Bhagavada Vahini - Chapter 14

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Bhagavada Vahini by Sathya Sai Baba

 

Chapter 14

The Exit of the Pândavas

 

 

It was a pitiable sight. Parîkchit, the little boy with the crown on

his head, plaintively approached his grandfather and others, and

holding their feet fast, he prayed that he too might accompany them

to the forests; he would gladly eat roots and fruits, engage himself

in sacred ceremonials, and be happy. " Please entrust the kingdom to

some virtuous minister and allow me to come with you, so that I might

serve you and make my life worthwhile, " he appealed. Those around him

in the hall were moved into tears by his agony at being left behind.

Rocks would have melted in sympathy, had they listened to his anguish.

 

Dharmaraja managed heroically to suppress his emotions; he lifted the

boy and placed him on his lap; he poured consolation and courage into

his ear. " Dear child! Don't become so weak-minded. You are a child

born in the dynasty of Bhâratha; can a sheep be born in a dynasty of

lions? Your father, mother and grandfathers are full of courage, bold

champions of truth, who made their names famous in the world. So, it

is not fit that you should weep thus. Hence-forward, these brahmins

are your grandfathers, your parents. Take their advice and rule this

land accordingly. Live up to the grandeur and glory of your name.

Stop grieving over us " .

 

But, the boy was lovingly adamant, in spite of all the persuasive

advice of the elders. He lamented, " Grandpa, I am too young to

convince you with my pleading. I know it. But listen, I lost my

father, even before I was born. You brought me up with the care and

affection that my father would have showered upon me, had he lived.

And now, when I love to sing and play and roam about with my

companions, you hoist on my head this great empire. Can this be

right, is it justice? Instead of leaving me alone steeped in sorrow,

you could leave, after severing my head with your sword. Alas, what

harm have I done to you that you should punish me thus? Could you not

have scotched me in my mother's womb, on the day my father died? Was

my lifeless body resuscitated in order that you may inflict this

assignment on me? " Parîkchit continued to condemn himself for his

fate, in this strain, for long.

 

Arjuna could not stand it any longer. He covered the boy's mouth with

his palm; he caressed the child with sweet affection; he pressed his

lips on his head. " Child, it is a disgrace to the kshatriya clan that

you should behave like a coward. We too lost our father; we too grew

up under the fostering care of ascetics and monks; at last, we were

able to win the affection of our uncle and, after overcoming many a

formidable handicap, we established our sovereignty over this

kingdom. He who guarded us, guided us and directed our steps

throughout will certainly be your guardian and guide. Don't lose

heart, follow the advice which these brahmins and Ministers will

render, for some years. Later, you will be able to solve the problems

of empire yourself " , he said.

 

Parîkchit could not be assuaged; He said, " Grandpa, are you now

discarding the throne and the kingdom and placing them on my head?

Well, be with me for some years more, teach me the art of government

and the principles, and then, you can leave. I was happy and free,

romping and roaming with no trace of care, for I was confident I had

grandfathers to guard me, though I had lost my father. Now, if you

too desert me, what will be my fate? You were the centre of all my

hopes, the support on which I relied. And, you are plunging me

suddenly into despair and deserting me. " He wept aloud, rending the

hearts of all who saw and heard. He rolled on the ground, holding the

feet of the elders.

 

Arjuna lifted him up with both hands and embraced him. He kept him on

his shoulders and fondled him. He wiped the strings of pearly tears

that rolled down his cheeks. He could not arrest his own tears while

doing so. Turning to the brahmins standing around gazing at all this,

Arjuna asked them why they were only silent witnesses, not attempting

to console the boy.

 

They were really too full of grief themselves to think of assuaging

Parîkchit. They said, " The sharp words this child is lisping are

wounding us like arrows; his anguish is petrifying us. What can we

tell him? How can we console him? What can instill courage into him

now " , and they too were overcome with grief.

 

Kripâcârya, the teacher of the family, succeeded at last in

suppressing his grief; he wiped off the tears from his own eyes with

the ends of his garment; he spoke to Arjuna thus: " What do you want

us to tell this boy? We do not feel like saying anything. We are

struck dumb. You are this day renouncing the empire which you gained

after a victory for which rivers of blood flowed, for which millions

laid down their lives, for which you strove for years. You have not

ruled over it for a thousand years, no, not even for a couple of

centuries, or even for seventy years. Who can say what lies in the

womb of time? Of course, the actions of the great will have some

inner purpose. Pardon us, you are our overlords, you know best " .

Kripâcârya stood with head bent, for he was heavy with grief.

 

Dharmaraja came forward a few steps and addressed the âcârya. " Every

act of mine was according to the command of Krishna, as you know. I

dedicated all my activity to Him. I played my role as He dictated. I

did not desire or retain any individuality. All my duties and

obligations have faded out with the departure of the Lord. Of what

use is the survival of Dharmaraja alone, now? I cannot continue on

this land even for a minute, since Kali has come to sway. It is your

duty now to guard this boy, guide and train him so that he may be

secure on the throne. Preserve the adherence to dharma; continue the

dynastic traditions; maintain the honor and fair name of the line.

Love him and foster him as your own son " . Thus saying, he placed the

hands of Parîkchit in the hands of Kripâcârya. All those who were

there, including Dharmaraja and the âcârya were in tears that moment.

 

In a few minutes, Vajra (Aniruddha's son) was called in; he was

informed that from that very day, the Emperor of Bhârath was

Parîkchit. So, Vajra paid homage to him as befits the suzerain of the

continent. The Ministers and the brahmins too honored him as their

ruler with due ceremony. Afterwards, Dharmaraja held the hands of

Parîkchit and placing on them the hand of Vajra, he announced, " This

is Vajra, the Lord of the Yadavas; I now install him as the King of

Mathurâ and of the S'ûrasena State " .He placed on Vajra's head a

diamond-studded golden crown. " Be brothers both of you, staunch

allies in peace and war, inseparable in friendship " , he exhorted. He

called Vajra aside and advised him to treat Parîkchit as his own

paternal uncle; he advised Parîkchit to revere Vajra as he would

revere Aniruddha himself; he told both of them that they ought to

ensure the continuance of dharma unimpaired, and to consider the

welfare of their subjects as the very breath of life.

 

Then, the Pândava brothers showered auspicious rice grains on the

heads of both Vajra and Parîkchit. The brahmin priests recited

appropriate mantras. Trumpets flared and drums were beaten. With

tears in their eyes, Vajra and Parîkchit prostrated before Dharmaraja

and the rest. The Pândava brothers could not look the two dear

darlings in the face; they were so overcome with detachment. They

just held them in one quick embrace and spoke just one word of loving

farewell, before they filed out into the beyond, with nothing on,

except the clothes they wore.

 

At this, the kith and kin, the citizens, the queens and others in the

zenana, the courtiers and the maids, all raised pathetic wails. The

citizens fell across the path of the ruler and tried to hold fast to

his feet. They prayed piteously that he should stay. They appealed to

them to take them also with them. Some brushed aside objections and

ran along with the royal party. The Pândavas, however, never turned

back; they never spoke a word. Their ears were closed to entreaties.

Their minds were fixed on Krishna; for the rest, they moved straight

on, like men blinded by a fanatic resolve, heeding none, observing

none.

 

Draupadî, with her maids, came running behind them calling on her

lords one by one separately by name. Parîkchit too pursued them along

the streets, but, he was caught and carried away by the Ministers who

tried to pacify him, though they were themselves greatly affected.

But, the Pândavas walked unconcerned, neither asking those who

followed, to stop nor permitting those who desired to join to come

along. Hundreds of men and women had to stop when they were too tired

and they mournfully returned to the capital. Others who were hardier

kept on. The women of the zenana, unused to sun and winds, were

exhausted quickly and they fell fainting on the road. Maids lamenting

the terrible events brought relief to them; some ventured even into

the forest, but, had to return fast, after encountering the horrors

of the wilderness. When dust storms rose, many citizens placed the

dust reverentially on their foreheads, taking it to be the dust of

the feet of Dharmaraja. Thus, passing through bush and briar, the

brothers soon got out of sight. What then could the people do? They

returned to Hastinâpura heavy with unbearable grief.

 

The Pândavas stuck to the vow of Mahaprasthanam. That vow required

that they should not eat or drink anything on the way, they should

not rest, they must proceed straight on, in the northern direction,

until they fall dead. This is the vow they observed, so grim and

tight.