हरी ॐ
Dear Parents,
Dear Parents,
Opening Prayers: Om Sahanā vavatu, followed by the chants Om Sree Ganeśaya Namaha, Sree Saraswatyai Namaha, Sree Sat Gurubhyo Namaha.
Meditation: A couple of minutes of silence.
Story: The chariots had barely left Hastinapur, when Duryodhana and Śakuni went running to Dhritarashtra. They complained of how a perfectly good plan to get rid of the Pandavas was foiled by Dhritarashtra. Duryodhana appealed to the same emotional side, by accusing him of protecting the Pandavas and not loving his own son. He also told the king that it was still not too late, and that they could conduct a rematch - all or nothing. Dhritarashtra, fearing the great Vidura, could not come to a decision. With more pressure, he yielded to his son.
The Pandavas were brought back, yielding to Dhritarashtra's invitation again. The game was played, against the wishes of all elders. It was to only be one game, with a mighty wager. The kingdoms and a promise to go on Vanavās for 12 years and a year of staying incognito. If discovered in that last year, the punishment will last another 12 years. The Pandavas knew this was a ploy by Duryodhana to keep the throne to himself. The game was played, the dice was rolled, and the outcome was predicted against the Pandavas. This was injustice at its worst, yet Yudhisthira accepted the outcome, and asked his brothers and Draupadi to prepare for Vanavās.
Vidura, disappointed at the turn of events, told Dhritarashtra to prepare for the death of his children, which was imminent. His words of warning were ignored earlier, which is why he needed to give Dhritarashtra the bitter truth of the near future. Yudhisthira covered his face in fear of razing the city to ashes with his angry look, Bheema looked at his hands while walking because he could only think of revenge, Arjuna spread sand as he walked to let them know that arrows would fall in a similar manner, Nakula and Sahadeva smeared themselves with ash and dust to be unrecognizable, while Draupadi walked weeping her eyes out and her hair loose, reminding the Kaurava wives of their similar plight in 13 years. Hearing all this, peace left Dhritarashtra. He realized that his actions were going to reap terrible consequences that had already been set in motion.
With this ends Sabha Parvā. And we now resume the epic in its next Parvā - Vana Parvā
The Pandavas, along with Draupadi and their mentor Dhaumya, set out towards the forest. Taking the blessings of the elders, it was a sad sight to watch the citizens of Hastinapur walk along with them. A large group of Brahmins also followed. Soon they reached the banks of the River Ganga, in a little wooded enclosed area, the Pramanavata. They decided to break here for the night.
The next morning, Yudhisthira addressed the Brahmins who accompanied them. He was eternally grateful for their loyalty and support, but needed them to go back to their families. He told them that he and his family were resigned to their fate for the next 13 years, but did not want the brahmins to suffer as well since he did not have the ability to feed them. The Brahmins were adamant in their stand, and refused to be sent back to Hastinapur. Meanwhile Dhaumya asked Yudhisthira to pray to Surya, the Sun God, for a solution. Surya, pleased with his fervent prayers, blessed him with an Akshayapatra, a copper vessel that would keep refilling itself with food, for the next 12 years. The elated Yudhisthira was relieved to know that he could now support his entire entourage, who had so willingly sacrificed a life of comfort, to follow their Dharmaraja during his vanavās. The Pandavas, Draupadi, Dhaumya and the Brahmins then went on to the Kamyaka forest.
In Hastinapur, Dhritarashtra was left feeling miserable, unable to digest the ominous words spoken by Draupadi and the Pandavas. His misery left him unable to rejoice at his son's happiness. When he asked Vidura if he could console him, Vidura only advised him to bring back the Pandavas and return to them their rightful kingdom. Dhritarashtra was upset that Vidura only had advice that would hurt him, and not soothing words to calm the king.
At Kamyaka, the Pandavas were surprised to see their great uncle Vidura waiting for them. He told them that Dhritarashtra was upset with him and did not wish to see Vidura for as long as he supported the Pandavas. Yudhisthira was happy to see Vidura, but also knew that Dhritarashtra wouldn't last long without Vidura's guidance. Just as he predicted, Sanjaya came very soon, with Dhritarashtra's request for Vidura to return. Vidura forgave his brother, who he loved despite all his faults and weaknesses.
Hearing about Vidura's return to Hastinapur, Duryodhana was worried that his father's partiality towards. I durga May extend to the Pandavas as well. He could not digest that something like that might even happen, and he may have to give back what he won in the game of dice. Radheya suggested taking the entire army and wiping out the Pandavas at Kamyaka, where they stayed without any form of protection. While these discussions were going on, Vyasa visited. He was furious with them all, and Dhritarashtra in particular, for entertaining such a heinous idea. He told them to make peace with the Pandavas or leave them alone for the duration of their Vanavās. As Vyasa departed, Sage Maitreya arrived at the Kingdom, disappointed that Dhritarashtra chose his sons over the rightful heirs, and also that he cheated the Pandavas of their kingdom. Sage Maitreya tried advising Duryodhana, but was met with disinterest and insolence. When Duryodhana patted his thigh as a show of disrespect, the sage cursed him to lose his life when that thigh is broken by Bheema. The sage also warned them Bheema and Arjuna were unparalleled in their power, having already defeated hidimba, Baka, Jarasandh and Kirmeera. Dhritarashtra pleaded on his behalf, but the Sage left, refusing to take back the curse unless Duryodhana made peace with the Pandavas. Dhritarashtra went to Vidura, asking how Kirmeera was killed. Vidura explained how Baka's brother, in search of his brother's killer, had chances upon the Pandavas while on their way to the Kamyaka forest. When he understood that Bheema was part of the traveling party, he thirsted for revenge over the death of his brother Baka and also his good friend Hidimba. Bheema accepted the challenge. Requesting his brothers to stay away and watch, Bheema uprooted trees, slammed Kirmeera on the ground, and finally put him over his leg and broke his back in two.
Geeta Chanting: Practice guided chanting of all verses with Sw. Shantanandaji from YouTube links sent via WhatsApp.
Pranāms,
Akshay and Nivedita
