This young son of Dhritarashtra feared
sin. His words were not sweet in the
Kaurava ears, but he was a good man and
spoke out his mind.
81. A FATHER'S GRIEF
YUDHISHTHIRA was plunged in
sorrow. "He has gone to the sleep that
knows no waking, he who in battle
overcame Drona, Aswatthama and
Duryodhana and who was like a
destroying fire to enemy forces. O warrior
that made Duhsasana flee in fear, are you
dead? What then is there for me to fight
for or win? Why do we want kingdom
now? What words of comfort can I offer
to Arjuna? And what shall I say to
Subhadra, quivering like a cow bereaved
of her calf? How can I utter to them vain
words of solace that serve no purpose?
Truly, ambition destroys the
understanding of men. Like the fool who,
looking for honey, falls into a precipitous
pit below and is destroyed, in my desire
for victory I pushed to the battlefront this
boy, whose life was all before him in love
and joy. There is no fool like me in the
world. I have killed Arjuna's beloved son,
instead of protecting him during the
absence of his father."
Thus was Yudhishthira lamenting in
histent. Around him were sitting warriors,
silent in sorrowful thought of the valor of
the youthful hero and his cruel death. It
was always the custom with Vyasa to
come and comfort the Pandavas,
whenever they were in great sorrow.
He was their great teacher as well as
grandsire. So he appeared now before
Yudhishthira. The sage was received with
all honor and Yudhishthira, having made
him sit, said: "I have tried very hard to
find peace of mind, but I am unable to
find it."
"You are wise and a knower," said Vyasa,
"and it is not meet that you should allow
yourself to be lost in grief in this manner.
Knowing the nature of death, it is not right
that you should grieve like the unlearned."
Vyasa proceeded to console the bereaved
Dharmaputra: "When Brahma created
living beings, he was filled with anxiety.
These lives will multiply and soon their
number will be beyond the capacity of the
earth to bear. There seems to be no way of
coping with this. This thought of Brahma
grew into a flame which became bigger
and bigger until it threatened to destroy all
creation at once. Then Rudra came and
pleaded for allaying this destructive fire.
Brahma controlled the great fire and
subdued it into the law that is known to
mortals as Death. This law of the creator
takes many forms, such as war or sickness
or accident and keeps the balance between
birth and death. Death is thus an
inescapable law of existence, ordained for
the good of the world. It is not true
wisdom to be impatient with Death or to
grieve immoderately for those who die.
There is no reason to pity those who pass
away. We may have reason indeed to
grieve for those who remain." After
saying these words of solace, Krishna
Dwaipayana retired.
Dhananjaya and Krishna were proceeding
towards their camp after defeating and
slaying the samsaptakas.
"Govinda, I do not know why," said
Arjuna, "but my mind is not at ease. My
mouth feels parched and my heart is
troubled with a great foreboding of loss. I
wonder if any calamity has happened to
Yudhishthira. Something makes me
afraid, Krishna."
"Do not be concerned about
Yudhishthira," replied Krishna."He and
your other brothers are safe." On the way,
they halted and did the evening prayers.
Remounting the chariot, they proceeded to
the camp. As they approached the camp,
Arjuna's premonitions of calamity
increased.