Draupadi, though pacified by the learned reasoning of Dharmaja, found her mind kindling with many more questions. For unless such queries were met, the depth of their spiritual understanding could not be known to the outer world. Indeed, upon scrutiny, their exchange stood as a brilliant discourse on ancient wisdom and the pronouncements of sacred…
When the Kurukshetra clouds were yet far from sight, Srikrishna departed for Dvārakā, accompanied by his sister Subhadrā and young Abhimanyu. Drishtadyumna took with him his nephews, the sons of Draupadī—the Upapāndavas—back to his kingdom. The Pāndavas, attended only by a band of twenty trusted aides and several groups of venerable Brāhmins, set forth toward…
Dharmaja, though eager to hear the tale of Krishna’s combat with the mighty Salva, was more anxious to know of the deeper nature of war—its impact upon the order of the world, the betrayal of justice by cunning craft. Perceiving this inner intent, Śrī Krishna began to narrate the story of his ten-month struggle. “O…
At Kamyakavana, the Pandavas were visited by Sri Krishna and the venerable elders of the Panchalas, Yadavas, Vrishnis, Bhojas, and Andhakas. The chiefs of these noble clans, beholding the humiliation heaped upon the sons of Pandu, were inflamed with righteous wrath. Their anger shook them like a storm, and they declared that the blood of…
The blazing radiance of Dharma Vidura entered Hastinapura, and he bowed before King Dhritarashtra, who welcomed him with warmth and affection. The king spoke with emotion, saying, “Vidura, you are as my very heartbeat. I know your noble quality of forgiveness, yet I must confess that I have not always walked rightly with you.” Vidura,…
Dharmaja, in answer to the doubts of Sage Sounaka, spoke with quiet dignity. The sage had wondered whether the king was entangled in the creation of wealth and in the gathering of riches, but Dharmaja replied: “I do not seek riches or comforts for my selfish pleasure. A different concern burdens my conscience—how may I…
When Saunaka and the sages of Naimisharanya enquired of Souti regarding the exile of the sons of Pandu, the narrator spoke in sober cadence. He told how, having lost all in the cruel game of dice, the Pandavas turned their steps southward into the forest, accompanied by Indrasena and other faithful attendants. Subhadra, the young…
In the palace of Hastinapura, the heavy heart of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra found a fleeting relief, for the women of the royal household rejoiced when the harm intended against the Pāṇḍavas was momentarily undone. In that moment of crisis, the wise queen Gāndhārī rose with firmness of mind and persuaded the king to act with prudence,…
Vidura, still cherishing a faint hope that heaven itself might intervene to shield Draupadi and the sons of Pandu from a humiliation beyond all precedent, continued his grave discourse on justice. He recalled an ancient tale: in a former age, Virochana, son of the pious Prahlada, and Sudhanva, son of the Brahmin Angirasa, sought the…
The tumult of strange misfortune might well have driven a lesser woman to madness; yet Draupadī, noble in birth and steadfast in virtue, stood unshaken, seeking the truth amidst outrage. The foul deed of staking a wife in a game of dice weighed upon her like a dark enigma, and in the midst of that…
