HOME COMING OF THE PANDAVAS

The Pandavas after serving a term of 13 years in exile. returned to their birthplace Hastinapura on 'Kartik Amavashya.To celebrate the joyous occassion of their return to Hastinapura and to welcome back the Pandavas, the people illuminated their state by lighting bright earthen lamps everywhere.

The exciting news of the marriage of Draupadi with Pandavas reached Hastinapura. Vidura was extremely happy and went to Dhritarashtra to break the news to him, and told, "I am extremely happy to tell you that princess Panchali, the daughter of King Draupada had become the daughter-in-law of the Bharatha dynasty." The wishful thinking of Dhritarashtra led to its conclusion that it was Duryodhana who obtained Draupadi at Svayamvara successfully. The blind King said, "Then, please arrange a befitting welcome to Panchali. I am happy that the Kuru Panchala alliance will forbode uninterrupted prosperity to people of both the kingdoms."

Vidura hastened to clarify the position. He said, "The Pandavas are alive, it is Arjuna who hit the Matsya yantra successfully. The Pandavas have jointly married Draupadi. They are now enjoying the hospitality of king of Panchala, Drupada." Dhritarashtra concealed his disappointment and said, "Vidura, most happy news, I am doubly happy. Pandavas are alive and Panchali is our daughter- in- law." Duryodhana never expected that Pandavas were alive. The gang of four met to take stock of the situation. Duhasasana said, "It was our fault to rely on the incompetent Purochana. The clever Pandavas killed him. It is now clear that they set fire to the wax house as well as the quarters of the Purochana; but the blame is foisted on us. Look at the irony. They fooled us and the whole world."

Sakuni said, "I hear from Vidura that the King Dhritarashtra is welcoming them to Hastinapura and a reception is being arranged in honour of princess Panchali. We must deal with Dhritarashtra first and afterwards our course of action can be formulated." Duryodhana and Karna went to Dhritarashtra and asked him to clarify whether he endorsed Vidura’s stand. Dhritarashtra said to Duryodhana, "What can I do? Can I openly proclaim my enemity towards the Pandavas. Any way I should not let Vidura know that I bear ill-will against the Pandavas." Dhritarashtra was ever willing to wound but was always afraid to stike. Duryodhana categorically told his father, " I cannot live on amicable terms with the Pandavas who knew everything about our designs. I do not want to be a hypocrite. We are enemies pure and simple. It is for you to choose between your sons and and sons of your brother Pandu."


Karna proposed an immediate surprise attack on Panchala before the Pandavas consolidate their position. He was smaring under the humiliation he sustained at the svayamvara of Draupadi. He said, "Sri Krishna has met Kunti and the Pandavas. We must defeat Draupada, the main prop of the Pandavas now, before Sri Krishna joins them with his Yadava forces. The evil genius of Sri Krishna is too dangerous to be allowed any time. The fight is inevitable. Let us not postpone the evil days. We must start the invasion without delay."

Dhritarashtra said that Bhishma and Drona must be consulted and persuaded to join the expedition. Duryodhana said that Bhishma could never be a friend of Draupada, the traditional enemy of the Kurus and Drona was the inveterate enemy of Draupada. Anyway Dhritarashtra was unrelenting in his insistence that Bhishma and Drona should be consulted. So they sent for Bhishma and Drona and Dhritarashtra extended the invitation to Vidura as well and all the three came. Bhishma said, "To me, the Kauravas and the Pandavas are like two eyes. Now Drupada has become an ally of the Bharatha race in view of the recent marriage alliance. So no enemy can ever dare to attack the Kuru Kingdom. I have become old and I want to see the whole kingdom enjoy peace and prosperity. The proper course is to welcome the Pandavas and give half the kingdom to them. Then there will be no room for any fight between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The fire accident in the wax house has been the cause of many comments from many quarters, all of them not complimentary to us. All blame will be baseless and all suspicion will be unfounded if Pandavas are welcomed and given the half share of the Kingdom. This is my considered opinion." Next Dronacharya gave his opinion " I entirely endorse the statesman like advice given by Bhishma. I do not want to mix up my personal animosity against Drupada with the interest of the state. Anyway a Kshatriya need not forget or forgive but it is incumbent on a Brahmin to forget as well as forgive. I harbor no ill -will against Drupada any more."

Duryodhana did not expect Bhishma and Drona could forget their past animosity towards Drupada. Karna rose up and sad, "Drona has received wealth and glory at the hands of King Dhritarashtra and he is advocating the division of the kingdom and supporting the allied enemies without any sense of shame." Drona was very much annoyed at the uncivil accusation made by Karna and he declared, " O wicked Karna, you are sent by destiny for the annihilation of the Bharatha race." Dhritarashtra asked Karna to keep quite and called on Vidura to speak out his mind. Vidura said, "It is a common talk among the people that we tried to kill the Pandavas and that it is our prime responsibilty to clear ourselves of the blame. The citizens know that the Pandavas are alive and want them to come back. As it is, Yudhisthra is the heir apparent as already proclaimed by the King himself openly. Bhishma, the living head of the family and the Bharatha race, has said that only half of the promised whole may now be made over to the Pandavas to save our face gracefully. Karna’s advice for the invasion of Panchala is foolish. We cannot be sure of success. Moreover the divine Sri Krishna will side with the Pandavas and Panchalas. In fact Bhishma’s exhortation is not merely an advice. It is a mandate."

Dhritarashtra gave his verdict. He said, "I have decided to give half of the Kingdom to the Pandavas in the interests of fairplay, peace and prosperity. I request Vidura to go the city of Drupada to fetch the Pandavas together with Panchali to Hastinapura with all royal honours. Vidura with all the swiftness at his command started for the capital city of Panchala Kingdom taking with him precious jewllery and presents. The Pandavas received Vidura with the respect due to their guardian savior. Drupada welcomed him as the learned philosopher from the land of Bharatha. Vidura offered the royal presents to Drupada on behalf of Dhritarashtra and after the customar y ceremonials were completed, met Kunti Devi. Kunti said to Vidura, "Son of Vichitravirya, my sons owe their lives to you. They were protected by your invincible hand and invincible intelligence everywhere.Therefore they are your children." Any thanksgiving to His Holiness Vidura, is quite superfluous. Let us not offer the vanity of empty vocables to him. The real homage we can pay at his lotus feet is to follow his dictates with implicit obedience and reverence." The brothers bowed at his feet.. Vidura said, "I have come to take you to Hastinapura on behalf of King Dhritarashtra. The Princes have a duty to discharge to the people at large. The Pandavas, followed by Kunti, started for Hastinapura along with Vidura. Hastinapura presented a festive look on the occasion of the home coming of the Pandavas.

The Pandavas together with Kunti Devi were taken in procession from the gates of the city to the royal palace. Yudhisthira and the brothers bowed successively to Bhishma, Drona, Dhritarashtra and other elders. Dhritarashtra bestowed half the kingdom on Yudhisthira who was duly crowned King. However with a view to avoid friction between the two factions, Dhritarashtra asked Yudhisthira to make Khandavaprastha his new capital. Dhritarashtra blessed Yudhisthira and said, " My brother Pandu ruled the kingdom very justly and wisely. May you prove to be the worthy son of a worthy father. I hope you will revive our ancient glory and reestablish the supremacy of our race."

Bhishma blessed Yudhisthira and said, "May you be the supreme sovereign of the whole of Bharathavarcha. It is not a difficult venture, the Kauravas are your cousins, the King of Panchala is your ally. Above all Lord Krishna with superhuman potentialities is your friend, philosopher and guide. Nothing is impossible when the divine dispensation is in your favour. I wish you good luck and godspeed." Drona reiterated the views of Bhishma and said, "Yudhisthira, you are fortunate. Arjuna’s success at the Matsya yantra, I felt proud, was an indirect testimonial to me as his preceptor. I wish you well wherever you are." The Pandavas took leave of all the elders including Gandhari who blessed them and repeated her favourite saying, "Yato dharmas tato jayah"- verily success is there where there is righteousness. The Pandavas reached Khandavaprastha of historic fame, which was steeped in archeological ruins, renovated it and renamed it as Indraprastha.