Mahabharata Virata Parva: Day 3

Part 1 of this series can be found here
Part 2 of this series can be found here
Part 4 of this series can be found here
Part 5 of this series can be found here

Who is a Bandhu (Well Wisher)?

Krishna is Bandhu (Well-Wisher) of the Pandavas.

And now, who is a Bandhu? When you have difficulties, that’s when you know who are your bandhus and who are not. 

Do they help you at the time of difficulty? Or do they go away? That will give you the answer.

Bhima and Draupadi’s Plan: A Recap

“If you don’t finish Keechaka off, I’ll kill myself”, Draupadi told Bhima. Bhima was in agreement with Draupadi’s view that Keechaka should be killed. He desperately wanted to kill Keechaka in the court when Keechaka insulted Draupadi. In his mind, Bhima is already in Keechaka’s place, visualising the battle.

Bhima came up with a plan. He asked Draupadi to tell Keechaka to come alone to the nartyashala (the dance auditorium) at night. Bheema would go instead of Draupadi and kill Keechaka. 

Keechaka Vadham

On the pretext of visiting his sister, Keechaka comes to see Draupadi, and is pleasantly surprised when she smiles at him. 

“I’m really the king of this kingdom, not Virata. If you listen to me, I’ll give you 100 gold coins each day, 100 male servants, 100 female servants”, he told Draupadi. 
“You’re calling me in front of everyone. The Gandarvas are protecting me. Come to the Nartanashala alone, after everyone sleeps, around 11 pm. Alone. Neither Gandarvas, nor me will know about this. If you come, I’ll give you an experience you’ve not had before”, Draupadi told Keechaka. 

Keechaka went home and couldn’t wait till nightfall. Each second felt like a month. 

Bhima, in the meantime, finished his work in the kitchen and went clothes shopping – he had to go as a lady that night, and bought the appropriate clothes and makeup. At 9 pm, he went to the nartanashala and lay down in a bed. Draupadi too went there at 9 pm and hid behind a pillar. Keechala went there at 10 pm.

“Hey Malini”, he called out 4-5 times. Bheema, who usually breathes heavily, was consciously restraint, so as to not give away the show. 

Bhimasena cleared his throat slightly.
“You’ve never seen such a roopavati in your life. Well, here I am”, he told Keechaka in the best version of a woman’s voice that he could muster. After some back-and-forth chit chat, Bhima said “Enough talking. Touch me.”

Keechaka was delighted. He touched the blanket and attempted to remove it. Bhima sprung up and grabbed Keechaka’s hair. He shook him hard once. Keechaka knew at once this was not a woman, but in the dark he didn’t know the identity of the person. 

The two of them dueled in the dark. The duel had the flavour of Vaali – Sugreeva duel. 

Bhima eventually takes Keechaka and swirled him around, and hit him hard on the head. Keechaka fell down. Bheema took Keechaka’s head, hands and legs, and put them inside Keechaka’s body. The dead Keechaka was no longer recognizable – what remained was a ball of flesh without a head, arms and legs – a mamsa pinda.

Bhima wanted to show Draupadi the fate of the person who troubled her. He called her, opened a couple of doors and lit a fire to get some light, and showed Draupadi the mamsa pinda of the person who was Keechaka a few minutes ago. 

Bhima Kills the Upa-Keechakas

After killing Keechaka, Bhima went back to sleep. He needed his sleep to function the following day, and he had already lost 2 hours sleep. Draupadi, however remained there and woke up the nartyashala guards.

“Keechaka misbehaved with me. The Gandharvas, who protect me, killed Keechaka”, she told them. Soon enough, the news was sent to Keechaka’s brothers, the 105 Upa-keechakas. They arrive immediately. Though they can’t recognize Keechaka – all they could see is the mamsa-pinda, 

When Keechaka was killed, the news was sent to his brothers, 105 upa-keechakas. 

The Upa-keechakas were bewildered on seeing the mamsa pinda – was this really Keechaka? They knew about Keechaka’s desiring Draupadi, so when they saw her, they saw a perfect way to avenge their brother. They tied her with Keechaka and took them both to the cremation ground. They planned to burn her as well.

Draupadi, in dire trouble, recited the Mantra they agreed on should one person get in trouble. As it happened, Bhima heard the Mantra and ran to the cremation ground. With a heavy body, he was not a fast runner, but he made it in time. He broke a branch of a tree, and with a single blow, he killed all the 105 Upa-keechakas.

To Let Draupadi Back In Or Not? Sudeshna’s Dilemma

The death of Keechaka and the 105 Upa-Keechakas had spread all over the kingdom like wildfire. 

Hearing that the Gandharvas were responsible for the killing, people were afraid to even look at Draupadi, and looked down when she came in front of them. The seemingly invincible Keechaka’s fate scared them.

When Draupadi came back to her chambers, Sudeshna came up to her and asked, “When are you leaving?”. After all, Draupadi was responsible for the killing of her brother. 

“I’m going to go after a few more days – please let me stay till then”, requested Draupadi. 

“If I force her out, this may further anger the Gandharvas. In any case, she said she will go in a few days. Let me ask her to stay back”, Sudeshna thought to herself and asked Draupadi to stay back.

Duryodhana Spies on the Pandavas

Right from Day 1 of the Ajnata Vasa, Duryodhana asked his spies to scour all the kingdoms and find out if they can find the Pandavas. 

The spies repeatedly report that they couldn’t locate the Pandavas. They searched everywhere. Even Dwaraka. (How they were let into Dwaraka is a mystery). The spies concluded that the Pandavas must have died – otherwise they would surely have been found. 

When Keechaka died, the spies reported this flash news to Duryodhana.

Duryodhana said that there were four people who possessed equal strength in all aspects:

• Balarama
• Bhima
• Jarasandha
• Keechaka

Keechaka’s death tingled Duryodhana’s spidey-sense and he suspected Bhima’s involvement. He further visualized what must have happened – Keechaka must have misbehaved with Draupadi and Bhima must have killed him. 

Drona gave his opinion to Duryodhana. He said that the Pandavas are great warriors, they wouldn’t have died without a trace. Bhishma said that they’ll come after a year just as the sun makes an appearance in the morning. He also gave Duryodhana a clue – the place where people are satisfied and lead a good life, where it rains the right amount, where crops grow well, where there are no strifes and quarrels, where virtues take forefront – that is the place where you can find the Pandavas.

The Pandavas Battle Susharma

When Duryodhana suspected that the Pandavas were in the Virata kingdom, King Susharma, a rival of King Virata who was afraid of Keechaka, was visiting Duryodhana. 

Duryodhana and Susharma decided to battle the Virata kingdom together. Susharma wanted to go by himself, but Duryodhana had a different plan – Susharma would go and battle the South side, while Duryodhana and army would go the following day and battle the North army. The plan was to capture all the cows of the Virata kingdom – attack the foundation of the kingdom, and the rest could be taken care of later.

Susharma captured Virata. Yudhishtira called Bhima, Nakula and Sahadeva, and they all went to rescue Virata. Bhima jumped up with glee. For 1 year, he was itching to fight, and an opportunity presented itself. “I will uproot a tree and kill them all”, Bhima announced his intentions. “I’m glad you told me Bhima. This will expose you. I want you to fight as a normal warrior, not as Bhima! And rescue Virata.” 

Bhima did as instructed, and captured Susharma and tied him up.

Bhima (to Susharma): “Should I release you?”
Susharma: “Yes, please!”
Bhima: “From this moment, whenever anyone asks you, you have to say that you are Virata’s servant”.
Susharma: “I’ll do anything you say, just please release me.”

Virata, of course, was thrilled.

Prince Uttara Goes to Battle against Duryodhana

The news reaches the kingdom that Duryodhana and his full-strength army (consisting of Drona, Bheeshma, Kripa, Karna, Ashwattama and others) are attacking the North side. The people go to Prince Uttara (whose given name is Bhoominjaya) and ask him to lead the army, since King Virata hasn’t returned from the South side battle.

Prince Uttara, who preferred the life of leisure, and couldn’t be bothered with war and such, replied “I’d love to go, but I don’t have a charioteer, which means I can’t.” He could have left it at that, but he chose to boast, “If I had a charioteer, I’ll vanquish them all in as little as one Muhurta. In fact, if I engage in battle, you all will ask me if I’m Arjuna!”. 

Draupadi overheard this and was obviously annoyed. She went to Arjuna (who is in the garb of a eunuch named Brhannala) and reported this. Arjuna, who was annoyed that he couldn’t fight for a year, decided to take this opportunity and decided to be Prince Uttara’s charioteer. 

Draupadi went and gave this news to a bemused Prince Uttara.

Draupadi: “Don’t worry Prince Uttara, I’ve arranged a charioteer for you. Brhannala. She has been a charioteer for the acclaimed Arjuna.”
Uttara: “This is all well, but I have a vrata. I don’t talk to eunuchs, let alone have one be my charioteer.”
Draupadi: “This is crisis time (aapat kaala), Prince Uttara. Vratas take a back seat. A capable person does right things at the right times.

A capable person does right things at the right times.

Uttara has no choice but to agree. Princess Uttaraa sends Prince Uttara and Brhannala off with words of encouragement, and asks them to return home with the vastra (clothes) and aabharana (jewels) of the vanquished army.

These words give Prince Uttara false confidence. They go North, past the smasana where the Pandavas have hidden their weapons. 

Brhannala Takes Charge

Uttara sees the Kauravas. He’s never seen such a sight before – a battlefield with the best warriors. Athirathas and Maharathas. His hands, leg automatically shivered. His intelligence took leave. His tongue dried and started shivering as wells. His entire body was filled with goosebumps.

He told Brhannala, “I am not fit to fight. I am but a boy. You are a eunuch. These are Athirathas and Maharathas. Therefore, turn the chariot back.”
Brhannala: “But they are taking our cows.”
Uttara: “Let them take the calves as well, see if I care. I just want them to leave us alone. Also, the joy of being a coward is more than the joy of being a warrior. Grant me this joy.”

Uttara broke down into tears.
“Take me to my mother. My mother will do abhishekam to you with all the gold we have!” He jumped out of the chariot and started running South. Bhrannala jumped out of the chariot as well, and chased Uttara. The Kauravas laughed at this sight. Drona suspected that Brhannala looks like Arjuna in a eunuch’s garb.

Brhannala finally caught up with Uttara.

Uttara: “Leave me! I am the only son of my mother. Destiny is strange – I am begging you for mercy instead of the enemies, Kauravas!”
Brhannala: “You’re Virata’s son! A Kshatriya! Don’t be afraid. I’ll do all the fighting, we’ll win. Besides, we told the womenfolk we’ll return after winning. We should keep our word.”

Uttara made sure that Brhannala would not go back on her word when they reached the chariot. They walked back to the chariot. They, however, did not proceed North towards the Kauravas – they turned back South. To go to the smasana to collect the weapons stashed by the Pandavas.

Drona and Bheeshma Engage in Word Play

There is a literary technique in Sanskrit called Slesha. This is a word play, where a sentence has two meanings. Drona and Bhishma communicated to each other, with a sentence that carried literal meaning, as well as a hidden meaning.

Drona: Nadi Jalam Keshava Nari Ketuh
This was intended to be read as Nadija Lankesha Vana-ari Ketuh

Hey Nadija (Bhishma), Lankesha’s ari (Hanuman) is on the Ketuh (Flag). I.e. Hanuman is on the flag

In other words, Drona told Bhishma, “I think this is Arjuna”, without anyone else understanding. 

Bhishma replied with his own Slesha – “Ateetam Chakram Asmaakam”

The literal meaning is “They’ve crossed the border lines” (Arjuna and Uttara went past the city border to reach the smasana). The hidden meaning is “The 13 years have gone by. The time has elapsed.”

Drona was delighted to confirm the identity of Arjuna, and reported it to Duryodhana. “This is undoubtedly Arjuna”, Drona said, and added “Who can defeat Arjuna?”

This infuriated Karna, who accused Drona of being partial to Arjuna. Duryodhana, on the other hand, thanked Drona for pointing Arjuna out to him.

(To be continued).

The entire discourse (in Tamil) can be viewed here.

Picture credit: Yogesa, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons