Episode 17.
Anatomy of Duryodhana’s proposal…..
Krishna after a
fruitful deliberation with Kunti, briefed Karna the following if he agrees to
end the war and honour Duryodhana’s proposal:
1. Karna
will be accepted as the eldest of the Pandavas by law and be the king.
2. Being the biological son of Kunti,
Vrishni’s will also revere him as the emperor with tremendous power over
everyone.
3. Yudhistira, Bhima and others will be
convinced to back him as he adores the throne.
4. After some resistance, Draupadi, the
common wife of Pandavas too may be enticed to be Karna’s wife in spite of her
reservations.
On the other side, Balarama pleaded with the hesitant Dhritarashtra to toe the line.
Dhritarashtra righteously expressed his reservations as the kingdom would now
slip away from the hands of Kauravas forever. However, Gandhari pointed out to
him the ill designs of Shakuni which led to the present predicament. She also
reminded him of the fact that the Pandavas were the legitimate heirs of the
kingdom and that he should be happy to have ruled Hastinapur for so many years,
though under turbulent conditions. And now Karna, though a Pandava, is an
ardent follower of Duryodhana. Dhritarashtra twisted his fists and bowed to fate.
Yudhistira
took his fuming brothers to mother Kunti. Kunti asked her sons to recollect,
how during the course of the war, Karna had stopped short of killing them, duly
honouring her words. She also asked them to step into her shoes and think. She made
them ponder over the fact that Karna is her first son, irrespective of the
cause of birth has to be accepted as the legitimate leader, provided Karna
agrees. He had all the qualities of being a King. Moreover, Karna had
appreciated the gesture of Arjuna amidst the war and put down his armour,
despite his vow of killing Arjuna. She confessed magnanimously, that, it was
her experimentation on the “Birth Mantras” offered by the Rishi, which has led
to this predicament.
Nakula and
Sahadeva strangely doubted the paternal lineage of Karna, though, he was the
son of Kunti. They considered themselves to be Pandavas in view of the paternal
lineage. In anticipation, Kunti reminded all the five that they were all an
outcome of the same mantra. And so is Karna. The only difference being the
birth of Karna even before marrying Pandu.
Bhima always in
forefront in opposing Duryodhanas moves did not wish to antagonise Kunti. So
he cleverly suggested that all the wives of Pandavas be consulted as they too mattered.
Draupadi in fact had umpteen number of grudges against both Karna and
Duryodhana.
Episode to
be continued in 17……
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