Episode 12
The white flag
furls……
The crestfallen
Duryodhana at last consents to hold a face-saving negotiation with Pandavas.
His handful of warriors led by Kripacharya enter the battlefield, blowing the
trumpet. Surprisingly they are holding a white flag. Unaware, Pandavas rush to
the ever knowledgeable Krishna.
Krishna,
Balarama, Kunti, and Vrishali welcome them with a smile. The Pandavas are taken
aback. They didn’t have an iota of what is happening around them. They were busy
concocting Bheema to find Duryodhana and finish the war. They were stunned
at the presence of Balarama and Vrishali.
Krishna called
Yudhishtira and put his hands around his back. The representative smile of
Krishna was well understood by Yudhishtira. Yudhishtira touched the feet of
Krishna, Balarama and Kunti and sought their blessings. Kunti signaled him to take
the blessings of Vrishali too. He was stunned. Yet out of respect towards his
mother, which he ever had, he obeyed though in wonder.
Kunti zoomed all
that transpired in the twilight. Pandavas were told for the first time that
Karna was their eldest brother. They all pinched their skin in utter
incredulity. Always in fury, Bheema whacked his mighty mace to the ground
questioning the long secrecy maintained. For a moment the battlefield quaked.
Krishna and Balarama soothed him. Arjuna had a deep sigh of relief as he had
stopped short of killing his own brother.
All were waiting
for Dhritarashtra’s emissary to come. Duryodhana conveyed to the parents his
willingness to put an end to the unfortunate war, however under certain
amicable conditions. As anticipated, the emissary arrived and handed over the
consent letter to Yudhishtira. They all went into a deep discussion pondering
over the pros and cons. Balarama’s opinion prevailed. Nakula and Sahadeva were
sent to the battlefield along with a white flag. However, as per ever-suspicious
Bheema, the entire army of Pandavas was there to provide a backup in case of
any eventuality.
Dhritarashtra and
Gandhari represented the Kauravas. Krishna and Kunti appeared for Pandavas. Balarama
was the mediator. A long deliberation took place. Yudhishtira left everything
to the wise decision of Krishna and Kunti. Gandhari spoke into the ears of
Duryodhana about the relation between Kunti and Karna.
Ever agile
Balarama, sensing trouble briefed Duryodhana as to how Karna rejected the
proposal of both Krishna and Kunti about his birth. He made sure to applaud
Karna’s stand of remaining loyal with Duryodhana despite being the son of
Kunti. He even vowed to kill his own brother Arjuna in the interest of Kaurava's
victory. Balarama wanted to avoid an element of suspicion in the mind of
Duryodhana about Karna putting down his arms in the war when Arjuna came
forward to help him set on track his chariot.
An opportunistic
idea flashed into the mind of cunningly clever Duryodhana. He decided to have
a final strategic meeting with his companions.
Sanjaya, the
narrator had a welcome rest.
To be continued
in episode 13……..
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