draupadi to Hastinapur" "The king would also like to bless the nephews" "Grandsire Bhishma is pleased with the relationship between the Panchals and the Kurus" "Your dear friend Sage Drona also sends his love to you" "He has also said that he does not know whether the Pandavas are his sons or sons-in-law" "...whether Draupadi is his daughter or daughter-in-law" "So, O King!" "The Kurus are happy" "It is as if the borders between the Kingdom have been dissolved" "O King!" "This new friendship is symbolized by Draupadi" "Allow her to go to Hastinapur so that the city may see and bless her" "Draupadi belongs to Hastinapur" "You may take her when you wish" "But how can I ask the Pandavas to leave?" "They are not only my guests but also my Sons-in-law" "How can I ask them to leave?" "However, if they wish to return how can I stop them from going home?" "I think they should go back to Hastinapur" "A tree cannot live without its roots" "If the King allows even I would like to go to visit my Aunt's in-laws" "What do you, say, Brother?" "Yes, my lord" "Even I am eager to go there" "My son" "Prepare for Draupadi's travel" "Send a thousand elephants with golden howdahs ten thousand chariots with four horses each five thousand maids, ten thousand cows and gold and silver vessels" "Let none say that I did not give my daughter proper farewell" "As you order" "My respects" "My blessings" "You seem very happy today, Grandsire" "Yes." "The news is such" "Where's Dhritrashtra?" "He's having lunch with Shakuni" "You didn't go?" "I didn't feel like it" "Please sit" "No, my daughter" "I'll give you the news and leave" "Prepare for a grand welcome" "Welcome?" "For whom?" "Vidur has just sent a message" "The Pandavas are returning with Draupadi" "They have already left Panchal" "...which warms the father's heart" "The morning of her life at her father's house the afternoon at her husband's house" "She leaves for her husband's house as if she has grown wings disguised like a bird" "Forlorn eyes watch the scenes of her past" "Her heat eventually melts the stone walls of the house" "The time to part is near just a few moments away" "A smile adorns her lips and tears adorn her eyes" "Blessing her, they wish father, brother and friends" "Be happy wherever you are" "May sorrow stay away from you" "On her newly-grown wings disguised like a bird she leaves for her husband's house" "...for Queen Kunti, the Pandavas and the new bride Draupadi" "Every flame raises its neck to scan the horizon" "The roads have laid themselves out for their welcome" "The palace is spending sleepless nights" "Duryodhan is seething with anger" "Shakuni is planning some new treachery" "Gandhari is awake because Dhritirashtra cannot sleep" "However, he will not tell Gandhari why" "This is the moment of danger" "Bhishma feels this even more intensely" "He is like the stick which cannot bend in any direction even if he wishes it to" "He waits for his mother on the river bank but she does not appear" "Mother." "You, too, have forsaken me" "What shall I do now?" "Dhritirashtra will make me do another injustice" "How can there be two swords in the scabbard two Crown Princes in a Kingdom?" "Both these swords are mine" "I cannot see one of them break" "I do no wish to side with either Yuddhistir or Duryodhan during a war" "Please guide me mother" "Please do not disappoint me again" "Greetings mother" "Have I erred?" "Why do you keep running to your mother" "You swore an oath without asking me" "You gave a promise to Hastinapur without asking me" "Learn to face the consequences" "As you wish, mother" "I'll not come again, mother" "You will have to come to me" " Greetings" " Live long" "Where are you coming from so late?" "I was going to ask you the same question" "Where are you coming from?" "I was explaining to Duryodhan that Yuddhistir is his elder brother" "Do not harbor bad feelings against him" "But you already know that Duryodhan is like a child" "How will he grow up unless you allow him to" "Duryodhan is like the monsoon" "It weakens the house it stops over" "If the monsoon alone was to blame all houses would have collapsed" "I am worried about Duryodhan" "He is Hastinapur's Present" "And Future?" "Ask that question to God or Time" "Or ask the Sky or the Earth which carries the seed of the Future" "I am a zero" "By myself, I have no significance" "If I can manage it you will be alone all your life" "Whatever Uncle says I'll not tolerate it" "What does Uncle say?" "Grandsire!" " Greetings" " Live long" "What was Uncle saying?" "What difference does it make what I say" "What you say is important" "Both the king and the nation will listen" "Both Yuddhistir and Duryodhan will listen to you" "This is the family's problem" "So, Karna I understand." "Please forgive me" "Won't you ask me to sit, my child?" "Forgive me." "Please sit" "Why are you still awake?" "What else can I do?" "I did not ask father to tell me from childhood that I would be the king" "Yuddhistir is older" "Even you never told me that the throne is Yuddhistir's" "That is not the Indian tradition" "Being the eldest does not mean anything" "Merit matters" "Had you accepted Yuddhistir this problem would never have arisen" "You thought he was a rival" "He is a rival" "As a warrior should I not protect my rights?" "Of course, you should" "But today it is the King's duty to do so and as the eldest it is also my duty" "I give you my word that your rights will be protected" "It is also your duty to define rights correctly" "So, am I not the Crown Prince" "You are also a witness to that" "But I also witnessed Yuddhistir's ceremony" "...who is the Crown Prince" "Duryodhan or Yuddhistir" "I, too, give you my word that I'll accept your decision" "That question has made me sleepless" "The fact is that both of you are the Crown Princes" "This must be solved before Yuddhistir returns" "But remember the Kingdom is more important than both of you" "Hastinapur existed before you did and will continue after you" "It is ordered that the Kurus along with Sages Drona and Kripa will welcome the Pandavas at the palace door and bring them in with respect" "Let me take you inside" "Come Grandsire" "Where's Duryodhan?" "He says he will not come here till the Crown Prince is decided" "Duryodhan should not have done that" "May the Lord protect Hastinapur" "Hail Pandavas!" "Hail Queen Kunti" "Hail Crown Prince Yuddhistir" "May you be happy" "Draupadi pay your respects to Grandsire" "My blessings" "Pay respects to Sage Kripa" "My blessings" "Come" "My respects" "You are twice related to Draupadi" "Bless her as your daughter and daughter-in-law" "Fate is not within my control" "I have only weapons" "I can give you those" "Let your weapons be" "She is not here to fight a war" "Greetings Mother" "Blessings." "Where's Duryodhan" "He is busy" "Welcome Draupadi on his behalf" "Greetings" "This is Dushasan, your brother-in-law" "Look at me carefully" "Come Krishna" "Will you not bless me, Grandsire" "What blessing can I give you?" "You are being Miserly" "Can the droplet dare to give to the ocean?" "You cannot win a debate against a Brahmin" "So, I will move on without a blessing" "Come Brother" "They will not bless you either" "Welcome" "Greetings O Sage!" " Greetings" " Blessings" " Greetings" " Blessings" "Be victorious" "Won't you embrace me, my child" "My clothes are dirty Grandsire" "Your clothes will be dirtied" "My clothes are eager to be dirtied by you" "Blessed is Hastinapur" "Blessed is the palace door where stands the sacred flame witness to the welcome ceremony" "The new bride is the Goddess of Wealth who enters through the sacred door" "The Pandavas and Draupadi have been accepted by all" "Mother they are here" "My respects, Sister" "Our respects, Mother" "Welcome Queen Kunti and Draupadi" "Why welcome me to my own house" "It is necessary, Kunti" "The tragedy at Varnavat left the entire city bereft" "But now that you have returned Hastinapur can now rejoice" "Welcome to a new life, Kunti" "As you wish, Sister" "Had you been here for Duryodhan's marriage you would have looked after everything" "It would have been as is I did everything myself" "This is my daughter-in-law the Princess of Tashi" "May you live long and be happy" "May you have a happy married life" "Sister, this is Draupadi" "My Blessings" "May you have sons" "Draupadi pay respects to you Elder Father" "Come Sister" "Accept Draupadi's respects" "My blessings" "I regret my blindness today" "Or else I could have seen you and the Pandavas" "You have brought back the Pandavas" "So, I am indebted to you" "Where are they?" "If I could see I would have gone and embraced them" "We are at your feet" "My blessings" "You cannot imagine my grief at losing you" "Nor the happiness on your return" "I am ashamed" "But with Draupadi's arrival can you forgive a blind father and king?" "What are you saying?" "Accidents are a part of life" "How can you be blamed?" "Be happy" "Will you not allow me to meet them?" "This is the problem with the blind" "Once they get something they will not let it go for fear of losing it again" "Those who can see can keep a watch" "But for us the reality is:" "What is in hand is what we have" "There is nothing else" "Go to your Elder Mother, my daughter" "How does she look, Kunti?" "Her complexion is like fire" "That's beauty" "She has eyes like a lotus" "Is she a girl or Nature itself" "May your sorrows be mine and my fortunes yours" "What about yourself?" "Kunti!" "Who spoke?" "My nephew Krishna" "He came with us to pay his respects to you" "You forgot me" "Krishna's elder brother Balram also wishes to pay his respects" "Whoever forgets you, I cannot" "You won't let me forget" "Bring your sons to me, Kunti" "Do not forget that I, too, am among them" "Maybe the Queen wants all of us to go to her" "Okay." "All of you come here" "Come Krishna" "Our respects" "Which one of you is Giridhar?" "That's my younger brother" "Why do you sound upset?" "It's time for his lunch" "Even Bhim enjoys eating" "We have returned after so many years but Mother hasn't forgotten me" "Mother remembers your appetite" "Yes Mother" "I have made porridge for you" "I always wondered why Brother liked Bhim so much" "Why do you want to leave?" "I must go" "It's easy to convince mother and father but Subhadra is a problem" "The longer I take the more questions she asks" "Everyone is afraid of Brother so I'm caught" "As my younger sister, she has greater rights" "You seem to be fond of her" "Everyone is fond of her" "Brother keeps fighting with me..." ""Look, I am the elder brother"" ""She is my responsibility"" ""My right is greater than yours"" "Now go to sleep" "I was telling Arjun that you once told me that Subhadra is your responsibility" "When did I say that?" "Who's older?" "You are older but even I amount to something" "When did I say you did not?" "Arjun you are a witness to what I say or else he will deny it later" "I will take all decisions regarding Subhadra" "Did you hear that?" "Your insomnia is an insult to Kuru hospitality" "There's time to decide about Subhadra" "Why are you awake?" "Even when I sleep, I am awake" "Listen carefully even the night is awake" "Bhishma, son of Ganga, is worried" "But do not worry, Arjun" "If the family is destined to break up it will break up" "The Sea of Life is being churned" "Nectar will separate from poison" "King Dhritirashtra is on his way" "Come, my king" "My respects" "Come." "Please sit" "This is a meeting of Kurus" "If the king permits, I'll leave" "Kuru hospitality will not allow that" "As you wish, Grandsire" "Has everyone come?" "Yes, my king" "I have called all of you because I have a problem and I need your help" "Problem, my king?" "The problem is that there are two Crown Princes" "It is obvious that we cannot have two Crown Princes" "After Yuddhistir's return it is obvious that Duryodhan should abdicate" "There can be no other solution" "...I no longer support Duryodhan" "Duryodhan is my very Soul" "I have always wanted him to be king" "But this will not help Hastinapur" "How can I forget that my sister is the Queen of Hastinapur" "What helps Hastinapur will help her" "The rest is up to you" "The problem is not so simple that it can be solved so easily" "Don't you agree that Yuddhistir is the Crown Prince" "Of course Yuddhistir is the Crown Prince" "But we must not forget that after learning of Pandavas' death we had decided in this very room that Duryodhan be made Crown Prince" "Duryodhan had not asked you to do that" "At least I don't remember" "Isn't it, Vidur?" "Royal decisions can't be made on requests" "Besides, I wasn't there" "What would you have done?" "I would have suggested not to hurry the decision because it was already known that Duryodhan was unworthy" "Why raise that now, Vidur?" "What has happened, cannot be reversed" "Study politics once again and remember that strategic news should not be hidden" "What news was hidden, Vidur?" "Not from you, my king." "From me" "There is no point in talking about it" "Let us, therefore, face the present" "We are back to Square one" "Which Crown Prince should Hastinapur retain?" "What should be done, O Sage?" "You will do an injustice to whoever is removed" "I don't want to do that" "Sage Drona" "My lord!" "What do you suggest?" "Why create problems for Sage Drona?" "Why not leave the solution to family Elder Bhishma?" "That's right" "No one can accuse him of partiality" "What do you say?" "Yes, my king" "But people may say that Grandsire made the decision which the king should have" "We are your associates but you have to take the decision" "Not in unusual circumstances" "Besides, do not forget that Grandsire has the first right to the throne" "Grandsire should guide us now" "Justice demands that we should be fair" "With a heavy heart I suggest that Hastinapur be partitioned" "Whenever Politics stumbles the nation is penalized" "Divide Hastinapur between the two Crown Princes" "Now, allow me to mourn this partition in privacy" "My respects, Father" "Be successful" "Come my son." "Sit next to me" "I am caught in a dilemma" "Had I not known you would help me I would have..." "You have to order Father" "Youngsters do not help their elders" "They merely follow orders and obey them" "Listen to me carefully" "You are the heirs of my younger brother Pandu who had conquered the Earth" "Victory was his but he did not ascend the throne till I asked him to ascend the throne though the throne was also his" "There is no need to give me a background" "This background is essential" "This throne is not mine" "Nothing else" "Whatever I decide I do so on Pandu's behalf" "Why are you so sad, Father?" "Don't ask questions" "Allow me to speak because, I can't tell this to Duryodhan" "His arrogance stands between us" "My problem is that I cannot leave Hastinapur on the verge of a dilemma" "How else can I face my ancestors?" "If I crown you, Duryodhan will not like it" "If I crown him, it will be an injustice to you" "It is also true that when people stay together, t+C960hey will clash" "That's why they should be separated" "That's why it is decided that Hastinapur should be partitioned" "Partitioned?" "Please give my half to Duryodhan but do not divided the nation" "No, my son" "I cannot do an injustice to you" "I would give you Hastinapur and the Kingdom of Aati to Duryodhan I would have told him:" "Go develop the land of Khandav" "But he will not listen to me" "He wants me to go with him" "But I cannot leave Hastinapur since I am its shadow" "Please accept the land of Khandav" "Honor my request" "It will be as you wish" "Decency is defeated by helplessness" "The heat of the afternoon is the lot of the Pandavas" "I am impartial" "So, I can say without mincing words that a volcano cannot be contained" "But in Hastinapur, the Partition was used to contain a volcano on the verge of eruption" "Yuddhistir, in the hope of peace agreed to the proposal" "However, as Time I shall tell you what I know" "Dhritirashtra's decision will not avoid war" "Dhritirashtra may not have thought of all this" "But Shakuni has made his plan with great care" "The land of Khandav is on the west of River Yamuna" "An infertile land of stones where dwelt the Nagas and demons" "Which is why Hastinapur was made the capital" "Though Khandavprasth was a part of Hastinapur it was never considered a part of it" "The game being played was that the Pandavas be given half the kingdom so that Dhritirashtra could not be called unjust" "And yet in reality what they got was next to nothing" "Which is why the other four brothers did not like the division" "Father's sweet talk eventually did the trick" "I am not surprised at this suggestion" "He did cheat us of half the kingdom" "He is older than we are" "It is not right that you use such words against him" "Why can't he behave more graciously" "Is this the way to talk to your brother?" "Forgive me mother but there should be no 'but' when talking to a C1092mother" "Okay." "I'll ask the question differently" "Who gave Father the right to divide the nation without asking us" "If you do not accept Yuddhistir's decision..." "Then what should I do?" "Is this the way to talk to an elder brother?" "There is no question of rejecting the decision" "But speaking freely keeps the family together" "Speak Naku." "What were you saying?" "I only wanted to say that Hastinapur is ours by right" "Yuddhistir was made Crown Prince" "Then why did Father divide the nation and give it to Duryodhan?" "Did you hear that?" "This is based on one 'only'" "Had it not been 'only' What else would he say?" "If Grandsire is behind this plan then his decision must be right" "Why don't you understand" "Admitted that Grandsire is on your side" "So, the Partition has some significance" "But I cannot believe that he suggested Khandav be given to us and Hastinapur to Duryodhan" "We accept the Partition but why should we leave" "Duryodhan is younger." "Let him go to Khandavprasth" "Why should we be always driven out?" "If you permit, we can ask Grandsire:" "Our land was divided but what did we get?" "Yes." "What did we get?" "Even I can answer that question" "Then answer it" "The king has given you your Land of Action" "Do your Duty and shape your Destiny" "That is the secret of life" "O man!" "Your own hands hold your own Destiny" "Our respects" "Come." "Sit by my side" "Do you want to say something which mother should not know" "Why did you say that?" "You have called us to your room for the first time" "I do not want mother to know that my younger brothers are angry with me" "She will be sad to hear this" "We are not angry with you but we are sad that half the kingdom was given to Duryodhan" "You are blaming both Duryodhan and Father for taking away half the kingdom" "Duryodhan is our brother" "You are saying this in spite of the wax house?" "Tell me who is not related to you?" "Hastinapur was our father's capital and it should rightfully be ours" "Right!" "Do you know the meaning of 'right'?" "You have to pay the price for that" "Every right brings with it duties" "The first duty of a king is to ensure peace for his people" "If we do not go to the Khandavprasth there will be no peace in Hastinapur" "I have decided to leave Hastinapur for its own good" "Does this not mean that after your coronation we will have nothing to do with Hastinapur?" "Why should that happen?" "Does a child's relationship break after birth" "Sometimes one has to go far to keep a relationship alive" "But none of us has opposed your decision" "My brothers will never oppose me" "What I need now is your help" "Khandavprasth must become Indrapresth, Land of Indra" "Did not Krishna Say:" "The king has given you your Land of Action?" "The success will be ours and so will the failure" "But I cannot do this alone" "Because you brothers are my hands and feet eyes and ears" "If you are not there, I cannot even walk" "Bhim is my feet" "I cannot fulfill my responsibility" "Arjun is my hands" "Nakul and Sahadev are my eyes" "I do not want the throne of Hastinapur" "I want my brothers" "If you are with me we can turn Khandavprasth into heaven so that even Lord Indra will want to live there" "Besides, mother does not want to stay in Hastinapur" "If you still do not agree with my decision I'll tell father that my brothers want Hastinapur, not peace" "...the Partition out of fear" "I want to avoid war" "If there is war another river of blood will flow" "The story of this river will be longer than the Ganges" "Here we will be busy defeating Uncle Shakuni's conspiracies" "Here is war and there is peace" "Here is destruction, there is progress" "Here the palace foundation is crumbling" "There we will build a new palace" "If Krishna could leave Mathura to search for Peace in Dwarka why can we not go to Khandavprasth?" "The truth is I am worried that Shakuni will not allow to stay in peace even there" "The cursed snake has bitten the Kuru family" "The Partition has shaken the very confidence of the Kurus" "How long will you stay awake?" "Now you have decided to divide the nation" "At least sleep now" "Sleep is not like Grandsire that I order it and it will come to do my bidding" "Sleep is something which will come when it wishes and close your tired eyes" "Sleep is a nomad which rarely comes to palaces" "As for me, it seems sleep has forsaken me" "What's the reason for your insomnia now?" "You said everything but did not answer my question" "If I had the answer I would have told you" "It is as if I have no answers to any questions" "It is as if I am the question in search of an answer" "I am the arena and I am my own rival" "I am at war with myself" "I do not know who will win this war" "This means you are hiding something from me" "There are many more things which I wish to hide from myself" "What have you got here apart from darkness?" "Why should I add to that darkness" "You are doing me an injustice" "Are you happy with the partition?" "No" "You did not even have to think to answer but I still do not know whether I am happy or not after dividing the land of my ancestors" "Duryodhan's arrogance his arrogance contains the fruit of his ambition" "Never forget this" "He is the heir to my ambition" "...whatever was my right but could not attain" "This Kingdom belongs to Duryodhan" "It also belongs to Yuddhistir" "I have done injustice to both" "Why are you still worried?" "Yes." "Even the Pandavas are out of the way" "Yes, but they have also taken half the kingdom with them" "Even I did not like that but what could I do?" "Sadly enough, father's loyalty is divided between me and the Pandavas" "He cannot say anything with Aunt Kunti around" "So, forget the half given to them, uncle" "There is Earth to conquer" "I will expand my Kingdom" "There is no doubt about that" "But we have lost a part of Hastinapur" "Until Hastinapur is whole again I will not know any peace" "Start thinking about this problem, nephews" "Uncle, Yuddhistir has not yet been crowned king and you have started conspiring" "The earlier the better so that we may rest tomorrow" "Think!" "It is important to befriend the Yadavas" "From where have the Yadavas come?" "From Kwarka, my son" "It is impossible to fool Krishna because he is too clever for that" "But Balram." "Try and befriend him" "Serve him and feed him well" "Touch his feet and hold them fast" "His feet?" "I don't even like touching my father's feet" "I know" "Balram is neither your father nor your Uncle" "There is no need to touch our feet because... our blessings are always with you" "Grow out of your childhood, Duryodhan" "Here you will have to touch someone's feet" "If you want to be successful in life learn to touch someone's feet" "If you cannot do this, I'll return to Gandhar" "Uncle, has it never happened that I have not listened to you" "Balram!" "Okay Balram it is!" "Very good!" "What's this Krishna?" "Subhadra's letter" "What's it?" "Nothing much." "All's well" "The Crown Prince is home" "Yuddhistir I'll bring him in" "I was talking about Prince Duryodhan" "O yes!" "He is now the Crown Prince since Yuddhistir is now the king of Khandevprasth" " Bring him in" " Yes sir" "Does Duryodhan wish to see only you?" "Don't I matter?" "Does it mean that no one should come and see me?" "People come to meet elders and not the young" "You can only be given blessings" "Of course" " My respects" " Greetings" "Come." "Sit next to me" "Do you know Krishna?" "My Brother." "We have never met" "How could we meet?" "He was so busy welcoming his brothers" "Greetings Duryodhan" "I, too, was eager to meet you" "When I heard that you were coming I thought I could hear you play the flute" "You thought only about your pleasure?" "But I left my flute in Nandgaon" "That is a great injustice to us" " Isn't it?" " Of course!" "He can be friendly and detached by turns" "He is without attachment" "I have never left you, have I?" "I won't let you go" "I want to show you around Hastinapur" "It is not as beautiful as Dwarka but it's worth seeing" "You won't come?" "No Brother" "I will first go to Vidur and then Sage Drona and Grandsire" "These are the people who make Hastinapur worth visiting" "Okay." "You meet them" "I am going out" "Here Brother" "Let's go Brother" "Yes Duryodhan" "I have never tasted such a delicious meal" "I am really content" "Did you hear that?" "Look who is content" "That's the truth!" "I am tired of eating rich food" "When I come again, I'll be your guest" "This house will be blessed" "Will you remember your promise" "He never forgets" "The Lord of the three worlds eats at Vidur's house" "Even the simple food had the taste of love" "May I ask a question?" "Why not?" "Do ask" "I am here to answer questions" "Is Hastinapur on the way from Kampilya to Dwarka?" "All ways pass through Hastinapur today" "Even you know that" "Whatever is happening, let it happen and wait for what is to happen" "My Hastinapur is passing through bad days" "Why else would a worthy Prince like Yuddhistir be exiled?" "Days cannot be good or bad" "Only actions are good or bad" "Only actions" "If that is the norm why is Yuddhistir penalized for being good" "Why do you think it is a penalty?" "It is an opportunity to build a new city" "Do you think Duryodhan could do it?" "If not, let whatever is happening happen" "Yuddhistir and his brothers will soon travel on the path of progress" "Duryodhan is helpless" "He cannot walk on this path" "Why?" "Because, O Sage Duryodhan by himself is a cipher" "He is mere branch of Dhritirashtra" "Trees are bound to the Earth by their roots" "They can move neither forwards nor backwards" "They can only break and fall down" "They provide the fuel for circumstances" "O Sage if you ask a question do not fear the answer" "You are fighting with your own self" "You are both Duryodhan and Arjun" "But always remember what you once said:" "Arjun is that Man who will reveal God in His true form" "Grandsire" "Is this tree and enemy of yours?" "The biggest drawback of anger is that it cannot differentiate between good and bad" "Why punish this helpless tree for Dhritirashtra's injustice?" "It cannot protect itself" "As a warrior, your duty is to protect the helpless" "Grandsire, if you were aware that an injustice was being done to us then why did you not oppose it?" "Allowing injustice to happen is like supporting it" "You are right, my son" "There was no other way to save Hastinapur" "If Father did not stand in my way my bow would have solved the problem" "That may very well happen" "Do not be surprised, my son" "I am three generations behind you" "My vision has blurred" "I cannot clearly see what lies on the other side of the night" "I am sure that Kunti has never told you that I wanted Dhritirashtra to be the King" "It is not that I don't know that a blind man cannot be king" "This was not because he is the eldest Son" "He is also my student" "I know if he was not made king he would think injustice had been done to him" "This would have made him a complex personality" "Which was not in our interest" "But at that time Vidur came with his new Ethics and I could do nothing" "I had to remain silent" "Had Mother Satyavati not Crowned Pandu this problem may not have arisen because Dhritirashtra would have been satisfied" "He would have seen that only Yuddhistir was worthy" "But why lament over the Past?" "We should look to the Future and Peace" "Okay" "Come along with us, Grandsire" "We can sacrifice the Kingdom but we cannot sacrifice you" "It is not in my power to go with you" "I am bound to the throne of Hastinapur like a cow tied to its shed" "The king has ordered that all noted scholars are to be invited for Yuddhistir's coronation" "1008 Brahim Mahouts under the supervision of priest will bring the water of then Ganges" "Yuddhistir will ride the king's own elephant" "Behind this elephant will walk Brahmins and other Citizens" "All prominent citizens will be invited for the coronation" "Now begin to prepare for the coronation" " My respects" " Greetings" "Any news, Vidur?" "Duryodhan is showing Balram Hastinapur" "What does he want?" "He is not happy with the Partition" "He will always aspire to get back the other half he has lost" "What does he have that he wants to expand his kingdom?" "Dhritirashtra uses his eyes to dream, doesn't he?" "O God!" "When will this jealousy end?" "My respects" "Come O son of Devaki!" "My respects to you" "Since when do elders pay respects to youngsters?" "What arithmetic has made me older?" "Age, Grandsire" "You are a guest" "I cannot prove you wrong" "Please sit" "You first" "Please be seated" "You, too, be seated" "What will you do after the coronation?" "I may go to Khandavprasth with the Pandavas" "Will Balram also go?" "Only he knows" "Duryodhan has taken him out" "Looks like he's lost" "He hasn't returned yet" "He may stay for a few days" "He is older." "I cannot say anything" "Please eat something" "Enough!" "I can't eat any more" "Just a little more" "Give him some more" "Enough!" "Which is the best weapon?" "For me, it is the plough" "But the best weapon is the mace" "You are disciples of Sage Drona which is a great honor" "It is also honorable to be your disciple" "No." "I am not a teacher" "I can use the mace." "That's all" "But you taught Bhim" "But you are not his cousin, are you?" "Blood is thicker" "What are you saying?" "Duryodhan is just like Bhim to me" "I'll send Krishna back to Dwarka and return here for a few days" "Not for a few days" "I'll learn to my heart's content" "Okay." "Learn as much as you want" "I'll teach well" "Problems do not end with coronation" "In fact, they begin with it" "The coronation is an important event" "If the king is not careful the event can be a disaster" "The limits of Yuddhistir's Kingdom is the line of division" "But why talk of bitterness in this moment of happiness" "However, the reality is that Krishna called Khandavprasth the Land of Action" "Then, it must be so!" "For this, Yuddhistir's coronation is necessary" "Our respects, mother" "Welcome them ritually, Draupadi" "You should welcome us, mother" "It will also be like a blessing" "My blessing is not restricted to a welcome" "After marriage the daughter-in-law should be given some duties" "Some limits should be drawn which the mother should not cross" "The foundation of a home is based on such limits" "It is Draupadi's right to anoint Yuddhistir" "As you wish, mother" "May you have sons." "My blessings" "Go ahead, my daughter" "How, as the king it is you duty to protect Draupadi" "Your responsibility is greater than your brothers" "Why talk of Draupadi, mother?" "Are not you, my brothers and all the people are my responsibility" "No." "I am not your responsibility" "I am your Uncle Dhritirashtra's responsibility" "I have handed you over to Draupadi" "Look after my sons, Panchali" "In particular, look after Gahadev" "These are your sons" "You will always have a greater right over them" "I do not even know this family and its traditions" "How can I look after them without your help?" "Bhim, escort your brother to court" "As you wish" "Won't you come?" "No, but you go" "I have never been to court" "When I was married my lord left for his victory tour" "On his return, we went away for rest where Sage Kindam was accidentally killed" "My lord went into self imposed exile" "When I could not go to court as Queen why should I go there as Queen Mother?" "You go, my child" "Today is your day" "My heart is a hermitage where I shall sit and bless you all" "Kunti gave away her rights to her daughter-in-law" "As the family tree increases She does not show her grief" "Duryodhan should have come today" "I told him to attend" "He is unhappy at losing half the kingdom" "He has not lost half the kingdom but gained it" "That is a matter of opinion" "If the king orders Prince Yuddhistir can be presented" "The auspicious moment will not wait for a King's order" "My respects" "May you live long" "Come Prince" "Please sit here" "You, too, sit" "Make the announcement, my lord" "At the very start I salute Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh" "It is because of them that we are happy today and justice prevails" "Then I salute Grandsire Bhishma" "It is under his protection that our beloved Hastinapur prospers" "I salute my ancestors of the Lunar Dynasty whose heir I am proud to be" "I also salute the citizens of Hastinapur who gave me support and cooperation in spite of my blindness" "In the presence of these people I announce that I had to right to Hastinapur by birth" "I am merely my brother Pandu's representative" "Hence, my every decision is taken on his behalf" "So, on behalf of Pandu I announce that this ancestral land be equally divided between Pandu's son Yuddhistir and, after me, my son Duryodhan" "So, my ancestor Yayati's Kingdom Khandavprasth should go to Yuddhistir" "The remaining part will be with me" "Grandsire Bhishma, Vidur and the Court are in agreement with this decision" "The Yadavas have also welcomed it" "I pray to the Lord that Yuddhistir turns this land into heaven" "I also hope that he becomes an Emperor while I am living" "I am sure that under Yuddhistir's reign his people will be happy and well protected" "If the king orders the coronation can begin" "You have to give the order, Grandsire" "Sage Ved Vyas is on his way to Court" "May you live long!" "May you be successful!" "My respects O Sage!" "This is Karna" "Who in these Three worlds does not know this great warrior?" "You are fortunate Shakuni that you are living in his era" "May you live long!" "My respects O Sage!" "Do not bow to me, O Son of Devaki" "May you live long!" "Sage Vyas approaches you" "My blessings to you!" "May you get your right" "Life is an ocean and to churn it your duty" "But remember you will obtain both nectar and poison from the churning" "You did not bless Draupadi, O Sage" "Her will power does not require any blessing" "Look after your heir" "My respects!" "You need not get up, O King" "I merely came here for Yuddhistir's coronation" "Then why not perform the ceremony?" "No Bhishma!" "That I cannot do" "It is the right of the family Sage" " Please be seated" " No O king" "There is not seat for me here" "Why the delay, Sage Kripa?" "Khandavprasth eagerly awaits its king" "Victory to King Yuddhistir" "My respects, Father!" "Be successful!" "Be compassionate and just!" "You and your brothers are going to Khandavprsth but do not forget that Khandavprasth, too, is a part of my heart" "My respects, Mother!" "Today, I shall pray to Lord Shiva and ask for only one boon:" "Though this land had been divided this family should remain one" "I'll do my best" "With your blessings this family will never be divided" "May the Lord make your every night a full moon night" "May all your dark nights come my way" "I have learned to live in darkness" "You need not come to me" "If I had no blessing for you why would I come here?" "My respects!" "I, too, have been divided" "Try to protect the honor and rights of your people, my son so that History will be proud of you" "You are the heir of our glorious past" "As a warrior it is your responsibility to protect it" "A warrior's life is not for living but to die fighting for someone else's right" "My respects!" "You and your brothers are a honor to my teaching" "A warrior should look to the battlefield only as the last option" "Victory is not the warrior's only aim" "War should be waged to protect peace and values" "I am sure you will always do your duty as a warrior" "I give you my word that I'll always do my duty" "So, walk on the path of prosperity and progress" "My respects!" "Be victorious!" "My blessings!" "My respects, Uncle!" "Won't you bless us, Uncle?" "In this Court, I am not your Uncle" "I am Hastinapur's Prime Minister" "Here I can only give you my best wishes" "I cannot leave without your blessings" "I'll come for your blessings where you won't be a minister but our beloved Uncle" "I am a son of three mothers" "The first is Queen Kunti" "The second, Queen Gandhari" "The third, Hastinapur" "On this auspicious occasion I bow to my third mother, Hastinapur and ask for her blessings" "I may be the King of Khandavprasth but I'll always be Hastinapur's Son" "Victory to King Yuddhistir" "This story now moves towards Khandavprasth" "People from all four castes accompanied him because they knew that Hastinapur's Soul left the city with Yuddhistir" "Krishna and Balram Sages Drona and Kripa Bhishma also accompanied him" "Of course, Sage Vyas was also there" "Who else would perform the ceremony?" "I, too, am going there if only to find out why Lord Krishna described Khandavprasth as the Land of Action for the Pandavas" "Lord Krishna never speaks without reason" "This means some miracle will take place there" "The struggle between Nature and Man will be worth seeing" "The hard mountains of Aravali" "The leech-infested forests" "Infertile land" "Even Lord Indra will be terrified at the sight of such a land" "What message can the clouds bring to such a burning land?" "But what can the Gods knows of labor?" "Only Man is capable of hard labor" "Even Nature knows of this" "Khandavprasth eagerly awaits the transformation" "The very land greets their arrival but the demons and Nagas stand with bows drawn" "They will not forgive this trespass" "Is this a blessing or a curse?" "Be quiet." "Even Bhishma himself is quiet" "His oath came in the way" "The Pandavas are to be respected" "They accepted what was given to them" "Do you see any sign of worry?" "How is your Land of Action?" "This is now our respected motherland" "As to how we look upon it listen to my story" "When we were young..." "Sage Drona showed us a bird on a tree and asked us what we saw" "We all answered him even I did!" "I could see nothing more than the bird's eye" "Today, I am in a similar position" "Everyone is talking of forests and mountains" "But I cannot see the mountains or the forest or the infertile land" "I cannot see anything but your blessing" "Then, salute Lord Indra and begin your work" "As you wish!" "Be victorious, Arjun!" "May the Gods bless you" "Start your work after the ceremony" "May you be successful!" "With the blessings of Lord Krishna and the plough of Balram" "The Land of Action experiences a new thrill" "Balram's plough cuts through the Earth" "Arjun's scaring arrow cuts through the sky" "The clouds release their bounty on to the Earth" "The parched land is turning green" "The mind soars about fancy free" "The clouds release their bounty turning the land green" "Beautiful gardens spring up all over" "Clean rivulets flow through bringing crystal clear water" "The Earth is like a dream come true" "With the blessings of Lord Krishna" "A grand city set in isolation" "A dream-like palace adorns the city" "A new life had begun on a sweet note" "Heaven has descended on Earth" "Honest hard work and Balram's plough ...have succeeded" "The Lord's Earth has turned green" "Come, my lord" "Allow me to leave" "How can I let you go?" "I have not even thanked you properly" "I have only done my duty" "I need not be thanked for that" "My respects!" "Our respects!" "Come, my king" "How is the Land of Action!" "It is all thanks to you" "No one can help you to achieve anything" "Man has to overcome his problems himself with hard work and then sow the seeds of his dreams" "You have established your kingdom" "Now think about protecting it" "Won't they leave us alone even here?" "Why not?" "I am going to Hastinapur" "I will explain it to Duryodhan" "He is very sweet natured" "Won't you come to Dwarka with me?" "Now you have grown up." "Don't depend on me" "I have already asked Aunt Kunti" "Then you must go" "Bhim!" "Why don't you come with me?" "Duryodhan has an excellent cook" "I am all right here" "Remember us while you are eating" "And spoil my lunch?" "Why did you talk about the country's defense" "One lesson of politics is to be friendly with neighboring kingdoms" "If a king refuses to be friendly make friends with his neighbor" "Both his borders will be unprotected" "What should I do?" "The bond of marriage is strong but Shakuni should not know of you plans" "So, go out alone" "If you take an army, everyone will know" "Indraprasth is not the end of the story" "This is the end of a chapter" "Do not be misled by the silence" "A storm is brewing on the other side of the silence" "A storm?" "Kunti agreed with Lord Krishna but Draupadi knew the meaning of 'political friendships'" "So, the seed of doubt was sown in her mind" "But she kept quiet hoping her doubt was baseless" "The question was:" "How to hide their going on tour from those in Hastinapur so as to avoid any more conspiracies" "However, an incident provided a solution" "Some people stole a poor Bhahmin's cows and he came to Arjun for help" "But Arjun's bow was in Draupadi's room where she was with Yuddhistir" "Thus Arjun was forced to enter the room and violate the code of decency" "This meant that Arjun had to do penance" "This solved the problem beautifully" "When a spy brought the news of Arjun's leaving home to do penance Shakuni became very suspicious" "I don't understand Arjun's need to do penance" "Why Uncle?" "He cannot marry while doing penance but he married a Princes recently" "The Pandavas are surrounding us" "Uncle!" "You are getting Paranoid about the Pandavas" "Don't be a fool, Duryodhan" "What was Arjun's bow doing in Draupad's room" "All this seems pre-planned" "This is some plot of Krishna's" "Uncle is right, Duryodhan" "I have always said that we should behave like warriors and settle differences on the battlefield" "Can you not think of anything else?" "The battlefield is like going to the in-laws" "You should go there fully prepared" "So, start preparing for the battlefield" "Arjun is now on the western coast" "Which means he will end his trip in Dwarka" "What can Dwarka do to us?" "No, Karna" "It's important to keep Dwarka on our side" "We have Manipur on one side and Dwarka on the other" "If Subhadra's marriage can be fixed with Duryodhan then that will be perfect marriage politics" "Marriage Politics?" "Yes, my son, Marriage Politics" "How can the wife's family oppose you?" "Haven't you wondered why kings have so many queens in their palace?" "It is not merely to satisfy their lust" "They are political marriages from which there is no escape" "What should I do, Uncle?" "You should get married" "To whom?" "Vasudeu's daughter Subhadra" "Never get angry while fighting" "You will lose your mental balance" "So, how was that?" "My dear Duryodhan" "You are now the world's greatest mace warrior" "I am very happy today." "Ask for an award" "Are you sure?" "Yes, Ask for what you wish" "I ask for Subhadra's hand in marriage" "Had you asked for my hand, I would give it" "Subhadra's hand is with her" "I'll also have to talk to father" "Father will not say 'no' to me" "Okay." "Subhadra is yours" "Who are you!" "A traveler" "Where have you been?" "All over India" "Did you ever get to see Arjun?" "Who's Arjun?" "You don't know Arjun!" "Drone's disciple Arjun" "O you are talking of Arjun, son of Kunti" "I have seen him and met him closely" "How's he to look at?" "Nothing special" "What did you say?" "Drona's disciple." "Ace archer" "If you were not a Brahmin I would have cut off your tongue" "Subhadara!" "Why are you angry with this poor Brahmin?" "His words have angered me" "Is that so?" "He says there's nothing special about Arjun" "Which means his eyes are at fault" "Why punish him for his eyes' fault?" "It could also be that you are so impressed with Arjun that you are in love with him" "If you tease me like this I won't ever talk to you" "Look Brahmin!" "My sister won't talk to me" "But why did you ask this nomad?" "Ask me about Arjun" "What can this Brahmin tell you" "He tall, fair and handsome" "His eyes look at everyone and everyone looks at him" "The bow on his shoulder You are talking like a poet" "That's how poetry is defined" "True poetry always reflects the truth" "If you don't believe me, look at Arjun and tell me" "He is not here" "Come." "I'll introduce you to him" "Now?" "Yes." "At this very moment" "This is my beloved sister Subhadra, Arjun" "Arjun!" "Should I talk to father about both of you?" "Not without Subhadra's permission" "Let's go the palace" "Yes." "Let's go" "Please accept my greetings" "No." "I won't accept them" "What have I done to be so punished" "Why didn't you say you were Arjun" "You didn't ask me" "You asked me if I had seen Arjun and I said yes" "You also said there was nothing special about him" "In my eyes, there is nothing special." "You tell me" "Instead you pulled out a dagger" "Whom are you running away from?" "Now I understand" "What?" "You running away" "When a girl runs away like this, it only means that one should talk to her father" "Should I talk to father about you?" "Have you forgotten your responsibilities" "Are you saying I have forgotten you?" "Over the years, we have come so close that you are like my breath" "How can I forget you?" "Enough" "No need to get poetic" "We have passed that stage in life" "I was not talking of myself" "Then who are you talking of?" "And what responsibility?" "Have you thought of Subhadra?" "What about her?" "She has grown up" "That's the problem with mothers" "They always feel that their daughters have grown up" "The problem with fathers is that..." " But Subhadra is..." " Don't argue" "Yesterday I saw her smiling at the mirror" "When a young girl starts smiling at the mirror it only means she has come of age" "Subhadra is no ordinary girl" "The problem with fathers is that they find their daughters unusual" "Even assuming she is unusual can we no find an unusual boy for her?" "Besides, what is special about her?" "For one, she is a favorite of Krishna's" " My respects" " Blessings!" "Please sit" "When did you return?" "I have just come" "I was keen to meet you both after so long" "I also wanted to talk to you" "Was it so urgent that you did not even rest?" "If it was not urgent, I would have come later" " What's it?" " First, how's your aunt?" "She is in Indraprasth" "Yuddhistir has become popular" "You have already asked Arjun" "Is Arjun here?" "Yes." "He is with Krishna" "Has Krishna put up his proposal?" "Proposal?" "Then it's okay" "What's okay?" "It is like this mother" "I have been thinking of Subhadra" "I was afraid you would fix her Marriage before I returned" "Do you have a good boy in mind?" "Yes." "A special one" "All eyes in India are on him today" "Who's that?" " There's only one like that" " Who's it?" "Duryodhan, Crown Prince of Hastinapur" "He is also my disciple" "But..." "He has also asked for her hand" "Will Kunti like it?" "Why won't she like it?" "There is no quarrel left after the division" "Partition is not the solution" "It has reduced both their kingdoms" "This will leave everyone dissatisfied" "But I have already promised Duryodhan" "Now that you have promised..." "Greetings Brother!" "May you live long!" "Looks like Duryodhan has looked after you well" "There's some good news" "Balram had found a good boy for Subhadra" "Congratulations Krishna" "I know Brother will bring gifts for everyone since he has come after so many days" "What have you got for me?" "We were talking of Subhadra's marriage and he has brought himself into it" "Don't be greedy, Krishna" "I am asking my elder brother" "That is not greed." "That's love" "Don't trick me with your words" "We were talking about some thing serious" "I gauged that when someone told me you came here straight from the chariot" "That's why I came running" "I was saying that I have fixed Subhadra's marriage to Duryodhan" "My sister is worthy of the Lunar Dynasty" "Look father." "Even Krishna has agreed" "Now, you can say 'yes'" "This decision should be taken at sunrise so that Subhadra's life will always be sunny" "Look Krishna." "Don't try funny tricks" "What can I do?" "That, too, about Subhadra's future" "How can you think like that?" "You have done your best" "Krishna is right" "Besides, I am not going to refuse" "So, we will decide tomorrow, Go and rest now" "May you live long" "Arjun" "Yes." "Who else will wake you up?" "These are bad times" "Will you fight Balram?" "I'll tell you but first ask me to sit" "Do you need an invitation?" "This palace is yours, and so is the Universe" "Enough!" "We should talk less and take action" "In brief Brother wants Subhadra to marry Duryodhan" "To Duryodhan?" "What do you order?" "No orders" "Do you duty as a warrior" "If both you and the girl are agreeable and there is an obstacle your duty is to elope with the girl" "It will not be elopement" "Then, should I elope with Subhadra?" "I am suggesting nothing" "I am merely pointing out your duty" "As you order" "I have heard that Subhadra will go to the temple at dawn" "Who told you that?" "I am not going to the temple" "I also heard you were going to marry Duryodhan" "What are you saying?" "What I heard" "Who told you?" "Balram, and you know he does what he says" "Both father and mother have almost agreed" "I have got the decision postponed till tomorrow" "But I won't marry Duryodhan" "In that case go to the temple at dawn" "As you order" "You should not follow orders but take decisions" "Arjun will surely come to take you from the temple" "Bedecked in all her jewelry the bride leaves for her sweetheart's place" "She would not have said a word but her anklet gave away her secret" "Do not stop her now" "She is going to her sweetheart" "Drenched by the raindrops" "Her childhood friends stand in her way" "The Monsoon has defeated her" "Drenched by the raindrops" "Greetings Brother" "Be happy!" "Are you going to war?" "No." "Just a little practice" "I heard you were back so I came to take your blessings" "I am happy with you brother" "Go." "Be victorious" "My respects!" "Come friend!" "Did you meet Balram?" "Yes." "I did" "His blessing was essential" "Go." "But remember that Draupadi is born from Fire" "She is hot-tempered" "It is important how you introduce Subhadra to her" "Ensure that Draupadi accepts her" "...but it is you who won her" "But it is definite that Draupadi won't accept her" "She will accept her" "Subhadra is my sister but Draupadi is like my sister and very dear to me" "If it was not important for Subhadra to go with you I would not have suggested it" "Don't think I am helping you merely because I love you both" "I do not understand" "You need not understand that now" "Subhadra is the future of the Lunar Dynasty" "Go." "Arjun." "My chariot is waiting for you" "Greetings" "One more thing" "Let Subhadra drive your chariot" "Subhadra?" "This journey is hers, not yours" "As you wish" "Warriors of Dwarka!" "Arjun has insulted our hospitality" "He has eloped with Subhadra" "We will chase him all the way to Indraprasth" "Yes!" "Yes!" "Looks like Krishna does not agree with us" "I did not say anything" "I fear your silence" "Did not Rukmi stop you when you eloped with Rukmini?" "I did not take her against her wishes" "You know she called for my help" "They wanted her to marry Shishupal" "I had helped her then" " What are you saying?" " Exactly what you hear" "It is quite possible that she found out about your plan to marry her off to Duryodhan and called for Arjun's help" "Who told you she does not want to marry Duryodhan?" "Subhadra herself told me that she won't marry Duryodhan" "Who told her?" "I told her" "When I heard the good news I though she should know of it" "So, I woke her up and told her" " Woke her up?" "Yes, Brother" "Why did she not ask for your help?" "I told her that you had promised and I could not help" "When did she ask Arjun for help?" "Who took her message to Arjun?" "Who told Arjun about her temple visit?" "Only Subhadra can answer these questions" "But her bodyguards told me that she did not even ask for their help When Arjun took her on his chariot" "One of them told me that she herself drove the chariot away" "Doesn't this mean that Suhadra has eloped with Arjun rather than the other way?" "Arjun has betrayed our trust" "We will not bear it" "He has invited his death" "We will avenge this" "I am with you but answer just one question of mine" "Why did you support me when I eloped with Rukmini?" "Brother keeps praising the Pandavas" "Can any one of them insult their aunt?" "In truth, Arjun has honored us" "Karna, too, could have won Draupadi" "Then why have such competitions?" "A daughter cannot be gifted away in competitions" "She cannot be won or lost like a thing" "Arjun saw this fault in our marriage system and protected our honor by eloping with Subhadra" "We should be grateful to him" "Besides, what's wrong with him?" "Son of Pandu, disciple of Sage Drona" "Ace archer" "Which one of you does not desire his friendship" "He is Shantanu's grandson and Kuntibhoj's great grandson" "He is the best choice for Subhadra in the Three Worlds" "Who other than Lord Shiva can defeat him in battle?" "I say, bring him back to Dwarka with honor" "If he defeats you and returns to Indraprasth Dwarka will become a laughing stock" "If you want this to happen go and fight him" "I knew that this would happen, if he was allowed to talk" "Now, go and bring back Arjun with honor" "When Balram asked the Yadavas to bring back Arjun the quarrel ended" "The maces were kept aside" "The bows and arrows were discarded" "The tension was defused" "Subhadra was decked up like a bride and there was love and happiness in the air" "Subhadra's face shone like the moon and the bangles tinkled on her hands" "With Lord Krishna smiling in the background Subhadra moved towards Arjun to garland him" "May you prosper!" " Be prosperous!" " My blessings!" "May you live long!" "Astonished, I kept staring..." "Every sweet word of his was new" "Subhadra was not Ulupi or Chitrangada who could be left behind in Dwarka" "Subhadra was the honor of the Yadus who would be insulted if she were left behind" "Arjun could not tell Subhadra all this" "He thought the problem would resolve itself once they returned to Indraprasth" "On reaching Indraprasth he met his brothers but even they had no solution to his problem" "Your problem is truly serious, Arjun but I cannot interfere" "That's true" "How can we help you, Brother?" "Ask Grandsire for help" "He has been a bachelor all his life" "What will he know of marital problems?" "I think you should go to Draupadi alone" "Maybe a solution will suggest itself" "Why have come here?" "Go there" "Listen to me, Panchali" "I know your penance has proved fruitful" "You now have a wife in every city you visited" "You have brought back Subhadra" "Didn't you know that the first knot is loosened when the second knot is tied?" "You have every reason to be angry and I must make you see reason" "But..." "There are no "buts" between a husband and wife" "Now please go!" "The humiliation you have subjected me to has soured my soul with its poison" "When I have recovered from this poison I may be able to welcome you to my chamber" "But Panchali..." "I have been waiting for you to take me to Draupadi" "I was thinking about when to take you" "Subhadra is my sister but Draupadi is like my sister and very dear to me" "If it was not important for Subhadra to go with you I would not have suggested it" "Don't think I am helping you merely because I love you both" "I do not understand" "You need not understand that now" "Subhadra is the future of the Lunar Dynasty" "Go Arjun." "My chariot is waiting for you" "Greetings!" "One more thing!" "Let Subhadra drive your chariot" "Subhadra?" "This journey is hers not yours" "Go!" "Dress up as a cow maid" "As a cow maid?" "As you wish" "Hail O Queen!" "Krishna's sister Subhadra wishes to see you" "Why didn't you say Queen Subhadra wishes to see me?" "Don't you know who she is?" "I know." "But she asked me to introduce her thus" "Bring her in" "Krishna's sister Subhadra wishes to pay her respects" "Krishna's sister cannot be my rival" "Welcome to my palace and my heart" "I do not wish to stay in your palace or your heart" "In any case, your heart is a crowded place" "I wish to stay at your feet" "Allow me to serve you" "Krishna's sister is my sister" "Her place is not at my feet but in my heart" "Sister!" "Ganga and Yamuna have met" "It is a rare meeting indeed!" "Draupadi is satisfied by Subhadra's sweet words" "Subhadra's arrival has secured the future of the Lunar Dynasty" "The problem of the Nagas and demons still remains" "This problem was solved with help from the Fire God" "The Fire God asked the Forest God to reward Arjun" "The Forest God agreed and rewarded Arjun with the Gandiva bow, the eternal quiver and the monkey adorned banner" "With Krishna's blessings and the Fire God's help Khandavprasth was cleared" "The architect of the demons surrendered and Arjun spared his life" "At Lord Krishna's request he built an incomparable palace for the Pandavas" "But that was not all!" "He brought a Conch named Parma Devrata from Lake Bindu for Arjun and the unconquerable mace for Bhim" "The Pandavas began to dream of world domination" "What are you thinking, my king?" "Not king!" "Call me brother" "This crown should not come between us" "I do not want the crown if it will separate us brothers" "I admit my mistake" "Your heart is pure" "None can separate you from your brothers" "Tell me, what were you thinking?" "I was thinking about Father's order that I should perform..." "But would it be right for me to do so while Father is still living" "Why not?" "You did not break away from him" "You were asked to go" "King Dhritirashtra himself crowned you" "You are not dependent on him" "Indraprasth is an independent nation" "You have a right to perform the Rajsuya ritual" "Your subjects are happy" "Lord Indra has blessed you with rain" "The granaries are full" "The citizens know no fear because there are no thieves" "There are thieves when there is inequality and deprivation" "Your justice has eliminated all this" "Travelers move about freely because all the roads are safe from dacoits" "Your officials are law-abiding" "They do not take bribes" "Who but you has the right to perform the Rajsuya ritual?" "Only you can be called an Emperor" "So, do perform the ritual" "But..." "But what, Krishna?" "Jarasandh!" "All the royal families today are descendents of King Yayati or King Bhoj" "All kings today pay obeisance to King Jarasandh of Magadh" "It's also true that there is none stronger than Jarasandh" "He, too, wishes to be an Emperor" "King Shishupal of Chedi is his Army chief" "He is indebted to him" "Let alone the others even your Father's friend King Bhagdak pays obeisance to Jarasandh" "Are you trying to frighten us?" "No, Bhim!" "I only want you to know that apart from your uncle Purojit you can trust no one else" "So, you will face only one obstacle and it is no ordinary obstacle" "Without killing him, you can't perform the ritual" "He wants to attain power by sacrificing a hundred kings" "Do not forget he is blessed by Lord Shiva" "If you wish to perform the Rajsuya ritual you will have to perform the Rajsuya ritual and free the imprisoned kings" "If you can't do this you can't perform the ritual" "We will attack Magadh" "It is impossible to defeat Jarasandh on the battlefield" "Your army is nothing..." "Every king wishes to be an emperor but not every king can become an emperor" "Are we not worthy?" "I am a friend." "My praise means nothing" "Your worth will be established when enemies praise you" "Then tell us what should we do?" "Can you or Balram or Arjun not kill Jarasandh?" "If we accept the enemy to be stronger than us even before the battle, we will never win" "If Krishna is with us Arjun can defeat any king" "I am with you, and will always be with you" "O Govinda!" "Let's go!" "If you are with us we do not need an army" "Think carefully before leaving" "Jarasandh's ego lives on conquering kings" "He is an expert wrestler" "He has imprisoned 86 kings whom he intends to sacrifice to Lord Shiva" "He needs only 14 kings more" "If he can conquer 14 more kings his defeat will become impossible" "Lord Shiva will be grateful to whoever prevents this" "His name will go down in the history of mankind" "O Giridhar!" "Bhim and Arjun are my eyes" "You are my Intelligence" "If I send all three of you I'll become helpless" "When even Death cannot defeat him what can you do?" "Let us forget the Rajsuya ritual" "Man cannot forget everything" "If we do not perform the ritual History will say that Emperor Pandu sired five cowards" "It is better to embrace Death like warriors rather than sit at home with the fear of defeat" "The rest is up to you" "Strategy says that attack is the best means of defense" "As for Jarasandh's strength didn't you say that some one has to lose in war?" "We know the result of this war" "Either he will win or he will lose" "We cannot both win or both lose this battle" "I am not a coward, Nakul" "But I am also a King" "A King must think twice before he does anything" "What is the secret of his strength?" "That is a strange story" "Jarasandh's father King Brahadutt had promised his wives that he would love them equally" "Though he grew old, he remained childless" "One day he heard that Sage Kaushik was sitting under a mango tree" "He went to the Sage" "O Sage!" "I am childless" "Bless me with children" "Suggest a remedy" "Have mercy on me O Sage!" "Suggest a remedy" "Give this mango to your queen" "You will be blessed with a child" "I am grateful" "The Sage gave the king a mango which the king divided into two halves..." "Were two sons born?" "No!" "How can two sons be born with one mango?" "Each queen gave birth to half a son..." "The queens were terrified" "Dejected, they threw the children away" "Just then a demoness named Jaraa was passing by" "Seeing the two pieces of flesh she picked them up to eat" "When the two halves came together they joined and the child was formed" "The child put his hand in his mouth and thundered" "Jaraa ran away frightened but the queens recognized the sound" "That is Jarasandh" "He is not one, but two" "That's why even the Death cannot claim him" "The three of us together may be able to kill him" "But alone neither Bhim nor Arjun can do it" "In that case..." "Your dilemma is not misplaced" "It is impossible to defeat him in battle but in a duel it may be possible" "My suggestion is:" "Let Bhim and Arjun come with me in disguise" "Bhim can then call for a duel on some pretext" "Then why are we waiting?" "Let's go" "What disguise?" "Why not as Brahmins?" "Victory to the king!" "Why are you worried?" "What can I say, O King of Chedi" "I am thinking about Krishna" "After the sacrifice, I shall attack Dwarka" "Either he wins or I win" "You cannot lose" "Greetings!" "Welcome O Brahmins!" "I present you with cows" "Tell me if you need anything else" "O King." "My friends are observing silence" "They will speak only after midnight" "Then we will meet after midnight" " Prime Minister" " Yes" "Attend to their needs" "As you wish!" "I'll come at midnight" "Will he come?" "Of course" "He has a great respect for Brahmins and will do everything to satisfy them" " But..." " Wait for midnight" "The bravest warrior of all King of Magadh Jarasandh is on his way" "What did I say!" "Please be seated" "Brahmins do not use sandalwood paste" "You say you are Brahmins but you are warriors" "Who are you and why this disguise?" "One enters an enemy's house cautiously" "One enters a friend's house by the front door" "Which means I am not your friend" "I do not remember ever hurting you" "Then why do you consider me to be your enemy?" "Why not?" "If darkness is not darkness then what is it?" "You are an enemy because you have strayed from Religion and Justice" "I have strayed from Religion?" "Without doubt" "I am unjust?" "Without doubt" "What had the 86 kings done to you that you imprisoned them?" "Did you give them life?" "If not, how can you sacrifice them?" "Do you think Lord Shiva will accept it?" "Never!" "So, leave the path of injustice and return to religion" "That is the true path of freedom" "Do not forgot that Death is the only truth" "If you think you have conquered Death then you are a fool" "Fate judges the Actions of Man" "War is a holy duty for the warrior" "He will even give his life doing this duty" "Go beg for alms, Brahmin" "Leave before I forget you are a Brahmin" "What do you want?" "A duel" "Yes, choose any one of us" "Both of you are too weak" "It will be an insult to fight you" "However, I must praise your valor" "This one is okay" "Identify yourself before the duel" "You are not a Brahmin" "This is Arjun" "This is Bhimsen" "I am Krishna" "Had I known you were Krishna I would have still chosen Bhim" "A duel is between equals" "Bravery dictates its own rules" "Jarasandh was a brave courageous warrior" "He could have selected Arjun for the duel" "Had he selected Arjun he could not have been defeated" "Had Arjun lost the duel Yuddhistir's Rajsuya ritual could not take place" "Had the Rajsuya ritual not been performed the story of Mahabharat would have ended in Indraprasth" "However, as a brave man Jarasandh was compelled to choose Bhim for the duel" "Which is why this wrestling match is the backbone of this story" "I, Krishna, and the sons of Pandu, Bhim and Arjun pay our respects to you" "We are bearers of good news" "From today, you are all free" "Bhim has returned your kingdoms to you" "Victory to Lord Krishna!" "Victory to Bhim and Arjun!" "O Lord Krishna" "I beg your forgiveness for my father's crimes" "Allow me to perform the last rites of my father" "O King of Magadh" "You do not need permission to perform the last rites" "We merely did our duty" "We will not stop you from doing yours" "You called me King of Magadh" "Yes." "Why not?" "You are worthy" "You are the rightful heir of Magadh" "Be successful!" "The prisoners were freed and made independent" "Thus the Pandavas made friends and won their love and respect" "With Jarasandh vanquished the Rajsuya ritual could now be performed" "Leaving Yuddhistir behind in Indraprasth the four brothers left for a victory tour" "Bhim went East" "Arjun went North" "Nakul went West and Sahadev went South" "When kings welcomed them with bowed flags peace treaties were signed with them" "Those kings who were hostile were vanquished" "Soon, the brothers returned from the victory tour and began to prepare for the Rajsuya ritual" "All the kings were invited" "However, Yuddhistir thought it appropriate to send Sahadev to Hastinapur with the invitation" "Bhishma embraced Sahadev" "Sages Kripa and Drona blessed him" "Shakuni spoke very sweetly and said it was good news indeed that Yuddhistir was performing the ritual" "Duryodhan was disturbed by his Uncle's behavior" "My friend Duryodhan" "Why should Uncle be so happy about the news" "It would seem that he had been waiting for Yuddhistir's Rajsuya ritual so that he could go to Indraprasth" "Whom are you telling this?" "Uncle is not here and I cannot answer for him" "I have always disagreed with him" "As if Uncle was not enough even father is supremely happy" "His happiness was not false" "Was Uncle's happiness false?" "Everything about him is false and deceitful" "Whom are you praising Karna?" "Deceit is important for survival, Karna" "Everyone fears the Pandavas after Jarasandh's killing" "But do not forget that I, Shakuni, have many more weapons to combat them" "And you, Duryodhan learn to benefit from your elders' experience" "If they perform the Rajsuya ritual and you do not attend everyone will call you petty minded" "Besides, they have already turned Khandavprasth into another Heaven and won the hearts of the people" "Do you want them to win over Hastinapur?" "Hastinapur is not a plate of porridge which they can lap up" "There's a difference between Poetry and Politics" "There can no metaphors in Politics" "What exists cannot be denied" "I was saying..." "That is your fault, Karna" "Or else you would have been a very useful person" "You talk too much and do not listen" "Learn to hide your claws like a cat" "If you have been invited, you must go there" "And if you do not have a smile, take it from me" "Do not forget this basic truth of Life:" "Never let your enemies know of your anger" "This is my strategy" "If you adopt this strategy you will sleep well at nights" "Sleep now, my lord" "I wish to sleep, my dear" "But what can I do?" "I cannot sleep" "Even the doctors have no cure" "Do you remember, my lord?" "Vidur had once said that insomnia affects three types of persons" "One whose adversary is very strong" "One who has lost everything and a thief" "I have all three faults, my dear" "My strong ambitions are now my adversary" "When I heard of Yuddhistir's Rajsuya ritual I was not truly happy" "I am also the weak person who has lost everything to Vidur's Ethics" "I am also a thief" "I have stolen half a kingdom from either Duryodhan or Yuddhistir" "Look at my helplessness, Gandhari" "I cannot even blame Vidur" "He is secure in his Ethics and Religion" "Learn to face the reality of your life, my lord" "I wish to learn Gandhari but my heart is not in this learning" "I am like the withered stick which burns itself to keep away the winter" "But believe me when I tell you that I am happy at Yuddhistir's success" "Everyone is talking about Yuddhistir's Rajsuya ritual" "All roads in India lead to Indraprasth" "All the kings are going to Indraprasth in their own chariots, flying their flags" "Friends and foes they are all here" "Hastinapur is represented in full force" "Grandsire Bhishma, Dhritirashtra Sages Kripa and Drona Vidur, Duryodhan, Dushasan Vikarna and Karna are all here" "From Dwarka has come Demon-killer Lord of the Three Worlds, Krishna and his elder brother Balram" "Jayadya, King of Sindhu is here" "Recognize the flags and name the kings" "However, I am more interested in King Shishupal of Chedi" "We have already spoken of him before" "The son of Krishna's second aunt, Shishupal is on his way to attend his cousin Yuddhistir's Rajsuya ritual in Indraprasth" "It is necessary to listen to his story before he reaches there because it is not enough to know that he is Krishna's cousin" "His story is that his death was decided on the day he was born" "Today, he is going towards his death" "This is his last journey" "So, let us glimpse at his first journey because the Future is born from the Past" "So, let's go to the Past and do not be frightened" "I'll bring you back to this very place because I can never stray from the path" "I am taking you to the royal palace of Chedi where the child was born who is today known as Shishupal" "The story begins on the day he was born" "The queen has given birth to a demon" "What do you order?" " Throw the baby away" " Yes, my queen" "O God!" "What kind of a test is this?" "Do not throw away the child." "He will be a brave warrior" "He is the heir to the Future" "Tell me O God!" "How will the child meet his end?" "He will be killed by the person in whose arms his extra organs will disappear" "One day, young Krishna and his elder brother Balram went to their aunt's palace" "Put the baby in my lap" "Why?" "I am elder to you" "Of course, you are elder" "Do not cry, Sister" "God works in mysterious ways" "Give me my nephew" "Look how he is smiling" "It's my turn now" "Here, son" "It's my turn now" "What crime will you commit, my son that Krishna should kill you?" "No!" "Krishna cannot do such a deed" "I will not allow him to do it" "What's wrong, aunt?" "Will you kill my son, Krishna?" "Why do you ask me?" "That's what the prophecy said" "The person in whose arms the child's extra limbs and eye disappears will kill him" "Was this the prophecy or did you ask a question?" "I asked a question." "But..." "How could a mother ask about her son's death?" "Had you not known this secret, it would be better" "Will you really kill him?" "If it has to be done, I'll have to do it" "The prophecy never lies" "Do not be stone-hearted He is your brother" "Can you not have mercy on him?" "Of course." "It will be an act of mercy" "How can it be merciful?" "It is called release from rebirth" "I don't know all that I only know that he is my only son and you are going to kill him" "Give me a boon, my child" "I entreat you" "Please don't do this" "I am helpless" "I will continue to plead till you give me your word" "What do you wish?" "Think of me and forgive my son every time he commits a crime" "Only Lord Shiva can grant such a boon" "However, I give you my word" "I'll forgive a hundred crimes even if each crime is worthy of the death sentence" "The Lord has forgiven a hundred crimes" "Lord Krishna has promised release from rebirth" "This child grew up to be Shishupal who is now going towards his death" "Krishna and Balram are on the way" "Greetings!" "May you live long!" "Are all well in Dwarka?" "Yes." "Everything is fine" "All the way I was thinking of whether Subhadra has adjusted or not" "Here she is!" "Did you see that?" "I am the elder brother but he gets Subhadra's affection" "It's too late to think of that" "Now, only you can get me justice, aunt" "The elder brother gets the honor while the younger brother gets the affection" "That's it." "Now let me talk to my dear sister" "There's no point in asking if you are happy or not" "You must be happy in your aunt's house" "No." "This house is no longer mine" "This is now the house of my daughters-in-law" "Okay." "I'll ask again" "Is my aunt happy in your house?" "This house is not mine" "It is my sister's house I only serve her" "Did you hear that mother?" "She says I have made her a mere servant" "Ask your sister if I have given her trouble" "Draupadi, you are talking as if you are not my sister" "In fact, you have been a sister for longer than her" "Yes, I agree with Krishna" "This is the first time you have agreed with me" "Hail Queen Kunti!" "Sage Vyas is on his way to the palace with other sages" "Greetings O Sage!" "May you be successful!" "Be happy!" "Please be seated!" "The Lord welcomes the guests" "...is pervaded by fragrance and ritualistic chanting" "The moment I was waiting for has come" "Let's go to where the ritual is taking place" "Light the Holy Fire with the lamp" "King Dhritarashtra, Jewel of the Kuru clan" "Greetings!" "My blessings!" "May you live long!" "Please be seated" "Pride of the Yadavas, sons of Vasudev" "Brave Balram and Krishna" "It's Balram and Krishna, my king" " Greetings" " My blessings" "Come Brother" "King Shakuni of Gandhar and Brave Duryodhan with his brothers" "Come nephews!" "Come Duryodhan" "Brave Warrior Karna, King of Anga" "You are welcome" "Come Karna!" "Come my friend!" "Brave King Jayadya of Sindhu" "King Dhrupad of Panchal" "My blessings!" "Greetings O King!" "Respected Teacher Sage Drona" "Family Sage Kripa" "Our respects, O Sages!" "Our blessings" "On your guard" "Emperor Yudhishthir, son of Pandu" "Respected Grandsire Bhishma and Sage Vyas" "Queen Mother Kunti and Queen Draupadi with Queen Subhadra are on their way" "The Lord of Truth reigns over this Earth of ours" "O King of Kings!" "All kings are here to worship thee" "O Pride of India!" "Your banner flies in the sky" "Pride of the Lunar Dynasty!" "The flag of Truth flies high" "O Pride of the Kurus!" "The world sings your praise" "O Son of Kunti!" "The Sun blesses your Rajsuya ritual" "O Protector of Brahmins!" "The citizens hail your victory" "O Protector of Truth!" "May you adopt the path of Action" "O Brave Yudhishthir!" "May you win the war of Truth" "Let each new day bring new success and victory" "Be successful!" "Be victorious!" "At the very beginning I salute Sage Vyas and all the other Sages who have come here to bless me" "Indraprashtha is blessed by their coming here" "I then salute Respected Grandsire Bhishma whose love has protected us from the reality of life" "I then salute my elder Father King Dhritarashtra of Hastinapur ...who is here to bless me" "Had he not come, our joy would be diminished" "I humbly salute Uncle Vidur whose knowledge has enlightened me" "I also pay humble respects to my teachers Sage Drona and Family Sage Kripa who taught me and made me worthy" "I bless my younger brothers Duryodhan, Dushasan, Vikarna and Sukarna" "I pay my respects to all the kings and warriors who have come here from all over India" "Pay respects to your elder brother Karna" "You are indeed lucky O King that all the kings have accepted your invitation and are here to congratulate you" "I have never seen such an august gathering of Sages" "Their presence here today proves that this kingdom and its people are indeed blessed by God" "O King!" "Your relatives and well wishers are here" "Welcome them with respect and appreciate their individual qualities" "Whom should I honor first?" "The one who is worthy" "Is it Sage Vyas or yourself?" "It is neither Sage Vyas nor I" "O King!" "You are the essence of Truth" "You should have realized that there is only one such person in the Three Worlds:" "Pride of the Yadavas, Lord Krishna" "I say this not only because he is dear to me or because I worship him" "Can you not see how his personality dominates over the others" "Who will look at the stars when the moon has risen?" "Just like the rising Sun dispels the darkness" "Just like fresh air livens up a closed room" "Krishna's presence in this royal court has given it glamour and freshness" "Can Sage Vyas accept your honor when Krishna is present?" "No." "Never!" "When he is here, none else can be honored" "If anyone objects, he can speak up now" "Please take your seat O son of Devaki." "Come" "Grandsire Bhishma has selected Lord Krishna as worthy of the first honor" "Everyone agreed." "Everyone was blessed" "Humanity itself was blessed" "The Compassionate were without worry to lay the honor at the Lord's feet" "Everyone agreed." "Everyone was honored" "Only Krishna was worthy of the honor" "Nakul" "Whom are you honoring?" "You keep quiet" "Do not think all the kings have gathered here because they are afraid of you" "We allowed you to become Emperor because we felt you understood Ethics" "But you have insulted us by honoring this milk man" "Be quiet!" "If you say another word, I'll kill you" "Bhim!" "Shishupal is our guest" "The King is right, Bhim" "Arjun, do not cross your limits as a host" "Keep talking, Shishupal." "Today is your day" "Of course, I'll talk." "I am not scared of you" "I do not even accept that you are Uncle Vasudev's son" "You have no right to accept this honor which should have been Sage Vyas's or King Dhritarashtra's" "O Son of Nand, slave of the late King Kansa your honor is an insult to us kings" "As for Grandsire, he has become senile" "His oath of eternal bachelorhood is a hoax" "Had he not taken this oath he would still be am impotent bachelor" "I swear on Lord Shiva" "Had this not been a sacred occasion I would have cut your tongue" "He is not insulting you, Grandsire" "He is insulting me." "Let him talk" "I do not need your permission to talk" "This impotent suggested and the cursed Pandavas agreed" "And this imposter accepted the honor no slave would have the courage to accept" "Is he greater than King Dhrupad?" "Is he greater than Sages Drona or Kripa?" "Is he a better warrior than Duryodhan or Karna?" "He is neither a King, Sage nor Teacher" "Then why do you honor this ordinary milk man from Nandgaon?" "Are you listening, aunt?" "What can I do now?" "Keep quiet or I'll pull out your tongue" "Let him talk" "Have you forgotten my promise to our aunt?" "I'll forgive him for a hundred crimes" "You forgive him if you want to" "I cannot" "He has insulted Grandsire Bhishma and Aunt Kunti" "He is insulting you and you are smiling" "I am not smiling." "I am counting" "Is there anything else you want to say?" "You can commit three more crimes" "Don't try to frighten me" "You are talking of three insults" "I'll insult you three hundred times and yet you can do nothing" "Someone with no honor cannot be insulted" "Count!" "That was ninety eight" "You are a cheap thief." "That's ninety-nine" "You killed King Kansa who once fed you" "You are ungrateful." "That's hundred" "What do you say now?" "That's enough, Shishupal" "You are an imposter, unworthy of this gathering" "Today, I am indebted to you" "When the time comes I shall repay you" "The Lord has punished the wrongdoer" "He has nullified his arrogance" "Tearing a cloth from her dress Draupadi comes to the Lord's help" "Draupadi has obliged the Lord" "He gives her his solemn word that He shall come to her aid when she needs Him the most" "Like me, the story, too, has a pace which cannot be increased or decreased at will" "But the story is not eternal like I am" "It begins at a specific point and ends at another specific point" "All the action of the story takes place between these two points" "Every story is rooted in a specific time period" "That is why if an ancient story has to be retold it has to be done from the perspective of the Present" "I am trying to do this without changing the pace of the story" "I am only omitting what is inessential for the Present" "I will not show Sage Vyas telling the Pandavas that the next thirteen years will be difficult ones" "That will only reveal the story" "Today's stories rely on tension and drama" "A killing has a different effect from that of a coronation" "Unlike Sage Vyas I cannot mix the two events which is why I stopped at Shishupal's killing" "Let us now go back to the royal court where Yudhishthir is being crowned Emperor" "The ceremony is about to begin" "Victory to Emperor Yudhishthir" "In the presence of Sage Vyas and other Sages Grandsire Bhishma and King Dhritarashtra Sages Drona and Kripa Uncle Vidur and Brother Balram younger brothers and Kings warriors, the Earth and sky and Krishna, I give my solemn word that I'll protect and respect our traditions" "So, do not hail me alone" "Hail the motherland!" "Hail Hastinapur and King Dhritarashtra" "On my coronation I also wish to announce that I do not dream of world domination" "I am content to live within my borders" "So, no king needs to fear Indraprashtha" "Indraprashtha does not need your land but your love and friendship" "I also wish to make clear that Shishupal's killing does not mean that Chedi is now a part of Indraprashtha" "Chedi was and will always be an independent nation" "Shishupal's son Mahipal will be the King" "He will be crowned here today" "Mahipal will leave Indraprashtha as the King of Chedi" "Uncle, you, too, take a seat" "This is my seat" "Let Vidur do what he wishes to or he will catch us in some point of Ethics" "Neither I nor Arjun has an answer for that" " Greetings O Sage" " My blessings" "Come O Sage!" "I only wish to see all of you together" "Who knows when and how you will come together again" "Why did you say that?" "Don't ask me that" "I was not happy saying it or you listening to it" "I'll definitely say this:" "The Sun is important in its proper place and the lamp in its own place" "They cannot change places" "In case they do, defeat is certain" "Okay." "I shall leave now" "I did not understand what Sage Vyas said" "It was simple, father" "Who does not know the difference between the two?" "Suppose I don't will you explain the difference to me?" "What is there to explain?" "Each one is different" "Both are meaningless for me" "If someone asks me what is light then I disciple of learned Bhishma will not be able to answer him" "I am enveloped in darkness and yet, I cannot define it" "Hence, we should ponder over what Sage Vyas said" "To ponder is the king's duty" "I only want all of you to bless Yudhishthir so that he becomes a good king and History takes his name with respect" "Pay your respects Yudhishthir" "As you say, mother" "Do not look at me" "This is not the court but a family gathering" "Go to Grandsire first" "Bless me, Grandsire" "May you live long" "Bless me so that I always respect Hastinapur" "What will you ask of your elder Father?" "Go bow to him" "Bless me, Father" "May you live long" "You can never be disrespectful so why ask for this blessing?" "Building Indraprashtha does not mean that Hastinapur is not yours" "That, too, is yours" "Also tell him, father that Indraprashtha is mine" "Why do you want Father to say that?" "Indraprashtha is yours" "Bless me with Knowledge" "Ask Vidur to give you that blessing" "Yes, my son." "Even I have to approach Vidur for that" "As you say, Father" "Bless me Uncle" "May you be a just King" "O King!" "You are the essence of Truth" "What else can I tell you?" "Everyone keeps an eye on the enemy" "But also keep an eye on your ministers and bodyguards" "All Evil stems from hunger and the pace of work" "Keep your work under control" "Never let your subjects be hungry" "These are mere tidbits, Uncle" "Tell me more" "Forgiveness is the only way to Peace" "All wars end on forgiveness" "The strong who forgive ascend to Heaven" "A gardener plucks flowers but never uproots the plant" "Similarly a king should decide on the paying capacity before taxing his subjects" "If he does not his subjects will tell lies in order to protect themselves" "Remember another thing, O King" "An unjust king can corrupt an inherited kingdom with his unjust deeds" "The king who takes refuge in falsehood will find his kingdom shrinking day by day" "The king who is tempted by another's wealth bravery, honor, happiness and good name can never find success in life" "This story is such a strange one that sometimes even I am perplexed by it and I begin to feel that I must accuse myself of partiality" "But this is against my very nature and I shall do my best not to violate its limits" "This is one such moment" "It is true that no king will be happy to see another king performing the Rajsuya ritual since every king dreams of performing it himself whether he can perform it or not" "But Karna, King of Anga, does not even dream of this" "His eyes are devoid of all emotion" "Maybe they are in search of a dream" "How come you are alone today?" "Come Uncle" "You did not answer my question" "I have no place in a family gathering" "I am an outsider" "Even I am an outsider" "Neither you nor I am a Kuru" "In such moments I wonder what it would be like to be part of a family" "The Soul gets sustenance" "There is no greater punishment than being alone" "I will accept the penalty but at least tell me what is my crime?" "In this lonely moment I am mourning the death of brave Shishupal" "Is it not surprising that not a single warrior registered his protest?" "You, too, were there" "We all kept quiet." "Even you kept quiet" "There was only reason for that" "None of us has a solution for Krishna" "You are a great warrior, Karna but even great warriors have to think sometimes" "So, Karna, think" "Think of a way to neutralize Krishna" "Duryodhan, my nephew" "Uncle!" "I have listened to you for too long" "I am not dice in your hands" "I am Duryodhan" "All your conspiracies have failed" "You prevented Yudhishthir from becoming the Crown Prince" "Today he has performed the Rajsuya ritual" "Not only did we have to attend it but we had to show that we were pleased" "Be patient, Duryodhan" "I don't know how to be patient" "Be sure of another thing:" "They are not satisfied with Indraprashtha" "They have their eyes on Hastinapur" "I am not their friend but I cannot believe that they want Hastinapur" "Then why did they shout:" "'Hail Hastinapur'?" "They wanted father to bless them so that Hastinapur will remain a part of their hearts" "They will always respect Hastinapur" "It has nothing to do with Yudhishthir's desire" "I am not worried about the Pandavas" "I am worried about you because you never know what to say when" "Let them be happy for a few days" "Do not be fooled by still water" "There is great turmoil under the water" "Waves are crashing against one another" "Believe me, Duryodhan I have planned all this" "You just keep quiet and watch" "I was coming to you" "I am returning to Dwarka" "What do you wish me to do?" "You are the Family Sage of the Kurus" "Who can give you orders?" "Come Dhrupad, my friend" "Please have a seat" "How are you?" "I am fine." "I am returning to Kampilya" "I wanted you to bless my son" "This is my son." "Pay your respects to Sage Drona" "May you live long!" "I always bless him with that" "Bless him with success in his mission" "With a divine son such as yours how can he fail?" "Which means, you won't bless him?" "Of course, I will" "May you succeed in your mission!" "I am fortunate to have met you here" "We are both leaving today" "Did you meet Draupadi?" "I am here to meet Sage Drona" "We should leave" " Okay, my friend" " Yes, Dhrupad" "Let's see when and where we meet" "Come, my son" "Greetings" " Sit, O son of Devaki" " You, too, sit" " When are you leaving?" " Today" "I am sure you can see what I am seeing" "There is the problem which people like Bhishma and I will have to face" "We will all burn in the fire of jealousy in which Duryodhan is burning" "Only you can protect us" "No, Sage!" "Every person has to protect himself" "Whether it is you or Bhishma or Sage Kripa" "You are like the constellations" "If you change your path there will be chaos" "Meaning?" "It means you should always side with the truth" "Only you can save this Universe" "No, Grandsire" "Even I am helpless" "Everyone is responsible for what is to happen" "Some more than the others" "As the eldest in the Kuru clan your responsibility is the greatest" "Duryodhan will not listen to reason" "That is your problem" "Therefore, think carefully" "Does your oath absolve you of responsibility?" "If yes, then why are you worried?" "If not, think of the answers to the questions the Future will ask you" "Who can question this blind man?" "Stop hiding behind your blindness and face the reality of life" "You divided the nation but ambition cannot be divided" "This nation also belongs to future generations" "History will hold you responsible" "I am returning to Dwarka but my mind will always be here" "I have only one request:" "Prevent what is about to happen" "Why are you in a hurry to leave?" "Whether I leave today or tomorrow I have to leave some day" "You don't seem sorry to leave us" "I am not leaving you today." "I will always be with you" "But leave you must?" "Are you separate from Arjun?" "I think of you as five bodies with one soul" "If not, what right can you have over them?" "Life is not a gamble" "Life, like Ethics, is awakening" "Its progress and movement does not depend on the throw of a dice" "You all are what you are because you are not one, but five" "And yet, you are not five, but one" "But why are you going?" "I want to stay on." "So, he wants to leave" "Wait for a few more days, Krishna" "Aunt Kunti will be happy" "Would I leave if it was not urgent" "We are not at our aunt's house" "Then where are we?" "We were here for the King's Rajsuya ritual" "Everyone has left or is leaving" "Ask Brother how many are still here" "Father is leaving tomorrow" "Only Uncle Shakuni and Duryodhan will stay" "The palace has mesmerized Duryodhan" "What has mesmerized Uncle?" "He is mesmerized by Indraprashtha" "Give me one good reason, Uncle" "Are we waiting here to be insulted?" "Uncle can stay on if he wishes" "Even you can stay on if you wish but I will leave with King Dhritarashtra" "Even I am feeling restless" "All of you can go but I'll stay on for a few days" "But why?" "Do you want to be insulted?" "No." "I am not waiting to be insulted" "I am waiting for Krishna to leave" "What do we have to do with Krishna?" "We have a lot to do with him" "He is the only one who knows how to deal with my conspiracies" "Come" "I wanted you to keep smiling at Subhadra and you are already doing it" "I told Subhadra that you love her but she is still scared" "Brother, at least fear God" "Fear whom?" "O I see, God!" "I'll fear Him if you say so!" "But do not fear Draupadi." "She loves you" "Are you creating a fight between us?" "Don't listen to him, Subhadra" "Draupadi is right." "He is used to telling tales" "When we were young, he would tell mother that I was teasing him and mother would scold me" "Don't worry" "I have known him for ages" "Look Krishna" "You cannot make us quarrel" "She's not my rival." "She's your younger sister" "She's my responsibility" "I'll look after Subhadra" "You look after the world" "Okay." "I will look after the world" "Come Brother" "Now Krishna has gone." "So have Grandsire and father" "Now what?" "I won't tell you yet" "My last game is about to begin" "You keep quiet and watch" "Now, Emperor Yudhishthir and I will play Dice" "Emperor Yudhishthir!" "Dice, Uncle?" "You have stayed back to play Dice?" "Do not be disrespectful towards my dice" "I have worshipped them for a lifetime" "These are not mere dice" "They are my soldiers" "Do not forget they have never been defeated" "Never!" "It will be four, Uncle" "Four!" "One!" "Two!" "Three!" "Four!" "Here's your pawn, Uncle" "Your dice are not obeying you" "We thought the dice always listen to you" "Haven't you heard of bad luck, Arjun?" "So, luck has deserted you" "What will you stake now, Uncle?" "Why not the kingdom of Gandhar?" "No." "Kingdoms are lost on the battlefield not at Dice" "Where's it?" "These are a thousand gold coins" "Now play." "I'll order the dice" "No Uncle." "You play lest you say later that you lost because you did not throw" "You are making a mistake" "You should know that the dice always listen to me" "Now look." "I need seven to get your pawn" "So, seven will definitely come" "It won't be seven" "Wait and see!" "Seven!" "It is not seven, Uncle" "A warrior should know how to lose" "But it seems Sage Drona has not taught Duryodhan to either win or lose" "But I'll say one thing Yudhishthir:" "Defeating Shakuni at Dice only means that you are now the Emperor of Dice" "You have completed the Rajsuya ritual of Dice" "The Rajsuya ritual of Dice" "You are great, Yudhishthir" "To lose the game intentionally" "That was Shakuni's treachery" "This very defeat will now weave the web of treachery" "Welcome, Uncle" "Please be seated" "Please take a seat, Uncle" "So, you played Dice with Emperor Yudhishthir" "I saw how your undefeatable dice won the game, Uncle" "I beg your forgiveness for being disrespectful to your dice this morning" "You have worshipped them for a lifetime" "They are your soldiers" "Military strategy says sometimes it is necessary to lose in order to win" "This defeat will pave the path to victory" "This morning I did not say that I was going to play" "What I said was my final game was about to begin and you should keep quiet and watch" "But you cannot keep quiet" "You interrupt me and don't allow me to think" "Now, let me think" "You go and see the palace made by the Maya, the Demon" "It is a strange palace" " Now go" " Okay" "You just go on thinking" "My dear Duryodhan" "The barren Khandavprasth has become Indraprashtha" "And this Palace of Illusion" "Maya, the Demon, has performed a miracle" "Fascinating!" "What a lovely sight" "No!" "No!" "Victory to the Crown Prince" "Victory to the Crown Prince" "This fire!" "This is not fire, Prince" "Careful." "There is water ahead" "Water?" "Where's it?" "Even a maid is pulling my leg" "A blind man's son is blind" "No!" "Why get angry at your servants" "Be angry against the cause of anger" "What's the problem?" "What can I tell you?" "A she-serpent has bitten me" "The poison has pervaded my every vein" "What are you saying?" "What she-serpent?" "What poison?" "I am burning in the fire of humiliation" "I cannot bear it any longer" "This fire is burning within me" "If it cannot burn me completely I shall jump into the fire to save myself from its burning" "This seed of humiliation has grown like a tree on my forehead" "It is growing every minute" "I can see no way of saving myself from it" "If insult is a tree then I have the strength to uproot it" "If insult is a sea of fire then I shall cool this sea of fire with my arrows" "I am proud of your friendship, Karna" "I know that if need be you will give your life to increase my life span" "If Death stands before me, you would be willing to die in my place" "But no!" "This is an insult and it has to be avenged personally or the wound will become deeper" "I don't understand who on Earth can dare to insult you" "Even Lord Indra will not dare to insult a brave warrior like you" "I have been insulted by that woman with five husbands, Draupadi" "I will definitely avenge my humiliation" "I will even avenge your insult on the day of her marriage ceremony" "I have not forgotten it" "She did not insult me then" "She merely showed me my place in the Court" "Even after you made me King of Anga I am still a charioteer's son" "I will remain the son of a charioteer till my real mother does not prove my identity" "Till that day your friend will be like the setting Sun" "And like the setting Sun he is a prisoner of a dark cave" "So, do not talk about my humiliation" "But Draupadi must be punished for your insult" "Allow me to avenge this insult by defeating Indraprashtha" "Or else, gather an army and let's storm Indraprashtha" "Why do you always talk of the battlefield" "Being a warrior does not mean that your bow should always be drawn" "How else do we avenge this insult?" "With intelligence, which is the best weapon" "Now that the Pandavas have performed the ritual Hastinapur, too, should have a celebration in their honor" "Along with that there will be the game of Dice" "I have already lost once to Emperor Yudhishthir" "Surely, I should get another chance" "I give you my word Duryodhan that this time if I don't defeat him I'll go in exile" "I have not lost without a purpose" "This defeat will pave the way to your victory" "Allow me to leave" "Yes, Karna." "You should leave because you will not understand this talk" "I will never understand your conspiracies" "My respects" "Your friend is really stupid" "I only tolerate him because I trust his loyalty to you" "Politics has a place for such fools" "They are expendable weapons in war or expendable pawns in Dice" "What was I saying?" "I will use the Indraprashtha defeat to pave the way to your victory" "These are not mere dice" "This is my undefeatable army" "No, Uncle." "The Pandavas are not stupid" "They will not come here to play Dice" "They will definitely come because no warrior can resist an invitation to war or Dice" "This is the tradition of the true warrior which the Pandavas cannot violate" "Besides, King Dhritarashtra will invite them" "The Pandavas got Indraprashtha from this very place" "They will also lose it here" "And Draupadi?" "What about avenging my insult?" "I'll think of that, too!" "But father!" "He will not permit it" "You don't realize his love for you" "Can he deny you anything you desire?" "That can never be!" "Besides, do not forget" "He has no real cause to like Indraprashtha" "He was not happy when he returned from Indraprashtha" "Yudhishthir has shattered another dream of his" "He wanted you to perform the Rajsuya ritual" "Then he will agree?" "Why don't you ask and see?" "And why delay the matter?" "Don't worry." "Let's go there at once" "Come Shakuni" "Greetings, my king" "Have a seat" "I don't understand how you can recognize everyone's footsteps but cannot recognize your own" "I don't understand" "You understand what you want to understand" "What you do not want to understand you refuse to understand" "However, it is my duty to explain that Duryodhan's condition is not good" "What's wrong with him?" "You know very well what's wrong with him" "His disease is called Indraprashtha" "The cure is also Indraprashtha" "You are his father" "Why don't you ask him about it?" "Maybe I have made a mistake in diagnosis" "How can I find out?" "I have met him only once after returning" "Even Gandhari is worried about him" "What is the point of only worrying?" "I cannot give him Indraprashtha" "But that is the cure" "No, Shakuni!" "I cannot do that injustice" "Besides, I don't think it is possible" "The Pandavas are very powerful now" "You are right and yet we cannot let Duryodhan brood" "He is my sister's eldest son" "We have to keep him engrossed" "Of course, Shakuni" "I am prepared to do anything to keep him engrossed" "Well then, ask Duryodhan what he wants" "Come Duryodhan" "My respects, father" "May you live long!" "After how long have you come to me" "Don't you know that the day you don't come to me is a wasted day" "I beg your forgiveness" "Your Uncle tells me you are not well" "Have you consulted the doctor?" "He does not have a cure for my disease" "What's wrong with you?" "I have been insulted" "Insulted?" "Yes." "I have been insulted" "I have spent sleepless nights ever since" "I have been restless" "We will organize something to keep you engrossed" "I feel that since the Pandavas have performed the Rajsuya ritual should not Hastinapur congratulate its victorious sons?" "Do invite him, my king" "Yes, father" "I thought you would not like it" "If that is what you want I'll invite them" "Let the citizens of Hastinapur see that I did no injustice by giving them Khandavprasth" "Of course" "Their coming here will also please me" "Sometimes we will wage mock war sometimes play Dice" "There can be nothing more engrossing than Dice" "Why don't you say you want to avenge your defeat in Indraprashtha" "What's wrong with that?" "Okay." "I'll consult Vidur about it" "Why consult Uncle Vidur about everything?" "Looks like we cannot even breath without consulting Uncle" "Whether you agree or not he is definitely on their side" "If you do not wish to invite them allow me to attack Indraprashtha" "But..." "Why fight a war you are bound to lose?" "It is an honor to die fighting such a war" "But son..." "Why do you always get angry?" "If the king wishes to consult Vidur let him do so" "How can Vidur oppose their coming here?" "Draupadi was unaware of how her irresponsible laughter was going to affect India its History, Present and future" "But now, she has already laughed" "Just like an arrow cannot be recalled after it has left the bow Draupadi cannot recall her laughter" "Yudhishtir is perturbed by this laughter" "If you are unhappy about everyone returning let's got to Hastinapur" "I can almost meet Mother Gandhari" "There us no question of separating from them" "Then what's the problem?" "When Duryodhan fell into the pool did you not laugh and say:" "A blind man's son is blind" "Yes, I did having said it, I realized that I should not have said it" "Duryodhan is your younger brother" "Besides, I also insulted elder Father" "I am willing to accept my punishment" "There can be no punishment" "You have to perform penance" "Duryodhan was our guest and a guest is akin to God" "I have accepted my mistake" "I know you have accepted your mistake" "But my problem is:" "Will that end the problem?" "Is your acceptance the solution to the problem?" "You have pricked Duryodhan's ego" "He must be hurt" "Duryodhan is among those ...we easily forget what they have done unto others but never forget what others do to them" "Your one laugh may prove fatal For both Indraprashtha and Hastinapur" "Words are invaluable" "Speak them if you must" "Weigh them carefully" "Before you speak them out" "Hail O King" "Come Vidur, Sit" "As you wish, O King" "Why are you worried?" "Duryodhan has insisted that the Pandavas be invited here" "That should be no cause for worry" "Why do you always talk so sharply?" "That is the only way I know how to talk" "Only those who have a vested interest hide the sharpness of their talk" "My only vested interest is Hastinapur's progress ...and the enhancement of the Kuru Honor" "Why should I hide the sharpness of my tongue?" "You are always ready with answers" "If you have a ready answer, you should give it" "Time is valuable" "So, tell me your problem at once and allow me to serve you" "What else does Duryodhan desire?" "Well..." "He wants to play dice with Yudhishthir" "What?" "I don't think that is right, my king" "Why" "Because dice blunts the intelligence of the player he is compelled to play on after losing to regain what he has lost" "He does not know when to stop because he hopes to go on winning..." "Both violate the very code of Dice" "Besides, brothers should never play Dice" "But, what is your wish" "I wish that you go to Indraprashtha as my representative" "...and invite Yudhishthir to play Dice" "If you have decided to write the last chapter of Kuru History" "...then I will go to Indraprashtha with your invitation" "Go!" "Return with good news" "As you wish!" "Is everything okay with you?" "Yes" "How did you know that I would need your help now?" "I was sitting alone when I thought I saw mother telling me to go to you" "I came here and found you had gone to Dhritarashtra" "I never felt so helpless as I feel today" "What did brother-in-law say?" "How many times have I told you to call him 'king'" "Why?" "He is your brother-in-law call him that" "You have not answered the question" "What did Dhritarashtra say?" "The king has ordered me to go to Indraprashtha as his representative and invite Hastinapur's disaster" "Is this another of Shakuni's games?" "This is his last game and I have no solution" "There is no solution in sight" "I cannot stop a warrior from accepting and invitation to play Dice" "There are days of changing Ethics" "Like persons, even Ethics have an age" "I have understood this today" "Does an oath have an age, Vidur?" "It has, Grandsire" "The age of an oath is the age of the oath-taker" "I have sworn to defend Hastinapur" "No, Grandsire" "You had also sworn that you would see your father's image in whoever sits on the throne" "Yes, I had sworn that" "But you have not sworn any oath take Dhritarashtra's message to Yudhishthir and tell him..." "No, order him not to accept the invitation" "I am Hastinapur's representative" "I cannot violate the limits of a representative" "It is Hastinapur's tragedy that its well wishers Iovers and worshippers are either bound by some restraint or are helpless" "I don't know who will help this nation ...in its moment of need" "No I know why mother sent me to you" "Probably she wanted me to see how even a good man like you can become helpless" "Looks like we cannot prevent whatever is fated to happen" "My tragedy is that in case of war I will have to stand next to Shakuni" "O God!" "Is this humiliation also written in my Fate?" "Today you have seen the most ancient and magnificent tree fall" "It has devastated my heart" "Krishna, too, is caught in war or could I have told Him" "Hastinapur's Prime Minister Vidur is here" "My respects, Uncle" "You should not bow to a mere representative" "You are not a mere representative why else would I stop you?" "You are a representative to the king" "For me, your are my uncle" "I will definitely bow to you and ask for your blessings" "My blessings" "May you have sons" "Please be seated Uncle" "Please sit" "Now tell me, Uncle" "Why did you call yourself a representative?" "Hastinapur and Indraprashtha are independent nations" "I am Hastinapur's Prime Minister" "How's everyone there?" "That is a relative question" "By itself it has no meaning" "Everything depends on the circumstances" "Everyone there is fine and yet not quite all right" "Don't my brothers listen to you?" "You should not ask a representative such questions" "Since you have already asked it it is my duty to answer you" "Health-wise, everyone is all right" "The king's love is like a blessing to me" "The Princes do not oppose me and I obey the king" "They have sent me to ask about your welfare and invite you to Hastinapur to play Dice with Crown Prince Duryodhan" "Who else could know better than you that Dice is destructive" "Dice is a weapon which even separated brothers" "Even when you have come here..." "Dice is the root of all Evil, my queen" "Did you tell Father this?" "Your Father is himself an intelligent man" "Dice is the root of all Evil but a friendly game of Dice is not gambling" "I have to also prove to Uncle Shakuni that I did not win in Indraprashtha by chance" "I won because I am a good player" "There are no good players in Dice" "The dice dominates everything" "Uncle is right" "Uncle is always right" "However, as a warrior I cannot refuse a challenge to wage war or play Dice" "Please tell Father that we will honor his invitation" "Draupadi can once again see Hastinapur" "But, my lord..." "I cannot hurt Duryodhan by refusing" "If he wants to play Dice I'll come to Hastinapur to play Dice" "O my little army" "After this I'll never again ask for a favor" "I'll free you from my hands for ever" "This is the end of my revenge" "The destruction of the Pandavas begins now" "O my army" "Help me win this game." "Just one more time" "What are you doing Uncle?" "I am encouraging my army" "My victory depends on them" "Doesn't everything depend on luck?" "No" "Only losers say that" "An expert player knows how the dice will fall" "He knows how to block his opponent at every turn" "Besides, on plays to win" "Remember Duryodhan" "Only the ends are important not the means" "Justice and injustice are meaningless words" "Did the Indian tradition do justice to your father?" "No" "Even Bhishma watched the injustice silently" "This time Bhishma quietly sided with the Pandavas" "Thus you lost half your ancestral kingdom just like sunlight vanishing at twilight" "Vidur, too, plays a good game of Ethics But I'll plays a better game" "There are my dice" "Keep them carefully" "These are your victory dice" "When the game begins hand them to me and ask me to play on your behalf and use these dice so that no one can blame me of treachery" "I don't understand" "Vidur will not allow me to play with my dice" "Never" "But you need not worry" "You need not spend sleepless nights any more" "So, go and sleep peacefully" "Now, the Pandavas and their supporters ...will spend sleepless nights" "Emperor Yudhishthir" "Treachery is it's own God" "Treachery is its own sin" "Fear worships itself" "Fear fears itself" "They agreed to come and you returned?" "Don't you know that Dice is war not play for Shakuni?" "He wishes to win this war" "Duryodhan will play" "Yes, Duryodhan will play but Shakuni will throw the dice" "But..." "Put an end to your 'buts'" "Kings wage war but the armies battle it out" "So, do not make the mistake of raising this question" "Agreed you were the king's representative" "Agreed you could not cross your limits" "You should know that you are not only the Prime Minister but also their Uncle" "As one loyal to Hastinapur should you not have warned Yudhishthir?" "Whom are you loyal to?" "Hastinapur?" "Dhritarasthtra?" "It is not loyalty" "I even accepted the partition hoping it would end tension in the family" "I allowed injustice to the Pandavas because I knew Dhritarashtra had only one dream:" "That Duryodhan should reign after him" "But Duryodhan has become ambitious and wants to grab Indraprashtha" "Did you not see at the ritual that Duryodhan's heart was afire?" "I saw that" "For the first time you have disappointed me" "I no longer have the strength to bear Hastinapur's curse" "Whoever wins the game of Dice Hastinapur will be the loser" "my respects" "My blessings" "Please sit, Grandsire" "The days to sit are over my dear" "My entire body is aching with disappointment" "Where is my resting place?" "I do not know what to do?" "You are Hastinapur's queen" "Please help the nation" "You have to merely order" "If I could, would I not order Dhritarashtra?" "I can only request that you help Hastinapur, the Kurus and Dhritarashtra" "Ask Duryodhan to withdraw the invitation to play Dice" "If this game takes place neither you nor I will be left with anything" "I tried to tell my lord but no one listens to me nowadays" "I am myself frightened" "I cannot do anything except pray to God" "Both my lord and Duryodhan have reached the peak of their ambition" "Even I cannot reach that height" "Nor can my voice" "You are the elder of this family" "If you order they cannot refuse to listen" "When the shadows begin to lengthen it is time for the Sun to set" "I fear the moment when Dhritarasthra will pay obeisance and my hands will hesitate to bless him" "Please sit, Grandsire" "You must be tired standing" "Life itself has tired me" "I do not wish to see what I am fated to see" "Your sons and Kunti's sons are both dear to me" "I do not wish to side with any one of them" "I wish the status quo to continue" "That's why I agreed to the Partition" "I only hope that Fate is not lost in the labyrinth of Action" "Do not be sad, Grandsire" "I will pray that Yudhishthir wins the game of Dice" "If Duryodhan's victory means Hastinapur's loss I do not wish him to win" "Duryodhan is my eldest son but no son is more valuable than the nation" "If you order me I'll even curse Duryodhan" "No, my dear" "Save your curses" "Who knows when you will need them" "A mother should always bless her offspring" "So, bless Duryodhan with understanding" "Welcome to Hastinapur" "Greetings to all of you" "It seems as if I have returned home after a very long time" "This house, too, is yours" "Thank God it is not a house of wax" "Should I call you Crown Prince or Duryodhan?" "Let bygones be bygones" "I am ashamed of the incident" "We would have died" "Then I would have committed suicide" "You did not commit suicide in so many years" "You took advantage and became Crown Prince" "What are you talking?" "Such talk between brothers is not good" "Don't mind, Duryodhan." "They are still immature" "All this only means that my brothers are still angry with me" "If that was the case, why would we have come?" "Your lover has already won my heart" "Allow me to serve you why not?" "Come" "Serve them well, Dushasan" "There was a fire in the heart and sweet words on the lips" "To cheat then in play was the game" "Evil was at the root of treachery" "Congratulations, Karna" "For what, Uncle?" "Emperor Yudhishtir, his brothers and Draupadi are here to lose everything" "I have no interest in Dice, Uncle" "I am not a gambler" "I would rather lose in war than win in gambling" "Learn to share your friend's joy" "I do not want to win for myself" "I want to win for your friend Duryodhan" "I want to be known as as warrior" "Not as a gambler" "Are you ever happy, Karna?" "Where's Duryodhan?" "We are the only outsiders" "The rest are in Dhritarashtra's room" "The queen is waiting for you" "Pay my respects to Mother" "Tell her I am in seclusion" "I'll meet her after my ritual bath" "As you wish" "Crown Prince Duryodhan, Prince Dushasan Emperor Yudhishthir Bhim, Arjun Nakul and Sahadev are on the way" "Come brothers, Mother is waiting" "Father" "The Pandavas are here" "Our respects, Father Mother" "May you live long" "I did not hear Draupadi's footsteps" "She will come three days later" "Yudhishthir" "Yes, Father" "Today, I am willing to trade my life for one moment in which I can see all of you together" "I wish to see you smiling the entire Kuru clan is here today and talking sweetly to me another" "Why do you call yourself sightless, Father?" "You have a hundred and five pairs of eyes" "We are your eyes" "See the world through our eyes" "May you live long Arjun" "India will always look upon you with pride" "Today your elder Father congratulates you" "Tomorrow King Dhritarashtra will congratulate you" "Hail Emperor Yudhishthir" "Accept the salutations of your sons, my king" "I bless my emperor-son with success and a long life" "Come son, sit next to me" "As you wish" "Come o king" "My respects Blessings" "All of you sit down" "I thank God for allowing me to witness this day" "What can be a greater blessing for me that I can welcome Emperor Yudhishthir to the city of his ancestors" "Like my own eyes Hastinapur is weeping with joy and happiness" "I wish all of you will join me when I say:" "Long live Emperor Yudhishthir" "God willing your name will always be respected in India" "God willing your reign will ensure the progress of Religion, Justice and Prosperity" "To this day, I could lay no claim to greatness" "Today, I can claim with pride that I am Emperor Yudhishthir's Father" "A clan in which elders are known by the deeds of youngsters is indeed respected" "I bless you on behalf of India and greet you on behalf of Hastinapur" "Now, let us all go to the Recreation Palace where Duryodhan will play Dice with his elder brother Yudhishthir" "It is a strange situation" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa and Vidur are fully aware of the results if the Dice game" "And yet, they are all quiet" "It is as if they are unable to speak" "Bhishma is bound by his oath" "Sages Kripa and Drona are obliged to Dhritarasthra" "The others, silenced by their own limits are a mute witness to the entire proceedings" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa..." "Prime Minister Vidur are on their way" "Come Grandsire" "Please be seated" "Crown Prince Duryodhan, King Shakuni of Gandhar" "Karna and Prince Dushasan are on their way" "Emperor Yudhishthir is entering with his younger brothers" "My respects" "My respects, O Sage" "My respects, O Teacher" "My respects, Uncle" "My respects, Uncle" "May you live long, O son of Pandu" "My respects, Elder Brother" "Be victorious" "With this blessing you have lost even before starting" "Duryodhan is younger than me." "His victory is my victory" "That's true" "On your guard." "Heir of the Bharat dynasty King Dhritarashtra of Hastinapur is here" "Come" "Have Yudhishthir and Duryodhan arrived?" "Everyone is here, my King" "We are waiting for your order" "The game may begin" "Can we begin the game, Brother?" "First, decide on the rules, my son" "What are rules between brothers, Uncle" "A game is a game" "It is the best to decide the rules first so that there is no bickering afterwards" "The stakes will be mine but Uncle will play on my behalf" "Why?" "If you do not know how to throw the dice why did you invite us to play?" "Is the Emperor afraid of playing against Uncle?" "It is not a question of being afraid, Karna" "The point is, war and Dice cannot be played by proxy" "Arjun is right" "You are always on Arjun's side" "If Brother does not wish to play, it is okay but if we play Uncle will play on my behalf" "There is no shame in losing a game" "I am not talking of shame, Grandsire" "But uncle will play on my behalf or there will be no game" "Give me one reason why this should be so, my son" "Because, father I want it to be so" "If this is unacceptable I shall go" "Okay Duryodhan." "Let Uncle play for you" "Now sit down" "Do not be angry." "Sit down, nephew" "I stake this priceless necklace" "This is on my behalf" "Come, on, Uncle" "Of course" "Wait" "The king gives the soldier his weapon" "At this moment, you are Duryodhan's soldier" "So play with Duryodhan's dice" "All right, Duryodhan give me your dice" "There is no trust in Hastinapur" "Here, give me the dice" "Are you happy now, Vidur?" "No, Uncle." "Play with your own dice like you did in Indraprashtha" "No, Yudhishthir." "Now I'll only play with Duryodhan's dice" "Please start" "No, Uncle." "You are playing on behalf of my younger brother" "So, you play first" "As you wish, Emperor" "What did you say?" "I need six, Uncle" "Of course!" "I cannot refuse you" "Six, my nephew" "Now look at the miracle" "Right!" "Twelve, Uncle" "Here you are" "Play, nephew" "Now, what do you need?" "Eight" "It's eight, Emperor Yudhishthir" "Ten" "Here's ten, Duryodhan" "I doubt you will get to play, Yudhishthir" "Uncle, I need nine" "I think you can safely wear the necklace" "Come on nine!" "Give me the necklace, Arjun" "Yes, Arjun, Give Yudhishthir's rare necklace" "This rare necklace is now ours" "rare necklace" "This is your first victory, Duryodhan" "I hope Duryodhan is now satisfied" "His invitation has been honored" "Yudhishthir has lost." "Duryodhan has won" "We can end the game here" "How can that be?" "Will not the world laugh at us and say I did not give Yudhishthir a chance to win?" "Won't this be an insult for us?" "Duryodhan is right, Grandsire" "Listen to Grandsire, Brother" "I cannot insult everyone by getting up from the game" "What will you stake now, Yudhishthir?" "I stake one lakh eighteen thousand gold coins and my eternal treasure" "Then I will win over all that you have staked" "Twelve, Uncle" "that's my disciplined army, my nephew" "Try to win over the Pandavas and not their wealth" "Uncle ask the king of Indraprashtha and my world-conquering brother to get up if he is afraid of losing the game" "I have invited him to play Dice" "This time stake my chariot" "May I win this chariot, o Crown Prince?" "You may" "Uncle Yes, nephew" "I need eight" "Here you are" "Now you will have to walk, Brother" "You have lost your chariot, dear Yudhishthir" "Now what will stake?" "Speak, O Son of Kunti" "Now I stake one lakh maids with their gold ornaments" "Duryodhan has no dearth of maids but if you want to lose them, so be it" "One lakh maids with gold ornaments" "Now, my dear army, I need six" "Six, Duryodhan" "Now what will you stake Emperor?" "A thousand elephants with gold seats" "Did you hear that, my dear nephew?" "Play, Uncle." "I need seven" "And you will get seven" "Seven!" "The elephants are ours" "don't be frightened, Brother" "Do you have anything else to stake?" "I have various jewels and celestial conches" "That apart, I have limitless wealth" "I stake all this" "You have staked it, I'll win it!" "Now, what do you need?" "We need eight, Uncle" "Eight it will be!" "Now, my dear nephew Yudhishthir's limitless wealth is yours" "do you have anything else left?" "Speak Emperor!" "Think, Emperor" "Speak, dear Yudhishthir with the expectation of Brahmins and their wealth I now stake my land, and my subjects and my nation" "Indraprashtha is at stake, nephew" "I was waiting for this moment" "I must win now" "Twelve, Nephew" "Indraprashtha is mine" "You have lost everything, Emperor he is no longer and Emperor" "has the Emperor lost Indraprashtha?" "Now what will you stake?" "Don't feel shy." "You can still win" "Now I stake my younger brother Nakul" "For God's sake stop this game, my king" "At least allow him to lose what he has staked" "Shall I play?" "Yes, Uncle." "Play" "Do not fear, Yudhishthir" "A warrior is fearless in War and at Dice" "What do you need now?" "I need nine, Uncle" "Nine?" "Here you are!" "Nakul is our slave" "Now what will you stake?" "I stake Sahadev" "My army is ready" "Tell me what you need" "Uncle Yes, Nephew" "I need six" "Of course" "Here you are" "Sahadev, too, is your slave, my dear nephew" "Now what will you stake?" "At least ask your younger brothers if they wish to be staked" "I don't need to ask them" "Play, O King of Gandhar" "Arjun at stake!" "I need eight, Uncle" "With Arjun at stake, we will get eight" "Arjun!" "You are my slave now" "Brave Arjun is your slave now" "What will you stake now?" "Speak!" "I now stake Bhim" "Powerful Bhim!" "Twelve" "My dear Bhim" "Bhim, too, is a slave" "Bhim!" "You are now my slave" "Now what?" "I stake myself" "Emperor Yudhishthir at stake!" "If you win this stake the entire world will be in your grasp" "My army must win this game" "I must win this time, Uncle" "Of course, nephew" "Now I need nine" "Yudhishthir!" "You are now my slave" "Well done, my army!" "Now we must end this game" "I have nothing more to stake" "Why not?" "What about arrogant beautiful Draupadi?" "You are now my slave" "Sit Down!" "No!" "My slaves!" "Your daughter-in-law's name has been dishonored and yet, you have kept quiet, my lord?" "Have the courage to forsake your son" "Or else he will besmirch our dynasty" "Even the Ganges will not be able to wish this sin" "Throw this arrogant sinner out!" "Let the pure come in so that this dynasty will be honored" "Do not delay taking this decision or else History will never forgive you" "Uncle!" "The king does not need History's forgiveness" "History is a slave of brave warriors" "Had you been only a Prime Minister I swear at my Father's feet that I would have beheaded you like a gardener pruning his plants" "But you are my Uncle" "You are like that ungrateful cat who scratched the hand that feeds her" "Don't think, Uncle, that I do not know that you have always opposed me" "Sit here quietly like Grandsire Sages Drona and Kripa or else get out" "If you knew the meaning of honor you would not insult your father by interrupting me" "This is still King Dhritarashtra's court" "You have no right to throw out or call anyone here" "The Serpent of Destruction is ready to strike" "Don't encourage it" "Have mercy on your dynasty" "Show this serpent the way out" "Order the completion of the game, my king" "Uncle!" "I had sent out the invitation" "So, only I can announce the end of the game" "Speak Yudhishthir" "Yes!" "Pick up the dice, Uncle" "Yes, my nephew" "I want Draupadi" "Of course!" "My dice always obey me" "Uncle, I need nine" "Of course, you will get nine" "Once more, my dice" "Draupadi is now your maid, Duryodhan" "Draupadi is now my maid Yudhishthir" "Go, uncle Vidur ...and bring back Draupadi" "From now she is my maid" "She cannot stay in the palace she must stay with the other maids" "You fool!" "Do not invite your death" "Prime Minister" "You should have carried out my order" "Guard!" "Yes, Crown Prince" "Go fetch Draupadi" "As you wish" "Hail, my queen" "Come!" "The guard from the Recreation Room is here" "Bring him to the door" "Hail, my queen" "Speak, guard" "My tongue hesitates to speak the words I have been sent with" "Who sent you with this message?" "Crown Prince Duryodhan" "Duryodhan sent you here with indecent words?" "Speak them, guard" "You are merely repeating his words." "Speak" "Won't you obey me?" "What did the Crown Prince say?" "King Yudhishthir lost his crown at Dice, my queen" "has the king lost his kingdom?" "Looks like there is more to tell" "Speak!" "The king has also lost his brothers" "What?" "I am sure you are mistaken" "Brothers are not a part of wealth to be staked and lost" "He has also lost you, my queen" "Looks like there is still more to tell" "Don't cry, Speak without fear" "Prince Duryodhan has ordered you to come to the Hall" "Ordered me?" "Am I his maid?" "Yudhishthir is the essence of Religion" "Can he commit such a sinful act?" "Was he drunk?" "No, my queen." "He was not drunk" "He lost his brothers and I knowingly?" "Then return and ask the gambler and did he lose me before losing himself or after" "Without an answer I'll not go there" "Bring back an answer and then take me" "As you wish, my queen" "Having lost his kingdom he also lost his brothers" "Even a worthy woman like Draupadi was enslaved" "Gambling is a vice which destroys intelligence" "Even the essence of Truth ...is bound to the wiles of the Dice" "The story has taken a shameful turn" "Draupadi stands alone on one side of the dividing line" "The others are on the other side" "Grandsire Bhishma, sage Drona Sage Kripa and the Pandavas all stand on the other side" "This is the moment to pause and think because every man, born and unborn, has to decide on which side of the dividing line he stands" "Every man will have to participate in this tragedy" "Let us begin today's story with the guard sent by Duryodhan" "You have lost everything, Emperor he is no longer an Emperor" "What will you stake now?" "Now I will stake my younger brother Nakul" "What do you need Duryodhan?" "I need nine nine!" "Nakul is a slave now" "Now I stake Sahadev" "Sahadev!" "Six!" "Sahadev is a slave" "Arjun!" "Eight!" "Now I stake Bhim" "Bhim at stake" "Twelve!" "My dear Bhim..." "Bhim is a slave now" "Now, my king?" "Now I stake myself" "I must win this game" "Of course" "Now, I need nine" "Now we must end this game" "I have nothing more to stake" "Why not?" "What about the arrogant beautiful Draupadi?" "Your daughter-in-law's name has been dishonored and yet, you have kept quiet, my lord?" "Will you stake Draupadi or not?" "Yes!" "I need nine, Uncle" "Draupadi is now my maid, Yudhishthir" "Ask the gambler who staked me whether he lost me before losing himself" "O king!" "As the family sage I must point out that Lust, Temptation and Dice are bad habits which destroys both Man and Character" "O Sage!" "Had I been losing, you would not have said this" "This shows your gratitude" "Sit Down, O sage!" "When the bamboo is about to die it begins to sprouts fruits" "Duryodhan is the fruit of Hastinapur's politics" "If you can still think, then think!" "Dishonoring Draupadi is like insulting the dynasty" "Draupadi is no longer the daughter-in-law" "She is my maid" "She will stay with my other maids" "She will work like the rest of them" "My loyalty is to the throne and not towards Duryodhan" "And remember it is my father who sits on the throne." "I agree with Grandsire" "This is a dishonor to the dynasty" "I do not wish to learn about honor from you" "Sit down" "I do not like to see crowns on the heads of my slaves" "remove them and place them at my feet!" "Hail Crown Prince!" "Why have you returned alone?" "The queen would like to ask King Yudhishthir a question" "Do not insult the assembled kings by calling a slave king" "What did that maid say?" "She would like to know whether the king lost himself before he lost her" "Tell that woman with five husbands to come here and ask that question herself" "As you wish, Crown Prince" "Have you brought back an answer?" "The king was quiet but the Crown Prince has asked you to come there and ask the question yourself" "Do me another favor" "Tell them that Draupadi only listens to her elders" "If Grandsire wishes the honor of the Kurus to come to the Gambling Hail I shall definitely come" "If Grandsire orders me, I shall definitely obey" "If Uncle Vidur feels it is right for me to go there I shall definitely come" "But if both feel it is not right then I shall not come" "The Crown Prince will send me back" "Can't you even do so much for me?" "As you wish!" "Who is she to ask questions of the elder Kurus?" "I have won her and she has to obey me" "For God's sake end this game now, my king the king cannot do me an injustice" "Yudhishthir had staked Draupadi" "Why did you not tell him before the game that he should not stake her because she is the Kuru honor" "Why raise these questions after I have won the stake?" "Does anyone have an answer to my question?" "Yes, Brother" "The guard is a fool, you go and drag that woman by her hair" "As you wish, Brother" "Come!" "We have won you" "Learn to respect a woman, Dushasan" "Do not insult her womb" "Do I have to drag you there?" "Do not take me there like this" "I am the Kuru honor, the daughter-in-law" "Today you are nothing but a maid" "I have not yet had my ritual bath" "How can I go before the elders?" "I did not pay my respects and now you are dragging me before Father" "Those who know me will understand but what about the others" "Can I claim to be King Pandu's daughter-in-law?" "What will you say if we meet Mother and She asks you why you are dragging me?" "Will you tell her you are taking me to the Hall?" "Learn to talk to Princes, maid." "Come now" "The Pandavas will never forgive you for this insult" "Even if they forgive you, I won't!" "From today, I am a sign of their humiliation" "The evil have crossed every limit of Sin" "he drags the honor of his dynasty to the Hall full of strangers" "Here is the woman with five husbands" "What had you said?" "A blind man's son is blind!" "Dushasan, seat her on my thigh" "If I don't break your thigh to avenge this insult I'll accept being your slave for seven births" "Don't worry, my friend" "It takes time to forget and learn new things" "They will soon forget that they are warriors" "They will soon learn to live like slaves" "Let us see how this arrogant Draupadi who called me the son of a charioteer learns to accept her sons as sons of slaves" "Averting your eyes is not the solution, Grandsire" "Your Daughter-in-law stands before you without her ritual bath to pay her respects" "I want to know how you'll bless me today have you sworn only to guard the throne?" "Does not the Kuru honor mean anything?" "It does not befit a brave man to hide his face like this look at me!" "I am a question mark before the Kuru honor" "Look at how your daughter-in-law has been dragged into the Hall" "Is this the tradition of Bharat's dynasty?" "If you agree to this, I'll keep quiet" "My father's dynasty has a different tradition there, a daughter-in-law's honor is respected and protected" "But all families do not have the same tradition" "Tell me what is the tradition of this dynasty" "Look at me, Grandsire" "When I touched your feet for the first time you had blessed me with happy married life" "Look at the state of that blessing" "though all this happens in your presence, you are quiet" "Does this mean you accept this treachery this injustice, this Sin?" "Are you a part to my humiliation?" "If not, get up and kill these evil men who seek to humiliate your daughter-in-law" "You are sitting in the shade of the Tree of Evil" "Get up, Grandsire!" "Get up!" "You are a scholar of the scriptures" "How can a person who has lost himself at Dice stake another person's independence and honor?" "I want an answer to my question and your ashamed silence is not an answer" "It is not Draupadi alone who asks this question" "It is woman kind itself!" "Our eternal Mother Earth asks this question the nations future is asking this question the nation which Emperor Bharat built" "Guide me, Grandsire" "My daughter..." "I am not talking of relationships" "I am talking of humiliation" "If a wife is a part of the husband's wealth my husband lost me when he lost himself" "If a wife is not a part of a husband's wealth how could he stake me without asking me?" "What does this family's tradition say?" "Please do not call me daughter" "Had I been a daughter of this family none of you would have accepted this insult quietly" "Call me a daughter-in-law" "I would like to see your tongues stumble over the words" "Answer Panchali's questions, Grandsire" "What answer will he give?" "He is himself a question" "Your younger brother Pandu's daughter-in-law pays her respects to you" "You are fortunate that you are blind" "Had you not been blind you would definitely be blinded by this spectacle" "Don't tell me anything" "Yudhishthir did not ask me before staking you" "Nor did Duryodhan ask me before winning you" "Direct your question to Yudhishthir who violated tradition by staking you" "As you wish, Father!" "But before I ask him that question I want to pay respects to my father's friend Sage Drona to whom I also address this question" "You had sent a message through Uncle Vidur that I was both a daughter and daughter-in-law" "Should I pay my respects as a daughter or daughter-in-law?" "You, too, are silent!" "Sage Kripa!" "Uncle Vidur!" "What does your ethics say about this?" "You are noted for speaking the bitter truth" "Can a husband stake his wife at Dice?" "Can a slave stake someone else's freedom?" "She is right" "Vikarna!" "Let them speak, my dear nephew" "Whatever was to happen has happened" "Yudhishthir lost Draupadi" "Who is he to lose me?" "Even if he has the right to lose his wife I am not his wife alone" "I am married to the five brothers." "I am not his alone" "Did he ask you before staking me as whether he could stake your wife?" "Did you give him permission?" "O great archer!" "O Brave Warrior who pierced the fish's eye" "Did you win my hand so that your brother could stake me?" "There were other gamblers before you but they did not even stake there mistresses and you watched your wedded wife being staked?" "Shame on you and your bravery" "Why don't you answer Panchali's question?" "You are the essence of truth" "By God!" "Had it not been you who staked Draupadi I would have killed the gambler" "At last my ambition is realized the brothers have quarreled" "Like white ants destroy a huge tree like a disease destroys a body sister-in-law's insult will also be destroy Bharat's dynasty" "This disease will destroy the tree in whose shade we are sitting" "Grandsire, Father, Uncle Vidur Sages Kripa and Drona, Karna please answer the question" "Your answer will decide Hastinapur's fate also answer my question" "Does a husband have a right to stake his wife?" "If you do not answer this question today till you have an answer for it" "Yudhishthir should not have staked Draupadi but a husband has a right over his wife" "Right?" "What is the definition of 'right?" "'" "Isn't it also true that a husband is duty bound to protect his wife?" "They have failed to protect you" "So, go and sit on Duryodhan's lap" "You already have five husbands what's the harm in taking a sixth?" "Some day I will punish you for this insult" "Shut up!" "How dare you talk to my friend like this?" "I will cut your tongue" "Let him speak!" "He will soon learn to behave like a slave" "A woman who lives with five husbands is not a wife" "She is a whore!" "And a whore has no honor" "It would not be improper to bring her here nude" "Sit down!" "My friend is right" "A whore and a maid has no honor" "Disrobe this maid!" "Let me see how this maid looks in the nude" "Dushasan if you even touch her clothes I will cut off your hands" "Then ask her to disrobe herself" "If she doesn't I'll have to tear off her clothes" "Come on, take off your clothes, Be quick!" "Where are you off to?" "Come here!" "O Lord!" "O ruler of Dwarka!" "O All-powerful Ruler of the world!" "Save my honor, my Lord!" "O Krishna!" "Pull Dushasan!" "Disrobe her!" "Pull nephew!" "Pull Dushasan" "Pull Dushasan!" "Pull!" "Listen O warrior of this world!" "Warriors who are long dead and those who are as yet unborn" "I am about to swear an oath which none before or after me will swear" "I, son of Pandu, Bhim announce that till I drink the blood from Dushasan's chest I shall not show my face to my ancestors" "Grandsire!" "My King!" "O Sage Drona!" "O sage Kripa!" "We have seen what we should not have" "Now answer Draupadi's question" "A wounded Soul, the honor of the Kurus has asked you a question" "She sits here crying hiding her face in shame" "Please answer her question at least now" "You are all knowledgeable" "Her question concerns the scriptures" "Not answering is akin to telling half a lie and answering is akin to telling a full lie" "Will you tell half a lie or a full lie?" "Because none among us has the courage to tell the truth" "But we cannot keep quiet" "We will have to tell her:" "Get up O Draupadi!" "Wipe your tears, gather your honor and go elsewhere for this court is a court of dead people" "This is a court of corpses!" "King Dhritarasthra of Hastinapur" "A woman has been insulted in your court" "A woman, whose body was untouched by the wind unseen by even the Sun in her own house in the presence of Grandsire, Father Sage Drona and Family Sage Kripa an attempt was made to disrobe her" "What weakness compelled the Kuru clan to watch the disrobing of their daughter-in-law?" "Listen carefully!" "In this gathering of shameless cowards I, Draupadi, daughter of the King of Panchal a wife and daughter-in-law curse all of you with..." "No!" "No, my daughter!" "The very sky echoes with the voice of a woman" "A deadly silence has enveloped the court today" "Those who dare to insult womankind" "He is destroyed by the Lord Himself!" "It is true that I am impartial" "But impartiality does not mean turning one's eyes away from reality" "But this is a moment when one must avert one's eyes" "A woman is being dishonored in a country where women are worshipped" "I am a witness to that dishonored..." "But an Indian woman is not born to accept dishonor quietly" "So, listen to Draupadi's diatribe which is still echoing all around me and will continue to echo for ever" "King Dhritarasthra of Hastinapur" "A woman has been insulted in your court" "A woman, whose body was untouched by the wind unseen by even the Sun in her own house in the presence of Grandsire, Father sage Drona and Family Sage Kripa and attempt was made to disrobe her" "What weakness compelled the Kuru clan to watch quietly the disrobing of their daughter-in-law" "Listen carefully" "In this gathering of shameless cowards..." "I, Draupadi, daughter of the King of Panchal wife of the Indraprashtha King a daughter-in-law of Hastinapur curse all of you with..." "No, my daughter!" "Take me to Draupadi" "I cannot pay obeisance without a ritual bath" "No, my daughter!" "No, don't cry" "yes, Mother" "You have disrobed your sister-in-law" "Now ask Dushasan to disrobe your mother Gandhari" "Why are you quiet?" "Order your brother to do it" "Brother Shakuni?" "Ask your dear nephew to listen to his mother at least once" "Vidur was right when, on your birth, he said you should be killed in Hastinapur's interest" "But your father and I could not bear to do it" "Had we listened to Vidur then this humiliation would have been avoided" "O ancestors of Bharat's dynasty begs your humble forgiveness" "...for having given birth to such a son" "None in this dynasty has even touched a maid" "When the heir of such a dynasty molests the daughter-in-law how could you keep quiet?" "Did not the curse of a pious woman scare you?" "If Draupadi curses you the Earth will not yield grain the moon will not give light the river will not give water the sun will not shine" "Even when your army is powerless against the curse" "Your elder Mother begs you not the curse this dynasty" "Whatever they are, they are my people" "They are your people" "Forgive Grandsire Bhishma Uncle Vidur, your elder Father and Sages Drona and Kripa." "Forgive them" "I will forgive them all except Duryodhan, Dushasan Karna and Uncle Shakuni" "I understand your pain, my daughter" "But Duryodhan and Dushasan are my sons" "Whatever they are, they are my sons" "I beg of you not to curse them" "Say something, my lord" "I know you cannot see but surely you can hear and think" "Yes, Gandhari is right" "I cannot see" "But I can hear and think" "My ancestors Grandsire Bhishma Sages Drona and Kripa the Pandavas and Draupadi are witnesses to what I say" "Neither the Past nor the Future will forgive me" "My dear Panchali" "Come to me" "My daughter, if you have forgiven me ask for a boon" "Yes, my dear." "Ask what you wish" "If you really wish to give me something free Emperor Yudhishthir from slavery" "I don't want my sons to be called slaves" "I free Yudhishthir from the bonds of slavery" "Ask for something else" "I ask for freedom for the other Pandavas as well as their arms and divine weapons" "I grant that, Kalyani" "Ask for something more" "That would be greed, my king" "A warrior's wife cannot ask for more than two boons" "But I have every right to give" "I return to Yudhishthir whatever he has lost in today's game" "my lord, ask your sons whether they wish to get back what they have lost" "By the grace of Lord Shiva" "I have seen many pretty women but none was as sharp as this one" "we are no longer slaves" "So, keep quiet" "Don't you dare even praise Panchali" "Keep quiet or I'll kill you" "Your talking angrily is an insult to Father" "Come." "Let's take his blessings" "What do you wish us to do?" "This is what I wish" "But before you leave listen to what I say" "An axe does not cut stone" "It can only cut wood an intelligent man does not seek revenge" "So, it is best to forget what has happened today" "In case you are reminded of this day and wish to avenge yourself think of your blind elder father and your elder Mother Gandhari" "If you do this it may help to calm your desire for revenge" "Do not cry, my dear, because Hastinapur has forgotten its honor" "Even my sons have shamed me" "A mother of gambler asks for your forgiveness" "I thought they were the best in the world" "But now my pride is shattered" "I would never have thought they would insult my motherhood by staking you at Dice" "Even I wish to cry but I will not cry" "I do not wish the Kauravas to know that Kunti is capable of tears" "So, wipe your tears" "Wipe them with your own hands and hold your head high" "It is not you who have been insulted" "Yudhishthir has been insulted" "Bhim has been insulted" "Arjun has been insulted" "Grandsire Bhishma has been insulted" "Hastinapur has been insulted" "Sister-in-law Gandhari has been insulted" "Why cry in the darkness taking these insults upon yourself" "Do not cry, my dear" "Hail O Queen!" "Prime Minister Vidur is here" "Bring him in" "Come Prime Minister" "Hail O Queen!" "Is there any honor in being the Queen of a land where the Crown Prince has ordered the public disrobing of the daughter-in-law?" "None of the elders spoke up" "There is no honor in being the Queen" "...all watched in silence" "If the eyes are open Man is compelled to watching" "Are eyes only for watching?" "Don't the Soul's eyes also open?" "If they do, why didn't Grandsire speak up?" "How did he accept the insult of the throne to which he is loyal?" "Duryodhan is Sage Drona's disciple" "Is this what he taught him?" "If not then how did he accept an insult to his teaching?" "Sage Kripa is the Family Sage" "How could he witness the disrobing of the Kuru honor" "Each person is responsible for his actions" "Grandsire, Sage Drona Sage Kripa are all decent, educated persons" "Each will come to terms with his actions" "I have only come to tell you one thing" "Save the Kuru Dynasty from destruction" "I have lost all confidence in myself" "I have not yet recovered" "What will happen?" "What won't happen?" "Who will be saved?" "Who won't?" "Can you not see, Vidur that I have bandaged my eyes?" "Take your request to your brother or Grandsire" "At this moment, my mind is crawling with thousands of questions" "I am like the tied cow who can see the flames of her burning house approach but can do nothing" "I am helpless" "the mirror of India's honor has cracked" "Let is mourn it" "Mourning will not solve any problems, my queen" "Since your coming you have addressed me as queen" "Have you forgotten that I am your sister-in-law" "When Duryodhan insulted me in court and asked me to get out the king did not scold Duryodhan for insulting his uncle" "How then can I call you sister-in-law?" "But I am hopeless" "Hastinapur is my Land of Action" "It's your Land of Action not a prison you cannot leave" "This son of a maid..." "As long as I can bear the pain I'll bear it" "Besides, I do not wish to think of that day when the pain will cross the limits of my strength." "May I leave now?" "Where will you go?" "I'll knock on every door of Knowledge in Hastinapur" "Goodbye!" "May God give you peace" "There is peace only in the cemetery" "I don't want peace." "I want answers to my questions" "This is a question which India's soul has asked for the first time!" "What is the definition of limits?" "Is a wife a thing or a person?" "If it was right to stake Draupadi then what is Evil?" "There are many more questions like these" "If your questions are answered please tell me" "As you wish" "Greetings O Sage My Blessings" "Please be seated O Sage" "Please take a seat" "I am afraid of taking any seat in Hastinapur" "Is there any way of being free of them?" "Is this life or a penalty for a crime of some past life?" "If this is not a penalty how did we remain silent at this insult of womanhood?" "Having remained silent what else are we living to witness?" "I have run away from these questions" "People like you cannot run away" "If you could, you would have committed suicide" "Please be seated O teacher" "Don't such questions bother you, Bhishma?" "Don't ask about me" "It seems I am born to bear such onslaughts" "Each new wound is deeper than the earlier one" "Draupadi had asked me a question in court!" "Had she been my daughter would I have still kept quiet?" "That question still troubles me" "Listen Carefully O Sage" "The foundations of an ancient house are trembling" "We have witnessed the breaking of a society which our ancestors had created" "Vidur is a better man than us" "At least he spoke his mind out and did not remain silent" "What was the result?" "Did Dhritarasthra listen?" "Did Duryodhan stop to think for a moment?" "We are all responsible for the blackening of Hastinapur's fair name" "We will have to give our blood to wash this" "We are indebted to Hastinapur" "It is best that we pay it back in this lifetime" "So, do not think of leaving Hastinapur" "Only Hastinapur can sacrifice us for the Future why do you talk like this?" "Maybe he was late but the king did object" "Do you think that the Pandavas will seek revenge and attack Hastinapur?" "They may have attacked had Krishna not been with them" "Krishna will not allow them to seek vengeance" "War is still on the other side of the horizon but there will be war, There is no doubt" "Shakuni's conspiracies are not yet over" "Shakuni is a curse for Hastinapur" "Our helplessness is such that we know his game but cannot do anything" "God knows what conspiracy Shakuni will hatch" "I agree with you" "My respects" "My blessings" "My respects" "Come sit" "I had come for your blessings and to tell you we are returning to Indraprashtha" "Why did you come alone?" "Don't your brothers need Grandsire's blessings?" "Elder brother did not want me to come" "He did not want to embarrass you" "Has we all come, Draupadi would have also come" "Then why did you come?" "I could not leave without meeting you" "God alone knows when and how we will meet again" "I also wanted to ask you" "What should I do about the fire of vengeance burning in my heart?" "What vengeance are you talking of?" "Whatever Yudhishthir lost has been returned to him" "Not everything has been returned" "The hand which disrobed her was not punished" "Duryodhan's thigh was not punished" "the tongue which called Draupadi a whore was not punished" "Hastinapur is indebted to us" "Hastinapur will pay is back when it gives us the corpses of Duryodhan, Dushasan, Karna and Shakuni" "You will have to accept my corpse, too" "Teacher!" "And mine!" "Why are you afraid?" "Can you not fire arrows against me?" "I am Hastinapur's gatekeeper" "If an enemy wishes to enter he will have to kill me first" "Are you saying that we should swallow this insult?" "Who am I to say that?" "Each one has to decide for himself" "But I do want to ask you a question:" "Who is responsible for what happened?" "Did Duryodhan stake Draupadi?" "When Yudhishthir staked Draupadi did anyone stop you from objecting?" "If not then you are all responsible for what happened" "We could not insult our elder brother" "Do you have his permission to threaten me with war?" "My dear Arjun?" "I have been wounded and insulted" "My Hastinapur has been insulted" "Our ancestors have been insulted" "And you can only think of your insult!" "Go back to Indraprashtha, my son" "Think of why all this happened" "Do not wander about with accusations" "Revenge does not solve any problems" "Your elders have made a mistake" "The sad thing is that I cannot tell this to Duryodhan" "He is an upturned pot there is enough room for water but no opening" "There is revenge on one side and insult on the other" "Bhishma is caught between the two like being caught in a deep river" "With this insult of womanhood decency has been defeated" "In the game of victory and defeat the dynasty has lost its honor" "Hastinapur has lost" "The values which Indians were proud of and which guided their lives and society have also lost" "It may be that Dhritirashtra was frightened by Draupadi's curse but it could also be that he was frightened ...by his ambition and filial love" "But there is no doubt that he was frightened" "However, his fear has played havoc with Shakuni's game and Duryodhan's dreams" "Neither Shakuni nor Duryodhan is willing to accept that" "When Draupadi threw the dice of her divinity even an experienced player like Shakuni lost" "Whatever he had won was lost in a moment and he could do nothing about it" "Why are you worried, Dushasan?" "The Pandavas will return to Indraprasth tomorrow" "Let them go!" "Whenever I see them my body is set afire" "It is as if this fire will burn my personality and my ego" "I am happy that they are going" "How can I be happy to see them go?" "The Pandavas are taking back whatever Uncle won for us" "What can I say about father?" "There's no point in calling him blind" "He is blind!" "He is a fool!" "Call him a fool, Dushasan!" "He is unique in the history of Mankind" "He has spent his life in giving his sons' rights to someone else's sons" "Why should they worry when they have you, Uncle" "I am sure you have many more conspiracies" "Truth cannot be a basis for humor" "Yes, you are right" "My quiver of ideas is not yet empty" "Allow me to leave" "Wait, Karna!" "Do you like your character over Duryodhan's friendship?" "Tell me, King of Anga!" "My army had won the game but Draupadi spoilt every thing" "You, too, were there" "You are a witness to my victory" "Draupadi came like a divine weapon and frightened your father into submission" "What can we do now?" "If only we can play just one more game I'll win everything back" "Impossible!" "Father will never allow us to play again" "You have not yet understood your father" "He will try and give you whatever you want" "Do not worry about that!" "The only problem is the two Sages and Grandsire" "The three of them are bound to the throne" "Do not worry about them" "You should worry about Vidura and my sister Gandhari" "Let me think what you should tell the King" "The Pandavas will not accept this humiliation" "If I were in their place I would attack Hastinapur immediately" "Maybe they will do that." "What should we do?" "We should attack them before they attack us" "Attack!" "Yes." "For the first time, I have liked what you said" "Attack!" "First you will attack Grandsire Shishma" "If you can defeat him you will have won the game" "You will have to attack now" "Go, my dear nephew, Go this minute" "O Shishma!" "Have you met Yuddhistir?" "How can I go to the Pandavas?" "What shall I tell them?" "They are gentlemen" "They will not talk of what happened but their eyes will speak about it" "The Crown Prince is here to see you" "At this time?" "Okay, let him in" "My respects, O Teacher!" "Grandsire!" "Come my child!" "How did you think of me so late at night?" "I have two plans before me" "Please tell me which I should implement" "What plans, Duryodhan?" "I am not ashamed of what has happened" "Draupadi had become my slave and I had unlimited right over her" "Yuddhistir should be ashamed for staking his wife" "I also know that we differ with one another on this matter" "Talk of your plans, Duryodhan" "This background is essential, O Teacher" "All right!" "If it is over, talk of your plans" "As you wish!" "Just like two lions cannot stay in the same forest the Kauravas and Pandavas cannot stay together" "Not after what has happened" "So, only two options are open to me" "The first option is that I be allowed to attack Indraprasth" "Let the battlefield decide as to who will stay here" "The second option is that I be allowed to play Dice one more time" "If I win then they should accept 12 years of exile and one year of anonymity" "If they win, I accept the same terms" "Gambling is not a strategy" "The problem is not so simple" "Forgive me, Grandsire" "I do not wish to accuse you of partiality" "You both know that you are partial to them" "I only wish to know which of the two strategies I should accept" "War or Dice?" "Only the king can answer such a question" "As you order." "Come with me" "You will have to answer the question either today or tomorrow" "How could you allow the humiliation of the Kurus?" "Till you answer this question sleep will not come to your eyes" "Maybe my Soul, too, was blinded in those moments" "Maybe I was frightened of Duryodhan" "For the first time in my life I am happy that I am blind and I cannot see my daughter-in-law" "If I could see, I would see nothing but hatred and contempt in her eyes" "Who's that?" "Long live the king!" "Grandsire and the Crown Prince are here" "Grandsire and Duryodhan?" "What do they want?" "They will tell you" "My respects Blessings" "My respects Blessings" "Please sit" "Why did you take the trouble of coming here?" "Why didn't you call me?" "I have not come to my child Dhritirashtra" "I have come to my king" "Say what you want to say Duryodhan" "Just like two lions cannot stay in one forest the Kauravas and Pandavas cannot stay together" "What are you say8ng?" "They are your brothers" "We are not the first brothers in History who cannot stay together" "They may not mind staying with me but I won't stay with them" "Father even divided the nation but that has not brought me any satisfaction" "On the contrary, it has angered me further" "Now that I had won at Dice whatever I had wanted father has done me an injustice by returning it" "I cannot bear this" "Grandsire, please explain to him" "He does not know what he is saying" "Grandsire will not interfere" "Listen to me carefully" "I have only two options" "Either I conquer Indraprasth or die on the battlefield in attempting that" "Or else let me play just one game of Dice with them" "If they win I accept 12 years of exile and a year of anonymity" "If I win they must accept the same terms" "If they are recognized in the last year they will have to start all over again" "But my son..." "Why don't you try and understand me, mother?" "I am haunted by Arjun" "I hate the letter 'A' because Arjun's name begins with it" "This world is too small for us, father" "We cannot live here together" "Isn't there a third option?" "Yes mother" "There is a third option" "Suicide!" "I did not tell you about this option because you may not accept it" "Father." "Allow me to wage war or play Dice" "Both options are unacceptable to me" "I cannot allow you to wage war" "My lord!" "Nor can I allow him to commit suicide" "Has your filial love made you forget your duty?" "You can say this Grandsire because you don't know what filial love is" "A tree lives for its fruit and a father for his son" "I have not come to a father but to a king" "If there are only two options, War or Dice..." "War because that is the warrior's duty" "My dear Duryodhan, you are not a coward" "Besides, I am with you." "And so is Sage Drona his son Ashwathama and Karna" "Forget about Dice and prepare for War" "No!" "I'll not allow you to wage war" "Duryodhan." "I'll allow only one more game" "Promise me that you'll play only one game" "Do not invite India's destruction, my lord" "Do not break the bridge we have built between our sons and the Pandavas" "If you do that, there'll be nothing but darkness" "If India is destined for destruction nothing will stop it" "Maybe that is the destiny of this dynasty" "Do not blame God for your filial love" "If India is destined for destruction then your leadership is at fault not God!" "Why haven't you braided your hair" "These insulted hair will remain unbraided so that they will forever remind you of how Dushasan insulted me in Court" "Look at them carefully, O Arjun!" "Look at them, O Shim!" "These hair will remain unbraided till you bring me blood from Dushasan's chest to wash away the insult" "He is younger to us." "Forgive him, Draupadi" "You are the essence of Religion" "You may forgive both Duryodhan and Dushasan" "I am the essence of Womanhood's Ego" "I can never forgive them" "Shim." "Please explain to Draupadi" "How can I explain to Draupadi when I cannot reconcile myself" "Besides, what is there to explain?" "Who among us can dare tell Draupadi to forget what has happened to forget that Dushasan dragged her by her hair to forget that Karna called her a whore to forget that Duryodhan had ordered her disrobing" "Forgiveness is something else but can you yourself forget it?" "How can you dare talk to your brother so loudly?" "How can you dare question him?" "A brave warrior has a high degree of tolerance" "Do not boast of your bravery before me" "I cannot call you cowards but you will have to prove your bravery to me" "Look at my unbraided hair and lower your eyes" "Or else get me blood from Dushasan's chest" "Now take me away from here" "I cannot even breathe here" "The air stinks of my humiliation" "Let's go Draupadi!" "The king is waiting for you in the recreation room" "You will have to go to protect the warrior code" "I will have to go there in order to obey Father" "If you must go there promise me you will not play Dice" "Is that a restriction?" "Not a restriction but a request" "I cannot give you that promise" "If Father orders me to play..." "Can you promise me that you will not stake your brothers and their arms?" "Yes." "I can promise you that" "Can you promise me that you will not stake your independence" "Yes." "I can promise that" "Can you promise me that you will not stake me at Dice?" "You are insulting him" "Lord Ram knew that there is no golden deer and yet he went to hunt it" "Was it mere greed?" "Did not Seeta know there is no animal like the golden deer?" "Did she purposely send Lord Ram on a dangerous mission?" "What is fated to happen is the result of our Past Actions" "Neither you nor I can prevent it" "Neither Shim's mace nor Arjun arrows can prevent it" "That's why." "Let's go!" "Making Father wait for us will be a violation of decency" "Emperor Yuddhistir with Queen Draupadi is on his way with his younger brothers" "Yuddhistir, his brothers and his wife are paying their respects" "My blessings!" "Your blessing is our protection" "What do you order?" "Even I am not happy giving you the order I am about to give" "Sometimes ancient dynasties reach a crucial turning point when Elders have to give undesirable orders" "I was not pleased to divide Hastinapur but I agreed to the partition so that you all could live apart happily" "But I was unsuccessful" "The Partition is a wound on my heart which will never heal" "Yuddhistir, you are the eldest Kuru son" "So, your responsibility is greater than your brothers" "Someday you will be able to explain to your brothers that there may be many arrows in the quiver but two lions cannot live in the same forest" "Two ambitious men cannot prosper in the same house" "Two seasons cannot come at once" "Two rivers cannot flow together" "One has to merge with the other" "My son Duryodhan is unwilling to merge with you" "Nor does he want you to merge with him" "That's why he wants to play one more game with you" "At stake is 12 years of exile and a year of anonymity" "If you win, he will accept those terms" "If you lose, you will have to accept the same terms" "Will Uncle play on Duryodhan's behalf?" "You will have to ask him that" "You have answered my question" "Are you willing to play on those terms?" "How can I refuse to accept when you have ordered it" "I will definitely obey you" "My respects May you live long" "My respects" "Greetings!" "Will you, too, sit here, Sister-in-law?" "Should I not witness the game where I was staked?" "If King Karna of Anga does not mind I will sit here with my five husbands?" "Why should I mind?" "Do sit" "Thank you!" "Brother!" "Father forgot to tell you that if you are recognized in the last year." "...you will have to go into exile all over again" "I do not wish that we meet again after today" "That is the best for you because when I meet you next I shall take ...some blood from you and Dushasan for Draupadi's hair" "Look at Draupadi's hair and start playing" "Also remember Duryodhan!" "We know the result of this game ...but we are playing it" "Keep quiet all of you!" "Your brother does not like such talk" "Start the game, Emperor!" "Were I playing against you I would have started the game" "I am playing against Duryodhan" "As my younger brother, let him start first" "As you wish!" "What do you need, dear nephew?" "Twelve!" "Twelve it will be!" "Twelve!" "Now I need six, Uncle" "Here you are!" "Six!" "But it's eight!" "Come on play." "Pass the dice to the Emperor" "Give them!" "What do we need, Nakul?" "Let's start" "Twelve" "What do we need now, Nakul?" "Six, Brother!" "Here's your army, Uncle" "Eight, Uncle" "Eight it will be!" "What's wrong with my army today?" "Now we need seven" "Here you are." "Seven!" "How much do we need?" "We need eight" "Eight!" "Here's your pawn, Brother Duryodhan" "Four, Brother Here you are!" "We must get four" "You will get four" "I need nine, Uncle" "Sure!" "Play on!" "Play, Dushasan" "We will win!" "I need Twelve!" "Come on my army!" "Twelve!" "What's happening?" "It will come." "Don't worry" "We need seven" "Sure Nakul." "Seven" "Play, Arjun" "Here's your pawn, Dryodhan" "Here Arjun." "Give the dice to Uncle" "Who's winning?" "It's too early to say" "I need eight, Uncle" "Come my army." "Eight!" "We need eight, Brother" "Here's your pawn" "We need six now" "Here you are!" "Give them to Uncle, Arjun" "Here's your army, Uncle" "My army!" "Shakuni should not lose" "I need six, Uncle" "My army!" "We need seven" "We will get seven" "It's not seven!" "Give, Uncle" "My army will surely win" "We need Six, Brother" "We need six again" "Here you are" "It must be six" "We need nineteen to win and they need twelve" "Don't worry." "We will win" "Five and now eleven." "Come on my army" "I need eleven." "I do not want to lose" "Come on my army." "Eleven for the last time" "I must get eleven, Uncle" "If I don't get eleven, Uncle I'll kill you!" "Don't be impatient" "I won't let you go in exile" "Trust my army." "You will get eleven" "This is my last request" "Save Shakuni" "We have won!" "Has Duryodhan won?" "Yes, my king, Duryodhan has won" "But Hastinapur has lost" "Uncle!" "My dear Uncle!" "12 years of exile and one year of anonymity" "Duryodhan has won!" "What is fated, will surely happen" "None can reverse Fate" "Yuddhistir has once again lost everything" "This Epic's last chapter will be written in blood" "But the chapter you are about to see is written with my tears because this is the moment of parting" "This is the moment when Decency and Politics were shamed" "India, the land of Gods and Goddesses has closed its eyes for a moment because the Queen of Queens Kunti her sons and their wife have come to the royal court, Grandsire Bhishma Sages Kripa and Drona and the King of Hastinapure Dhritirashtra to take leave before going to the forest" "Of course, they could have left without this formality" "But they are doing this on purpose" "They want to show that they have not been insulted" "It is the throne which has been insulted" "It is Bhishma who has been insulted" "It is Sage Drona and Sage Kripa who have been insulted" "It is the Kuru honour which has been insulted" "So, wait for their arrival with downcast eyes" "The Lords of the World, now impoverished are walking on Earth" "They have left their home and city" "Time is all powerful" "The youngest Kuru daughter-in-law Kunti greets her brother-in-law King Dhritirashtra" "Yes, my king!" "Is this Kunti?" "Yes, my king!" "Why has she come here?" "I do not know, my king" "Then ask her" "As you wish!" "The king wishes to ask you why you took the trouble of coming to court" "How could I leave without paying my respects to this court" "Where are you going?" "I am going to the forest with my sons" "But why are you going?" "It is your duty to stay in our palace" "Why should we take sides in this quarrel?" "Forgive me!" "Will it be proper for me to stay in the palace which quietly witnessed the Draupadi's disrobing?" "Allow us to leave" "Who else will understand this better than you?" "You are the essence of Correctness" "Even I have a small house in this city" "If you wish to stay there I'll be honoured" "But Vidur..." "Do not decide in haste" "Yuddhistir." "Look at how old and feeble your mother is" "Will it be right for her to go to the forest?" "Besides, she was not staked" "Request her to stay here" "Even Duryodhan will not object to that" "Mother Kunti can stay with me, if she likes" "Never!" "If mother stays in your palace we will be obliged to you" "How then can we seek vengeance?" "O Hastinapur!" "My ancestors!" "Grandsire Bhishma!" "Family Sage Kripa!" "Elder Father!" "Sage Drona!" "The Pandavas and Draupadi salute you and request for permission to go to the forest" "You did not pay respects on my behalf" "No, mother" "Uncle Vidur is right" "I did not stake you" "So, stay at Uncle's house and wait for us" "No, my son" "I give you my word that we will be return in 13 years" "Bless us, mother" "Bless us, mother" "No, my son." "Without you..." "Get up, my dear." "Do not grieve" "Only a smile can get rid of unhappiness" "So, smile, my dear!" "Remember one thing" "Take special care of my son Sahadev" "He is the dearest to me" "Ask Grandsire to bless you." "God!" "How the times have changed!" "The Pandavas roam the forest along with Draupadi" "Time is all powerful!" "Those who have stayed in the palace and walked on soft carpets are now making their own cottage unable to stop the flow of Destiny" "What else does Fate have in store for them, O God!" "How life has taken an unexpected turn" "The royal life is now behind them" "Those who walk on thorns know how to rise after a fall" "This is what Life is all about" "Why this darkness, Grandsire?" "Come Vidur, Come" "My respects!" "Do you wish to be blessed with a long life in this era?" "Youngsters should accept both a blessing and a curse with respect" "But why was your room in darkness?" "It is the darkness of my Soul which has manifested outside" "Do not come near me" "Or else your pure thoughts will be contaminated" "You are the Keeper of Hastinapur's Present" "Protect it!" "Help it!" "How can I protect or help the Present when it is about to set" "Don't use such heartless words, my child" "Don't allow the Sun to set" "Why enter the water when you don't know how to swim?" "I tried my best to prevent it" "But..." "Thank you for not completing your sentence" "You were about to say that you did your duty while I failed in mine" "Sometimes one feels that helplessness itself is duty" "You think that is my major mistake" "But that is only half the truth" "The truth is that I, too, was playing stake after stake during the game" "My stake was my desire that Yuddhistir wins" "I knew Shakuni was evil" "Had Yuddhistir won Shakuni's hold over Hastinapur would have declined" "Apart from you, everyone is to blame" "That's why I request you to save Hastinapur" "India is standing on the shore of a deep and vast sea of blood" "Our traditions, our values will sink in this sea of blood" "Try to save them, my son because you, too, are a part of this tradition" "Tell Dhritirashtra that tomorrow is the thirteenth day of exile which is like the thirteenth year in special cases" "Go." "Wake him up if he is sleeping" "Ask him to call back the Pandavas" "What if Duryodhan does not agree?" "I have no loyalty to him..." "My loyalty is towards the king" "If he does not obey the king, it will be treason and I'll punish him for that" "I am older" "I cannot insist on Dhritirashtra" "But you are younger than him" "You can plead with him" "Go, my son." "Go!" "Try to explain to Dhritirashtra" "Come Vidur" "My respects!" "My respects!" "Looks like you could not even wait for Sunrise" "What was the reason?" "Seeing you is a reason in itself" "Which means you are about to say something I won't like" "Whenever Vidur says anything it disturbs you" "A bitter truth is still bitter" "I cannot digest bitter truths" "Why did Kunti refuse to stay at the palace?" "She trusts Vidur more than me" "How can she stay where her daughter-in-law was humiliated?" "I do not even know how I continue to stay here" "Draupadi's honour was my honour" "It was India's honour" "Kunti has behaved correctly" "In her position, I would have done the same" "Which only means that I am all alone" "I do not wish there should be war because in war, there is only one victor" "I do not wish either my sons... 19.16.04 sons to lose" "I even divided the nation to avoid war" "The dividing line is drawn on my heart" "Try to understand this" "Tell Kunti it is not right for her to stay with Vidur" "Either she stays with us or with her sons" "My king!" "...people will never forget that Pandavas are in exile" "It is best that the people forget this" "I have come here with a solution" "Has Kunti decided to go to the forest?" "No, my king" "She is old and feeble and will not be able to stand the strain" "Then what is the solution?" "At least allow him to speak" "Okay" "Tell me what is the solution?" "The Pandavas have completed thirteen days in exile" "According to the Scriptures this is equivalent to thirteen years" "If you desire you can send me to them and call them back" "Everything will be all right" "Call them back and allow Duryodhan to commit suicide?" "You have always been partial to them" "If you like them so much why don't you go to them?" "Go!" "My lord!" "Is he my Prime Minister or theirs?" "Now that I have pushed away war by 13 years he wants me to call them back and bring back the threat of war" "But I won't let that happen" "He has gone without my permission" "Why will he wait for permission when he has been thrown out?" "He must have gone to the Pandavas" "Let him go!" "I am not dependent on him" "One more thing, Gandhari" "Vidur may try his best but Yuddhistir will not listen to him" "He won't make use of the Scriptures" "He will complete 12 years of exile and the last year of anonymity" "My respects!" "Let's go, Brother" "Go where?" "To attack Hastinapur" "Yes, Brother" "Why?" "I cannot bear to see Draupadi's unbraided hair" "Even I cannot bear to see them" "But that does not mean we have the right to punish Duryodhan" "I had staked all of you at Dice" "I am the reason for Draupadi's humiliation" "Have we tried to avenge her?" "This mace!" "This shield!" "What is it but vengeance?" "How can you forget that we have to be in exile for 12 years and anonymity for one year" "Those 13 years are over today" "No!" "Scriptures are for our guidance not for our convenience" "The case you cite is for special occasions" "This is not a special occasion" "When I accepted to play thirteen years meant exactly that" "Your brother is right" "The Scriptures are not to be violated except under special occasions" "For examples, when you play Dice a husband's rights can be increased and a wife's rights can be decreased" "A husband has the right to treat his wife like chattel and stake her" "Do not debate Ethics with your brother" "Learn to bear everything in silence" "I have accepted my mistake" "It is necessary to do penance" "I will not raise arms without doing penance" "You all are not bound by my mistake" "You need not count the days" "You are at liberty to leave me" "I will think of what to do after and one year of anonymity" "You very well know that we will not leave you" "Yes, Brother" "Just se who has come" "Yes, Brother" "That is the thunder of a thousand chariots" "Maybe Duryodhan is not satisfied with our exile" "Won't you allow us to protect ourselves?" "You have still not understood Uncle Shakuni" "Why should he attack us?" "He must be waiting for the thirteenth year so that he can expose us and send us into exile again" "He will not allow Duryodhan to take risks" "Besides, if the army wanted to attack why would its chariots stop?" "It must be a friend" "Do we still have any friends left?" "Who else could it be?" "Armies are not friendly or unfriendly" "It is the commander who decides the attitude" "My respects Greetings, Prince" "My blessings!" "Please sit, Prince" "My father has told me not to sit" "The king has not allowed you to sit?" "Yes" "I have been asked to tell you that our army is ready to attack Hastinapur" "We will fight under your banner" "I have also been told to remove the armour after a victory" "If we wanted war we brothers would have been enough for Hastinapur" "But I don't want war" "Can it be true that King Bharat's heir Emperor Pandu's son Emperor Yuddhistir does not desire war?" "But I want war, my king!" "You have forgotten about the lady who was humiliated in Hastinapur" "But I have not forgotten." "I cannot forget" "That lady is my sister" "May I leave now?" "Your anger is just, Prince" "So, I cannot stop you" "If Draupadi feels that she is separate from us and if she wishes you to avenge her own insult then you must attack Hastinapur" "Please tell father that from now on my Fate is linked to the Fate of these five brothers" "You may succeed in separating water but my humiliation cannot be separated from theirs" "Please return to Kampilya" "No!" "Can you run away from your battlefield?" "I, son of Fire, am bound to the Earth" "I can do anything but run away" "But why do you ask?" "Father knew that the Pandavas would not wage war" "Okay!" "Whenever you decide to wage war Kampilya's army will fight under your banner" "I am sure of that" "If you permit me I would like to take Draupadi to Kampliya" "Remember I had asked you a question?" "If you cannot run away from the battlefield how can your sister do that?" "Battlefield?" "This exile is my battlefield and these unbraided hair my weapons" "Our respects!" "May you live long!" "My blessings" "Come!" "I was thinking of you all" "Is everyone all right, Uncle?" "That's a difficult question" "How is Elder Father?" "In despair" "Please sit, Uncle" "You are the backbone of Pandu's family" "You will achieve your purpose without my blessing" "Do not think your mother did not come because of her age" "She is not so weak that she will not do her duty" "Like Grandsire Bhishma Sage Drona and King Dhritirashtra, she is Hastinapur's Past" "You are the Present" "So, be alert and think of the Future which you have to create" "This Land of Action is yours" "If you want to keep our memory alive, do so" "Or else, snuff us out like you would a lamp" "What are you saying, Uncle?" "When politics can no longer bear the truth it means the foundation has moved and the edifice is about to crumble" "Come, my son" "Only a fool will continue to sit in the shade of a wall about to crumble" "Get out of the shade of these old walls" "Break these walls before they crush you and construct new ones" "Yes, my son" "I do not feel sad that Brother threw me out" "I feel sad that he is now completely alone" "There is none beside him who will dare tell the truth" "Uncle!" "Yes, my son." "No one" "Why are you angry?" "Have you decided to destroy Hastinapur?" "At least do not light a fire under your own throne" "The throne will be burned to ashes" "What is my mistake?" "If you do not even know what your mistake is you are not a worthy king" "You have thrown out the only man who spoke the truth" "However bitter the truth, it is still the truth" "Learn to hear, accept, and profit from the truth" "Send someone to bring back Vidur" "If he does not come back, the Sun will never rise and this palace will remain in darkness forever" "Hastinapur will be sunk in darkness" "Hail Prince!" "Welcome to our cottage, Sanjay" "Have you come to see Uncle" "I have not come." "I have been sent" "Come!" "It is very surprising" "First the king threw me out and now he has sent you to bring me back" "Only the king knows that!" "I heard the Grandsire had gone to him" "I don't know what he said but it was after that he called for me and asked me to fetch you" "He told me to tell you that it was an order" "Then I must obey the king's order" "When will we meet again?" "I don't know" "Do not worry about your mother" "Uncle, tell Duryodhan..." "No, Arjun" "I will send the message to Duryodhan" "Ask him to wait for the end of thirteen years because after the end of 13 years I will break his thigh and take Dushasan's blood" "I cannot solve this problem" "Can you help me solve it?" "When father had thrown out Uncle why did he send Sanjay to fetch him" "It is right that Vidur should return" "Why, my friend?" "Because Vidur's thought is a mirror in which one can see what Grandsire Sages Drona and Dripa are thinking" "Vidur's presence is to our advantage" "Karna, you are talking like a politician" "But Uncle may try to influence father and bring back the Pandavas" "If father does that, I will starve to death or take poison or jump into the fire or I shall stab myself" "Think, Uncle" "If this happens, I will not stay alive" "Why are you always ready to die" "I hate the Pandavas as much as you do" "But my hatred has not blinded me" "Haven't I told you that the first rule of war is to recognize your enemy and understand what he will do when" "It is also important to know which is their most powerful weapon" "Do you know that about the Pandavas?" "If you know tell me what is their favourite weapon?" "Bhim's favourite weapon is the mace" "And Arjun prefers his Gandiva bow" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Their most powerful weapon is their Righteousness" "It is their most powerful weapon" "That's why they will not return even if asked to because they staked and lost 12 years of exile and one year of anonymity" "They will not violate the terms of the game" "Which means you have thirteen years" "So, why are you worried" "Thirteen years is a long time" "The treacherous are aware of the impact of their treachery" "Arjun is counting every day that passes by" "Man is a strange creature" "He hears only what he wants to hear" "That is why he dismisses every tragedy as an inevitable event" "However, Fate by itself means nothing" "A person can control his actions" "But Man blames his actions on the Creator by calling it Fate" "If the Line of Fate matches the Line of Action then everything is all right" "Then, there is no difference between Sin and Righteousness, Heaven and Hell" "Even Dhritirashtra knows this" "But his ambition has closed his ears" "He cannot even hear Sage Vyas" "I am blessed to find myself at your feet, O Sage!" "Do not ensnare me with words" "Listen carefully to what I have to say" "The treatment meted out to the Pandavas was not just" "None can condone it" "You are responsible for this ...you are the King" "Maybe you will even have to atone for it" "Don't say that!" "Why should I not say that?" "Thirteen years will be over soon" "So, wait for the last day of the thirteenth year" "Do you think the Pandavas will forget the insult in thirteen years?" "Duryodhan does not listen to me" "What can I do?" "What would you do if he was not your son?" "What is the punishment for not obeying the King?" "He is my son, O Sage!" "Even a son is a citizen." "Law knows no relationships" "Tell him you are the King" "Tell him Bhishma is the Kuru Elder" "While you live, he has no right to politics" "If he does not understand, order him to make peace with the Pandavas" "If he does not listen," "This is your duty as a King" "The Tree of Arrogance bears the fruit of destruction" "We will set our spies on them in the last year" "Come, Uncle!" "Please sit" "Why are you sighing Uncle?" "The King is unhappy" "Sage Vyas has undermined his confidence" "These Sages have no other work but to give unsolicited advice" "If I could, I would ban their coming" "No!" "Never do such a foolish thing" "They are simple folk." "Serve them" "Respect them!" "Listen to them" "It is not necessary to do what they say" "What did Sage Vyas tell father?" "I listened to what my spies told me but you will not be able to listen to it" "Even if you do, you will not be able to bear it" "My dear nephew Duryodhan will attack Sage Vyas with his mace" "The truth is that even Sage Vyas favours the Pandavas" "That is not good news, Uncle" "That's what I am saying" "He has warned the King of total destruction" "Whose destruction?" "Your destruction and Duryodhan's" "Dushasan's destruction and even mine" "O heir of Bharat!" "Do not worry" "Let the Sage speak!" "This Earth is yours" "Enjoy it like Lord Indra enjoys in Heaven" "Respect your strength which has brought you recognition" "The Goddess of Wealth who was with the Pandavas is now in your favour" "Maybe Sage Vyas made a mistake and took your name instead of the Pandavas" "It is they who have been destroyed" "Where is their Palace of Illusion where Draupadi insulted you?" "Where is Yuddhistir's crown?" "Where is Arjun's Gandiva bow of which he was so proud?" "Where is Bhim's strength?" "Do not sadden yourself with the thought of those five nomads" "If need be I will use my arrows to turn away the direction of the wind" "I'll destroy any threat to your honour like a mongoose kills a snake" "My friend!" "If you trust my loyalty do not insult it by being sad" "Why this long lecture to say a simple thing?" "Go to the forest for a hunt" "Make fun of the Pandavas and undermine their confidence" "Hunt their ego like you would hunt deer" "What about Grandsire?" "Don't worry about him" "He is bound to the throne" "Greetings O Sage!" "Please take a seat" "Any order for me?" "Who can dare order you but Time itself" "May I know why you have come so late?" "The well wishers of Hastinapur can no longer sleep" "They are imprisoned by their loyalty" "They are all afraid" "Afraid of what?" "The future" "Whose future?" "I am worried about your future and you are worried about mine" "Sage Drona has the same problem" "God knows for which past crime we are being punished" "We are compelled to side with Duryodhan" "Will History understand our helplessness?" "I do not know that" "But I do know one thing:" "Shakuni is still not happy after defeating the Pandavas by treachery" "He wants to humiliate them further" "What has he done now?" "He has sent Duryodhan on a hunt" "He is camping next to the Pandavas" "I am not worried about Yuddhistir" "Nor will Arjun disobey his elder brother" "But Bhim is like the wind" "None will be able to stop him" "What's wrong?" "Whom are you angry with?" "With myself" "Why?" "What have you done?" "I should have disobeyed elder brother and killed Duryodhan" "So, you have seen their camp" "How could I miss it?" "If I close my eyes I can hear their vulgar laughter" "If I close my ears I can smell the odour" "They will not let us live in peace" "Smell!" "Smell the odour of roasted deer" "As if we have never eaten good food in our life" "Their servants were washing the vessels in the open" "I threw our leaf-plates there" "Why are you jealous, Brother?" "Jealous?" "Why should we be jealous?" "But their behaviour does anger us" "Duryodhan is our Elder Father's eldest son" "Maybe he does not know that we will take everything back in thirteen years" "After thirteen years he will himself return everything" "Come on, Brother!" "Do you really think he will return everything?" "We will have to seize everything back" "If time was a tree I would cut it and fight him" "Time is not a tree" "No one can cut it" "It passes by on its own at its own pace" "My friend Duryodhan" "What do you think the Pandavas are doing now?" "I'll tell you" "Arjun must be cutting wood in the forest" "Bhim must be collecting grass" "As for Yuddhistir he must be standing in a corner doing repentence" "And the divine Draupadi must be cooking" "Dushasan!" "Have you sent the leftovers to the Pandavas?" "Don't worry Brother!" "Let our pet animals eat first" "Get out of my way" "Don't you know who I am?" "I am the Princess of the Gandharvas" "Do you know who I am?" "I am Crown Prince Duryodhan" "Consider yourself fortunate that I am asking you to spend the night with me" "I shall wait for you" "Why didn't the Pandavas fight for their right?" "How did they bear the humiliation?" "Yuddhistir is Truth itself" "He must have thought deeply before acting" "Brother!" "What's wrong?" "Why are you crying?" "Did anyone say anything?" "Tell me!" "That evil Duryodhan..." "What did he do?" "He behaved indecently with me" "Prince Duryodhan, we are not indecent like you" "Our court will decide how best to punish you for your crime" "You know Bhim I disagree with all of you..." "Greetings!" "Come!" "Please be seated" "The Gandharvas have arrested the Crown Prince" "What?" "How dare they arrest him within Hastinapur's limits" "Both of you go to his assistance" "We have to gather wood and dry grass Besides, why should we" "assist Duryodhan?" "The Gandharvas are not our enemies Besides, we have no love for Duryodhan Why should we fight the" "Gandharvas for him?" "I am not talking of fighting but about..." "...helping Duryodhan" " But why?" "Because he is our brother" "What kind of a brother is he?" "He defeated you by treachery" "He tried to molest Draupadi in open court" "And yet he is your brother!" "He is still our brother and we must help him" "If we do not help him now what difference is there between us and him?" "If you don't help him now can you ask for Mother's blessings?" "Our fight with him is a family quarrel" "We will solve it internally" "Why should an outsider benefit from it?" "That's why we must help him now" "Okay!" "You gather grass and wood" "I'll go to help Duryodhan" "Duryodhan!" "You have not insulted a girl or the Gandharvas" "You have insulted humanity itself as well as society and its limitations" "Merely because you are the Crown Prince of a powerful nation like Hastinapur it does not mean that you can seize what is not yours" "Having insulted Queen Draupadi did you think every woman was unprotected?" "None of us is Yuddhistir" "None of us is a mace warrior like Bhim or an archer like Arjun" "None of us is Sage Drona or Sage Kripa" "Nor can we aspire to be like Bhishma" "They are all great men" "They know how to bear humiliation" "We are ordinary people" "We cannot bear humiliation" "What do you have to say in your defence?" "Shut up!" "Do you think I am alone?" "My friend Karna will be coming" "I am not talking of Karna" "I am talking of honour and insult" "I am talking of your crime and its punishment" "I know you are not an orphan" "I also know once you are punished Hastinapur's army won't let us live in peace" "But I will welcome the death which comes on the path of honour" "Pronounce your judgement" "Judgement!" "He has insulted my sister" "Your sister has no honour to feel insulted" "I will uproot this tree of humiliation" "Cool down!" "Please!" "That is the demand of justice" "I am not King Dhritirashtra to bend justice to my needs" "Listen O Duryodhan!" "This court awards you the death penalty" "Greetings!" "O son of Kunti!" "You?" "We beg your forgiveness for whatever crime he has done" "He tried to molest my sister" "Will your regret heal my humiliation?" "Your sister is like my sister" "Cut my hands instead of his" "Punish my eyes for the indecency of his eyes" "But forgive him" "We brothers beg for forgiveness" "Do not grant it, sister" "In spite of our pleas if you do not forgive and free him you will have to fight us" "This is King Yuddhistir's order" "Whom are you trying to protect?" "This Duryodhan tried to molest..." "He cheated you of your kingdom" "And yet, you..." "Our elder brother says he is still our brother" "We do not wish to fight you." "So, free him" "We are not afraid to fight for our honour" "You may swallow your wife's insult but I will not tolerate my sister's insult" "I will not win against you but I'll fight you." "That's my duty" "Did you hear that?" "We have to listen to all this because of you" "But we will free you because brother wishes it" "You are older than I am" "Tell me who has the right to punish him." "You or us?" "If you sentence him to death what about my oath?" "Tell me" "You are right!" "You have a greater right over his death" "Free him" "As you wish!" " Thank you" " Allow us to leave" "Beware!" "Hail Crown Prince" "Why did you go to Yuddhistir to ask for help?" "I am your bodyguard" "To protect you is my duty" "Will you protect me by humiliatng me?" "I am now obliged to the Pandavas" "By the honour of the Kurus had it been someone else in your place I would have him executed instantly" "But you are a soldier" "So, I want you to die a soldier's death" "Choose your weapon" "If I have committed a crime forgive me lf!" "How dare you say "if"" "You have committed a crime and you'll be punished" "If you wish to die like a coward, say so" "If you wish to die like a warrior raise your weapon" "You know very well that I am not a coward" "Hail Goddess Bhavani!" "Beware!" "No Duryodhan!" "What is this madness?" "I do not wish to stay alive" "But why?" "Do you think I did not return to help you?" "I cannot even think of that" "This coward has made me lose honour" "I cannot stay alive now" "Do you know whom he brought for my assistance?" "My enemies:" "Bhim and Arjun!" "How can I stay alive after that insult?" "I have no right to live" "What insult are you talking of?" "If they helped you, it was their duty to do so" "Duty?" "Of course!" "It is a citizen's duty to help his King" "So, if they helped you, it was their duty" "Where is the insult?" "Listen to me carefully" "Only cowards commit suicide" "And, you are not a coward" "You are a brave warrior" "Even the Pandavas won't commit suicide because they, too, are not cowards" "So, some day, we will have to wage war" "I am waiting for that day" "On that day Sage Drona will find out who is the best archer in India:" "His disciple Arjun or Karna" " My respects" " May you live long" " My respects" " May you live long" "Please be seated" "Is the subject so serious that you have come with Sage Drona?" "No subject is too serious" "Circumstances make it serious" "If a group of Gandharvas can so easily capture the Crown Prince then Hastinapur's future is indeed bleak" "Grandsire, even if a company of wolves capture a sleeping lion a lion is still a lion" "Have you forgotten your manners, my child?" "Pay respects to your elders when you enter" "Forgive me Grandsire" "My respects!" "It's good that you have come" "Grandsire and Sage Drona were talking about you" "No!" "I was talking about Hastinapur" "If I wanted to talk about Duryodhan I would have called you to my room" "I have come to the King to talk about the Prince" "That is what I heard." "So, I came here" "Heard?" "You heard it?" "The Crown Prince has to keep track of everything" "You are older than I, so you are worried about me" "I am younger than you, so I am worried about you" "Please tell me what I have done now?" "The capture of the Crown Prince is not a good omen" "What worries me even more is that Karna ran away" "I swear by the Sun" "Had you not been a Sage and in the King's room you would not be living a moment after making that allegation" "Don't cross your limits Karna" "Remember you are talking to Sage Drona and not the Pandavas" "I can answer your every word with arrows" "Do not be angry O Sage" "Learn to cover your anger with shame, Karna" "That is the mark of a brave man" "I do not know whether you ran away or not" "But when Duryodhan was captured you and Dushasan had gone" "What kind of friendship is this?" "Do not forget Duryodhan!" "Had Bhim and Arjun not come you would have been dead by now" "Be thankful to your two brothers and request them to return from the forest" "That is the best for Hastinapur" "Karna is undoubtedly brave but Arjun is still Arjun" "Hastinapur cannot withstand his arrows" "This disciple of Parshuram will stand between Arjun's arrows and Hastinapur" "You haven't faced Arjun's arrows as yet" "Arrogance does not befit a Sage" "I can give you an exhibition" "I will place a heap of crowns at the King's feet" "I don't need divine weapons for that" "A warrior wages war, not penance" "My respects" "The fire of jealousy burns in spite of the thundering clouds" "Both Bhishma and Sage Drona are tired with their inability to pass on knowledge" "The Present should nurture the Past" "Good memories should be nurtured and kept alive" "Bad memories should be allowed to die out" "The Past is to be, no doubt, respected but it should not be accepted as it is" "The Present should evaluate the Past" "Today, five brothers cannot marry the same girl by citing Draupadi's example" "Today, no one can stake his wife and brothers by citing Yuddhistir's example" "To draw a lesson from the Past is a task of great risk and responsibility" "So, listen to the Past with great care and choose the path of the Future" "That is exactly why I am narrating the Mahabharat to you" "There is no need to be so sad, Arjun" "The attempt to disrobe Draupadi has violated all limits of tradition and decency" "It is not your tragedy alone Nor that of the five" "Pandava brothers It is a tragedy of the" "Past, Present and Future as well as of Mankind" "You are a mere drop in the ocean of Mankind and a drop is not responsible for the ocean" "Whether it is happiness or sadness you should not shoulder more than your share" "My share in this humiliation is so heavy that it would break a mountain" "And you tell me not to be sad" "This humiliation is a thorn in my heart which has left me restless" "Brother will not allow us to wage war" "He is doing penance." "Penance!" "He should do penance" "Being the eldest does not mean he has the right to stake you all" "None of what he staked was his alone" "No doubt he was crowned King but it was your labour which created Indraprasth" "No doubt he performed the Rajsuya ritual but you four brothers helped him do it" "So, he had no right to stake that crown" "As for Draupadi even if she was his wife alone he had no right to stake her" "A wife is not chattel" "She is life's partner" "So, he should do penance" "You, too, have no right to talk of war" "When Yuddhistir was violating all limits it was your duty to oppose him" "No one but Draupadi opposed him" "So, swallow this humiliation" "That is your penance" "There has to be some limit" "This humiliation will end some day" "I have sworn to kill Karna while Bhim has sworn to break Duryodhan's thigh and wash Draupadi's hair with Dushasan's blood" "What about these oaths?" "Will we be able to fulfil these oaths?" "Speak O Krishna!" "Do not worry about the future" "Just think about the present" "The Earth's right to the blood of Shakuni Duryodhan, Dushasan and Karna is proven" "They are indebted to this Earth which demands their blood" "I do not wish you all to be known as aggressors" "Let them attack first" "Wage war when all paths to peace are exhausted" "Never forget Arjun that I am in you and you are in me" "What is mine is also yours" "Your enemy is my enemy" "Your friend is my friend" "You are Man and I am God" "Therefore it is not right that we should keep looking back" "Even if you wish it, you cannot undo Draupadi's disrobing" "It has happened" "Churn this poison of humiliation and extract nectar from it" "Then should I only wait?" "No." "But prepare yourself" "Start acquiring divine weapons" "Worship Lord Shiva!" "What should I do?" "Come Draupadi" "You are yourself born of fire" "Why then do you need any other fire?" "You have not been insulted Draupadi" "Mankind has been insulted" "It is I who have been insulted" "Sunlight is not corrupted by the mud it touches" "You are the sunlight of life" "Who can insult Fire, Air, Water, Earth and the Sky?" "You will always be respected by Mankind" "O lover of worshippers!" "O Man among Men!" "You are Pity itself" "You are the Truth" "You are the Seed which has burst from Earth's womb" "You are the path as well as the objective" "The Sun rises and sets on you" "So, listen to me" "I am your friend" "Dushasan seized me, your friend by my hair and dragged me to court where Duryodhan called me a maid and Karna called me a whore" "An insult to Bhishma's daughter-in-law and in Father Dhritirashtr'a presence!" "What can I say to these brave warriors?" "One of them is an expert mace warrior and the other an ace archer" "They quietly watched their wife being insulted" "Shame on Arjun's Gandiva bow and Bhim's mace" "In spite of them I was humiliated before my elders" "None of these brave warriors said a thing" "The Pandavas who help everyone did not even try to help me" "The wives of those who insulted you will cry on their husbands' corpses" "It's good that you sent your son to Kampilya" "I, too, will take Subhadra to Dwarka so that Abhimanyu can be brought up with the forthcoming war in mind" "But will there be war?" "I don't want it but, yes, there will be war" "How can there be war if you don't want it?" "Did I want Draupadi disrobed?" "That is the problem" "Everything does not happen to my liking" "There will be war" "Draupadi's unbraided hair has decided it" "Duryodhan's jealousy has decided it" "Elder Father's ambition has decided it" "So, prepare for war" "Do not think that you will only face Father's ambition or Duryodhan's jealousy" "This will be no ordinary war" "On the opposite side will be warriors like Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa Ashwathama, Karna, Rukmi, Jaidrath and Duryodhan himself" "Two of these warriors are your Teachers" "Even at his age there is none to beat Bhishma's arrows" "So, acquire divine weapons" "Lord Indra is pleased with you" "All the divine weapons are with him" "None but you can get them from Indra" "Without them, your victory is impossible" "Whether you use them in war or not you must have these weapons" "Prepare yourself!" "Do not think Duryodhan is sitting quietly" "He, too, is preparing for war" "What is this I have heard, Duryodhan?" "How can I say what you have heard?" "Why are you inviting loyalities from Kings?" "What need was there for it?" "What's wrong in that?" "We will catch the Pandavas in the last year like a fisherman catches fish" "The Pandavas are not fated to return to Hastinapur" "Had you been God I would not worry but you have failed more then once" "So, I thought..." "Since when have you started thinking?" "Uncle, I don't like you to sulk" "If we don't recognise them in the last year what will happen?" "There will be war" "If there is going to be war why not use these years to prepare for it?" "Besides, warriors should always be prepared" "Even you know that the Pandavas are not keeping quiet" "Arjun is doing penance to acquire divine weapons" "How long will you make me wait, O son of Kunti?" "My lord!" "Accept my respects!" "May you live long!" "Why do you need weapons in a hermitage?" "Weapons are a warrior's Soul" "Is penance possible without the Soul?" "Even penance has its limits, Arjun" "Doesn't a warrior have his limits?" "Vishwamitra did penance without weapons" "He wanted to become a Brahmin" "He wanted salvation" "I want divine weapons" "So, how can I ask for weapons unarmed?" "Very logical!" "What do you wish for?" "Grant me divine weapons, O Lord!" "You will have to worship Lord Shiva for those" "Ask for the Pashupastra" "Only with that will the gates of Heavan open to you" "To acquire divine weapons you will have to visit Heaven" "As you order, O Lord!" "My respects!" "Come friend!" "Welcome to my chamber" "This is for you" "If you do what I want I'll open the prison gates for you" "It is full of traitors these days" "They are healthy chaps" "I'll do anything for them." "What do you wish?" "The task is difficult" "Order it?" "Kill Arjun" "He is doing penance to acquire divine weapons" "Kill him before he gets them" "A second arrow?" "This kill is mine hunter" "This arrow is mine and so is the kill" "Take your arrow and go away" "Looks like you are tired of living" "Put your arrow in the quiver and leave before I string my bow" "How can I leave without my kill?" "No other arrow can reach the kill before Arjun's arrow" "Arjun?" "Who's Arjun?" "Sage Drona's disciple" "Who's Drona?" "I am Arjun, Sage Drona's disciple" "Are you proud of your teacher or your dynasty or your archery?" "If it is the teacher, then I bow to him" "If it is because of the dynasty then what is special about you?" "And if you are proud of your archery at least give me a demonstration" "I was not being arrogant" "I was merely introducing myself" "Even that is arrogance" "Beware hunter!" "Only Lord Shiva, Lord Indra, Grandsire Bhishma and Sage Drona can do this to me" "You are not Grandsire" "Nor are you Sage Drona" "You must be Lord Shiva" "Why not Lord Indra?" "Because I was doing penance for you" "Ask for a boon, my son!" "I am sure you are aware of the injustice done to us" "I am aware of it but it gives me greater pleasure to hear it from you" "It shows your closeness to me." "What do you want?" "I want the Pashupastra for the protection of the Pandavas and Mankind itself" "Lord Indra has advised you well" "He had merely told me that I would not get the divine weapons till I pleased you with penance" "What did Krishna say?" "He asked me to start acquiring divine weapons" "What else did he say?" "He said that war was definite" "What else?" "Yes." "He also said that he was a part of me and I was a part of him" "Whatever was his was also mine" "My enemy was his enemy" "My friend was his friend" "Now think!" "How can I refuse what you ask for?" "His friend is also my friend, O son of Kunti!" "Take the Pashupastra and go to Heaven where you will get divine weapons" "After receiving Lord Shiva's blessing Arjun went to Heaven to receive Indra's blessing" "He will spend some time there for along with divine weapons, he will also be cursed" "But this story is Earth-bound" "So, why go to Heaven at this point?" "There are two places to go to:" "We can go to Dwarka where Abhimanyu is growing up" "But we have seen Krishna grow up" "Why see some other child grow up?" "Then let us go to Hastinapur where Karna has returned victorious" "Beware!" "Victorious Karna is on his way" "Look father!" "Look Grandsire!" "Hail Karna, King of Anga" "Go my friend!" "Karna wishes to greet the King" "Congratulations for your successful victory tour" "I wish to present a few royal crowns" "Apart from your friends and relations no head in India today wears a crown" "Grandsire!" "Karna has answered your question" "Duryodhan is secure under Karna's friendship" "No, my lord." "I still say the same thing" "It is best to make friends with the Pandavas because I still believe even after this world victory Karna is not even one fourth of what Arjun is" "No Grandsire!" "Arjun is not even worth one-sixteenth of Karna" "If Arjun is in search of divine weapons let him be" "Karna is my divine weapon" "Some more please" "It is our duty to serve you" "Here O Sage!" "Have some more" "Come here, Uncle!" "Get rid of these sages or else..." "This is Sage Durvasa" "He will only leave when he feels like it" "Listen!" "If he is not satisfied he will curse you" "Yes Sir!" "Are you tired of serving us?" "What are you saying, O Sage?" "It is our good fortune to serve you" "Duryodhan does not seem to be pleased" "If that is the case then..." "Do not be angry, O Sage" "Duryodhan was saying, had the Pandavas been here they would have also got your blessings" "How could he dare ask you to go to the forest and bless them?" "Yes O Sage" "I was saying just that" "I am pleased with your brotherly love" "We will go and bless them" "Many thanks, Respected Sage" "Why are you sad?" "I was reminded of the day we left Hastinapur" "Only four people were not sad to see us leave:" "Duryodhan, Karna, Shakuni and evil Dushasan" "Why the surprise?" "They know no pity" "They are stone-hearted" "They must be happy about our present condition" "I cannot bear to see you in this condition" "Whether you like it or not this is our condition and it will remain for 13 years" "If you are already tired you can go to Kampilya" "We will call you back after thirteen years" "I was not talking about my leaving" "I was merely mourning the loss of anger within you all" "I have never heard you talk of war" "Your elder brother is an iceberg who is unmoved by his wife's humiliation or his brothers' plight" "Where is your anger, the mark of a warrior?" "Anger, too, has a limit" "Anger is not a stone thrown by a blind man which has no fixed direction" "Nor should it be a stray arrow" "It should be like Arjun's arrow which is sure to reach its aim" "Anger should be decent" "Blind anger is neither a shield nor a sword" "Duryodhan is blinded by jealousy" "Do you want us to be blinded by anger?" "Sometimes it is better to swallow anger" "Forgiveness is divine" "Forgiveness is the path to Godhead" "Forgiveness is truth and penance" "Forgiveness is power" "Hence, I will never leave the path of forgiveness" "Think of my helplessness" "I cannot call you a coward because I know you are not a coward" "You are Truth itself." "How can you ever forgive Evil?" "Duryodhan is another name for Evil" "Control your anger, Draupadi" "Why?" "Tell me why should she do that?" "Even I cannot control my anger any more" "Sleeping or awake my eyes see only one scene" "Dushasan dragging her by her hair and Duryodhan stroking his thigh while all the Kurus watch this silently" "I cannot control my anger!" "I cannot!" "The flames of anger and humiliation cannot be extinguished" "Bravery is losing its patience to stand up and be counted" "In spite of treachery, the Pandavas accepted exile because they were true to their word" "They lost, so they accepted defeat" "But Duryodhan was fed by hatred" "So, how could he be content?" "He went on humiliating the Pandavas" "His sending Sage Durvasa to the Pandavas was a shrewd move" "He knows Sage Durvasa is famous for his curses" "Duryodhan also knows that the Pandavas cannot serve him well in the forest" "If they cannot serve him well they could be destroyed by his curse" "Unaware of all this, the Pandavas are in the midst of another problem" "What's this Nakul and Sahdev?" "You should only take what you need" "If we become so careless Nature's resources will be exhausted" "You do not allow us to cut down our enemies" "That is Sage Durvasa" "Control your anger Nakul" "Or he will think you are unhappy to see him" "Our respects!" "God bless you!" "Grace our hut by coming there, O Sage" "Sages are not for decoration" "Forgive me!" "Were you not Kunti's son I would not forgive you" "I had gone to Hastinapur" "Duryodhan served us well" "With folded hands he entreated us to come here and bless you" "Which is why I came here to bless you" "It is our good fortune to have you here" "We will have our lunch after bathing" "Have lunch ready for us" "As you wish!" "From where will we get lunch?" "Draupadi must have finished eating by now" "This is another one of Duryodhan's tricks" "He knows there will be no food left after Draupadi has eaten" "And if there is no food left Sage Durvasa will be angry" "Come brothers!" " Draupadi" " What's it?" "Sage Durvasa is here with five disciples" "So, why worry?" "They will be here for lunch" "Lunch!" "Who would have thought that the King of Indraprasth would worry about feeding a few Brahmins?" "The Queen of Indraprasth has nothing except this grain of rice" "O Krishna!" "It is Sage Durvasa" "Greetings" "Looks like you are not happy to see me" "What are you saying?" "Your coming is the only happiness left in our lives" "How's Subhadra?" "I'll tell you after I eat" "I am very hungry" "There is only one grain of rice left" "Eat half of it and feed the world with the other half" "This is more than enough" "We must go now." "The Queen must be waiting for us" "Yes." "I am also very hungry" "Let's go" "Surprising!" "I am full without eating" "It is as if we have just had porridge" "Yes, very tasty." "I am feeling very sleepy" "No!" "What happens if someone calls us?" "Let's leave" "Tasty porridge but I am sleepy now" "Take a nap" "That's the problem." "I cannot sleep now" "Sahadev!" "Just see if the Sages have finished bathing" "Yes Brother" "Sit down!" "There's no need to call them" "They will come when they want to" "They had asked for lunch" "They must have decided to go to another host" "But tell me one thing" "I know Arjun is in search of divine weapons but where is Bhim?" "He must be wandering about" "How did you come all of a sudden?" "I was hungry" "I must go now" "The Sun is about to set." "Why not go tomorrow?" "Do you want him to sleep on grass?" "Don't wait for Bhim to return" "He left in anger." "Who knows when he'll return" "Please let me pass" "Move your tail" "In the name of Lord Rama, let me rest" "Should I move it?" "Take Lord Rama's name" "Should I move it?" "Okay Brother" "I had always wished somebody would move it" "Fulfil my wish" "You seem so strong" "Can you not move a tail?" "Forgive me" "Why don't you cross the tail?" "How can I?" "You are no ordinary monkey" "Who are you?" "Show me your real self" "What will you do with my real self?" "Aspire to see my Lord Rama" "I am Hanuman, Lord Rama's humble servant" "Hail Lord Rama" "Worshipping his divine form gets rid of all obstacles" "Lord Rama, Laxman and Seeta reside in his heart" "Had I not been Hanuman, son of Wind would I call you brother?" "Why did you take this form?" "I wanted to teach you to respect age and fraility" "Also, to teach you that Truth is not only what the eyes see" "Truth is greater than all else" "You saw an old monkey lying down challenging your strength" "And you accepted the challenge" "Who knows who will meet you in what form and on which path in life?" "Forgive me." "I'll never make this mistake again" "Now you go" "I stay close by." "Come with me and relax there" "Also, bless my brothers" "My blessing is always with you" "Come and tell us the ethics of war because we are preparing for a great war" "You have defeated great warriors like Ravana" "I did fight the war but the victory was Lord Rama's" "In any war, warriors fight on both sides but Truth always triumphs" "In this war of Truth and Untruth won't you fight for Truth?" "I can no longer fight a war but my blessing will always be with you" "A little further, my son" "This ritual was no ordinary one" "Hastinapur was worth seeing, wasn't it?" " It's a big city" " You are right" "Many Brahmins were fed and gifted" "So much was donated." "Impossible to count" "So much activity" "So many Brahmins came to the ritual" " Are you tired, son?" " What was I saying?" "One of you will have to come with me" "Where?" "My mother is worshipping the Goddess Shakti" "We need a human sacrifice" "Who will come with me?" "Take me" "No!" "I won't let you go" "You are my salvation" "Don't worry." "I won't take him" "The sacrifice must be healthy" " Then take me" " No, my son" "I can't stay without you" "I won't let you take him" "Take me for the sacrifice" "The eldest is father's favourite and the youngest is mother's favourite" "I am no one's favourite" "Take me with you" "Take me with you" "Never doubt the love of your parents" "Whatever they give you, accept it as a blessing" "I am a middle son." "Look at me and guage my mother's love for me" "If your life is more valuable than your parents then you are unworthy for sacrifice" "A coward and a sick man should not be sacrificed" "Why deny a son your love merely because he is the middle son?" "You have insulted God himself" "You must do penance" "Also, ask for your son's forgiveness" "No!" "Even if he is wrong I'll not let my father do that" "Take me with you" "Here." "The Goddess will be pleased" "Don't be surprised son." "This is your father" "Bhim, son of Kunti" "I am the sacrifice." "First sacrifice me and then introduce me to my son" "You should have sacrificed your husband or son" "Who gave you the right to sacrifice another human?" "Do you think the Goddess will accept it?" "Can I not be sacrificed because I am your husband?" "Your son has brought me." "Let his efforts not be wasted" "But that is the custom" "Custom?" "Did the Goddess ask for it?" "Religion is the path of life and truth" "Do not insult Religion by doing this" "Forgive me, my lord" "Who am I to forgive?" "Ask the Goddess for forgiveness" "Forgive me, Mother" "I beg your forgiveness" "Come embrace me, my son" "No." "I will touch your feet" "Won't you listen to your father?" "Forgive me father." "Had she been only my mother I would still obey her after God" "But she is also my Teacher so allow me to touch your feet" "May you live long" "But how can I embrace you?" "As you wish" "I'll have to take you in my lap" "But I want to embrace you" "As you wish" "My son's body is made of stone" "No father." "It is due to my mother's blessing" "Your son won't run away." "Eat something first" " No." "I won't eat" " Why?" "I ate at the hut before leaving" "Hut?" "What hut?" "I am not alone" "We are all here with Draupadi" "It is a long story." "The point is:" "We are in exile for 13 years" "Five years are already over" "Why not spend the remaining years here?" "I'll get to serve all of you and no one will find you here" "That's not possible" "Why father?" "Do you think your son will not be able to protect you?" "You can protect the Three Worlds" "But this won't be like being in exile" "We have to spend 13 years in exile" "I'll leave after spending some time with you" "I will come with you and take everyone's blessings" "I'll also learn archery from Uncle Arjun" "Arjun has gone to Heaven in search of divine weapons" "Weapons?" "Is there going to be a war?" "Yes." "There's going to be a big war" "If it was to be an ordinary war why would Arjun want to acquire divine weapons?" "Come Arjun" "My respects O Lord" "May you live long" "Did you get divine weapons?" "Not only did I get the weapons but I also learned to use them" "Allow me to return to Earth, my Lord" "You have not yet acquired the Gandharva weapon" "Gandharva weapon?" "Yes." "Learn the Gandharva Veda from Chitrasen" "I am acquiring weapons for the ultimate war" "What will a warrior do with music and dance?" "Art is the most powerful weapon" "In that case I'll learn this art after the ultimate war" "What will you do with a weapon after the war?" "Remember you have to spend a year in anonymity" "How will you hide yourself?" "Like the Sun, Moon, Earth, Sky and Water hiding yourself is impossible" "So, pay your respects to Chitrasen and start your lessons" "As you wish my Lord" "My respects Teacher" "My lord!" "What's the problem, Urvashi?" "My mind was straying" "That's not a good sign" "Other minds should stray on seeing you" "Find a way to stop your mind from straying" "Think of a solution" "What solution, my lord?" "Follow the dictates of your mind" "You have surpassed Chitrasen" "No, my lady" "No pupil can surpass his teacher" "He can only stand before his teacher with open hands" "It is the teacher who gives" "But if my dance has pleased you then my teacher need not be ashamed of me" "Had you been a woman, you would be the best dancer" "A warrior who can dance so well!" "You have made the imposible possible" "Nothing is impossible, my lady" "My name is Urvashi" "Call me by my name" "That's not possible" "You just said nothing was impossible" "Crossing the limits of decency is impossible" "Has your mind ever strayed?" "The mind does stray" "I have no experience of it" "What is the solution?" "It means the mind's state is not proper" "The solution is to balance the mind" "What if the mind craves for something?" "That is not the straying of the mind" "If the mind wants something then the objective is fixed" "To reach the objective is your duty" "That gives meaning and direction to life" "Which means one must try to fulfil the mind's desire" "Of course" "My lady!" "You are my desire and I'll try to get you" "No." "That's impossible" "Sometimes you say nothing is impossible" "Sometimes you say this is not possible" "Am I not beautiful?" "You are so beautiful that even the Sages would give up penance for you" "Then why does it not attract you?" "Because I am not a Sage" "Don't waste time in debate" "Embrace me!" "It is the son's fortune to embrace his mother" "Mother!" "You called me your mother?" "Of course, you are my mother" "Remember!" "My ancestor King Purkha was attracted by you" "And you had stayed with him like a wife" "So, I see my mother's face in yours" "We are neither wives nor mothers" "We are representations of beauty" "Accept this beauty" "I have accepted you as a mother" "No other relationship is possible" "Please forgive me" "I can only be a son for you, not a man" "Always a son." "Never a man" "Then I curse you" "You will always be a son." "Never a man" "From today you will be impotent" "My lady!" "When lust reared its head Urvashi resorted to a curse" "She could not control herself as she was overwhelmed by desire" "No one can be a better narrator than the Creator" "Are you not wondering what kind of a curse this is?" "How will this ace archer look as a haermophrodite?" "Just like the goad makes the elephant restless this curse will make us restless till its mystery is solved" "We are neither mothers nor wives" "We are mere representations of beauty" "Accept this beauty" "I have accepted you as a mother" "There can be no relationship between a mother and son" "Forgive me" "I will always be a son for you." "Never a man" "Always a son." "Never a man" "Then I curse you" "You will always be a son." "Never a man" "I curse you to an impotent life" "He did not insult you" "If you are neither a mother nor a wife but mere representation of beauty then you cannot desire anything" "You cannot love or hate" "You have violated your limits" "Forgive me but I have already cursed Arjun" "I cannot take back the curse" "You can reduce the period" "Limit the curse to a year" "As you wish" " My respects" " May you live long" "Don't say that, my Lord" "My life has no meaning" "This curse will prove to be a blessing in the year of anonymity" "Now you may return to Earth" "As you say" "But how will the curse be useful?" "Urvashi has reduced the limit of her curse" "Now you will have only one year of impotency" "Also, you can choose that year" "As you wish" "None is more respectable to me than my Lords Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh" "Brahma because he is the Creator" "Vishnu because he is the Protector" "Mahesh because he is the ultimate Truth" "One has to be careful in respect and disrespect" "Both are like the knot in a rope which cannot be undone once it is tied" "The Present is the interpreter of the Past" "If the Present has already decided about the Past then on what basis will it accept or reject the Past" "So, do not be emotional" "Be aware because awareness leads to salvation" "Is Yuddhistir respectable only because he is the son of Truth?" "There is no greatness in being someone's son" "Is Bhishma honoured because he is Ganga's son?" "Respect cannot be inherited" "Respect is the result of one's actions" "Respect is given to those who prove by their actions that they are worthy of respect" "The turning at which this tale is poised none except Draupadi is worthy of respect" "I do not count Lord Krishna among them" "He is not a character but the Great Hero of the story" "Since we are talking of him, let's visit him before proceeding with the story" "Wait Abhimanyu or else you will get a beating" "What are you looking for Subhadra?" "I am sitting here before you" "You very well know whom I am looking for" " Where's the naughty boy?" " Naughty?" "That is one of my many names given at Nandgaon" "But you should call me brother" "I was very naughty then" "I used to break pots and steal butter" "Mother Yashoda got tired of listening to complaints" " I am looking for Abhimanyu" " I see!" "Even if you distract me, I am going to beat him" " Don't tell her Uncle" " O so you are there" "He is now under my protection" "Come son!" "Never forget Subhadra" "You married Arjun because he was destined to be born" "This boy gives meaning to your life" "He belongs to the Future" "He won't be remembered because he is your son" "You will be remembered because you are his mother" "Should I touch his feet?" "No." "But give him everything that you have" "Abhimanyu." "Do give your mother trouble" "That is your right" "But do not trouble her so much that she cries" "God does not like that" "Don't you want me to be an ace archer like father?" "Of course, you have to be an ace archer" "Then explain to mother" "Whenever I am studying she says it is time for food" "Did you hear that?" "He is studious." "That is his salvation" "Don't scold him" "He will be the youngest warrior in History" "He will fight such a war that he will be honoured in the Past, Present and Future" "What war are you talking of?" "I am talking of the war between Truth and Untruth Light and Darkness" "It will be the ultimate war" "No one will remain impartial in the war" "You will fight the war through Abhimanyu" "And you?" "Do you want to know everything today?" "Take him away and do your duty" "Shower all your blessings on him" "Protect him with your blessing" "One full day of the war I am talking of will be dedicated to his valour" "He will win this war, won't he?" "He will win the day so that the greatest warriors will salute him" "Take him away" "He is the Future of the dynasty" "He is a part of History" "He is the only Hope" "He is the only Trust" "Greetings!" "Come Vidur." "Sit with us and mourn for Hastinapur" "Mourning is not the solution to the problem" "Maybe" "But if your mother is lying on her death bed and if all the doctors give up hope what else can the mother's son do?" "I am the son of two mothers" "My second mother is Hastinapur" "You are a great politician" "Can you suggest a way to avoid war?" "If the Pandavas had not decided about war why has Arjun gone in search of divine weapons" "Do you mean to say that they have no right to do so?" "It is not a matter of right, Vidur" "It is a matter of Hastinapur's existence" "Call it my selfish motive but I do not wish that there should be war" "Why not, Grandsire?" "Call it my selfish motive" "I respect you Grandsire" "So, I shall keep quiet but will History keep quiet?" "History will ask you why you do not desire war" "Do not be so heartless" "You, too, know the answer to this question" "You are questioning his wisdom" "Let him ask his questions" "I do not wish war because if it takes place I will have to side with Evil Duryodhan though the Pandavas are on the side of Truth" "This in spite of knowing that it was Duryodhan who ordered Draupadi's disrobing" "I have still not recovered from that wound and I doubt if I will ever recover" "It is not right that you should use your oath as a shield to side with evil" "I know the answer but I will ask you again" "What should I do?" "My oath is the basis of my father's marriage" "Tell me how can I ignore this oath?" "It is easy for you to say this because you have never taken an oath" "Do not think that your love for the Pandavas exceeds my love for them?" "Do not think I do not know the difference between Truth and Untruth, Religion and Evil?" "If war does take place both I and my weapons will side with Duryodhan but my blessing will be with the Pandavas" "Always remember Vidur!" "The day Hastinapur was partitioned I, too, was divided into two" "I do not like to see you worried, friend" "You know that I am not a coward" "I also know that Death is the Ultimate Truth of Life" "But I do not wish to die at Bhim's hands" "As the end of thirteen years draws near Bhim's oath echoes in my ears" "Are you afraid of Bhim?" "Sage Drona has not taught any one of us the meaning of the word "fear"" "Why the tremor in your voice?" "You are a brave warrior" "He is also brave" "We have both learned from the same teacher" "He knows what I know" "War is not Dice which Uncle can win by treachery" "What I mean to say is that if there is war any one of us can win and any one of us can lose" "I am not afraid of war but I do not wish to lose to Bhim" "You should have thought of that before" "Are you my brother or their spy?" "They are also our brothers" "No!" "They are not our brothers" "Brother is right" "You know they are not our brothers" "Five children found in the forest cannot be our brothers just because Aunt says so" "If Queen Kunti says the Pandavas are her sons then they are her sons" "A mother may be yours or someone else's she is to be respected" "Should I give them Hastinapur?" "The kingdom is yours and will remain yours" "But you have no right to insult a mother" "All right!" "They are my brothers" "But ask Yuyutsu to leave because he is siding with the Pandavas like Uncle Vidur" "Get out Yuyutsu" "I'll leave Brother" "But it is my duty to warn you that the footsteps of destruction cannot be heard" "No Duryodhan" "Go Yuyutsu!" "Go!" "Why did you stop me?" "Because he is your brother" "I don't want a brother who thinks in favour of my enemies" "Besides, he is not my brother" "He is my step-brother" "You must respect those who dare to oppose you" "That's why both Uncle Vidur and Yuyutsu are respectable" "Train your ears to listen to criticism" "Those who dare to oppose you are truthful from their point of view" "They are also courageous" "Maybe Yuyutsu is better than I am because I never oppose you" "Why don't you oppose me whenever you wish to do so?" "Because my life has only two aims" "To support you and to kill Arjun" "Same day Life will have to choose between Arjun and I" "I am willing to die but I will not share this era with Arjun" "Be it the palace or the forest life is incomplete without you" "Without you all, I was restless in Heaven" "How was Heaven?" "I would have enjoyed it had you all been there" "My body was there but my soul was here" "Did you get the weapons?" "Yes" "Show us the Pashupastra" "Look!" "Show us how it works" "Sure!" "Beware Arjun!" "Divine weapons are not for play." "This is Shiva's weapon" "Use it if you wish to destory this Earth" "O Son of Kunti!" "It will be a tragic day when Man begins to misuse these divine weapons" "Use these weapons for the welfare of Man" "Come!" "Take a bath and refresh yourself" "We will talk of Heaven after lunch" "Come Brothers!" "Duryodhan, you are so busy preparing for war that you are forgetting your duties" "You must attend the marriage ceremony in Shalva because the King is your friend" "Karna is right!" "I don't deny that" "But nowadays I cannot see anyone but Bhim and Arjun" "King Jaidrath of Sindhu has sent a message that he will go to Shalva with you" "What will you tell him when he arrives?" "I'll tell him Arjun has brought back divine weapons" "Which means they have decided on war" "They will attack before their exile ends" "That's why I don't want to leave Hastinapur now" "Jaidrath is himself a king" "He'll understand this demand of politics" "Stop!" "Brother-in-law Jaidrath!" "I was on my way to Shalva when I saw you" "How are you all?" "Well, by Lord Shiva's grace!" "How's Dushala?" "All right!" "But not as good as you" "Where's the King?" "He's gone for hunting" "Our hut is close by" "Come there and relax." "The others will be coming" "Should I say something?" "I am sad to see you like this" "Why are you sad?" "You are born and bred in a palace" " And now this!" " What?" "No servants." "No bodyguards" "Look Brother-in-law!" "Happiness has nothing to do with the palace" "I was happy there." "I am happy here" "I can't bear to see you like this Draupadi" "You have no right to call me by my name" "You are my sister-in-law's husband" "At least respect that relaltionship" "How long does it take to change a relationship?" "I am your sister-in-law's husband" "If you wish I can be your husband" "Jaidrath!" "I am not a helpless orphan at everyone's mercy" "I am the Queen of Indraprasth" "I am Yuddhistir's spear Bhim's mace Arjun's Gandiva bow Nakul and Sahadev's swords" "You are even more beautiful when you are angry" "Shameless fellow!" "I am like your elder sister" "Learn to respect a married woman because your mother, too, was married" "Don't waste time in debate" "There is no one to help you here" "That's what Duryodhan thought" "That he could insult me because I was helpless" "Don't make that mistake" "Don't laugh" "Your laughter contains the seed of your destruction" "Come!" "Take the chariot to Sindhu" "Where's Draupadi?" "She's always at home" "This is not a prison but a home" "Don't be so harsh with Brother" "That's all right Sahadev" "His harsh words indicate his love for me" "I am worried about Draupadi's absence" "Go with Arjun and search for her in the forest" "As you wish" "This is Draupadi's pot" "Footprints!" "Prints of hooves!" "In that direction" "Did you see anyone?" "Some king has kidnapped a woman" "A kidnapped woman!" " She was fighting him" " How far did they go?" "About a mile maybe" "Recognise this arrow" "It is Arjun's!" "Don't run away, coward!" "Let him go, Bhim" "We have no right to punish him" "Take him to the king" "What's this?" "Don't be surprised" "Give him the death penalty." "He tried to kidnap Draupadi" "I cannot give him the death penalty" "Why not?" "Doesn't justice demand it?" "He is our sister Dushala's husband" "Justice knows no relations" "He should be put to death not because he kidnapped Draupadi but because he kidnapped a married woman" "It is an unworthy land where a king's relation can evade punishment" "Before talking of justice tell me who is the accuser?" "You or Draupadi?" "You can be accused of leaving your wife unprotected in the forest" "Tell me Draupadi how should he be punished?" "Punish him so that it will not affect Dushala" "She has committed no crime" "Make him your slave" "Have mercy on me" "Give me the death sentence" "That is not for you to choose" "Shave his head but leave five strands" "No!" "...who loses game after game but is unwilling to end the game" "This is the hold that Dice has on him" "Shakuni is so jealous of the Pandavas that he is blinded by jealousy" "The blind are increasing in the Kuru palace" "Dhritirashtra is blind from birth" "Gandhari has bandaged her eyes" "Duryodhan is blinded by his actions" "And Shakuni is blinded by jealousy" "None of them knows of Jaidrath..." "This is not I" "This is the corrupted sinful corpse of my ego" "I cannot show myself to my friends or my enemies" "Crown Prince Duryodhan" "My friend Duryodhan" "My dear Duryodhan" "Can you see these five strands of hair?" "They are not strands of hair but five serpents who roam on my head day and night and bite me" "Who has dared to insult you so?" "And that, too, within our limits?" "They are the five thorns which are piercing your heart" "The Pandavas!" "They did not respect the fact that you are their sister's husband" "Dushala is also their sister" "By doing this they have disturbed a nest of serpents" "I will never forgive them for this" "You may forgive them but my insulted ego will never forgive them" "These are not strands of hair but five death penalties which I'll sign with their blood" "I promise you that I'll never forget this incident till I take my revenge" "They have wounded me once again" "Dushala is not an orphan" "Those who have insulted her husband will die a thousand deaths" "Come to Hastinapur" "No!" "Now I cannot go to either Hastinapur or Sindhu" "I must do penance and obtain Lord Shiva's blessing to conquer them" "Why are you worried?" "I am worried because Jaidrath, King of Sindhu, wants a blessing to conquer the Pandavas" "What will you do now?" "The Pandavas are an essence of Truth and are under Lord Vishnu's protection" "What would you have done in my place?" "I would have sent him back empty-handed" "No!" "You cannot do that" "If he asks for something from me I am indebted to his worship" "The debt has to be paid" "I cannot send him back empty-handed" " Then..." " That's the worry" "I cannot give what I don't have but I must give him something and give him I will!" "Don't worry." "You just watch what is happening" "The time has come to churn a Sea of Blood" "Let's rest a little, my lord" "Sit Panchali" "I am feeling thirsty" "Sahadev." "Climb this tree and see if there is any water nearby" "All of us are thirsty" "Yes, Brother" "Careful Sahadev" "We have to think of the year of anonymity" "Duryodhan will surely send his spies after us" "I don't understand how my unique brothers will hide?" "Bhim will be good as a cook" "Yes!" "He is fond of food" "In the kitchen he won't know how the year flies by" "Don't tease him, Panchali" "But the suggestion is a good one" "I can join a stable while Sahadev can become a cowherd" "And my lord can join any court" "But how will Arjun hide?" "A little distance away there's a group of trees" "There must be water there" "Nakul go and get some water" "As you wish!" "Stop!" "You cannot drink here unless you answer my questions" "What if I drink?" "Drink and see!" "Sahadev!" "Go and see" "Nakul should have returned by now" "As you wish" "Beware!" "You may drink after you have answered my questions" " Arjun!" " Yes, Brother" "I am worried." "Go and see what has happened" "Don't worry." "I'll go and see" "Who has killed my brothers?" "I have killed them, Arjun" "What wrong did they do?" "This lake is mine." "In spite of warning them they drank from this lake" "They were thirsty" "That did not give them the right to steal water" "If you want water, answer my questions first" "Or else you will meet the same fate as your brothers" "Every creature has a right to water and air" "So, I do not accept your right to this lake" "I will drink here without answering your questions" "I will also take some away" "If you try to stop me I'll dry up the lake with one arrow" "Do you hear?" "You cannot drink this water" "I am warning you, Arjun" "Stop!" "Answer my questions before drinking" "Arjun still hasn't returned" "I'll go and see" "Come forward, killer!" "Did you kill my brothers?" "Yes!" "If you, too, do not answer my questions before drinking, I'll also kill you" "First I'll drink this water and prove that you have no right over this lake" "Then, I'll punish you" "No wounds!" "Is the water of this lake poisoned?" "It doesn't seem so!" "Maybe Shakuni is behind this" "But these bodies don't seem poisoned" "But it has to be the influence of this lake" "Something is wrong with the water of this lake" "That's why my brothers are dead" "Stop!" "Answer my questions before drinking" "Please tell me who are you?" "I am a Yaksha" "I have killed your brothers" "I stopped them" "I told them to answer my questions before drinking" "They did not listen to me and were killed" "If you wish to drink water answer my question first" "I'll try." "Ask your questions" "What is heavier than Earth?" "Mother" "What is higher than the sky?" "Father" "What is faster than the wind?" "The mind" "What is more in number than twigs?" "Worry" "Who is the friend of a person close to death?" "Charity" "Where does Religion, Success, Heaven and Happiness reside?" "Religion resides in Awareness" "Success in Charity" "Heaven in Truth" "Happiness in Chastity" "What is a Man's Soul?" "His Son" "What has covered the Earth?" "Ignorance" "What is laziness?" "Ignorance of Religion is laziness" "Who is truly happy?" "The one free of debt" "What is true cleansing?" "The cleansing of the mind" "What is darker than eye black?" "Disrepute" "Which is the best religion?" "Piety!" "What can prevent mourning?" "Keeping the mind in control" "What is shame?" "Keeping away from unworthy things" "What is Piety?" "Wishing happiness for all" "What kills the nation?" "Slavery" "What is the true test of Brahminhood?" "Dynasty, Character, Teaching or Knowledge?" "Dynasty, Teaching or Knowledge do not prove Brahminhood" "Character is the true test" "A Shudra with Character is better than a born Brahmin who has only Knowledge but no Character" "Is Religion in Logic?" "No!" "Is it found in the philosophy of Sages?" "No!" "Because each Sage differs from the others" "None has the complete Truth" "Where is the complete Truth?" "In the heart of the believer" "What is the greatest wonder?" "The greatest wonder is that each individual knows that Death is the ultimate Truth and yet believes that maybe he is immortal" "You have answered all my questions correctly" "Of your four brothers any one can be given Life" "If I have to choose only one then I choose Nakul" "O Son of Kunti!" "Why did you choose Nakul in preference to Bhim or Arjun?" "For me, both Mother Kunti and Mother Madri are equal" "I respect both my mothers" "If I chose Bhim or Arjun it would be an injustice to Mother Madri" "If one of Mother Kunti's sons is alive then one of Mother Madri's sons should be alive" "So that there is no injustice to Mother Madri" "So, if I have to choose one of my brothers I will choose Nakul" "If one of Mother Kunti's sons is alive one of Mother Madri's sons should also live" "And if I grant life to two of your brothers who would it be?" "In that case, I would choose Sahadev" "He is younger than Bhim and Arjun" "Your choice has pleased me" "You are honorable." "You will get back all your brothers" "You are not a Yaksha" "A Yaksha cannot give Life" "You are some superior form." "Please show yourself!" "O Son of Kunti!" "I am the God of Truth" "I had come here to meet you" "I am pleased to see that you have acquired through penance the virtues of Tolerance, Control over Mind and Body and conquered the sins of Hunger, Thirst, Mourning Temptation and Death" "Draupadi must be waiting" "What's wrong?" "Duryodhan's spies came searching for us" "Don't worry Draupadi!" "Whether it is Religion or Atheism Truth or Untruth it cannot survive in a vacuum" "It, too, needs the fertile land of society to grow and evolve" "It needs a Yuddhistir or a Dhritirashtra" "Light can only emanate from a Sun, Moon or a lamp" "There is no point in roaming the desert of nothingness in search of the meaning of these words" "There's no need for words or their meaning" "It is to teach you this that I am narrating this ancient story" "Even when the Lord Himself needs to understand these words He has to incarnate Himself as Man and live on Earth like an exemplary Man" "But for a moment think of what the Lord's disciple will be like" "Abhimanyu!" "My respects" "May you live long!" "Are you going to war, my son?" "No!" "But Uncle says that till I defeat Vermaji at duel he will not accept me as a warrior" "Will you defeat the Chief of Dwarka's army?" "Why not?" "To become a warrior you have to defeat a warrior" "Remember I am Lord Krishna's disciple" "Every day he reminds me that History is waiting for me" "But he never tells me where History is waiting for me" "If your Uncle says that History is waiting for you then it is definitely waiting for you" "But now you will have to prove that you are worthy of History" "I need your blessings" "May you live long!" "Beware, my child!" "By calling me a child you have disarmed me" "At this moment I am not a child but your opponent" "My dear Abhimanyu" "It is possible that in war many of your opponents may be elder to you" "Sometimes one has to fight to protect the values of life" "In war there are no relationships" "That's why, raise your sword and fight!" "As you wish!" "Allow me to wage war with you who are my elder" "Be victorious!" "You are your Uncle's disciple" "Even before the fight you have taken a blessing to be victorious" "Shall we start?" "May you live long!" "This child is such a warrior that even Bhim and Arjun will be proud of him" "They will definitely be proud of him" "Even I am proud of him" "Even his enemies will take his name with respect" "Who will be my enemies?" "No ordinary warrior will dare be your enemy" "Only some brave warrior will have the courage" "Looks like you have brought bad news" "The spies have returned disheartened" "Disheartened?" "But they were following them like shadows?" "They say a mist developed around them and when it cleared, the Pandavas had gone" "Gone?" "Did the Earth swallow them?" "Or did they go to Heaven?" "Tell them to find the Pandavas or else I make them stand here and beat them to death with this mace" "The year of anonymity has begun" "This is a crucial year for Hastinapur" "Sometimes I am even afraid to think of what would happen if the Pandavas are recognized" "And what if they are not recognized?" "Then what?" "They will take our blessings and return to Indraprasth" "Are you sure Duryodhan will return Indraprasth to them?" "Why not?" "He will have to return it" "If that is so, then I have not understood Duryodhan" "If that is so, why the game of Dice?" "Why Draupadi's disrobing and the year of anonymity?" "Tell me, Grandsire" "Duryodhan can't do this!" "You are deluding yourself" "You very well know what Duryodhan is capable of" "Duryodhan is darkness" "Even if he goes towards light Shakuni ensures that he remains in darkness" "If you do not want war and do not wish to side with Duryodhan then pray to Lord Shiva that the Pandavas are not successful" "I do not wish that the Pandavas are denied their rights" "I pray that both of them are happy" "One in Hastinapur and the other in Indraprasth" "Why do you wish for the impossible?" "Do you know where they are now?" "In hiding" "Do not ensnare me in your words" "Like you did at the time of the Wax House" "This is the result of that event" "Had you told me of the conspiracy then by the grace of Lord Shiva I would have asked for the death penalty for the conspirators" "Even the King could not have denied my plea" "But today we are both helpless" "We are like those trees which cannot leave their places even if they wish to" "We have no control over our shadows" "We can only wait for lightning to destroy us" "It is a curse to be born in this era" "Selfishness is the base of Hastinapur's Politics" "There is no place for Patriotism" "This is a tragedy for not only myself but also for Hastinapur" "Hastinapur now represents the ruins of my dreams" "My motherland is on her deathbed" "Please try to save it" "The cure is patriotism in Politics" "I had never thought that Hastinapur would become a plaything in the hands of Dhritirashtra, Shakuni and Duryodhan" "Forgive me O motherland" "I had not thought that such things would happen" "I cannot stop what is happening" "Years before, I had closed my eyes to Ethics in your interest" "Greed has poisoned Politics and Patriotism" "Both Bhishma and Vidur are helpless" "Incurable is this disease" "Can an individual exorcise himself of all evils by mere repentance?" "I do not wish to answer this question" "Either Bhishma or Hastinapur should answer it" "However, a thorn was stuck in Bhishma's heart" "Of course, no one wanted to take note of it" "And it was not Bhishma who Either Bhishma or Hastinapur" "All well wishers of Hastinapur who were were also suffering helplessly" "One such person was Gandhari" "My only prayer to Lord Shiva is that the Pandavas return safely and claim the crown of Indraprasth" "Then I'll be relieved" "I thank the day I bandaged my eyes" "I am so ashamed that I cannot look to either Hastinapur or you, Kunti!" "You are not even a part of the Political set-up" "Why should you be ashamed?" "Why not?" "If you considered me blameless why didn't you visit me in twelve years?" "That would have meant asking for your blessing" "What blessing could you give me which did not go against Duryodhan's interest?" "A blessing for me may be a curse for him" "I, too, am his mother" "God knows I have loved him no less than my sons" "How could my blessing be a curse for him?" "A mother's curse is more powerful than her blessing" "My only prayer is that God protects our motherhood" "Why don't you sit with us?" "Like us, you, too, will share the Fate of Hastinapur and Indraprasth" "A balance has only two scales" "But you are the balance" "Without you, how would we know which scale is heavier?" "Today, words have no meaning in Hastinapur" "Everyone stands on the crossroads of loyalty not knowing which way to turn" "If Hastinapur questions you, what will you say?" "Hastinapur does not honor its women thus" "If that was so, why would Yuddhistir stake Draupadi?" "Why would Duryodhan order Draupadi's disrobing?" "So, relax!" "Hastinapur will not ask this question of either you or me" "Like Vidur, you are an expert at speaking bitter truths" "What would you have done in my place?" "Exactly what you did!" "I, too, would have asked Duryodhan to disrobe me" "Would you have cursed him?" "A curse is not the solution to a problem" "Giving a curse means that one has been defeated by circumstances" "Don't accept defeat, sister" "You are the scales as well as the balance" "Go on weighing the two sides till they are perfectly balanced" "Then, give Duryodhan and Yuddhistir their rightful shares" "Give me a solution, Kunti" "I cannot see their future clearly" "Do you think I do not know my responsibility as the elder Kuru?" "But what can I do?" "A tree cannot reject its own fruit" "The groundnut seed does not yield the sunflower" "Duryodhan is the result of my blind ambition" "He is the executor of my dreams a sentence from my own mouth" "So, pray that the Pandavas are unsuccessful" "What are you saying?" "Accepting one's helplessness reduces the burden of responsibility" "Life becomes a little easier" "Protector of Religion and His subjects!" "Justice-Ioving King of Hastinapur" "Emperor Bharat is on his way" "Bharat, son of Shakuntala asks King Dhritirashtra for justice" "Remain seated, my son" "You are the Present and it should give way only to the Future" "If you do not respect it, it will make you do so" "I am your Past which has given way for the Future" "I have merely come to tell you that the Royal Court is not your Pleasure Palace" "It is your hermitage" "Politics is your penance" "So, sit on this throne because your ancestor has come to ask for justice" "Justice?" "But how can I do injustice to you?" "You are my Past" "How can the Present do injustice to the Past?" "Do you mean to say that you are not responsible to the Past?" "When the Future becomes the Present, you will be the Past" "So, it means that the Present is not responsible to the Future or the Past" "You are your own lord?" "Which means you have not understood Time" "The Present is an heir to the Past" "So, I have a right to question you" "But Grandsire..." "Not Grandsire" "You are the king and I am the complainant" "Listen to my complaint and give me justice" "Today you are sitting on the throne I sat on" "My king, an injustice has been done to me" "Who has done this injustice?" "The king himself" "What kind of a king are you?" "You are insulting the values you should protect dragging them through the mire of your ambition" "You have insulted me and my dynasty" "How did you forget that I found my own son unworthy of the throne and crowned Bhumanyu, son of Sage Bharadwaj" "And you are behaving unjustly with the Pandavas to make your unworthy son the king" "Are you not ashamed?" "Listen carefully to my complaint and give me justice, if you can" "My own heir has insulted me and the throne and ignored his responsibility" "He has violated patriotism and politics for filial love" "He has acted treacherously against the Pandavas" "He encouraged the disrobing of his daughter-in-law by remaining silent" "O King of Hastinapur!" "O Keeper of Justice!" "O Protector of Religion!" "This heir of mine has defiled my dynasty" "Award him the most stringent punishment" "I do not consider my son Duryodhan unworthy" "I am King Vichitravirya's eldest son" "And Duryodhan is my eldest son" "If he is worthy then he has the first right to the throne after me" "Besides, the Present cannot decide on the basis of Past definitions" "Your era may have defined worthiness differently" "I am not saying that your decision was wrong" "Only you and your era can decide that" "But this is my era and it will decide whether my decision is right" "So, forgive me because I am not responsible to you" "If I am, then tell me why did you not take a similar complaint to my ancestor Shantanu whose love for a woman made him deny his son Devavrat his rights and give them to a son who was as yet unborn?" "Don't lie!" "Ask my son whether your allegation is true" "I would have given my life for Satyavati but would never be unjust to my son or Hastinapur" "But you have been openly unjust" "Neither the nation nor the dynasty will forgive you" "How dare you compare your son with mine?" "You are taking advantage of this great soul, this warrior and tactician who is bound by his oath" "His helplessness has become your shield" "But what will happen when the shield breaks down?" "You are blind, my son, not stupid" "You know what you are doing and you are responsible for what's happening" "I'll never forgive you for insulting Hastinapur" "What can I do?" "Duryodhan is a reflection of my personality" "My lord" "Was it a nightmare?" "I don't know if it was a nightmare or the truth" "Whatever it was, it was terrible" "They were saying..." "No!" "No!" "They were demanding..." "ordering that I forsake Duryodhan" "Who are they?" "My ancestors" "Have I been unjust to the Pandavas?" "I gave them half my kingdom" "What can I do if they lost it at Dice?" "A King who loses his kingdom his brothers and wife at Dice is an unworthy King" "They did not lose." "They were tricked into losing" "Agreed!" "But it was Yuddhistir who staked his kingdom, brothers and wife" "Why should Duryodhan be penalized for that?" "Duryodhan will be penalized because his intentions were not honorable" "Are the Pandavas blameless?" "No!" "That's why they, too, are suffering" "If you really want to protect Duryodhan then call back the Pandavas bless them and ask them to return to Indraprasth" "That's impossible Gandhari" "If I do that Duryodhan will claim that they were recognized" "They will have to go in exile for 12 years" "As a father and king you can order him" "But where will I, a blind man, search for them?" "Who knows where they are in this year of anonymity?" "Dhritirashtra does not know where the Pandavas are spending the year of anonymity but I know that after a lot of thought the Pandavas chose the land of Matsya to spend their year of anonymity because its King Virat is not only powerful but also because he is not their enemy" "So, they went to Matsya and hid their weapons in a tree in a cemetery outside the city" "One by one they joined King Virat's service" "Yuddhistir joined the court under the name of Kank" "Bhim became the chief cook under the name of Ballav" "Arjun as Brihanalla taught Uttara music and dance" "Nakul joined the stable while Sahadev became a cowherd" "Draupadi, under the name Sairandhri was in charge of the Queen's make-up" "You are an expert at make-up" "Queen Draupadi must have been happy with you" "I try not to remember her" "Yes!" "I understand" "It must be painful remembering her" "I am surprised that the unvanquished Pandavas should lose their wealth and nation and even Queen Draupadi at Dice" "If they had not lost everything how else would the world know how disastrous, how unlucky the game of Dice is" "You are right, Sairandhri" "How often have I asked the King to give up Dice but he says it is a warrior's right to play and wage war" "One day, when I insisted that he give it up he swore that he would not stake me" "And now that Kank is here they play all day" "It is thanks to my brother's strength that this country is safe" "You must have seen Kank there" "Was he as close to King Yuddhistir?" "King Yuddhistir was closer to his younger brothers than he was to even himself" "That's good!" "Tell me!" "Did the brothers ever fight over Draupadi?" "I didn't notice anything" "Surprising!" "In that case Draupadi is worthy of respect" "She must have kept the Pandavas spellbound" "She must be really beautiful" "Tell me about her beauty" "Don't run like a deer" "Hasn't Brihanalla taught you how to walk?" "Forgive me, mother" "Isn't Brihanalla adept at dance and music?" "Anyone who has studied with Chitrasen should be very good, my queen" "Her rhythm can be heard in Heaven where the fairies dance to it" "Good!" "Now try this piece" "No, Uttara!" "Not like that!" "In dance, you must use your eyes your eyebrows and fingers effectively" "The audience must understand your dance" "Silently you must convey the meaning" "Dance interprets Life" "Dance is not mere entertainment" "Dance is penance" "Practice hard" "Look at me" "Now, you do it!" "Hail Princess" "The Queen is waiting for you" " May I leave?" " Of course" "May you live long" "Come Sairandhri" "Why the anger in your eyes?" "There is no anger in my eyes" "On the contrary I fear I am the reason for your sad condition" "The ace archer Arjun as the dancer Brihanalla?" "The powerful Bhim as a cook" "Emperor Yuddhistir as a courtier" "Don't cry over spilt milk" "These are testing days" "Our weapons are useless against them" "These days will pass at their own pace" "Twelve years are over" "This year, too, will pass" "Does not the queen treat you well?" "It is not that!" "But she keeps talking about us" "She must be talking about you" "Beautiful women are always interested in other beautiful women" "Some day you must tell her how beautiful Draupadi looked" "But no!" "Don't!" "She will be jealous because you worked for the most beautiful woman on Earth" "How can you laugh at a moment like this?" "One has to laugh in moments like these" "Danger is the only thing worth laughing at" "Just think how angry Duryodhan must be for not finding us" "Uncle Shakuni must be spending sleepless nights" "I don't want to think about them" "Whenever I think of them my blood boils with anger" "So, you are Hastinapur's famous spies who can even tell me the amount of Sunlight and moonlight the Earth receives" "But none of you can tell me where the Pandavas are hiding" "If you are tired of living then so be it!" "Or else, go and before the year ends find out where and in what form the Pandavas are hiding" "Be it Heaven or Hell I want to know where they are" "Or else, get ready to lose your lives" "If you do not return with the good news of where the Pandavas are I shall kill not only you but your entire family" "Now go!" "We should not meet openly" "What to do?" "I had not seen you in two months" "As for the others, it is a year since I saw them" "Do you think I don't want to see them?" "We have never stayed apart" "But what can be done?" "One day, I had taken a few horses to the palace" "A palace servant asked me for lunch" "He said the new cook made superb food" "And why not?" "He was King Yuddhistir's cook" "So, I went to the kitchen" "Brother Bhim was so happy that he cried" "What's this, Ballav?" "You are crying?" "I was cutting onions" "Do you know this stable boy?" "He was in King Yuddhistir's service" "I have seen him there occasionally." "How are you?" "Well!" "By God's grace" "Now that you are here, have lunch and go" "That's why I brought him" "Let him eat well today" "I'll be back soon" "Sit!" "Get me a plate, please" "Yes Sir!" "How's Sahadev?" "I saw him a fortnight back" "He, too, longs to see you" "He will have to wait for same more time" "Had I known you were coming I would have made your favorite dishes" "Here you are." "Real hot!" "This curry is exactly the way mother made it" "We ate it as children" "How's elder Brother?" "How will a king turned courtier be?" "He's well." "That's all!" "Arjun is teaching Uttara dance and music" "Draupadi, who had a thousand maids now looks after the Queen" "After that I never went to the palace again" "Don't cry Nakul!" "Mother will know of it" "Learn to bear this sorrow" "I don't have your strength" "Listen to me, Nakul" "Bhim has sworn to kill Duryodhan and Dushasan" "Arjun has sworn to kill Karna" "But everyone has forgotten Shakuni who is responsible for our humiliation" "Today I swear that I shall kill that evil Shakuni" "I shall kill the evil Shakuni who has brought this unhappiness" "This is the oath sworn by Sahadev, son of Pandu" "Oaths play an important part in the Mahabharat" "This is probably because it is necessary to remind Man that oaths are not to be broken" "Which is why everyone in the story is bound by some oath or the other" "Be it Bhishma or Shikhandi or Bhim or Arjun or Draupadi or her father Dhrupad" "Each one is bound by an oath" "Even Shakuni has sworn an oath" "But it is now obvious to him that the fulfillment of his oath is difficult" "Hail O King of Gandhar!" "Yes?" "Prince Ulluk is here to see you" "Ulluk?" "When did he come from Gandhar?" "At Sunset" " Bring him in" " Yes sir" "Father!" "Ulluk, my son!" "My respects" "May you live long!" "Come, my son." "Sit next to me" "Tell me how is my beloved Gandhar?" "As beautiful as it was when you left it" "I never did leave Gandhar" "I visit it in my dreams every night and pay my respects to it" "I breath its scented air and then, return to Hastinapur" "Then why don't you visit it, father?" "No, my son!" "I cannot go now" "Can't you see I am sharpening my sword?" "Father!" "Yes, my son." "The days of weapons are drawing near" "Seasons are changing" "I have already discarded my dice" "Look at my empty hands" "How incomplete they seem without dice" "My dice have won many games but somehow I feel that I have still lost everything" "The Pandavas" year of anonymity is ending but we have still not found them" "So now we will have to fight with weapons" "This will be no ordinary war" "It will be the final war" "No one knows the result of this war" "But this war will fulfil one of my dreams" "The Kuru dynasty will be completely destroyed" "There won't be anyone left to even pick up their corpses" "What are you saying, father?" "I'll never forget how Bhishma insulted Gandhar by proposing the marriage of that blind man Dhritirashtra to Gandhari" "Whenever I go to the palace and see my lotus-eyed sister Gandhari my anger rears up and knows no bounds" "But do not fear, my son" "You are Gandhar's heir" "And maybe you will be saved from the storm that will engulf the Kurus" "What do we have to do with this war?" "Let's return to Gandhar" "No, my son!" "I am a gambler" "I cannot quit after losing" "The sad thing is that the last game will not be played in a Gambling Hall but on the battlefield and Time itself will throw the dice" "I am an expert player but Time is, after all, Time" "Unlike Karna, I cannot go to war without first thinking of the consequences" "For people like Karna, Life is simple" "Come, Karna!" "My respects!" "May you live long" "Please sit!" "How did you think of me?" "The truth is that I am always thinking of you" "Why?" "Because O Sage you refused to teach me" "Do you really believe that none but warriors have a right to education?" "No Karna!" "Everyone has that right but the school you came to was for Princes" "Agreed!" "Do you know the result of your refusal?" "You got a better teacher than I" "You are Sage Parshuram's disciple" "That is half the truth" "The full truth is that I am living under my teacher's curse" "Curse?" "Yes!" "Curse!" "Now that the year of anonymity is ending I have come to tell you my teacher's curse is actually your curse" "Even after accepting this curse I want to say that I am happy that Duryodhan's spies could not find the Pandavas" "This means war is definite" "You, too, will be there" "After fighting Arjun I shall ask you who is the better archer between us:" "Arjun or Karna?" "I will fight Arjun knowing fully well that he may be protected by my teacher's curse" "You talk like a warrior, Karna" "That is what my teacher said except that he did not speak of my language but of my tolerance" "Your education is over my child" "It is now time to leave your teacher" "You said that I should leave without an offering to you but how can I do that?" "The happiness I got teaching you is enough of an offering" "You have been a worthy disciple" "Always remember you are a Brahmin and must protect the warrior class" "But if you see them violating their Code oppose them like I had done" "Why didn't you protect yourself?" "Had I done so your nap would have been disturbed" "Knowledge acquired through falsehood is useless" "What lie did I speak?" "You are not a Brahmin" "A Brahmin cannot tolerate so much pain" "You are a warrior who posed as a Brahmin" "I am a charioteer's son" "No!" "You are lying again" "Only a warrior has this level of tolerance" "You are a warrior and you have told me a lie" "That's why I curse you!" "You will forget your knowledge when you need it the most" "Where were you lost?" "I had gone to see my teacher" "That is like doing penance" "The blessing of parents and teachers is God's blessing" "Does that apply to all parents?" "Or only those of the Brahmin and warrior class?" "Parents do not belong to classes" "They are a class by themselves" "Even a teacher does not have a class just like God does not have a class" "Yes!" "Parents can be either good or bad" "A teacher can be either good or bad" "But they are to be respected" "You are fortunate, Karna that you got a teacher whom even I willingly bow to" "Do not forget to take blessings from your elders before the war" "War is not fought with blessings but with weapons and strength" "I had come to tell you to bless your pupil Arjun before the war" "My respects!" "The King is on the way" " Greetings" " My respects" " Greetings" " My respects" "You have won Uttara's heart, Brihanalla" "She is always talking about you" "She says your dance and music transcends Heaven" "That is her respectful love for her teacher" "I am really not that talented" "We are here to see what Uttara has learned from you" "Is that a test for me or for Uttara?" "Agreed that you are from Indraprasth whose citizens are experts at the Arts" "But even we are not too bad" "As you wish, my lord" "O my heart!" "Speak a few sweet words!" "Put some life into this music and some color into my life" "O my heart!" "Speak a few sweet words!" "My prancing feet dance swiftly to the rhythm of music" "As they dance my anklets tinkle keeping pace with the drum" "Waves of melody sweep through the sea moving towards the shore" "O my heart!" "Speak a few sweet words!" "My heart is like a blossoming flower spreading its scent all over" "Waves of ecstasy sweep my body as life smiles gently" "The arrows of mischievous Cupid pierce me as I stand on the threshold of youth" "O my heart!" "Speak a few sweet words!" "Brihanalla you have won our hearts" "Even Urvashi does not dance as well as Uttara" "Urvashi?" "She is like a mother" "Eight!" "Your turn, my lord" "Brihanalla is an expert at dance and music" "Not only dance and music, my lord" "She is an expert at weaponry" "What did you say?" "At weaponry?" "Play, Kank!" "My respects!" "Even after witnessing King Yuddhistir's tragedy you continue to play dice instead of preventing him" "Do you wish that he, too, ends up like that?" "Isn't my question appropriate?" "It is, my queen" "Life can never ask an inappropriate question" "Then answer me" "It is my duty to obey the King" "But who had ordered King Yuddhistir?" "The code of a warrior" "Did the code compel him to stake his brothers and wife along with the nation?" "How can such a man be the essence of Truth?" "Had he not staked all this how could it be shown that Dice is destructive?" "The hold of the dice is so strong that neither the winner nor the loser wants to give up" "Tell me, why did he play again after losing once?" "King Dhritirashtra had returned everything" "A warrior who is made a king is no king at all" "A kingdom cannot be gifted." "It has to be won" "Maybe King Yuddhistir did not want the kingdom gifted by King Dhritirashtra" "King Dhritirashtra is their elder Father" "How can his gift be unwelcome?" "The truth is different" "King Dhritirashtra had ordered him to play dice" "So, it was Yuddhistir's duty to obey him" "Maybe even Father was compelling him to play" "Commander Keechak is here!" "My brother!" "Greetings" "Greetings" "On the Tree of Evil every fruit is a curse" "Keechak is one such curse" "Keechak is one such evil" "May I enter?" "I have been meaning to ask you" "Why don't you look after and braid your hair which are so long and attractive?" "Don't you like them?" "I used to braid them earlier" "Then why leave them loose now?" "Why are you so careless?" "I don't feel like it" "But why?" "Before coming here I used to work for Queen Draupadi of Indraprasth" "She has now left her hair unbraided" "My loyalty to her compels me to do the same" "The day she braids her hair I, too, will do the same" "I doubt she will ever get to braid her hair" "Duryodhan is protected by Hastinapur's strength" "I think the Pandavas will be recognized in anonymity" "Hastinapur's spies are searching for them" "Think Sairandhri" "How can incomparable Arjun powerful Bhim brave Yuddhistir handsome Nakul and Sahadev hide?" "It is possible that they may not find the moon but the Pandavas?" "Impossible!" "Do you wish that the Pandavas are found before the year ends?" "No!" "I don't wish that" "In fact, whenever I think of Draupadi tears well up in my eyes" "Why should she suffer for Yuddhistir's fault?" "How could she bear such an insult?" "Sometimes I feel like cursing Yuddhistir" "No!" "For God's sake don't do that" "It is neither Yuddhistir's fault nor Draupadi's" "Draupadi's arrogance was also to blame" "It could also be an indication of the Future" "You speak like a warrior's wife" "This is what I was taught in King Dhrupad's palace" "So, you were with Draupadi from Kampilya" "I am her shadow, my queen" "The King looked upon me as his daughter and I called the Prince, "Brother"" "Please forgive me" "I sympathize with your tears" "It is difficult to get a maid like you" "You may go!" "Forgive me!" "Why are you standing there, Brother?" "When did you hire her?" "About a year back!" "She was Queen Draupadi's chief maid" "If not Draupadi, I have at least seen her maid" "She has a kind of fiery beauty" " A shiver went through me" " Brother!" "It's true!" "I must quench this fire" "Did you see her walk?" "Maids don't walk like this" "Ladies walk like this" "You have done an injustice by making her your maid" "Ask her to come and share my palace" "Well!" "You will listen to no one" "Why are you here?" "The flowers in this garden must be jealous of your beauty" "How can Sudeshna honor your beauty?" "After having seen you I'll never look at the full moon again" "Without doubt it has stolen your beauty" "You cannot be mere Sairandhri" "You are the Goddess of Wealth herself" "You are Cupid's consort Rati" "Even Arjun and Karna cannot face the arrows of your eyes" "These arrows will pierce their hearts" "Have mercy on this victim of Cupid's arrow" "Please quench the thirst of my lust" "You are not a mere woman but Beauty itself" "I'll divorce all my wives for you and make them your maids" "O Brave Warrior!" "I am merely Sairandhri" "An ordinary maid" "I am unworthy of your honor" "Man should not violate the limits of his married life" "You should respect someone else's wife and protect her like you would your mother and sister" "I am married" "My head is covered" "As the Commander you must protect me" "I know all this" "I will forsake my Religion to get you even violate your Religion to do so!" "You should not have rejected me" "I am not the King but I control this Kingdom" "You are your own enemy Keechak" "I am Sairandhri but I am not helpless or an orphan" "My honor is guarded by five brave Gandharvas whose wife I am" "If they even came to know that you have insulted me in this garden my queen will have to weep on your corpse" "Listen to me!" "Do not invite your death" "I am obliged to your sister" "I do not wish to cause her brother's death" "My honor is like a mountain" "If you clash with it, nothing will happen to it but you will be destroyed" "Brother!" "My dear Sudeshna" "If you wish that I stay alive then explain to Sairandhri that she should accept me" "If she does not accept me I'll commit suicide" "She is under my protection" "Do not embarrass me like this" "If you love me and value your life remove the thought from your mind like you would a servant who tells lies" "The entire family will have to suffer for your mistake" "Is this your love for your brother?" "I know the difference between Religion and Evil" "But you are my brother." "I cannot forsake you" "I will walk the path of Evil with you" "Okay!" "I'll wait for her in my palace" "Hail Queen!" "I was going to call you" "Yes, my queen" "Go to my brother's palace" "He has brought some wine for the King" "Get it!" "He is my brother" "I know that but you are forgetting that I am someone's wife" "Send a maid to fetch the wine" "I want to send you" "As you wish" "But you will be responsible for the result" "When the mind is without control and does something Evil" "It does not realize what will be the result" "Relationships are strange things" "Often dictated by temptation" "There's a difference between temptation and penance" "Penance means separating the soul from the body's needs" "Temptation means compulsive acquisition of things" "Temptation and penance are the two currents of this story" "Dhritirashtra represents love for his son while Bhishma represents filial love" "Queen Sudeshna is trapped in her brother's love" "She has erred by sending Draupadi to Keechak without thinking about the result" "Temptation rarely thinks of the result" "This is not Draupadi going to Keechak's palace but the result of Sudeshna's temptation" "Hail Commander!" "Come Sairandhri" "I have come to fetch wine for the King" "You are yourself a rare wine" "Today I shall drink from your eyes" "Commander!" "You cannot run away and hide from me in Virat" "Where will you go?" "Save me, O King!" "Draupadi!" "What are you doing here?" "I wanted fuel for the kitchen" "Then go out and fetch it" "But remember!" "Every leaf of the tree that protects you is respectful" "Understood?" "Now go!" "Coward!" "The citizens are like your children O King" "Wearing the crown implies the responsibility of protecting the citizens" "The throne on which you are seated is a sacred place" "I am a helpless woman" "Protect me" "I accuse Commander Keechak of trying to molest me and that, too, in the King's presence" "The King himself is witness to the act as are the other courtiers" "The blood on my blameless lips is also a witness to my humiliation" "Will you punish Commander Keechak on this evidence?" "O King of Matsya!" "Or, like the King of Hastinapur, will you quietly accept a woman's humiliation?" "O Keechak!" "This is shameful behavior" "Don't think that my tormentor can escape alive" "By Lord Shiva, that's impossible" "I am the wife of those brave warriors whose name strikes terror in the heart of all warriors" "My husbands give before being asked so as to avoid embarrassment" "O King of Matsya!" "Is that the only penalty you can award him?" "A mere scolding for his shameful behavior?" "O Sairandhri!" "Maybe your divine husbands are unable to protect you at this juncture" "Remember Forgiveness is the best Religion" "Forgiveness is Truth and Piety" "Forgiveness is Penance and Religion" "Your husbands do know about your humiliation" "Let them take action" "Now go to the Queen and help her because that is your duty" "Kank!" "Today I realized how wise you are because I did not know how to answer her" "Had Kank not spoken in between and had you thought of an answer you would still not be able to stop me" "What happened?" "Don't pretend, my queen" "You had sent me to your brother" "Yes." "I am to blame" "My brother's love had made me helpless and I forgot that a woman's honor is more valuable then a brother's love" "If you wish I will have him punished for his crime" "That will not soothe my humiliation" "Keechak has not only insulted me but also my powerful husbands" "He will not live for another day" "Prepare for his funeral because he will not live to see tomorrow's sunrise" "I will not curse him because he is unworthy of my curse" "I am informing you of his death" "Till I see his corpse I will not wipe this blood" "Nor will I have a bath and change my clothes" "These are harsh words Sairandhri" "I am using these harsh words because I do not know harsher words than these" "Forgiveness is Piety and Truth" "Forgiveness is Divine, Sairandhri" "Forgive my brother" "If you can place yourself in my position and order me to forgive him then I will forgive that evil man" "Can you order me?" "If not, then get ready to weep over your brother's corpse" "No Sairandhri!" "How can you sleep so peacefully O great warrior when your wife has been humiliated?" "Are you living or dead?" "Had Elder Brother not stopped me in the royal court I would have killed Keechak on the spot" "Your brother is an expert at preventing but he is unable to stop his hands from playing Dice" "I want to ask you just one question:" "Are you going to watch my humiliation quietly?" "And tolerate it?" "O Son of Kunti!" "Give me one reason to go on living?" "If you wish that I go on living then kill him like an elephant would crush a rat" "How dare he molest your wife" "If he lives to see tomorrow's sunrise then I'll not live to see the Sunset" "Try to understand my sorrow, O Bhim!" "This is the sorrow of Draupadi, the queen of the Pandavas" "Look at my brave husbands!" "They are bowed by the enormous weight of Yuddhistir's Dice drowned in a sea of humiliation" "Listen to me..." "No!" "Today you listen to me" "I am the woman whose five husbands swore by the Fire God to protect her" "What happened to the oath?" "Shame on my strength" "Shame on Arjun's bow" "If we are to fulfil our vows regarding Duryodhan and Dushasan then our exile must be successful" "That is why Brother stopped me" "Do you want to say that you will not avenge my humiliation?" "If you want Keechak dead by sunrise then he will be dead by then" "Tell Keechak that you are in love with him but you are afraid of your husbands" "Ask him to meet you at the Dance Hall at night" "I'll kill him there" "Now go before someone sees you with me" "The mirror of my eyes reflects the face of my handsome beloved" "O my beloved!" "Why did you stop?" "You are a proficient singer" "O warrior!" "Why are you pursuing me thus" "My husbands cannot hurt you but they will kill me" "That is the reason why I dare not even smile at you" "Even now someone may be spying on us" "They'll know about us" "Don't be afraid." "I'll kill them" "Listen to what my heart says" "We can meet on the sly" "No one should know about our love" "If you agree only then can I be yours" "I'll do anything to attain you" "Then tonight!" "At the Dance Hall" "I'll be waiting for you" "How touching is this darkened silence" "In a moment our union will bring light in which you will see me in a new form" "I am eagerly waiting to embrace you" "What's stopping you?" "I was waiting for this moment" "O how I waited for this moment!" "Even I was waiting for this moment" "I have honored your oath" "He will not see tomorrow's Sunrise" "Keechak lost his life because he played with fire" "Draupadi's tears have got back their honor" "Why this light?" "This chain of lamps!" "Greetings Grandsire" "Welcome Shakuni!" "You need not get up to welcome me" "Please be seated" "Please sit" "I was returning from Gandhari when I saw your palace all lit up" "Today is not the Festival of Lights" "I was tired of the darkness so I lit these lamps" "These lamps have such a short life" "Who knows?" "A gust of wind may come and blow them all out leaving the palace in darkness" "But as long as they are there let us enjoy their beauty" "They must be countless!" "I have not counted them but there are 105 lamps in this room and 105 lamps burning in my heart" "My heart wishes that this night never ends and these lamps never burn out" "Why are you worried?" "If the years of exile are over, so be it!" "Like the years, the Pandavas will be finished by next year" "I am not worried about the exile" "I am worried about the failure of my spies" "Spies are important for Administration" "If they fail and and are unable to find anyone it will be impossible to protect the nation" "The Administration cannot remain subservient" "As the future King of Hastinapur I wish to know where the nation's five enemies are" "Who has given them refuge and endangered himself?" "Why be afraid of the Pandavas?" "Nakul and Sahadev are children" "In any case, my 99 brothers can take care of them" "Yuddhistir is caught in the web of Ethics" "He is helpless" "That leaves Arjun and Bhim" "Bhim has spent 13 years in exile whereas I have studied mace warfare" "As for Arjun, how can he win against you?" "Uncle Vidur is right" "A King should keep watch on not only his enemies but also his ministers and guards" "What can I do about my spies who could not even find my enemies?" "That is what worries me, my friend" "Looks like you have brought bad news" "You decide after hearing the news" "Father has just been told that..." "Keechak killed?" "Impossible" "Impossible!" "But why?" "Only six warriors have the strength to kill him" "Krishna's elder brother Balram, Grandsire Bhishma Sage Drona, yourself myself and Bhim" "Then who killed him?" "Very good question!" "Balram did not kill him" "Nor did Grandsire or Sage Drona" "Neither you nor I killed him" "The warrior who killed him is the one we are searching" "Congratulate me." "I have found their hiding place" "Come!" "Let's attack Matsya" "It must be punished for hiding the Pandavas" "I am always ready to fight the Pandavas but to attack we must take the King's permission" "I don't think Grandsire or Vidur will allow us to attack" "Don't forget that Uncle Vidur, Sage Drona and Grandsire receive State salaries" "They cannot oppose the King or the State" "They are bound by duty and loyalty" "They feel that the king is God's representative" "They will not oppose the king" "So, the decision is in the King's hands" "And the King is in my hands" "Don't be so sure about your father Duryodhan" "He only listens to himself" "Then shouldn't we try to find them?" "If we did not want to do that why would we have sent them in exile?" "Why can't you speak straight, Uncle?" "Because this is not the era for straight speaking" "Now, one has to speak by implication" "If you want to survive, learn this art" "Say something but it should mean something else" "Grandsire Bhishma always speaks the truth and so do Sage Drona and Family Sage Kripa" "Then why are they all quiet?" "Tell me, O King of Anga?" "Truth is only the pleasure of Sages" "One should only do what is profitable" "And your advantage lies in Duryodhan's profit" "You are a great warrior, Karna" "Preserve your strength till I call upon you and say:" "Come now Karna." "Raise your bow and string it" "I agree with Duryodhan" "We must attack Matsya" "The Pandavas will not bear to see an attack on the land of their refuge" "They will even break their anonymity to defend it" "Even it they win they will have to go in exile again" "All right!" "I'll ask for father's permission" "Why are you always in a hurry?" "If either Grandsire or Vidur realize you want to attack Matsya to break their anonymity they will not allow it to happen" "Then I'll attack without father's permission" "No!" "Never make that mistake" "A Crown Prince cannot oppose his King" "So, tell the King only half the truth" "Tell him that after Keechak's death Matsya has been orphaned" "Tell him Matsya is keen to merge with Hastinapur" "Even Grandsire cannot oppose that" "But we are friendly with Matsya" "We want to surprise them" "We have heard that King Sukarma of Trikat will attack Matsya very soon" "If Matsya merges with Hastinapur before that Sukarma will dare not attack" "Duryodhan is right" "How can I be satisfied with an inheritance?" "The Warrior Code demands I increase my lands" "The Warrior Code demands a lot of other things" "Which means you have decided to reject all my proposals" "Should I accept all your conspiracies?" "Should I accept Draupadi's disrobing?" "Think of the strange proposals you come up with" "I have stopped sleeping after the Dice game" "What if my ancestors ask me questions in my dreams?" "What answer will I give them?" "If you want to conquer Matsya then let's go" "I am a servant of Hastinapur's flag" "I'll have to go wherever it goes" "Grandsire Bhishma trembles with his every thought" "Duryodhan's evil deeds are inviting death and destruction" "There is talk of war all over India" "Even those who do not desire war know that they cannot avoid it" "The situation is such that each one is compelled to fight under some flag" "Two such person are Bhishma and Shakuni" "But there is a difference between the two" "Bhishma knows about this helplessness and so does not think about victory or defeat" "He is unhappy" "Shakuni is an expert Dice player" "He wants to avoid defeat at all costs" "Before leaving on a victory tour he wants to avoid all possibilities of defeat" "What defeat?" "Don't forget Arjun has divine weapons" "Weapons don't fight wars..." "not even divine weapons" "Warriors fight wars and they either win or lose" "There is no harm in being alert" "What do you wish for?" "The King of Trikat is your friend" "If he attacks a day before we do our task will become easier" "He has been eyeing Matsya for long time" "There have been many wars between the two nations and he has lost every war" "So, he will get Matsya and we will get the Pandavas" "That's good news" "Then let's go" "Be victorious!" "Pandavas!" "Huh!" "The cow from Mathura..." "What happened?" "A snake bit her" "I will go and see" "Here's your pawn" "When you are such an expert player and had played with King Yuddhistir how did he lose to Shakuni?" "Like war, Dice can end in victory or defeat" "Even the best player sometimes loses" "I heard Shakuni resorted to treachery" "Even if he did, King Yuddhistir lost the game" "Even if it was treachery Grandsire Bhishma did not object" "Sages Drona and Kripa remained silent" "Even King Yuddhistir did not object" "Let the Pandavas deal with what happened" "Let's play, my lord" "Throw the dice" "Long live the king" "Yes?" "King Susarma has attacked Matsya" "How dare Susarma do that?" "Does he think there are no warriors apart from Keechak?" "Prepare my chariot" "Yes sir" "May I say something?" "Sure!" "I, too, have learned weaponry from a Sage" "May I come along?" "Of course" "Your cook Ballav is also an expert fighter and so are Arshanemi and Granthak" "If they, too, come along victory is certain" "What are you saying?" "How can a cook, a stable boy and cowherd fight a war?" "It is the truth" "Even King Yuddhistir took them with him" "All right!" "Prepare chariots for them" "Ballav!" "Arrest the King of Trikat" "Stop!" "Drop your weapons" "Or else I will behead your king" "Victory to the king" "Here's your enemy" "I suggest that he be forgiven" "Forgiveness is the best Religion" "Would Emperor Yuddhistir have forgiven him?" "Do not ask about him, my lord" "He forgives everyone but himself" "Go!" "You are unworthy of forgiveness but I forgive you because of Kank's suggestion" "Return to Trikat" "Now, return to Virat" "Inform the people of our victory" "I'll rest here with the army" "Stop!" "You cannot enter" "Tell the Prince I have brought good news" "Have you brought news of victory?" "I know you are tired but return to father and ask him to rest for some time" "The people desire that when he returns from his victorious war he should be welcomed with rejoicing" "Go!" "As you wish" "Had I also gone, we would not have lost so many men and father, too, would not be injured" "My respects, mother" "Any news about the war, son?" "Yes, mother." "Father was injured but there's no need to worry." "We were bound to win" "I was just telling the maids that had father taken me with him he would have won without any injury" "But he took cooks, cowherds and stable boys with him to wage war" "So, the injury was inevitable" "What's the news?" "What else but victory?" "Prepare to welcome father" "Brihanalla did say that the army which had Ballav could not lose" "You and your Brihanalla" "Hail Crown Prince" "What good news have you brought?" "I have brought bad news" "Bad news!" "Yes, Prince." "The bad news is that Grandsire Bhishma Sages Drona and Kripa, Prince Duryodhan Dushasan, Vikarna, Karna and Ashwathama are leading an army which has attacked Matsya" "But the Kurus have always been friendly with us" "In Politics, friends can become enemies" "You are right" "You have not brought bad news" "It's good news" "Is this good news?" "Yes, mother" "A warrior should not be afraid of big names" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa are old" "As for Dhritirashtra's sons and Karna how long can they face me?" "Yes!" "Had it been Bhim or Arjun it would be a worthwhile fight" "Hasn't father often said that his son is a warrior among warriors?" "This is the moment to prove that" "How can I let this opportunity pass?" "Prepare to welcome father" "I'll go and defeat them and return" "Think carefully my son" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa Duryodhan, Karna, Dushasan, Ashwathama are not ordinary warriors" "It would be an insult to fight ordinary warriors" "The Prince is right, my queen" "Whether he wins or loses it will be a credit to him" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa are warriors who have never tasted defeat" "There's no question of defeat, Brihanalla" "I'll defeat them and avenge the Pandavas and Queen Draupadi" "If the Prince makes Brihanalla his charioteer victory will be assured" "Brihanalla?" "I am not going to a dance hall but to the battlefield" "That is why I suggested her name" "Even Arjun took her along as a charioteer" "Arjun took her along as a charioteer?" "I don't believe you know anything about Arjun" "Forgive me!" "I told you what I know" "Sairandhri never tells lies" "She was right about Keechak" "All right!" "Brihanalla be my charioteer" "Very good, Prince" "Yes, Princess" "My heart says that my brother will win" "I have heard that the Kurus wear beautiful clothes" "Will you get some for my dolls?" "As you wish, Princess" "How long will it take to strip the corpses?" "But Grandsire and Sage Drona wear white clothes" "All right!" "Don't bring those" "As you wish, Princess" "I will cut through the Kurus like a farmer mowing grass" "We will return to Virat before father does" "When father finds out that I have defeated the Kuru army he will be so happy" "That is Grandsire Bhishma's flag" "That is Sage Drona's flag" "The blue flag is Sage Kripa's and the one behind belongs to Duryodhan" "That is Dushasan... that is Karna" "That is Sage Drona's son Ashwathama" "Is this an army or the sea itself?" "Even the Gods cannot defeat this army" "I cannot even see the other end of the army" "My bow slips away from my shoulders" "My arrows want to hide in my quiver" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sage Drona Sage Kripa, Duryodhan Karna, Vikarna, Dushasan, Ashwathama!" "Even Lord Indra dare not fight them" "I am only a child" "Father has taken the entire army to fight Susarma" "How can I face these great warriors all alone?" "I don't even have any experience of war" "No, Brihanalla!" "Let's return" "The people of Virat will say you ran away" "You are a warrior." "You cannot accept defeat before the war" "What if the Princess ask for clothes for her dolls?" "I am worried about my life and you are thinking of doll's clothes" "You had sworn to defeat the Kuru army" "I had sworn to bring clothes for her dolls" "You were boasting before the women" "Whether you fight or not, I will!" "I will not be teased by the women of Virat" "Let them tease me but I cannot fight these warriors" "Let me go, Brihanalla" "I'll give you gold coins a gold chariot eight to ten slaves but let me go, Brihanalla" "If you are afraid to fight, sit in my place" "I cannot run away." "So, there will be war" "I'll fight in your place" "A warrior must learn to harness his fear" "Fear is not shameful but running away is!" "Here!" "No!" "Go towards that tree" "Stop, Prince" "Now climb this tree" "Climb this tree?" "But why?" "Because your bow is a toy" "You will find a bundle hidden in this tree" "Bring it down" "Whose weapons are these, Brihanalla?" "I am afraid to even look" "This is Arjun's bow, the Gandiva" "This is Bhim's bow and mace" "This is Yuddhistir's spear" "These swords belong to Nakul and Sahadev" "Nakul and Sahadev!" "But why are their weapons in a cemetery?" "Where are they?" "I am Arjun, disciple of Sage Drona" "Are you really Arjun?" "Yes!" "I am Arjun" "Kank is really Emperor Yuddhistir" "The cowherd is Sahadev and the stable boy is Nakul" "Ballav, your cook, is Bhim and Sairandhri is Queen Draupadi" "If you are Arjun, tell me his ten names" "Dhananjay, Vijay, Shwetarohan Phalguni, Kiriti, Vibhutse Sabyasachi, Arjun, Vishnu and Krishna" "O disciple of Drona!" "O son of Kunti!" "O Arjun!" "Forgive me" "I will willingly be your slave" "No Prince!" "Never talk of slavery" "I know this is your humility but never say such a thing" "I know what it is like to be a slave" "Humility does not mean slavery" "Do not surprised" "This is my chariot." "We will use it" "Keep these weapons in your chariot" "Arjun!" "That is Arjun's Conch Devdutt!" "I have pierced their veil of anonymity" "Congratulations, my friend!" "Take the chariot towards Grandsire" "O Grandsire!" "O Sage Drona!" "O Family Sage Kripa!" "You have all heard the twang of the Gandiva as also the blowing of the Conch Devdutt" "I wish to repeat what I have always said:" "The stake was that if they were recognized they would go back in exile for 12 more years" "Yes, my child." "I remember that sad day" "Then you are my witnesses that they were recognized" "Grandsire!" "You are the eldest" "Go forward and order Arjun to go into exile with his brothers" "Are we here to fight or to pierce their anonymity?" "Did I tell Arjun to reveal himself during the exile to protect the land of Matsya?" "Maybe they like being in exile which is why they want to lose the stake" "This is a family problem, Karna" "Neither you nor I should talk in between" "I am their teacher but you are an outsider" "So, this ridicule is inappropriate" "You are unique in the history of teachers" "Openly siding with one disciple and opposing the other" "Charioteer!" "Take the chariot back" "This is a family squabble" "Learn to respect your elders, Karna" "Others do not even accept you as a warrior but I think you are a brave warrior" "However, you are incapable of stringing the bow of the man you have just insulted" "None but Sage Parshuram can compare with him" "So, recognize your worth and stand back" "Grandsire!" "Had anyone else insulted my friend his chariot would have been empty by now" "I would have killed him" "Forgive me, my friend." "I request you to stand by my side" "Karna, the day you learn to bear the truth you'll be a great warrior" "Sage Drona is right." "This is a family problem and you do not belong here" "The Crown Prince can make you King of Anga but he cannot make you a Kuru" "A brave warrior must control his anger" "So, Duryodhan beg for Grandsire's forgiveness" "For how many misdemeanors will he ask forgiveness?" "I fear the day when I can no longer forgive him" "Forgive me Grandsire but I am helpless" "I cannot control my anger" "Be careful, otherwise when you learn to control it you will be too old for anything" "I do not wish to see that day" "So, listen to me and return to Hastinapur" "Treachery should not be a part of war or Dice" "I was there when the last game of Dice was played" "It was not decided that you would use spies to break their anonymity" "Let us debate this after our victory" "The truth now is that they have been recognized" "So, they will have to go into exile once again" "Talk of war against the Matsya army" "Don't talk of exile" "According to mathematics, their exile is over" "Forgive me but it seems you have forgotten mathematics" "Ask India's top mathematicians if I have forgotten mathematics or your jealousy knows no mathematics" "I'll do that to satisfy you but now you must fight" "Fight if you must taste defeat" "This army cannot defeat Arjun who has defeated Fire" "Strange are the ways of Hastinapur's Sages" "Instead of encouraging their students they extol the virtues of the enemy" "So what if Arjun stands before us" "I promise to vanquish Arjun" "If you are afraid to face Arjun then let me attack him" "Learn to control your ego, Karna" "Why do you wish to willingly jump into a well of fire?" "Arjun is fire while you are a bundle of wood" "You won't even realize when you are burned" "A river fish may be an expert swimmer but it still cannot cross the ocean" "Besides, Arjun must still remember the insult he suffered thirteen years ago" "Your arrows cannot injure him" "Is he a greater archer than Grandsire, Sage Drona and yourself?" "Don't judge the son according to the measure of the father" "Don't make that mistake" "Which means you will not fight" "Why not?" "I have come here to fight" "The King has ordered me to fight on your behalf" "Even if dear Arjun stands before me I'll stay and fight with you" "There is Arjun's flag" "I have recognized these arrows" "Arjun paid obeisance with the first two arrows and challenged you with the next two arrows which touched your arms" "I had never thought that we would meet Arjun after 13 years in the battlefield" "Look how handsome he looks in the chariot" "Like a divine weapon" "Take the chariot to the center of the Kuru army nearest to Duryodhan" "I cannot see Prince Duryodhan" "Maybe he has gone South with our cows" "Follow him!" "As you wish!" "Arjun seems to be following Duryodhan" "Then stop him" "He cannot be stopped so easily" "After aiming the arrow Bhishma is lost in thought" "How can I attack the one person I love the most" "As the moment for the Lord's message nears I have less and less worthy things to talk about" "Why repeat what the Lord will say?" "Since I can look into the Future I can see that many centuries later the Lord's message will be deified but not brought into practice" "Other worthy works will be similarly treated" "People will remember words like "duty" but will forget their meaning or use them for their selfish motives" "Like today, I shall stand watching everything helplessly because I am Time" "I can neither bless nor curse" "I cannot interfere" "If I could interfere I would have silenced Devavrata and prevented him from taking the oath which is the cause of all that is happening" "Arjun who had once sat on Bhishma's lap and sought Sage Drona's blessing is now preparing to wage war against Grandsire Bhishma and Sage Drona" "I cannot see Prince Duryodhan" "Maybe he has gone South with our cows" "Follow him!" "As you wish" "Arjun is searching for Duryodhan" "Stop him" "None of us alone can stop him" "Which army dares stop Arjun?" "Beware!" " This way, Prince" " Yes Sir" "Beware!" "Beware of you?" "It is an insult to fight you but I have sworn to silence you" "I will fulfil my oath today" "Enough of words, young man" "Raise your Gandiva and show me what Sage Drona has taught you" "Beware!" "Don't run away coward!" "This is Arjun's Gandiva" "This one is for Draupadi's unbraided hair" "No!" "If I killed him now what will happen to Brother Bhim's oath?" "Salute the blood flowing from your wound" "You have matured today" " What was that?" " Sleeping gas" "But why not kill them?" "If I kill them, their clothes will be contaminated" "Will you strip corpses to clothe the Princess" dolls?" "That does not befit you" "Now go and bring back the colored scarves of Duryodhan, Karna and Ashwathama" "Don't remove Grandsire's scarf" "My weapon cannot affect him" "Now go, prince" "As you wish!" "Now we can kill them" "I have brought back the scarves" "No!" "We still cannot kill them" "The Code forbids the killing of unconscious warriors" "Besides, these unconscious warriors are such that the coming era will never see their like" "I do not want History to blame me for killing them after rendering them unconscious" "Had I not been worried about you I would not have done so" "So, let us return to the capital" "If the King has returned, he will be worried" "No, Prince" "That is my place." "You must take your place" "How can I do that after knowing you?" "Allow me to remain your charioteer" "No, Prince." "That's not right" "If the King finds out that we were in his service he may die of the shock" "You have won this war, my Prince" "When you tell him that you cut through and vanquished an army Sage Kripa, Duryodhan and Ashwathama Karna and other great warriors his happiness will know no bounds" "Now, please take your place and let me take mine" " Go!" " As you wish!" "Let's go!" "Yes!" "But we will return in your chariot" "We will also have to keep these weapons" "Okay, but will father accept that I defeated the Kuru army?" "He is a fond father." "He will accept it" "People say I am all-powerful" "I laugh at this statement because I am beyond Power and Powerlessness" "These two words mean nothing to me" "I am the balance while the scales are Life itself" "A man's actions are judged in this balance" "My task is to see that no one cheats" "For, whoever cheats has to ultimately pay for it" "Shakuni, Duryodhan, Karna and Dushasan have been cheating all along" "But look at the result of their cheating" "They lie denuded on the battlefield while Arjun has emerged victorious" "The spies have not returned as yet" "The Prince should not have gone alone" "Why did you let him go?" "Did you not know the might of the Kurus?" "Bhishma!" "Sage Drona!" "Sage Kripa!" "Even Lord Indra dare not challenge them" "All three must have been in the army" "Do not worry about the Prince" "Wait patiently for the good news" "Will Brihanalla defeat Grandsire Bhishma or Sage Drona or Sage Kripa or Duryodhna?" "Have you gone mad?" "Brihanalla is no ordinary person" "That impotent eunuch!" "She is not even a complete person" "How will she protect my son?" "Put out the lamps in the palace" "I am worried about my son" "Congratulations!" "I want a pearl necklace as a gift" "Congratulations?" "For what?" "What is the news?" "Has my son died in battle?" "No, he has returned victorious" "Victorious?" "What are you saying?" "She's right!" "After all, Brihanalla was with him" "Brihanalla?" "Who gave you this news?" "The whole town is rejoicing with the news" "Long live the king" "Did you hear?" "The Prince has defeated the Kuru army" "Brihanalla is the banner of victory" "Decorate the path to the palace with flags" "Decorate the holy idols with garlands" "All warriors, members of the royal family singers and dancers must welcome the Prince and bring him to me so that I can greet my victorious son" "Let Uttara wait for her younger brother at the palace gate so as to welcome him" "Sairandhri bring the dice" "As you wish" "I shall play Dice with Kank till my son returns" "Dice does not go well with intoxication" "Intoxication?" "Happiness, too, can be intoxicating" "You think you will defeat me today?" "I want to lose to you, Kank because you refused a gift for your help in the war" "My defeat at Dice will be your gift" " As you wish" " Sit, Kank" "I am bursting with pride that my son has defeated an army led by Bhishma" "With Brihanalla as charioteer he could not lose" "Evil man!" "Dare you compare my son with that eunuch" "Can that eunuch vanquish warriors like ...Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Ashwathama and Karna?" "Brihanalla is incomparable" "What's this?" "Hail, my lord!" "The Prince has arrived." "The Princess is welcoming him" "Listen!" "Don't let Arjun come here with the Prince" "You know he cannot see me bleed" "He will kill the king." "Go quickly" "Sister, you must..." "Following the Prince are colored clothes for the Princess" dolls" "Really!" "Brihanalla, you have gladdened my heart" "Thank you!" "How are you?" "How are you?" "Come, my son" "May you live long" "What happened to him?" " I hit the evil man" " You!" "I beseech you to forgive us" "I forgave him even before I was hit" "Had my blood fallen on this earth this kingdom would be no more" "I don't wish that since this land has given me refuge when I needed it" "A drop of righteous blood will destroy the very Earth" "Sairandhri prevented this event with the utmost confidence" "Respects my king!" "Respects my queen!" "Come son, sit next to me so that I can see the luster of your face" "Tell me in detail how you defeated great warriors like Bhishma, Drona and Kripa and Karna who can shoot a hundred arrows at once?" "I did not win the war, father" "Like a shivering leaf in autumn I was about to run away from battle when a divine warrior appeared and waged war on my behalf" "It was he who defeated Bhishma, Drona, Kripa Karna and Ashwathama" "It is his victory." "Not mine" "That is the truth!" "Where is that warrior who protected you and this land?" "It is my duty to thank him" "He disappeared soon after the battle" "Brihanalla, I am pleased with you" "You helped my son at a critical juncture" "That was my duty" "It is the Prince's humility which makes him say this" "He was an equal partner in the victory" "Granted that the warrior knew weaponry but without a good charioteer one cannot win" "Then you must have seen him fight" "Who was the warrior?" "Father!" "Look at these Kuru clothes" "This red one is Duryodhan's The blue one is Ashwathama's" "And this pink one is Karna's" "Stop these childish games now, Uttara" "It is time for your own marriage" "Why are you hurrying up her marriage?" "Do you want to keep her here permanently?" "She has to be married off some time" "Yes!" "But not to the first man we see" "We must get a worthy boy" "Don't listen to your mother" "We will marry you when we find someone worthy" "Start counting the days to your marriage" " My respects" " May you live long" "Sit Uttara" "Since the queen spoke about your marriage the blush on your face is still intact" "I won't talk to you if you tease me" "Tell me something" "You have spent quite some time with Arjun" "You must have seen India's leading warriors" "Of course" "Then, tell me!" "If I am married whom should I choose?" "Whoever you like!" "India is a land of warriors" "Don't ask who is worthy of you" "Ask who will suit you the most" "Okay!" "Among those defeated by the Prince none is worthy of my disciple" "Then, who's left?" "I feel there's only one warrior who is worthy of you and who suits you" "Who's that?" "Emperor Pandu's grandson, Lord Krishna's nephew Subhadra's son, Abhimanyu" "You must have seen him" "Of course, I have seen him but he was a child then" "I saw him 13 years ago" " My respects" " Greetings" "My sister is looking very happy today" "Brother!" "Come, Prince." "Sit" "Stop this pretence at least now" "Brother wants us to shed our disguise tomorrow" "We will leave tomorrow" "Tomorrow?" "Why not today" "We never question our elder Brother" "We merely follow his orders" "And are sometimes penalized for doing so" "A penalty can also be a gift" "Now we can confidently tell the people how destructive Dice is how it violates the limits of honor how it dehumanizes persons" "This moral will be our gift to the people" "This experience has been worthwhile" "So, Prince Uttar do not criticize him" "Even the Sages dare not criticize him" "We are much to young to do that" "Forgive me!" "Listen to me carefully" "If I could defeat the Kuru army single handed which army can face us if all five come together?" "In spite of this, Shakuni resorted to treachery" "We accepted defeat because with the exception of the Lord Himself who has not tasted defeat at some time?" "So, we tasted defeat" "Defeat has a bitter taste, my Prince" "A taste which affects one's self-respect" "Arjun becomes Brihanalla and Bhim becomes a cook" "Emperor Yuddhistir becomes Kank and Draupadi becomes Sairandhri" "Never insult the one who is defeated" "A loser in war is also to be respected" "I submit you have all been insulted" "Father may have insulted Yuddhistir as Kank" "Mother may have insulted Draupadi as Sairandhri" "Uncle Keechak even tried to molest Draupadi" "Will you be able to forgive us and this land?" "The land which has given us refuge will always be respected by us" "You will soon be the King" "Becoming a slave is a matter of luck" "So, why detest someone for his luck" "So, treat your servants well" "For, who knows what he was yesterday" "I hope you never experience what we have" "King Virat is on his way!" "Evil Gambler!" "How dare you wear these clothes and occupy seats meant for visiting kings?" "Father, their presence is an honor to the court" "Prince!" "The Prince is right" "The man you have just berated is the great soul who is worthy of occupying Lord Indra's throne and thus bringing honor to it" "His presence here is indeed an honor to this court" "For, he is none other than Emperor Yuddhistir" "This is Emperor Yuddhistir!" "Then my cook Ballav must be Bhim and you must be Arjun" "Of course." "And these are Nakul and Sahadev" "We could not leave without thanking you" "We will never forget your kindness to us" "You gave us refuge at a crucial moment" "Welcome them to our court, father" "History will always respect you for being a host to the Pandavas" "If they are the Pandavas where is Draupadi?" "Draupadi is none other than Sairandhdri" "O son of Kunti!" "O Protector of Truth!" "O Emperor Yuddhistir" "I took you to be Kank and insulted you" "Draupadi, as Sairandhri, was insulted" "So were your brave brothers" "You are the essence of Religion and Piety" "Forgive me, my lord" "Your rightful seat is not here but there on the throne" "That is the only place worthy of you" "Please accept my humble invitation" "No true warrior will dare insult his host by occupying his seat" "That is your place." "Please sit there" "You will have to accept something" "We have accepted your affection for a year" "Arjun has saved my son's life" "So, as a sign of my affection I wish to give my daughter to him" "Uttara is my disciple" "She is like my own daughter" "But I cannot refuse such a gift" "So, I accept her as my daughter-in-law" "My son is Lord Krishna's favorite" "If all the warriors got together my son Abhimanyu would stand out among them" " Greetings Brother" " My blessings" "What are these ornaments for?" " Did Brother not tell you?" " Tell me what?" "Yesterday he came to me and asked:" "Don't you want Abhimanyu married?" "I see!" "I said:" "Why not?" "But at least let his father come" "He said:" "I won't interfere between husband and wife" "But at least select ornaments for the bride" "Who knows when Arjun will send for you saying he has fixed Abhimanyu's marriage" "These ornaments I had made for the bride in Indraprasth itself" "Which means he has heard the news before I did" "What news?" "I received a letter from Arjun" "Abhimanyu's marriage has been fixed with Princes Uttara of Matsya" "Emperor Yuddhistir has invited all the kings" "And Hastinapur?" "Of course!" "They are related to him" "Abhimanyu's marriage is fixed" "A rare occasion for a Kuru get-together" "It is in this hope that many people were invited" "On the mirror of the family can be seen many cracks" "The mind wishes that it can repair the distorted images" "...the Present's right to evaluate the Past" "For them, evaluation and criticism are the same" "Or probably they have a selfish motive" "If the Present cannot evaluate the Past on the touchstone of its philosophy then how can it benefit from the Past?" "The Present cannot revert to the Past" "It is compelled to move to the Future" "However respectable the Past may be it cannot be re-lived" "Of course, one must try to understand it so as to improve the Present" "It is the Present's duty to do so" "There is another matter for worry" "Many believe that literature and cinema are one and the same thing" "The poet may describe a character as being very happy or very sad" "But how much is "very"?" "The medium of cinema will have to decide that because the poet cannot help here" "Everyone has the right to agree or disagree with an evaluation" "But it is not right to call evaluation, criticism" "This story is told from the point of view of the Present" "So, listen to it and try to make it relevant to your life" "Hail Bhishma!" "The King is on his way!" "The King is coming?" "Come, my son!" "My respects Grandsire" "Be happy!" "Come with me" "Sit here!" "Now tell me how did you think of me after such a long time?" "It is my misfortune that even you think I am against that Pandavas" "It is not important what I think" "Now, I do not even trust myself" "Let that be" "If I was respected, Duryodhan would have agreed that the day he faced Arjun was a month after the year of anonymity was over" "I am accused of partiality in my own land and none is willing to defend me" "I am alone in my old age" "All alone!" "Don't say that Grandsire!" "Both the Pandavas and Kauravas are yours" "Even I am at your service" "I do not need any service, my son" "It is this ancestral inheritance this Hastinapur which needs your services" "Think Dhritirashtra!" "Warriors fight" "Some emerge victorious." "The others lose" "Some return home victorious" "Others die on the battlefield" "But the city is rooted to the spot like a tree" "Vanquished!" "It cannot even die like the defeated warrior" "The city can only be lost amongst the centuries" "I shudder to think what if centuries later History questions the city of Hastinapur about you and me what reply will it give?" "That we were good people?" "That we defended Truth and Religion?" "I don't think that is true, my son!" "My misfortune is that I am fated to go on living" "There isn't a moment of happiness for me now" "My son!" "The year of anonymity is over" "Call the Pandavas and embrace them" "Return their Indraprasth to them" "I have come to talk to you about that" "Yuddhistir has written to me from Matsya inviting all of us to the marriage of Abhimanyu to Princess Uttara" "Even I have received a letter from him but I don't think we should go" "God knows what Duryodhan will say or do there" "The Pandavas have attained happiness after years" "Don't spoil it for them" "I told Sage Drona the same thing" "Dhrupad will be there" "It is not right that they should meet each other" "Hail, my lord" "Prince Shikhandi would like to see you" "Let him in" "My respects, father" "May you live long" "Come sit next to me, my son" "You must have received King Yuddhistir's letter" "Yes, father" "Arjun has also written to say that if we do not go to Upabalavya he will assume we have no love for Abhimanyu" "So, it is necessary that we all go" "I think we should go with our entire military might" "They may decide to attack Hastinapur soon after the marriage" "I have grown old waiting for Sage Drona's death" "As you wish" "I, too, am waiting for a war, father" "My son!" "One lifetime's wait has tired you" "Sometimes the wait extends to many lifetimes" "Life itself is a wait moving relentlessly towards its aim" "If the aim is removed then life is meaningless, directionless" "So, do not be afraid to wait, father" "Sometimes I do not understand you" "You are so different and stay apart from us" "When I was in Indraprasth for the Rajsuya ritual not only the Pandavas but even Grandsire was asking for you" "Even I am eager to meet him" "Do not worry, father" "Just like you sired Dhristadyuma with a purpose and he was born from Fire I, too, have been born with a purpose" "You did not ask for me but I came here on my own" "Which only means that the path which leads to my aim goes through your house" " Brother" " Yes" "We are going to meet mother after so many years" "So, why be afraid?" "Will mother recognize us?" "Why not?" "Mothers have a third eye to recognize their sons" "And this third eye never fails" "Even then had Uncle Krishna been with us this problem would not have arisen" "Even then it does seem strange that I touch her feet and then say that I am Arjun's son" "She will recognize you before that" "Even then Uncle Krishna should have been with us" "Even without introducing Sukhakaum she will recognize him as Uncle Bhim's son" "I will tell Uncle Nakul that you are teasing me" "Forgive me, brother" "The problem remains" "How can we introduce ourselves to our own mother?" "I don't even remember her" "Don't worry!" "She will remember us" "Why did you not bring my sons with you?" "I told him to but he refused to listen" "So you are on Draupadi's side" "Why do you say that?" "She is herself a mother." "She knows my pain" "You, too, can understand a 13-year separation" "Call it my selfishness" "Meeting a brother is different from meeting a son" "I want the pleasure of both events" "What can be more heartwarming than a mother embracing her sons?" "I want to witness this undisturbed" "So, I came first with Subhadra" "They must have met the others first" "No." "That is your right" "May you live long" "You must be Abhimanyu" "May you live long!" "That's a standard blessing" "This blessing is unacceptable for my nephew" "He is not common" "I want a special blessing for he is a special person" "You tell me." "What blessing should I give him?" "The world is in your grasp" "Give him what you will!" "Bless him so that people will recognize it as your blessing to him" "Every Brahmin gives the blessing you gave him" "Give him a blessing which reeks of manhood" "May God protect your Ego and strength" "May History take your name with respect just like your father's name is respected" "O Abhimanyu!" "I bless you" "May you be your own identity" "May you be known for your bravery" "May God grant you..." "What about your other sons, Draupadi?" "Pradyuman!" "I cannot give you an ordinary blessing" "So, I bless you" "May you be the essence of Truth like your father" "How did you recognize elder brother?" "Your mischievousness marks you as Shatanik" "Pradyuman's personality and coolness also marks him" "Brother was right." "Mothers have a third eye" "Not only do they have a third eye but they also have an extra heart where their sons stay" "Looks like we are being ignored, Subhadra" "I am going" "No!" "Don't say that Krishna" "No space is enough for you" "The biggest heart would be too small" "Don't be jealous of my motherhood" "I am seeing my sons after 13 years" "Okay!" "I won't even look at them." "Go all of you!" "I was only joking, Draupadi" "A mother and son are like God and his worshipper" "If that was not so, God would have appeared and not been born of a mother" "So, pet your sons as much as you want" "I must see to the guests who have arrived" "This will be a crucial marriage for India" "God bless you!" "God bless you!" "My blessings!" "May you live long!" "May you be famous!" "Be famous" "May you live long!" "Now that Krishna has come may we, with your permission plan for the war against the Kauravas?" "It is not right to talk of war from now" "What are you saying?" "I haven't said anything as yet" "But I do intend to say something" "I, too, know the background" "I know of Shakuni's treachery in Dice and what Yuddhistir lost" "I know of the exile and the anonymity" "The Pandavas who can win Heaven and Earth accepted the exile to honor their word" "They spent the last year in Matsya like slaves" "I know all that..." "And yet, you think war is not right?" "War should be the last resort." "The last option" "King Yuddhistir has not yet formally said that he has fulfilled the bet and so, Indraprasth should be returned" "Do you think Dhritirashtra will return Indraprasth to Yuddhistir?" "I am not Dhritirashtra's spokesman" "I suggest that Yuddhistir's ambassador should go there" "I agree." "Why talk of war?" "Yuddhistir's addiction to Dice is also to blame" "Why blame Shakuni, Karna and Duryodhan for it?" "I suggest the ambassador be such a person who can explain Yuddhistir's viewpoint in a humble manner" "After all, they are blood relations" "And you people are talking of spilling blood" "Whoever goes, he should be an Ambassador of peace" "A peaceful victory is true victory and pure, too" "I cannot call you a coward Balram but you do talk like one" "I am not criticizing you but I am surprised" "How can these brave warriors listen to you quietly?" "Why should Yuddhistir plead for anything" "He is not begging but asking for his right" "Asking for one's right is not begging" "Don't misuse words" "I cannot insult humility by being humble to Duryodhan" "I will use weapons, not words, against him" "If he does not ask for Yuddhistir's forgiveness I'll send him to hell with his friends" "O Balram!" "This is not my pride talking" "Who can face Arjun's Gandiva?" "Who can face Krishna's "Chakra"?" "Who can vanquish Bhim in battle?" "Who can withstand Draupadi's five sons?" "Who is not aware of Abhimanyu's bravery?" "You want an ambassador of these brave warriors to beg in Hastinapur?" "I had never thought that such talk would be tolerated by an assembly of warriors" "Why do you think like this O Balram?" "Will Duryodhan return Indraprasth?" "Why not?" "Wasn't everything returned once on the King's orders?" "Besides Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa were also there" "They will do justice" "My daughter has told me about their justice" "O Krishna!" "You need not be told all this" "The Pandavas were discriminated against in spite of Bhishma, Sages Drona, Kripa and Vidur" "Whenever I think of Draupadi's insult my blood boils like a volcano" "The Pandavas have not violated any Code" "On the contrary, they respected Truth and suffered" "Now, a battlefield stands between the Pandavas and Hastinapur's corrupt politics" "There is no limit, no bet" "So, O Krishna, why delay the attack?" "There is only one reason for delay" "Waging a selfish war violates Mankind's Code" "Is it against the Code to avenge a sister's insult?" "Is it selfish to punish a treacherous gambler?" "Is it not our duty to punish the man who called a pious lady, a whore?" "O course!" "But the soldiers who will fight the war did not insult Draupadi" "We are not talking of an ordinary war" "Countless corpses will fall during this war" "Before inviting such a war let us think of who will bear the responsibility" "I am not willing to do that" "So, talk of conciliation" "Let the Pandavas ask for their right" "Let the Kauravas talk of war" "Won't they look upon this proposal as our weakness?" "Not everyone there is foolish like Duryodhan" "Other warriors will also pressure Duryodhan" "We should give them a chance" "O King Dhrupad!" "You are the eldest" "What message should we send?" "Peace is preferable to war" "What about my oath and Draupadi's unbraided hair?" "Should we return to Indraprasth and ask Draupadi to leave her hair unbraided?" "Is your oath more important than man's welfare?" "If we get peace at the cost of your oath, it is cheap" "So, we have unanimously decided to send an ambassador to Dhritirashtra" "We have to take some decision" "There can be only one decision but you will intervene with "ifs" and "buts"" "I don't enjoy doing that but these words become essential" "A nation which has conflicting loyalties needs the crutch of these words" "I can understand your helplessness but why should Sages Drona and Kripa be helpless?" "Why can't they tell the King to invite the Pandavas and return Indraprasth to them before they send an ambassador" "Will the King listen to us?" "That's the King's problem but it is your duty to tell him" "Of course, it is our duty" "We are Hastinapur's well-wishers" "That's true but..." "Once again that "but"" "Why don't you stop using that word" "It is a shield for cowards" "I don't need a shield but I cannot betray Hastinapur" "Even if you stray from the path of Truth?" "I know the definition of Truth, Vidur" "It is my duty to protect Hastinapur" "You are not protecting Hastinapur" "You are protecting Duryodhan's ambition Shakuni's treachery Karna and Dushasan's indecent bravery..." "You are protecting the poison which will end Hastinapur and its traditions" "It is still not too late, Sage Drona" "Hastinapur's protection is not in Hastinapur's hands" "Go to the King with Bhishma and tell him, nay order him, to return Indraprasth to the Pandavas so as to save Hastinapur" "Neither you nor the others can withstand Arjun's arrows" "Yes, Grandsire" "Are you trying to scare a Brahmin?" "He is not trying to scare you." "He is telling you" "Who can defeat you in war?" "I can die only when I wish to" "But does victory lie in defeating the Pandavas?" "If there is war whoever wins it you, I and Kripa will surely lose because we will be the ones wounded and scarred" "So, war is not to Hastinapur's benefit" "But what should we do?" "We should try to prevent war" "Let us go to the King and plead with him to start thinking of Hastinapur rather than his son" "Indraprasth should be returned to the Pandavas" "Grandsire!" "Shouldn't we ask Duryodhan about this?" "Are you the king or is it Duryodhan?" "It is your duty to protect Hastinapur" "Duryodhan is the Crown Prince" "Who says that a king cannot decide without asking the Crown Prince?" "Don't be so harsh in your speech" "I am not fond of speaking harshly" "But bitter truths are best spoken harshly" "Hail O King!" "King Dhrupad's High Priest has brought a message from Yuddhistir and wishes to see you" "What I feared, has happened" "Remember!" "Peace is still within our grasp" "Grab at it, my son!" "Yes, my lord" "I will meet Yuddhistir's ambassador in Court" "Why not here?" "Had Yuddhistir come I would have met him here but I must meet his ambassador in court" "An ambassador?" "Don't shout Duryodhan!" "We are not deaf" "He will go back the way he has come" "Father should send him back" "Instead of sending an ambassador they should have gone into exile again" "They were recognized in anonymity" "Essence of Truth!" "Huh!" "Why play if he cannot lose sportingly?" "Now Grandsire and the Sage will pressure father" "You won the game, Duryodhan." "Not the king" "The king cannot pressure you" "Karna is right!" "Kampilya's High Priest has come as the ambassador" "Let us first see what he wants" "They must have taught him well" "So what?" "We, too, are not uneducated" "We will teach him a few things" "At least listen to what he has to say" "Yuddhistir has fools surrounding him" "Except Vasudev Krishna!" "He is very clever" "He will never talk of war directly" "He will trap us with his words" "Once we hear this ambassador we will know what Krishna is up to" "If you can get rid of him then we can banish the Pandavas and their friends forever" "That's all!" "Keep a close eye on that magical Krishna" "Don't waste your anger like this" "If there is a war you will need this anger" "So, save it!" "I know that Krishna well" "He will talk of peace first." "Peace!" "Whenever Truth needs true Peace" "Evil Instincts raise their head to bar the way" "The realization of duty is the foundation of Politics" "Duty implies respecting and accepting someone else's rights" "Protecting a king's right is the citizen's duty" "Protecting a citizen's right is the king's duty" "It is a two-way relationship" "Dhritirashtra is fully aware of this but the king in him is subservient to the father in him" "It is not a crime to think about one's son" "In fact, it is every father's duty to do so" "The question is, is the son greater than the nation?" "Gandhari was fond of Duryodhan but she had not stopped thinking" "She did not want to be unjust to the Pandavas" "Which is why she was worried and afraid that the King's love for Duryodhan would spoil matters" "The King of Hastinapur is eagerly waiting for Vidur" "My respects!" "You really made me wait!" "Forgive me, my lord" "I had just reached my house when I received the message." "What's it?" "Be seated." "It is a serious matter" "How can I sit before you do?" "Do you always have to be very correct?" "Who is here to see if you sit before or after I do?" "There is no one here but I and I am blind!" "I too am here apart from you" "At least sit now" "As you wish" "Why has Yuddhistir sent an ambassador?" "You know very well, my lord" "Why didn't he come?" "Maybe he did not want to shame you" "Shame me?" "Did I not return his lost kingdom?" "You were silent when Draupadi was disrobed" "You may not have returned the kingdom had it not been for the fear of Draupadi's curse" "By Lord Shiva, were you not my younger brother I would have you executed" "Are you accusing Bharat's heir of cowardice?" "No, my lord" "I am not accusing you of anything" "I am doing my duty as the Prime Minister" "A prime minister has the duty of telling his king the truth without fearing his wrath" "And what is the truth?" "Your progress lies in Hastinapur's prosperity" "If Hastinapur does not prosper, you don't rise" "O King!" "The nation is not the king's" "The king is the nation's" "I know all that" "The king belongs to the nation but whom does the father belong to?" "Lord Brahma is the Universal father" "Just like He belongs to everyone a king cannot be his son's father alone" "He belongs to all his subjects" "You are also an elder father to the Pandavas" "Yuddhistir is still your eldest son" "Had Brother Pandu not died you could never dream of making Duryodhan the king" "So, my king listen to Grandsire" "Before the ambassador makes his demands call back and bless the Pandavas and return Indraprasth to them" "Had Yuddhistir come I would have crowned him myself but he has sent an ambassador to his father" "So, I'll have to think as to what reply I should send to Yuddhistir" "But, my king..." "Let me think, Vidur" "You are still awake, Grandsire?" "Even you have not slept as yet" "Can Hastinapur's well-wishers sleep tonight?" "Is it not unusual that Yuddhistir should send an ambassador?" "This is an unusual event, my son" "Listen carefully and tell me if you can hear the footsteps of Destruction" "Am I hearing things or is it something real?" "Why do I feel as if I am standing in a field of corpses" "Why am I alone in this field of corpses?" "You are not alone, Grandsire" "We are all alone, Vidur" "You, I, Sage Drona Sage Kripa." "We are all alone" "I was thinking about the society which isolates its well-wishers" "How long will it live?" "The question is very topical" "If it were not so, why are we both awake?" "Why are you not at home?" "I had just reached home when I was sent for by the King" "Sent for?" "Why?" "To tell me that had Yuddhistir come he would have returned Indraprasth" "But he has sent an ambassador" "Which is why he will have to think about the reply" "Think about it?" "What is there to think about?" "Maybe he is wondering about what Sage Drona's reaction will be after taking care of Indraprasth for 13 years" "Indraprasth is a huge kingdom" " Are you saying..." " I am saying nothing" "Besides, what can I say?" "It is all up to you" "You are the eldest Kuru" "Yes!" "I am the eldest Kuru but who accepts me as such?" "No one asks me anything or listens to me" "I am only an echoing sound in the wilderness" "O God!" "Protect my dear Hastinapur" "Please leave" "Now who will tell me if the crown is okay or not" "Before that, think about whether the crown will stay on your head or not" "What?" "What are you saying?" "With whom can I share my feelings but you?" "I, too, love Duryodhan" "He is my eldest son" "Had he been born at the right time this tension that we see between brothers may not have existed" "He would not have to prove his right to the throne" "But he is younger to Yuddhistir and the crown on your head does belong to his father Pandu" "But I am King Vichitravirya's eldest son" "Therefore..." "How long will you try to prove it an injustice?" "Whatever happened was right" "If you had become king then you would be under someone's influence just as you are now under Duryodhan's" "So, my lord, show you are a true king at least once" "Take the decision which will make any king proud" "What do you wish for?" "Don't ask about that" "I wish that History ranks you with your ancestors" "I wish that my sons have a long life" "I wish that History gives my sons the respect it will accord to Kunti's sons" "But I think none of my wishes will come true" "Why do you say that?" "I was awake all night" "But why?" "I was wondering whether you'll do justice or injustice" "Don't forget to return Indraprasth, my lord" "I don't know if after getting back Indraprasth they will forget about Draupadi's disrobing but we can try to make them forget this insult so that they forgive my sons" "Present Yuddhistir's ambassador in court" "As you wish, my king" "Victory to the king" "O King!" "May you live long" "May your subjects be happy and prosperous" "O King!" "The high priest of Kampilya brings greetings and a message from your son Emperor Yuddhistir" "Please convey my blessings to Yuddhistir" "Now tell me what is the message which Yuddhistir could not convey personally?" "He wishes to come here and pay obeisance to you" "He says, as per the bet he has completed 12 years of exile and a year of anonymity" "Now, with your permission he would like to take your blessings as also his crown" "What crown, priest?" "I have broken their anonymity when I faced him at Virat" "Go tell them, as per the bet, they should go into exile for 12 more years" "Isn't he ashamed to send an ambassador?" "What should I do, O king?" "Let me think as to what I should send Yuddhistir apart from my blessings" "There are a few problems about the anonymity" "Some astronomers say that the anonymity was over before the Virat war" "Others disagree and say it was not" "What do Grandsire Bhishma and Sage Kripa say?" "How dare you?" "You are an ambassador" "You have no right to ask questions" "You should talk respectfully to those who are greater in age and Knowledge" "A Crown Prince should not insult an ambassador" "When someone is talking to your father as a son you should not interrupt" "Please sit down" "Decency cannot be inherited" "You are very lucky, priest" "You are a Brahmin as well as an ambassador" "Or else, you would have been penalized for this insult" "Go and tell Emperor Yuddhistir to go into exile for 12 more years" "We will see after that" "O King!" "It is surprising that everyone in the Court speaks with the exception of yourself" "On behalf of King Yuddhistir I promise you that if Grandsire Bhishma, Vidur or Sages Drona and Kripa openly admit that the year of anonymity was not over before the war between Arjun and Duryodhan then the Pandavas will accept exile once again" "Sage Kripa your answer will decide if there will be war or peace" "The positions of both the Sun and the Moon say that the Pandavas' anonymity was over before the Virat war" "Sage Kripa!" "Don't be such an ungrateful person" "I don't care what the Sun and Moon say" "I, Duryodhan, son of Gandhari, say that the anonymity was broken" "And what I say is the truth" "Then should I take this "truth" as the answer to King Yuddhistir's message?" "No!" "No!" "Tell dear Yuddhistir that I will send a reply very soon" "Victory to the king" "Charioteer Sanjay wants to see you" " Yes." "Call him" " As you wish" "Come Sanjay!" "You did not even give me time to pay obeisance" "There is no time for formalities" "Time is running out every minute and I have none other than you" "Each one has a selfish motive" "I am in danger of losing my crown and I do not have the strength to protect myself" "Why do you say this?" "Because Sanjay I cannot live without all this" "Whatever Ethics may say, this throne is mine" "I am sitting on my throne and my son Duryodhan will sit on it after me" "May God grant you a long life!" "After you, the crown will go to the Crown Prince" "His right will be protected by brave warriors like Bhishma, Sage Drona and Kripa, Ashwathama, Karna" "These warriors also fought the Virat war" "None could face Arjun" "War is not to our advantage, Sanjay" "What do you wish me to do?" "Go to Upabalavya as my ambassador" "Tell the Pandavas that they should remain happily where they are" "None except Duryodhan opposes them here" "Karna encourages his stubbornness" "Shakuni fans the flames of hatred" "Dushasan worships him and is his "yes" man" "And I!" "I am excessively fond of my son" "I keep satisfying his every desire" "But he wants to defeat the Pandavas in war" "How can I satisfy that desire?" "Who in the Three Worlds can dare challenge the Pandavas?" "I hear that Abhimanyu is no less than Arjun" "The greatest problem is that they are under Krishna's protection" "I am afraid, Sanjay" "He will not make me his target because he is an honorable man but what about Duryodhan?" "No shield can protect him from Arjun's arrows" "It is also true Sanjay that Duryodhan had ordered Draupadi's disrobing in my own court" "My son Dushasan tried to disrobe her" "It is also true Sanjay that Karna called her a whore" "Not only was he unpunished but I did not even close my ears" "So, how can I tell the Pandavas" "Forget all that has happened" "The day Arjun defeated the Hastinapur army I even stopped deluding myself that Duryodhan could defeat the Pandavas" "So, what remains but a truce?" "But Duryodhan won't understand this" "Even if he tries to understand Shakuni and Karna won't let him" "Therefore, O Sanjay go to Upabalavya and explain to Yuddhistir" "He is the only Pandava who has vanquished Anger" "Tell him that his elder father wants Peace, not War" "Get him to believe me" "If you can do that you will have done me and Hastinapur a great favor" "As you wish but don't talk of favors" "How can I oblige you or Hastinapur?" "I am myself obliged to both" "Allow me to leave" "Go and return successful!" "My respects, Sanjay" "I am unworthy of such honor, my lord" "Honor is not anyone's private property" "It is every man's wealth" "You are Father's charioteer and hence, worthy of respect" "I'll be a charioteer if there's a chariot" "First, sit close to me and tell me how are elder father and mother" "When will I see them again?" "When will we come out of this mirage?" "Only God has an answer to these questions" "The King is well and sends his blessings" "How fortunate I am!" "In spite of standing by this sea of bitterness my father still has a blessing for me" "But tell me how is my elder mother?" "Won't you ask about your own mother?" "What is there to ask?" "As Bharat's daughter-in-law She must be well" "The dynasty cannot make the same mistake twice" "Grandsire won't keep quiet again" "Sages Drona and Kripa won't be insulted twice" "So, I am not worried about my mother" "Tell me, how's Grandsire?" "And how is my foolish brother Duryodhan?" "AII, except Hastinapur, are well" "It is unhappy at the divide in the Kuru clan" "Even we are unhappy about that" "But we did not sow the seed of this discord" "Whoever sowed it, the tree is before us" "That "tree" is Duryodhan" "We will cut that "tree" some day" "That is not the language of Peace" "If you did not want Peace why send an ambassador..." "Krishna is right!" "What answer have you brought back?" "Before listening to the message ask him who has sent it?" "Duryodhan and Dushasan's father Dhritirashtra" "The King of Hastinapur or our elder father Dhritirashtra" "All three are the same person" "How can that be?" "They are not the same" "If they were the same then the Pandavas' father and the King would have stopped Shakuni's treachery" "The man who was pleased at Duryodhan's victory was Duryodhan's father Dhritirashtra" "It was he who divided Hastinapur" "The man who witnessed Draupadi's disrobing was also Duryodhan's father" "There is no King on the throne" "A father is seated there" "So, Arjun's question is relevant, Sanjay" "Tell us whose ambassador you are" "Maybe I am an ambassador of all three" "O Krishna" "My old eyes do not see a happy end" "O Sanjay!" "First of all tell us what your experienced eyes see?" "They see a war" "And what a war!" "On one side is Yuddhistir and under your own blessing King Dhrupad, Dhrishtadyuma ace archer Arjun mace warrior Bhim, expert horseman Sahadev brave Abhimanyu" "On the other side is Grandsire Bhishma Sages Drona, Kripa and Ashwathama Duryodhan and Dushasan and King Karna of Anga" "O Krishna!" "Both armies seem invincible to me" "Do you think, O Krishna using the crutch of willful death only Bhishma will survive in a sea of corpses?" "That is where your experience has gone wrong" "O Sanjay!" "When two armies fight one of them is surely defeated" "But what can I do?" "Whichever army loses, my heart will be wounded" "O Krishna, these princes have played on my lap" "I have seen them as children" "I do not wish to see their corpses" "Who is talking of war?" "Even we are looking for a peaceful solution" "There is still a peaceful option open" "If Indraprasth is returned to us we will try to forget everything" "Brother!" "Don't interrupt your elder brother" "If we wanted war why would we send an ambassador?" "We would have attacked Hastinapur with an army" "So, please tell us what proposal Father has sent us?" "I have not brought back any proposal" "I have only brought a blessing" "My king says you are all Truth-Ioving" "Be happy where you are" "O Sanjay!" "We accept the blessing" "Our soul is in Indraprasth." "We can only be happy there" "O Sanjay!" "The brave warriors whom you just named are all respectable to us and have faced Arjun once" "We are indeed fortunate that we were born and lived in their times" "To touch their feet is our worship" "But that does not mean that if they side with Evil we will salute them and give up our rights" "Duryodhan is younger." "He may pay his respects and even ask for Indraprasth" "I may give it to him" "But tell him not to try and scare us" "Duryodhan's pride will vanish when he faces Bhim" "So, O Sanjay, tell Father" "His sons are prepared for both War and Peace" "If he wants War, there will be War" "If he desires Peace, there will be Peace" "In the Balance of Truth is both War and Peace" "Let us see now what happens War is on yonder shore" "When the Elders of the dynasty forget the lesson of Peace" "Even Truth itself is caught mid-river" "I am Time" "Happiness and unhappiness are the two shores between which I flow" "I experience neither sadness nor joy" "I can neither laugh nor cry" "But because I know the Past and the Future my knowledge sometimes brings laughter to my lips or tears to my eyes" "Today I stand at the crossroads where the honorable dynasty of Bharat is breaking apart and none can stop its destruction" "After the defeat of the Kauravas at Viraat Dhritirashtra does not dream of victory but wishes to keep the control in his hands" "But History does not want that" "Dhritirashtra who can recognize any sound cannot recognize the footsteps of History" "Maybe his ambition prevents him from recognizing them" "That is why he is afraid of War but is not ready for Peace either" "Victory to the king!" "What's it?" "Royal charioteer Sanjay is here to see you" "He is waiting at the door" "At this time?" "Call him" "He has my permission to enter at any time and without waiting" "As you wish!" "Victory to the king!" "What's the news?" "What did Yuddhistir say?" "He says that Truth is the greatest wealth" "True happiness lies in being Truthful" "My lord!" "Even I have been thinking" "And what have you thought?" "My lord!" "I think a Truth not spoken on time is worse than a Lie" "Go ahead Sanjay" "I can listen to the Truth." "What is it?" "My lord!" "Your actions negate the Truth" "Your filial love has wounded your soul" "Serve your wounded Soul, my Lord!" "Even you are accusing me?" "No, my lord!" "I am not accusing you" "This is a mere analogy" "If you do not listen to me now History will criticize you in every lifetime" "Do not gamble with Hastinapur's future" "You heed everyone but your well-wishers" "Return Indraprasth to the Pandavas" "Has Yuddhistir threatened war?" "No, my lord!" "To threaten is not in his nature" "He has requested me to tell you that they are ready for both War and Peace" "If you want War, there will be War" "If you desire Peace, there will be Peace" "The long journey must have tired you" "Go and rest!" "As you wish!" "Anyone there!" "Yes, my lord!" "Send someone to fetch Vidur" "As you wish" "Why has brother-in-law called you?" "It is the king who has called for me" "Why so late?" "I'll find out once I reach there" "My respects, O King!" "This is not the Court" "Call me Brother at least when we are alone" "Yes, my lord" "Sanjay has returned from Yuddhistir" "He did not tell me what Yuddhistir said" "He wasted time in blaming me" "We will know what he said in court tomorrow" "My sleep left with Sanjay" "I don't think Sanjay was blaming you" "He is your well-wisher" "Whatever he said must be in your interest" "As your charioteer it was his duty to tell you the truth" "You have always been unjust to the Pandavas" "Just think, my lord" "By dividing Hastinapur you have been unjust to both Duryodhan and Hastinapur" "As the king, it was your duty to honor the border" "By dividing the nation you have violated your limits" "But Yuddhistir accepted this injustice quietly" "You divided the nation not for Hastinapur's benefit but for Duryodhan's benefit" "You will do anything to make him the king" "I do not know, Brother if Hastinapur will ever forgive you for the crime of dividing it" "And you?" "I will never forgive you" "And maybe you will never forgive yourself" "My mother was your mother's maid" "My lord, I am tied to you by the bond of slavery" "Whether you are just or unjust I cannot leave you" "Speak on" "Your bitter words do not sound bitter today" "What else have I done?" "I do not want to repeat all that" "The Wax House, Gambling, Draupadi's disrobing" "These are all sad memories which cannot be forgotten" "Doesn't Draupadi's cry for protection ever echo through your Soul?" "Don't her questions ever bother you?" "So, my brother, love your country instead of your son" "Be just, my lord" "If, after taking Indraprasth, they forget their insult be grateful to them" "Protect the Truth, my lord" "For, if there is war neither Hastinapur nor the Kuru dynasty will survive" "Shed your ambition, my lord because that is your enemy" "Never go to your enemy's house in the darkness" "Why are you silent?" "Keep talking" "One last advice, my lord" "Don't let your filial love think for you" "Hastinapur is your responsibility" "And Duryodhan?" "He is not your responsibility" "He is your disease" "Dhritirashtra faces a dilemma" "Should he be a king or father" "The king's love for his son is a curse for the nation" "The royal charioteer Sanjay is here" "Victory to the king" "What news have you brought?" "Yuddhistir has sent his respects to all Elders and his love for the youngsters" "Speak to the point, Sanjay" "Be patient, Duryodhan" "My patience is at an end" "My hands are now itching for the mace" "Even they have maces" "I know, Grandsire" "If the Pandavas do not accept 12 years exile war is definite" "At least listen to what Yuddhistir has to say" "The war you wish to avoid is inevitable" "I won't let you avoid this war" "The Pandavas only understand the language of war" "Speak on charioteer." "What news have you brought back?" "My lord!" "I gave your message to the eldest son of Kunti" "Who else was there?" "Apart from the Pandavas, the Kings of Virat and Panchal Prince Dhristadyuma and Krishna were present" "What did Yuddhistir say?" "First I will tell you the message Arjun has sent for Duryodhan" "With Yuddhistir's permission or without it?" "Well!" "Yuddhistir did not stop him" "Now say what message Arjun has sent for my son" "Arjun said..." "O Sanjay!" "Tell Duryodhan in Karna's presence" "If he does not return Indraprasth then because of his treachery, indecency and ego he will be vanquished in war" "He should, therefore, learn to walk the path of Peace" "By Lord Shiva!" "My arrows will rain fire which will destroy the Kuru warriors like heat destroys dry grass" "Enough!" "Are you trying to scare the eldest Kuru son Duryodhan?" "Bhishma is the eldest Kuru son" "I know that Grandsire is the eldest Kuru" "Forgive me" "I also announce that if father does not send my message back to Arjun I will go there myself, pull out his tongue and string my bow with it" "Be patient, my son" "Patience is not for me, my father" "Listen to me carefully, Duryodhan" "You have forsaken both Truth and Religion" "You are the cause of the Kuru decline" "If you do not realize that now you are fated to see the corpses of our warriors" "Will you only listen to three people?" "Karna who is cursed by Sage Parshuram" "Your treacherous Uncle Shakuni and your ill-mannered brother Dushasan" "Is it necessary to criticize me in front of everyone?" "I have only done my duty as a warrior" "I had sworn to kill the Pandavas, my friend's enemies" "What else could I do?" "I do not know the sweet words of treachery" "I am not a politician" "I am a warrior and I know only the language of war" "Listen carefully to me, Grandsire" "I have no loyalty to the Kuru dynasty" "My loyalty is to the king and Duryodhan" "Do not misuse sacred words like "loyalty"" "You are destroying the tree which nurtures you" "And you dare to call this loyalty?" "Do not fan the flames of Duryodhan's hatred" "Who are you?" "All of us together cannot face Arjun" "We were there at the Virat war and so was Duryodhan who sits here boasting that he will string his bow with Arjun's tongue" "Listen to me O lord!" "Exorcise Duryodhan of Karna Shakuni and Dushasan" "Where was Karna when the Gandharvas caught Duryodhan" "Fighting a war is different from talking about it" "If you wish a long life for your sons return Indraprasth" "Never, Grandsire" "Let them first accept 12 years of exile" "What should we do, Sage Drona?" "If the king desires war, there will be war but Grandsire's proposal is acceptable" "No army can defeat an army which has Arjun, Bhim and Yuddhistir" "If we've more well-wishers of the Pandavas like you we will lose the war" "If we have no right to speak why sit in court?" "Allow me to leave" "A student who cannot respect his teacher has no future" "Call me when you need me on the battlefield" "I will even fight my favorite pupil Arjun" "Do not forsake my beloved Hastinapur" "I now know your opinion, O Sage." "Please sit" "Arjun is fire." "Why get angry with him" "Tell me, what did Yuddhistir propose?" "It was Yuddhistir who lost the Dice game" "And so, he should take the decision" "Is he, too, preparing for war?" "If yes then tell me if there was anyone there who opposed war" "Apart from Krishna, none spoke of Peace" "I only fear Yuddhistir's anger and Krishna's peace" "Do you think they desire war?" "They have only two options:" "Indraprasth or war" "Our defeat is certain in this war" "Returning Indraprasth is also defeat" "I can see the corpses of my hundred sons" "But what can I do?" "If Indraprasth was mine I would return it but it belongs to Duryodhan" "So, the Kuru dynasty must accept its bad luck" "Friend!" "Why are you here so late?" "Is there a time to meet friends?" "I would have come earlier but I wanted to cool my anger" " Forgive me, friend" " For what?" "For Grandsire's insult in court today" "I was not insulted." "I am a charioteer's son" "He insulted you and Dushasan" "But he is your Grandsire He can say anything to you" "But he forgot one thing about me" "My arrows had wounded Arjun in the Virat War but he recalled only my wounds" "History will now witness my duel with Arjun" "Only the coming eras will talk of what I was worth as a warrior" "So, do not worry about me" "Even if Grandsire insulted me the news of the forthcoming war has healed the wound" "I still say..." "Don't say anything" "War is not your expertise" "Your treacheries have shamed us in History" "Now that war is certain I shall sleep in peace like a warrior" "I was avoiding war because there is only one way to defeat the Pandavas" "But you will not explore it because your ego will not allow you to ask for a favor" "I will not ask for favors" "Looks like defeat is written in your fate and you have to accept it" "Whom should we ask for a favor?" "I will do it on Brother's behalf" "There is no representation in these matters" "If Duryodhan wants to win this war he must ask for Krishna's help" "The Yadus are very powerful" "Their army is the most powerful in India" "Don't go if you want to lose the war" "But if you want to win this war you cannot ignore Krishna" "Go to Krishna!" "Now!" "Arjun!" "When did you come?" "I came first" "O so you, too, have come" "But I saw Arjun first" "No Krishna!" "He has come before me" "Okay!" "Let me ask him why he has come to Dwarka" "You must have come to know that war between the Kauravas and Pandavas is certain" "You must help us" "Why?" "Like Arjun, even I am your friend" "We are also related to you" "That's true" "Besides, I have come first" "True, but I saw Arjun first" "So, I'll have to help both of you" "But how can you fight on both sides?" "I did not speak of fighting, Duryodhan" "I only said I would help both of you" "On one side is my divine army and on the other I, alone and unarmed" "The question is:" "Who can ask first?" "I, because I came first" "No!" "Arjun has the right to ask first because he is younger to you" "So, Arjun!" "Do you want me or the divine army?" "I did not come here for the army but for your help, I don't want the army" "Okay!" "I'll take the divine army" "I cannot hurt my younger brother" "Okay!" "I'll pay my respects to Brother Balram" "Of course." "You must do that" "Tell me Arjun" "When you could have the army why did you opt for me?" "In war, a charioteer is more important than a warrior" "I need a trustworthy charioteer in this war on whom I can rely and be free of worry" "Who else can be better than you?" "You know all the roads and directions" "You will not lead me astray on the battlefield" "O Krishna!" "Honor me by being my charioteer" "I do not want the divine army but Divinity Itself" "Maybe I was born to be your charioteer" "That honor is mine." "Now my victory is certain!" "Don't forget to ask Brother Balram for help" "No Arjun!" "No!" "Duryodhan, too, asked for help" "I also told him that brothers should not fight" "There is no point in discussing who is right and who is wrong" "All the corpses that fall will belong to the same family" "In this war I will not side with anyone" "Neither will I bless any one of you with victory" "At first, I was afraid that Arjun would ask for the divine army but like a fool he said that he did not want the divine army ...and asked for the unarmed Krishna" "Then I asked for the divine army and said how can I hurt my younger brother" "That was disastrous, my nephew" "Even an unarmed Krishna can prove to be dangerous" "Does this mean war is inevitable" "You are the essence of Truth" "Do not be in a hurry to decide" "It is not a question of hurrying or delaying" "You know very well that from the beginning there is no other option but war" "This exchange of ambassadors is a necessary evil" "At best you do not want the Pandavas to be the aggressors" "How can they be accused of being aggressors?" "Did they cheat at Dice?" "Or order Draupadi's disrobing" "War is not their aim but their right" "War can never be an aim" "My suggestion is that if you all trust me then I'll take the Peace proposal to Hastinapur" "There is no question of not trusting you" "If you wish to go please do so" "A few more days of waiting won't matter" "Warriors fight to protect the Truth" "They should not be over keen for war" "Remember History will evaluate your values and History is always impartial" "Do you wish to be assessed lower?" "I am not an opponent of Peace but..." "There are no "buts" if you really want Peace" "So, it is final that I shall go to Hastinapur" "So that brothers may not fight and Truth shall always triumph Lord Krishna himself shall take the proposal for Peace" "Let there be peace on Earth" "That is the divine catch-phrase these days" "Society stands on the rim of a volcano which will erupt at any moment" "This eruption will wake up society" "Which is why Lord Krishna told Dhristadyuma that there should be no "buts" to peace" "That is also why Draupadi never uses words which may open the doors to war" "She merely wants Dushasan's blood to wash her unbraided hair" "So, when she heard that Lord Krishna will go as the peace messenger she decided not to mince words" "I do not want you to go as the peace messenger and be insulted by Duryodhan and his friends" "You already know how our High Priest was insulted" "I know of everything" "I don't mind an insult if we can get peace but not at the cost of Pandavas' self-respect" "I give you my word" "As long as my hair is unbraided can there ever be peace?" "Will not my unbraided hair remind the Pandavas of their humiliation?" "Are you sure this is peace and not surrender?" "Those evil men deserve punishment, not peace" "Just recall, my lord" "The Draupadi of thirteen years ago born of the ritual Fire" "King Dhrupad's daughter, Dhristadyuma's sister" "Wife of five warriors and Mother of five warriors" "Caught by her hair and dragged to the court of the heir of the Bharat dynasty King Dhritirashtra and our Elder Father" "The court was full of Kurus and their well-wishers but none, except you, protected the Kuru honor" "O Krishna!" "Neither will I be blessed by them" "Nor will I bless them" "Don't I know that, Draupadi?" "Of course, I know it" "I can see your unbraided hair and smell the odor of the Kuru court" "But Draupadi!" "Peace is still peace" "All I say is that while talking of peace do not forget that Dushasan's dirty hands had touched me Duryodhan stroked his thigh when he saw me and that charioteer's son Karna called me a whore in the Kuru court" "O Krishna, son of Devaki!" "I do not want anyone of us going to the same court as a peace messenger" "If either Yuddhistir or Bhim or even Arjun Nakul and Sahadev want peace at the cost of their self-respect then so be it" "My old father will bring me Dushasan's blood for my unbraided hair" "My brother will cut out Karna's insulting tongue and my five brave sons will break Duryodhan's thigh" "Don't cry Draupadi!" "It is the other Kuru women who are fated to cry" "Crying thus does not befit you" "Your eyes will see the dawn of India's future" "Cry not O Draupadi!" "Life is a struggle" "Calm yourself and have patience" "All will end well" "Truth, Untruth is around us whether you are powerful or not" "The Lord stands behind her when Draupadi cries" "Do we have the strength to keep Hastinapur away from war?" "War is coming near each day" "Years of penance now demands its fruit" "Every hand holds a bow" "Some believe in their Ego others in their Will Power" "Whether it is Bhishma or Shikhandi whether Sage Drona or Dhristadyuma whether Duryodhan or Bhim whether Karna or my beloved Arjun none can sleep at nights" "The Virat war was something else, O Sage" "It was not between the Kauravas and Pandavas" "The war that is going to take place now will be the ultimate war" "Can our old age protect Hastinapur from destruction?" "Maybe not, O Bhishma" "But we can try to protect the nation with our corpses" "Till war is actually announced keep hoping that Krishna will find a way to avoid it" "Tell Krishna that I am waiting at the door" "You may enter, Prince" "No!" "Today I will not enter without permission" "As you wish" "Hail O Krishna!" "Prince Shikhandi is here" " Send him in" " As you wish" "You may enter, Prince" "My respects!" "Welcome Prince!" "Please sit" "I won't take too much time" "None has excess time." "So how can it be given?" "None controls time." "So, speak!" "No background is necessary" "I only wish to know whether there will be a war or not" "How can I say that?" "Now I am the peace messenger" "Your father, too, asked me the same question" "So did Dhristadyuma" "Is it that the Dhrupad family does not want peace" "Can peace be a balm for humiliation?" "What humiliation are you talking of?" "Draupadi's insult is not yours" "It is for the Pandavas to avenge it" "Why do you want them to avenge your insults?" "My respects!" "...but cannot interfere" "White and Pure!" "...then your life will always guide the common man" "Your name will be enough to protect this nation" "I salute you on behalf of the nation" "If I had to bear even half of your moral burden it would have broken the back of my Ethics" "That's the truth!" " What's this?" " No, Grandsire" "Sit here!" "It is my fortune to sit at your feet when I want to" "Do not deny me my fortune" "I have too many duties and few rights." "Very few!" "I know you cannot be happy in this situation or else I would have blessed you with happiness" "No!" "Give that blessing to Hastinapur which will stay on even after we die" "What news have you brought?" "I have heard that Lord Krishna has still not given up hopes of peace" "He is coming here as a peace messenger" "Krishna is beyond Hope and Despair" "It is impossible that He does not get what he wants" "He is coming here to tell us Sages Drona and Kripa, you and I that war is not to be pursued" "He is coming here to tell us that Pandavas still desire Peace" "He is coming here to ask for our permission to fight because you just wait and see Duryodhan will scuttle the talks" "Make the king understand" "The king is beyond understanding" "His ambition has negated Hastinapur's benefits" "I know!" "But at least try explaining it to him" "He does not listen to me any longer" "Tell him that he is responsible for Hastinapur's protection" "History will not blame Duryodhan" "History will blame him" "If he cannot do justice to Hastinapur at least let him take pity on it" "Tell him to accept the Peace proposal Krishna is coming with because he has himself closed every door to Hastinapur's protection" "You are bound by your oath to protect Hastinapur" "Krishna's coming here is not an ordinary event" "He is not Kampilya's High Priest" "He is Divine!" "He is Religion Itself!" "So, don't reveal your ambitions to him" "He is the Scale!" "If you do not pass the test of Truth you will have neither a Present nor a Future" "Also remember, he is not coming to meet either Duryodhan's father or the Pandavas' Elder father but the King of Hastinapur the heir of King Kuru and King Bharat" "The future of Hastinapur will depend on what you say after listening to his proposal" "I have received your love after so long" "I was hungering for it" "You did not give me an occasion, my child" "You isolated yourself in your tower of ambition" "My voice did not reach you" "It was stilled by your ambition" "You have showered enough love on Duryodhan" "Now, give a little love to Hastinapur" "Forgive me, Grandsire" "Please organize Krishna's welcome" "No!" "Vidur and Duryodhan should do that" "Duryodhan!" "Listen to me with care" "Krishna is the ultimate Truth" "Do not even touch it with your Ego" "Truth cannot be insulted but attempting to do so can be disastrous" "My sons, except Duryodhan, will welcome Krishna ten miles from the city gates" "Innumerable dancers will dance all the way to the palace where Duryodhan will welcome him" "Water the roads so that the dust does not rise" "Dushasan's palace is larger than Duryodhan's" "Krishna can be put up there" "I will personally welcome him with sixteen decorated gold chariots a thousand virgins and slaves 18,000 blankets of soft wool innumerable deer skins and a chariot which will shine even at night" "What is the point in giving this bribe, my lord?" "Are you calling the king a bribe-giver, Vidur?" "As a minister, it is my duty to speak the truth to my king or else I have no right to be a minister" "When a minister begins to lie to his own king the end of the country is very near" "I want to prevent that!" "That is why I speak the truth" "The king's gifts are not really gifts" "It is a bribe!" "But remember, my lord no bribe can separate Krishna from Arjun" "Arjun is not his friend but his very breath" "Don't make the mistake of giving him this gift" "He is coming here because he wants Peace" "No one else there wants Peace" "His coming here is to our benefit Hastinapur's benefit" "Hence, my lord try to accept what he says" "For the first time I agree with Uncle Vidur" "This is not the time to give a gift" "He may think we are afraid of him" "Grandsire!" "Please him as much as you want but this war is inevitable" "Whether you welcome him or not Krishna will do what he has decided" "Do not think he will be insulted if you don't welcome him or gift him" "He cannot be insulted" "He is beyond Honor and Insult" "He is not on Arjun's side because of friendship" "He will only side with the Truth" "Does it mean I'll never become the Emperor?" "In that case I'll arrest Krishna" "Don't say that, my son" "Even if you forget who He is at least remember he is a Peace messenger" "Besides, he has not harmed us at all" "How can you even think of arresting him?" "Your warped thinking will invite disaster" "Change your thoughts!" "I can no longer listen to your warped son, my lord" "Before I leave, let me warn you" "If Krishna is insulted in court you will run out of tears to weep over your son" "Karna!" "You?" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "Please sit!" "What is it?" "I am sure you are surprised to see me here but I am more surprised than you are" "I am not surprised, Karna" "In my long life I have seen too much to be surprised of anything" "I would never have thought that an Indian Prince would cheat at Dice" "Who would have thought that the king would tolerate his daughter-in-law's disrobing in open court" "But all this has happened!" "So, do not be surprised" "Tell me, how did you think of me" "I have not come to Grandsire Bhishma" "I have come to Sage Parshuram's disciple" "In that sense, we are brothers" "Of course, we are!" "What is your problem?" "My first problem is that I do not look on myself as a charioteer's son" "You may be that by birth but you are a warrior by Actions" "Actually you are both!" "You have no control over your parentage" "So, keep faith in your Actions" "How can I do that, Grandsire?" "I am an ace archer, a disciple of Sage Parshuram" "Like you, I am a great warrior" "This is not my arrogance speaking" "I have defeated many kings and warriors but I have always lost to Arjun" "Why is that so?" "Answer me!" "That is because you do not follow the Warrior Code" "You should side with Truth and not Falsehood" "Duryodhan is a symbol of Evil" "Leave him or you will always face defeat" "Did you not see that even Sage Drona and I lost against Arjun in the Virat War?" "Why?" "Because we were siding with Evil" "Can you forsake Duryodhan?" "That is my helplessness" "Though I know everything I cannot forsake him" "I have got my answer" "I, too, cannot forsake Duryodhan" "He is dearer to me than every victory" "My respects!" "Victory to Lord Krishna!" "Lord Krishna, son of Devaki, is on his way!" "Welcome to Hastinapur!" "O messenger of Peace!" "Accept this humble gift of mine!" "O King!" "You have honored me with this gift" "But I can give you nothing in return but Peace" "Rest awhile O Krishna!" "The journey must have tired you" " Dushasan" " Yes, father" " Take Krishna with you" " Yes, father" "No, father!" "First I'll take him with me" "After lunch he can go to Dushasan's palace" "No, Prince!" "Food can be partaken at two places" "At the host's house or at a friend's place" "You are neither my host nor my friend" "I'll go to Vidur's house" "Aunt Kunti is also there" " Let's go, Vidur" " Come, Krishna" "Aunt!" "These tears had not flown for years" "Let them flow" "Exhaust all your old tears for now we enter the Land of Tears" "What do you mean?" "Don't worry, Aunt" "Your five sons are safe" "Everyone on this side is also my son" "Have you forgiven Duryodhan and his colleagues for their conspiracies against the Pandavas?" "The point is not who is a son and who is not" "It is a matter of Truth and Evil" "I am not on Pandavas' side because they are your sons" "I side with them because Truth is on their side" "I am protecting Truth." "That is my only loyalty" "So, tell me Aunt Kunti" "What is your message for your sons?" "Tell Yuddhistir that the day for which he was born is at hand" "Won't you return with me?" "No!" "I must stay on in Hastinapur" "I cannot leave Grandsire, Gandhari or Dhritirashtra" "Every time they see me they are reminded of the injustice done to my sons" "I am not only the daughter-in-law" "I am also the Conscience of this family" "O messenger of Peace." "Tell me will there be a war or not?" "I am only a messenger of Peace" "So, I cannot decide about war" "Only the King of Hastinapur can decide" "If he metes out justice there won't be a war" "Never!" "If he continues to dole out injustice war is inevitable" "In fact, the decision is not in his hands" "Duryodhan will decide" "In that case, this war will take place" "Be patient!" "Let us first find out what proposal Krishna has brought" "He can do nothing, to us" "Come Krishna!" "Come!" "My respects!" "Please sit!" "I will always be unhappy that you did not choose to have lunch with us" "Always!" ""Always" implies eternity" "After all, I am a messenger of Peace" "How can I accept favors before a truce?" "So, come Duryodhan!" "At least let us agree" "O Krishna!" "I do not understand this outlook" "What do the outcome of the talks have to do with being a good host?" "Besides, there is no ill-will between us" "How can you, the Perfect Man, insult your host?" "O Karna!" "Whatever happens I cannot give up Truth" "A person lunches with another if the other is a friend or if he is hungry" "I am neither hungry nor Duryodhan's friend" "How can you say that you are not dear to me?" "Because if that was so you would have fought with Arjun in Dwarka that you wanted me and not my divine army" "That does not prove anything O Krishna" "Arjun had already asked for you and so you had already become his by right" "In that case, if I have already become Arjun's how can I accept Duryodhan's favors?" "An enemy of the Pandavas cannot be my friend" "Because Truth is on Pandavas' side and where Truth is, I am!" "In a sense, I am also a messenger of Truth" "If I partake of the lunch you offer it will violate the limits of Truth" "Do not be angry, Duryodhan" "Anger cannot negate humility" "That is what I want to tell you" "There is no quarrel between us." "So, listen to me!" "The path of Peace is the path of Progress and Growth" "The path of War leads to the cemetery" "It is time for lunch!" "Once again I request you" "If you lunch with me, I'll be obliged" "If you really wanted me to lunch with you you would have accepted my Peace proposal by now" "I will have lunch at Vidur's house" "Who does he think he is?" "I was only trying to honor him" "It is right that a milkman should eat with a maid's son" "Uncle!" "I give you my word" "If he tries to be too smart in court I'll have him arrested immediately" "When the mind becomes warped the era of destruction is at hand" "It is now obvious that the destruction of the Kurus is near" "Pride is blind by birth" "It can only touch itself" "Which is why it is weak and helpless" "It fears every footstep because it feels its Destruction is nearing" "That is Duryodhan's state" "He cannot see that Hastinapur is threatened that Bharat's dynasty is threatened" "He is bound by his Honor and Pride" "He knows only one thing" "Krishna has insulted him by refusing to dine with him" "The foolish man did not realize that he couldn't honor Krishna by giving him good food" "He did not know that Mahatma Vidur was in a different class" "The bonds of love are the strongest" "Refusing the delicacies of Duryodhan's house the Lord prefers the simple fare of Vidur's house" "The bonds of love are the strongest" "The Lord lovingly ate Shabiri's tasted berries" "Showing his simple ascetic nature" "The path of service is true love" "That is the teaching of the Lord" "When Yuddhistir performed the Rajsuya ritual the Lord helped clear the dirty utensils" "In love, he even drove his friend's chariot forgetting that He was the Lord Himself" "This is how Love blossomed in Brindawan and the milkmaids danced in joy" "How else can I praise the Lord!" " Enough!" " A little more?" "What are you thinking?" "I didn't expect you to be so unthoughtful" "Unthoughtful?" "What else?" "You should not have stayed here" "Duryodhan is evil" "God knows what he will think about your staying here" "Had you stayed with Dushasan he may have listened to you" "Now he will never listen to you" "That's his problem." "My duty is to speak" "Whether he listens to me or not, I'll do my duty" "He thinks he is well protected by Grandsire Sages Drona and Kripa, Ashwathama and Karna" "His ears are closed" "Even if he wants to listen, his ears are closed" "He thinks the Pandavas will never fight an army led by Sage Drona or Grandsire" "But both of them fought in Viraat" "That was different!" "That was not Arjun's war" "Arjun was obliged to the King of Matsya and Duryodhan had attacked him" "But if there is war now it will be Arjun's personal war" "Even they know that if there is war they will have to fight Grandsire and Sage Drona" "Then let there be war!" "Let Hastinapur be destroyed" "And from its ruins let a new healthy Hastinapur rise" "Don't present your peace proposal in court" "Those who will listen to you are helpless" "Those who aren't helpless won't listen to you" "I know that!" "Yet, I am a messenger of peace" "I must do my duty" "Messenger of Peace!" "Brave Warrior!" "Lord Krishna is on his way!" "Accept my respects, my lord" "Please honor me by taking a seat" "Please be seated!" "My respects, Grandsire" "Please sit!" "Please sit, Grandsire!" "What proposal have you brought from the Pandavas?" "O King!" "Taking Grandsire's leave I would like to state that I have not brought anyone's proposal" "I am here with my own proposal" "However, I assure you that whatever I accept will be acceptable to the Pandavas" "O King!" "You are yourself a Man of Knowledge" "You know that Peace is not a debatable issue" "Peace is essential!" "Only one side wins a war but there are deaths on both sides" "There are knowledgeable men in this court" "Bhishma, Vidur, Sages Drona and Kripa" "No other court in the world has as many warriors as this court has" "So, your responsibility is the greatest" "If there is war, this gathering will be dispersed" "If that is so, History will hold you responsible for the tears shed after the war" "O King!" "You are a descendent of Bharat" "You are an inheritor of Truth, Religion Tradition and Justice" "There should be no miscarriage of Justice" "O protector of Truth!" "Listen to me carefully" "Peace is never impossible" "Take the Kurus on the path of Peace" "Therein lies the good of the Kurus and India" "History will not condemn Shakuni for his treachery because it happened in your court" "History will not ask Prince Duryodhan why he insulted Draupadi" "You will have to answer for that because he is your Crown Prince" "History will not ask Dushasan why he tried to disrobe Draupadi" "You will be held responsible for it" "Remember, Peace is not debatable" "Maybe no one desires war, O Krishna" "If no one desires war, why the "maybe"?" "Maybe!" "Both you and I know that there are war mongers on both sides" "Therefore, discard words like "maybe"" "We cannot talk of peace with words like these" "Explain this to your king, O Grandsire" "If the Kauravas and Pandavas come together the whole world will be theirs" "There will be no border beyond theirs" "But if there is war nothing will be left" "Not even your sons!" "Who knows on whose corpses you will have to weep" "If a corpse from the Pandava camp is brought to you will you call it an enemy corpse and rejoice?" "O King!" "Before your life ends try to collect your clan" "The Pandavas have grown up under your care" "They have a right to your love and blessing" "O protector of Truth!" "Return Indraprasth to them!" "This Peace proposal is unacceptable" "At least give it a thought" "What is there to think?" "According to the wager, they should accept exile not ask for their Kingdom" "Learn to speak softly, Duryodhan" "Treachery cuts down a man like an axe cuts down a tree" "Also, my son, Krishna is a friend" "And the friend asks me to give up half my kingdom" "If this is friendship, what is enmity?" "An enemy is one who encourages one to do wrong" "What Krishna says is the Truth" "I'll never give up Indraprasth" "If Krishna has another proposal I'll think of it" "You are all Duryodhan's well-wishers." "Explain to him" "India's future cannot be sacrificed to his ambition" "Yes!" "I have another proposal" "If Duryodhan wants to keep Indraprasth then he may" "On behalf of the Pandavas I ask for five villages" "Avisthal, Vakrasthal, Makandi, Varnavat and one more" "Only five villages!" "O King!" "If you give them these five villages the Pandavas will be content" "Five villages!" "To those Pandavas!" "I'll not give them even one grain of land" "O Duryodhan!" "Why do you compel your mother to weep on your corpse?" "Had you not been a messenger, I would have..." "Let him speak, Grandsire" "What would you have done?" "I would have pulled out your tongue" "And?" "I would have cast you in the dungeon" "Would you dare imprison a messenger?" "A guest..." "O arrogant Duryodhan!" "Arrest me, if you can!" "Arrest this milkman!" "Foolish fellow!" "What are you doing?" "The Lord of the world reveals His True Form" "Those who have the sight can recognize Him" "Why are you worrying, my lord?" "Worry has cast a shadow on your face" "The cause of my worry is the Sun God" "The Sun God?" "I cannot even berate him" "What has the Sun God done?" "He has sired a son for Kunti and created a problem" "Even you have sired a son for Kunti" "That is the problem which has made me restless" "A mighty battle is to take place on Earth" "What do we have to do with their battle?" "Maybe not for you but for the Sun God and I it does matter" "The Sun God's son Karna and my son Arjun will fight on opposite sides" "That should not be a matter for worry" "Arjun has acquired all the divine weapons" "Who can harm him?" "No divine weapon can pierce Karna's shield" "I am worried about Arjun" "There are many weapons in Heaven but only one shield and pair of earrings which can withstand divine weapons" "Then it is a matter for worry" "Besides, Karna hates the Pandavas" "In particular, he lives so as to kill Arjun" "As long as he has the shield and earrings Arjun is not safe" "But he is born with the shield and earrings" "There is one solution." "He respects the Sun God" "He worships the Sun at noon everyday" "If anyone asks for a favor at the end of the ritual he does not refuse" "Will you..." "That's what I am thinking" "Karna should not use the shield in battle" "My friend!" "How are you?" "What's it?" "You are very happy today" "It is a happy occasion" "Then share it with me" "Who else can I share it with?" "My mother will be too scared to do so" "I have two sweethearts" "Two sweethearts!" "Why haven't I met them till now?" "Tell me, who are they?" "If need be, I will kidnap them for you" "They cannot be kidnapped my friend" "I can unite with only one of them" "Don't talk in riddles." "Who are they?" "Why not?" "I'll do it myself" "I know that but these sweethearts are such that they will embrace the one who kidnaps them" "I don't understand" "One of them is Arjun's death and the other is mine" "Arjun's death is the only aim of my life" "Will you kill Arjun and deny me that pleasure?" "Arjun's death will be a balm for the insults that have been heaped on me all my life" "Arjun's death will prove that I, Karna am a warrior by my actions" "O Duryodhan!" "I am obliged to you for giving me this opportunity of killing Arjun" "Understand one thing, my friend I live for your life and Arjun's death" "I remember every insult which stings me like scorpions" "Poison runs through my veins" "My humiliations do not let me sleep do not let me breathe" "But my tale of insults is almost over" "The end is nearing" "My friend!" "Don't be afraid!" "Congratulate me" "For now, I will unite with one of my two sweethearts" "My respects, O Teacher!" "You are the King's charioteer" "Yes, O Teacher!" "Is this your son?" "Yes, O Teacher!" "What's your name?" "Radheya" "Why Radheya?" "His mother's name is Radha" "Your name does not match your face which is as bright as the Sun" "Name him Karna" "As you wish!" "What do you want?" "My son wants to learn the art of weaponry" "Who else can any father think of but you?" "I would be pleased to gift him Knowledge but..." "Forgive me, but I do not accept charity" "Besides, Knowledge cannot be gifted" "May you live long!" "This school is only for warriors and princes" "Karna does not fit into any of these categories" "Find another teacher for him" "Is Knowledge limited to the high born?" "Whatever the world calls me, you call me Radheya" "Karna sounds too impersonal from your lips" "May I ask you a question?" "Of course" "Who's that youth?" "My son Ashwathama" "Which means he's neither a prince nor a warrior" "My respects, O Teacher" "I, too, seek permission for battle" "I wish to cut away this Tree of Ego which threatens to take root in Hastinapur" "Do you only have words to fight with?" "Is this bow and these arrows for show?" "Remember!" "I'll fight you to your last weapon" "A gifted kingdom cannot make you a warrior" "Only your deeds and bravery can make you a warrior" "Ask this charioteer's son to drive your chariot" "Come away Arjun." "He is not worth fighting" "No one asks where saints and warriors were born" "Besides, questions can also be asked about your birth, too" "I am not a charioteer's son." "He challenged Arjun" "I challenge all five of you to fight me" "May you live long?" "I am blessed by your appearance" "I was compelled to appear" "You have sworn not to disappoint anyone who asks for a favor after your noon worship" "Lord Indra seeks to take advantage of this oath" "He will ask for your shield and earrings" "Do not give them to him" "That's not possible" "Even if he asks for my life then, I must give it" "This shield will protect you from Fate" "Forgive me, my lord" "Even after knowing this I will give him this shield if he asks for it" "My oath is more sacred than my life" "None except my mother and Duryodhan has given me anything but humiliation" "So, when my end comes I wish to leave with people indebted to me" "In that case when Lord Indra blesses you ask for the Shakti Weapon" "May you live long!" "Do not bless me thus!" "Tell me how can I serve you?" "I do not seek wealth like the others" "So what?" "But you do want something!" "Tell me what do you wish for?" "I want your shield and earrings" "But they are a part of my body" "You may take any of my weapons" "No!" "I want nothing else but those" "Why do you greet me again?" "The first was for the Brahmin" "The other is for Lord Indra" "Do not worry!" "I know why you want my shield and earrings" "I am bound by my oath" "I cannot refuse at this moment" "I am proud to be the only man of whom Lord Indra asked a favor" "Even Lord Brahma, the Creator, will be unable to create another man like you" "The Sun God had told you that I would come" "You also knew what I was going to ask for" "And yet, you did not falter" "You not only faced this moment squarely but defeated it" "Ask for a boon, my child" "Ask for anything" "If I ask for anything now my giving will become meaningless" "Forgive me, my lord" "I cannot violate the limits of my charity" "But I must shield you from future criticism" "If you must, give me the Shakti weapon" "Granted!" "But you can use it only once" "After that, it will revert to me" "I do not wish to use it twice" "I have only one enemy" "The shield and earrings were a part of his body" "And yet, he gave them away" "Such was this unique incident" "I dedicate this part of the story to Karna the Charitable, son of the Sun God" "Karna is to be respected because he has dedicated his life to the protection of his loyalty" "His greatness lies in the fact that he was reconciled to live with the bitterness that was his fate" "So, when war became definite he continued to side with Duryodhan though he knew his was the losing side" "He knew that Krishna is where Truth is and where Krishna is, Victory is certain" "Why are you so sad?" "It is not in your power to stop what is to happen" "But you have the power to stop it" "No!" "Even I cannot stop what is to happen" "Each person must taste the fruit of his actions" "I tried to explain." "I did my best but they refused to listen to me" "They did not want my guidance" "So, look on and tolerate what is about to happen" "You are not responsible for what is inevitable" "Even Duryodhan is not responsible" "It is Dhritirashtra's responsibility because he is the King" "Duryodhan is a mere fruit of that tree" "But Hastinapur is not the result of the King's actions" "Why not?" "Did Hastinapur prevent Shakuni's treachery or Dushasan's indecency when he tried to disrobe Draupadi?" "Did it punish Karna who called Draupadi a whore?" "If not Hastinapur must share Kauravas" Fate" " Greetings Krishna" " Greetings!" " My respects" " Blessings to you" "Greetings Satyaki and Kripavarma" "Where you passing by and stopped to meet me?" "Or did you come to see me?" "I have come to apologize for Duryodhan's behavior" "A person should apologize for himself" "I was not insulted!" "It was Duryodhan who was insulted" "It was Hastinapur which was insulted" "So, who am I to forgive him?" "Even then..." "Now that you are already here why not come with us for some distance" "I will if you allow me to drive your chariot" "But first promise me that you will not take my chariot into Duryodhan's camp" "Who can take you anywhere without your permission?" "Sarthaki!" "Kripavarma!" "Ride on Karna's chariot" " Greetings" " My respects" " Come Karna" " Yes, Krishna" "Stop the chariot, Karna" "Come Karna!" "Wait for us here" "You must be wondering where I am taking you" "I would be had it been anyone else" "In your case, I am beyond surprise" "Karna!" "You are an excellent person" "A Truthful man!" "You never violated what you accepted as Truth" "Then how can you side with the Untruthful Duryodhan?" "You are aware of what is Truth" "Do you believe that Duryodhan treads my relationship with Duryodhan" "Love is the basis!" "He is my friend!" "He is not my Krishna but I am his Sudama" "The warriors rejected me for I am a charioteer's son" "Duryodhan was the only warrior who accepted me for what I was" "Years ago when Sages Drona and Kripa insulted me before Hastinapur's warriors it was only Duryodhan who assisted me" "By making me the King of Anga he gave me the right to challenge that arrogant Arjun" "It is for this reason that I turn my eyes away from his faults" "I am fond of only two persons on this Earth" "Duryodhan and my foster mother who is more dear to me than the mother who gave me birth but rejected me" "I am happy or sad depending on whether these two are happy or sad" "I am neither happy nor sad for myself" "I am not even fond of my own life" "But as long as I live none other than these two will find a place in my heart" "It is true that it is not easy to repay a debt of kindness" "That is the heaviest debt" "But if it is a matter of Truth and Untruth Religion and Evil, Light and Darkness is it necessary to repay the debt at any cost?" "Is it not better to remain in debt?" "I should have thought of that while taking the favor" "Once in debt it is not right to delay repayment whatever the end result" "Yes!" "That can be one viewpoint" "Why not look at it this way" "Duryodhan is now discredited and so, wants to buy an adversary for Arjun" "Is it that he has bought you for the land of Anga?" "O Krishna!" "Even if he has bought me it is I who have sold myself" "Have you ever thought of who you are?" "What profit is there in that?" "Which means you do not know who you are" "I don't know but I can guess" "My mother must have been from a respected family" "Maybe a princess with a palace on the River Ganga" "Which is why she could throw me in the river" "I can also guess that my mother preferred honor to a son" "She sacrificed her son to protect her honor" "Don't you ever feel like searching for your mother?" "What's the point in searching for a mother who has rejected me once" "It is quite possible that she has married a prince or someone from a respected family" "She may even be a mother of many sons" "O Krishna!" "I do not regret that I never experienced a mother's love" "My mother's name is Radha" "I am known by her name:" "Radheya" "But why are you talking about my past?" "I never think of it" "Talk about the present!" "You have guessed correctly, Karna" "Your mother belonged to a respectable family" "That's why she was scared by your birth" "Today she is a mother of many sons" "But there is a vacuum in her heart an emptiness which remains unfilled" "She keeps thinking of the son she lost" "Are you saying I am not a charioteer's son?" "Are you saying I am warrior?" "Am I right in guessing that you know my mother?" "Is she still living?" "Can I see her?" "Tell me who I am, O Krishna!" "Tell me!" "O Charitable Warrior!" "Can you bear the truth?" "Truth cannot be more hurtful than an insult" "Apart from you, your mother has five more sons, all of them warriors who have yet to taste defeat" "Five warriors!" "Are you..." "Are they the Pandavas?" "Which other warriors have never been defeated?" "Yes!" "You are Kunti's son" "I am talking of the Pandavas" "My aunt Kunti is your mother" "You are the eldest Pandava" "Who is my father?" "Your favorite God, the Sun!" "I am the Sun God's son?" "Yes!" "My bad luck has crossed all limits" "I, the son of the Sun God, am known as Radheya" "I, son of Kunti, am known as Radheya" "I am Yuddhistir, Bhim Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev's eldest brother and known as Radheya" "The world called me a charioteer's son and I accepted it." "Just think!" "Try to understand my sorrow and give me a solution" "You have known this all along" "Why didn't you tell me before?" "And why are you telling me today?" "Today I have nothing but contempt for the Pandavas" "I rejoice in that contempt" "By telling me this, you have disturbed me" "You have disarmed me of my contempt." "Why?" "Why did you do this?" "How can I aim my arrows towards Arjun?" "O Krishna!" "You have defeated me before the war" "Why did you do this?" "O my dear brother!" "O son of Kunti, Karna!" "I did this because I did not want the elder Pandava to fight his younger brothers" "You were born before Aunt Kunti's marriage" "Yet, you are King Pandu's eldest son" "You are the eldest Pandava" "Come with me and you'll be King of Indraprasth" "Your brothers will touch your feet" "Powerful Bhim will be your protector" "Arjun will be your charioteer" "Nakul, Sahadev and I will follow your chariot" "Like Yuddhistir, you are Truthful" "Like Arjun, you are an ace archer" "You are as handsome as Nakul and as humble as Sahadev" "I am surprised that no one has recognized you for who you really are!" "Come with me, Karna!" "I will put the world at your feet" "With that, you will get your five brothers and mother" "What you say is right but I am indebted to Duryodhan" "You have said nothing about that debt" "Even for you I cannot lie to myself." "Never!" "I know that the Pandavas are under your protection" "Let alone I, none can defeat them in war" "I also know that the defeat of the Kauravas is certain" "Yet, I will fight under Duryodhan's flag" "For Duryodhan, I will even accept defeat" "O Madhusudhan!" "Now that I know Arjun is my younger brother I cannot kill him" "Even then, I'll fight Arjun!" "You know I'll never give up Duryodhan's friendship" "By telling me about my birth you have protected Arjun" "Had you not done this, it would be better" "Now, give me your word!" "Don't tell my brothers of this till I am dead" "If Yuddhistir realizes I am his older brother he will never accept the crown" "And he is the only one worthy of the crown" "If he crowns me King I'll give it to Duryodhan to repay his debt" "That will be an injustice to the crown" "Now we will meet on the battlefield" "Till then, goodbye!" "My respects!" "The Sun may rise in the west" "The Day may become Night" "But Karna will never betray a friend" "O Creator!" "I am a question mark on Fate" "Tell me who am I?" "Radheya?" "Kaunteya?" "It is the Sun God who has sinned" "It is my mother who has sinned" "Then why am I being punished?" "The Sun is still the source of light" "My mother is still a respected queen" "And I, the result, am wandering" "Is this justice?" "At least read what you have written in my Fate" "O Giver of Justice!" "Why do I suffer for the Sun's crime?" "It is I who will fight my younger brothers" "Why did you make me indebted to Duryodhan?" "Why did you tell me that I am a rootless tree?" "I had just learned to live" "I was reconciled to my Fate" "Why didn't you stop Krishna from telling me all this" "Wasn't it an injustice to me?" "How can I aim the arrow which will kill a Pandava" "But I'll do it because it's my duty" "Why am I compelled to side with Untruth in this war between Truth and Untruth?" "I am the brother of five warriors but alone!" "I am surrounded by Duryodhan's favors" "You can reject me!" "My mother can reject me!" "But I cannot reject Duryodhan!" "Never!" "Long live the Prince!" "Karna wishes to see you" "So late at night?" " Bring him in" " Yes sir" "So late, Karna?" "Forgive me for disturbing your sleep" "Why does forgiveness come in between two friends?" "One more thing, friend!" "You have as much right over me as I have" "Why are you here?" "Because I felt like seeing you!" "It is possible that your shadow may leave you but your friend Karna will never leave you" "You came to tell me this?" "I know it without your telling me" "It may be that I came to tell you this with you as witness" "Sunlight may desert the Sun" "The crop may desert the Earth" "Direction may desert the arrow" "But Karna will never desert Duryodhan!" "My friend!" " How are you friend?" " Come!" "My respects, Uncle" "What has happened to the confidence on your face?" "He has sent it to Gandhar for safety" "Laugh Uncle!" "Laugh!" "We have been waiting for this war for so long!" "That's why I am not laughing" "When war is near, one should not laugh" "One should think!" "Think of the influence of the miracle which Krishna showed in court that day" "God alone knows how many converts the miracle man made that day" "This faith, my nephew is an incomparable weapon and a shield" "Beware of it!" "God knows how many of your top warriors have been attracted by that miracle" "God knows how many more will be attracted" "So, hold your warriors on a tight leash" "Ask each one whether he will fight for you or not" "Ask me!" "Ask Karna!" "Go on!" "Ask!" "Even I, Uncle?" "I have included myself, Karna" "Loyalties are under pressure today" "Loyalties which waver are fake" "I am an archer" "Once I have fixed my target it is fixed" "My target was and always will be Arjun's death" "Ask yourself" "A leopard cannot change its spots even if it wants to" "I can never see the Pandavas happy." "Never!" "Then why worry?" "The point is who should be our Commander" "Whom do you want?" "I want you, my friend" "I think that will be right" "Fools don't have horns!" "Uncle is right!" "Do you think warriors will accept a charioteer's son?" "Am I not a warrior?" "If I can accept you as the Commander why can't the others?" "You will never win the war like this" "I cannot appoint Grandsire as the Commander" "He is a well-wisher of the Pandavas" "Friend Duryodhan!" "Only Grandsire has the right to be the Commander" "Politics as well as military strategy demands this" "Which Pandava will dare fire at Grandsire?" "Does the ace archer have the power to kill Grandsire?" "No!" "Half our victory is in appointing him" "As for the other half you have many warriors in your camp" "The very sight of them will disarm the Pandavas" "Besides, that Krishna will not be able to say a word against Grandsire Bhishma" "Another point, my friend!" "A warrior's Ego never salutes another warrior" "But Grandsire is in a class by himself" "Even my Ego salutes him" "If we choose anyone else but him there will be a split in our army" "Yes!" "There could be a split" "Our silence is also very cutting" "It has wounded our Souls" "We are silent because we have nothing worthwhile to say" "Even shame will not make us say anything" "Who else will listen to us but ourselves?" "What can be more unfortunate for a teacher that he finds his students on both sides of the battlefield?" "This is not unfortunate O Sage!" "We are responsible for this state of affairs because we could not stop this war" "Greetings Grandsire!" "Greetings Sage Drona!" "Greetings Sage Kripa!" "Come Vidur!" "Say something!" "We are all scared of the silence of our hearts" "Say something Vidur!" "Actually, I had come to say something" "He always has something worthwhile to say" "What was it?" "With war on the horizon I am resigning as the Prime Minister" "How fortunate you are!" "You can at least resign from some post" "Each one has the right to reject" "What do I reject?" "I am bound by not one but two oaths" "What should I reject, Vidur?" "Your oaths are your problem" "But I stand outside the limits of your oaths" "I do not see what you see" "Maybe you are standing too close to your oaths" "Maybe your view is wrong" "My view is wrong?" "Is my analysis incorrect?" "I said "maybe" Grandsire" "Since when do you use this word?" "That word is not my shield but my state" "How can I say with confidence what Grandsire finds in his oaths?" "He knows more about his oaths than I do" "He has fulfilled his oath to Satyavati's father" "His second promise was to Hastinapur" "That he would protect it!" "That is the oath in which I am still bound" "Doesn't Hastinapur's safety lie in returning Indraprasth to the Pandavas?" "Yes!" "But is Indraprasth in my backyard that I can return it to the Pandavas with my blessings to be happy?" "Does that mean you should side with those who threaten Hastinapur's safety?" "When Hastinapur is in ruins its dust will surely mar your white clothes" "I know that, Vidur!" "But you forget that I had also sworn to protect and serve whoever sat on Hastinapur's throne" "At that time I did not know that Dhritirashtra would be the King" "Hence, do not desert me, my child" "No warrior should be compelled to fight a war which I am about to fight" "What would you have done in my place?" "I am not accusing you but the Hell burning in my heart is not within my control" "My state is like that of a drowning man who looks in all directions in the hope someone will save him" "Who will save you, my child?" "The people around you are all drowning" "But your decision is the right one" "Those who can go should leave" "Go, my child!" "Go!" "At least someone will survive to mourn Hastinapur" "But before you go take a close look at this beautiful city" "When you return, you will find the city changed" "Prince Duryodhan is on his way!" "My respects to all!" "So late, my son?" "I have come to you with a request" "What else do you want?" "You know that war is at hand!" "I request you to be the Commander of Hastinapur's army" "You should have asked your teacher first" "How can he think of anyone else when you are there?" "I will not leave your feet till you say "yes"" "Get up, my child!" "I accept the responsibility" "Grandsire!" "Now there is no doubt about your victory" "But listen carefully to me, Duryodhan" "The Pandavas are no less dear to me" "Yet, I'll fight on your side in this war" "Every day I'll kill ten thousand soldiers" "But Arjun is Arjun!" "He can defeat me and even cause my death" "Don't worry about Arjun!" "I'll kill him" "I have not finished speaking, Karna" "Duryodhan!" "Karna has no place in an army led by me" "There is a river of bitterness between us" "I don't want it to increase" "In that case..." "That's okay!" "I, too, will not fight under Grandsire" "When he is there, you do not need me" "He is my teacher's greatest disciple" "I give you my word" "In case he dies in battle I'll come to fight by your side" "May I leave, Grandsire?" "I have not yet finished speaking" "Is there anything more, Grandsire?" "Yes there is, Shakuni!" "I will not kill any of the Pandavas!" "Very surprising, Grandsire" "A Commander will not kill the enemy!" "Duryodhan's enemies are not those soldiers or those kings and princes who are fighting under Yuddhistir's flag" "Duryodhan's enemies are the five Pandavas" "And you will not kill them!" "Accept the condition, my friend!" "But allow me to leave" "I cannot even breathe in this room" "King Karna!" "I'll accept leadership if you accept my condition" "The Pandavas are the essence of Truth" "I will not take their lives" "...are bound by some loyalty or the other" "Karna knows that he is Kunti's eldest son" "But gratitude has bound him to Duryodhan" "Grandsire Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa are bound to Hastinapur" "Only Vidur is not bound to anything" "He is free of Hastinapur" "Which is why when war become inevitable though he decided to stay on in Hastinapur he did decide to resign from the Prime Ministership during this battle between Truth and Untruth" "Hastinapur, he felt, was under the banner of Untruth" "Vidur?" "My respects O King!" "Why the surprise in your voice, my lord?" "Have my footsteps changed?" "No, Vidur!" "Your footsteps have not changed but I am no longer confident in recognising sounds" "Maybe my ability to recognise sounds is slowly fading away" "O Vidur!" "You are an Evolved Soul!" "An expert in Ethics!" "Please guide me, my brother" "O King!" "When war is inevitable a king should not be in a dilemma" "Order your soul to close the doors of your dilemma" "That is the problem, Vidur!" "Whenever I find a solution to my dilemma you raise the matter all over again" "I have come to you with a permanent solution" "O King!" "Medical Science says that if a part of the body is diseased the surgeon should cut away that portion" "Hence, if I am a diseased part of your Politics I am willing to turn a surgeon and have myself cut away from the polity" "Are you talking of leaving me?" "Has the cancer spread so far that my younger brother Vidur who was my shadow now wants to leave me?" "I can never leave you, my brother" "Never!" "But my loyalty to you has made me helpless" "Now, I am resigning from the Prime Ministership" "No!" "Which means I am truly alone at last!" "I never liked your advice but your words reminded me of you" "My dear Pandu has gone to Heaven but you were with me" "Now you wish to leave me alone with the terrible result of the war" "What should I do?" "I am not in favour of war" "That's why I will not fight on any one side in this war" "I am going home where I shall isolate myself" "Don't return without your turban" "My respects!" "Here!" "Vidur pays the price standing up for Truth" "He resigns from his post opening his eyes at last" "Do not worry, sister!" "If there is war, your sons will surely win" "I am not worried about victory" "I am worried about Duryodhan" "Whatever he is, he is also my son" "How can I mourn for him in front of his mother?" "What do I say to her?" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "Do not bless me thus!" "What will I do with a long life?" "If all the old people in Hastinapur die it will be good for them" "How many corpses can their feeble shoulders carry?" "Do their old eyes have enough tears to shed over every corpse" "Is there any hope of avoiding war?" "If there was hope would I refuse a blessing?" "What did Grandsire say?" "He is now Commander of the Kaurav army" "I don't understand how the Pandavas will face him in war" "Who can hurt a warrior with wishful death" "But will he want to live after seeing the corpses of his sons and grandsons?" "He represents the glory of our dynasty" "Find a way to ensure his long life, Vidur" "How can I ensure that?" "Every road that leads to and goes away from Hastinapur is the path of destruction" "O God!" "Where are you going?" "I would leave if I could but I, too, must share Hastinapur's destruction" "The tears I am fated to shed must be shed" "No, Karna!" "Charity begins at home, dear Karna" "Please forgive your mother!" "This arena is a public place I publicly announce that I be declared the best archer or the Kuru family's best archer fight a duel with me and prove that he is really the best archer" "Allow me to introduce you to the archer you have challenged" "He is Arjun, son of King Pandu of the Lunar Dynasty" "He is Queen Kunti's son and Sage Drona's student" "Introudce yourself, archer" "No!" "No, Karna!" "Forgive me, my son!" "My respects, lady!" "Sit in the shade of that tree and tell me how I can serve you" "Sit here!" "Doesn't the Sunlight trouble you?" "There is a scorching Sun in my heart" "I have come to ask for something" "I know that, lady" "Everyone who comes to me, asks for something" "But before asking, will you introduce yourself?" "The manner in which you asked is not usual" "It seems you are asking for a favour for the first time" "If you cannot ask for a favour, don't!" "Command me!" "No!" "I don't have any right to order you" "Only your mother Radha can do that" "I bow to the lady whom you call your mother and receive her blessings" "Do you know her?" "Who in India does not know your mother?" "Forget the others!" "Even I do not know my mother" "She threw me in the River Ganga soon after my birth" "The lady whose name you just took is not my mother" "She is more than a mother" "She sang the lullabies that my mother should have sang" "Her gentle hands put me to sleep" "It was in her lap that I was put to sleep" "Even today when my soul is aching it is she who applies the healing touch" "Even then, my life is a vacuum" "My heart still aches for my real mother" "Sometimes I wish I would meet her and I, after bowing to her, should ask her:" "Mother!" "Tell me, what is my fault?" "For what crime am I being punished?" "What if she explains her helplessness?" "What will you do?" "Helplessness?" "God may become helpless but a mother is never helpless" "Even a mother can be helpless" "I know your mother's helplessness" "You know my mother's helplessness?" "How do you know it?" "I know it because because I am the helpless mother who had sacrified her first son" "You!" "You are my mother" "Yes, my son!" "Yes!" "I bow to the Queen Mother of Indraprasth!" "My son!" "Do not call me "son'!" "I am Radha's son, Radheya" "And you are Queen Mother Kunti!" "The mother of the Pandavas!" "How surprising that Queen Kunti should ask a charioteer's son for a favour" "Ask, Queen Kunti!" "To serve you is my pleasure" "My son!" "But please don't call me "son"" "Why not, my son?" "You are my son, Karna!" "I was your son even then when you rejected me" "Even today it is not my love which has brought you here" "It must be some other motive" "It must be your selfishness" "How can the chariatable Karna be so stern?" "I am not being stern, mother" "It is only the pain in my heart" "You gave my share of your love to the other sons and you are calling me stern?" "The world heaped insults on me and yet you remained quiet" "How did you remember your rejected son?" "What do you want from your discarded son?" "Ask for what you want and return to the palace" "If anyone sees you with me questions will be asked and you will not be able to tell him that I am your son" "You are as helpless today as you were when I was born" "For a moment forget your bitterness and lay your head on my lap" "Allow me to stroke your head" "Karna, my son!" "My head, mother..." "My head is not worthy of being placed on your lap" "I don't want to defile your lap" "Don't say that, my son" "I am not your son" "Calling myself your son will be an insult to the lady who brought me up" "You are not my mother but Arjun's shield" "Had you come here as my mother you would have sat in your chariot and told your charioteer:" "O Charioteer!" "Take me to my eldest son's house" "At my house, you would have told the doorman:" "Go and tell Karna that his mother is here to bless him" "But you did not do that because you had nothing to give me" "Instead, you chose this place and time with care" "You knew I would not refuse any favours here" "You are not here to make me your son but to ask for Arjun's life" "So, remove this mask of motherhood and ask!" "Did you not recognise me in the arena?" "If you did, why did you not stop Arjun and Bhim from insulting me?" "Why didn't you tell them that I wasn't Radheya" "When I was insulted in the Kuru court by your sons why didn't you say that I was also your son?" "Why didn't you order them to seek the blessings of their eldest brother?" "It is not so, mother!" "It is not that I did not cry for you who gave me birth but rejected me" "I often wondered what you looked like" "My imagination would give you different forms" "I would be restless to touch your feet" "Sometimes I would even cry thinking about the helplessness which made you reject me" "Or else, which mother will give up her child?" "This would act like a balm to my heart" "But today the politics of your motherhood has wounded me" "You have not brought motherhood to me but some mirage of motherhood" "Today you have crossed all limits of injustice" "Mother!" "Mother!" "The word melts in my mouth" "How I craved to call you that as a child!" "But you were satisfied with your five sons" "Today you want me to put my head in your lap?" "You know very well that I cannot accept that honour" "I did not get you when I needed you the most" "You left me wandering in a forest of insults" "You watched as I was bloodied" "Today you need me for your son's life" "Why should I give it to you?" "Why?" "Karna!" "My son!" "I have bathed in your tears!" "I am honoured, mother" "Now tell me what do you wish of Radheya?" "No Karna!" "You are not a Radheya" "You are a Kaunteya!" "My eldest son!" "I am proud to be your mother" "I will tell the world that I am a mother of not five but six brave warriors" "What is the use of saying that now?" "Let me be Radheya" "Radheya is indebted to a few people and he must pay them back" "Tell me, what did you want of me?" "Don't disappoint me, my son!" "If what you want is in my power to give you won't be disappointed" "Command me!" "Now that you know you are a Kaunteya it is not right that you should fight your brothers" "I have come here to take you with me" "Come to your brothers." "They will embrace you" "You will rule the world" "This is the second time I being called to do that" "Yesterday, Krishna tried to bribe me and today you are trying to bribe me" "No, Karna!" "This is not a bribe" "It is your right!" "My heart is so full of bitterness and sadness that there is no place for any ambition" "I cannot carry out your order" "But why not, my son?" "Because I became a Kaunteya today!" "It is my second birth" "But who will repay the debts of Radheya?" "When my mother was not my own" "When my brothers were not my own" "When I had no friend in this world" "Duryodhan extended a hand of friendship" "Will it be right of me to desert him and walk into the Pandava camp?" "This is the debt of gratitude" "I do not even want to die before repaying it" "Only my backing has made him fight this war" "Should I now go to him and say:" "The Pandavas are my brothers." "Find another friend" "I am cursed by Sage Parshuram and a Brahmin" "Lord Indra has taken away my shield" "Krishna and now you have disarmed me" "Even then, I am compelled to fight for Duryodhan as you were compelled to reject me" "Mother!" "You wanted a favour of me and I could not grant it" "Please forgive me!" "But I'll not send you back empty-handed" "You are a mother of five sons" "None except the Sun God, you and I know that you have six sons" "So, O mother!" "Whatever the result of the war you will have five sons!" "If I die in battle Arjun will survive" "If he dies in battle, I shall survive" "You will remain a mother of five sons" "O mother!" "Your motherhood will never be suspect" "Whether Karna survives or Arjun survives" "You will be a mother of five sons" "Greetings, Krishna" "Please sit!" "How is elder father?" "First ask about our own mother" "He is older than her" "Then ask about Grandsire" "He is not the King!" "He is a king who has usurped the rights of his nephews" "A warrior's duty is to protect Civilisation" "The day he does not do so, the Sun will blacken" "How is Elder Father?" "Healthy but worried!" "Even Grandsire and the Sages are healthy and worried" "The King is worried for a different reason and the Sages for another" "The King is worried about the war and the Sages with the result of the war" "Which means, war is certain" "Yes Arjun!" "War is certain" "I did my best to avoid this war but Duryodhan is keen on war" "So, war is certain!" "Now tell us, how is mother?" "Aunt Kunti has sent a special message for you" "She said:" "The day has come for which mothers give birth to brave sons" "Why did you not bring her with you?" "She should not stay in the enemy camp" "That is the Ethics of war" "This war is unlike other wars" "The scope of this war is not limited to the clash of weapons" "The dust from the horses hooves will eclipse the Sun" "Day will look like night" "Every heart will become a private battlefield" "Hence, each one is searching for a frame of reference" "Aunt Kunti will also take part" "She has already selected her battlefield" "She will stay there" "If Duryodhan asks for her blessings she will bless him with a long life" "I have come for your blessing" "May you live long!" "I wanted a blessing of victory from you" "Did your mother bless you thus?" "No!" "She'll never bless me before you do!" "Did Grandsire bless you thus?" "He will lead my army." "For me that is a blessing" "Did Sage Drona and Kripa bless you thus?" "They will command units in my army" "And Vidur?" "He will never bless me thus!" "He does not want me to win" "He is not my well wisher" "He is Hastinapur's well wisher and also yours!" "If elders scold you, you must not be angry" "Nor should you doubt their love for you" "But if you oppose Hastinapur Vidur will not side with you" "Do you oppose Hastinapur, Duryodhan?" "Hastinapur is our capital." "How can I oppose it?" "Hastinapur is not only our capital" "It is the focus of our dynasty" "It is our history, our culture" "The city is your Elder Mother" "Do not think of it as a capital alone!" "This city is the Kuru honour" "If it is lost, the Kurus will have nothing" "This city is your identity" "Protect it but also respect it" "Bow to the city and ask for a blessing of victory" "I cannot give you that blessing" "Does it mean you do not wish me to be victorious?" "I am standing between victory and defeat with my tears in check" "Whoever is defeated, I'll have to cry" "I am not happy with you but I don't want you to die" "That is why I blessed you with a long life" "If you must wage war wear the shield of this blessing" "But I don't know if this shield will protect you from Arjun's arrows and Bhim's mace" "Truth stands at the crossroads" "Kunti's heart is in turmoil" "Whom to bless with Victory?" "Whom to curse with Death?" "Both sides are her own hands" "Both sides are her own branches" "Whom should she open her heart to?" "Whom should she condemn to the pyre?" "Hastinapur's mothers are in a dilemma" "They cannot even bless their sons" "Never were times so difficult for mothers" "Had it not been so, would it be possible that Duryodhan would ask for a blessing and the large-hearted Kunti would refuse?" "By blessing Duryodhan with a long life Kunti became the prototype of motherhood" "As a mother, she understood Gandhari's torment" "Which is why she did not want Gandhari to lose a son" "But wars are not fought under a mother's shadow" "What shall I do now?" "Take a decision!" "What decision will he take?" "Maybe he does not even remember why my hair are unbraided" "It is I who will take a decision" "Explain to Draupadi that I am not a coward" "I am not only a warrior but also a king" "The king's duty is much more serious than a warrior's" "I must also protect those who will fight on my behalf" "My brothers are not bound by this" "Your unbraided hair sting me like a serpent" "But I am not only a husband, Draupadi" "And I am not only a wife!" "If you are the King of Indraprasth then I am its Queen" "I don't want Indraprasth" "I want blood from Dushasan's chest in which to wash the insult from my hair" "You will get that blood!" "I promise you" "Grandsire is not the only one who can live an oath" "Do not drown yourself in anger, Bhim" "Talk like a Commander" "The Kaurava army is larger than yours" "The odds are eleven to seven!" "The odds increase further when you realise that their Chief Commander is Grandsire who has the boon of wishful death" "Then there is Sage Drona and Karna Sage Kripa Dushasan and Duryodhan himself" "Our warriors are also no less" "King Dhrupad of Virat Princes Dhristadyuma and Shikhandi Sartaki, Bhim and Arjun" "Who can dare face them?" "And do not forget" "You are also with us!" "But I am unarmed!" "We wanted you unarmed so that you could bless us" "We have plenty of weapons and so do they!" "But we have Draupadi's unbraided hair and we have you!" "Something else is also with you" "Which is why I am with you" "Truth is on your side" "So, think of who will lead your army" "What about King Dhrupad?" "He is Sage Bhargava's disciple and respected" "He is a representative of an earlier era" "This is a war of this era and will be fought thus" "I think the only young warrior worth appointing will be the Fire-born Dhristadyuma" "Why not Prince Shikhandi?" "There is no point in discussing this" "Whether you fight or not, you are our leader" "You tell us who will be the best choice" "I think Arjun's suggestion is the best" "Dhristadyuma is the best choice" "The King was quiet but the Prince has asked you to pose the question in person" "Do me another favour." "Please return and tell them Draupadi only listens to her elders" "If Grandsire desires that I, the Kuru honour..." "If Elder Father desires this, I will come" "If Uncle Vidur thinks it right then I'll come" "But if these people don't think it is right then I won't go there" "The Prince will send me back" "Won't you do this much for me?" "Don't take me there like this!" "I am the honour of the Kuru dynasty!" "Today you are nothing but a maid" "I have not even had a ritual bath" "Quiet!" "Stop Dushasan!" "Stop!" "I cannot even face my own family like this" "I haven't paid my respects to mother and you are dragging me to an open court" "Those who know me will understand" "What about the others?" "How will you explain your behaviour to them?" "What if you meet your elder brother and he asks you why you are dragging me" "What will you say to him?" "How can you drag the Kuru honour like this?" "Learn to talk to Princes, maid!" "The Pandavas will never forgive you for this" "Quiet!" "Even if they do, I won't let them!" "From today I am a sign of their insult" "Here is the woman with five husbands!" "What did you say?" "A blind man's son is blind!" "Seat this maid on my thigh!" "Turning your eyes away is not the solution" "I, your daughter-in-law, wrapped in a single cloth without a ritual bath pays her respects to you in open court" "What blessing will you give me now?" "You are the eldest Kuru" "A brave warrior steeped in knowledge" "Had you promised to protect only the Kuru throne?" "Doesn't the Kuru honour mean anything?" "It doesn't befit you to hide your face" "A woman who has five husbands is a whore!" "And a whore has no honour" "Had she been brought nude it would not be wrong" "Sit down!" "My friend is right!" "A whore or a maid has no honour" "Disrobe this maid!" "Let me see how this maid looks without clothes" "Sister!" "I was explaining to my hair that the days of exile are over" "These serpents have stung me for thirteen years" "Each day of these years was like a hundred years" "We have drunk deeply from the cup of insults" "I'll get the blood from Dushasan's chest, won't I?" "You will!" "I promise you that!" "Then I salute the chief of the Pandava army!" "Till she washes her hair in the blood from Dushasan's chest Draupadi will not give up her concentration on Total Destruction" "My lord!" "Yes, my dear" "Prevent this war, my lord!" "Will Duryodhan listen to us?" "Do I have the right to order Pandu's sons not to wage war?" "Let alone war, they did not even want Indraprasth" "They wanted only five villages!" "History will hold you responsible" "I am not worried about History" "I am worried about the Present which waits at Vidur's house in the form of Kunti" "Why doesn't she go to her sons?" "What does she want?" "Will her sons get justice if she stays here?" "What about the injustice done to me?" "I don't want war!" "But if war knocks at my door as a warrior I must open it" "Listen!" "War has not yet begun" "You can still prevent it!" "How?" "Leave the palace and sit on your chariot" "Tell Sanjay to take you to Lord Krishna's house" "Request him!" "He is the only one who can prevent this war" "He can stop the army from marching" "No Gandhari!" "That's not possible" "Krishna is no longer neutral" "The Yadava army is on our side but he is on Pandavas" side" "Don't cry Gandhari!" "Don't worry either!" "A mother of a hundred sons and you are scared!" "Look at the confidence of Kunti who has only five sons" "It is not right that the two branches of the same tree should get entangled" "Whether your right eye cries or your left eye it is you who will weep" "Whether it is Bhim's mace or Duryodhan's it is I who will be hurt" "O King!" "Save me from this pain!" "I will not be able to bear it!" "O son of Ganga!" "No one can do anything!" "That is the rule of Time!" "That is Fate!" "The foundation of what is to happen was laid long ago" "Circumstances test every man but Man is responsible for his state" "That is Fate and also bad luck!" "What can I do, O Sage?" "I never knew my mother." "Hastinapur is my mother" "I cannot see its downfall" "You will have to witness it!" "Sometimes duty tests a man's tolerance" "This is such a moment" "Therefore, empty your eyes so that you may cry" "Is that all you can say to me, O Sage?" "Unlike Dhritirashtra, you need not be told anything" "You know what can be said in such a situation" "There is an eclipse on the thirteenth" "This is the first such eclipse" "It is an indication of destruction" "I know that, O Sage!" "I am the Chief of such an army which is destined to lose" "I know that, too!" "Maybe even you realise that I am helpless" "Helpless!" "O Sage!" "My respects to you!" "You are already blessed with a long life" "What blessing can I give you?" "A long life is not always good" "If there is none else, what will you do with it?" "O Sage?" "Sages are free of temptation" "They neither cry nor laugh" "Which is why they can speak bitter truths" "I have come to you with one such truth" "Order me!" "No orders, O King!" "Just advice!" "Do not allow the war at your door to enter" "But I don't desire war" "What can I do?" "My sons are not in my control" "All right, O King!" "I shall grant you divine sight so that you may see the destruction" "No, O Sage!" "What will do with divine sight?" "When I could not see them as children or youth why see their corpses?" "What will I be able to do?" "I won't even recognise the corpses whether it is Bhim or Duryodhan" "I only know how to listen" "So, O Sage!" "Grant this divine sight to Sanjay so that I can listen to his account of the war" "As you please, O King!" "Now you can see the Past, Present and Future" "You can see all!" "O Sage!" "I shall be grateful if you tell me the result of this war" "Trees not only give shade but are also used as fuel" "Trees which cannot give shade, should be cut so that they make way for shade-giving trees" "Who will be cut down?" "Sanjay will answer that question" "What did the Sage say?" "Why do we wage war?" "What is there in a piece of land that we are willing to forget our relationships?" "Land is a reflection of power" "Land is a measure of power" "That is why people stake their lives for it" "Without power, a warrior's life is meaningless" "Hence, use your divine sight and tell me where my son Duryodhan is" "He is in his room with Karna, Shakuni, Prince Dushasan and Shakuni's son Ulluk" "I think we should send a message to Yuddhistir that we are not afraid of Krishna" "We, too, can perform the "miracles" he did" "We, too, can alter ourselves and fly in the sky" "We, too, can enter Heaven" "If we want we..." "Yes, nephew!" "Yes!" "They sent the first representative" "We will send the last!" "What is the point in all that?" "We will soon be in the battlefield where we will test our mights" "Don't you have a sense of humour?" "But I think that is the right thing to do" "Whom should we send, Uncle?" "What about Karna?" "Don't even think of it" "If we send Karna and if he disagrees with anything he will start a war on the spot and won't return till he has won it" "Then what about our thirst for war?" "That's why, my dear nephew I think we should send Ulluk so that he can see them before the war" "You are right, Uncle!" "After the war their faces won't be worth seeing" "Absolutely right!" "Now what message has Duryodhan sent" "The fact is not worth pondering over but since he has sent someone, let's listen to him" "My respects!" "You are welcome, Ulluk!" "Please be seated" "What message has Duryodhan sent?" "Come on, Prince Ulluk." "What is the message?" "O King!" "O heir of Bharat!" "I am a mere messenger" "I hope you will protect my Code" "The message I am about to deliver is Duryodhan's" "The message and the words are his" "Don't be afraid!" "Say what you have to say" "As you wish!" "O King!" "Duryodhan has sent this message:" "You lost your kingdom, wife and brothers at Dice" "Your wife was dragged into court but you kept quiet" "You were in exile for twelve years" "You spent your anonymity as slaves in Virat" "You are cowards." "You may have been warriors but are no longer warriors" "How dare you ask for Indraprasth?" "According to the bet, you should go into exile again since your anonymity was broken" "So, first go back into exile and then return to beg for five villages" "Maybe we will even give you Indraprasth" "If you can't do this, don't pretend to be Truthful" "Your messenger Krishna asked for five villages" "I refused to give you those because you are treacherous and Untruthful" "You love your crown more than your wife" "If it were not so, you would have attacked us rather than send a messenger irrespective of whether you got Indraprasth or died fighting for it" "Your first duty was to seek Revenge and not ask for the crown" "You are greedy for a kingdom" "A person who cannot protect his wife's honour is not a warrior, not even a man" "The message is:" "Forget war" "The magical power of Krishna on whom you rely will not affect us because even we have these powers" "In war, one needs strength and not magical powers" "Forget about war, O foolish Yuddhistir!" "Accept slavery in Virat" "There's a message for Arjun:" "Use your bow and not your tongue" "If self-praise could work then salvation could be achieved thus because who will not praise himself?" "You have Krishna on your side as also the Gandiva" "Everyone knows you are a great warrior" "Yet, I took away your kingdom and you could only cry" "I have enjoyed Indraprasth for 13 years and my many generations will continue to do so" "If there is war, I'll kill all of yo" "O Arjun!" "When Draupadi was disrobed your Gandiva was with you" "And where was Bhim's strength on that day?" "You are all impotent" "So, don't be foolish and challenge warriors" "Stay where you are!" "O Ulluk, son of treacherous Shakuni!" "You did your duty by giving us this message" "We did ours by listening to it" "Now return and tell Duryodhan" "You could not live like a warrior at least try to die like a warrior" "It is not easy to embrace Death like a warrior" "It is very difficult" "Lord Krishna says O Duryodhan!" "You could not live like a warrior at least try to die like one" "Enough Sanjay!" "I don't want to listen any more" "As you wish!" "Vidur has stopped visiting me" "I have none except you" "Tell me!" "Should I order Duryodhan or request him?" "Neither your order nor your request will stop this war" "Time will now bathe in a river of blood" "All you can do now is give up your throne and retire to the forest" "Mother!" "Come!" "My respects, mother!" "May you live long!" "I shall be marching towards Kurukshetra" "Is this war necessary?" "If it were not necessary, would I go there?" "Now like a warrior's mother annoint me and bless me with victory" "Even if I bless you with victory it will be of no use" "Understand one thing!" "Where there is Truth, there is Krishna!" "Where there is Krishna, there is victory!" "And today Krishna is in the Pandava camp" "A mother's blind love may bless you but Truth will eventually triumph" "If you really want to wage war then do so with yourself not Krishna" "For that war, I shall definitly bless you" "I want your blessing for this war" "Even if you do not bless me I will march to Kurukshetra for the ultimate war" "Now tell me will you bless me or not?" "No!" "I will never give you that blessing" "All right, mother!" "I shall leave for Kurukshetra without touching your feet" "My respects!" "O Lord Shiva!" "A mother has refused to grant her son the blessing of victory" "The stubborn son leaves for war with his confidence unshaken" "Had I not been Time I would have run away from the brave warriors who are marching towards Kurukshetra" "Apart from Balram and Rukmini's brother Rukhmi there isn't a single warrior who is neutral" "Man is destined to witness many wars but none will be as terrible as the Kurukshetra war" "A sea of blood lies ahead of me" "I must cross it to get ahead" "The flags flutter in the strong wind" "The chariot horses neigh" "The elephants trumpet" "The trees stand by in silence" "The wind watches the armies go by" "A dark night lies ahead" "India, it is thy Fate" "Death stands at the Kuru door" "The Earth itself is on fire" "The Kings of every nation its Princes and Commanders march towards Kurushetra" "It is a holy war." "It is the ultimate war" "All the roads lead to the battleground" "The air is filled with the sounds of war" "Soldiers, elephants and chariots march on" "Brave warriors all are bursting with courage" "The instruments of war make a terrible noise" "The dust rises as if to kiss the skies" "It is a holy war." "It is the ultimate war" "Dhrupad is with his brave sons" "There is Prince Uttar with his brave warriors" "There is the able archer Sartaki with his army" "All swear by the Fire to vanquish the enemy" "Prince Sahadev of Magadh with his mighty army" "The King of Chedi raises his banner to the sky" "It is a holy war." "It is the ultimate war" "Yuddhistir advances with his weapons" "Powerful Bhim wields the mace" "Brave Nakul and Sahadev are like Fire itself" "Draupadi's five sons, and Subhadra's son Abhimanyu" "Young warriors all, but respected by Time itself" "Krishna is astride a chariot of white horses" "There is famous Arjun with his Gandiva" "These are all warriors on the Pandava side" "Those on the Kaurav side are no less brave" "In a white armour and white chariot white-haired Bhishma marches on" "Behind him is brave Duryodhan with Sages Drona, Kripa and a mighty army" "Marching with him is ace archer Karna Kripaverma, Ulluk and Yuyutsu" "There is also ferocious Ashwathama" "Uncle Shakuni marches with an unsheathed sword" "There is also Dushasan, an expert of chariot war" "The very Earth quakes as they all march by" "All the peace proposals which were advanced have all been unsuccessful" "Everyone is ready to kill and to die" "There is fire in their eyes and power in their arms" "The Conches of war are being blown all over" "The air echoes with the sound." "The darkness is over" "Faith rears up." "Warriors are all eager" "Time itself has opened the doors of war" "Did you see Commander" "We did not inform Yuddhistir from which direction we would come but he seems to have found out" "Look at the welcome that awaits us" "Hail King of Madra!" "We welcome you on behalf of our King" "How did you know from where we would come?" "We did not know this" "Hence, a welcome awaits you an every road from Madra" "Even your foot soldiers will be taken care of" "May I show you to the royal tent?" " Of course" " This way" "Hail King of Madra!" "I'll praise you to King Yuddhistir" "Not only will I reward you but so will he" "Your happiness is our reward" "Did you hear that!" "That is a true welcome" "Look how cleverly he refused a gift" "Your happiness is our reward!" "Very good!" "Look!" "If we act according to plan then..." "Greetings Prince!" " Has King Shalya come?" " Yes sir" "He is so happy that he is going to tell Yuddhistir" " Yuddhistir?" " Yes, my lord" "Did you hear that, Uncle?" "Uncle Shalya is going to tell Yuddhistir" "An Uncle like his nephews" "If you can get him on our side the Pandavas will be shamed for all time to come" "I am very happy" "I'll reward you after I return from war" "You have served your country well" "Hail Prince!" "Ask Brother whom we are waiting for" " You ask" " I?" " How can I?" "I'm younger" " And I am older" "Okay!" "Brother!" "Arjun wants to ask you something" "Why don't you ask, Arjun?" "What is there to ask?" "We must be waiting with a purpose" "I am waiting for Uncle Shalya" "We should wait for him" "He is to play a significant part in this war" "Whom will he kill?" "War does not mean only killing" "I rarely understand what you are saying" "Why blame him for your limitations?" "If Krishna says Uncle will play an important role then he will do so" "Does the arrow first pierce the chest or the shield?" "It must pierce the shield before the chest" "Not necessary, Nakul" "Some shields are special!" "We should wait for the King of Madra" "If you know, why don't you tell us?" "Use words like "if" with great care and responsibility" "It is a strong word and yet, gentle" "It opens the door of possibilities" "Every soldier about to wage war must close the doors of possibilities" "We all know the King of Madra well" "You are also related to him" "There is an Uncle on that side" "Whether we have someone like Shakuni or not we must have an Uncle" "Wait!" "Victory to the king!" "Should we camp here, my lord?" "Has King Yuddhistir allowed us to camp even once?" "We cannot insult him by camping here" "March on!" "Victory to the King!" "The Crown Prince of Hastinapur Kuru Prince Duryodhan would like to see you" "Duryodhan!" "Why does he want to see me?" "I am going to fight against him" "All right!" "If he is already here bring him in with respect" "As you wish!" "Leave us alone!" "My respects Uncle!" "Welcome to King Yuddhistir's camp!" "Yuddistir's camp?" "Yes!" "He has not let us camp." "At the end of every day we found his army of servants ready" "I have never seen such hospitality" "Now that's an injustice!" "What injustice?" "That Duryodhan should do the service and Yuddhistir should get the credit" "What are you saying?" "Service is not done with the fruit in mind" "Besides, a family member gets the credit" "He is as much Duryodhan's uncle as Nakul's" "Isn't it?" "Why are you worried?" "It remains in the family, doesn't it?" "War does not mean that the Pandavas are strangers" "Of course not!" "You cannot separate water by striking it" "Even then your servants should have told me that they were your servants" "But you did not ask them!" "You merely said you were happy with their service and would tell Yuddhistir about it" "But I am going to fight for the Pandavas" "I am not stopping you from doing so" "It was my duty to serve you" "I was only doing my duty" "Even if it was done unknowingly I have partaken of your hospitality" "I cannot leave without granting you a boon" "Ask for something!" "Forgive me Uncle" "I do not trade my hospitality" "I cannot sell my hospitality even if you pay for it with your boons" "Then fight me!" "I cannot remain obliged to you" "Forgive me once again" "You are my guest" "I cannot fight you in my own camp" "Then you must ask for a boon." "Ask!" "This is an order, Duryodhan and you must obey your elders" "Now, you must ask for something" "Don't worry!" "He is your uncle like I am" "Ask!" "If you wish to give me something then as a blessing agree to be the chief of Hastinapur's army" "Yes, my king" "I?" "That can't be when Bhishma is there" "Then honour me by being my charioteer" "Krishna will be Arjun's charioteer" "I, too, need a charioteer of that eminence" "Who else in the world can it be but you?" "Arjun on that side and I on the other" "Krishna on one side and you on the other" "And the world as witness!" "I must prove worthy of Sage Parshuram" "I don't want the world to say that Sage Drona's disciple is better than Parshuram's" "Both of us have bows, O King" "Both of us have arrows" "Both of us are experts at warfare" "But he has Krishna as a charioteer and I don't have one of that eminence" "All right, O King of Anga!" "I will be your charioteer because you are the only warrior who will dare hand over his horses' reins into the hands of the enemy" "I cannot insult you by refusing" "King Shalya will be Karna's charioteer?" "Yes sir!" "He agreed to the proposal in my presence" "This will change the very nature of the duel" "Apart from Krishna, there is none better than him" "He is the best!" "I had come to give you this good news" "Where's King Shalya now?" "He has gone to give Yuddhistir the news" "Looks like eventually their warriors will side with us" "Only the Pandavas will be left on that side" "Allow me to leave now!" "My respects!" "You may not fight for the Pandavas but surely you can bless them" "Or are your blessings only for Duryodhan?" "I could not even dream that Duryodhan would ask for such a boon" "He knew I was on the Pandavas side" "He has acted treacherously" "He has violated the limits of hospitality" "My blessings will always be with the Pandavas" "O Yuddhistir!" "May you be successful" "My strength is with them" "My weaponery is with them" "My army is with them" "But my blessings are with you" "My life is for you!" "Only you!" "Uncle!" "You have shamed us!" "Don't leave the path of tolerance" "I am not arguing, Brother but how can I forget that day in the forest when Mother Kunti told Draupadi to look after me because I was her favourite son?" "How can I forget that Mother always fed me before the the rest of you?" "Wasn't I the first to escape from the Wax House?" "And my uncle will fight all of you!" "He will drive Karna's chariot in the duel!" "O King of Madra!" "Before doing that ask for Mother Kunti's forgiveness" "Say that you are not obliged to her" "O King of Madra!" "Today you have really made us their step brothers" "No!" "You are dearer to me than my own brothers" "By saying that you have insulted both our mothers" "We are fortunate that both our mothers have showered us with their love" "Our souls are filled with our mothers' love" "Do not be angry with Uncle Shalya" "He has done what a warrior should" "Let me ask you a question!" "Will you allow a warrior indebted to Duryodhan fight for you?" "Uncle could not remain indebted to him" "Grandsire, too, will fight on Duryodhan's side" "So will Sage Drona!" "Do they love Duryodhan more?" "Do not be so harsh to Uncle Shalya" "Go and ask for his forgiveness" "And after this day, never again call yourself a step brother" "Forgive me Uncle!" "I have erred" "If Mother knows of this she will be angry and deny me her love" "Should I break my word or my relationship?" "That is the dilemma facing the Soul" "The brave embrace one another wondering which to honour" "Hail Queen!" "Yes?" "Queen Kunti is on her way here" "Kunti is coming to see me?" "Don't think that I'll forgive your past harshness because you have come to meet me now" "No!" "I won't talk to you" "What do you think of yourself?" "Are you elder to me?" "Sister!" "Don't you dare "sister" me now" "Were you not reminded of me before this?" "Are you just?" "Why punish me for the crimes of this palace King Dhritirashtra and Prince Duryodhan" "Forgive me, Sister!" "I won't forgive you!" "As your younger sister it is my right to be forgiven" "Then tell Draupadi to forgive Duryodhan and Dushasan" "She is elder to them" "You are the eldest, Sister!" "Have you forgiven them?" "No!" "I may forgive both of them but I'll never forgive Karna or Shakuni" "Both keep provoking Duryodhan" "Karna is indebted to Duryodhan" "He is merely trying to pay back the debt" "Why are you making excuses for him?" "The truth is not making excuses" "His very life is devoted to Duryodhan" "It is his mission in life" "Forget him and his debt" "Both of us are caught in a whirlpool" "We cannot bless any one of them with victory" "Nor can we curse them with defeat" "Come Kunti!" "Let us mourn the fall of the Bharat dynasty" "Give me your word that you will never curse my sons" "A mother can never curse" "She can only bless and hope" "Today I was scared" "Vidur's wife is pious but she has no courage" "That's why I came to you" "Only you understand the language of my tears" "Below this bandage my eyes have the same tears" "Our eyes may be separate but it seems that our tears are the same" "Duryodhan had come to me before going to war" "He wanted a blessing for victory" "You did not give it, did you?" "That's why I wanted your forgiveness" "For the first time, he wanted something and I could not give it" "Had you blessed him with victory all would be lost" "But I blessed him with a long life" "My motherhood is indebted to you!" "My lord!" "Why had Kunti come to you" "For forgiveness!" "For what?" "She wanted my forgiveness for not blessing Duryodhan with victory when he went to pay obeisance" "Why is God testing our motherhood?" "God does not confide in me, Gandhari" "My lord, with your permission I would like to request Krishna to protect my sons" "O son of Yashoda and Nand!" "I beg for peace" "Save India from the sea of blood" "No!" "A warrior's wife never begs but always gives" "Besides, he did come to us as a peace messenger" "We refused his offer" "We have ourselves invited this war" "For the first time in my life I welcome my Fate" "I bow to it!" "Why blame Fate" "Your Actions are to blame" "Why delude yourself?" "Recognise yourself!" "Neither is there the gentle sunshine of love nor the healing shade of forgiveness" "I stand alone in the forest of Anger Insult and Pride" "My voice is trapped like feet in marshy ground" "The story is still far from finished" "In truth, what I have narrated so far is only the introduction" "The story will begin and end in Kurukshetra" "In truth, this centuries-old story is the story of those eighteen days" "Of course, it is true that these eighteen days are like eighteen centuries" "But before we reach Kurukshetra it is important for you to know the few things that remain to be said" "The title of this episode could well be Shikhandi" "Shikhandi who was known as Amba in his previous birth" "Amba, the Princess of Kashi who was kidnapped by Bhishma for Vichitravirya along with her sisters Ambika and Ambalika" "I am sure you remember the Amba who challenged Bhishma in Hastinapur's court that she would take birth after birth so as to avenge her insult" "Her insulted soul has journeyed far" "So, let us first go to Shikhandi's camp" "Brother!" "Come youngster!" "Why poison the arrow heads?" "The brave warrior has many names" "Devavrata!" "Bhishma!" "The son of Ganga!" "The taint of insult on my forehead" "I will kill him for you, my brother!" "No!" "One must avenge one's own insults" "He is my debtor" "I re-live my insult every moment of the day" "The day of marriage for the Kashi Princesses" "Not a single day has passed after that when I have not re-lived that day" "I have to merely close my eyes to see the court of Kashi and the demon of insult dancing before me" "The court was filled with brave warriors" "The arrival of one man wiped off the smiles" "Bhishma, son of Ganga, is on his way!" "Bhishma's oath has lost to the beauty of the Princesses" "The oath has been left behind" "Beware!" "I represent Hastinapur's King Vichitravirya" "The Princesses of Kashi have always wed the Kurus" "The same will happen today!" "I claim the three Princesses for Vichitravirya" "You have insulted Hastinapur by arranging this marriage" "However, I forgive you!" "The Princesses have a right to choose a husband" "Not these Princesses!" "In any case, there is none worthier than I" "Bhishma!" "Give rein to your tongue" "I only rein my horses" "Had I not granted you life once before I would have punished you for interrupting me" "I announce in this court that I am taking away the Princesses" "Does anyone dare stop Bhishma?" "Allow the Princesses to leave, O King of Kashi" "Turn the chariot!" "Yes!" "I am Shalva!" "I have no dearth of arrows, Shalva but I'll not take the life I have granted" "I forgive you once again" "Let's return to Hastinapur" "May I make a request Queen Mother?" "Call me mother, Amba" "My request is to the Queen Mother" "You may speak!" "Before Bhishma came I had, in my mind already chosen Shalva as my husband" "Why didn't you tell me that before?" "Fear!" "I was afraid of you" "Then Vichitravirya cannot marry Amba" "You are right!" "Don't worry Princess" "You shall be sent to Shalva with honour" "Tell Bhishma I do not accept charity" "Another thing!" "Tell him he has insulted me by sending you back" "I have been insulted by Bhishma" "Had he not sent me to Shalva I wouldn't be insulted" "Order Bhishma to honour his Warrior Code and accept me as his wife" "Victory to the King!" "I am bound by my oath, I cannot marry" "Why then did you bring me here?" "I had announced in court that I was representing Hastinapur" "My lord, I was kidnapped when I was holding the marriage garland" "My sisters accepted you as their husband." "I don't" "Now I wish to marry Bhishma" "That's not possible" "Why not?" "Because I have sworn bachelorhood" "Learn to fear a wounded tigress, an insulted woman" "You cannot salvage my honour merely because you are bound by an oath!" "In this royal court and in the King's presence I, too, swear an oath" "I'll never forgive you for this insult even if I have to take birth again and again" "I will avenge this insult by causing your death" "Amba swallowed her humiliations and reached a hermitage" "After listening to her, the Sage said a woman has two refuges:" "Father or husband" "Amba said there was no question of refuge" "It was a matter of insult and its penalty" "Amba did not want refuge but sought revenge" "We live in a strange society, my brother" "A man even controls a woman's honour and insult" "She has no personal honour or insult" "But Amba was unwilling to accept this" "She had been insulted" "So, she wanted to take revenge herself" "So, she said to the Sages" "O Sages!" "I cannot go to Kashi now" "There I'll have to face the ridicule of my colleagues" "I cannot go to Shalva for he has already rejected me" "I have only one option left to me that of penance" "Penance is not easy, Princess" "I know!" "But I have no other alternative" "So, I have to tread the path which is open to me no matter how difficult it is" "O Sages!" "Penance cannot be more difficult than bearing humiliation" "But my child..." "Welcome Revered Sage Hotravaan!" "Please be seated!" "The Sages seem worried" "It is a serious matter" "This is the Princess of Kashi, Amba" "Listening to Amba's tale Sage Hotravaan was shocked into silence" "I had renounced the world before your birth" "So, you do not know me." "I am your grandfather" "Don't go to your father" "Go to Sage Parshuram" "He has an antidote for your sorrow and anger" "Where can I meet him?" "On Mount Mahendra" "He is my friend and schoolmate" "May you live long!" "Please be seated O Sage!" "This is my grand daughter Amba" "I was just suggesting that she meet you because only you have an antidote for her sorrow" "May you live long!" "What is your problem?" "Bhishma has insulted her" "He kidnapped her and now refuses to accept her" "If that is so, Bhishma must accept her" "That is the code" "My respects!" "A Sage wishes to see you" " My respects" " May you live long" "Please be seated!" "I have a message from Sage Parshuram" "From my teacher!" "What does he order?" "He is here on a special mission and wishes that you do something for him" "His wish is my command." "What is the task?" "He will tell you himself" "When you did not want to marry, why kidnap Amba?" "And when you have kidnapped her why have you rejected her?" "The result is she is alone and helpless" "It is for this that Shalva rejected her" "With Fire as your witness you must accept her" "Honour the Code of a warrior" "O Sage!" "Now I cannot even wed her to my brother" "Amba told me she had accepted Shalva as husband" "I sent her to Shalva with honour and did my duty as a warrior" "Devavrata!" "If you do not obey me you'll have to fight me" "I do not wish to insult you by trying to explain to you" "No, Bhishma" "Go ahead and do that" "O Sage!" "You are my teacher" "How can you fight your disciple?" "It is the teacher's duty to punish an erring disciple" "I repeat:" "Accept Amba" "That's impossible!" "If you really order me to fight you your disciple will respect that command" "I know you have defeated the warriors single handed" "But O greatest of teachers!" "Even you know that none among the warriors you fought could vanquish your warrior's pride" "Devavrata has been born in this age" "Proceed to the battlefield!" "Let me see how well I have taught my disciple" "As you command!" "O Teacher!" "You stand on the ground" "I cannot fight you from this chariot" "Wear an armour and fetch a chariot!" "This land is my chariot, the clouds my horses" "The wind my charioteer" "The Vedas are my armour" "O Teacher!" "Permit me to fight you!" "Bless me with victory!" "Your humility has pleased me" "Anyone who desires success must be humble" "In particular, those who fight their elders" "Had you not done this, I would have cursed you" "Go!" "Fight such a war that your teacher is not shamed" "On guard!" "On guard!" "That is the Ashwapatra!" "What does it do?" "It is a precise weapon" "Only Bhishma knows how to use the weapon" "If he does use it on Sage Parshuram then his defeat is guaranteed" "Wait!" "O Bhishma of the Bharat dynasty!" "Do not use the Ashwapatra" "Its use will humiliate your teacher." "Do not use it" "O best of my disciples!" "O son of Ganga!" "O great warrior Bhishma!" "Today you have defeated your teacher" "No teacher will ever get a disciple like you" "But my child I cannot retreat from the battlefield" "So, either kill me or retreat" "O Teacher!" "I fought you to obey your order" "If you order me to retreat I shall retreat" "Let's go!" "I have seen Bhishma defeat Sage Parshuram" "Then I decided I would have to do everything myself" "I did severe penance." "The result was half my body became the River Amba" "The other half became a Princess of Matsya" "But this did not serve my purpose" "I did penance once again" "Lord Shiva himself granted me the boon that I would be the cause of Bhishma's death" "Then I said:" "O Lord!" "I am a woman." "How can I kill a warrior like Bhishma" "Then the Lord said:" "You'll achieve manhood" "After obtaining another body you'll remember all this" "You'll be born to Dhrupad and become a warrior" "So, my brother, Lord Shiva's boon stands before you" "Brother!" "She could not complete her oath" "Her entire life was spent" "Amba was born once again" "The Past had taken a new form" "I don't want the matter to reach the battlefield" "I don't want to decide on whom to side with" "Guide me O mother!" "Help me!" "My respects mother!" "Have I erred?" "Why do you run to your mother in every danger?" "You swore an oath without asking me" "You gave your word without asking me" "Then learn to face the consequences" "As you command, mother" "I'll not come again, mother" "You'll have to come to me" "Victory to the Commander!" "Sage Drona is here" "My respects O Sage!" "Please be seated" "Looks like even you cannot sleep" "This is a night when none of Hastinapur's well wishers can sleep" "When sleep does come the child Pandavas appear in a dream and seem to ask:" "O Teacher!" "Will you fight us?" "We cannot even escape these dreams" "Young Arjun would come running and embrace me" "Grandsire!" "Save me from Brother Bhim" "I have eaten his porridge" "I would say:" "Child, I am not your Grandsire" "I am your father's grandfather" "That small child has grown so big" "My old chest will welcome his arrows like it would embrace his childhood" "My old age will be honoured by his arrows" "This war is his test" "The depth of my wounds from his arrows will tell me how successful a teacher I was" "One day I had told him:" "There may come a day when you may have to fight me" "Don't spare me because I am your teacher" "I swear to you." "If I see this happening I'll tell him in Kurukshetra you are not worthy of being my disciple" "He will not give you the opportunity to say that" "My dear Arjun will not give you the opportunity" "Draupadi!" "Are you surprised to see me?" "Why are you here?" "We had left you in Uplavya" "Has Arjun forgotten that this is not the Pandavas" war alone" "This is also my war" "I am the Commander as well as the Army" "These unbraided hair are my weapons" "I don't want to trouble powerful Bhim that he bring Dushasan's blood to Uplavya" "By the time he reaches there the blood will be gone" "Do you want my hair to remain unbraided?" "I will wait for Bhim in the Pandava camp" "Besides, you can never tell with Yuddhistir" "God knows when he'll change his mind" "He may say Religion is Forgiveness" "I will stand between you and this philosophy till I have avenged myself" "May not the flame of the fiery woman ever burn down" "The revenge of the fiery woman has given her courage and strength" "Draupadi is the foundation of the Kurukshetra war" "She is not only the shield but also the sword" "O Land of Bharat!" "O Land of Aryans!" "O Bharat!" "O India!" "Time is warning you!" "That which benefits the nation is right" "Both Ethics and Politics are of the same opinion" "The peoples" welfare should be the ultimate criteria" "If you have not learned this from the Mahabharat then my narrating it has been futile" "There is no greater Religion than Patriotism no greater dream than the nation's welfare no greater benefit than the nation's benefit" "O Mother!" "Grant thy progeny the boon of Patriotism so that they may live and die for none other but you" "Bless thy children for they stand on the edge of their own battlefields" "By coincidence, this story too has reached Kurukshetra" "So, listen to the story with greater care because it has reached the moment of Truth" "The Kurukshetra of every era is the moment of Truth" "Look!" "The armies have camped in Kurukshetra" "My beloved!" "By the time you get this letter of mine" "I may or may not live but I shall forever be in thy memory" "The Holy Land of Kurukshetra will tomorrow become a battlefield" "Brother shall turn against brother" "And the sword shall drink their blood" "Who knows who will continue living" "Or whose blood shall fall to the ground" "How can the blood be recognised?" "Blood shall mix with blood!" "Death shall stand silenced!" "Life shall be an endless journey..." "With a wounded Soul" "We must die to protect the Truth" "And through our deaths we shall live" "I don't like my slaves wearing crowns" "Place your crowns at my feet" "Remove them!" "Place them at my feet!" "Your five husbands could not protect you" "So, come and sit on my friend Duryodhan's lap" "You already have five husbands" "What's wrong in taking a sixth?" "One day I'll punish you for this insult, Karna" "Shut up!" "You dare talk back?" "I shall pull out your tongue!" "Let him speak!" "He is new to slavery." "He'll learn" "A woman with five husbands is not a wife but a whore" "And a whore has no honour or respect" "Had she been brought here nude, it would be okay" "Arjun!" "Come Krishna!" "What are you thinking of?" "I was feeding my anger with memories" "Waiting for war is a greater torture than war itself" "I am fanning my anger to prepare for war" "Don't feed your anger with memories alone" "What can I do?" "How else can I feed the Fire of Insult?" "Cool this Fire with Goddess Durga's blessing and turn it into the Holy Ritual Fire" "O best among men!" "Brave Arjun!" "Durga's blessing is also a divine weapon" "Without it, you'll seem unarmed" "So, call out to her for help!" "Will she come?" "If only your tongue calls out to her, she won't come" "If she sees me with you, she'll surely come" "But I want you to call out to her" "O Arjun!" "Why do you call out to me?" "Mother!" "Before me lies the Holy Land of Kurukshetra" "If our war is a just one, then bless us" "O Arjun!" "You do not need this blessing" "Where there is Truth, there is Krishna" "Where there is Krishna, there is victory" "This blessing means that if your mind strays you do not allow it to do so" "Stand in its way so it will not stray" "This is a crucial test for you" "O Lord Shiva!" "O Sadashiv!" "What can a mother do when she cannot ask for victory for her own son?" "I do not know if this is a test for me or for you" "I have devoted my entire life to your worship" "Guide me, my lord" "What shall I do?" "What shall I wish for?" "Free me from this dilemma" "I don't want to console Kunti in mourning" "Nor do I want her to console me in mourning" "My Religion stops me from asking for my son's victory" "But if I ask for victory for the Pandavas my motherhood holds my tongue" "Help me, my lord" "Take me in your refuge, my lord" "Do you know what my sons" victory means?" "Death for Gandhari's sons" "No one bothers who is whose son in a Holy war" "In a sense, we are all Lord Brahma's children" "Yet, wars do take place and blood flows" "Someone wins and someone loses" "These relationships are like those stones which drown even experienced swimmers" "Ask for victory for the Pandavas!" "Not because they are your sons but because they tread the path of Truth" "Not desiring their victory is a sin" "It is like siding with Evil and Falsehood" "None can remain impartial in this war" "Hence, choose your side" "Impartiality in this was between Light and Darkness, Religion and Evil, Truth and Falsehood" "...means you have sided with Evil, Falsehood and Darkness" "A woman like you should not choose such a side" "You cannot insult yourself like this" "So, do not think who will die because of your worship" "A corpse is a corpse" "Only that person is to be respected who has lost his life for Religion and Truth" "I understand what you are saying and yet I cannot curse Duryodhan with defeat" "Then ask for victory for Hastinapur" "Hastinapur has a right to your blessing" "Why did you get up?" "You are the eldest Kuru" "None is older or younger on the battlefield" "A great warrior is one who wins by his strength and not by using magical powers" "Don't talk to me of strength, Duryodhan" "I am Arjun's charioteer" "I will not fight in this war" "In that case, I'll compel you to fight" "May you be successful!" "Be strong!" "May you live long!" "May you be successful!" "O Commander of the Pandava army!" "Brave Drishtadyuma" "You are welcome to the Kaurav camp" "Please be seated" "Should I also sit?" "I cannot refuse a guest but this is a meeting of men, Prince Shikhandi" "I know that Grandsire" "That's why I have come to meet a great man like you" "May I?" "Please be seated" "My respects, Uncle" "How are you, my friend?" "Fine!" "How are you?" "Well, by Lord Shiva's grace" "Do you mean to say that Lord Shiva's grace is not on my father?" "I am sure we have not gathered here to rake up our petty quarrels" "Unfortunately, there is nothing but the battlefield between us" "So, it is best to decide on the rules of war" "Grandsire!" "We are not here to decide anything" "Both the Kauravas and the Pandavas are yours" "So, the Pandavas will abide by whatever rules you frame" "Don't burden me thus" "Even in my own camp I am accused of being partial to the Pandavas" "But you know Krishna that I and a few others like me are on Hastinapur's side" "O eldest Kuru!" "O brave warrior!" "In every way you are worthy of respect" "So, only you can frame the rules of this war" "The truth is that every war has only one rule" "That is fought on the principles of Truth" "And what is Truth?" "O Brave Bhishma!" "O Brave Shikhandi!" "Truth is that a brave man does not fight a non-male" "If a warrior is unarmed he should not be attached till he has armed himself" "If a warrior is retreating or leaving due to injury he must not be killed" "The Army's non-soldiers should not be killed" "Those helping the injured should not be attacked" "A soldier should fight a soldier" "A charioteer should fight a charioteer" "Each should fight with a warrior of equal rank" "No warrior is to be surrounded and killed" "The war which begins with each Sunrise should end at Sunset" "At night, warriors of both sides will be at liberty to meet each other in camaraderie" "A warrior who surrenders is to be protected" "If the Pandava army Chief wishes to add or subtract to these rules he is welcome to do so" "Grandsire!" "I am a fair and decent warrior" "He may cut an elder's head in war but never his word" "I salute you and accept these rules of war" "I hope that the warriors from your side will follow these rules" "What about those from your side?" "They will not be the first to break them" "If someone from your side breaks these rules then I cannot promise you anything" "My only worry is who can break through Grandsire's formations" "Truth is on our side" "That cannot be pierced by Grandsire or Sage Drona" "By Lord Shiva!" "If I want I can destroy that army of brave warriors by merely using my divine weapons" "But I don't want to use divine weapons in this war" "I won't allow History to say that Arjun won the war by using divine weapons" "I want to win this war on our strength" "People will remember this war for your spear Bhim's mace Nakul, Sahadev's daggers my arrows and Krishna's expertise with the chariot" "Where's Krishna?" "I have not seen him since returning from Grandsire" "Wherever he is he will guard of our benefit" " Greetings Krishna" " Greetings" "We were here to decide the rules for tomorrow's war" "Since this is the last night of friendship I wanted to meet the people I like" "Am I among them?" "Of course, Karna" "Or else why would I be here?" "What can I do for you?" "I cannot understand Grandsire's strategy" "You are next only to him and the two Sages" "And yet, he will not let you fight the war as long as he leads the Army" "Brave Karna will not fight" "He has the boon of wishful death" "Which means that you'll have to sit through the war" "Maybe Arjun's luck is protecting him because had I fought the war I would have surely killed Arjun" "Will Arjun's death give you happiness?" "It is not a matter of happiness but of repaying one's debt" "But if you won't fight how will you repay your debt" "That's what I am thinking" "I want to repay Duryodhan in this lifetime" "What can I do?" "If the Commander does not let me fight I'll have to sit through the war" "O son of Kunti!" "Why not do that in your brother's camp?" "You know I can't do that!" "I won't" "Why?" "Why won't you?" "People will say I defected because I was afraid" "They will also say I am an ungrateful person" "When there was none with me Duryodhan extended a hand of friendship" "Now that my friend needs me you suggest that I go to my brothers" "No Krishna!" "I can bear the wounds of Arjun's arrows but not the wounds of insult" "So, please don't ask me to go there" "Had all these reasons not been there I would still not go there" "Why?" "That is Draupadi's camp" "I can face God Himself but I cannot face that pious woman about whom I spoke so indecently" "I don't know what happened to me that day" "I watched her humiliation and also insulted her" "I will never forgive myself for that crime" "Realisation of sin opens the door to forgiveness" "I must leave now." "They must be looking out for me" "And what if you do get to fight Arjun?" "Then may Lord Shiva protect him!" "Where were you?" "The war will start tomorrow" "So, I thought I should meet a few people" "I met Sages Drona, Kripa and Grandsire" "Each one has sent you their love" "After that I went to Karna" "Why meet that son of a charioteer?" "I am not talking about his father" "I am talking about Karna" "If I could pray I would surely pray that Grandsire remains the Kaurav Chief" "Till then Karna cannot fight this war" "Only he has the weapon to defeat you" "Hence, I am worried about you" "That's why I asked you to seek Durga's blessing" "So, Great Archer!" "Now wait for the Sun to rise" "Wait for the Sun to rise" "The new dawn will come" "Truth will begin its battle with the forces of Evil" "The preparations for the arena which had started in King Shantanu's era was now complete" "Never again will we see such an arena" "Nor such an army" "Nor such an assembly of brave warriors" "The roots of this Holy war, this ultimate war are in Dhritirashtra's heart" "Dhritirashtra is eager to say something but cannot say it." "Though Dhritirashtra is unable to ask Sanjay knows he wants to know about Kurukshetra" "He is sad for not only Hastinapur but also its King" "I see all this and even I am lost in thought" "The story stands at such a place that even words have to be spoken with care" "The story stands on the verge of the sacred Geeta" "Which means as long as the Geeta is narrated even I can only listen" "All I can say now is that The next few moments will make the world forever grateful to Dhritirashtra" "In a few moments from now Dhritirashtra will ask..." "O Sanjay!" "What did my sons and the sons of Pandu do when they gathered at Kurukshetra?" "As long as Sanjay speaks I'll not even move" "O Sanjay!" "What did my sons And the sons of Pandu do When they gathered at Kurukshetra?" "The Commanders of both sides have reached Kurukshetra" "Bhishma and Dhritirashtra are leading their armies" "O Teacher!" "Did you see the Pandava army arranged by your friend's son Dhritirashtra?" "This mighty army has an array of warriors, archers and brave soldiers" "Satyaki, Virat, Dhrupad the King of Kashi, Kunti bhoj and Abhimanyu as also Draupadi's five sons" "Now look at our own army which you'll lead into battle against the Pandavas" "Who is in this army?" "Yourself, Grandsire sage Kripa and many other warriors" "It is said that they are experts at warfare" "O Exalted Teacher!" "The Pandava army is nothing before our army" "Grandsire alone can win this war" "So, I pray that you should all protect Grandsire" "I am saying this because he will not kill the Pandavas in this arena" "Grandsire!" "You have done me an injustice" "But you'll not be able to save Arjun from my arrows" "What are you looking at?" "I am looking at all the father figures Grandsire, Sages, Brothers Friends and Sons" "Why look?" "You are not seeing them for the first time" "True!" "I am not seeing them for the first time" "You also knew that all these friends and relatives would stand to wage war in this battlefield" "Is there no difference between knowing and seeing?" "Take my chariot to the centre of the two armies" "I wish to see both armies in the proper perspective" "I'll take you there but O Arjun why did you not say this before the bugle was blown" "Because war became certain after the bugle was blown" "What is Arjun doing?" "Don't worry." "Krishna is Arjun's charioteer" "His chariot cannot stray" "Does Arjun dare to launch a Ione attack because Grandsire will not kill the Pandavas?" "Is there no other warrior in the Kaurav army?" "Where is Arjun going?" "He seems to be in dilemma" "But why the dilemma when Krishna is with him" "I am a dilemma" "The warrior who defeated us in the Virat war is attacking the army which is unfortunately commanded by me" "But has Arjun forgotten that the war has not yet begun?" "Krishna has stopped the chariot" "What is this riddle?" "We are at the centre of the battlefield, Arjun" "These are not armies but mighty oceans" "O my Lord!" " What's it Bhim?" "He ate my porridge" "I'll get lots of porridge made for you tomorrow" "May I sleep here, Uncle" "How often have I told you not to call me Uncle" "I am your father's uncle" "Won't you embrace me?" "My clothes are soiled by travel" "Your clothes will be soiled" "My clothes are eager to be soiled by your dust" "Don't you like to play?" "When the teacher is teaching It's no time to play" "Looks like you'll learn everything" "I did not teach you this" "It was you who taught me!" "How long will you look at them?" "Let me look at them" "Who knows who I'll get to see after the war and who I won't see" "O Krishna!" "Whom do I seek to wage war with?" "And whose lives have I staked for this war?" "On both sides stand people from the same dynasty" "The man in white clothes who stands on a white chariot has given me nothing but love and affection" "I used to sit on his lap with my soiled clothes" "And yet, he would embrace me" "He is my Grandsire, Krishna" "That is Sage Drona who gave me knowledge taught me everything that he knows" "He taught me more that he taught his son Ashwathama" "I have come to fight and, if possible, kill him." "The very thought makes me go cold." "My throat is dry." "My hands, which hold the bow, become numb" "My body trembles more than it did in winter" "The Gandiva slips from my shoulders" "How can I kill the people I honour and respect?" "I cannot turn Kurukshetra into my family's cemetery" "Why don't you say something?" "I am listening." "First, finish what you are saying" "What can I say?" "I won't build my palace on the corpses of my dynasty" "I don't want this happiness which stinks of blood" "Shall I kill the teachers I honoured?" "Shall aim an arrow at those who taught me the art?" "I don't want victory at this price" "Let alone this earthly kingdom I don't want Heaven at this price" "Duryodhan may have cheated us insulted Draupadi and the dynasty but he is still Elder Father's eldest son" "should we destroy the dynasty for a piece of land?" "O Lord!" "Even if we lose everything and are saved from the sin of ending the dynasty we will have won peace cheaply" "Why this lifeless dejection in this hour of trial?" "Despair wins neither heaven nor fame" "Before you call out my name, tell me when destruction stares you in the face and Truth looks to you for protection and victory how can you display such cowardice" "Strong men do not lose themselves in dejection" "Do not become impotent in this hour of trial" "O Destroyer of the Enemy!" "O Victorious One!" "These un-Aryan feelings will win neither fame nor Heaven" "You will hate even yourself" "O Arjun!" "Give up this weakness" "Stand up and fight!" "How can I stand up and fight?" "How can I kill Grandsire?" "Or Sage Drona?" "How can I kill those worthy of respect?" "Shall I defeat those who taught me how to win" "It is better to beg than raise my hand in attack" "At least I won't stain my hands with blood" "Is it better to win or lose this war?" "The Kauravas stand before me like enemies" "I know I cannot live without killing them but it won't be easy to live after killing them" "Aren't they my brothers?" "Tell me?" "Of course!" "Is that all you can say?" "But that's all you asked" "This war is not to establish relationships or identities" "Recognise your duty and decide because only you can take a decision" "I cannot take a decision to save you from the responsibility of this war" "This war is yours and so is the result" "I cannot see my duty clearly" "So, become the guide of my soul" "I know I stand between Truth and Untruth but cannot decide on which side Truth stands" "Guide me O Krishna!" "Save me from this despair" "I cannot fight in such a state" "O Krishna!" "Should I fight or not?" "So saying Arjun kept quiet" "Arjun's questions are of eternal value" "How can he fight Grandsire and the Sages?" "It is in keeping with the Warrior Code" "What can I say to that?" "I am not even a warrior" "But you can think like a warrior" "I think they won't even ask for Indraprasth now" "In that case even Duryodhan will be satisfied" "Then I'll coerce him into giving them five villages" "War will not take place now because if Arjun does not fight who will?" "And now, he will not raise the Gandiva ...till his questions are answered" "He will not fight till then" "And even Krishna cannot answer his questions" "Once again see what Krishna is saying" "As you wish" "O heir of Bharat!" "Krishna is smiling at Arjun" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 11 "Yoga of Knowledge"" "O Arjun!" "Those who are dead are dead" "The wise do not grieve for those who die or live" "They grieve for neither birth nor death" "You talk like a wise man but your words are foolish" "Before you grieve find out if they are worthy of your grief" "Are not Grandsire and the Sages worthy of grief?" "Would I deny it if they were?" "Remember one simple truth" "It is the Soul which is of essence, not the body" "Death is not its end because it is eternal" "Death is a momentary respite" "The wind does not end with the breath" "Man is first a child a youth and then an old man." "Then Death" "This is the journey of the body" "The Soul goes beyond that" "It moves from one body to another" "The journey which ends with death is that of the body" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 20 "Death  Soul"" "The Soul's journey is eternal" "The body is left behind and the Soul moves on assuming a new body just like we discard old clothes for new" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 22 "Transcendental Truth"" "Why grieve when the Soul cannot be destroyed?" "Why grieve the destruction of the body?" "The body is not eternal, It is to be discarded" "It is the Soul which is eternal" "Will those before us be there after the war?" "What is Being and Not Being?" "There never was a Time when all of us did not exist" "Nor a Time when all of us will not exist" "Why do you feel that this life is the complete life?" "This life is not a complete life" "We were, we are and we will be" "As for happiness and sorrow, what of it?" "Like seasons, they come and go" "Those who are unmoved by happiness and sorrow those who remain uninfluenced by them are worthy of salvation" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 14 "Nature of Challenge"" "Be free from the doubts of killing and being killed" "Only those who are born can die" "The Soul is beyond Time" "The body is born, not the Soul" "If the Soul is not born how can it die?" "The Soul exists." "That's all!" "It spans Time from end to end" "It is unborn, eternal and holy" "It is indestructible and without flow" "So, do not worry about killing and being killed" "Only the body dies and even after its death the Soul does not die" "Weapons cannot kill it, fire cannot burn it water cannot dissolve it or the wind dry it" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 23 "Transcendental Truth"" "Why do you worry now?" "O Krishna!" "Do I call a Soul Grandsire?" "Is my affection merely for a Soul?" "Is that white-clad elderly man merely a Soul?" "Did not the body, which you call the Soul's clothing bless me many a times?" "Is the Sage who taught me archery merely a Soul?" "I do not deny that Souls are holy and indestructible but I am talking about the body" "Am I not related to these bodies?" "Souls are not born but surely people are" "Of course, people are born" "But extend this argument of yours" "Those who are born will die Why grieve the predestined?" "Those who are born will surely die but death is not the end for they will be reborn" "This is the unshakeable Truth and none can avoid it" "Not I. Not you." "Nobody." "Bhishma has the boon of willful death but death is still inevitable" "In this cycle of birth, death and rebirth where's the place for grieving?" "Those before you existed before this birth but you don't know what they were" "They will exist after this birth but you won't know" "Their existence for you is confined to this birth" "Beyond it, it is unknown, undefined" "Before this birth they did not exist for you" "After this birth they will not exist for you" "So, Arjun why grieve, for a life whose death is predestined and cannot be changed by you?" "Grandsire, the Sages and other relations were not known to you before birth..." "Hence, it is useless to grieve for them" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 28 "Advice"" "Is Krishna explaining or inciting Arjun?" "Will Arjun listen to him?" "Is he not responsible to his Elder Father" "Can he deny his dynasty and relationships?" "Will he use divine weapons against my sons?" "How can I answer these questions?" "Only Krishna or Arjun can answer them" "I want answers to my questions" "So, listen carefully" "As you wish!" "Dhritirashtra is in a dilemma" "He could not stop the war" "Lord Krishna explains to Arjun" "Do not grieve" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 31 "Face the Challenge"" "Why are you so surprised?" "Like the tearing of cloth is predestined the death of the body is the ultimate Truth" "Why grieve for the Truth?" "Man is not a mixture of Body and Soul" "The body is the vehicle for the Soul" "Do not worry about the body and do your duty" "Even according to the Warrior Code you must wage war" "It is a warrior's duty to fight Evil" "Today Evil stands before you fully armed" "It is your duty to fight it" "I brought you here to ask you:" "What is my duty?" "What is Truth?" "Who are you?" "I am Arjun, disciple of Drona!" "What else?" "Son of Kunti!" "What else?" "A warrior!" "Your are Drona's disciple because of that Because you are Kunti's" "son you are a warrior So, basically you are a warrior" "To abide by the warrior code is your duty" "To fight Evil is the warrior's duty" "To fight injustice is the Warrior's Code" "If in this crucial moment you do not fight Evil ...your fame will be eroded as also your code" "if this happens, your enemies and the world will call you an evil man and a sinner" "The coming generations will call you a coward" "O Arjun!" "Do not be lost in the questions of victory and defeat, life and death" "If you win you will get success and a kingdom... if you die, you will go to Heaven" "Get up Arjun and fight." "Happiness, sorrow profit, gains, victory, defeat are all the same" "It is not only the Code but also your duty" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 37 "Arise, Resolve to Fight"" "The Soul does not die" "It is the Body that dies" "Do not let your mind be lost in this dilemma" "...Life and Death, Happiness and Sorrow but fight" "If you win, you'll get success and a kingdom" "If you lose, you'll still get success and Heaven" "So, awake Arjun!" "Profit, Loss;" "Happiness, Sorrow Victory, Defeat are all equal." "So, fight!" "This is a warrior's duty and Man's religion" "My hands still refuse to pick up the Gandiva" "I don't understand how I will benefit from this war" "Benefit!" "Loss!" "These are irrelevant" "I know you want neither Heaven nor Earth" "Hence, Arjun..." "Go beyond Victory, defeat, Loss, Gain, Happiness, Sorrow" "I still cannot move" "Till now I was appealing to your conscious mind which can look into the depths of Truth and recognise the voice of the Soul" "You are probably lost in its immortality" "Weigh this moment in the balance of earthly action" "Decide about your duty from this viewpoint" "Even then you'll reach the same decision" "You must fight this war" "That is exactly what I cannot decide" "You cannot decide this because you are looking at it from a personal viewpoint" "That is the problem:" "The bond of attachment" "From therein arises your sorrow neither good for you nor society" "...neither Present nor Future" "Don't think of profit or loss" "Do your duty!" "Act!" "Action in itself is pure and meritorious" "It is for the good of society" "Action is its own reward" "But if you act for your own good the action will be impure" "So, walk along the path of Desireless Action" "The reward of your action is not in your control" "So, Act but do not expect any reward" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 47 "Yoga of Knowledge"" "How is Desireless Action possible, Krishna?" "Reward motivates Action" "Without reward who will act?" "Because Life is impossible without Action" "You will do something." "You'll either eat or not" "You'll either give away food or not" "You'll either wage war or not" "You have the option to do something or not" "The result, the reward is not in your hands" "This option is the limit of your control" "You can either wage war or not but the result is not in your control" "Even if you desire victory it may not be yours" "You could also lose!" "Your desire to win will make you fear defeat" "If you are indifferent to victory and defeat but fight the war as your duty then there will be no question of Happiness or Sorrow" "Such a desireless person is imperturbable" "Hence, shed any desire for reward" "Do what is within your control" "Which means, do your duty" "This is Karma Yoga." "Understand it well!" "You can opt to do or not to do but that is the end of your right" "You cannot control the result" "You are an ace archer but if your target moves a little you'll miss it" "You control your bow and your vision but you cannot control the target" "The true man does not cross his limits" "Be steady and firm in your duty because its efficient fulfillment is Yoga" "What is Yoga?" "That's what I am telling you" "Yoga is fulfillment of duty giving up temptation to do one's duty and the ability to be imperturbable" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 50 "Self Realization"" "Yes, my king!" "If your voice can reach them, shout and tell Arjun not to listen to Krishna" "He's misleading you" "Just think, Sanjay" "Krishna came here as a peace messenger" "Today he is not even talking of peace" "Which means he did not want peace at all" "He just wanted History to say that it was Dhritirashtra who did not want peace" "What hidden enemity is this?" "He is not talking of enemity" "He is explaining the mystery of Truth and Karma Yoga" "Now you are talking like him" "Are you no longer loyal to me?" "Will you also shift your loyalty?" "I am merely a narrator" "My description has nothing to do with loyalty" "I am only doing my duty" "Then, do your duty as a narrator" "Do not explain the meaning of Karma Yoga" "Keep your eyes on them and tell me what's happening there" "How do I recognize an Imperturbable Man?" "What are the signs?" "How does he behave?" "How does he talk?" "It is not difficult to recognise such a man" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 55 "Language of the perfect"" "Like him, you must shed your desires" "Free yourself from ambition" "Go beyond Happiness and Sorrow" "Neither happiness nor sorrow can move you" "The Imperturbable Man always remains calm and balanced" "None can make him lose his balance" "When he speaks it is not with sorrow or happiness but from the depths of his Soul" "He speaks not of attachment but of desireless Action" "When he sits he withdraws into himself like a tortoise" "He is his own fort" "His senses are in his control" "Only he can control his senses who can control his mind" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 62" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 63 "Source of all evil"" "The ordinary mortal thinks of objects" "This in turn leads to attachment which further leads to the birth of desire" "When desire is unfulfilled, it leads to anger" "From anger is born greater attachment to the object" "With this, the ability to think begins to stray" "When this happens, Intelligence is destroyed" "This, in turn, leads to the downfall of Man" "Temptation will destroy your Intelligence" "How can you get Peace without Intelligence?" "How can a person who cannot distinguish between Peace and Turmoil ever be happy?" "Like a gust of wind buffets the boat desires make the Intelligence stray" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 67 "Means of Deliverance"" "Hence, control your senses" "Let not the senses control you" "Listen to this with care and understand it" "When the world sleeps the Perfect man awakes" "He only sleeps when the world awakes" "What is this sleeping and awakening, night and day?" "I am not talking of night or day" "I am talking of sleeping and awakening" "The ordinary man is prey to temptation" "That is the aim of his awakening" "He wants food when he is hungry" "He wants water when he is thirsty" "He needs a house to save himself from the weather" "His thoughts are selfish" "The Perfect Man's thoughts are selfless" "He is beyond selfish hunger and thirst" "He does not think of the fallen fruit but the tree" "The ordinary man needs fuel for his engine" "He will go on cutting trees till the forest is destroyed" "The Perfect Man thinks of the importance of forest about the balance of Nature and the relation of forests and the seasons" "The Sensual Man's day is the Perfect Man's night" "The letter has none beyond Duality" "The Sensual Man's night is the Perfect Man's day" "His Sun awakens in the stillness of the night the Perfect Man is also interested in solutions" "This is what separates him from the Sensual Man" "Geeta Chapter 2 Verse 69 "Contrast between evil and wise"" "O Arjun!" "Truth is beyond the senses" "It is not that the Perfect Man is not hungry but he goes beyond hunger and thinks of a solution for hunger" "That's why the Sensual Man's day is his night" "The Sensual Man can make himself Perfect" "The Sensual Man is like the river which flows on eagerly without realising where it is going" "...only to squander its water into the sea" "Even then the sea does not cross the limit of its shore" "The river of desires overwhelms the Sensual Man" "The Perfect Man, however, can absorb it and still not cross his limits" "O Arjun!" "Become like the sea" "The sea is Knowledgeable" "You, too, be Knowledgeable." "Knowledge is excellent" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 1 "Arjun's Confusion"" "O Krishna!" "O All Knowing!" "If Knowledge is better than Action why do you ask me to Act and fight this war?" "You have confused me if Knowledge is excellent why do this terrible deed?" "Why fight this war?" "Why not be the Perfect Man and avow silence?" "My lord!" "Show me the path of welfare" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 3 "Self Development through action"" "Arjun!" "There are two types of people in this world" "The Meditators and the Doers" "The Meditators search for God within themselves" "This is the Path of Knowledge" "The Doers try to attain God through Action" "But there is no freedom from Action" "Searching for God within is also Action" "So Arjun!" "There are only two paths:" "The Path of Knowledge and the Path of Action" "Then why should I not walk the Path of Knowledge?" "Seeking Knowledge does not mean giving up Action" "Life without Action is impossible" "The eyes will see and the eyelids blinks" "The ears will hear" "The man who forcibly suppresses his senses and tries to meditate is not a Yogi but a liar" "The Yogi does not suppress the senses but controls them" "He does not live with his eyes closed" "The Body's journey without Action is impossible" "So long as a man breaths he will experience both a perfume and an odour" "If there is a rhythm or noise around him his ears will not wait for an order to hear it" "The Perfect Man controls the senses and gives them a direction with his awakened mind" "He realises his options and knows how to organise them" "Doing routine tasks is better than doing nothing" "It is true that the eyes see but the Yogi decides what they should see" "None of his senses are completely free" "This separates the Yogi from the Sensual Man" "So, Action is essential for salvation but Act like the Perfect Man" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 8-9 "Spirit of self dedicated activities"" "Action should be like a ritual offering" "Action is a ritual, its aim being Indestructible Godhead" "The path of Action goes straight to Godhead" "His life becomes valueless if he does not participate in the life cycle" "Don't go towards a valueless life" "The one who thinks of only himself is a sinner" "So, recognise your duty and do it" "Desire for the reward is the real obstacle" "It is the real millstone around the neck" "It does not allow him to rise above himself" "This isolates the person from his society pushing him into the mire of profit and loss" "Society is not a part of you." "You are a part of it" "So, your prime duty is the peoples welfare" "What is good for society is good for you" "Acting for the peoples' good is your salvation" "Selfish action is a Sin" "It takes you away from the path of salvation" "Remember Arjun!" "You are a great man" "Other people will walk the path of desire and greed" "Great men are always emulated as ideals" "Take me for example" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 22 "Reasons for action"" "I need not do anything in the Three Worlds" "There is nothing that I cannot obtain" "And yet, I am before you." "Doing my duty!" "I'm proving that life can be spent in desireless Action" "What is this that Krishna said?" "Krishna's voice changed at this point as if it was someone else speaking" "Who else?" "I don't know what Arjun understood but none but the Lord can speak in such a tone" "None in the Three Worlds can say there isn't anything which he cannot obtain" "He said there was nothing worth doing and yet He did not desist from Action" "If he did not Act, the life cycle would stop and society would be destroyed" "And he would be responsible for it" "No ordinary man can say this" "Even a Sage would be accused of pride" "There was no pride in the manner Krishna said it" "That is what makes me afraid" "If he asked me to pick up the bow in such a voice I would forget my blindness and do so" "Will Arjun pick up the Gandiva?" "I can answer that question but the Future is beyond my right" "If God wanted Man to know the Future, He would have given him that knowledge" "So, let the Future be born from the Present" "We can only wait!" "Maybe..." "You are right!" "Maybe I know the result of this war" "Even then I am hoping it will be different from what is going to happen" "Till yesterday I thought as a father of a hundred sons I'll never be alone" "But I am going to be alone" "So, tell me about what's happening at Kurukshetra" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 25" "Even the Sensual Man acts but it is from the selfish point of view" "The Yogi's Acts are selfless for the world and the welfare of the people" "Do not burden your mind" "Dedicate your Actions to me and fight this war" "Death in the path of duty is welcome" "Even if you kill your Teachers and Elders in the course of duty then it is not a Sin" "If they die, their death will be for the good" "If you die, your death will also be for the good" "Therefore, fight!" "The path of truth cannot be the path of Sin" "Talking of Sin why is a man sometimes compelled to Sin?" "Who compels him?" "His lust and his selfishness" "His anger and temptation compel him to Sin" "Recognise these enemies" "Like the smoke cloaks fire, dust cloaks the mirror Desire, Anger, Lust cloak Knowledge..." "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 39 ...The fire of Temptation and Desire destroys Knowledge and is its enemy" "So Arjun!" "Cleanse the mirror and purify the fire" "Modify the senses and kill this enemy of Knowledge" "Geeta Chapter 3 Verse 42 "Scheme of Self Discovery"" "The power of the senses is no doubt great but greater than that is the mind" "Greater than mind is Reason but the Soul is the greatest" "So, worry about the Soul" "Take it beyond the Senses Mind and Reason" "You are my disciple and my friend" "Hence, I am giving you this lost Knowledge" "I revealed it to the Sun who gave it the Manu who gave it to his son King Ishvaku" "You gave it to the Sun?" "But you were born in this Age!" "The Sun God is ancient" "How could you then give this Knowledge to the Sun?" "Geeta Chapter 4 Verse 5 "Theory of Incarnation"" "We have both taken many births" "I remember all those births." "You don't" "In a sense, I am Eternal and Indestructible" "The Lord of all animals" "But through my wondrous power I incarnate myself" "Geeta Chapter 4 Verse 7-8" "I incarnate myself whenever truth is in danger whenever Evil threatens to overwhelm it" "I come to protect the good and vanquish the Evil" "I come in Age after Age to establish Truth" "But why does Truth suffer?" "Truth suffers when man cannot avoid temptation when he is unable to relate to society above self" "Why else did the Wax House tragedy happen?" "Or Draupadi's disrobing?" "Why else are they fighting us?" "Shouldn't I be angry at Draupadi's disrobing?" "You have to decide that but her disrobing is not your personal problem" "How can the society which kept quiet at the disrobing of Queen Draupadi protect an ordinary woman?" "Hence, the disrobing is a social problem" "It is your duty to destroy those who dared to disrobe Draupadi" "They are the enemies of society" "Do not hesitate to fight with all those great men who side with Evil" "Rise above personal anger and fight for the people" "That is your prime duty" "Look at me" "I did created this society and the four castes but did not desire reward for it" "Though I am the Creator I am beyond it" "The man who sees this truth finds his freedom" "Geeta Chapter 4 Verse 14" "I desire no reward so my Action is not contaminated" "Act without desire and selfish greed" "Distinguish between Action." "Inaction and Bad Action" "What is the difference?" "Action free from desire is Inaction" "Action not good for society is Bad Action" "Action is superior to Inaction" "The Doer is superior to the non-Doer" "The non-Doer does not desire reward" "He is an Intelligent Man" "For him the action is the reward" "After the action, he does not wait for a reward" "He moves to his next action" "The fire of his Knowledge burns Anger, Temptation Ambition, Gain, Sorrow, Loss, Happiness and purifies his action" "Thus the Doer becomes the non-Doer" "He merely does what is essential for life" "All other actions are for the good of society" "Though a man, he is not contaminated by Sin" "His very existence is good for society" "Such a life is a ritual offering to God" "You, too, make your life such an offering" "Burn to ash all desire greed, anger" "What is Yagna the ritual offering?" "Different people define it differently" "For some, it is Godhead" "For them everything is Godhead" "For some, it is a means to please the Gods" "For some, it is the Soul's unification with God" "Likewise, the offerings are also different" "Some offer wealth, others action" "There are four types of ritual offerings" "The first is Dravya Yagna" "Wealth is used for the good of Society for the welfare of people" "The second is Tapo Yagna" "When a person makes his actions his penance his life becomes a Tapo Yagna" "Doing your duty is also a Yagna" "It is not Religion based but Eternal" "It benefits the person as also Society" "The third is Yoga Yagna" "Yoga is studied as a part of this" "It takes a person to meditation" "Life's very breath is the offering" "The fourth is the Gyan Yagna" "All four Yagnas are important but the Gyan Yagna is the best because Knowledge can distinguish between good and bad" "The fire of Knowledge can purify Action" "Knowledge is the focus of the essence of Action" "Knowledge frees you from the bonds of temptation" "Only Knowledge can cross the sea of Sin" "Act with Knowledge" "Knowledge is Truth" "The path of Action is the Truth" "The path of Truth is Action" "Geeta Chapter 4 Verse 36 "Supermacy of Knowledge"" "Cross the sea of Sin with the ship of Knowledge" "Just like Fire burns everything the Fire of Knowledge will burn away Desire, Anger and Temptation" "Remember this forever" "There is nothing holier or purer than Knowledge" "Knowledge is the best" "Geeta Chapter 4 Verse 41 "Call to Action"" "He who has neither Faith nor Knowledge he who is forever in doubt is lost for all time" "He is neither happy on Earth nor in Heaven" "Hence, O Arjun, get rid of doubt and awaken the Perfect Man within you" "Follow the path of Knowledge" "Renunciation is the ultimate limit of Knowledge" "You praise both Renunciation and the path of Action" "Are they not contradictory?" "Which one is superior?" "Why?" "How?" "The True Renouncer rises above Jealousy and Ambition" "He is above contradictions and thus frees himself" "Only the foolish think the path of Action and Renunciation are contradictory" "The Wise do not think so" "Giving up Action actually means forsaking selfishness" "Renunciation is impossible without the path of Action" "The one who follows the path of Action has a full knowledge of the elements" "Whatever he does, his every action is for the welfare of Man" "Thus, he is unstained by Sin like the water does not stain the lotus" "Geeta Chapter 5 Verse 10 "Work with Detachment"" "The Man of Action surrenders all rewards and is happy in the castle of nine gates of his body" "What nine gates is he talking of?" "He is talking of two eyes, two ears two nostrils, a mouth and two excretory openings" "What he actually wants to say is only the Man without desire can be happy" "The Soul which yields to temptation is unhappy" "I never thought of it like that" "If Man could think like that why would Krishna have to say it?" "All right!" "Let's go ahead" "Krishna is saying..." "Man is unhappy because his unwisdom has covered his wisdom" "When the wisdom of the Soul destroys unwisdom the Supreme can be seen in its radiance" "The wise thus obtain God in their mortal life" "They do not have to be reborn" "They obtain salvation in their mortal life" "This mortal life is very important because after it you won't exist though your Soul will" "Hence, make this mortal life meaningful" "Knowledge is light!" "Obtain it!" "If you do this, you will not go astray Which, in turn, will give you peace" "I am the true road to peace" "Those who accept me as a God who is a friend of all will attain peace" "If you accept me as a friend listen to me and fight" "Without this war, there can be no peace" "Running away from Truth will not lead to peace" "This war is your Religion." "Fight it!" "Don't think of the result" "It's not your problem who lives or who dies" "Accept as the path what others call Renunciation" "Fight without Doubt, Jealousy or Ambition" "None can be Perfect without sacrificing them" "Geeta Chapter 6 Verse 5 "Potentiality of Human"" "It is your duty to awaken the Soul" "Arise O Man!" "Your Soul can be your friend as also your enemy" "He who can control his Ego, Mind and Senses will be his own friend" "Those who are controlled by them will not prosper" "Those who are balanced will find peace and one-ness with God" "However, those who go to extremes cannot find fulfillment" "Life should be balanced" "Those who live a balanced life will find their sorrows disappearing" "Like a lamp in steady wind his Soul is steady in temptation" "Steady the restless mind with your Soul" "That is the solution to your problems" "Look at me, Arjun!" "Those who see me in everything can never go astray" "I never forget those who do not forget me" "He lives in this world and yet, is within me" "He is Perfect who shares pain and pleasure" "Geeta Chapter 6 Verse 32 "Yoga of Mediatation"" "Geeta Chapter 6 Verse 33 - 34 "Control of Mind"" "But even the perfect mind can go astray?" "Of course, it can go astray" "How then will this affect achieving Godhead?" "Is the person who strays destroyed?" "Whether in Heaven or Earth the person who does good is never destroyed" "O Arjun!" "Set your heart on me." "Seek my refuge and you shall be given full knowledge" "I am the greatest Truth" "The entire Universe revolves around me" "I am the taste in water the light in the Sun and the moon" "I am the essence of the Vedas" "I am sound of the Heavens" "I am the sweet perfume of the Earth" "I am the brightness of Fire and the life in animals" "I am the penance of Sages" "I am the first Seed the wisdom of the wise, the lustre of the lustrous" "I am the power of the powerful" "I am desire when it is pure" "I am in everything and yet, separate" "I am Indestructible and without definition" "I know everything of the past the Present and the Future but none knows me!" "I am the Father of this Universe as also the Mother" "I am the three Vedas" "I am the Master and the way" "I am the Creator and the Destroyer" "I am the Refuge." "I am everything" "I am the heat as also the rain" "I am the Earth's Indestructible Seed" "I am a friend to all but they are all equal to me" "I don't love or hate anyone" "Those who worship me with faith they are in me and I am in them" "Geeta Chapter 9 Verse 29 "Royal Secret"" "You are the Creator!" "The only Refuge!" "You are the Supreme One!" "You are the Eternal, Unborn god!" "Only you have full knowledge of yourself" "O God of Gods!" "O Divine Spirit!" "How do I recognise you?" "How do I know you?" "Speak to me in full of your power and glory" "There is no end to my infinite vastness" "Even then, listen!" "I am the Soul in the heart of all things" "Geeta Chapter 10 Verse 21 "Divine Glories"" "I am the beginning the middle and the end of the end" "I am the Vishnu among the sons of light, the lord of winds" "I am Sun among lights, the moon among stars" "Geeta Chapter 10 verse 22 "Meditating Upon the Self"" "The Samaveda among Vedas, Indra among Gods" "The Mind among the Senses, awakening among the living" "I am Shiva among demons, Kuber among monsters Fire among Radiant Spirits and Sumeha among mountains" "Brihaspati among priests, Karikeya among warriors" "I am an ocean among lakes" "I am Bhrigu among Seers and the Eternal Word 'Om'" "I am the Himalayas among things that don't move" "Among trees, the tree of Life Narada among Sages" "Kapila among Seers an Chitraratha among musicians" "Among horses I am the horse of Indra" "Among elephants, Airavata." "A king among men" "Thunderbolt among weapons Kamadhenu among cows" "Cupid among creators and Sheshnag among snakes" "Geeta Chapter 10 Verse 30 "Methods of Meditating"" "Prahlada among demons." "Time among all measures" "The lion among animals." "The eagle among birds" "Among warriors I am Rama the first among letters" "I am never-ending Time" "I am the Creator who sees all" "I am Death as also the beginning which will take birth in the Ages to come" "Geeta Chapter 10 Verse 34 "Divine Glories"" "Among women I am Fame, Speech Memory, Constancy Intelligence and Forgiveness" "I am Spring among seasons, lustre of the lustrous" "I am mystery." "I am victory" "I am Vasudev of the Yadavas, Arjun of the Pandavas Vyas among the Sages, Shukracharya among Poets" "Geeta Chapter 10 Verse 39" "I am the seed of Creation all that moves and does not move" "Nothing can happen without me" "I am the Life and the Soul of all beings" "My eyes have opened, my lord" "Dilemma and doubt have forsaken me" "What you say is the Truth." "There is no other Truth" "I want to see your Divine Form" "You cannot see it with your eyes" "For that you need Divine vision" "Geeta Chapter 11 Verse 8 "Divine Vision"" "My heart is gladdened at the sight of your unglimpsed, glorious Divine Form but my heart trembles with fear" "So, O Creator!" "My lord!" "Bless me and reappear in your original form" "What form is this?" "How can I describe the Divine form to you?" "It is only for those with Divine Vision" "Had you accepted Sage Vyas's gift of Divine Vision you could have seen it yourself" "No need to remind me of my misfortune" "Carry on with your narration" "As you please, my lord!" "Forgive me, my lord!" "O Creator!" "O Eternal One!" "O Lord!" "O Merciful One!" "Forgive me like a father forgives a son God forgives his worshipper a friend forgives a friend." "Forgive me!" "There is no forgiveness between friends ...a father and son, God and his worshippers" "The basis of these relationships is Love, Faith and Worship" "Geeta Chapter 12 Verse 2 "Path of Meditation"" "The one who worships me, meditates on me with faith is the Perfect Man" "My worship is the best" "My worshippers are not caught up in this world" "Geeta Chapter 15 Verse 1 "The Supreme Spirit"" "This world is like the tree with roots above and branches below" "The leaves are the Vedas" "The one who knows this knows the meaning of the Vedas" "The branches of the tree are spread all over" "They are nourished by three elements:" "Light, Fire and Darkness" "This tree has its roots deep down in human society" "It is impossible to see the tree's real form" "None can see the beginning and foundation of this tree" "Man can cut this tree with the axe of Renunciation and seek that unique path from where one does not return" "Renunciation is the forsaking of selfishness" "If you wish to think, then think only of me" "Worship only me!" "Dedicate yourself to me" "Take refuge in me!" "I'll absolve you from Sin" "Geeta Chapter 18 Verse 65 "Liberation Through Renunciation"" "Set your hands on me!" "Be my worshipper" "Give me your adoration" "If you do that, I give you my word" "You shall, in truth, come to me" "Take refuge in me, O Arjun" "I'll free you from all Sin" "Mourn not, O Arjun" "O worshipper!" "I am the Focus of all paths" "Indulge in Desireless Action" "Do not worry, O Arjun!" "Trust me!" "Raise your Gandiva and fight!" "Arjun has picked up the Gandiva, my king" "Which means war is inevitable" "I also know the result of this war" "If you wish to leave me you may go" "What use is a charioteer without a chariot" "If this is an order then I'll go but I do not wish to leave you" "Wish to serve me without desire for reward?" "Okay!" "Don't go!" "Stop to tell me who was hit by Arjun's first arrow" "Stop to tell me how my brave sons are killed" "Has the war started?" "My dear Duryodhan must be eager for it to start" "He is eager for war to start because he does not know its result" "No Sanjay!" "Even if he knew the result he would still be eager for war" "A warrior is never influenced by the result" "If you were not blind, would you participate?" "You should not have asked this heartless question" "Duryodhan is the result of my own ambition" "Maybe I would not have allowed this war to happen" "If it could not be avoided I would have ensured that the Pandavas took the first step" "Krishna did not allow my strategy to work" "Don't be under the impression that this war is between the Kauravas and Pandavas" "Absolutely not!" "This war is between Krishna and myself" "If you realise this then why don't you stop this war" "I am a warrior, Sanjay" "I cannot back out of the battlefield" "For me this is the final and deciding battle" "Let it be waged!" "Think of Hastinapur" "Why should I think of Hastinapur?" "When did it ever think of me?" "It even quietly witnessed my humiliation" "I was King but could not rule" "I was my younger brother's representative" "Have you seen an elder brother insulted thus?" "Hastinapur should also pay for my humiliation" "Everyone will pay for it" "Both Krishna and I!" "Pandavas's wounds will actually be Krishna's" "Had Vidur been here, he would have spoken of Ethics" "But why this delay in starting the war" "Prince Duryodhan is asking Grandsire this very question" "How long will we have to wait like this?" "Till I blow the bugle and announce the start of war" "Are you waiting for someone?" "Why not blow the bugle?" "When two armies stand facing each other war is definite" "When a warrior comes to the battlefield either he wins or he dies a heroic death" "The same thing will happen here" "For the time being keep looking at the center" "It is our good fortune that we are witnessing this" "A charioteer like Krishna!" "A warrior like Arjun!" "It is our misfortune that we cannot hear a word of this dialogue" "If a gust of wind brings to me even one word of the dialogue O would give up all my accumulated merit" "For the first time I regret I was born as Bhishma" "I wish I could ask the Creator:" "Why was I born as Bhishma and not as Arjun?" "O Grandsire!" "That milkman is asking Arjun to save himself from war" "How can their army face our mighty army?" "Krishna is not a fool." "He knows the difference between death and suicide" "I still remember how this milkman insulted me by not having lunch with me" "There you are!" "They have returned to their camp" "At least blow the bugle now" "I am waiting for someone" "Whom are you waiting for?" "Let's say I am waiting for myself" "Don't forget that for me this is less of a war and more like a moral question" "So, I am waiting for the proper time to start the war" "The auspicious time?" "From where I stand I cannot see anything auspicious about it" "The great battle is just ahead" "Time inches forward" "Bhishma stands there helpless along with Duryodhan" "Looks like Yuddhistir's war has finished even before it ever started" "He is coming here to plead for a truce" "Did I or Sage Kripa ever teach you how to plead for a truce?" "War does not mean you can make insulting remarks" "Yuddhistir is your elder brother." "His insult is yours" "Duryodhan has gone beyond all that" "He is not coming here to plead for truce" "Then why is he coming?" "Whether you admit it or not, he is coming here for that" "Our mighty army has surely scared him" "If he is not coming here to plead for truce then he is coming here to plead for his life" "Learn to be patient" "My respects, Grandsire!" "May I fight this war, Grandsire?" "Be victorious, dear Yuddhistir!" "Had you not come for permission I would have cursed you with defeat" "Without your permission I'll not even fight the enemy" "And this is a war with yourself" "Your Grandsire, bound by his own oath is compelled to fight you" "So, apart from this blessing of victory I can only give you wounds" "Those wounds will be a blessing for me" "Be happy, my child!" "My respects" "My respects, O Teacher!" "May you live long!" "I have come for your blessing" "Be victorious!" "O Son of Kunti!" "When war starts, don't think of me as your Teacher" "I, too, will not think of you as a disciple" "This is not a war between Teacher and disciple" "War is always between opponents" "One last lesson for you" "A warrior who sells his weapons in a servant a selfish person and a corpse" "He fights for wealth." "A slave of riches" "Such a warrior is not to be respected" "In war, there are no relatives" "We are all opponents" "Hence, to fight me is your duty" "I hope that you five brothers will not insult your Teacher" "Tell Arjun if I find his arrows not accurate enough I'll disown him as my disciple" "My respects!" "My respects, O Sage!" "May you live long!" "Be victorious!" "Do you have some time for a final lesson?" "It will be my good fortune!" "All right!" "One final lesson" "Man should not lust for wealth" "Do I have permission to fight this war?" "This war is your duty" "My respects" "My respects, Uncle!" "May you live long" "Though my weapons fight for Duryodhan all my blessings are for you" "My respects, Uncle!" "May you be victorious!" "I am blessed to have people like you!" "Blessing the enemy with victory!" "Had you touched Yuddhistir's feet he, too, would have blessed you with victory" "But your Ego intervened" "My child!" "If anyone touches your feet your hands will automatically bless him" "Had Yuddhistir touched your Uncle Shakuni's feet he, too, would be compelled to bless him" "One has to bless the one who pays his respects" "O God of Wind!" "Please take the voice of Yuddhistir who stands in the center of the arena to all the brave warriors gathered here" "Listen all ye soldiers and warriors!" "Kurukshetra is a holy ground" "A holy war is to take place here" "If there is anyone in my army who thinks Truth is on the other side he can change his loyalty now" "All such people can go to Duryodhan's camp" "If there is anyone in Duryodhan's army who thinks Truth is with us then I welcome him to my camp" "Before Grandsire Bhishma blows the bugle anyone who wants to change sides can do so now" "Charioteer!" "Take me to Yuddhistir's camp" "Yuyutsu has changed camps having decided to side with Truth" "Brothers fight one another" "Whom should the mother side with?" "You are welcome to my camp" "What else do you expect of a step brother?" "There are two step brothers in the other camp, too" "When they heard I was going to fight for you they wanted to kill me" "The King of Madra is right" "In this holy war, every warrior has a right to take his personal decision" "If Truth is on that side why are you here, Grandsire?" "This is a moment for personal decisions" "For, Truth concerns the individual, not the army" "Do you want to say Truth is on Yuddhistir's side?" "Don't ask me this question" "Ask yourself this question." "Ask your Soul" "Remove the tape of Ego and Ambition from your eyes and they'll show you on whose side Truth is" "Long live the Queen!" "Any news from the battlefield?" "Yes, my queen" "Is it good news or bad?" "Bad news for Hastinapur" "What's the news?" "Prince Yuyutsu has joined the Pandavas" "So what?" "He hasn't joined the enemy" "Why should it be bad news for Hastinapur" "He has left one brother to join another brother" "But the King was upset" "Whoever wins or loses this war all elders are going to be unhappy" "All I now want is, if this war is inevitable let it happen once and for all" "Beware!" "Beware!" "Look carefully, Sanjay!" "I must know who attacked first" "Who fired the first arrow" "The war has not started as yet" "Tell me the moment the first arrow is fired" "I do not fear the result of war but I do fear History" "I don't want History to say that my army attacked first" "To what extent can you control History?" "This is a very long story" "History can ask you many inconvenient questions" "There's no point in being afraid of them" "The Wax House, the division of the nation the Game of Dice, Draupadi's disrobing" "I had myself respected you" "How many Sins will you deny?" "Don't narrate my History to me" "I remember well!" "For these, I can blame Shakuni or Karna" "I can blame no one but myself for this war" "So, keep your eyes on the battlefield" "As you wish!" "May you win, my child!" "If Arjun cannot stop Grandsire, who can?" "Allow me to try" "All right!" "Go!" "Come on!" "Introduce yourself!" "I am Krishna's disciple, and Grandsire's great grandson" "Arjun's son Abhimanyu" "You are too young to die, my child" "There's no age for a heroic death" "If there is, I have not reached it as yet but you have already crossed that age" "It will be any warrior's good fortune to fight his first battle with you" "So, allow me to fight you and bless me!" "O Lord!" "Who will be my opponents in this war?" "Beware, my child!" "I cannot bear to see this war any longer" "Why?" "Is our army being defeated?" "No, my king!" " Are my sons safe?" " Yes, my king" "If our army is undefeated and my sons are safe why can't you bear to see this war?" "Is Grandsire dead?" "No, my king" "How can he die?" "He has the boon of wishful death" "Till he sees Hastinapur is safe from all sides he'll not give up his life" "But, my lord Abhimanyu is fighting Grandsire" "The hands which should touch Grandsire's feet are holding the bow" "The hands which should rise in blessing are firing arrows" "Hastinapur's aged, youths and children are wounded" "It is the blood of the Bharat clan which flows" "The blood of warriors is meant to flow" "For the brave, wounds are like medals" "Their enthusiasm increases with the wounds" "Keep watching and tell me of my sons" "Tell me of Dushasan for Bhim's pledge still echoes in my ears" "As you wish!" "At present, Prince Dushasan is fighting with Nakul" "I grant you life so that Bhim can fulfil his pledge" "Go tend to your wounds, Brother!" "May you live long, my child!" "Like Arjun, this dynasty will always be proud of you" "My eyes are pleased to see your expertise" "Blessed is the clan which has given you birth" "There will be no result to our duel" "I won't kill you and you can't kill me" "Therefore, go elsewhere" "Forgive me, Grandsire" "I cannot go elsewhere" "I have come here to stop you" "You cannot stop me, my child" "Charioteer!" "Move on!" "Arjun!" "Call off your son." "He is stopping me" "Are you my Commander or theirs?" "Take the chariot towards Grandsire" "Enough, my child!" "Stop!" "I don't want to be the cause of your death" "By God!" "If I knew that Hastinapur was safe I would gladly give up my life to your arrows as a reward for your bravery" "I shall gift this lad's life to you for the safety of Hastinapur" "I was searching for you, Uncle" "But you owe a debt to my elders" "I will not insult them by killing you" "To keep the honor of powerful Bhim's pledge Abhimanyu changed the direction of his bow and arrow" "Why is your hair unbraided, Draupadi?" "My insulted hair will remain unbraided so that you may all see them and remember how Dushasan insulted it in the court" "Look at them carefully O ace archer Arjun" "Look at them again, O mace warrior Bhim" "It will remain unbraided till one of you brings me a handful of Dushasan's blood and says:" "O Draupadi Here is Dushasan's blood" "Wash the insult of your hair in it" "Congratulations, my queen!" "Call me Draupadi, O Queen" "No!" "I have made the mistake of calling you Sairandhri" "No!" "It was the harsh reality of those days" "It is best to forget those days" "Why were you congratulating me?" "Because Subhadra's son Abhimanyu proved an even match for Grandsire who was so pleased that he blessed Abhimanyu" "What else can Grandsire give but wounds and blessing?" "These are dark days for the Kuru elders" "Their days are in eclipse their vocabularies finished" "They have nothing left but a few blessings" "Control your bitterness, Draupadi" "I am trying but I cannot control it" "Every time my hands touch my hair, they are burned" "It is not that I don't care about Grandsire." "I do!" "I remember the helpless embarrassed eyes with which he looked at me in the court" "Those ashamed eyes even provided balm for my insult" "I respect him and even bow to him but doesn't he realize Truth is greater than his oath" "I am sure he knows it!" "But the wind in Hastinapur is such that the very foundations of Truth are being uprooted" "Sage Drona!" "Sage Kripa!" "Grandsire Bhishma!" "All of them are on the wrong side in this war" "I don't want to hear of their deaths and yet I am waiting for them to die because till then I will not get Dushasan's blood for my hair" "The blessing he showered on Abhimanyu is in reality not a blessing but a reflection of his guilty Soul" "Tell Sages Kripa, Drona and the other warriors that they should ensure Grandsire's safety" "He is the only one who can win this war for us" "So, he should be well protected." "Go!" "I am searching for Yuyutsu" "Foolish fellow!" "He chose the losing side" "But he must be punished for his betrayal" "Charioteer!" "Take me to Yuyutsu!" "Looks like the Sun will never set" "Grandsire is decimating our army" "Don't worry!" "Truth always wins" "Your Grandsire is not a warrior but a coward" "He should have shed his boon of wishful death" "Arjun has divine weapons but he is not using them" "Grandsire is the only coward on this battlefield" "He knows he cannot die a heroic death" "But don't worry Krishna will find a way out of this problem" "There is a big crowd, Prince" "Who are you, child?" "I am Uttar, son of the King of Matsya" "But that is only half my introduction" "What is your full introduction?" "Don't go by my age" "Judge me by the depth of your wounds" "That is why I asked you, child" "Introduce yourself" "In the Virat war, I was the charioteer of the warrior whose charioteer is Krishna" "Your tongue is longer than yourself" "Now, save yourself" "This is not my tongue but my arrow" "Brave child!" "I salute thy death!" "Sudeshna!" "My lord!" "My son has distinguished himself in battle and you have come here to tell me that" "Isn't that so?" "Yes!" "Your son has distinguished himself" "We should really be proud of him" "Let alone the Pandava army even the Kaurava army was praising him" "Do you know even Shalya saluted him" "Congratulations, Sudeshna!" "I have sent riders to Virat to bring Uttara here" "Why do that?" "She should not travel now." "She's expecting" "So what?" "It's good!" "A brave uncle's nephew, a brave father's son should be born on the battlefield" "Why did you speak of the uncle first?" "He is the youngest" "Tonight he is the greatest" "Tonight is his night" "Today he was not the youngest" "None was greater than him today" "Is it true?" "Tell me of his exploits in detail" "When he first faced Shalya Shalya asked him:" "Who are you, my child?" "He said:" "I am Uttar, son of the King of Matsya but that is half my introduction" "Don't look at my age" "Judge me by the depth of your wounds" "O Brave Shalya!" "In the Virat war, I was the charioteer of the warrior whose charioteer is Krishna" "My lord..." "Then the duel began" "Your son pierced Shalya's chest" "Shalya pierced your son's chest" "Both were bloodied" "Everyone in Kurukshetra stood by and watched" "Involuntarily everyone was blessing the boy's mother who had given him birth" "Why are you crying?" "These are tears of pride and happiness" "These are tears of honor for being Uttar's father" "Let your tears flow Sudeshna" "You are hiding something" "Honor cannot be hidden" "I want to shout out to the world:" "I am Brave Uttar's father!" "Till yesterday he was known as my son" "Today I am known as Uttar's father and you are known as his mother" "We are indeed very fortunate" "Do you know what happened at Kurukshetra?" "Shalya got down from his chariot and walked up to your son's corpse and said:" "O Brave Child!" "I salute your death" "Whom did he say it to?" "My Uttar's corpse" "Yes, Sudeshna!" "I cannot mourn your son's death" "That will be an insult to his death" "Accept my congratulations" "I accept your congratulations" "History will not even name these soldiers" "And yet, they are not nameless" "Their parents had named them with great love" "They killed each other and died" "They were neither friends nor enemies" "Had they met anywhere else but the battlefield they might have smiled at each other" "They might have asked where the other was from" "They might have told each other about their families" "None but Death has its mark upon them" "How each one died" "None can say" "Miles away from home in a heap of corpses" "There's no point in my waiting here" "Let's go elsewhere" "Long live the Queen!" "Queen Gandhari is here!" "My respects, Sister!" "Come Sister!" "Please sit here" "How are you, sister?" "A mother whose sons are at war how can she be, Kunti?" "Your love for me is also very strange" "You are reminded of me when I come to you" "It's not that, Sister" "You know I don't want brother-in-law to..." "All that is for show!" "Whatever the injustice to you it is still your house" "Now that even Vidur and his wife are not here your staying on here is meaningless" "I am here to take you back" "Our hearts are not a nation where happiness and sorrow is divided" "Whatever the message from the battlefield it is for both of us, about both of us!" "In these difficult days and nights I cannot stay alone" "This bandage on my eyes cannot wipe my tears" "Forgive me, Sister" "We are not only mothers but also Kshatriyas whose sons are at war with each other" "I blessed none of them with victory but I did send a message to Yuddhistir that the day for which warriors are born is at hand" "There's a lot of space for me at the palace" "I know that!" "My thoughts have no place in the palace" "Nor can I leave my thoughts behind in Vidur's house" "I, too, did not bless Duryodhan with victory" "He went to Kurukshetra without my blessing" "I did not even tell him the day for which warriors are born is at hand" "The Wax House, the Game of Dice Draupadi's insult all tied up my tongue" "Forgive my sons, if you can" "Duryodhan is not bad at heart but he is blinded by his Ego and his stubborn nature" "He has inherited his father's blindness" "Grandsire, Sages Kripa and Drona have not inherited the blindness, have they?" "Duryodhan did not call for Draupadi's disrobing" "It was Hastinapur's diseased politics and selfish greed which did so" "Duryodhan is merely a reflection of that" "How does one wash this tainted politics?" "With a sea of blood?" "The blood of your and my sons!" "I came here to give you the news that there was a fierce battle today" "Thousands of soldiers were killed" "Many noted warriors fell during the course of the war but your sons and mine are safe" "In the coming days, you will not have this news to give me every evening" "May God give your sons a long life!" "May God also give your sons a long life!" "It remains to be seen whose plea God accepts!" "Brother!" "There are more dead than wounded" "What will happen tomorrow?" "Dynasties and nations are not comparable to warriors" "History is more durable than all this" "So, don't talk of tomorrow" "In war, don't count your wounds or corpses" "With brothers like Bhim, Arjun, Nakul, Sahadev warriors like the young Abhimanyu supporters from Satyaki to Shikhandi a Commander like Dhristadyuma you have no right to be worried" "The war has not ended today" "It has only started" "It will end some day" "It is also definite that you will win" "So, don't worry!" "Wait for tomorrow's dawn" "Is Dhrupad's son dead?" "I thought so but Bhim saved him" "Look at Uncle Bhishma" "Though he is fighting the war only because of his oath he has boosted the morale of the army" "He will protect my sons as he will Pandu's" "His blessing stands between us and destruction" "Keep watching!" "If Grandsire is not stopped we'll surely lose" "Even if we win, we'll be alone among corpses" "We must find a solution" "What solution do you have in mind?" "Grandsire's death is necessary for victory" "Take my chariot to him" "As you wish!" "I don't wish it!" "It's my duty" "With this arrow, Grandsire has blessed you and also welcomed you" "May you be victorious!" "O Grandsire!" "O Best of the Bharat clan!" "My fight is not against you but against Injustice, Darkness, Evil and Untruth" "You are fighting on the side of Evil" "Both sides have gone beyond debate" "Besides, the battlefield is not for debate" "So, whatever you say, say it with arrows" "I will also reply with arrows" "As you order!" "That is Arjun's conch" "Some terrible war is to take place" "Maybe Duryodhan and Arjun..." "No!" "How can Duryodhan dare fight Arjun?" "Then maybe Karna..." "Grandsire has not allowed him to fight" "Like a woman, he is sitting in his tent listening" "Why should I be the victim of all injustices?" "Look at my helplessness" "I cannot even pray for Grandsire's death" "And yet, I am waiting for his death" "It is sinful on my part to do so" "He alone stands between me and this war" "If I don't take part in this war I will never be able to repay Duryodhan" "O Lord!" "Save me from this situation" "Tell Grandsire to invite me for this war" "If war stands just ahead and the warrior is helpless" "He thinks of war all the time becoming even more keen" "When even you and Sage Drona cannot fight the combination of Krishna and Arjun who can stop them?" "You have debarred the only warrior who can do so!" "Arjun's death is essential for our victory" "You will not kill him nor will you allow Karna to fight" "He will not fight under my flag" "If you doubt my loyalty to Hastinapur you can choose another Commander" "I did not say that, Grandsire" "I cannot even think of that" "Your greatest fault is that you do not think" "If you could think you would have accepted Krishna's request" "You are responsible for this heap of corpses" "Now go away and let me fight" "Be assured, as long as I hold this bow your army will not be defeated" "Why doesn't the Sun set?" "Yesterday it set when I didn't want it to" "Today I want it to set and it won't!" "The Sun will not change its pace for you" "Forget the sun and look to your enemies" "Who will recognize whose blood has fallen?" "Blood will mix with blood" "Death will stand silent" "My respects, Uncle!" "What's wrong?" "All day I heard the sounds of war and wondered who was winning" "Then I thought with Grandsire's boon of wishful death only you could win the war" "It is this boon which has created a problem" "He won't kill the Pandavas as none can kill him" "Were it not for this boon we would have nominated another Commander" "This son of Ganga, the best among Indians will not let us lose the war but he will not let us win it either" "What's the point in having a Commander who will neither lose nor win" "I did not want to make him Commander but..." "Sometime words like "but" stand before us and we have to confront them" "Had you appointed Karna as Commander then you would stand alone in the battlefield with your friend, brothers and Uncle" "The other kings of India would not be with you" "What can I do?" "Arjun's death is essential" "Grandsire will not kill Arjun who has killed so many of our warriors" "I would myself kill Grandsire Bhishma if I could appoint another Commander" "I want to win this war" "I cannot win it without Karna's help" "If Arjun is the problem, Karna is the answer" "If you want Arjun nullified then think of who can be appointed Commander instead of Grandsire" "We need not even think about this" "If the Pandavas wish to win this war they must find a way to eliminate Grandsire" "Why should we do their work for them?" "Besides, Krishna is with them" "Let them think of a solution" "They, too, confront the same problem" "The problem of Grandsire Bhishma!" "Looks like you have decided to lose this war" "How often have I said he is not your Grandsire but your enemy" "All those who side wth Evil are your enemies Man's enemies and my enemies" "Do you know how many of your soldiers he has killed?" "You are indebted to these soldiers, Arjun" "If you will not kill Grandsire then I'll kill him and fulfil your debt" "Welcome O Krishna!" "You have broken your vow to release me from life!" "By doing so, you have honoured me" "Look I have set aside my bow and arrows" "I'll be honoured in the Three Worlds" "Let your Divine Weapon be the messenger of my release from this life" "Forgive me O Lord!" "O Krishna!" "You are bound by your oath that you will not fight this war" "If you raise a weapon in this war History will never forgive me" "My Lord!" "Save me from this taint" "I give you my word I'll fight sincerely" "Raise your bow, Grandsire" "O Lord!" "If this Sun does not set for some time I promise I'll end the war today" "This war is being fought for Man's welfare" "Hence, it cannot violate the laws of Nature" "So, let the sun follow the laws of Nature" "It seems you did not listen to me carefully" "You have to merely do your duty" "You may fight the war but cannot control its result" "So, Arjun!" "Fight and leave the result to me" "Don't look at the Sun but fight!" "As you order!" "My respects, Grandsire!" "Are the wounds very deep?" "You cannot see the deepest wound" "You stand beneath the mightiest tree in India" "Where will you go without it?" "Forget this sweet talk" "These wounds mean nothing" "Nothing is lost yet" "Make peace with them" "Return Indraprasth to them" "Even if I lose Hastinapur I'll not give an iota of land to them" "Now I am certain that I cannot win as long as you, Sages Drona and Kripa are with me" "What are you saying Duryodhan?" "If these three warriors were not with you you would have lost the war long ago" "Maybe you are right, Uncle" "But had they wanted I would have won the war" "My army knows that its Commander will not kill the Pandavas whom they are fighting" "No tree will cut its own branches" "I love you no less than the Pandavas" "If it were not so you would not live after insulting me thus" "Like the Pandavas you, too, are protected by my love" "No weapon can pierce this protection" "So, accept my blessings and go and rest" "You have to fight tomorrow" " One request, Grandsire" " No!" "As long as I am the Commander Karna will not fight under my flag" "Can I ask why you are punishing Karna?" "He has insulted my teacher Parshuram" "No disciple of his can be so indecent" "He called Draupadi a whore in open court" "A man who cannot respect a woman will not fight under my banner" "If that's a crime then we are all responsible" "I and even you!" "Duryodhan did not mean it, Grandsire" "Please don't call me Grandsire" "These relationships have no meaning in this era" "They are mere words, used as insults" "The meaning of what Duryodhan just said was exactly what I understood" "Waging war for you is a punishment for me" "Now go!" "Leave me alone with my guilt" "But Grandsire..." "It's my bad luck that I am your Grandsire" "Had we not been related I would have forsaken you" "Time and again you have insulted my age" "Swallowing this poison of humiliation I live for Hastinapur" "None among you is worth living for" "If you doubt my loyalty appoint someone else" "Appoint someone else?" "So that you can fight for the Pandavas?" "That cannot be!" "That never will be!" "Never!" "Your loyalty, your belief, your Soul may be with the Pandavas but you'll have to fight for me" "My respects!" "My respects!" "My respects!" "These wounds..." "Even you won't listen to me now!" "Let these wounds be" "They will heal on their own" "As you order!" "Welcome Brothers!" "I was searching for Duryodhan and Dushasan" "But you also must be destroyed" "Can't your eyes see anything good?" "Can you only see the defeat of my army?" "Can you only see Arjun, Bhim, Nakul, Sahadev and Yuddhistir fight this war?" "Have my sons forgotten how to fight?" "Grandsire, Drona, Kripa, Shalya, Ashwathama..." "What are they doing?" "They are fighting but..." "Don't use words like "but" in my presence" "They have always gone against me" "I must go to Gandhari" "My lord!" "Where's your hand, my dear?" "What happened in battle today?" "In battle..." "Ten sons..." "What happened to our ten sons?" "They died in battle!" "Our ten sons!" "Which means this great war is about to end" "I had a dream last night" "I was standing alone in a forest" "All around me lay green trees, chopped down" "You came to me and said:" "Let's go Gandhari!" "I asked:" "Who has cut these green trees?" "You replied:" "I have cut them" "I asked:" "How many did you cut?" "You replied:" "One hundred!" "I was frightened" "I grabbed your shoulder and asked:" "Have you cut trees or killed my sons?" "You did not reply and I woke up" "Are you saying that I am responsible for my sons' death?" "No, my lord!" "I am not saying that" "I only told you of my dream" "I ran away from Sanjay to come here hoping you would understand my pain and give me courage" "However, if I am alone even with you then it only means that I am truly alone" "Go to sleep!" "Dream of something else" "I shall return to hear of it" "My lord!" "Only the two of us are alone and unhappy" "A father who has lost his sons should not be alone" "None will understand your language of tears" "Hence, sit here!" "We both have to weep!" "One has to pay back for one's own Sin" "If one has sown Evil the fruit will also be Evil" "I stand in the arena, pierced by arrows wondering when this war will end" "From the manner in which it is fought its seems the war will never end" "Sometimes the Kauravas win sometimes the Pandavas" "Day by day, Gandhari's sons are lessened" "On the nineth day she had only 74 sons living" "O Sun God!" "My respects to thee!" "I, too, shall take refuge in darkness and wait for you to rise" "Tonight is the night to stay awake the night to think" "Tonight is a night to respect because it is going to unveil a scene never before witnessed by any other night and never to be witnessed again" "Everyone in Yuddhistir's camp is thinking" "That is tonight's focus" "O King of Matsya!" "Is there a way to win this war?" "Not as long as Bhishma lives" "But he has the boon of wishful death" "That's the problem or I would have killed him by now" "Brother!" "Don't use harsh words against him" "Should I fall at his feet?" "Should I thank him for prolonging this one-day war to nine long days?" "That's a worthwhile thought!" "Do you really want me to touch his feet?" "Why not?" "It will be your good fortune to do so!" "There can be nothing more divine than his blessing" "There's no point in your going" "Yuddhistir should go and return his blessing of victory" "Return his blessing?" "Yes, Brother!" "What use his blessing if he himself stands in the way of its fulfilment?" "An emply gold plate in front of a hungry man" "Will the hungry man eat the plate?" "If he has given you a blessing of victory then he must also protect it" "But Krishna..." "There can be no "buts"" "He knew he would oppose you in this war" "He also knew of his boon of wishful death" "He knew he was the chief of the Kaurava Army and the Pandavas could not win till he died" "Why then did he bless you with victory?" "Don't you know the answer?" "Of course, I do but why should I interfere between grandfather and grandson?" "So, let Yuddhistir tackle the matter" "Brother!" "You may take Arjun with you" "Our respects!" "Come!" "May you be victorious!" "We are not here for your blessings" "We are here to thank you for the opportunity to see Sage Parshuram's disciple in battle" "Also, to thank you for our wounds which are your gift to us" "But please do not bless us!" "What are you saying, my child?" "Does refusing my blessing mean you consider me to be an enemy?" "We cannot even think of that!" "Still we cannot take a blessing from you" "Why, my child?" "Because we don't want your blessing to remain unfulfilled" "You yourself stand between us and victory" "You are right, my child" "I stand between you and victory" "But I am helpless" "I cannot stand aside" "Neither my defeat nor my death is possible" "That's why Krishna said I return the blessing given before the war" "O so Krishna said that!" "Tell him I do not take back what I have given" "Not even a blessing!" "But Grandsire..." "You may cut my bow or my arrows but please do not interrupt me like Duryodhan" "Forgive me!" "May you live long!" "What was I saying?" "Tell Krishna I can't take back what I have given not even a blessing" "Also tell him that he very well knows that he'll win in the end because he is the beginning and the end as also the middle" "He also knows how to remove me from the path of victory" "If a woman comes before me I'll not raise my weapons" "Then there'll be no difficulty in removing me from the battlefield" "How can a woman come on the batlefield?" "It is contrary to the Warrior Code" "I have told you what Krishna wanted to know" "Ask him to solve your other problems" "My respects" "May you live long!" "May you be victorious!" "Will you eat a guava?" "I don't feel like it" " They are sweet" " No" "Will you eat one Arjun?" "Answer Elder Brother's question" "Where do we get a woman to fight Grandsire?" "Cannot anyone see me?" "I will face Grandsire tomorrow" "There you are!" "Your problem is solved" "Draupadi will face Grandsire" "Will that not violate the Warrior Code?" "If women fight when there are men men will be shamed" "That's true!" "Why should women fight when there are men?" "Don't talk to me of men." "I, too, know a few men" "These five great men are hoping that they need not kill the Kauravas" "After all, they are all related" "I am an outsider" "So what if I have been insulted" "Now that is doing them an injustice" "As great men they cannot counter-attack ordinarily" "You are an extraodinary women" "Learn to behave like one" "Do you want History to say that lakhs died for your unbraided hair?" "Can you bear the burden of so many corpses?" "You are not only a woman" "You are a symbol of pride for all women" "So, don't talk about your insult when fundamental questions are being debated" "You are right, Brother" "Draupadi cannot fight when you are there" "But surely Shikhandi can fight!" "Shikhandi!" "He may be a brave warrior but he cannot fight Grandsire" "Besides, Grandsire had spoken of a woman" "Shikhandi may be half a man but he is a man!" "He may be half a man for you but Grandsire won't raise his bow when he sees him" "Why?" "Because, dear Sahadev for Grandsire, Shikhandi is a woman" "Grandsire will recognise Kashi Princess Amba in him" "It is true that Bhishma did not knowingly or unknowingly insult Amba but an insulted Amba did not agree" "She even vowed in the Hastinapur court that she would take birth after birth to become the cause of Bhishma's death" "So, she was born again and again till she took the form of Shikhandi" "But will Grandsire recognise her?" "Had he not been Bhishma he would not recognise her but he is Bhishma and so he will surely recognise her" "My respects, mother" "What blessing shall I give you?" "The blessing of salvation" "How did you come here at this time?" "I was thinking" "Weighing the past days" "Trying to decide whether my life was worthwhile or useless" "Someone who has done nothing for himself his life cannot be useless" "Only Amba's debt remains unpaid" "When Krishna sent Yuddhistir to return my blessing I realised the time to return her debt was at hand" "I recognised Amba hidden in Shikhandi's form" "What are you doing here, mother?" "Honouring this piece of land" "What's so special about it?" "Tomorrow your bed will be placed here" "You are very tired, son" "You have a right to rest" "You have served me well like sons serving their father" "I am pleased with both of you" "We hope to serve you in your next life" "Don't talk of the next life" "From today I release you from slavery" "From this moment, you are free citizens" "What have we done to deserve this?" "Slavery is a taint on mankind" "Man is born free and he should die free" "Now go!" "Begin your free life from today" "When you return at Sunset who will help remove your armour?" "Who will fetch you fresh clothes?" "Don't worry about me" "Now go!" "I need to be alone" "May you always be born free!" "Bhishma frees his slaves" "He himself is enslaved" "He hopes slavery ends" "Remains no longer in India" "My respects, Brother!" "I have no blessing worthy of you" "Your stature has grown so much that no blessing can match it" "Your stature is bigger than victory" "Victory is now your shadow" "If you do not wish to bless me, don't but you must accept a request of mine" "What can an ace archer like you want?" "What do I have to give you?" "There is something!" "I want you with me in today's battle" "It will be my last battle with Grandsire" "I cannot win it without your help" "Will you ride with me on my chariot today?" "By the grace of God!" "Of course, O son of Kunti!" "You don't know how eager I am to fight your Grandsire" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "I would rather have a blessing for victory" "Accept what has been given, my son" "Do not embarrass the giver by asking questions" "How do you know if the giver has what you are asking for" "Even if he has he may not want to give it" "If he does not have it he will be shamed" "Both the giver and taker have their limitations" "As your son, I want to know whether you don't have it or you don't want to give it" "Are you questioning your father" "Then allow me to kill Duryodhan" "I cannot bear his barbs any longer" "He says you and Grandsire favour the Pandavas in spite of being in the Kaurava army" "He has already told me that" "Duryodhan is like the child who cannot distinguish between the moon and the flame" "Don't listen to him!" "How can I not listen to him?" "When he says that, Karna smiles" "His smile pierces my heart like a dagger" "That's why I am questioning you" "Tell me on whose side are you?" "Maybe I am on your side" "You cannot understand Bhishma's and my pain" "We are like the setting Sun" "Till we do not set the new Sun cannot rise" "So, don't worry about us, we are about to set" "This is our nature and historical duty" "Relationships mean nothing while doing one's duty" "Every person is alone in doing his duty" "I am responsible for what I am doing" "You are responsible for what you are doing" "So, do not ask why I do not bless you with victory" "Accept with respect whatever blessing I give you" "If you wish to win this war win it on your own merit" "You cannot win this war with a blessing" "What is this that Sage Drona said?" "He is right, my lord" "If the Kurukshetra is a holy ground then this war cannot be won with blessings" "Few people know the limits of a blessing" "A blessing is a matter of responsibility" "Even the Queen did not bless the Prince with victory" "A blessing is not a gift to be given to anyone who asks for it" "I perceive that your tone is slowly becoming bitter like that of Vidur" "The bitterness is not in the tone but in the heart of the speaker or listener" "Had you not been the King or Duryodhan's father whom would you have blessed with victory?" "But I am the King and Duryodhan's father" "I will remain what I am" "I may not remain King of Hastinapur but I'll always be Duryodhan's father" "So, control your bitterness and let me live with my own bitterness" "Just look at the extent of my bad luck" "None has blessed my son Duryodhan with victory" "The Pandavas are amply blessed" "Look at my son's courage" "He is facing all that alone" "Which day of the war is it?" "The tenth day" "What will History say?" "Don't ask this question" "You cannot bear the truth and I cannot lie" "Your not saying anything speaks volumes" "Truth is without form or shape" "The viewpoint is important" "The wind treats the flower differently from the dust" "Their duties are therefore different" "So, it would be unjust to compare the two" "I know it is a holy war for Krishna" "It is also a holy war for me" "Whether Drona blesses his son with victory or not" "Whether Gandhari blesses her sons with victory or not" "Duryodhan represents me in this war" "For the wind, the flower and dust are equal" "The flower has pollen" "The dust has nothing" "The flower is attached to the stalk the stalk to the stem, the stem to the roots" "The dust has no roots" "It flies and gets into the eyes" "Like you got into the Prince's eyes" "Wait!" "Hail Prince!" "Shikhandi is riding the chariot with Arjun" "Shikhandi on Arjun's chariot?" "What is he doing there?" "When he could not do anything alone what will he do with that impotent's help?" "But why two warriors on one chariot?" "In any case, ask Grandsire" "Yuddhistir met him yesterday and today, Arjun is with Shikhandi" "I suspect a plot" "Go find out!" "Take me to Grandsire" "My respects!" "May you live long" "Why did Yuddhistir meet you yesterday?" "He did not ask me to give you up" "Even if he had, I would have refused" "He must have come there to say something" "He had come to return something" "He had come to return my blessing" "What blessing?" "The blessing I had given before the war something you had resented" "He came to return the blessing of victory" "Actually, that blessing was futile because I cannot be defeated" "If I cannot be defeated they cannot win" "What did you say?" "I cannot take back a blessing" "So I had to tell him how to eliminate me" "You told him how to eliminate you?" "What could I do?" "I had to protect my blessing" "I don't understand on whose side you are" "I am on your side, my child" "I am fighting for Hastinapur" "Nothing deserves greater respect than the motherland" "If God asks me whether I want Heaven or Hastinapur I'll ask for Hastinapur" "I'll opt for Hastinapur a thousand times" "I, too, am asking for Hastinapur" "You cannot let them take away Hastinapur" "I, representative of the King of Hastinapur order you not to leave the battlefield" "I give you my word that I'll not leave the arena till the war is over" "Why did you tell them how to eliminate you?" "It was nothing special" "Any warrior can be made to leave like that" "I told Yuddhistir that I would not fight if a woman is my opponent" "Even your Uncle would do the same" "Then why is Shikhandi on Arjun's chariot?" "Is Shikhandi on Arjun's chariot?" "Yes, Grandsire!" "In that case don't let Shikhandi face me" "But why are they together?" "Because he is also a woman" "A woman!" "What's the news?" "The news is Grandsire won't fight Shikhandi" "He will lower his weapons on seeing him" "And that coward Arjun will attack him from behind Shikhandi" "So, don't let Arjun's chariot go near Grandsire" "Order all your warriors to keep Grandsire and Arjun apart" "Bhishma will not attack Shikhandi" "How then does one protect Bhishma?" "AII, including Shakuni, think of an appropriate solution" "What can be done to save his life" "Take my chariot towards Grandsire's chariot" "May you live long!" "May you be successful" "I know they are your arrows which strike me" "Congratulations Sage Drona!" "Your disciple is worthy" "My head needs support" "Dushasan!" "Get some pillows" "These are not worthy of the bed on which I lie" "He who has given the bed shall give the pillow" "Call Arjun!" "As you order!" "Give me my Gandiva!" "Forgive me Grandsire" "I am thirsty" "River Ganga provides succuor to its own son" "There lies fallen on Earth the very sky itself" "My respects, mother!" "We should leave Grandsire alone in his last moments" "How can we do that?" "He's our Grandsire" "I am also the Pandavas' Grandsire" "Leave me alone!" "All my life I didn't ask for anything" "Today I ask for privacy" "As you wish!" "But we'll keep coming to see you" "The light of the Kuru clan lies felled today" "The entire community of brave warriors salute him and pay their homage" "A pure Soul in a pure Age" "White clothes to match his age" "Where can one find such a unigue warrior" "Every arrow stained with blood" "Every eye a weapon" "Every person wept with grief" "Every Veda was chanted" "Arjun touches his feet with a wounded heart" "Krishna stands in silence spreading his holy influence" "Who can understand my helplessness but you?" "Isn't my understanding to be expected?" "You'll always be remembered for your loyalty and Truth" "Man will salute you in every era" "Let's go, my son!" "How can I go, mother?" "I have sworn an oath that till Hastinapur is fully secured I'll not give up my life" "My son... this pain" "My very life is a pain, mother" "However, if Hastinapur is secure then my life will have been successful" "Tonight's a terrible night" "In Kurukshetra none apart from Bhishma lying on a bed of arrows is at rest" "No warrior had ever won such a bed nor will they ever win it" "Great men are not born in every era" "O India!" "Thou art honoured that a great man such as Bhishma was born here" "Words fail before his greatness" "Even I am honoured by his touch" "This is not an arrow but a medal of honour" "His every breath is a honourable gift from the Creator" "If any other person breathes like that he will be immortalised" "O Pride of India!" "O son of Kunti, Arjun!" "Today you have paid the debt of my love and belief in your valour" "It was not valour but cowardice" "I let loose my arrows from behind Shikhandi" "Shame on Arjun and his Gandiva!" "These arrows which have wounded you are all mine" "I shall never forgive myself for this grave crime." "Never!" "Don't talk like a child!" "Shikhandi was my Fate and your strategy" "Doesn't a warrior use a shield?" "Shikhandi was your shield" "I could not pierce that shield" "Victory at this price is expensive" "Victory at any price is cheap" "Save your tears, Arjun" "The duel is now over" "Just think, my child" "I, too, was wearing the shield of wishful death" "Should a warrior use such a shield?" "I cannot even throw away this shield!" "My shield is linked to Hastinapur's future" "That's why I told you last night to use Shikhandi as a shield so that we'll be equal in duel" "I with my boon of wishful death and you with Shikhandi as a shield" "When we were equal, you defeated me" "No Grandsire!" "No!" "In my defeat lay my honour" "My defeat has ensured Hastinapur's security" "So, do not insult your victory with tears" "Now go to your tent and rest" "Tomorrow you have to fight again" "Lying on this bed of arrows given by you I am glad to see you march towards victory" "Till today you waged war with your Grandsire" "Tomorrow you'll fight your teacher, Sage Drona" "Fight him with all your will so that he, too, will be proud to call you his disciple" "If you defeat him he will also bless you like I blessed you after my defeat" "Stop weeping, my child!" "For my sake!" "May you live long!" "May you be victorious" "What happened?" "I am coming from Sanjay's house" "What happened to Sanjay?" "Nothing!" "Hastinapur lies on a bed of arrows wearing a robe of blood" "What's happened to Grandsire?" "Tell me Vidur!" "Ethics says that one should look at who sits on the throne" "It is wrong to see the Past in the Present" "Grandsire made the mistake of seeing his father's image in Hastinapur's King" "The result was Arjun made him lie on a bed of arrows" "Is Grandsire..." "No!" "He is still living!" "He is sworn to live till Hastinapur is secure" "He will have to witness the deaths of many young Kuru warriors" "Maybe that is his repentence" "Will you go to pay your respects?" "I cannot bear to see him wounded" "The image that I have of him should remain unaltered" "White clothes, white hair Pure Soul" "His death will mean the end of a Pure Age" "A Great Soul with a lustrous personality will not be born again" "So, come Sister Kunti, let us mourn for Grandsire on Hastinapur's behalf" "My respects!" "May you live long" "My respects!" "Sit Kunti!" "How did you think of me after so long?" "When you do come, you meet only Gandhari" "You have every right to think I did an injustice to your sons" "But don't they mean anything to me?" "I am unhappy about the injustice done to them" "But what about the injustice done to me?" "What are you saying?" "If I thought of justice and injustice I would be in my sons' camp" "You are their Elder Father and they are your sons" "I will not interfere" "If I did interfere, I would ask you questions" "I did not even ask you how you could keep quiet at Draupadi's disrobing" "As a mother I have many problems" "At this moment I am here to mourn the death of the greatest Kuru warrior and Elder" "Who felled this great warrior?" "Your son Arjun" "What would you have done in Arjun's place?" "Don't ask questions" "Was it right to kill a great man like Bhishma for some land?" "No!" "Arjun was not even willing to fight but your nephew Krishna provoked him" "The result is Arjun carries the guilt of Grandsire's death" "The Future will decide who's responsible for Grandsire's death" "I have often told you, my lord you are Dhritirashtra" "Don't allow the nation to break apart" "For you, the nation and the throne were one" "The result is:" "My sons are dying" "Hastinapur is barren" "It's not too late" "Try for a truce with Grandsire's help" "Grandsire has always sided with the Pandavas" "Understand one thing!" "War begins when both sides are beyond truce" "There can be no truce after war begins" "You can either win or lose" "If you wish to go to Grandsire do go there" "Give him my respects" "Tell him if it was right for a king to leave his capital when at war I would have surely come" "My respects!" "I am all alone now, Duryodhan!" "All alone!" "When Bhishma could not stop Arjun who can stop him?" "You will stop him!" "I have only come to tell you that you are now the Commander of my army" "Will you also say that I should not fight under your flag?" "If you are so eager to fight then do fight" "Like Grandsire, will you say that you won't kill the Pandavas?" "I won't say that but I will not promise that" "They may die at my hands" "Or I may die at their hands" "Anything can happen on the battlefield" "I am not a Kuru" "So, my decisions are limited" "I cannot say who I will kill and whom I won't" "As long as I am on your side to fight your enemies is my duty" "O Karna!" "Welcome to the Kuru army" "My respects!" "O best among Indians!" "Forgive me for all my past and future Sins" "I pay my respects" "O son of Kunti, Karna!" "Both you and I know..." "If you knew this then why didn't you allow me to fight under your flag?" "For two reasons" "First, you were blinded by your expectations" "Such a warrior should never wage war" "The second reason was that so many brave warriors will be killed in this war that India will be bereft of warrriors" "If you fight this war either Arjun or you will survive" "And I wanted both of you to survive because warriors like you are not born again and again" "You are not of Bharat's clan" "For me, every brave warrrior is of my clan" "My child!" "Stop this war if you can" "If you can't and if you must fight fight for the Pandavas" "If I do that how can I pay back Duryodhan's debt" "You know the value of an oath" "So, allow me to fight for Duryodhan" "You were compelled to fight for Duryodhan" "I, too, am helpless" "I cannot give you an order" "All I can say is that O Karna!" "Do your duty!" "In a Holy War every man is alone" "He has to decide on his own" "All the warriors who have gathered here whichever camp they belong to, are alone" "Who else but you can understand what loneliness is" "May you be successful" "O Kunti!" "You should be proud to be Karna's mother" "Congratulations Kunti!" "Bhishma lies on a bed of arrows talking to Karna" "It is the duty of warriors to always side with Truth" "May you live long!" "My dear!" "Whatever may have happened in the past you'll always be a symbol of honour for Indians and will always be respected" "O Grandsire!" "You are a symbol of honour for Indians" "I am fortunate to be your grant daughter-in-law" "Allow me to salve your wounds and save you from the day's Sun and the night's cold" "Before that, I want to give you some trouble" "May you live long!" "Who's this girl?" "She's Abhimanyu's wife Uttara!" "This is not the place to meet a daughter-in-law" "But I first met your husand on the battlefield" "My dear" "I don't know who will live and who won't after this war" "But my body remembers the sharpness of your husband's arrows" "Seeing the young man I was reminded of my youth" "If I had a treasury of years I would give it all to your husband" "I have met you for the first time and I have nothing to give you but Arjun's arrows and my wounds" "Do you know that these arrows seemed as if they were not arrows but my dear Arjun who came running to sit on my lap" "If I could I would kiss every arrow in my body" "These arrows are the essence of my life" "May you be happy forever!" "Tell Arjun not to regret what he has done" "He has done his duty and so have I!" "The women of the Kuru clan carry ritual lamps" "The lamp shall remember and carry it close to heart" "Tears flow uncontained as the night stands silent" "The mind is in turmoil" "The lips refuse to speak" "All directions watch silently" "The figure on the bed of arrows" "With palms joined respectfully" "Death stands by silently" "How are you Duryodhan?" "Do you think Hastinapur is lost because Grandsire has fallen" "No Draupadi!" "Hastinapur's flag is not Grandsire" "Hastinapur's flag is Duryodhan" "That is Hastinapur's misfortune" "Victory to the Prince!" "Dig a deep moat around Grandsire" "Remember not even an insect should trouble him" "This piece of land will be outside the battlefield" "As you order!" "Duryodhan should have been here by now" "Maybe Bhishma is telling him his last wish that after his death half the kingdom should be given to the Pandavas" "Don't talk thus about a brave warrior" "Anyone who can stop you from fighting the war may not have his courage questioned but his loyalty is surely in doubt" "There can be no doubt that thought Bhishma fought on Duryodhan's side he wanted Yuddhistir to win" "In fact, the loyalty of the new Army Chief is also questionable because he still claims that Arjun is his best pupil" "You are right, Uncle!" "But who can be made Chief when he is there?" "I think even Sage Drona will refuse to kill the Pandavas" "But if we ask him to make Yuddhistir a prisoner he will become our slave and the war will end" "Very clever!" "It's an excellent suggestion" "Congratualtions Kripa!" "You were saved from becoming the Chief" "What are you saying father" "I agree the Pandavas are not our enemies" "They are like my brothers" "But when you have decided to fight for Duryodhan why this dilemma?" "That is the reason for the dilemma" "It is easy to attack an enemy" "But the arrows that pierce a dear one also pierce one's own heart" "Then why are you fighting?" "Duryodhan knows the reason" "We are obliged to him." "In his debt" "We are compelled to die protecting him" "The decision is not ours" "You are not indebted to him" "That's true!" "But I am not a traitor" "Whether Duryodhan wins or loses I'll always be on his side" "To kill the Pandavas is my duty" "How are you, Brother!" "My respects!" "My respects!" "What's wrong?" "Why are you all silent?" "Ashwathama and I had a difference of opinion" "Why are you here at this time?" "Grandsire's accident has created a dilemma" "I don't want victory at this price but what can I do?" "I am helpless" "I have gone so far ahead in this war that I cannot retreat" "Hence, I have come here to say:" "I don't want to build a palace on Pandava corpses" "If you catch Yuddhistir and give him to me I promise you that I'll announce the end of war" "Will you award him the death sentence?" "No!" "Never!" "I'll never have him put to death" "I understand!" "After their defeat you'll give them their kingdom" "Had you thought of this yesterday Grandsire would not be on a bed of arrows" "However, your proposal has pleased me" "I'll catch Yuddhistir tomorrow!" "Victory to the Crown Prince!" "What's it?" "A spy is here with important news" "Send him in" "What's the news?" "Sage Drona will attempt to arrest Yuddhistir tomorrow" "What does he think of himself?" "Don't we know how to fight a war?" "Is Yuddhistir a helpless cow that he can take him away?" "Reason, and not Anger, helps fight a war, Prince" "What can Sage Drona think of himself" "We all know what to think of him" "The Sage is more difficult to tackle than Grandsire" "He will not tell you how to defeat him" "We have to think of how to do that" "You arrange to protect Yuddhistir" "Duryodhan has fired an accurate weapon" "He knew whether Sage Drona admitted it or not he would hesitate to kill the Pandavas" "So, Duryodhan decided to lessen his burden" "But if he really catches Yuddhistir the war will end" "A prisoner of war is a slave" "A slave is not a person but a thing" "As a slave, he would have no right to Indraprasth" "If Yuddhistir dies the war will go on becasue Indraprasth has many heirs" "But a slave has no rights and so he cannot have heirs" "So, arrange to protect Yuddhistir" "Krishna is right!" "Sage Drona is to be respected" "He has many disciples in our camp" "You were both taught by the same teacher" "Satyaki and King of Matsya are disciples" "Our Chief is right" "Brother is not a cow to be tamely led away" "Why are you surrounding me?" "Attack Sage Drona!" "If he is not stopped the war will end today" "Don't worry!" "How can I not worry?" "It is a King's duty to worry about his soldiers" "These soldiers fighting for us are a part of us" "Their corpses are as respectful as ours" "We are fighting for our rights but they are fighting for us" "If you have no courage to face your teacher I'll fight him!" "Why are you looking there?" "Our Chief has asked us to protect you" "I cancel his order and order you to go fight the Sage so as to protect our soldiers from him" "I shall stay with you today" "My dear Bhim!" "Will you disobey my order?" "You all are hiding something from me!" "Stop the chariot!" "Beware!" "Why do you invite your death, dear nephew?" "I'll meet you at dawn again!" "My respects!" "No one has a right to feel sad in Heaven" "Don't insult Lord Indra by your sadness" "Like happiness, sadness comes from within" "A person feels sad without wanting to be sad" "You are not a person but a Soul!" "What is left behind is gone!" "No, my lady!" "Nothing is left behind" "I am also my heirs" "Every day I die" "Lying on a bed of arrows, I wait for the war to end" "My ancestors gave me a contented Hastinapur" "Look at its sad condition now!" "I am responsible for its condition" "My Hastinapur lies on a bed of arrow" "Every arrow piercing Bhishma has also pierced India" "The Kurukshetra has become my battlefield" "I fire the arrows which pierce me" "I am Dhritirashtra as also Yuddhistir" "I was the one who staked Draupadi" "I was the one who dragged her to court" "I was the one who disrobed her" "I cannot escape this obscene reality because this is my own reality" "I wish to salute my son's wounds but I have no courage to face him" "With rare value" "I have found unparalleled happiness" "I have found unparalleled sadness" "I found Soulmates" "I lost Soulmates" "Day after day has passed by" "O warrior!" "O Son!" "Accept Shantanu's greetings!" "Father!" "You!" "I cannot even get up to pay my respects" "Your great grandson's arrows have fixed me to this piece of land" "Though they have pierced me, his arrows have given me great happiness" "It is a matter of pride for you that you are his ancestor" "For me, you are a matter of pride" "Not only I!" "The whole of India is proud of you" "O great warrior who is indebted to none!" "With you as witness, I beg my motherland's forgiveness" "My crime is that I loved Satyavati more than Hastinapur" "Dhritirashtra is the result of that and so is Duryodhan" "My love for Satyavati was my selfish greed" "My greed even poisoned politics" "O Motherland!" "Forgive me!" "Whatever has happened is gone!" "It cannot be reversed" "If anyone is at fault it is I!" "My love for my father was my selfish greed" "Whenever a son or a father give greater importance to each other, war is inevitable" "Blood will rain and corpses will pile up" "This war is the result of my own mistake" "No, my son!" "Yes, father!" "I tried to change the direction of the storm moving towards India but I was unsuccessful" "I beg forgiveness of you and all my ancestors" "This country should be named after you" "I say this with all sincerity" "No, father!" "The country is best named after Bharat" "Besides, I am tainted." "It is because of me that India stands on the doorstep of destruction" "I, too, am guilty" "Maybe this bed of arrows is a kind of repentence" "You have not done anything, my son" "India will be grateful for what you have done" "Enough of lying on this bed of arrows" "Come away with me!" "Heaven awaits you!" "Heaven awaits me?" "Yes, my son!" "There are many warriors there!" "But none compares with you!" "Let's go!" "No, father!" "I cannot obey you at this moment" "Why my son?" "As the eldest of Bharat's clan I am the host" "I cannot go before the guests" "I can only leave after I bid farewell to all those who are to leave" "Besides, I had also given you my word that I would not give up my life till Hastinapur is secure" "That is the meaning of wishful death" "Yes, my son" "Do not be sad for me because I am not even sad for myself" "You do not need my blessing" "Even then, this Brahmin wishes to bless you" "The only reward of your life can be that you attain salvation" "I cannot even ask God for this reward because I am not worthy of it" "You are the only unselfish Man of Action" "We are all caught up in selfish desires" "O Bhishma!" "I must leave before you" "So, accept my last salute" "Sage Drona pays his last respects to Bhishma" "The world never again will see an unselfish man like Bhishma" "Guard!" "Yes, my lord!" "Didn't Sage Drona say anything before leaving?" "If it were so, he would have told you" " Go" " Yes, my lord" "He must have gone to meet the Pandavas" "To tell them of his latest strategy and how it can be defeated" "Why are you all looking at me thus?" "When Bhishma could tell them how he could be defeated why can't Sage Drona?" "We should not forget that these two great men are alike in their loyalties" "Brave Shakuni" "There is no greater Sin than doubting the loyalty of Grandsire and Sage Drona" "They could have fought for the Pandavas" "It is Duryodhan's good luck that Grandsire fought under his banner and Sage Drona continues to do so" "I still do not like him but I cannot accuse him of disloyalty" "I am proud to fight under his banner" "It was my bad luck I could not fight for Grandsire" "Please give due respect to warriors like Grandsire Bhishma and Sage Drona" "I respect only those I feel are worthy of respect" "Respect is not that cheap in Gandhar" "Sage Drona is undoubtedly a brave warrior but he's not as loyal as you are" " But Uncle..." " Let him talk" "I am not loyal, Uncle" "I am indebted to my friend" "Debt and loyalty are different things, Uncle" "I can talk of loyalty only after I have paid back my debt" "But they are loyal" "If it were not so, why would Grandsire say he would not kill the Pandavas?" "Such people are worthy of respect" "Your tone has changed" "What is your dilemma?" "Brave people never face a dilemma" "Even when they do evil they never violate their limits" "If you wish to say that you are only indebted to me then I free you from the debt" "Till this day I thought that it is our friendship that binds us" "If I relied on anything it was your loyalty towards me" "And today you say that you are not loyal that you are not my friend only my debtor" "How can I prove my loyalty without paying my debt?" "A debtor has no right over anything" "My loyalty is also indebted to you" "Ask me if I am loyal to you or not after I have paid back my debt" "Did not say, my friend, that I have freed you from all debt" "I cannot take charity" "Even the Gods have taken charity from me" "If you doubt my loyalty then here!" " No" "Forgive me" "Let us not have such talk between friends" "Where were you O Sage?" "My respects!" "We were all worried where you were..." "I was with Bhishma" "With Arjun around Yuddhistir cannot be caught" "Leave Arjun to me" "Both Bhishma and I are disciples of Sage Parshuram" "I don't doubt your bravery but Arjun is still Arjun" "You have also faced him in the Virat war" "Then we should surrender" "That is worth thinking about" "O King of Gandhar!" "Forgive me O Commander!" "Remember you all are fighting for me" "If your egos clash, my defeat is definite" "So, I pray to all of you to keep your egos in check" "I agree with Sage Drona that with Arjun guarding Yuddhistir we cannot capture Yuddhistir" "That's why I wish to ask who will accept the task of separating the two brothers?" "I cannot accept because it will mean I'll have to run away from Arjun" "I cannot even pretend to do that" "I think for this job we can approach the King of Trigart" "The Prince and the Commander need not have..." "O Sage!" "To challenge Arjun is to invite death" "We are here to fight for Hastinapur" "So, we brothers accept death at Arjun's hands" "We regret you came here for this" "Had you even sent us an order we would have given up our lives" "History will remember you as brave warriors" "Today, Hastinapur and I are indebted to you" "We vow that we will only return from the arena after killing Arjun" "If we cannot kill Arjun our corpses will return" "Arjun!" "Why fight nameless warriors?" "Fight us because we two brothers have sworn to kill you or die" "That's not a challenge but Sage Drona's strategy" "But they are challenging me" "Ignore them" "Sage Drona wants you to react" "They'll run away the moment you react" "The strategy is that you follow them so that Yuddhistir can be captured" "Who can do that with you on guard?" "I can stop the Kaurava army but not Sage Drona" "Arjun!" "Can a warrior ignore a challenge?" "Throw away the Gandiva" "Allow me to obey the Warrior Code" "He's asking me to throw away the Gandiva" "Anyone who says that will not live" "Move ahead!" "The Trigart brothers are taking away Arjun like a river takes away the dam" "We must not delay the attack" "Arjun is near enough to protect Yuddhistir" "Why don't they run away?" "They are brave!" "Sworn to die" "They are unable to face Arjun's arrows" "Remember!" "They are facing the warrior who pushed back Sage Drona's chariot" "For us it is a strategy but for them it is war" "Arjun has gone too far" "Don't worry, Brother" "I am not worried about my security but if I am caught, the war will end because a prisoner of war is a slave and a slave has no rights" "Does Arjun not being here mean that we all cannot protect Brother?" "None but Arjun can stop Sage Drona" "O disciple of Parshuram!" "O Brave warrior!" "I salute your loyalty to Hastinapur" "You wanted me to remove Arjun so that you could catch Yuddhistir" "I have arranged for that at the cost of thousands of my soldiers" "You did not catch him though you were close" "You seemed to be waiting for Arjun to come and rescue Yuddhistir" "At least Grandsire had said openly that he would not kill the Pandavas" "But you failed to keep your vow" "My friend!" "I am not talking of victory or defeat" "I wish to know what you, my Chief, are doing" "I do not wish to lose because of you" "Hastinapur which has given you refuge has the right to ask what you are doing" "Don't think I am not ashamed to ask my teacher" "But I must know on whose side you are" "The Pandavas or mine?" "I wish to know whether I can trust you or not" "I am not a slave of your trust" "Learn to differentiate between war and play" "The result of war is not in our hand" "If Arjun were further away I would have caught him" ""lf" is a very important word in war" "I'll remove Arjun from the arena and make Yuddhistir a prisoner" "I'll create a trap which none but Arjun can break through" "Where are you going?" "I am going to King Yuddhistir" "Why?" "According to the rules of war both armies can freely mix after Sunset and before Sunrise" "I am not asking you the rules" "I am asking you why you are going there" "You have no right to ask that" "Soldier!" "Is this how you talk to your Commander?" "Don't talk of that!" "Honourable men have forgotten their duty" "Even the Commander" " Soldier!" " Ashwathama!" "Anger is not the solution" "What have I forgotten?" "The meaning of loyalty" "You should be loyal to Hastinapur" "You are loyal to the greed of the King and Prince" "I was going to tell King Yuddhistir that tomorrow Arjun should not stray away from him" "You are to create a trap which only Arjun can break" "I am doing my duty as a citizen" "If you are an enemy you will stop me" "O Soldier" "Your courage and loyalty is to be respected" "As the Commander I cannot allow a spy to carry such an important message" "You will be judged after the war is over" "Take him away" "Why didn't you have him killed?" "He was merely doing his duty" "His loyalty was taking him there" "It is true that only Krishna and Arjun in that camp know how to break the Wheel Trap" "A trap is important in both love and war" "You are an expert at love" "The eye-trap... the hair-trap the smile-trap..." "the lips-trap the shyness-trap" "Your words are as accurate as your arrows" "How many war-traps do you know" "All except one" "Why the exception?" "I only know half of it" "The Wheel Trap" "Why do you know only half of it?" "Promise me you'll not sleep hearing it" "What does my sleeping have to do with it?" "I don't want our unborn son to hear half our talk" "I was as yet unborn when my father told my mother about it" "I was listening" "He had told her how to enter the Wheel Trap when she feel asleep" "So, I have incomplete knowledge" "I asked Uncle Krishna how to break out of the trap but he told me to ask my father" "I never got to learn from my father" "You must not have insisted" "His smile does not allow you to do that" "Even my father does not have such a weapon" "Had father not been in this war it would be a big problem" "Sage Drona is only creating the trap because father is there" "Or else he would have laid the trap and ended the war yesterday" "I don't like asking Susharma" "He is brave and bound by an oath" "No warrior can reject a challenge" "Let's go!" "I know that Krishna but if Susharma challenges me I'll have to accept his challenge" "That is the Warrior Code" "Will you now explain the Warrior Code to me?" "The defeat of the Pandavas means the downfall of all virtue in society" "Your duty is the welfare of society" "Taking up the challenge is not the Code but your individual warrior's ego" "Even then..." "That is your problem" "If you wish to take up the challenge, do so" "I am only a charioteer" "I'll do what you say" "How are you?" "I am ashamed, Prince" "I could not kill Arjun in the duel" "Nor could I die myself" "Arjun is a warrior whom even Sage Drona cannot fight all day" "You fought him all day" "I'll fulfil my vow tomorrow" "Today Brother has another request to ask of you" "A request?" "The Prince has a request?" "I do not wish to see the day when the Prince will have to request me" "Give me an order" "What I am about to ask cannot be worded as an order" "I'll obey it like an order" "Speak, Prince" "I wanted to say that tomorrow you'll not fight Arjun" "Not fight him?" "That's impossible!" "I am bound by an oath" "That is Sage Drona's strategy" "Is the strategy that I run away?" "No!" "No!" "I did not mean that" "All I want to say is that you take Arjun so far away from the battlelfield that he cannot return before Sunset" "Why?" "So that Sage Drona can capture Yuddhistir" "Why capture Yuddhistir?" "The war will end" "Don't you want this war to end?" "Who doesn't want that?" "Will you give me a promise?" "What promise?" "I am indebted to Yuddhistir" "He freed me after capturing me in the Virat war" "If you promise to free him after the capture then I don't mind this cheating" "This is not cheating!" "This is nothing else but cheating" "All right!" "I give you my word that I'll free him on your guarantee" "Now speak" "Now I give you my word" "If need be I'll take Arjun to the other corner of the Earth" "Duryodhan using deceit got what he wanted" "He gave a false promise and deceived a friend" "Why did you give such a promise?" "There is no question of keeping it" "Do you think Susharma will live to see it fulfilled?" "His opponent is Arjun who will not let him live" "My respects, Grandsire" "May you live long!" "What happened today?" "Nothing else but war" "However, the war will end tomorrow" "How come?" "Sage Drona will create the Wheel Trap" "Both Krishna and Arjun know how to break it" "They will not be there to break it" "I have arranged to keep them at a distance" "We will capture Yuddhistir before they return and the war will end" "I came here to give you this good news" "O God!" "Give him some sense" "This is not good news" "Go away!" "Leave me alone with my wounds" "Which means you want me to lose" "No!" "I don't want either you or Yuddhistir to lose" "I want Hastinapur's safety" "I want peace in Hastinapur" "King Dhritirashtra is on his way" "Brother!" "My respects!" "Please sit!" "Be happy!" "Happiness cannot be bought or grown" "How can I be happy, Brother?" "If I knew where Happiness was, I would plead with it to return to Hastinapur" "Why have you come here?" "I had to come here because you probably wouldn't come on my calling you" "Had you called me as a brother, I would have come" "Had I called you as the King of Hastinapur?" "You know the answer to that question" "I have nothing to do with the King of Hastinapur" "My respects" "May your husband prosper" "That is one blessing I can give to only a few women today" "Once I had several daughters-in-law" "Now I have a few daughters-in-law and many widows of my sons" "It seems there will come a time when only the widows will be left" " Should I say something?" " No" "This is not within the realm of Ethics" "It is an emotional problem the lament of a blind and good father" "Tell me if you can why do these eyes cry for those it cannot see" "Did you not cry when you heard the news of the death of my sons?" "Yes!" "I did cry" "But more than that I was angry with you" "Had you wanted they would be living today" "More than your sons, you have insulted the throne" " What are you saying?" " Let him speak" "I want to listen to these bitter words" "Speak Vidur!" "Tell me Vidur:" "Will you come to me to mourn the deaths of Duryodhan and Dushasan?" "You may think what you want of me but I am both worried and sad for you" "But what can I do?" "Whenever I spoke up, you cut me off" "Whenever I tried to help you you refused any such help" "If you can still hear and understand me for God's sake go to Kurukshetra with Sanjay" "I shall run after your chariot" "There, plead with Lord Krishna for only he can stop this war" "Those who are dead are dead but at least let the others live" "No, Vidur!" "I have left truce far behind me" "I can no longer look behind" "If I do that my dear Duryodhan will commit suicide" "He committed suicide much before the war started" "O Sage!" "Even Arjun's banner cannot be seen" "There is no doubt now that Susharma has taken Arjun far away" "There is no way Arjun can fight now" "I don't understand why Susharma ran away" "Don't tax your brain" "Let it be!" "He is my brother-in-law" "What do we do now, O Sage?" "Let Susharma go a little further away so there's no possibility of Arjun returning" "Why are you all so scared of Arjun?" "I am not scared of Arjun." "I know him very well" "I don't want him to know of the Wheel Trap" "This is an injustice to the Pandavas" "Who are we to think of injustice?" "We are not men but war machines" "Accepted as long as we work well" "You are right" "He's run away" "Run!" "Keep Arjun close to you, my lord" "What has the Sage done?" "If you are loyal to me open your eyes" "The Wheel Trap!" "I told you Susharma is not a warrior but a symbol of the Kaurava strategy" "But Arjun didn't listen to me" "Do not be angry" "None of us knows how to break the Wheel Trap" "Arjun knows but he has been taken away" "Don't forget that Arjun's charioteer is Krishna" "He must have followed Susharma intentionally" "What's it my son?" "Why are you here?" "Do not worry, Elder Father" "If there is a reason, I must worry" "The Wheel Trap worries you" "So what if father is not there" "I, his son, am there" "I know how to enter the Wheel Trap but..." "But what?" "I don't know how to exit" "Don't worry we will be behind you" "We won't let the trap close behind you" "O Sage!" "Are you waiting for Sunset?" "That is Sage Drona's conch." "The attack has begun" "Go, my son!" "Be successful!" "From where will you enter the trap?" "Allow me to survey the trap" "I'll reach the point from where we can enter" "All right!" "We are with you" "Commander!" "When Abhimanyu enters the trap enter with the other warriors" "Go, my son!" "Be successful!" "Let's go!" "Beware O Sage!" "Beware O King of Madra!" "Beware O Sage!" "Beware Karna!" "Beware Ashwathama!" "Beware Uncle Shakuni!" "Uncle!" "Beware Uncle!" "I want the boy dead!" "Attack!" "O Brahmin!" "O son of Bharadwaj" "I am Abhimanyu, son of your disciple Arjun" "I want to ask you" "Have you forgotten the rules of war made by Grandsire Bhishma?" "Wasn't one warrior supposed to fight another?" "Fight on, child!" "Your death is certain." "There's no way out" "Brave warriors don't search for escape routes" "If you are not cowards, duel with me" "I, too, am Lord Krishna's disciple" "Don't think I can't fight you together" "I will surely fight" "I don't want History to know you as cowards because one of you is my father's teacher another a brother and a friend!" "Abhimanyu is surrounded by the best warriors" "Each one is an expert, equal to a hundred men!" "How will I face Arjun?" "It is my misfortune that I shall die at the hands of cowards" "Father!" "When you return at Sunset ask this land how your son fought against these cowards" "O Sage!" "Is this the Warrior Code that all warriors together should attack an unarmed warrior?" "O Son of Bharadwaj!" "O disciple of Parshuram!" "Is this the ethics of war?" "O Uncle!" "O Brother!" "Accept Abhimanyu's last respects!" "O sweetheart!" "This letter of mine" "By the time you get it" "I may or may not be alive in this world." "O sweetheart!" "The brave warrior fought alone" "With seven warriors at a time" "He was vanquished and killed" "Pride stood downcast" "Hail O Queen!" "There's a letter from Kurukshetra" "Must be from Abhimanyu" "Respected Mother!" "My greetings" "May you live long, my son" "Yesterday I met Grandsire Bhishma who said I reminded him of his youth" "Father looked on with pride" "What's wrong, my dear?" "I don't know, father" "Abhimanyu has sent a letter from Kurukshetra" "Reading it, I started crying" "I felt as if a hundred arrows have pierced me" "Some tragedy has surely taken place there" "Brother!" "I want my Abhimanyu back" "I won't let you go that easily" "With Abhimanyu's death all hopes of a truce are gone" "The Pandavas will never forgive my sons" "This death will hang heavy on my dynasty" "Just see what Arjun is doing" "As you wish" "Let's go, Krishna" "I know not why I feel like weeping" "Some tragedy has surely happened" "In a Holy war, only the defeat of Truth can be called a tragedy" "Then why do I feel like crying?" "Maybe you haven't come to terms with yourself" "No, Krishna!" "No, soldier" "You must have seen someone else die" "Did you hear, Bhim" "Is Abhimanyu really dead" "Who knew the boy well?" "Is the brave child really dead, Bhim?" "My God!" "How will I console Arjun?" "Why is everything so quiet?" "We'll find out when we go in" "Did you see that?" "The soldiers are not even greeting us" "They have turned away their faces" "This is not a good omen" "Why hasn't Abhimanyu with his brothers..." "What happened today?" "Couldn't we protect the King?" "Has Sage Drona captured the King?" "Speak!" "No, my lord!" "Then what happened?" "Sage Drona arranged the Wheel Trap" "The Wheel Trap!" "Did you hear, Krishna?" "None but you and I know how to break it" "Our flag is still fluttering on our camp" "Did Abhimanyu attack the Wheel Trap?" "Speak up!" "He does not know how to exit from the Wheel Trap" "Why is Abhimanyu's seat empty?" "You tell me, Bhim" "Tell me, Sahadev" "Why is Abhimanyu's seat empty?" "Why don't you answer me?" "Uttara will answer my question" "My Abhimanyu!" "A warrior's life is nothing but weapons" "Death dogs our footsteps all our lives" "Death is our companion in the battlefield" "Those who cannot run away have to die on some battlefield" "Everyone's silence indicates that our Abhimanyu is dead" "No, Krishna!" "No, Arjun" "Enough!" "If you mourn like this it will be an insult to Abhimanyu his bravery and his death" "Your son died fighting warriors like Sage Drona, Karna, Duryodhan, Dushasan Kritavarma and Shakuni" "Be proud of him!" "But Krishna did not the other Pandav warriors know that my Abhimanyu could not exit from the Wheel Trap?" "We know that, Arjun" "We were all behind Abhimanyu so that we could enter the Wheel Trap with him" "But..." "But what, Bhim?" "But King Jaidrath of Sindhu stopped us" "King Jaidrath was not alone" "Lord Shiva's boon was with him" "After Draupadi's unsuccessful disrobing having his life spared by the Pandavas Jaidrath had done severe penance" "He had obtained a boon that one day of any one war he would be victorious against four Pandavas" "Today was that day" "Today no one could have defeated Jaidrath" "Where's my son's corpse?" "Wake up, son!" "You never slept so long" "You are sleeping when your mother is here" "Do you see the result of your love?" "Scold him when he gets up" "Get up now!" "The elders of the family are here" "What will people say if you sleep like that?" "Look, father!" "He is still asleep" "What will I tell Uttara?" "How will I console her?" "Tell her that this bloodied corpse is not my son Abhimanyu but the covering of his Soul?" "Speak Krishna!" "Speak!" "Blessed are this warrior's parents!" "Blessed is his widow and blessed are all those who are fortunate to have known him" "Get up, my dear" "Bid him farewell like a true warrior's wife" "He will be an example for other young warriors" "Death is the ultimate Truth of every life but such a brave death is a rare one" "Today he has fought those warriors whom even armies shudder to fight" "Every warrior in the world would gladly change places with Abhimanyu" "Free him from the promises he made to you before the sacred ritual fire" "On Subhadra's behalf, I free him from his mother's debt" "Free him from your debt, Arjun" "Prepare him for the last journey" "My son!" "I give you my word" "If I don't kill Jaidrath before Sunset tomorrow I'll immolate myself" "Welcome to the funeral pyre of my son" "It's your turn next" "Was your disciple's son afraid to fight warriors like you?" "O Arjun!" "Till Sunset today there was no warrior like Abhimanyu" "There was none among us who was not wounded by him" "This aged Brahmin has come to pay his respects" "He was the only one between Yuddhistir and I" "Had he not been there I would have captured Yuddhistir and the war would have ended" "O Son of Subhadra!" "Accept Karna's respects!" "Blessed are your parents!" "Blessed is your dynasty in whose History you will live forever" "My respects!" "Not you Jaidrath!" "You will not touch my son" "What are you saying?" "I cannot bear my brave son's insult" "Don't you recognise him?" "He is our slave Jaidrath whom you had freed the other day" "Today he has caused my son's death" "By Lord Shiva had it not been Sunset I would have killed him" "You will not see tomorrow's Sunset" "If you live beyond that I'll immolate myself" "A father lights his son's funeral pure" "His heart heavy with grief" "There is fire in his heart and tears in his eyes" "Slowly smoulders the funeral pyre" "Slowly smoulders revenge" "Arjun has eyes on Jaidrath as his anger increases every moment" "Warriors die during a war, O Sage!" "Am I not brave?" "Why did I not die?" "Abhimanyu was just a child" "We have broken the rules and killed him" "We had ourselves made the rules of war" "I am so ashamed, I cannot go to Bhishma" "If he asks me:" "You, too?" "What answer can I give him?" "My respects O Teacher" "My respects O Sage" "Sit Jaidrath" "You have to fight at dawn tomorrow" "You must rest" "There's a thorn in my heart" "Only you can remove that thorn" "You have taught me and also Arjun" "Then why is he your best pupil?" "I have not made him my best pupil" "But he was not satisfied" "He used my teaching as a foundation" "You were satisfied with what I taught" "There is no need to be afraid" "Death is the ultimate Truth of every life" "Both the brave and cowards die" "Arjun may be my best pupil but I am the Chief of the Kaurav army" "Wasn't I with you in Abhimanyu's killing?" "I'll also be with you tomorrow" "I'll stay close to you tomorrow" "Your protection is my responsibility" "So, go to your tent and try to sleep" "I doubt Jaidrath can be saved from Arjun" "But if we can protect him tomorrow Arjun will have to immolate himself" "We can then easily vanquish the others" "Don't forget Bhim" "Who knows Bhim better than I?" "He is as foolish as he is powerful" "It will be easy to kill him" "Arjun is the main problem" "More than Arjun the problem is that magical charioteer Krishna" "Whether Jaidrath dies at his hands or not Arjun's death is certain" "How come, Uncle?" "Jaidrath is protected by his father's curse" "A curse?" "It is a curse for the one who kills him" "He is Sage Hotashetra's only son" "Who knows better than you what a father won't do for his beloved son" "Hotashetra could not give up his filial love" "One day Jaidrath touched his feet..." "May you live long" "Give me the blessing that King Shantanu gave his son Bhishma" "Neither are you Bhishma nor am I Shantanu" "I cannot bless you with wishful death but I can protect you with a curse" "The one who drops your head on the ground will find his own head blown to pieces" "That will cause his death" "Allow me to leave!" "So, tomorrow will be the last day of war" "If Arjun cannot kill Jaidrath he will immolate himself" "If he does, Hotashetra's curse will kill him" "So, tomorrow is an auspicious day" "Worth waiting for!" "Come Jaidrath!" "Sit!" "What's wrong?" "Why are you worried?" "A warrior threatened by Arjun should feel worried" "I am thinking of going back to Sindhu" "What are you saying?" "Famous warriors will protect you tomorrow" "Sage Drona, Sage Kripa, Ashwathama Karna, Duryodhan, Dushasan, Kritavarma" "Even I know a little of war" "The Kaurav might will be there to protect you" "Arjun is only a warrior" "Tomorrow even the God of Death will not harm you" "If you leave, my army will lose its morale" "My soldiers will think if a brave warrior like Jaidrath can run away from the Pandavas there will be mass desertions and we will lose this war" "Will those warriors named by Uncle really protect me tomorrow?" "Don't worry we are all with you" "Go and rest in your tent" "Life is like an arrow" "An arrow from Arjun's quiver" "It cannot leave the bow" "Unless there is determination" "Consolations are being given to Jaidrath by everyone" "However, each one of them in his heart is as afraid as he is" "Why are you awake?" "I cannot sleep" "Mothers whose sons are on the battlefield can neither sleep nor stay awake" "Come!" "Let's pray!" "I'll pray for a long life for your sons" "You do the same for my sons" "Why put God in a dilemma?" "He has to reject one of the prayers" "What happened?" "I don't know." "I feel like crying since evening" "Some big tragedy has taken place in Kurukshetra" "We are living in the age of tragedies" "Hence, when my eyes fill with tears I tell them to go away and search for another pair of eyes" "My tears don't listen to me" "May God protect this dynasty!" "My respects Grandsire!" "Come, my child!" "Say something, my child!" "I do not have proper words to say what I am going to tell you today" "Have you come to tell me something?" "I have come here to mourn" "In today's battle your great grandson Abhimanyu was killed" "So, the war has reached the fourth generation" "Who killed him, my child?" "Sage Drona!" "Sage Kripa!" "Ashwathama!" "Duryodhan!" "Shakuni!" "Dushasan!" "And Karna!" "How's that possible?" "It was decided one warrior would fight another" "That was decided when you were the Chief" "Sage Drona had arranged the Wheel Trap" "There, those seven brave warriors surrounded my son and killed him" "Why didn't you rush to help him?" "Susharma had taken me to the other end" "Jaidrath did not allow anyone to enter after him" "My son was left all alone" "The seven warriors killed my unarmed son" "Wipe my tears, my child" "Those who surrounded and killed an unarmed youth are not worthy of being called warriors" "They are cowards!" "Forgive them this crime" "The real murderer is Jaidrath who stopped help from reaching him" "Don't forgive him, my child" "Bless Uttara on my behalf and tell her it is a matter of pride to be Abhimanyu's widow" "Where are you going?" "It is dawn, mother and he's yet to wake up" "Have courage, my dear!" "Ordinary people die ordinary deaths" "Warriors die on the battlefield" "Control yourself, my dear" "You have a gift from Abhimanyu" "Take great care of this gift" "The child in your womb is the future of this clan" "You must nurture him" "The war is about to begin" "Can a warrior sleep at such a time?" "I'll wake him up!" "Okay!" "Yesterday's war has tired him" "Let him sleep!" "No!" "It's important to wake him up" "Or else the other women will laugh at me that I did not send him to the battlefield" "Don't worry!" "The Kauravas can do no harm to Krishna's disciple" "All right!" "Should I wake him up?" "No!" "It is a wife's duty to wake up her husband" "All right!" "Go!" "O dearest!" "O heir of the Lunar Dynasty!" "You have slept enough!" "Wake up!" "It is time for war to begin" "The armies are already on the battlefield" "What is this new strategy of sleeping?" "And why sleep on the floor?" "Wake up!" "Why don't you listen to me?" "Look!" "He refuses to wake up" "He won't wake up now" "Why won't he wake up?" "Have I really become a widow?" "That cannot be!" "No!" "Don't cry!" "Hush!" "That cannot be!" "No!" "Truth and Religion is indebted to you" "Every married woman is indebted you" "As long as this Earth lasts married women will bow to you" "I have lost the very desire to live" "Live you must, my dear!" "You must live for Abhimanyu's son" "That's why war is undesirable" "You lose more than you gain by waging it" "It is a deal in which even Victory loses" "I have understood this today" "Our army will definitely win this war but when Yuddhistir sits on the throne he will see it is marred by Abhimanyu's blood" "The war has begun" "Take me to Jaidrath!" "The Kaurav army stands between Jaidrath and us" "Nothing can stop me today" "Did I not say you can only control your Actions not the result!" "Neither the Sunrise nor the Sunset is in your control" "Why is your dynasty fond of taking oaths?" "Grandsire has sworn an oath." "So has Bhim!" "And now you are trapped in an oath!" "Did it befit them to trick a child?" "Is it ethical for seven warriors to attack one?" "Ask Lord Shiva to answer your questions" "Jaidrath was protected by his boon yesterday" "He had granted the boon with full knowledge" "He is God and God does nothing unknowingly" "Jaidrath's killing is essential" "But what was the need to swear an oath?" "Now your eyes will be on the Son and not the target" "The eyes, and not the arrow, pierce the target" "The dust of your oath is in your eyes now" "Forgive me Krishna" "I have already sworn the oath" "Take me to Jaidrath" "I'll take you to him" "Today he is at the centre of of Drona's lotus formation twelve miles from here" "He may be 12,000 miles away but I'll kill him before Sunset today" "If not, I'll immolate myself" "Take me to Jaidrath" "Warriors like Arjun should not immolate themselves" "It will be impossible to break the lotus formation" "What answer will I give my brother Pandu when I meet him in Heaven?" "He'll will say I did not try to save Arjun" "He can ask many more questions" "From the Wax House to Draupadi's disrobing" "No!" "You did not know my younger brother" "He did not even want to sit on the throne" "Grandmother's order compelled him do that" "He would have surely made Duryodhan his heir" "But he will definitely ask me why I did not stop Arjun from..." "What answer should I give him?" "You'll have to answer that question yourself" "Either Jaidrath or Arjun will die today" "Look into your heart and see who you'll like to see alive" "Jaidrath is my son-in-law" "I cannot even think of his death" "Arjun is like my son" "I cannot answer such a question" "I'll worship the God of Fire and request it not to appear when Arjun immolates himself" "This way both Jaidrath and Arjun will be saved" "It is not that I do not mourn Abhimanyu's death" "I do!" "But warriors do die during a war" "I have sent my condolences to Yuddhistir" "It does not befit Arjun that he makes his sister a widow" "I think Krishna will explain to him" "It is all Krishna's fault" "Arjun was not even willing to fight" "Had he refused to fight this war would not take place and Abhimanyu would be alive today" "Krishna has instigated this war" "God knows why this enemity!" "Take me to Jaidrath!" "For, if the Kaurava army stands in the way we do not have enough time." "Let's go!" "I'll take you Arjun but start clearing the way" "As you wish!" "Arjun is marching on!" "Stop him O Teacher or he'll win this war before Sunset" "My respects!" "Do not stop me because by Lord Shiva, whoever stops me today I'll kill him to reach Jaidrath" "So, please do not stop me today" "As long as I stand in your way you cannot reach Jaidrath" "You'll have to kill me to reach Jaidrath" "As you wish!" "At this rate it will soon be Sunset" "Wait!" "Vanquish your enemy before leaving" "You are not my enemy but my teacher" "I also know none in this world can defeat you" "None can stop Arjun today" "What can I say to Duryodhan?" "When Krishna brought the peace proposal I had told Duryodhan to accept it" "To give five villages to the Pandavas and end the quarrel" "But he did not listen to me" "Now that the nectar has flown away why think and talk of it?" "Duryodhan was not responsible for it" "You yourself were responsible" "No!" "It was not I but my ill luck" "Tell me about the war in detail" "For, that is my punishment" "Scared by Arjun's determination Duryodhan is moving towards Sage Drona" "Arjun has broken through the lotus formation" "We thought he would not be able to pass you but you allowed him to get away" "I could not fire an arrow into his back" "If you can surround and kill a child you can do that" "O Sage!" "This is not your hermitage to discuss the ethics of war" "This is the battlefield!" "Go and protect Jaidrath!" "Jaidrath wanted to return to Sindhu last night but I promised him that we would protect him" "Go and fulfil my oath" "I cannot leave this place" "I am not Jaidrath's bodyguard." "I am the Army Chief" "I must also capture Yuddhistir for you" "You go and protect Jaidrath" "I'll wait here for Yuddhistir" "Arjun is not with him now" "It will be easy for me to capture him" "Go to protect Jaidrath" "As you order!" "Let's go!" "Why have you stopped?" "The horses are tired" "Tired horses will not bring you victory" "But Krishna..." "It is almost Sunset, Krishna!" "Yes!" "That's true!" "Beware Arjun!" "Arjun is not on his chariot" "One of the rules of war was a chariot-rider cannot attack a foot warrior" "Grandsire made those rules, not I" "My rules say:" "Kill an enemy wherever he is to be found" "Raise your weapon, Duryodhan" "Don't insult me by holding back." "Fire at me!" "Don't allow Jaidrath's head to fall on the ground" "Whoever drops his head to the ground will find his own head blown to a hundred pieces" "Ensure that Jaidrath's head falls in his father's lap" "That is the road to his salvation" "It will be so!" "Duryodhan will get me killed today" "I would have been miles away by now" "What are you doing?" "Try to stop his chariot" "Why hasn't the Sun set?" "When Death stares into one's face" "The Mind cannot think of a life-saving strategy" "In such a moment even friends seem to be enemies" "...but their viewpoints are different" "Jaidrath wants the Sun to set" "Only the Sunset can save him from death" "Arjun does not want the Sun to set" "His life depends on the Sun's rays" "This Sunset is very important" "In the 12 days of war one side or the other has looked to the Sun but today both sides are looking at it" "Even Dhritirashtra has pinned his hopes on the Sun" "What does your heart say?" "Will Arjun kill Jaidrath before Sunset?" "What the heart says is not necessarily true" "I know that, Sanjay" "You are seeing all this." "You can guess" "If Jaidrath is saved the war will end today" "Arjun, true to his word, will immolate himself" "This sorrow will break Yuddhistir" "It is also possible that Arjun is successful in killing Jaidrath" "It is possible!" "But till it happens I can hope otherwise, can't I?" "Again, in Arjun's absence Sage Drona can capture Yuddhistir" "If that happens the war will end in spite of Jaidrath's death" "What is Sage Drona doing?" "He is duelling with Dhristadyuma" "One must not seize the prey from its hunter" "In war, everyone is the hunter and the hunted" "O Brahmin!" "This is not a school but a battlefield" "Get down from your chariot" "It is a vehicle for warriors" "Sartaki is steadily losing to Sage Drona" "If aid is not sent to him he'll surely die" "As you wish!" "Forward!" "That is Krishna's conch!" "Why can't I hear the twang of Arjun's bow?" "Can it be that Arjun is dead and Krishna has raised his weapon in anger?" "Go and see, Bhim" "Forgive me, Brother" "It is more important to protect you than Arjun" "Sartaki!" "I can see you are wounded" "Yet, I ask you to rush to Arjun's help" "Krishna is with Arjun!" "Even then, go there Sartaki!" "Your command is inviolable but Arjun himself has told me:" "Don't leave Yuddhistir's side till I return" "I, too, had given my word that I'd protect you till he returned" "That Brahmin cannot be defeated by any one of us" "I agree with Bhim that it is more important to protect you than Arjun" "Besides, with Krishna by his side who else can protect him better?" "I still want you to go and see, Sartaki" "As you wish!" "Let's go!" " Hail O Sage!" " What's the news?" "Sartaki has gone to help Arjun" "Forward!" "O Lord!" "Where is the twang of Arjun's bow?" "Don't worry!" "Krishna is with Arjun" "I know that but why can't I hear the twang of his bow" "Even Sartaki has not returned" "Don't worry about me, Bhim" "Go and help Arjun!" "Go!" "But..." "This is my order!" "As you wish!" "You know Sage Drona has sworn to capture Yuddhistir" "Brother has ordered me to go to Arjun" "I cannot refuse to obey" "So, Brother's protection is your responsibility" "Don't worry!" "Sage Drona will have to kill us before he can capture Yuddhistir" "Bhim is rushing to help Arjun" "It would help us if Bhim did not reach there" "I'll stop Yuddhistir." "You stop him" "As you wish!" "Take my chariot towards Bhim" "Stop Bhim!" "If you must fight, fight with me" "Why fight with ordinary soldiers?" "Whatever comes across a river is swept away" "What weapon will you use?" "If you still want to fight, take another mace or get on your chariot and go away" "Let's go!" "Wait!" "Where are you going?" "You cannot go to Arjun's help without defeating me" "Arjun took my permission before leaving" "I won't give you that permission" "Arjun left after making you helpless" "If you were not our Teacher he would have killed you" "If you stop me I won't look upon you as my Teacher but as the enemy's Army Chief" "To defeat you is my duty." "Beware!" "Let's go, charioteer!" "Tell the Sun God not to set without first witnessing the death of Jaidrath, the man responsible for widowhood" "After Abhimanyu's death, the Sun should not have risen at all" "Look to the Sun God and demand" "It is your right to demand" "If the Sun sets before Jaidrath's death then along with the corpses of many soldiers there will be the corpse of Truth" "Look to the Sun God!" "Sun God!" "Accept the respects of my son's widow Uttara" "You quietly witnessed my son's murder by cowards" "Why then don't you slow your pace?" "Why are you quiet, my dear?" "Tell Him!" "Let me see how He can ignore your prayer and set" "Why isn't the Sun setting today?" "Maybe the Sun God is watching the battle" "Bhim has broken eight of Sage Drona's chariots" "How can Bhim insult his own Teacher?" "They are not Teacher and disciple but opponents" "Bhim has left Sage Drona with his broken chariot" "Wait Brother Bhim!" "Wait charioteer!" "Don't stop me!" "I would not like to kill you because you know the definition of Truth" "Duryodhan's pride has made me kill 20 of your brothers" "So, do not stop me" "You know I cannot do that today" "You also know you cannot be victorious" "I know!" "I also know that Hastinapur will lose" "Yet, I cannot forsake Duryodhan" "So, I am ready to give up my life in battle" "Let me go ahead!" "I haven't forgotten how you opposed Duryodhan at the Dice Game" "That, too, was my duty" "To fight you today is also my duty" "All right!" "Do your duty and I'll do my duty." "Beware!" "Let's go charioteer" "Wait Bhim!" "Let me see the warrior who has killed 21 of his brothers" "A woman who has 5 husbands is not a wife but a whore" "A whore has no honour" "It wouldn't be wrong to bring her here nude" "O Son of Kunti!" "I did not expect you to be a coward" "I was duelling with Sartaki and you attacked from behind" "Who taught you this cowardice?" "Sage Drona?" "Sage Kripa?" "Or your charioteer Krishna?" "It does not befit you to talk of bravery or cowardice" "Isn't it cowardice to kill an unconscious warrior?" "Was it bravery to dance around my son's corpse?" "You asked for something and I could not give it" "Forgive me for that" "But I won't send you back empty-handed" "You are a mother of five sons" "None except you, I and the Sun God knows you are a mother of six sons" "So, whatever the result of war your five sons will remain alive" "If I die, Arjun will be saved" "If Arjun dies, I'll live" "The number of your sons will not change" "21 of my sons are dead!" "Isn't the Sun God satisfied?" "Will it set only after my remaining sons die?" "The Sun is about to set" "God knows who will inform Gandhari and when!" "The number of her sons is decreasing every day" "How far apart are Bhim and Duryodhan" "Bhim is busy duelling with Karna" "And Duryodhan?" "He is with Dushasan" "These are decisive moments" "If Arjun cannot kill Jaidrath before Sunset he'll have to immolate himself" "Without Arjun, our victory is definite" "Go protect Jaidrath" "As you wish!" "Let's go!" "O Sun God!" "Set early today" "When will you immolate yourself Arjun?" "When will you immolate yourself?" "The Sun hasn't set as yet." "There's the Sun!" "And Jaidrath!" "Jaidrath!" "The Sun hasn't set as yet!" "Run Jaidrath!" "You had killed my son Abhimanyu" "By fulfilling his vow Arjun proved his word" "Both Jaidrath and his father died" "Arjun's life was saved!" "The war on the fourteenth day was a little different" "The rules of war were broken before" "A good example is Bhishma on a bed of arrows and the killing of Abhimanyu who was surrounded and killed by seven warriors" "What happened today is an indication of the future" "No rule will be unbroken by the time the war ends" "Till now, a Ione warrior was breaking rules" "Now, every warrior of both armies has not shown respect to the Sunset and continued fighting after the Sunset" "The Sun set after Jaidrath's death but the end of war was not announced" "Torches were lit" "Then a storm created panic in the Kaurava army" "In the torchlight, everyone saw a huge mountainous man before them" "They stopped breathing with fear" "It was Ghatotkach, son of Bhim and Hidimba" "He had just arrived at the battlefield" "After fighting for a full day from where have the Pandavas got this strength?" "This is the demon style of warfare" "Demons?" "From where have they come?" "Who's this warrior?" "He's tearing through my army like the wind like the storm cutting down men and trees" "He is none other than Bhim's son Ghatotkach" "Greetings O Karna!" "I've heard a lot about your bravery" "Here's a gift from Ghatotkach!" "Blow the conch to mark the end of the day's war" "Or Ghatotkach will kill us all" "Come son!" "This is my son Ghatotkach" "May you be successful!" "May you be famous!" "Be long-lived!" "I am not worthy enough to replace Abhimanyu" "So, accept me as your humble servant" "What are you saying, my son?" "You are older than Abhimanyu was!" "You will create your own position" "If that is so, O Elder Father" "Why wasn't I called when the family was in danger?" "I know my mother is not of the warrior caste but..." "With a brave son like you she cannot be anything but of the warrior caste" "A brave son can be born only to a brave mother" "No one is a Brahmin or warrior by birth" "You are a warrior because you are brave!" "O Lord among men!" "O Krishna!" "If that is so, why was I not called like the others?" "There is an appropriate time for coming and going" "You have come at the right time" "You will always be respected In India" "Warriors will salute you" "You are Bharat!" "This dynasty will never pay back your debt" "My respects!" "Blessed is the mother who gave you birth" "I, Krishna, pay my respects to her" "O Mother!" "Protect my son with your blessing" "I do not ask for a long life for him because even cowards live long" "I want just a moment in my son's life which will shame even the greatest warrior" "What's the news?" "Your son created panic in the Kaurava army" "He reached when the two sides were evenly balanced" "He enhanced the Pandava strength" "He even injured Sage Drona and Karna" "Duryodhan was so scared that he asked Sage Drona to end the day's battle" "His father must be happy" "I didn't see that but what I saw will make us Asuras proud forever" "Krishna said:" "A brave son's mother can only be of the warrior caste" "A brave son can only be born to a brave mother" "Then he said:" "You are a warrior" "But I did not understand one thing" "What was that?" "There is an apt time for coming and going" "Bharat's dynasty will always be indebted to you" "Did he say that?" "Yes!" "That is what I did not understand" "Mother!" "You have granted my desire honoured my motherhood" "I wanted one such moment for my son" "I am now a worthy bride of Bharat's dynasty" "The actions make one a warrior" "He is the pride of the dynasty" "A brave son is always a honour to his mother" "What's wrong Kunti?" "A soldier is carrying another soldier's corpse" "Whichever side you fought for, you are our own" "The daughter-in-law of Bharat's clan are indebted to you" "What's wrong!" "My respects!" "What blessing can I give you?" "I cannot face both of you" "I hold myself responsible for all that is happening today" "Why do you say that?" "It was probably the dynasty's fate" "Fate is the fruit of one's own actions" "I had sworn an oath." "This is the result of that oath" "I am that Present which is ashamed of its Past and Future" "It is my punishment to lie on this bed of arrows and watch the destruction of the clan I tried to save India by siding with Injustice" "Look at my helplessness" "My oath prevents me from laying down my life" "Hastinapur was never so insecure as it is today" "I understand your helplessness" "I will never forgive Krishna" "If he wanted, he could have stopped this war" "Whether Duryodhan dies or Yuddhistir it is I who will suffer" "How many more corpses can my motherhood withstand?" "Whether I weep or Kunti does the tears will be the same" "Don't forget Krishna is not limited to the clan" "None of us is limited to the clan" "Not you!" "Not Brother-in-law!" "Not Sister!" "Nor I!" "A moment is a moment but also a part of Time" "So, every individual is not a mere individual" "If I was only Kunti, I would be with my sons" "If Sister was only Gandhari she would bless Duryodhan" "We are all parts of a long chain" "We are heir to what has happened and responsible for what is to happen" "We are the Present, Grandsire" "You are the primary moment" "We are all on a bed of arrows" "Your bed of arrows can be seen" "Our bed of arrows cannot be seen" "We have come to you for a cure for this pain" "Don't talk of Krishna" "He is beyond happiness and grief" "Sister and I are not like Krishna" "This pain has crossed the limits of our tolerance" "What shall we do, Grandsire?" "Do what I am doing!" "Wait!" "Wait?" "Wait for what?" "The end of war!" "For Hastinapur's safety!" "None of us is important!" "Neither you nor I!" "Neither Arjun nor Duryodhan!" "Only Hastinapur and its safety is important" "Don't think of who will win and who will lose" "Think of Hastinapur and the pain will lessen" "Mindless of his own worries he thinks of only the nation" "Blessed is that land which has a son like Bhishma" "May India become one!" "May India be secure!" "May this message be immortalised for all Ages" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "I don't want a long life, mother!" "I want victory!" "I don't have victory!" "Do you know how many of your sons survive?" "A mother does not count her sons" corpses!" "Now you are a mother of only two sons!" "Accept the blessing I am giving you" "Don't ask for what I cannot give you" "If Hastinapur survives we will all survive" "If it doesn't, none of us will survive" "So, my son, think of Hastinapur!" "And if possible find ways and means for a truce" "No!" "Never!" "If they ask for something as brothers I may give it to them" "But if they talk of their rights I will not accept it" "And if you want a truce then return to Hastinapur" "No, my son" "I'll stay here till the end of the war" "The Pandavas wish to see you, my Queen!" "Why did you stop them?" "A mother's doors should always be open" " Go bring them in" " As you wish" "Remember, my son, they are your brothers" "Water cannot be separated" "It can be separated." "It has happened" "Yuddhistir is your elder brother." "Respect him" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "My respects, Elder Mother" "Be the embodiment of Truth!" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "My respects!" "May you live long!" "My respects!" "Be successful!" "My respects!" "Be successful!" "We are here to mourn the deaths of our 98 brothers and Abhimanyu" "Also mourn for Dushasan's and my sons" "Who knows when you'll get to mourn again" "Remember the war is not yet over" "The war won't end unless I fulfil my vow" "Draupadi's unbraided hair won't let it end" "Dear Bhim..." "Forgive me but what can I do?" "Whenever Duryodhan or Dushasan comes before me I am reminded of the Game of Dice" "Try to control your anger" "No, Brother!" "No!" "Anger is also a powerful weapon in a war" "None of us is willing to forget anything" "Can I forget that Grandsire lies on a bed of arrows?" "Can I forget that we had to kill 98 brothers?" "Should I forget that seven warriors killed my injured son?" "You should not also forget that you are the first warriors in History to stake your wife at a Dice Game" "If Elder Mother were not here I would pull out your tongue for saying this" "Ask Mother and Duryodhan for forgiveness!" "I'll ask for Mother's forgiveness but not Duryodhan's." "I don't even want his blessing" "Wait for me outside" "Yes, Mother!" "Who are you to throw out Nakul from my tent?" "Forgive me, Mother" "Allow me to leave, mother" "I must discuss tomorrow's strategy with Sage Drona" "My respects, mother!" "My respects, Brother!" "Allow us to leave." "We have yet to meet mother" "We tried our best to prevent this war" "Won't you ask for a blessing for victory" " No!" " Why?" "I don't wish to create a problem for you" "My respects!" "That's the problem" "I know your camp is at the other end of the battlefield" "But my circumstances don't allow me to come there" "If I leave, Sister will be left all alone" "No mother can cry over the death of a hundred sons" "So, I have given my eyes and tears to her" "We mothers stand caught in our own tears" "Follow the Truth and do your duty and let me do my duty" "Don't forget that before I was your mother I was a daughter-in-law of the Bharat clan" "Thus I am tied to Hastinapur" "Hastinapur is my salvation" "So, don't worry about me" "Think of Hastinapur" "O Yuddhistir!" "Look after Sahadev" "Draupadi wishes to pay her respects" "No!" "She should not come here" "Give her my blessing" "Tell her we will meet only after the war" "Can you say when the war will be over?" "I cannot say that!" "But as long as Dushasan, Duryodhan Shakuni and Karna live the war cannot end" "It is necessary to kill these pillars of evil" "What has Karna done?" "He is indebted to Duryodhan" "He is merely repaying Duryodhan's debt" "To do that he did not have to call Draupadi a whore" "I cannot think any more about Ghatotkach" "I don't know how we can solve that problem" "Do you mean to say that our war against Arjun and Bhim is lost because of that demon?" "I am not talking of victory or defeat" "Ghatotkach is an accurate weapon" "We will need divine weapons to defeat him" "Divine weapons!" "Don't look at me thus!" "I have saved my divine weapons to beat Arjun" "Sage Drona and you can think of ways to kill Ghatotkach" "How does your friend bathed in blood look?" "After sometime neither I nor my army will be there" "After that you can search for Arjun" "If Arjun is more important than friendship then I free you from the bonds of friendship" "Don't say that, my friend!" "Increase your size, my son" "Increase your size and fall on the enemy" "Father!" "My last respects!" "Why are you smiling at my son's death?" "I am not smiling at his death, Bhim" "I was smiling because now Arjun is safe" "I was worried from the first day of the war because Karna had Lord Indra's weapon" "Hence, I did not let Arjun face Karna openly" "Tell me, should I not smile?" "Your son has surpassed Abhimanyu" "So, Ghatotkach will always be respected" "Karna cannot once again use the divine weapon" "Hence, Lord Krishna smiled while the others mourned" "Immortal Ghatotkach died to establish the eternal Truth" "Karna is unprotected now while Arjun is protected" "The war did not stop even after Ghatotkach's death" "The Pandavas wanted to mourn for Ghatotkach but could not do so in between the war" "So, they wiped their tears and continued to fight" "Ghatotkach's death enhanced the morale of the Kauravas" "So, they fought with greater determination" "In Hastinapur, Dhritirashtra was still worried" "I share the grief of your grandson Ghatotkach's death" "Thank you, Sanjay" "Duryodhan has made a very foolish move" "He used divine power to kill Ghatotkach" "He should have used it to kill Krishna or Arjun" "If any one of them would have died Duryodhan's victory would have been certain" "Prince Duryodhan is in the battlefield and you are here" "He may have thought it best to get rid of Ghatotkach" "Even Sage Drona was helpless before him" "This was affecting the army's morale" "Strategically the Prince made the correct decision" "After Ghatotkach's death Sage Drona is like a river in flood" "None can dare stop him" "The Pandava army is trapped and helpless" "Seeing this, the King of Virat is approaching Sage Drona" "O Sage!" "The use of divine power does not befit you" "Why?" "Because I am fighting against Arjun's army?" "I know these Gods very well" "O Indra!" "Don't I know that it was you who took the divine shield and earrings from Karna?" "O Sage!" "I am a representative of the Gods!" "On their behalf I request you not to use divine weapons" "Even the Sages desire it!" "Divine weapons should be used only to protect Religion" "How do you know I am not on the side of Religion?" "O Indra!" "I am protecting my Religion while my opponents are protecting their Religion" "Wait O son of Bharadwaj!" "My respects to Lord Brahma!" "At this moment I stand amidst a river of blood" "Please tell me how I can serve you!" "No need for that!" "In the Lord's name stop the use of divine weapons" "It violates the Brahmin Code" "You are a giver of Knowledge" "Why have you embraced the path of a warrior?" "My teacher Sage Parshuram is also a Brahmin" "He, too, has gone to war twenty one times" "The one who holds the Vedas is a Brahmin" "But when he raises a weapon he becomes a warrior" "As the Commander of the Kaurava army it is my duty to protect Hastinapur and its army" "Don't stop me from doing my duty" "O Sage!" "It is my duty to warn you" "If you are determined to violate the Brahmin Code then I cannot stop you" "You may use any weapon you choose but you very well know why Dhrishtadyuma was born" "O Brahma!" "None can go against your wishes!" "I did not ask Dhrupad for a promise" "My wife would paint my son's lips with rice paste so that he could tell his friends he had drunk milk" "Dhrupad did not keep the promise he gave me but I fulfilled his promise" "I gave him half a kingdom and made him my equal" "Even then my coward friend Dhrupad would not give up his pride" "He married his daughter to Arjun who had defeated him in war but forgot that Drona was his friend" "If you still think it is my fault then so be it!" "In Indraprasth, when he wanted a blessing for his son I did not refuse to give it" "Did I not know why he wanted that blessing?" "I knew it!" "Even then my friend wanted a blessing for his son" "Even in Kurukshetra I did not fear the blessing given to Dhrishtadyuma and forsake Dhritirashtra" "I am indebted to the Kurus" "The person who did not own a single cow now has hundreds of cows" "Therefore, forgive me" "I know the Pandavas will eventually win" "They deserve to win!" "I am the Commander of this losing side" "I am only doing my duty" "O Brahmin!" "What are you doing in the battlefied?" "Go to the hermitage and teach the Princes" "That is your duty" "O King of Virat!" "If your weapons are not for show then fight me!" "Ask your charioteer to think of easy ways of escape" "Wherever he takes your chariot my arrows will stop him" "O Brahmin!" "Make use of Brahma's weapon" "You are not worthy of the Brahma's weapon" "Take the chariot towards the Virat King" "I'll never forgive you for killing the Virat King" "Such brave warriors are born once in a century" "You have killed a brave warrior" "If you don't stop barring my way then another brave warrior will die" "This is our last meeting" "Let's pay respects to each other" "You are not worthy of my respect" "Today Sage Drona has repaid my debt" "He has killed two brave warriors in one day" "It is an auspicious day for Duryodhan" "Now, if he can only get rid of Krishna then Duryodhan will be safe" "A father who has lost 98 sons is happy today" "Really very happy!" "Look and tell me who he is fighting now" "Prince Duryodhan is saying something to him" "He must be praising Sage Drona" "Listen carefully and tell me every word" "Killing the Virat King and Dhrupad is not enough" "I want the Pandava corpses" "Their killing is not that easy" "Why would I tell you if it was easy?" "You have divine weapons." "Even Gods cannot fight you" "And you cannot defeat your own pupils?" "If you cannot kill them while they are awake then kill them while they are sleeping" "I cannot fight a war of treachery" "Go away!" "Let me fight!" "The truth is, like Grandsire, you do not wish to fight" "Remember!" "A war is fought only for victory" "You are not fighting this war for my victory 98 of my brothers have already died fighting but those five brothers are still alive" "I am a warrior not the Lord of Death" "Take the chariot ahead" "Look Krishna!" "I am seeing everything" "Nobody can defeat Sage Drona today" "Do you mean we will lose the war today?" "I did not say that!" "One thing is definite!" "None can defeat Sage Drona if all the rules of war are strictly followed" "There's no harm in doing Evil to protect Truth" "What are you saying?" "I am merely suggesting an idea, Arjun" "The one who opposes Truth is a symbol of Evil" "It is every person's duty to vanquish such Evil" "Anyone who kills will be doing Evil" "That is a mere logical argument!" "Logic is the basis of life" "Life is meaningful when belief is rooted in logic" "Do you agree that this is a war of Truth?" "Of course, it is!" "You also agree that Sage Drona is an obstacle to the victory of Truth?" "Yes!" "I agree!" "Then you must also admit that the Sage's defeat is necessary for the Truth to triumph" "The protection of Truth can never be Evil" "You did not think twice about making Shikhandi face Grandsire" "What should we do now?" "There's only one solution" "If Drona is made to believe Ashwathama is dead he will give up his arms in mourning" "Forgive me, O Krishna" "Victory is not worth the price" "Who are you to win or lose this war?" "It is your duty to fight Evil" "Do your duty and forget about its result" "O Krishna!" "I know not the art of falsehood" "O Yuddhistir!" "Will you not side with Truth?" "If there is no other way for Truth to triumph I am willing to bear the burden of Sin" "The churning of the sea did not yield nectar alone" "It also yielded poison" "The one who drinks this poison is Lord Shiva" "Did not Lord Ram violate the rules of war to kill Bali?" "Do you know the name of that elephant?" "It's called Ashwathama" "I have killed Ashwathama!" "Ride on, charioteer!" "Be careful, Elder Brother" "Sage Drona may not believe Bhim and may ask you" "I have killed Ashwathama!" "Take my chariot to Yuddhistir" "I do not want your respects" "I want the truth" "Is it true that my son Ashwathama is dead?" "Answer my question!" "Ashwathama (the elephant) Was killed" "What are you saying, Sanjay?" "Yuddhistir told a lie to win a war?" "The Truthful One!" "Krishna has truly spoiled my sons" "But his logic was faultless" "Whatever goes against me and my sons will seem faultless to you" "Tell me of Drona's condition" "As you wish, my lord" "The Sage has shed his weapons" "Bhim is saying something to him" "What is he saying?" "It befits a Brahmin to teach, O Teacher!" "How did you become a warrior?" "These are your Teacher's weapons" "Crush them under your chariot, if you wish" "I still cannot believe that my son Ashwathama was killed by you" "Yet, Yuddhistir will not tell a lie" "Hence, I have shed my weapons" "A disciple is like a son" "Bhim!" "If you were not my disciple I would be standing over your corpse" "No, Krishna!" "Move aside Sahadev!" "Let go of me!" "Dhrishtadyuma!" "I'll never forgive this cowardice" "I'll kill you!" "You have killed my unarmed teacher!" "Dhrishtadyuma!" "You are a coward" "I'll kill Dhrishtadyuma!" "I'll kill him!" "What has Dhrishtadyuma done?" "Why did you stop?" "You'll have to get rid of me before my brother" "Do I have any importance in this family?" "O warrior!" "I am the same Draupadi who was dragged by her hair to the Hastinapur court" "I am the same Draupadi who was disrobed and five brave warriors watched mutely" "Sage Drona on whose death you are so angry sat quietly in the same court" "When my unarmed son Abhimanyu was killed this very Drona led the other killers" "No coward can dare pay respects to my father" "I am not the one whose death you announced to my father" "Cowards!" "Look at me carefully" "I'll never forgive you for this act of cowardice" "I'll make you pay the price for my father's death" "My respects, Grandsire!" "What blessing shall I give you?" "I cannot bless you with victory" "Would you like the blessing of a long life?" "No, Grandsire!" "The Commander of a losing side cannot desire a long life" "If you really wish to bless me wish that I am freed from Duryodhan's debt" "The Commander?" "Yes, Grandsire!" "Then Sage Drona is..." "O Hastinapur!" "What is thy Fate?" "Will none survive till Duryodhan's last moment?" "There is a lot wrong with him but my heart feels for him" "Had Dhritirashtra not burdened him with his own ambitions Duryodhan would not be self-destructive" "Your becoming Commander only means you are going to leave him soon" "You are his friend" "Tell him that he is a warrior" "It does not befit a warrior to be a slave" "Allow me to leave." "My respects, Grandsire" "My respects, Krishna" "What was the charioteer's son doing here?" "Don't keep insulting Karna like that" "This is not the language of brave warriors" "I know who Karna's mother is" "She is to be respected" "Do you really know Karna's mother?" "All mothers are alike, dear Nakul" "They are all to be respected" "Accept Krishna's respects, Grandsire!" "Won't you bless me?" "No!" "I am honoured by your presence" "O Krishna!" "Give me a part of your merit so my life is also a success" "Success and failure are mere words" "Who knows this better than you that these words have no meaning" "Victory, Defeat, Success and Failure are mere names for the Result" "The Result is not in your hands" "Did you know the result when you took the oath?" "If you knew, you would not have taken the oath" "If Sage Kindom's curse had not intervened King Pandu would still be ruling and Dhritirashtra would not be addicted to the throne" "Duryodhan too would not be in the Hell of his ambition" "If all this would not have happened you would not be on this bed of arrows" "This is the end-result of your oath which lies in shreds because you did not know the result of your oath" "Do not hold yourself responsible for what has happened, is happening and will happen" "You have a right to your salvation" "Why are you all downcast?" "We have committed a grave crime" "Crime?" "Did you turn your backs in the arena?" "No, Grandsire!" "Did any one of you kill an unarmed warrior?" "They are not talking about Abhimanyu" "Then what did they do?" "They themselves will tell you" "Then why are they standing silently?" "Their crime cannot be greater than the Wax House, the Dice Game or Draupadi's insult" "One lie from me resulted in Sage Drona's death" "Yuddhistir!" "You told a lie?" "Go away from here!" "If it was in my power I would remove this moment from my life" "My dear Yuddhistir told a lie!" "O Mother Satyavati!" "If you removed all your unwanted moments you would have no life span left" "The five brothers could not defeat Sage Drona" "What could they do?" "Lose this Holy war?" "So that Duryodhan could rewrite History?" "Deny the Wax House and call Draupadi a whore?" "Prove that this Holy War never happened?" "For Sage Drona, ...Dhritirashtra's debt was greater than Truth" "But they were not alone." "You were with them" "How long can a Bhishma or a Drona last when you stand with them?" "I have sworn not to take up weapons in this war" "So what?" "Did you not run to attack me?" "That was my tribute to your bravery" "I had heard you had left behind your naughtiness in the by-lanes of Gokul?" "Which means you have forgiven them?" "Who can refuse you anything?" "Tell the King of Madra that Karna is waiting for him outside" "Sorry for the delay, Commander" "Do not embarrass me" "In my enthusiasm, I have come before time" "It is an honour to have you as my charioteer" "Lord Krishna on that side and you on this side" "What can a mere charioteer do?" "I can only try to save you from Arjun's accurate arrows" "The charioteer alone can do nothing!" "I know that but Karna too has accurate arrows in his quiver" "I know all that but you too have tasted Arjun's arrows at Virat" "Even the Kaurava army could not face Arjun" "That army also had many great warriors like Bhishma, Sages Drona and Kripa, Ashwathama Duryodhan and yourself" "Besides, that war was on behalf of Virat" "This is Arjun's own war" "The Wax House, the Dice Game, Draupadi's insult and the deepest wound of all:" "Abhimanyu's death" "He has the anger of all those wounds" "Even Brahma's weapon cannot pierce that anger" "This is open partiality" "Shalya should not cross the limits of a charioteer" "Do not talk of limits, my lord" "Why?" "Both Abhyimanyu's death and Drona's death are fresh" "Bharat's dynasty has lost all its values" "The Lunar Dynasty is in decline" "It is a poisonous darkness" "Who knows when this night will end and the Sun will rise in Hastinapur" "All values have been lost enveloped in a dark night" "None is willing to listen to any talk of ideals" "This war is now in its last stages" "When Historians write about this Great War they will discover that it proved expensive for not only for India but the entire world" "The two scales of the balance will be unbalanced" "The Historians will wonder whether the war achieved any overall good or not" "How many people were lost in this heap of corpses" "They will nevertheless conclude that moral and social values are worth the price" "Life itself is the cheapest thing in this market" "The Karna Age has begun in Kurukshetra from today" "None, except I, knows how long the Age of Karna will last" "So, why should I reveal its duration now?" "The King of Madra is Karna's charioteer but instead of trying to protect Karna he is trying to strip him of his courage and confidence like one would peel an onion" "Hold on tightly to your bow, Karna" "It may slip out of your hand on seeing Arjun" "Arjun is in a class by himself" "Even Lord Indra cannot face him in battle now that Arjun has all the divine weapons" "Except Lord Shiva, none can dare fight Arjun" "Why do you penalise me for Duryodhan's sins?" "I have never cheated you" "I had only made you a request and you had honoured me by accepting it" "Even then I had only said that I wanted a charioteer of Krishna's calibre" "On that day you did not tell me that I was not worthy enough to fight Arjun because even Lord Indra cannot face him" "Were you waiting for the day when I became Commander to tell me all this?" "I know Arjun better than you do but I, too, am Radheya" "I was taught by Bhishma's and Sage Drona's teacher and he did not teach me the meaning of fear" "A charioteer's duty is to point out the true path" "Krishna, too, had done this at the start of war" "Is it not so?" "It is my duty to tell you." "The rest is up to you" "The Pandavas won't forgive you." "Even if they do, I won't" "From today I symbolise their dishonour" "Come on!" "Here is Draupadi who has five husbands!" "Listen all ye warriors Past, Present and Future" "I swear an oath which none before me has sworn or after me shall ever swear" "I, Bhim, son of Pandu, swear that I shall not show my face to my ancestors till I drink the blood from Dushasan's chest" "Why are you standing so far away, coward?" "Come near!" "So that I may see your blood flow and you may see my blood flow!" "These were the hands which held Draupadi's hair" "I'll drink the blood from your chest!" "Why are you silent?" "What has Bhim done?" "Speak up!" "I am still your King, Sanjay!" "Obey me!" "Prince Dushasan is dead" "You are hiding something" "Tell me!" "What did Bhim do?" "He drank the blood from Dushasan's chest" "Then he smeared his face with the blood and danced around Dushasan's corpse just like our warriors had danced around Abhimanyu's corpse" "Don't keep quiet, Sanjay!" "Speak on!" "What else did Bhim do?" "Then he took a handful of blood and ran to his camp" "I have brought Dushasan's blood for your insulted hair" "I'll never forgive Bhim!" "This is not war!" "This is raw muscle power!" "My Duryodhan is all alone now" "Somebody is left alone on the battlefield" "But Duryodhan will not be able to bear the sorrow" "Just see who is with him at this moment" "How did this happen?" "This is dear Dushasan's hand which Bhim pulled out from his body and threw away" "We all saw what happened and yet I say:" "Make truce with the Pandavas" "A truce?" "With whom?" "Those cowards who have used treachery to kill our warriors?" "Should I sign a truce with them?" "O Ashwathama!" "Death cannot touch you" "You are immortal." "Then why do you talk like a coward" "They used treachery to eliminate Grandsire" "They used treachery to kill Sage Drona" "Have you forgiven them?" "Or have you forgotten your father's death?" "I'll never forgive them nor ever forget my father's death" "That is my personal problem" "I talk of a truce because it is to the state's advantage" "What state, Ashwathama?" "The jewelled crown is not the state" "The throne is not the state" "I am the state" "The state is Dushasan whose corpse lies before me" "The state is Dushasan whose blood Bhim drank" "So, do not talk of a truce" "I want the corpses of the Pandavas!" "Attack them!" "Let's go" "I had warned you Karna" "It will not be easy to fight Arjun and Bhim" "Don't be frightened now" "If the soldiers see you frightened then they will be unable to fight" "You are Hastinapur's last hope" "So, hide your fear" "Drive the chariot!" "Even I know the art of war" "When two warriors fight, one wins and the other dies" "Take my chariot towards Arjun's chariot" "The Sun has saved you today" "Come, O King of Madra!" "Let's return to the camp" "What's it Sister?" "Why didn't you call for me" "It was something I had to come and tell" "Sit, Sister" "Whose death do you want to mourn today?" "It is the day I mourn for my son Dushasan but I can weep no more, Kunti" "My eyes say how long can we keep crying?" "Today I am reminded of the day Grandsire came with the marriage proposal" "Father and Shakuni had refused him but I thought when a great man like Grandsire asks for something he should not be refused" "So, I accepted the proposal" "When I touched his feet do you know what blessing he gave me?" "He placed his hand on my head and said:" "May you have a hundred sons" "And today Gandhari, the mother with a hundred sons has only one son left" "I don't even know how long I'll remain a mother of that one son" "I don't know how many arrows pierced Grandsire but I do know how many arrows have pierced me" "I have not come here to talk about my sons" "After many days I received some good news so I could not sit still in my camp" "Can there be any good news in this battle?" "There's always place for good news" "Today the Sun God did us a great favour" "The Sun God!" "You mean Arjun..." "No!" "No, Sister!" "Is this good news?" "What else is it?" "If the Sun had set Arjun would have been dead" "Sister!" "I am indebted to the Sun God" "But the Sun will rise again tomorrow" "The war will be fought again" "Then let there be war!" "Karna will not live to see tomorrow's Sunset" "Don't curse him, Sister" "He is already twice cursed" "I am not cursing Karna" "I am merely blessing my son Arjun" "No!" "Don't curse him" "Any problem, Arjun?" "I cannot live in the shadow of Karna's favour" "Favour?" "What favour" "He could have killed me but he did not!" "Why did a warrior, who waited for this war hold back his bow at the last moment?" "If this is not a favour, what is?" "It is not proper that the greatest archer say this" "Not proper?" "What are you saying?" "In the excitement of war you did not see that Karna's arrow could not have pierced your chest before Sunset" "By holding back his bow he has sent a message" "What message?" "He sent a message which said he is not responsible for all that has happened but as the long as he is the Commander his army will not violate the rules of war framed by Grandsire" "Why did he send this message?" "Why are you asking me this question?" "Does he want to say we are cowards?" "Even a blind man cannot call you a coward" "Forget such thoughts and stop looking around" "Are you the same Arjun who once told Sage Drona that he could see nothing but the eye of the bird?" "What has happened to those sharp eyes of yours?" "Don't wander in the desert of futile questions" "Keep your eyes on the target" "You should sight nothing but your target" "Tomorrow when you face Karna again don't allow your arrows to stray" "Today is gone!" "Karna is your ultimate target" "Victory was in your hands today but you allowed it to escape" "Don't worry!" "If victory was in my hands today it will be in my hands tomorrow" "Why did you hold back today?" "I have no doubt about your bravery Uncle but you will not understand" "Then you explain it!" "Your friend has wept over 99 of his brothers" "He is asking you:" "O Commander!" "Victory was in your hands today" "Why did you let go of it?" "O Commander!" "Your loyalty is beyond doubt" "And yet this question keeps disturbing your friend" "I swear on the wounds you have suffered" "You will not understand my ill-luck that the Sun God came between Arjun and I" "I knew my arrow would not reach Arjun before Sunset" "How could I release that arrow?" "So what if it was Sunset" "Did the war stop at every Sunset before this?" "Before this when the war continued after Sunset I was not the Commander of this Army" "How can I forget that the rules of war were framed by Grandsire" "Any fighting after the Sunset was prohibited" "How then could I fire?" "The rules of war were broken on both sides" "One more would have been broken" "It would have been your tribute to Dushasan" "Dushasan was also my brother" "He was also Bhim's brother but Bhim pulled out and threw away his arm drank the blood from his chest and danced all around his body" "I have seen the same dance once before" "Even then it did not befit Bhim to do so" "Try to understand my problem" "You are Dhritirashtra's son, an heir of Bharat's" "An heir of brave warriors like Yayati and Kuru" "The Pandavas have the same background" "If you both break any rules your background will protect you but who will help this poor Radheya?" "Your father's charioteer found him and brought him up with love" "Who is he?" "What is his background?" "Whose heir is he?" "Which dynasty does he belong to?" "I am all alone in this battlefield, my friend" "I have nothing but my bow and my strength" "Hence I cannot break any rule" "Not for you!" "Not even for myself!" "When the Commander is Karna" "No rules will be broken" "The bravery of the generous warrior" "Will always be remembered by the world" "Many times during this war I had thought that had I not been Time itself I would have gone far away from here" "But I am Time, and because of that I am forced to witness these terrible days and nights of war" "I cannot even desire to go away" "There are so many corpses all around that even I cannot find space to stand here" "In spite of being Time I stand on my toes" "I'll have to stand on my toes till the war is over because I am the only one who is impartial" "Every one else is either on the losing side or the winning side" "Even the Lord himself is not impartial" "His siding with the Pandavas is not a game" "Besides, this is no time for games!" "A lesson which Man should draw from this is in this war between Truth and Untruth the one who is impartial sides with Untruth the one who is impartial is at fault" "So, O Man!" "Carry the corpse of Abhimanyu if you must but do not remain impartial" "Create a bed of arrows for Grandsire but do not remain impartial" "Do not merely pay your respects to Sage Drona but fight him!" "Test your Soul and social life your life's values and Politics on the cornerstone of Motherland and Truth and find out how true they still are" "Also, learn to respect your opponents" "Did you not see the Lord pay his respects to Bhishma?" "Bhishma, Drona, Karna are merely parts of the Ship" "They are not separate from the Ship destined to go down with the ship" "Bhishma is of no further help" "Drona is already dead" "His funeral pyre still burns in Ashwathama's heart" "Karna's heart has neither fire nor water" "There's nothing in Karna's heart but a sad loneliness" "Even then victory has slipped out of my hands" "I am not here to discuss Morality" "I am here to win a war" "Victory is the greatest wealth to be won in a war" "Remember, my friend I never trusted Drona's or Grandsire's loyalty..." "I am much younger than Grandsire or Sage Drona" "So, I cannot bear all that they did" "Even I mourn Dushasan's death" "To this day you have not vanquished the Pandavas" "And yet, you did not doubt your own loyalty" "I did not doubt your loyalty, my friend" "That is the problem" "You do not even know that you doubted my loyalty" "If not, why do you keep cursing the Sun God that He has denied you Arjun's corpse?" "Don't you know under what tension I am?" "I know, my friend, but you don't know under what pressure I am!" "Don't worry!" "I'll fight again tomorrow" "History will remember tomorrow's war forever" "My friend!" "I am an arrow from your quiver" "Whenever I am released, it will be to your target" "Don't talk of your insult again and again" "This war is far bigger than that" "Try to understand!" "We are shedding our own blood" "Don't think this war is being fought to protect your pride" "Your hair are beautiful but they cannot be more beautiful than Hastinapur" "So, wash off Dushasan's blood from your hair" "Blood looks good in the veins" "Outside, it is helpless like an orphaned refugee" "Doesn't my humiliation mean anything?" "It does, dear Draupadi but not as much as you want it to!" "You are Draupadi, not Hastinapur" "By saying this, I am not reducing your importance" "Hastinapur is like an ocean and you are a mere drop in that ocean" "The ocean is incomplete without you" "That's your importance" "Don't devalue it by talking of your humiliation" "Which means you will not kill Karna" "I didn't say that" "Karna's death is essential for Hastinapur's safety" "You are a symbol of Hastinapur's pride" "You were not insulted" "Hastinapur was insulted" "I remember my promise" "That charioteer's son Karna will not see tomorrow's Sunset" "Release me from your curse for just one day" "O Son of Kunti!" "O Son of the Sun!" "Tomorrow is the day for which I had cursed you" "You'll gain nothing by being victorious" "Despite Krishna's presence even if you win you'll gain nothing" "O Karna!" "The Pandavas have a right to victory" "You are not known for taking" "You are known for giving" "Reconcile to your fate" "Your part in Abhimanyu's killing has freed you from Duryodhan's debt" "Don't pretend not to know this fact" "My blessing shall protect you, Karna whether it is Heaven or Earth" "Wherever your name is mentioned it shall be mentioned with respect" "Mother!" "You?" "May you live long, my son!" "Arjun is my younger brother" "He has a greater right to this blessing than I" "But why are you here?" "I remember my promise to you" "I know that, my son" "You can never forget a promise" "In fact, you are not willing to forget anything" "That is my strength..." "and my bad luck!" "I don't wish to mourn for either of you" "This attitude does not befit you, mother" "This is a war for Hastinapur" "You are a daughter-in-law of the Bharat clan" "You'll have to sacrifice something" "Mother Gandhari has sacrificed 99 sons" "What will you reply if History asks you:" "What did you sacrifice in this crucial war?" "I don't want you to be shamed by History" "You'll have to mourn for at least one of your sons" "So, please accept my respects" "What are you watching so quietly for so long?" "My heart suffers for Gandhari" "She should not have gone there at all" "Had she been here I would have shared her sorrow" "Her going away has left both of us alone" "Queen Kunti is also there" "Yes!" "Kunti is also there!" "She is in your camp and not her sons' camp" "She also has tears in her eyes" "You have surely made a mistake, Sanjay" "Why should Kunti have tears in her eyes?" "Her sons are on the victory path" "All this is Grandsire's fault" "Had he not been on the bed of arrows we would have surely won" "Stand next to my head" "My vision does not reach my feet" "Your son has restricted my vision" "What shall I do, Grandsire?" "I have spent my entire life trying to answer the question that faces you today" "All my life I stood at the crossroads of temptation" "Accepting one path would mean sacrificing the other" "Today, lying on this bed of arrows I think of what I gained and what I lost" "I am still bound to the material world" "Duryodhan does not come here any longer..." "He told me Dushasan was dead" "All the children who played on my lap are dying one by one" "Do you know, Dushasan had only one fault" "He loved Duryodhan so much that he became a mere shadow of Duryodhan" "Had it not been so he would not have even touched Draupadi" "So, forgive him, if you can" "Intense love can also cloud your vision" "I am telling you the same thing" "Protect yourself from the agony of intense love" "In this war, there are no brothers!" "In this war, there are only two types of people:" "There are those who side with Hastinapur" "There are those who are against it" "Tomorrow two warriors will face each other" "If one of them wins, Hastinapur wins" "If the other wins, Hastinapur loses" "So forget that both are your sons" "Pray for Hastinapur's victory!" "Go!" "You are very fortunate, Grandsire that you are not a mother" "Whatever this war is being fought for it is our sons who are dying" "You are still awake, Brother" "Even you are awake" "These arrows seem all right" "They are not right for Karna" "What can the charioteer's son do to you?" "He may be anybody's son but no ordinary man can be Chief of the Kaurava Army which has had Chiefs like Grandsire and Sage Drona" "Duryodhan did not appoint Ashwathama" "Nor did he appoint the King of Madra" "Warriors like them will not fight under any ordinary man" "Grandsire, Sage Drona and he have the same teacher" "He has Sage Parshuram's bow given to him by Lord Shiva Himself" "You are trying to frighten me" "No!" "If you want to win a war learn to be afraid" "Fear keeps the warrior alert" "If you are not alert on the battlefield you can never win a war" "I was not afraid of Sage Drona or Grandsire" "But I am afraid of Karna" "That's why I am choosing the best arrows" "O Brahmin!" "A Sin is an act which is done on purpose" "No!" "A sin is that which causes pain to another" "You may not have released the arrow on purpose" "The result is the same." "My calf is dead" "Can't its bereaved mother even curse you?" "Do not curse, O Brahmin!" "Then return the calf to the cow" "O Warrior!" "You are known for your Charity" "Can you give Life?" "This Chariot which elevates you from us will one day forsake you" "Fear will surround you when you'll fight the most crucial war of your life" "The Earth will swallow the wheels of your chariot" "Greetings!" "The Queen has sent a message" "She wants to meet you before you leave" "Respects!" "The King of Anga is here!" "My respects, my queen!" "Leave us alone!" "Please sit!" "Thank you" "I am not only the Queen" "I am also your dear friend Duryodhan's mother" "So, if possible, forget for some time that I am the Queen" "Can you think of me as a mother for some time?" "You are a mother!" "You can order me as the Queen or as Duryodhan's mother" "Look on me as Duryodhan's mother" "You are his friend" "Hence I have the right to call you "son"" "Even if I was not Duryodhan's friend you could still call me "son"" "May you live long, my son!" "That blessing has no meaning in this war" "Dushasan must have been similarly blessed" "Yes!" "That is a mother's favourite blessing" "Duryodhan is left all alone on the battlefield" "If he says anything bitter in anger please do not feel upset and leave him!" "The shade may forsake the tree" "The Sunlight may forsake the Sun" "The snow may forsake the Himalayas" "But Radheya will never forsake Duryodhan" "As long as I live my loyalty will ensure that Death cannot reach Duryodhan" "I cannot say what will happen after my death" "Why do you talk about your death?" "Today I'll fight a decisive war with Arjun" "Which one of us will you bless with victory?" "I have no answer for that question" "I want to see both Arjun and Duryodhan live" "That's impossible!" "But that was not my question!" "I asked whom would you prefer to see alive:" "Arjun or I?" "Allow me to leave!" "You need not answer the question" "My respects!" "A duel is fought between equals" "Go to your camp and attend to your wounds" "Proceed, O King of Madra!" "Did you spare him because he is my nephew?" "No!" "Elders scold youngers!" "They don't kill them!" "Take my chariot towards Yuddhistir" "You will always have five sons" "If I die, Arjun will survive" "If Arjun dies, I shall survive" "You have forgotten all that Sage Drona taught you!" "Why fight you?" "Proceed O King of Madra!" "Where else can I take your chariot?" "You still haven't heard the twang of Arjun's bow" "Nor have you heard the twang of my bow" "What a beautiful sight!" "A chariot drawn by four white horses" "A charioteer like Krishna!" "A warrior like Arjun!" "All except Lord Shiva will fear such a scene" "Are you afraid, Karna?" "Only a warrior of stone would not be afraid" "Ordinary weapons will not stop Karna" "You were right!" "Arjun is, after all, Arjun!" "He can string his bow before I release an arrow" "But this war is not yet over" "This opponent is worthy of divine weapons." "Use them!" "As you wish, my lord" "O Brahmin!" "My wheel may get stuck in the mud but you cannot stop me from using Brahma's weapon" "You have deceived your teacher" "So, I curse you!" "You'll forget your Knowledge when you need it the most" "This Knowledge will not benefit you" "O Arjun!" "My wheel is stuck in the Earth" "I am getting down to free it" "So, stop your arrows for a moment" "What are watching, Arjun?" "I am on a chariot and he is on foot" "Chariots keep breaking down in war." "He is a warrior" "He can take another chariot" "This is against the rules of war" "When did Karna ever follow the rules of war?" "Why do you insist on following them?" "He is a partner in Duryodhan's crimes" "Have you forgotten the day in court when he called Draupadi a whore?" "Have you forgotten what happened 4 days ago?" "Karna, who claims to follow the rules of war helped to kill Abhimanyu" "He, too, was unarmed and on foot then!" "This was how Karna the Chariatable met his death!" "The five Pandava brothers got a new lease of life" "A Sun set at Kurukshetra during the day" "Probably, none but the Sun God could experience the darkness" "Karna, son of the Sun God, was not merely a warrior" "He was also Karna, the Chariatable" "Life did not give him anything but he sacrificed his life for his loyalty" "It was not that Karna died on the battlefield" "This keeps happening during a war" "Karna was a warrior who embraced Death" "O Sun God!" "I mourn the death of your son Karna!" "You were really very brave" "All your life I did not respect you" "I found you next to me only because of Duryodhan and thought it was my insult" "I merely tolerated that insult" "O Radheya!" "O son of a charioteer!" "The manner of your death has made you respectful" "O Brave Warrior!" "O Chariatable Karna!" "I, Shakuni, King of Gandhar salute you a thousand times" "Prince!" "Where is your crown, O King?" "I have come to mourn with you and so I have come bare-headed" "There is no warrior in the battlefield today whose death merits your leaving Radheya alone" "Who have you made his charioteer?" "Is he as good a charioteer as Krishna is?" "Instead of coming here to mourn go back to my friend" "How will he fight without a charioteer?" "What will a charioteer do without a warrior?" "No!" "It is a lie!" "The Pandavas are experts at circulating lies" "Remember how they announced Ashwathama's death so as to disarm Sage Drona" "O King!" "Tell me that my friend is alive" "Tell me that the news is false" "I am not quoting hearsay, Prince" "I was Karna's charioteer" "I could not protect your friend and our Commander but I am a witness to his courage and Arjun's cowardice" "India has produced many brave warriors in the Past and will do so in the Future but there will be none to match Karna's courage" "No!" "Will I have to live without my friend Karna, now?" "I don't know how to live without my friend!" "I may forgive those cowards for killing my 99 brothers but I'll never forgive them for killing Radheya" "From today I appoint you the Commander of my army" "However, I regret I will not have the honour of fighting under your leadership today" "If there is a tomorrow, I shall surely fight" "Today I shall mourn for my dear friend Radheya" "On your guard, Yuddhistir!" "On your guard, Commander!" "Take my chariot towards the King of Gandhar" "On your guard, O King of Gandhar" "Where did the Pandavas learn to alert the enemy?" "This is the tradition of warriors" "This is the battlefield, not the Recreation Hall" "Arrows are used here, not Dice!" "Treachery is still treachery, dear nephew whether it is war or the Dice Game." "Beware!" "Get up, dear nephew!" "Beware, dear nephew!" "Treachery!" "Nine!" "Victory to Gandhar!" "Today I am left all alone Grandsire" "My friend Karna, my brother Radheya has left me alone" "It does not befit a warrior to cry, my child" "Come and stand next to my head" "I did not cry like this even when Dushasan was killed but Radheya's death has left me bereft" "His death has impoverished me" "Radheya's death is the gift of his life" "Don't make the mistake of thinking of him as Radheya" "He was a Kaunteya!" "He knew he was a Kaunteya!" "And yet, he fought for you and died fighting for you!" "So, he was Mother Kunti's son!" "A brother of the Pandavas!" "And yet, he fought and died for me?" "My son" "The truth of Radheya's life was that he was a Kaunteya" "Today, with these aged hands I pay my respects to the eldest son of Kunti" "Why are you crying over the corpse of an enemy?" "Let her cry, Brother" " Let's go!" " No, Krishna!" "How can we leave mother weeping like this?" "Tell us, mother!" "Why are you honouring Karna with your tears?" "All right!" "I have wiped my tears" "Now go away!" "Carry away the corpses of your soldiers" "If I tell you the Gandiva will slip down from your shoulders" "It was your arrows which killed him" "So, go away!" "Go away with your brother and let me cry!" "...but Karna was here" "Why don't you explain to mother not to insult her tears by crying over an enemy" " This Radheya..." " He is not Radheya" "Then who is he?" "My eldest son!" "Your eldest brother!" "What?" "He was my eldest brother?" "Why did you hide such a big thing from us?" "No!" "Yes!" "I hid it!" "And paid the price for it" "I've died a thousand times a day since then" "Whenever anyone called him a charioteer's son I would suffer" "But I would not let anyone see my suffering in the fear that someone would ask why I felt so deeply for Radheya" "What could I say?" "I was helpless, my son!" "Your silence resulted in such a big war" "Thousand of soldiers were killed" "India has paid a heavy price for your silence" "You are responsible for every corpse on the battlefield" "Your silence has made us our elder brother's killers" "In this battlefield with my brother's corpse as witness I curse all womanhood" "From today they'll never be able to keep a secret" "The last 17 days and inumerable corpses stand between truce and I" "If I can get dear Radheya back I may think of a truce" "If I can get back Dushasan I may think of a truce" "If Grandsire is made whole I may think of a truce" "Just like all this is not possible a truce is not possible" "I cannot insult my dear friend Radheya's loyalty my brother Dushasan's love my teacher Sage Drona's death and Grandsire's wounds by calling for a truce" "I don't want future generations to call you a coward's mother" "So, I have no other option but to wage war" "Can you with the setting moon as witness bless me with victory?" "No, my son!" "I'll not give you that blessing" "After losing all my sons I'll not give you that blessing" "But, as a devotee of Lord Shiva, I can protect you" "Go bathe in the Ganges and..." "But like the day you were born" "In the nude?" "Why are you shy of your mother?" "Don't ask such questions!" "As you wish!" "My respects, Mother Gandhari!" "Come Giridhar" "Come Madhusudhan" "No!" "I'll call you Devaki's Son!" "Come O Son of Devaki!" "I'll respond to whatever name you call me by" "I am sure you remember that seventeen days ago I was a mother of a hundred sons" "Today I have only one son left" "Between a hundred and one lie innumerable corpses" "I am sure you recognise those corpses" "They are the corpses of my sons" "Yes!" "There is a corpse among those corpses which you'll recognise but do not know" "That is the corpse of the eldest son of Kunti" "What?" "Yuddhistir..." "No!" "He is not Kunti's eldest son" "Kunti's eldest son was the one who was known as Radheya" "That's why Mother do not think that my Aunt Kunti has not lost a son" "He was Kunti's son?" "Please do not think that none from my aunt's side fought for Duryodhan" "Duryodhan was afflicted by ambition" "Karna was afflicted by loyalty" "He knew everything and yet, fought for Duryodhan" "He died fighting his brothers" "Therefore Mother do not count the corpses" "You can say that O Son of Devaki because you are not a mother" "When you go to Dwarka after the victory ask Devaki what it means to lose a son" "It is more painful than the labour pains" "She has wept over her sons." "She'll understand my pain" "She'll also understand why I cursed you today" "O Krishna!" "You are responsible for this war" "If you wanted, this war would not have happened" "If you wanted, you could have stoped this war" "Yes!" "I could have stopped this war but this war was necessary" "Listen O son of the Yadavas!" "I, Gandhari, devotee of Lord Shiva curse you today that like my dynasty the Yadu dynasty will also be destroyed" "O Mother!" "I had thought I would touch your feet before taking your leave" "But now I shall not touch your feet and create a dilemma for you" "If I touch your feet now you'll be compelled to bless me" "That's why O Mother this son of yours takes your leave" "Prince Duryodhan!" "Where are your clothes?" "You seem to be going towards Mother Gandhari's tent" "Will you go to your mother in this state?" "It was my mother's order" "No doubt she's your mother" "She must have taken you on her lap many times" "But you are not a mother" "You are a son!" "That, too, a grown up son!" "How can a grown up son go to his mother naked?" "That is not the tradition of Bharat!" "But then, when did you ever revere traditions?" "Go!" "Don't make your mother wait!" "I have had my bath, mother" "Stand before me, my son" "As you wish!" "My son!" "I am going to open my eyes for a moment" "I have never seen your brothers but I'll see you today" "What did you do, my son?" "How could I come naked before you, mother?" "But that's what I asked you to do!" "The part of your body which was hidden from my vision has remained weak" "The rest of your body is now made of iron" "If only you had listened to your elders you would be unconquerable" "Shall I remove these leaves?" "I m not a magician, my son" "I concentrated all my devotion my purity, my worship and my mother's love in that one look" "Don't worry!" "I shall fight Bhim with the mace tomorrow" "It is forbidden to hit below the waist in mace warfare" "Tomorrow I'll give Bhim such a thrashing that he'll die of fright" "Then, I don't care how the war ends" "Stop, Brother!" "You cannot cremate him" "I know that my friend was your elder brother" "But this not your elder brother's corpse" "It is the corpse of my dear friend Radheya" "You have no right to cremate Radheya" "Only I have that right" "Had you said this after Sunrise I would have killed you" "Then wait for Sunrise!" "This is not the corpse of a Kaunteya" "This is the corpse of my friend Radheya and only I have the right to cremate him" "Did you rain arrows on your brother or my friend Radheya?" "Duryodhan is right" "His right to cremate Karna is greater than ours" "I did not want to ever see your corpse" "Your going away like this has left me all alone" "When my Death stands before me I'll think of you and my fear will vanish" "Please accept the respects of your lonely friend" "Dear friend!" "As long as there's life on Earth you'll always be a symbol of friendship" "Blessed are you, Radheya!" "With the departure of my friend all hopes of victory are lost" "Only his tears are left with Duryodhan" "...the Sun God came out of its abode to have one last look at his son" "O Sun God!" "I mourn the death of your son" "Not because he died fighting because such warriors are born to die" "I mourn Karna's death because he never found out who he was!" "His mother was bound by the limitations of society" "His father was caught up in maintaining the Time cycle" "Who then was to be blamed for Karna's birth?" "Obviously it was not Karna himself but it was he who paid the price for the crime he had nothing to do with" "It is not an insult to be a charioteer's son" "In spite of being a charioteer's son had he been called a warrior it would still have been an insult to his mother" "A mother's womb knows no caste" "O Sun God!" "Your son will be a question mark for future generations of society" "When he had no control over his birth why should he be punished for it?" "Some day, in some other form, under some other name you and Kunti will have to look Society in the face and say:" "This child will not be let adrift in the river because he is not an orphan" "This will only happen if you give him an identity which is his right" "So, O Sun God I salute your son as I walk to the battlefield" "The Pandavas and their army is already there" "Stop charioteer!" "How surprising!" "The Kaurava army isn't here as yet!" "Then let's go towards their camp" "Looks like Duryodhan has run away" "Duryodhan may have a thousand faults but he is not a coward." "He's a brave warrior" "Either he'll win this war or die fighting it!" "You should not insult brave enemies" "Then should we keep waiting here, O Krishna?" "Maybe he is thinking of a truce" "Even if there is a truce today Elder Father will not be left completely alone" "Soldier!" "Get some news about Duryodhan" "I don't know where Duryodhan has gone" "He should have appointed a Chief before going" "How can the army leave without a Commander?" "O Sage!" "You appoint a Commander" "No!" "I cannot do that" "Do you want their army to come here?" "Yuddhistir won't do that" "Why don't you be our Chief?" "A Commander has to be appointed" "Should we wait here for the ultimate insult and let the Pandava army rush in?" "Yuddhistir is a symbol of Truth" "He won't come here as long as Duryodhan lives" "He will either wait on the battlefield or go where Duryodhan is!" "This hunter knows where Prince Duryodhan is" "My respects!" "Before Sunrise I saw the Prince enter the lake" "Has he committed suicide?" "No!" "It was not suicide!" "Don't worry!" "Duryodhan is an expert illusionist" "He knows he has no warriors" "Even if you withdraw all your soldiers you are five and they are only four" "Ashwathama, Kritverma, Sage Kripa and Duryodhan" "So, he must be resting in the lake" "Take the chariot to the lake" "He entered the lake from here" "O Krishna!" "In this moment of victory I am experiencing a strange happiness and a heart-rending sadness" "Who would have thought that an army comprising Grandsire, Sage Drona and Kripa, Aswathama Karna, Kritverma, Shakuni King of Madra and Duryodhan himself would end up alone and helpless by this lake?" "No, Brother!" "As long as Duryodhan is alive victory is as far away as it was on the first day of war" "So, don't let your heart melt or your eyes weep" "Remember all those brave warriors who died during the war" "Victory is not the ultimate aim" "The aim is to found a new healthier, brighter society" "That is Truth!" "Let your Actions take you towards Truth" "Reaching there is not important" "Finding the right direction is!" "If your direction is right some generation of yours will reach Truth" "What are the Pandavas doing here?" "Maybe Duryodhan is hidden there!" "Don't use the word "hidden" while speaking of Duryodhan" "He is not hiding out of fear" "The brave do not play hide and seek with Death" "They go ahead and embrace Death" "This war is not yet over" "The Pandavas are five and we are four!" "If Duryodhan is there we should go and help him" "No!" "That will only hurt his ego" "That, too, when he is to fight a crucial war" "A warrior like Duryodhan is not born in every Age" "If the Pandavas show their cowardice and attack him all at once then we'll rush to his help" "Ashwathama is right!" "We'll wait for him here!" "Duryodhan knows we three are alive" "If he needs our help, he'll call out to us" "Duryodhan has made the water still" "The hunter was right." "He's resting here" "By Lord Shiva's grace!" "Even if Lord Indra rushes to help him with his weapons I'll also tackle Him" "What has Lord Indra done to you?" "He has only helped you in this Holy War" "Had he not taken Karna's shield and earrings it would be impossible to kill him" "Had Karna not died, this moment would not have come" "Alone and helpless, Duryodhan waits for you in the lake" "Defeat Duryodhan!" "He is the symbol of Untruth, Injustice and Darkness" "O Duryodhan!" "You have invited this war" "You had closed all doors to Peace" "Grandsire lies on a bed of arrows because of you!" "Sage Drona died because of you!" "Ninty-nine of your brothers died because of you!" "Why don't you come ahead to end this war?" "Don't think we cannot break the bubble in which you think you are safe" "Accept defeat or come out and fight us!" "You are an heir of the Bharat dynasty!" "Don't run away from Death and insult it!" "If you want the kingdom, come out and fight us!" "Or ask for it from your elder brother" "It is not an insult to ask from him!" "It is your right!" "A warrior is not born." "A warrior is one who proves it through his Actions" "O Yuddhistir!" "Don't think I am afraid of you five sons of five fathers" "You brothers have shown your cowardice in this war" "You wounded Grandsire by treachery" "You killed Sage Drona by deceit" "By drinking my brother's blood you have proved you are not human!" "You killed my friend Karna by treachery" "You are unworthy of being called brave" "O cowards!" "You are an insult to Mother Kunti's womb!" "My body is burning with repulsion towards you!" "I am in this lake to cool that fire!" "Now this war is for war's sake" "If I die, you'll win!" "Even if I win, I don't want the throne" "What will I do with the Hastinapur throne?" "All those who would have been happy to see me on the throne are dead" "My brothers!" "My friend Radheya!" "My Uncle" "All of them are dead now!" "I don't want this Kingdom now!" "I'll give it to your after I win it?" "But I'll surely fight you brothers because I must prove that I am the greatest warrior" "Not you!" "This is not you but your defeat speaking!" "The Kingdom you want to give is not yours and never was" "We have seized our kingdom from you, a trespasser" "You have nothing to give but your life" "Hold your tongue, Arjun" "Don't think that I am alone" "I alone am more powerful than the Narayani army" "You people are really cowards" "You are all armed with weapons and I am unarmed, wounded and exhausted" "I have carried the corpses of ninty-nine brothers performed the funeral of my friend Radheya and carried the corpses of Sage Drona and Uncle Shakuni" "My shoulders are broken by the task" "However, O Krishna, tell your warriors I am not afraid" "Even Abhimanyu was alone and helpless" "He, too, was wounded and exhausted" "Not before the start of the war" "Why waste time in talking?" "Tell me will you cowards fight me all at once or separately?" "I am happy to know you are not a coward" "You really are Duryodhan" "I know you can fight all five of us at once but I won't let that happen" "Choose any one of us!" "I give you my word." "If you defeat him I'll accept defeat" "So, choose your weapon and your opponent" "You are not as inept as I thought you to be" "I'll fight with the mace" "With whom?" "I want to kill all five of you" "Whoever wants to die first can come forward" "Think well before you give your word" "None among you can defeat Duryodhan with the mace" "Not even Brother Bhim" "You have gifted away your victory" "I have already given him my word" "Lord Shiva does the same thing!" "No one knows what all has to be done to keep his promises" "But I am not Lord Shiva" "Don't worry, Brother!" "I'll give Duryodhan such a thrashing that he'll die" "If you are too scared to fight me alone all five can come!" "If you want even Krishna can join in!" "Come on!" "Move away, Arjun!" "Come coward!" "There is none among your brothers who can even face me for a moment." "Wait!" "This is the final battle." "So, who will be the judge?" "This is not a game that you need a judge" "This is war!" "Either you'll kill me or I'll kill you" "But know this before we start" "I am not fighting this duel alone" "Protecting my left arm is the fire of the Wax House" "Protecting my right arm is the memory of the false Dice" "Protecting my chest is Draupadi's insult" "I can still recall the scene" "Slapping your thigh, inviting Draupadi to sit there" "Now your corpse will join the other corpses!" "Why are you shouting?" "I only wanted our dead teacher Sage Drona to see that even after being defeated his disciple is still strong and enthusiastic" "But he is dead!" "I wish teacher Balram were here" "You are his aunt's son but he himself told me that the five of you together cannot defeat me at mace" "Had he been here, he would be pleased to see the duel" "Wait Duryodhan!" "First wear your armour" "I don't need an armour to fight Bhim" "If you want, send for my crown and armour from my camp" "Of course!" "I shall not send a slave to fetch it" "Yes, Brother!" "Fetch Duryodhan's armour from his camp" "It is an honour to fetch Duryodhan's armour" " Go fetch it!" " Yes, Brother" "Take my chariot to the Kuru camp" "What will be the result of this duel?" "There is none in this world except Balram who can defeat Duryodhan at mace warfare" "Which means Duryodhan will win in spite of losing" "Don't forget that Krishna is with them" "Bhim is under His protection" "My respects, Mother" "May you live long!" "What's happening on the battlefield?" "A mace duel between Bhim and Duryodhan" "I am here to pick up Duryodhan's armour and mace" "Whatever the result of war, don't forget that my sons were your brothers" "Did you meet Kunti?" "We'll meet mother after our victory" "I was here so I came to meet you" "They must be waiting for me there." "Allow me to leave" "Live long, my son!" "It is the misfortune of Hastinapur's mothers that they have no other blessing but this!" "This blessing is not enough because expectations far exceed the blessing" "Stop the chariot!" "Wait!" "My respects!" "I was waiting for you, O Teacher!" "Brother?" "My respects, Brother!" "You have come at the right time" "Your pupils are going to duel with the mace" "Sage Narada told me about it and so I came here" "Both my pupils are experts at mace warfare" "As Dhritirashtra's son, I'll be the first to touch your feet" "Of course!" "You are my favourite pupil" "But I'll not bless you with victory" "I have never been so blessed in this war" "Today's duel is special" "I want to win it without this blessing" "But O Teacher do bless Bhim with victory" "Let this duel take place without any blessing" "The duel may start!" "Use greater force, Bhim!" "Hit me!" "More forcefully!" "Hit me!" "Get up, Bhim" "Duryodhan's scale seems heavier, Krishna" "Don't talk like a trader." "This is a battlefield" "If this duel goes on, Bhim's defeat is certain" "Bhim is powerful but Duryodhan has greater enthusiasm and Mother Gandhari's blessing" "Had this not been war, I could watch for hours" "But this is not a game." "This is war!" "Remind Bhim of his oath" "Which one?" "Have you forgotten he had sworn an oath regarding Duryodhan in the Hastinapur court" "He had sworn to break Duryodhan's thigh" "This is mace warfare." "He cannot hit below the waist" "Then will he break the thigh of Duryodhan's corpse?" "You remind him of the oath." "The rest is upto him" "No!" "I cannot do that!" "Then watch the duel" "Very good, Bhim!" "Excellent!" "Why are you shouting?" "Watch the duel" "Bhim's tactics are indeed praiseworthy." "Look!" "Hit him, Bhim!" "Hit him!" "You have beaten me deceitfully" "I have not forgotten my oath, Duryodhan" "Isn't this the thigh on which you asked Draupadi to sit" "No, Bhim!" "No!" "He is not only our brother but also a King" "Do not insult his Death" "He will not remain alive to insult anyone" "O Bhim!" "Today you have insulted your teachers" "Didn't Sage Drona and I teach you not to hit below the waist in mace warfare" "This is not Duryodhan but your teacher's wounded honour" "Only your blood can wash off the taint" "Go away, Krishna!" "I'll not spare this coward today" "Listen to me, Brother!" "After that it will be as you say" "What will you say?" "What can you say?" "With due respect to you" "Bhim will even behead himself if you command but first..." "I knew there would be some "but"" "You know you cannot say anything in Bhim's defence" "If I could not say anyting why would I interrupt?" "I do not say Bhim has not violated any code" "Of course, he has!" "But how many Codes has Duryodhan violated?" "He has behaved treacherously with the Pandavas" "He set fire to the Wax House" "He knew about Shakuni's loaded Dice" "He knew Draupadi was dragged to court" "He asked her to sit on his thigh" "Don't you know all this?" "But you never scolded Duryodhan" "Can the Code be partial?" "If Duryodhan breaks it, forgive him and if Bhim breaks it, punish him with death?" "That is not justice!" "The thigh had to break!" "Bhim was bound by an oath" "What would you have done in Bhim's place?" "Don't forget, Duryodhan and Arjun had asked you to join the war" "You refused to accept the challenge and went on a pilgrimage" "In a war between Truth and Untruth there can only be one pilgrimage:" "The battlefield" "Don't try to influence the result of the war you ran away from" "You are older to me!" "If you still want to kill Bhim I won't interfere" "I don't agree with you, Krishna" "I'll always be ashamed that my aunt's son is my pupil" "And I'll always be proud to be Duryodhan's teacher" "Don't let Brother upset you" "He looks at the Code in isolation" "Don't be upset!" "Let's leave Duryodhan alone with his Death" "His death is not as important as his defeat" "This is the victory of Truth and the defeat of Evil" "The Sun is about to set" "Let's spend the first night in the Kaurava camp" "Let's go!" "Bhim fulfilled his oath by breaking Duryodhan's thigh" "Even his mother's blessing has forsaken evil Duryodhan" "Explained Lord Krishna:" "Do not be angry, Balram" "This is the fruit of Sin" "This is Justice!" "O Holy ground of Kurukshetra!" "I have grown tired watching this war" "For God's sake shout out and ask them to stop this war" "Wherever I look, I cannot see anything but corpses" "The corpse of life's values and relationship" "From one horizon to another, there's nothing but corpses" "Dhritirashtra is alone in Hastinapur" "Duryodhan is alone on the banks of the lake" "Gandhari is alone in her chamber" "All of them are alone with their unhappiness, pain and tears" "That is why I shall not go to any one of them" "I shall go to Draupadi who has won her personal battle and become the Queen of Hastinapur" "She sits in grandeur in the Kaurava camp" "Do you know whose tent this is?" "Who doesn't?" "It is the Kaurava camp" "The camp of the defeated Kauravas!" "No!" "This is the tent of my wounded memories" "This is the tent of my humiliation" "This is the tent of Bharat's bloodied values" "This is the tent of those who dragged me to court by my hair called me a whore and attempted to disrobe me" "All the others sat quietly and watched the scene" "This is the tent of those dead people!" "I feel awkward sitting here" "I don't know whether I should laugh or cry" "Victory to Draupadi, Queen of Hastinapur!" "Elder Mother?" "Will you not accept my respects?" "Don't cry on the auspicious day of your victory" "Please don't stay here" "This is the tent of broken egoes and dead ambitions" "Do you know, my dear" "I cannot see" "I can only hear!" "Since yesterday I can only hear our soldiers leaving" "This is the silenced tent of your Elder Father's ambition and your brother-in-law Duryodhan's Ego" "Don't spend the night here" "Take your dear ones and return to your camp" "I have not come to a conquered camp" "I have come to the camp of my in-laws" "Bless me!" "At this moment my mind is straying" "Don't ask me anything now" "At this moment, Duryodhan lies in the battlefield bathed in blood waiting for Death" "He waits there alone with his pain" "There is none with him to wipe his brow" "At this moment my heart is a total vacuum" "I have neither a blessing nor a curse" "If Kunti were here I would not have come to you" "She returned to Hastinapur after Karna's death" "We two old mothers understand each other's pain very well!" "O Queen!" "O Daughter-in-law!" "If possible, forgive my sons Duryodhan and Dushasan" "Free them from your hate" "Humiliate me to avenge your insult" "Drag me all the way to the Hastinapur court?" "Forgive Duryodhan and Dushasan" "O Moon God!" "How were cowards like the Pandavas born in your dynasty?" "Now your dynasty is tainted forever" "Not even blood can wash away this taint" "Neither mine nor the Pandavas!" "Why are you crying?" "These wounds, this blood and this pain is the wealth of warriors" "Congratulate me for Duryodhan was also vanquished with the weapon of treachery with which Sage Drona was killed" "Arjun was his favourite disciple but I was an heir to his death" "This moment of pain is a moment of pride for me" "So, don't cry!" "Congratulate me!" "It is immaterial whether we win or lose this war" "I stood by you in victory." "I shall stand by you in defeat" "Don't think you do not have an army" "Your army still has three warriors" "Sage Kripa, Kritverma and I!" "Where are the other two?" "We are here, Prince!" "The kingdom of which I was a prince does not exist" "However, as long as I am alive this war will not end" "I appoint Ashwathama as the Commander" "What do you order?" "Bring me the heads of the Pandavas" "I shall somehow hold into life till you do that!" "My arms do not have the same strength as they had before" "Hence, I cannot hold out for long" "Don't worry!" "I'll attack at once!" "Now?" "What are you saying?" "You cannot violate the Code of war" "When they can violate the Code, why can't we?" "Have you forgotten how they used treachery to kill my unarmed father?" "Can't you see this result of their treachery?" "We have all left the Code far behind" "The Pandavas are indebted to me" "They must pay their debt with their corpses" "Allow me to leave, friend!" "May you be victorious!" "Father!" "In the form of Duryodhan" "All my Injustice Sin, Curse and Anger has come to an end" "My son!" "Is the corpse of my son really all alone?" "I don't know, my King" "Then look and tell me!" "I no longer have divine sight" "I lost it when the Prince passed away" "Can you see the python of darkness which has gripped me?" "I can see and also understand!" "The truth of this painful moment is that war is not a solution to any problem" "It can only pierce the heart like the flag of destruction" "You could have stopped this war" "Yes!" "I could have!" "Whenever I tried to stop this war my ambition and filial love stopped me" "But now there is no ambition and no son!" "I stand alone amidst the ruins of my dreams" "The war which ended with the death of my son is still raging within the Kurukshetra of my heart" "I am both the sword and the shield" "I both attack and defend myself" "This duel is very unusual, Sanjay!" "Even if I win I will still lose!" "O Duryodhan!" "I have done you injustice" "People nurture their sons on honey" "I nurtured you on the poison of my ambition" "The result is that your corpse lies untended on the battlefield" "Both of you wait here!" "This is my personal war!" "However, I do expect you to stop anyone who tries to run away" "This war will not end on Duryodhan's defeat" "This war will end with a deafening silence!" "If Duryodhan does not live, nor will the Pandavas" "The corpses of the Pandavas will also lie next to Duryodhan's corpse" "Look at the love between the brothers" "On this night of victory, they are sleeping together" "Why didn't you wait for the good news that my revenge is complete" "First I killed Dhristadyuma then the five Pandavas" "Congratulate me, my friend!" "Your love made me perform a cowardly act" "I must seek repentence!" "They were sleeping and unarmed" "Hence, my friend, allow me to leave so that I can seek repentence at Sage Vyas's hermitage" "But how can I leave you like this, my friend?" "Someone tell me whose arrows are these?" "They have pierced my heart" "Recognise them!" "I want the owner's corpse" "Whose arrows are these?" "These are Ashwathama's arrows" "I want his shroud to wipe my tears" "Till you show me his corpse I shall sit by the corpses of my brother and sons" "Killing Ashwathama is impossible" "He has the boon of immortality" "But we can bring him to you" "Then you can punish him!" "I'll not weep till he is punished" "Wait for us, Draupadi!" "O Son of Drona!" "Repent you must for you have undoubtedly tainted your dynasty" "But the Pandavas are alive!" "The five brothers you killed were Draupadi's sons" "Then allow me to leave" "I'll repent only after the death of the Pandavas" "Don't hide behind the Sage!" "Face us!" "Our respects, O Sage!" "May you live long!" "I bow to Lord Brahma!" "O Weapon of Brahma!" "Destroy the Pandavas!" "Brahma's Weapon!" "This weapon can destroy the Universe" "Withdraw the weapon!" "Didn't Sage Drona tell you that such weapons are not to be used in war?" "O Krishna!" "Why didn't you stop Arjun?" "Ashwathama had already used the Brahma's weapon" "Arjun had to use it to nullify Ashwathama!" "Withdraw your weapons, both of you!" "As you wish, O Sage!" "What are you looking at?" "Withdraw your weapons!" "I don't know how to withdraw it!" "Then why did you use it, you fool!" "Change its direction" "Don't you know its power?" "Don't you know what will happen if the Creator's weapon is used?" "Do you want Lord Brahma to create another Universe?" "O Killer of five children!" "Change its direction" "If the Pandavas die, will you create the society where Man can live with self-respect?" "Will your bloodshot eyes show Man the Future?" "No!" "So, change its direction!" "I'll change the direction but it'll go towards the Pandavas" "If I cannot destroy them I'll surely destroy their seed" "What's wrong, my dear?" " Call the doctor" " Go fast!" "Have courage, my dear" "Ashwathama!" "You are a repulsive person" "Your touch will even sully mud" "Do you think you can kill Uttara's son by misusing Brahma's weapon and none can give him life?" "I, Vasudev Krishna, will give him life" "I condemn you to eternal wandering all over the world till the end of Time" "Alone... weighed down by your grave sin" "Craving for sympathy and love" "The Jewel on your forehead will become a wound which will pain forever" "Remove the Jewel from his forehead" "It belongs to Man" "Wait!" "Take the Jewel" "Here!" "I'll take it out now!" "Here!" "Please accept this Jewel but free me from your curse" "That was not a curse from which I can free you" "It is your repentence" "Who am I to free you from the debt of Society?" "Mercy, O Sage!" "Mercy!" "Take the Jewel, Elder Brother" "We must rush to Uttara" "The child is dead in the womb" "No!" "If she does not abort, she will not live!" "Uncle!" "The last hope of my life is gone" "No!" "Don't cry, my dear!" "Light can never die" "Darkness feels it can swallow Light but Light cannot die!" "Wake up Parikshit!" "Uncle!" "He tried to destroy the dynasty" "The violater of the Code" "He could not hurt those who were under Krishna's" "Time stands in the ruins of your life's values narrating the story of this Great War which has ended and yet, still to end because I had said on the very first day" "This war is the fate of every Present and Future" "Which is why I am taking various roles that of a Sage, a Teacher and a mother while narrating this Epic tale to you" "This tale is not only the Past" "It is the Present and Future" "Hence, come with me to Hastinapur and see what happens after a war like this" "You have returned after so long!" "Look at the tear-stained face of your elder brother" "I am sure you have come here to mourn for me" "Should I bless you with a long life?" "No, Brother!" "No!" "Then express your sorrow and go away!" "Leave me alone with my tears" "Maybe you never got the news that my dear son Duryodhan is dead" "Bhim broke his thigh during mace warfare" "Brother!" "Won't you even express your sorrow?" "Our Politics was never worthy of expressing sorrow over his death" "My enemy was not Politics" "My Duryodhan was not Politics" "Gandhari's other sons were not Politics" "They were my sons, Vidur!" "My sons!" "They were your sons but they lived like pawns on the political chessboard" "They marched ahead, and were beaten and removed from the chessboard" "Don't forget, it was you who staked them" "And you lost!" "Victory and Defeat are a part of Dice" "It is I who is unhappy" "Bonded to them, I walked between Justice and Injustice merely watching the game unable to do anything" "My hundred sons died during this war and you call it a game?" "Do you have a book on Ethics in place of your heart?" "Are you so hard-hearted that my tears have no effect on you?" "Is this your Religion?" "Don't talk of Religion, Brother!" "Religion is not a parrot which will repeat whatever you teach it!" "You cannot use Religion to your convenience because Religion spreads itself all over the Universe and beyond it!" "Religion means keeping the air pure for breathing" "Religion means keeping the water pure for drinking and protecting the trees" "To fight against you in this war is also Religion" "Hence, bless the Pandavas" "They have faced innumerable hardships to protect their Religion" "Was I the only Evil One?" "Is Dhritirashtra evil?" "His powerful arms cannot carry his sons' corpses" "Had you not strayed from the path of Religion you would not be mourning for your sons" "In this crucial moment of test you proved to be more of a father than a King" "That is your misfortune and Hastinapur's" "Your ambition and filial love drove out Religion from your court" "Religion does not mean dividing the kingdom" "But you did exactly that!" "Religion does not mean raising walls between hearts" "But you did exactly that!" "Religion means breaking down walls between hearts" "But you did not do that!" "Surrendering to temptation is not Religion" "For you, Religion is a bitter truth" "Accept it!" "Welcome it!" "You still haven't lost everything" "O devotee of bitter words!" "What is left but the corpses of my loved ones?" "You still have your Soul" "And God reigns supreme in your Soul" "Try to save both of them!" "Stand at some crossroad of Hastinapur and scream:" "O Hastinapur!" "Forgive me!" "Should I ask forgiveness of that Hastinapur which did not even mourn with me when I lost a hundred sons" "Why should it come?" "You should have mourned for it" "You lost a hundred sons but Hastinapur sacrificed innumerable sons" "But the warriors you claim to be your sons are also Hastinapur's sons!" "Will Religion take away even my son?" "Will it not leave me the right to cry over my sons?" "Why not?" "But Religion is like the river which gives water to all nearby fields to wayfarers and residents but none can claim to own it!" "It is a father's duty to love his sons but Religion does not have a family" "You did not think of that!" "You placed the flame of ambition on his hand and told him it was the moon" "Why would he not believe his beloved father?" "You placed one flame after another till his whole hand caught fire" "It was this fire which destroyed him" "It was your ambition which dragged him to Kurukshetra" "Therefore, my brother History will hold you responsible for this war" "You are the Past which tried to stop the Future with a wall of your sons' corpses" "You speak the bitter truth as usual but why does your voice seem moist with tears?" "My voice seems moist with tears because I am crying" "Will you listen to a request?" "Yes, my brother because there is none left by my side" "What do you want?" "The victorious Pandavas have entered Hastinapur" "They'll come to pay respects" "After you bless them, let's leave for the forest" "Hastinapur seems to be a forest of crying eyes" "You are Hastinapur's Past" "It is your duty to welcome the Present... and then lost yourself in the darkness of Time" "Therefore, try to forget your unhappiness" "Queen Gandhari and Queen Kunti have decided to leave Hastinapur with you" "I cannot face them, Vidur!" "Face them you must for that is your salvation" "That is your punishment and your repentence" "They are two mothers who stood at either end of Kurukeshetra with the corpse of their Fate" "When you are with them you'll realise what you did to Hastinapur which was once dear to you" "Your being with them will make you realise the price Hastinapur paid for your ambitions" "Long live Emperor Yuddhistir!" "Wipe away your tears and welcome your victorious sons like a warrior" "Welcome to this unhappy palace of tears Emperor Yuddhistir" "Won't you let us pay our respects" "First pay your respects to Elder Father" "I won't run away!" "Welcome, Krishna" "How are you, Mahatma Vidur?" "This question has no meaning in today's Hastinapur" "But you have asked this question" "Maybe it is I who is mistaken for you'll never ask a meaningless question" "I don't know how I am!" "My heart is a palace of mourning where there are no mourners" "I think you should be the first to meet Elder Brother" "As you wish!" "Come!" "Come one at time so that I can recognise you" "This broken man welcomes you, O Krishna!" "Krishna pays his respects to the King of Hastinapur" "I thought you would first express sorrow for the death of my sons" "I don't believe in formalities, my King!" "Those who died had chosen that path" "Besides, expressing sorrow opens old wounds, O King!" "Why do you keep calling me King?" "Don't you know I have been defeated in this war?" "Yuddhistir is now the King!" "You were right when you said History will hold me responsible for this war" "It will hold you responsible because you are responsible!" "Don't keep calling me King" "When I was the King Grandsire sat on my left" "Then sat Sage Drona and Sage Kripa" "Duryodhan took his place as the Crown Prince" "My hundred sons graced the court like nectar graces the wine jar" "Even if I am King, it is of a vacuum" "I had every right to the throne, Krishna" "After me, my son Duryodhan was the rightful heir" "Like a true warrior, after my defeat in war I vacated the throne" "But that does not mean I have no blessing for Yuddhistir" "My respects, Elder Father" "May you live long!" "May you be famous!" "Welcome to your palace, O Emperor" "No, Elder Father!" "You are still the King" "No, Yuddhistir!" "I am also a warrior" "Don't insult me by gifting me an empire" "Call your brothers!" "Come near me!" "Don't touch my feet!" "Embrace me!" "O my dear Pandu!" "Forgive me, Pandu!" "I have killed your son Bhim" "No, O King!" "I knew how angry you were" "So, I did not let Bhim come close to you" "Is my Bhim still alive?" "I am waiting for your blessings, Elder Father" "If you are still angry I'll embrace you!" "No, my son!" "Don't say that!" "A father who has lost all his sons will not dare lose his younger sons" "May I wipe off the blood from your chest?" "May you live long!" "My respects, O Sage!" "May fortune favour you!" "My luck lies shattered in Kurukshetra, O Sage!" "It does not befit you to be angry" "You refused to bless your son with victory because he was straying from Truth" "How can you think of cursing the Pandavas?" "The Gandhari who refused to bless Duryodhan was the Queen of Hastinapur" "The Gandhari who thinks of cursing the Pandavas is a mother who has lost a hundred sons in just one war" "Wipe your tears with the shrouds of Abhimanyu and Draupadi's sons" "Don't try to recognise the corpses in this war between Truth and Evil!" "Every corpse lying on the battlefield is your own!" "A Holy War should be fought according to a Code" "Why am I so unhappy at Dushasan's death?" "Bhim should not have drunk his blood!" "This is not the time for analysis, Gandhari" "Leave the analysis to History!" "It is good at it!" "History never makes mistakes" "Even if you still want to curse them, do so!" "They'll consider it a blessing!" "With mothers like these the honour of the country grows!" "Blessed is this person" "Blessed is motherhood!" "My respects!" "Come, Kunti!" "My five sons and Krishna are with me, Sister" "My respects!" "May you be happy!" "Happiness is not in my control" "None of us brothers can ever forget that Bhim drank Dushasan's blood and broke Duryodhan's thigh" "But he was bound by an oath, my son!" "Both of them deserved at least that punishment for insulting Draupadi, India and Mankind" "My dear Bhim did not kill them" "He only punished them!" "And meting out punishment is not a crime" "I am the criminal, Gandhari" "Curse me!" "After that, when your heart is lighter prepare to go to the forest" "Why the forest?" "Because, my son until the Past does not leave the Present cannot take over!" "Do you mean to say, you will also go?" "She will have to go!" "Aunt is also the Past!" "So, think well before cutting down a tree" "For, Mother Gandhari, Elder Father or Aunt may have rested under it!" "Why did you forget to take my name?" "Even you, Uncle?" "I, too, am the Past, my son!" "But you will all have to wait till the coronation" "The Present cannot prosper without the Past" "You all know this truth!" "I should not be present on this auspicious occasion" "I am a King who preferred his son to the kingdom who promoted his son at the cost of the people" "I am inauspicious, Krishna!" "What are you saying?" "No coronation will take place because Hastinapur's throne is not empty" "You grace it!" " And God..." " No, my son" "You are the symbol of Truth" "Don't ask God for this!" "I am a representative of your father Pandu" "Now that you are here, the throne is yours!" "Besides, I am very old and tired" "The Age of Justice begins in Hastinapur with you" "The Sun of Truth will dawn" "Blind Dhritirashtra does not know the Sun!" "Let him gather his darkness and leave!" "I cannot see but I can definitely make out that you'll look very good on the throne" "Victory to Emperor Yuddhistir!" "First, I pay my respects to Hastinapur ...which has accepted me as a King" "Then, I salute my ancestors and take an oath to protect the throne" "I also salute Krishna" "I give him my word that I shall differentiate between Justice and Injustice" "Like a social worker I shall work for the common good" "I also give the people the authority to tell me I am an unworthy King if they see me stray from the common good" "Then I salute these empty seats" "One of the places belonged to Grandsire" "Another to Sage Drona and the third to Karna" "These seats will remain vacant to remind us what we have lost in this war" "We have lost our values, Knowledge and loyalty" "Who knows how long it will take to acquire these again!" "This war has broken our relationship with the Past" "It is a loss for the Present" "Hence, I request Uncle Vidur to represent the Past in this court" "I invite him to leave the Past and come to the Present" "I appoint him the Prime Minister" "Bhim will be the Crown Prince" "Arjun will protect our borders" "Nakul and Sahadev will be my chief bodyguards" "I pay my respects to the Kuru Elder Dhritirashtra and publicly announce that he is not only my Elder Father but also my teacher" "I have learned Ethics from him" "I have no bitterness in my heart" "Today I announce that all bitterness is at an end!" "It is a King's duty to look to the Future because he has to take his people into the Future" "If a King spends his time in Past bitterness then he cannot provide leadership to the people" "Our people have suffered great hardships" "Now they deserve some peace and prosperity" "Let us establish a new era" "This will be only possible if every citizen thinks of what he should do for the country and not what the country should do for him" "A King and the citizens are for the country" "The country is not for the King or its citizens" "The coronation of Truth is the new happy blessing" "Now this country will see the dawn of a new era" "Come, my sons!" "Our respects!" "May you live long!" "Where's Draupadi?" "She's outside waiting for your permission to enter" "Does the Queen of Hastinapur need permission?" "O my son!" "Hastinapur's fortune has changed for the better" "It now has an Emperor who can see and a Queen whose eyes are not bandaged" "I have understood only now why Vidur opposed my becoming King" "When blind Dhritirashtra raised his hands he could only reach out to Duryodhan" "He thought dear Duryodhan was Hastinapur, the world" "Any King who is a prey to filial love will be cut off from his people" "Bring Draupadi inside" "I'll bring her!" "No, Kunti" "The present Queen should be welcomed by the ex-Queen" "Please don't go!" "You are the Soul of this palace" "The Soul, too, has to leave the body some day" "This is not the palace I stayed in" "This is a new Hastinapur" "We are the shadows of a Past night which will scare us all our life" "Forget what has happened, my dear" "Begin a new era based on Justice!" "Come!" "Your Elder Father is waiting for you!" "May your husband live long!" "Forgive me, Elder Father" "No!" "I must ask for your forgiveness" "You were insulted because of me!" "You lost your sons because of me!" "Innumerable children were orphaned because of me!" "I stand caught in the quicksand of my faults" "Pray that Hastinapur will forgive me" "I cannot interfere between you and Hastinapur" "If you forgive me, do not leave your sons!" "She won't let us leave, Kunti" "Okay!" "You have successfully stopped us from going away" "But why do you want to stop us from going?" "As the daughter-in-law I don't wish to see the family divided" "Besides, it was not my insult alone" "It was the insult of the dynasty" "I wish to wipe out that insult by serving you and the family" "I am indebted to you, my dear" "To do one's duty is not to acquire merit" "My lord!" "Now let's go to Grandsire and tell him that after Yuddhistir's coronation Hastinapur will once again be secure" "No!" "I do not have the courage to face him" "I don't want him to see my inauspicious face in his last moments" "Both he and I know that it was because of me that he is on this bed of arrows" "I know that Hastinapur is once again secure" "Now I can leave my body but I am waiting for Lord Krishna" "I want to see him before I leave this body" "That is the only gift that I want from this Earth" "That is the only gift I'll take with me!" "Our respects!" "My respects, Grandsire!" "I knew you would come, O Krishna!" "Your coming is like a balm to me" "It has alleviated all my pain" "My vision has cleared like the post-monsoon sky" "All the problems have been solved" "It seems as if they had never existed" "At last I have attained salvation" "That's what I wanted!" "Now give your grandson, Yuddhistir one last lesson" "Who am I to teach him when you are there" "No, Grandsire!" "I have Knowledge but no Experience" "Bless him with your Experience" "Wipe my tears, Krishna, so that I may gaze upon the new Emperor of Hastinapur" "Victory to the Emperor!" "Now allow me to leave for Heaven, my king" "I saw what I should not have seen" "I also saw what I wanted to see" "No, Grandsire" "I won't let you go!" "These wounds will never heal, dear child" "These wounds are life's gift to me" "Now let me go!" "Don't be stubborn" "Do me one last favour" "Place some of my motherland's dust on my forehead" "No, I won't let you go!" "Don't cry, my child!" "This is a moment of joy" "Your Grandsire is free of his motherland's debt" "O King!" "O child!" "I am a defeated warrior and a defeated citizen" "Learn from me what a good warrior and citizen should not do" "Vidur pleaded with me again and again" "Don't look up to the throne of Hastinapur" "Look up to Hastinapur itself" "The throne is nothing without the country" "But I, bound by my oath saw my father's image in King Dhritirashtra who sat on the throne" "There is none greater than the country" "Neither father nor son nor an oath" "My oath took me away from my country's good" "And yet, I clung on to it!" "I saw my country move towards destruction" "My loyalty to my oath made me a traitor, my son" "A traitor lies on this bed of arrows" "I am responsible for the partition of Hastinapur" "I am responsible for the Wax House fire" "My hands disrobed Draupadi" "Those hands which are now pinned to the Earth" "These arrows, these wounds say to me:" "Devavrata!" "Recognise this land!" "You sacrificed it for your father's image" "I am a warrior who was a slave to his oath" "This chapter of humiliation will end with me" "O son!" "My white clothes are stained by my Ego" "Even the tears of repentence cannot wipe the stain" "So, my son, never swear an oath which will cut you off from your country" "If you do such a thing you will also end up on a bed of arrows" "Every time an Elder stands in the way of the state a youngster will surely challenge him" "That is the basic philosophy of Politics!" "The King's good lies in the good of the country" "If you perceive any other good then it only means you are straying from your duty as a King" "A country is not for the King!" "A King is meant for the country!" "The King who blames the Past for the economic and social ills of the state is not a good King!" "If the Past has given you a weak economic and social infrastructure then improve and change it!" "The Past can never compete with the Present" "The Present can take the country on the path of progress and change" "Listen to one more thing!" "The true test of an efficient society is the respect it gives to women" "Women ought to be respected as mothers" "Women ought to be protected, my son" "Tell him about Truth and political duty!" "Truth is not a ritual or a formality" "Truth implies your duty and the rights of others" "Therefore, respect Truth" "Political duty is the same thing" "A King's responsibility exceeds a citizen's responsibility" "If circumstances demand a partition fight against it but don't divide the country" "Can you brothers divide your mother amongst yourselves?" "If not, how can you divide the country?" "I've done this and so, I am telling you" "I accepted partition to avoid war" "Don't you ever do this!" "Now, I am tired, Krishna!" "There is nothing more to say" "Put some of my motherland's dust on my forehead, Arjun" "Allow me to do it, Grandsire!" "Even I want you to do it but how could I order you?" "Now allow me to leave!" "O Motherland!" "I go to my mother!" "O Sky!" "Let my motherland have plenty of Sun, Shade and Rain" "Let there be fruits on its trees" "Let its lotuses bloom!" "Let its flowers spread scent all over" "Let its rivers be healthy and plentiful" "May my land shine like the Sun without eclipse!" "Blessed are we who see the mortal become immortal!" "Let there be no war like the Mahabharat war" "Let there be no Injustice" "Let us side with the One who believes in what Krishna says" "The moral of the Bhagwad Geeta is Action" "Mahabharat preaches a message of peace" "Sage Vyas's epic poem ends today" "O Man!" "This is my last meeting with you" "Now use this epic tale as an inspiration to solve your problems" "This story is your armour and also your weapon" "Use this epic tale to recognise the evil ones in contemporary society" "The light shed by this tale will show evil flourishes even today as it did in ancient Hastinapur" "You'll see Untruth disguised as Truth" "Today's Dronas sit in the camp of Injustice and make unreasonable demands" "Their silence implies that they are partners in Evil" "O Man!" "Strike out on a new path or else you'll also be dragged into darkness like Karna" "Be the heir to Light, to Justice and to Truth!" "Turn the Kurukshetra of your heart into a Holy Ground" "That is Salvation!" "Whatever is there in this world!" "Whatever this world is!" "Sage Vyas's epic tale narrates all that the world is!" "All of you remember:" "Life is the result of your Actions" "Today we bid you goodbye with our respect and affection"