For those of you who want to follow the story from where we left off, here's the continuation of Mahabharata. I'll put up the illustrations again later.
Origin of the Dynasty of the Kurus
They
walked again to the holy place where the great man lay pierced with arrows from
head to toe. The grass was stained with blood. Bhishma was eager to see his
royal relatives. They took up their positions around him. Yudhisthira asked,
"Tell me of our dynasty, and how it was continued after Chitrangada and
Vichitravirya. Tell us the story of our fathers."
And Bhishma continued. Satyavati was the mother of us all.
SATYAVATI
Bhiṣma continued, “Satyavati would become a second mother to me.
She had been born of a forest sage and a river mermaid then left to die on the
banks of the river. The history of this great queen was not fully known to me
until later, when it was my duty to continue the dynasty of the Kurus. At that
time she confided in me the entire story of how she had met the sage Parashara,
and how the island-born Vyāsa, compiler of the Vedas, had been born to her. Now
I will tell the story of Satyavati, my father's second wife.
“By the good fortune of Kṛṣṇa and the gods, Satyavati was saved by
a fisherman and raised as his daughter. She was a mere girl who ferried
passengers across the Ganges in a small boat, built for the purpose. She was a
nubile maid, a child of the river.
Satyavati crossing river.
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“Her father, a crafty fisherman had raised her to ferry
passengers across the Ganges. As she lived in a bamboo shack beside the river
with her father, she spent every morning cutting and scaling fish. After
morning duties, she ran the ferry.
Now it came to pass that one morning a great saint by the name of
Parashara Muni had to cross the river.
Now
Parashara had spent a long time in the mountains meditating on the nature of
the absolute and had not seen a woman during his time there. When he came upon
this innocent girl, he was stunned by her beauty and determined to lay with
her.
“Satyavati,
of course, had never considered herself a great beauty, for everyone insulted
her and called her foul-smelling and 'fish-breath'. In truth, her mother had
been a beautiful water-sprite of the river, an apsara, a kind of mermaid. How
could she understand the attractive power of her beauty and the madness it
would provoke in a saint? As the boat entered the smooth waters of the Ganges,
Parashara, beholding her nymph-like charms, approached her gently, saying, “Oh
divine nymph, come to me. Allow me to embrace you and let us know the joys of
mortal love together.”
The young Satyavati was furious at the forest sage whose green
eyes had a penetrating and hypnotic stare. She laughed at him and made as if to
strike him with an oar if he came any closer.
“Stay away from me,” she said.
Parasara Muni and Satyavati
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“I have acquired certain mystic powers by dint of my long years of
penances and austerities in the mountains of the Himalayas.” He said. “Tell,
me, what is your heart’s desire?”
“No closer.” she said.
“I can grant you a boon or benediction as you wish.” He said.
“Don’t be afraid of me.”
“Well, if you really have any mystic powers at all,” she said,
softening “Make me fragrant. The fishy smell that permeates me offends all
suitors and young men everywhere. Please help me. I have lived so long in
the house of a fisherman that I smell like a fish and no one will touch me.”
“Done.” He said, and her new aroma of sandalwood and roses
permeated both sides of the river with a strange and lovely perfume for eight
miles in all directions.
“What more do you ask of me,” said the sage, moving closer, with
his strange visage and matted hair, dressed as he was in a deerskin. “Come to
me.” he gestured to her.
“Well, if we are to know the joys of mortal love, transform
yourself into a handsome young man in fine clothes.” she challenged.
Parasara Muni
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“Done,” said the mystic and assumed temporarily the aspect of a
handsome young man in fine clothes. “So now leave the oars. Come to me.”
“We shall be seen!” she exclaimed, at once alarmed and attracted.
“My reputation will be ruined.”
“I’ll see to that.” He said, and so a fine mist began to pervade
the atmosphere of the river. Their boat stopped dead in the water, it floated
into a vast clump of golden lotus flowers. The fragrance of Satyavati changed
with her mood and she now exuded the scent of jasmine flowers in the sunset.
She smiled, coyly. “If I fall into your embrace,” She said,
then I will no longer be a virgin.”
“Then“ the sage smiled, “By the mystic power of the great yogis
achieved after long penance and austerities - I shall restore your virginity.”
“Can such a thing be done? What if I am with child?”
“Your child shall be born immediately. We shall leave him on yon
island. His name will be Vyāsa and he will be the greatest of sages and the
writer of the Vedas. His dynasty shall rule the earth. What more would you
ask?”
"She smiled, her objections overcome. They embraced in the
cool privacy of the scented mist.
When they reached the other side of the river, the saint Parashara
once more assumed his normal appearance, an old man with matted hair in a
deerskin. He again retired to the mountains of the Himalayas to pass a long
time in meditation."
"Now, the river-born Vyāsa was left on an island where he was
later found and raised by river spirits and mountain sages. Satyavati was now a
woman and her beauty famous. Not only were her eyes pure, her form shapely, but
her perfume, which changed with her mood, was now redolent of sandalwood, then
jasmine, and then the musky aroma of lotuses at sunrise."
And so it was that my father, childless and forlorn, having
conquered vast lands beyond his own kingdom, met and fell in love with the
beautiful Satyavati. Upon crossing the river he was utterly enchanted and lost
his wits in the charms of love.
King Shantanu and Satyavati
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"But
I have already explained all these things.
The River-born Vyasa, Compiler of Vedic
Literatures
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Bhishma
continued, “And so, as I have already explained, after the death of the warlike
Chitrangada, I went to great labors to secure a wife for my brother
Vichitravirya at the Swayamvara of Amba, Ambika, and Ambalika held by the King
of Kashi. Alas, by this time my father had ascended to the heavens to be
with the gods, having lived his life in accordance with dharma.
“I
have told you of the great Swayamvara in the court of the King of Kashi and how
I bore off his daughters in my chariot and finally how they were married to
Vichitravirya. You must know that Vichitravirya was unlucky. After
enjoying his wives for some time, Vichitravirya was still unable to conceive an
heir with them. So Vichitravirya and his wives had no children or heirs to the
throne.
Hindu boy-king
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“And
then, further tragedy struck our family. It was the will of the divine powers
that he leave this world. After a time that child among men, the gentle
Vichitravirya contracted tuberculosis and died leaving no heir.
“With
the death of the good Vichitravirya, I therefore went to my father’s widow,
Satyavati in order to better ascertain what should be done. That good woman, my
second mother, advised me that I must now break my vow and take the wives of
Vichitravirya as my own to continue the dynasty.
Satyavati from TV Mahabharata
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“My
dear son, Bhishma,” Satyavati said. “My sons, your brothers, are gone. The Lord
has taken them to their fate. Still we must continue our dynasty. The
House of Kuru will die if we do not have heirs. Now it is your duty to continue
the line.”
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Devavrata's vow: "Never shall I
marry."
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“Who
am I to beget children?” I said. “I have sworn a vow of lifelong celibacy. Have
you forgotten my vow?”
The
fragrant Satyavati said, “You must take the wives of your brother,
Vichitravirya. They are young and ready to have children. It is the law of
dharma that you do so.”
Bhishma at the Swayamvara of the
daughters of Kashi: Amba, Ambalika, Ambika
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“Perhaps
you forget the circumstances of my vow, fair lady."
“I
remember full well how these things came to pass, my son. Listen to me. If we
are to rule Hastinapura and the kingdom of the Kurus, we must have an heir.
Otherwise our plans are doomed to extinction and oblivion."
Ruins of Harrapa, 5,000 years old, near
Hastinapura
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However
Satyavati, being a woman, was unable to comprehend my sacrifice. For my
father’s sake and for the good of the kingdom of all the Indias, I had
renounced my everything! My youth, my position as crown prince of the realm,
the joys of marriage, the boast of heraldry, the pomp of power.
“My
mother Ganges, the goddess of the river, had prepared me with arms and the
knowledge of the Vedas for princely rule. I had given my word before my father
and the gods, and for what? For Satyavati. So that Satyavati and her sons could
have glory. For my father, that in his old age he could enjoy renewed youth again
and have queens and princes. I had disgraced Amba and that charming and
beautiful maiden had sworn her eternal hatred against me, all because I had
taken the vow never to marry.
Ganga Devi
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“My
own guru, the terrible hater of kings, Paraśurāma had ordered me to take Amba
and live in peace. I defied my allegiance to my guru deva and challenged him to
arms, and thereby nearly destroyed the world; so that the son of Satyavati
could be king in my stead. Now Amba had sworn to revenge me in a terrible
battle with the help of Lord Shiva.
I
could not, then, in good conscience follow the order of Satyavati, although,
being my father’s wife, she was still my mother. It seemed to me not to be in
keeping with dharma.
“After
debating the finer points of dharma in this way, we were unable to come to a
decision as to how to continue the line. Satyavati, with all her charms was
unable to move me from my fierce determination to keep my word. Dharma was
everything to me. I would not give it up.
“It
was at this time, however, that Satyavati revealed to me the secret of her
conceiving the sage Vyasa, the island-born compiler of the Vedas, the story I
have just told.
I
had a mysterious step-brother, Veda-vyasa. In days of old it was considered
correct for a brother to add new blood to the line to perpetuate the dynasty.
We decided that he alone could continue the family line of the sons of Bharata.
There is a tradition that when the king’s line is weak, it may be revived by a
worthy brahmaṇa. Vyasa, born of Satyavati was such a brahmaṇa.
Veda Vyasa
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Bhishma said, “Now I will narrate the story of how the Kuru line was continued
by Vyasa and the wives of Vichitravirya. How Dhritarashtra, Paṇḍu, and Vidura
were born. After consulting with Satyavati we decided to continue the
line with the help of Veda Vyasa, my step-brother. It was at this time that my
stepmother Satyavati narrated to me the story of how she had met with the sage
Parashara and how she had given birth to the great sage Vyasa. I will now
explaiin this to you.
“It
was decided that Vyasa, being a brahmaṇa and a member of the
royal line, was qualified to beget children with the wives of Vichitravirya and
so continue the line. I was pleased to have such a brother as the great writer
of the Vedas, Vyasa himself and was pleased with the plan of Satyavati.
“So Satyavati retired to her quarters and sat in meditation, prayed to her son,
Vyasa, while remembering him. She could communicate with him simply by
thinking. That great saint, absorbed in meditation heard her plea and
after a short time, he appeared at the great marble palace of Hastinapura, seat
of all the Indias.
Vyasa and Satyavati
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There
Satyavati greeted her son, embracing him and bathing him in her tears. The once
poor daughter of a fisherman, now the great queen of Hastinapura wept to see
her long lost son.
“Vyasa
was moved at her tears and said, “I am here to grant any wish you have, my
lady.” Whereupon Satyavati explained her need to continue the line of the house
of Kuru and implored his help. So Vyasa was called upon to produce children
with Ambika, and Ambalika. He told Satyavati, “You have given me life, O
Mother. I cannot deny your request.
“However
- look at me. I am thin, wasted by a life of austerities,” said Vyasa.
“My skin is like leather and my hair disheveled and unkempt, matted in knots
and twisted. I am utterly unattractive to women. You must give me some
time to make myself presentable to these young ladies. You must speak to the
wives of Vichitravirya and explain what must be done.”
But
Satyavati had no patience for these formalities.
"We
must act at once," she said. "Enemy kings are surrounding Hastinapura
even know. We must have an heir."
Reluctantly,
Vyasa agreed.
“The princesses consented to bear the children of Vyasa, but found the forest
sage repulsive. The queen had ordered it, Vichitravirya had passed away, and
his wives had no children to continue the dynasty. They had no choice in the
matter. If they didn't bear sons, they would die in oblivion.
"Continue the dynasty: beget
children with Vyasa"
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"And
So it was that on a dark night with no moon Ambika waited for the forest sage.
She had bathed in the cold waters of the Ganges and perfumed herself with
jasmine. Her mind and body were clean. She waited naked on a soft
luxurious bed, beneath the silk sheets decorated with garlands of fragrant
gardenia flowers.
A
single oil lamp lit her chamber. She heard a sound in the corridor
outside her room. The door creaked open. It was Vedavyasa - of dark complexion,
his hair matted, his odd appearance revolting to the young princess. He wore a
deerskin and his eyes blazed with fire.
She
recoiled at his dark skin and grim beard. She cringed at his leathery
touch. She surrendered to him, but, because of the physical ugliness of
Veda Vyasa, Ambika closed her eyes. And when Vyasa left the bed-chamber of the
young princess, she shivered with fright.
Vyasa and Satyavati
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As Vyasa was leaving, the queen met him in a dark corridor of the palace and
asked the sage, “Will my daughter have a suitable heir to rule the throne of
India?” And Vyasa responded, “He will have the strength of a thousand
elephants. He will be an illustrious royal sage, learned and intelligent. One
hundred warrior sons will be born to him to continue the dynasty.
The blind Dhritarastra
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But
know this, because the princess was unable to tolerate my ugliness, and because
she recoiled at the sight of my dark skin and grim beard she closed her eyes,
so her son will be born blind. He will see with the eye of the mind.”
Satyavati was shocked, saying, “A blind man cannot rule. You must give us another
son. You may try again with Ambika when the time comes.”
Vyasa left. Months later, a son was born to the royal house of the Kurus. He
was my nephew. As told by Vyasa, a consequence of Ambika closing her eyes at
the time of conception, her son was born blind, Dhritarashtra.
Satyavati was not satisfied that he would
make a good king. So again she prayed to Vyasa to help her. Vyasa returned to
the marble palace of Hastinapura where the elephants once roamed over the fair
plains of Northern India.
This
time he was to visit the youngest of the daughters of King Kashi, the fair
Ambalika. As the full moon shone through the window of her bedroom, the
chaste and delicate daughter of the King of Kashi waited for him. The second
and youngest wife of Vichitravirya was a frail girl. While she had bathed in
the sacred waters of the Ganges to purify herself and decorated with kunkum and
fragrant with sandalwood perfume, she trembled in fear.
She had seen the sage Vyasa
visit the palace and was terrified by him. As he entered her chamber in the
pale moonlight, she turned pale with fear beholding the grim visage of the
fantastically ugly forest sage.
Trembling
and pale with fright she received him on her soft feather bed. When he left her
chamber, Vyasa was again met by Satyavati in a dark corridor of the palace.
She
asked him, “Will this child rule the throne of all the Indias?” Vyasa smiled
and told her, “Because she was pale with fear at the sight of my grim
countenance, her child will be born pale. His name will be Paṇḍu the pale. So
her son was born pale as an albino, the great king Paṇḍu. The every scheming
Satyavati, who was as crafty as her father the fisherman, was then worried that
the offspring so born were not fit to be kings.
Hindi TV version of Pandu
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So
Vyasa was again called for by Satyavati. This time the queens of Vichitravirya,
knowing of the disgusting aspect of the great forest sage conspired amongst
themselves to send a servant girl to Vyasa as their substitute. They left
her in the royal bedchamber decorated like a princess in the dark of night.
Indeed by the feeble light of the oil lamp it was difficult to distinguish this
girl from a princess, for her beauty was like that of a forest nymph.
When
Vyasa of grim visage entered her bed-chamber, she rose to greet him. She spoke
to him with pleasing words saying, “O Vyasa of great wisdom, it is my honor to
receive you as your wife. You are the all-knowing writer of the Vedas. Your
visit is a blessing from the gods. This girl out of piety accepted him as her
husband. When Vyasa left, he turned to her and said, “After this, you shall be
free and will never again be a slave in the house of wealthy patrons.
“Your
son will be fortunate and virtuous,” that great sage told her, “He will be the
wisest of all those who rule in the house of Kuru.” Her son was born Vidura, free
from passion and desire. Indeed Vidura was none other than Yamaraja, the god of
death and justice, who was cursed to walk the earth for having unjustly
punished a brahmaṇa.”
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Vidura, son of Vyasa
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At
this, the great Bhishma paused his narrative. He looked to the sky and watched
an eagle wheeling high over the Kurukshetra war plains. The great Yudhiṣthira
sitting with his brothers, listening to the story of the old warrior,
asked him, “How was it that the lord of death was cursed to walk the earth
among the members of the house of Kuru? What did the god of justice do to be so
cursed? And what brahmaṇa cursed death himself to be born in a lower class?”
“I
will now tell you how the Lord of Death was cursed by a brahmaṇa for unjustly
punishing him and how death himself was then punished by being born a mortal as
the sagacious Vidura.
“Once
there was a brahmaṇa, Mandavya, devoted to dharma. He used to sit by his ashram
at the foot of a tree with arms upraised.
He
worshiped the gods in this way, and followed a severe vow of silence. It
came to pass that a group of bandits hid in his ashram along with their stolen
loot. The sage was unmoved. He followed his vow without a care for what went on
in the world around him. When the king’s men arrived searching for the bandits,
he still held fast to his vow of silence.
Yamaraja, lord of Death
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“They
questioned him saying, “O great sage, tell us, did you see anyone go by here?
We are looking for some dangerous men. Did they pass by here?” Of course, the
sage maintained his silence, with his arms upraised. The king’s men searched
the ashram and found the bandits hidden there. Naturally, they accused the sage
of conspiring with the bandits. He was arrested by the king’s men and then
sentenced to death. He was finally executed by being impaled on a javelin. On
leaving his body, his spirit entered the hall of the god of death, and he asked
him, “Why was I tortured so?”
Death personified
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Death
replied to him, “In your previous life, when you were a child you impaled an
insect with a blade of grass. This was your karma and so you are now
punished.” The great saint and brahmaṇa who had suffered so much for such
an inconsequential act cursed the god of death himself, saying, “It is unjust
to punish children for their innocence. The punishment must fit the crime. As
you have punished me unjustly, so must you be punished. I curse you to take
birth in the lower classes, that you might learn what is justice and injustice.”
So
it was the god of death was cursed and took birth as Vidura, the wise advisor
of the Kurus, who knew only too well the laws of justice.
Yudhiṣthira asked: “Tell me O Grandfather, how was the dynasty continued?
How was my father married, and how did our uncle the blind king Dhritarashtra
come to marry Gandhari and have one hundred sons?
Bhishma continued his narration of the story of Greater India, the Mahabharata,
saying as follows: “After Dhritarashtra, Paṇḍu, and Vidura were born, the
kingdom prospered. Kurujangala, Kurukshetra and the Kurus grew in wealth. The
monsoon rains came and went. The land was green with the rice harvest. The
papaya and mango trees were rich with fruits.
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Coin from Harrapan Civilization cerca
3000 B.C.
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“We
cultivated wheat for bread and all kinds of fruits and vegetables including
cauliflower, lettuce, mustard, cabbage, and different kinds of leafy spinach. Bananas,
mangos, papaya and jackfruit were plentiful. The oxen ploughed the black earth
and the cows were happy and gave us milk, cheese, and butter. The forest
animals played in the jungle without a care; the elephants helped clear the
land for agriculture and houses, and family dogs were playful in the town.
“In that golden age, the gardenia and jasmine flowers were so plentiful the air
was perfumed with their fragrance for miles on both sides of the Ganges. The
towns were well-organized and all varieties of fruits and vegetables, rice,
beans, tea, milk, butter, and palm fruit sugar were available in the market.
There were rich cloths of silk, cotton, and wool to be had as well, along with
varieties of tools made of iron and wood, toys and musical instruments. The
towns near Hastinapura were filled with merchants, artisans in stone, wood,
iron, glass, and other materials. There were artists and musicians of all
descriptions.
King's head, Vedic Age
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“In this golden age, there was no crime, no robbers, or evil-doers. The
people of Hastinapura were devoted to virtuous acts, and there was no sin or
dishonesty. The people were brave, learned, honest and happy. The people
were devoted to sacrifice and truth and lived with one another in love and
affection. Free from lust, anger, greed, and pride they took joy in
simple living and high thinking.
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Ancient University
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“They
enjoyed innocent sports. At that time, Hastinapura had many palaces
and mansions. There were gates and archways in the Vedic style. The young men
would swim and play water sports in the rivers, lakes and ponds. They held
races and ball games on the plains and picnics in the charming bamboo groves
and green woods. There was no racism or class distinction.
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Indus seal with unicorn bull about 2000
b.c.
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The
southern Kurus kept company with Siddhas, Charanas, and Rishis. There were no
misers, no bankers, no capitalists exploiting poor people, no money-lenders.
The woman all had husbands and it never rained during the day; only at night.
The wells and lakes were always full of water; the groves green with trees. The
homes and ashrams of the brahmaṇas full of wealth. Every day was a festival or
saint’s day, or joyous festivity of some sort.
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Religious festival, Ganges
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“In those days, of course, I was the de facto ruler of Hastinapura until
the sons of Vichitravirya, Dhritarashtra, Paṇḍu and Vidura came of age. It was
a time of perfect peace and harmony. We held sacrifices to the gods and the
country was virtuous in every way.
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River offering
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Our
fair city and the countryside around was so attractive indeed that people would
come from miles around, leaving their native homes and villages to live with us
or near us in fair Hastinapura. So the population increased. The citizens
were filled with hope of an even brighter future, seeing the youthful deeds of
their great princes. The common expressions were, “Eat, my friend,” and “Take,
it is yours,” and “Just ask, let me give it to you.” and “My house is your
house.”
“The sons of Vichitravirya were given a fine education by the best saints and
scholars in the land. They grew into fine young men, skilled in the Vedas and
athletic sports. They were expert in archery, in horsemanship, in the martial
arts. They were trained in sporting duels with the mace, expert with sword and
shield. They were trained in managing elephants in battle and in the science of
morality. They were well-read in history and science, critical thinking and the
wisdom books of the Vedas.
Vedic literature in Sanskrit
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“Pale Paṇḍu was the best archer, while none rivaled the blind Dhritarashtra in
physical strength. None would equal Vidura in virtue, wisdom, and
morality. Seeing the line of Shantanu restored by such great sons, the
saying was coined that among mothers of heroes, the daughters of Kashi were
first; among countries, Kurujangala was first; among the Virtuous, Vidura was
first; among cities, fair Hastinapura was first.
Archers on elephants, India
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“Now, while Dhritarashtra was first-born, according to the ancient laws of
kings he could not rule the kingdom, being born blind. His physical
disadvantage was not acceptable to the rulers of those times. Vidura,
having been born of a Shudra woman could not rule a kingdom. In this way,
his younger brother, Pale Paṇḍu became king. When I saw they were mature
enough, I told these young men that the time had come for them to take wives.
There were three candidates: the daughter of Surasena of the Yadavas, the
beautiful Kunti; the daughter of Subal, and the princess of Madra. When my
nephews agreed, I did what I could to arrange the marriages.
Gandhari, blindfolded with her husband
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Gandhari
It was said that the amiable daughter of the King of Subal, Gandhari, by name,
had obtained a boon from the Lord Shiva to have 100 sons. The King was
hesitant, at first, due to Dhritarashtra’s blindness but considering the noble
blood of the Kurus, he relented. Gandhari was a suitable virgin. Famed for her
chastity, she was an amiable and charming bride. In solidarity with her husband
and with great love and respect for him, she blindfolded her own eyes, so that
she would live as he did, with no sight. This vow would later endow her with
special powers.
Her brother, the clever Shakuni, gave her away at the nuptial ceremony which we
celebrated with great pomp according to ancient traditions. All the Kurus were
impressed by her chastity and respectful manner. We felt that we had made the
best match possible to continue the greatness of our dynasty in the golden age
of Hastinapura.
Now at this time there lived a great Yadava king named Sura. His daughter was
called Pritha, and she was an unrivaled beauty. His cousin and friend,
Kuntibhoja raised Pritha as his own daughter, in accordance with the wishes of
Sura. She was well-formed and lotus-eyed, with full hips and round breasts. She
was chaste and accomplished in the sixty-four arts.
And
yet, no prince had asked for her hand. So her father Kuntibhoja held a
Swayamvara ceremony allowing the princess to select her husband from among many
princes and kings. When she saw young Paṇḍu, proud as a lion, broad-chested,
bull-eyed, and endowed with great strength, she quivered with emotion as she
placed the nuptial garland around his neck.
The other kings honored her decision and so Kuntibhoja married them in the
assembly of great princes and with the daughters of kings gathered there as
witnesses.
Some time after this, knowing full well the tragedy that accompanies those
unable to get suitable heirs for their kingdom, I determined to marry Paṇḍu
with a second wife and so went to the king of Madra and asked for his daughter
Madri. When he consented, she too was accepted as wife to the great King
Paṇḍu. In like manner I found a wife for the pious Vidura in the daughter of
king Devaka. Vidura had many children with her, but they could never rule
the kingdom, having come from a family of shudras.
Meanwhile the virtuous Gandhari had one hundred sons. How she did so, I shall
now tell you.
Yudhiṣthira
said, “How did Gandhari bear 100 sons? How were we, the sons of Paṇḍu born to
our mother, Kunti?”
Bhishma continued his story, explaining the birth of the 100 sons of
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari, saying:
“The
saint who gave Gandhari the blessing of 100 sons was none other than the great
island-born Vyasa, the same Vyasa who compiled the Vedas. Once upon a time,
exhausted and hungry, he visited the King of Gandhara and came to the abode of
Gandhari. Chaste and amiable as ever, she entertained the great sage with her
hospitality. And well-satisfied with her, he blessed her that she would have
100 strong sons.
“Some time after her marriage with the blind Dhritarashtra, she became
pregnant. Her pregnancy lasted a long time--more than two years.
Depressed and angry that she was unable to give birth after such a long time,
she became frustrated. A rumor had circulated that the fair and beautiful
Kunti, daughter of Surasena, her rival, had already given birth and that the
child had been born with a golden effulgence that illuminated the night sky
like the very sun.
“Remembering
her rivalry with Kunti she became increasingly angry that her rival might bear
a child before her. So it was that Gandhari, in anger and frustration struck
her womb with great violence until she gave birth to a hard mass of flesh. And
when she was about to dispose of this hard mass of flesh, Vyasa, learning
everything by his spiritual powers, came to her.
“Seeing
the ball of flesh, hard as leather or iron, he told her to bring 100 glass jars
filled with ghee. The ball was divided into 100 parts, each about the size of a
thumb, and an equal part placed in each glass jar to incubate. She was given a
formula and special incantations and told by the sage to incubate the embryos
in glass jars for another 24 months.
“While
Gandhari was dividing the ball of flesh into a hundred parts with the island
born Vyasa, she asked him if it were possible to have a daughter, and dividing
one of the parts again, they found an extra part of flesh which was enough for
a daughter. So dividing the parts they left them in glass jars of ghee to
incubate again for 24 months.
“In course of time, the jealous Duryodhana was born as the first and foremost
of the sons of Dhritarashtra.
 |
Duryodhan from Hindi TV series.
|
“When the envious Duryodhana was born he began to cry and bray like an ass.
Hearing this sound, wild asses, wolves, vultures, jackals, and crows began to
fill the sky with their shrieks and cries. Violent winds blew and fires burned
in the forests. Earthquakes and lightning storms announced the birth of one who
would destroy the world. Jackals and tigers howled. Prophets announced the end
of the world. Within a month the rest of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and
one daughter, Dushala, were born. In secret, Dhritarashtra begot with a Vaishya
woman another son who was Yuyutsa the Bastard.”
Bhishma
continued: Gandhari bore one hundred sons to Dhritarasthra.
Dhritarasthra and Gandhari
|
“When the envious Duryodhana was born he began to cry and bray like an ass. Hearing this sound, wild asses, wolves, vultures, jackals, and crows began to fill the sky with their shrieks and cries. Violent winds blew and fires burned in the forests.
Duryodhana instructing Bhishma
|
Earthquakes and lightning storms announced the birth of one who would destroy the world. Jackals and tigers howled. Prophets announced the end of the world.
Within a month the rest of the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and one daughter, Dushala, were born. In secret, Dhritarashtra begot with a Vaishya woman another son who was Yuyutsa the Bastard.”
Bhishma impaled
|
Bhiṣma
paused and took a sip of water.
King Yudhisthira approached. "You have spoken, O grandsire of the Kurus, of the mysterious origin of my father Paṇḍu. Tell us of his deeds. How did the kingdom pass from his hands? And what of our own origin. How did we Paṇḍavas come to Hastinapura?"
The old man smiled, though pierced with thousands of arrows, his royal blood leaking onto the ravaged earth. Thunder pierced the heavens and a light shower fell, cooling to all.
"My dear Yudhisthira," said Bhiṣma. "Some of the stories pertaining to your own birth and that of your brothers are clad in mysteries unbeknownst even to me. But there walks the fair Kuntī, daughter of Kuntībhoja, king of Panchala. She has suffered much to see you king. You and your brothers owe her everything. She alone holds the key to the riddle of your birth. It has often been said that the five of you are godly, more than mortals. If you would know your origin, question her closely. But now the storm is gaining and I must rest my powers. Another day. Another day, I shall tell you all."
And
Bhiṣma fell silent.
 |
Ancient Half Karshapana Coin Panchala
Dynasty with Indra
|
Indeed
the storm was thickening, and, with the telling of the birth of
Duryodhana, Bhiṣma ended his narrative. The sun was low in the sky again.
The Five Pandavas made for their camp and sat quietly around the fire.
as
the first stars came out, Kunti appeared. When the fires had
burned low and a thousand constellations appeared in the sky, the other men of
the camp grew weary and went to rest.
The
time had come to ask about the riddle that Bhiṣma had mentioned. And so Yudhiṣthira
and his brothers, asked her to continue the narration of the origin of the
Kurus.
Kunti Devi from Artist's Conception
|
Yudhisthira
asked her, “You have told us how Shakuntala married
Dushyant, of the line of Bharata, and his successors and how India was ruled
in peace and war. And this morning we heard from Bhishma of the mystery of
Duryodhana’s birth and of the birth of his hundred brothers.
When
he recounted the story, he told us that Gandhari, being envious that you had
conceived a son effulgent as the sun, struck her belly and so came forth a ball
of flesh, hard as leather or iron, and from this ball was produced the hundred
sons of Dhritarashtra and the envious Duryodhana. Is this all true?”
“Yes,
my son. It is just as you said. The dying Bhishma so revealed the story of the
hundred sons of Dhritarashtra and their birth and the birth of the jealous
Duryodhana.”
Yudhisthira,
surveying the empty battlefield at night, asked his mother, “But what of us?
Some say we Paṇḍavas were born of gods. Who was our father? Tell us of his
deeds. We have heard many mysterious things spoken of by different sages. No
one will tell the story of the Paṇḍavas. We asked our grandsire, the great Bhiṣma,
but he referred us to you.
Kunti Devi, Artist's Conception
|
"O
mother, O wise one, was it true that you gave birth to another son, one whose
golden effulgence lit up the night sky like a second sun, before we Pandavas
were born in the forest? How were this possible if at this time you had not yet
married our father, the great king Paṇḍu?”
Kunti
replied, “O my son, O great King. You must not trouble your poor mother with so
many idle questions. You must know that even in the greatest families
there are secrets which must never be told, and mysteries which will never see
the light of day.”
Yudhiṣthira
said, “O mother, help me understand the causes of this Great War, that I shall
never repeat the errors of my forebears. Reveal this secret to me and I shall
honor and keep it. I promise never to reveal your secret, not even to my
brothers.”
 |
Pandavas with Draupadi, right
|
Kunti
Devi, that most chaste of all the queens in the history of India, revealed the
following secret to the young king, that he should know the true story of the
Paṇḍus and their rivalry with the Kurus. And so she told her story, saying:
“I
will tell you everything, my child. But you must not judge me too harshly for
the silly things I did when a child. When I was a fresh girl, barely 14, I
lived in the palace of my father Kuntibhoja by the banks of the river Ganges
where the elephants played. My birth father was Surasena, but Kuntibhoja was
his relative, his cousin. As Kuntibhoja had no children and was loved me, he
raised me. He gave me the best of educations in the sixty four arts, my father
Surasena gave me to him to do so. Kuntibhoja loved me as his own daughter. I
had my own living quarters and serving-maids and a beautiful garden with a
great banyan tree. Kokil birds would sing in the banyan tree as the sun rose
over the Ganges bringing each new day."
Banyan Trees
Kunti
said,
"And
so it was that I lived as princess of Panchala in the palace of King
Kunti-bhoja.
One
day, it so happened that an erudite teacher of the Vedas, Durvasa Muni by
name, came to my father for shelter.
He
was on his way to holy places, a pilgrimage in faraway lands.
He
had come a long way and needed to rest a while. In exchange for food and
lodging, he stayed as our guest for a few fortnights and taught the
Vedas to the children of the household. I was among his brightest
pupils and among my duties, I served food and drink to Durvasa Muni.
Now
Durvasa Muni while a great holy man who understood the Vedas deeply was known
to have a hot temper. All the while he was staying with the king, I served
that great teacher preparing his meals and seeing to his hospitality. He was
always absorbed in reading the scriptures or writing a commentary that he
would later deliver to his students. When he was absorbed in his writing and
meditations, he would become angry at the slightest disturbance.
Indeed,
I have known personally of situations where that great sage would even curse
someone. So I served him quietly, humbly and without pretension, even when he
was angry and spoke harshly to me.
“Girl!”
he would say, “Fetch water.”
And
again, “Girl! Bring rice.”
I
much admired and respected the erudite Durvasa, and tolerated his bad
manners. I would reply, “Yes my lord. No, my lord. As you wish, my lord.
Right away, my lord.” And in this way, as he passed sometime in the palace of
my father, he was pleased with me. One day, just before he left us, he called
me, saying, “Girl! Come here.”
So
I came to him.
“What
is it that most would please you, girl?”
“Why
to have a good husband and to get good children who will carry on the
dynasty. Then I could live in a fine palace even greater than that of my
father - and my father would be pleased.”
“And
so you will my child,” said the erudite Durvasa Muni, fixing me with his
eyes. “Listen.” he said and spoke words in a strange language. I liked the
sound of the words. It sounded like poetry to me but I couldn’t understand
the meaning.
“Now
repeat each word as I tell it to you.” He said, again intoning the strange
words. And so, thinking it a game, I laughed and repeated each word as he had
told it to me.
“These
words are a mantra, girl. Divine sound. They cast a spell so powerful even
the gods cannot resist.”
“Why
are you telling me this, my lord?” I asked.
“You
have served me well, girl, and I am pleased. This is my gift to you. When you
need help to find a good husband, you must say this mantra. The god you call
shall appear before you to satisfy your wish.”
In
my childhood, I had heard many stories about a wish being satisfied or a boon
being given. I knew the Vedas and many stories from the ancient books. I
thought perhaps this was all folktales, or the mythology of my grandmother;
but the eyes of Durvasa Muni pierced my soul. He was a man of great power. I
was hypnotized by him. It was impossible not to believe this strange young
man, so angry and so erudite who sat before me teaching me the mantra.
“Have
you memorized the mantra?” he asked. I smiled and said “Yes, my lord.”
“Good,
then.” he said. “Now fetch water.”
I
went to the river Ganges and fetched water in a pot, but when I returned, the
erudite Durvasa Muni had left. When I consulted with my father, he told me
only that Durvasa Muni had moved on and that he never stayed for long in the
same place.
“He
was pleased with your service,” said my father.
“Durvasa
Muni has blessed you,” he said, laughing. I took no more interest in the
matter, being a young girl fresh in this world.
Soon
I began to miss the erudite young scholar with a sharp temper. The full moons
came and went. I heard that he had gone to the mountains somewhere in the
East.
He
never returned.
Kunti's Secret: the power of the mantra
Kunti
said, "One
day I went to fetch water from the river Ganges. I walked at dawn under the
banyan tree where kokil birds were singing.
The
rays of the sun shone through the trees scattering the early morning mist and
casting their life-giving rays on the jasmine flowers that bloomed by the
river-bank. Now I was also in the full bloom of youth. It would be time soon
for me to have a husband and get a child and live with my husband in a palace
greater than my father’s.
At
this time I remembered the mantra. I wasn’t sure if I remembered it
completely or correctly and seeing the radiance of the early morning sun, out
of curiosity, I began to chant the mantra. Nothing happened. I concentrated
more deeply. I sat in yogic meditation under the banyan tree and forgot all
else. I could no longer hear the song of the kokil birds. In my mind’s eye I
saw the sun appear before me as I was saying the mantra. I felt the suns’
warmth. At this I opened my eyes, and there before me stood the sun-god
himself, radiant and smiling.
“O
lovely child of the forest,” he said, “daughter of the great king Kuntibhoja,
your prayer has called me down from the heavens. Though you are but a
mortal maid, I am here to satisfy you.”
“O
heavenly god. Are you here to help me find a suitable husband?” I asked,
hardly knowing what to say.
"Is
that why have you called me here?" He asked.
"O
My Lord, I was only playing. The erudite scholar, Durvasa Muni told me I
could call a god from heaven with his mantra. I thought it must be mythology.
Now I see you have come before me. Please forgive me. I had no idea what I
was doing." I said. “You may go now," I said. I was ashamed of
myself for having troubled such a great god.
"Such
a powerful mantra must not be said in vain," the sun-god said. "In
your childish desperation for a husband you have called the god of the sun
from heaven. So be it. We must not waste this opportunity. Come to me, and I
shall give you a child who will be the greatest of warriors. When he is born
his effulgence will light up the night sky."
While
I protested, his words were filled with poetry and I could not resist his
advances. Finally I told him, “No prince will marry me if I am not a virgin.
Please return to the heavens and leave me."
The
Sungod smiled. He said, "You needn't worry my dear girl. By my mystic
power as the lord of light I will bless you that you shall remain a virgin
even after giving birth to my great son, who will grow into the fiercest
warrior of all time. His very name will remind people of valour and of
charity."
"My
dear Kunti,” he said, “As the god of the sun, I give you my word that after
bearing my child, you will remain a virgin, as chaste as the day you were
born."
Stunned
by his words I submitted. I closed my eyes and felt a golden warmth within me
and when I awoke the sun had returned to the sky where it shined ever
brighter as if made happy by our short time together.
So
it was that within months I bore a son in secret. It was a miracle. When it
came time, the tiniest embryo emerged from my ear. I know it's hard to
believe, but it's true. My son later became known as "karna" as he
was born from my ear. He grew very quickly and in a matter of days, he was a
strong and healthy little baby with a golden effulgence. Miraculously, my
son was born with a golden armor breastplate and golden earrings. You knew
him. He was your rival and brother.
I
tried to hide him, but my newborn babe shone so brightly that his effulgence
lit up the night sky. My maidservant was present at his birth and perhaps it
was she who was responsible for the rumor that so enraged my rival Gandhari,
that she would strike at her own womb.
I
was so ashamed I hid the infant in a little cradle made of bamboo. I was only
a girl.
The
whole thing seemed like a dream. I didn’t know what to do. I hit my little
baby with his beautiful breastplate of gold and his golden earrings. I put
him in his cradle and left him on the river. The waves of the Ganges took him
away. So I prayed to the sun-god to protect him. I didn't see him for many
years after that. By that time, I had married your father Pandu.”
Note:
it may seem like mythological hyperbole that a child could be born from the
ear. But have a look at this news item from NBC News, updated April 23, 2015
this morning, about a woman who carried an embryo in her brain:
Karna
"Yes, my son. Kunti said. He was
your brother. And as you are a great king now, you must attend to him and
perform his funeral ceremony. You must give him the dignity he deserved.
During his lifetime I was afraid to acknowledge him. Think of the scandal.
Then he sided with Duryodhana, your sworn enemy.
Before the battle was fought, I went to
him. I told him my story. I'm not sure he believed me. I told him I was
his mother. I called him "son," and I begged him for mercy. I asked
him to spare your lives. But Duryodhana's friendship meant more to him.
Finally, he made me promise not to reveal this secret to you until after the
battle was finished. But he was your brother. Karna was your brother."
Yudhisthira was silent. Karna.
Radheya. The son of a charioteer. How they had all mocked him at the
graduation ceremony before their teacher, Drona. Yudhisthira remembered how
Karna had entered the demonstration of arms hosted by Drona. He shined like
the sun. His skill at arms was extraordinary, for hadn't Parashurama himself
been his teacher?
Arjuna had amazed all with his skill,
and now this unusual warrior with a dark past had entered and stolen the
glory. He wanted to challenge all, but when asked about his origin he had
stuttered. And then he was recognized as the son of a horse-driver and all
had laughed and mocked him. All except Duryodhana. Duryodhana befriended
Karna, gave him respect and land.
Again at the swayamvara of
Draupadi, Karna had appeared, his golden breastplate and earrings shining
like the sun.
When Arjuna emerged victorious, he had
again challenged Arjuna, but somehow the duel was never concluded. Luck and
the artifice of Krishna had helped the Pandavas back then, and Draupadi was
married to all five. Karna. Karna had been cursed.
And finally Arjuna had slain Karna with
the help of Krishna. Arjuna had cut him down with arrows when Karna was
trying to fix his broken chariot wheel and was pleading for mercy on the
basis of dharma and the rules of war.
Yudhisthira looked at Arjuna. Arjuna was
aghast. He had killed his own brother.
For once in his life, Yudhisthira lost
his temper. He became angry with Kunti. Karna wasn't Radheya, the son of
Radha, but Kunteya, the son of Kunti. How could they have killed the son of
Kunti? All this war against brothers was a sham and a delusion. All because
of secrets and lies. Secrecy means conspiracy, and the greatest conspiracy is
war. Secrecy is the enemy of truth, and Yudhisthira's entire life was a
search for truth and dharma.
He said, "My dear mother: because
you have kept this dangerous secret from me and my brothers, we have killed
the great-souled Karna. We thought he was our sworn enemy, but he was our
brother. If only I had known this, I would have made peace with him long
ago.
With Arjuna and Karna by my side I would
have been invincible. We could have avoided this whole Kurukshetra war. We
could have saved thousands of lives. These men who lay dying and dead would
never have been slaughtered.
"All because you wanted to protect
a secret.
Yudhisthira said, Therefore, I curse you
all that no woman will be able to keep a secret from this time on."
"I am ashamed. Karna was my
brother. He should have been allied with the Pandavas. Instead we mocked him
and spurned him and treated him as an outcaste. Arjuna cut him down like a
dog when he was on his knees repairing his chariot."
He deserved better from us. I am ashamed. Karna was the greatest warrior who ever lived, greater even than Arjuna, for he spared our lives out of mercy and charity. 
He could have killed us, but he spared
us, knowing we were his brothers. And he lies in the dust with no relatives
to care for him. Let us now go and perform his funeral ceremony. Let us give
him in death the dignity he lacked in life."
|
Kunti
reveals more secrets
Kuntidevi,
artists conception
|
Yudhisthira fell silent. That
great king looked at his mother with tears in his eyes. Finally, he said,
"How is it possible that our cousin Krishna allowed Karna to be killed in
such a cowardly fashion? Certainly this is against the laws of dharma. Why wasn't
our brother given a fair chance to fight according to the rules of war? Arjuna
slaughtered him when he was down from his chariot, trying to fix the wheel.
How could Krishna allow this?"
Yudhisthira
seated with Draupadi, Bhima right, Arjuna left, twins behind
|
And Kunti replied, "In
your pride and anger you have insulted and cursed me. And now you insult your
cousin, Krishna and your brother Arjuna. There is so much you do not
understand, my son.
But since you have cursed me
that I shall never hide a secret, I shall be honest with you and reveal the
most confidential of secrets. When Krishna drove Arjuna's chariot before the
armies of both sides, before this terrible battle began, your brother Arjuna
was overcome with grief.
Arjuna was
overwhelemed with grief
|
He bade Krishna stop the
chariot. Arjuna got down from the chariot, set his great Gandhiva bow on the
earth. He wept, overcome with grief. "How can I confront in battle, my
teachers Drona and Kripa? How can I take arms against my grandfather, Bhishma,
and the whole sea of relatives, friends, cousins and brothers who face me in
the opposing armies." he said. And with this, your cousin Krishna
instructed Arjuna in the ways of karma and dharma. He revealed His Universal
Form to Arjuna. It is very confidential, indeed it is a secret. But since I am
cursed to reveal secrets, I will tell you, my son."
Krishna reveals
the universal form
|
"Listen to me,"
Kunti said. "You who know so much of dharma. You see Krishna is the
Supreme Personality of Godhead, come to this earth to rid her of warlike kings
and princes who overburdened the land with the force of military arms. And His
purpose was fulfilled in this terrible war, when so many warriors spilled their
blood on the earth. They are no longer with us. The earth will know peace, now
that so many arms have been laid to rest. Krishna brought about the Kurukshetra
war to bring peace to the earth. But he has a deeper purpose as well. You
know so much about dharma; in fact it is said that you are the son of dharma
himself. But when Arjuna questioned Krishna again and again, finally Krishna
told him, "I am Supreme. I am the Way the Truth and the Light. I am God
Himself, come to destroy the despotic powers that ravage the earth. Surrender
to me. Be devoted to me. Only through me will you know salvation."
Universal Form
|
And finally he told your
brother, "Abandon all other dharma and surrender to me alone. You will be
freed from all sin. Even the sin of killing your grandfather, your cousins, and
your brother. Surrender to me. I am the Supreme Personality of Godhead, God
Himself, come to save the world. There is no other dharma."
"Abandon all
other dharma..."
|
So, you who speak of dharma but
who curse your own mother should know this: the highest of all dharma is
surrender to the purpose of God Himself. And Krishna of Vrindavan and Dwarka is
God Himself, walking among us for a time to right the wrongs created by so many
princely warriors.
You are not foolish. You have
studied the histories. Remember that before you were born warlike monsters like
Ravana and Kartavirya ravaged the land with their despotic rule.
Ravana
|
There was bloodshed and
strife, war and pillage, religious opression, the saintly brahmanas could no
longer perform their sacrifices in peace, humble people were opressed and the
earth herself became much aggrieved.
You have studied the Vedas.
But perhaps you haven't heard this confidential information. So, now that I am
cursed to reveal secrets, I can speak openly. Hear me.
Vedas
|
"At that time, having
taken the form of a cow, Bhumi the earth approached the creator of the
universe, the four-head all-seeing Lord Brahma, with tears in her eyes, and
said, “Help me, O great one, for I am in distress. I can no longer bear the
weight of so many lies and so much violence. Look where I am scarred and torn
by so much exploitation, see where I am stained with the blood of so many
battles and unrighteous kings.’”
Bhumi
|
When the god of the universal
creation, Brahma, heard the plight of Bhumi, he was saddened and dismayed. He
went to see the other gods, including Shiva, for consultation. Finally
they visited Kshirodaksayi Vishnu, lying on the milk ocean, where they reciting
the Vedic hymns. Soon they received a message saying that the Supreme
Personality of Godhead, Krishna Himself would soon appear as the son of
Vasudeva. He would come personally to the earth planet and organize the
destruction of these terrrible and demonic kings in the conflagration of the
Kurukshetra war.
Brahma and the
gods pray to Vishnu
|
"Brahma never approaches
Lord Visnu directly; he offers prayers at the shore of the ocean of milk . He
went to the shores of the milk way ocean accompanied by all the gods including
Shiva and Indra. They prayed and prayed for help but at first there was no
response.
Then, Lord Brahma sat in
meditation for a long time, until in his mind he received a transcendental
messag: "God Himself will appear on the earth very soon. He will pacify
the earth, annihilating the demonic princes and establishing the devoted souls.
The gods shall assist Him. They shall take birth in the family of the Yadu
dynasty. The Lord God Himself will also appear in the Yadu dynasty as the
son of Vasudev and Devaki.
And so it came to pass that
God Himself appeared as your cousin Krsna. He personally appeared as the son of
Vasudeva and Devaki.
Now, before He appeared, the
gods took birth in royal families to help the Lord in His mission. And so
it was that Lord Brahma, the creator, gave this message to the gods and then
left for his own abode."
Kamsa driving
Vasudeva and Devaki
|
Around this time, the leader
of the Yadu dynasty was King Surasena. He ruled the city of Mathura, and
as he was a great king, Mathura soon became the capital. His son was Vasudeva.
Vasudeva married Devaki, the daughter of King Ugrasena. Kamsa was her brother.
On their marriage day, Kamsa,
Devaki's brother was driving the newlyweds home in a fine chariot decorated
with gold leaf, accompanied by the wedding party of thousands of happy people.
Suddenly a voice from the clouds thundered through the heavens:
"O foolish Kamsa. You
serve your sister well,, driving her wedding chariot with your new
brother-in-law. You fool. Know you that the eighth child of your very
sister will strike you down and rob you of your life."
Vasudeva and
Devaki, BBT Iskcon artists
|
All were shocked. Now Kamsa
was greatest demon of all the kings in the line of Bhoja. He was enraged with
this prophetic voice that thundered from the sky.
While he held the reins of the
chariot in one hand, he caught hold of Devaki's hair and fixed her with his
wrathful glance. He threw her to the floor of the chariot. While the horses
raced along, the cruel Kamsa drew his sharpened scimitar from its golden
scabbard. He raised the sword to cut her throat. The sun burst through the
clouds. The sword flashed in the noonday sun.
Vasudeva
and Devaki
The thunderous voice from the
clouds had taken everyone by surprise. Prince Vasudeva, son of Surasena, was
astonished by the violence of his brother-in-law.
One moment they had been
happily riding in the wedding chariot, surrounded by royal family members and
invited guests. The incense perfumed the air as they rode along with trumpet
conch fanfares and showers of flowers and now this!
Kamsa had attacked his own
sister. His razor-sharp sword was raised over her head. and tried to stop him.
"Are you mad?" he said, grappling with his sword arm.
Kamsa was powerful and pushed
him away. He was prepared to slay both Vasudeva and Devaki on the spot, in
their wedding chariot.
"What happened to
you?" said Vasudeva. "How could you be so angry that you are
ready to kill your sister on her wedding day?"
Kamsa fixed his eyes on
Vasudeva and held his sword high. Devaki held Vasudeva close to her.
he said, "You heard the voice.
Her child will kill me. What do you have to say?"
"Well as long as there's
no child, there's no threat, Kamsa. Devaki's not going to kill you. There's no
reason for violence now. Think it through."
"Think it
through."
|
Kamsa lowered his sword a bit.
His brother-in-law was right.
"You are a great and
powerful warrior. Why should you be afraid of death? Death is already born
along with your birth. From the very day you took your birth, you began to die.
Suppose you are sixteen years old; that means you have alreadt been dying for
sixteen years. Every moment, every second, you are dying. Why then should you
be so much afraid of death? You may die now, on the battlefield or in years.
Are you a coward that you should be afraid of your sister? What if her eighth
child brings your death? It may take years for Devaki to have eight children.
Why not wait and see? After all, the soul is eternal. Nothing can kill you. You
will live on, but in another body. Why such a terrible reaction simply because
you hear a voice from the sky?"
"Maybe so," said the
demonic Kamsa, gritting his teeth, "but it's better to kill you both on
the spot." He again raised his sword, prepared to put them both to death.
Vasudeva said to Kamsa,
"My dear brother-in-law, son of Ugrasena. kill me if you like, but spare
your sister. She is no threat to you. Where is your warrior's code? Wait and
see if she has eight children. We will give you the eighth child, if there is
one. Look. We can bring all her children to you when they are born and you can
decide their fate. You have my word as the son of Surasena, but spare Devaki's
life."
"You have my
word."
|
Kamsa thought it over.
Vasudeva was right. He lowered his sword. "Yes," he said. "You
are a man of honor. See to it that you keep your promises. After all, Devaki is
my sister. All right. I will spare your life, as I am a great man. Let us wait
and see."
In time, Vasudeva and Devaki
gave birth to seven sons and a daughter. When the first son was born, Vasudeva
kept his word and brought the child to Kamsa. It is said that Vasudeva was very
much elevated and famous for his word of honor, and he wanted to maintain this
fame. Although it was very painful for Vasudeva to hand over the newly born
child, Kamsa was very glad to see him. He could see that Vasudeva meant to keep
his promises. "Keep this one," he said. "He's a nice little boy.
He's no threat to me. The voice said the eighth child. Tell your wife I'm not
the devil she thinks I am. We'll wait for number eight."
Six years passed and in this
way there was a newborn boy every year. And every year Vasudeva would take the
newborn infant to the terrible king Kamsa. The king would smile his gruesome
grin and curl his mustache and say, "He's a nice little boy. He's no
threat. Tell you're wife I'm no devil." He would chuckle his satanic laugh
and pat the little baby on his bottom. "Send him on his way, ha ha."
 |
"I'm no
devil!"
|
Around this time, the great
sage Narada came to visit the court of king Kamsa. He was welcomed with honor
and seated close to the king. He played his transcendental vina and spoke on
the eternal soul and the meaning of life. Now Narada wanted Krishna to appear
soon. He provoked Kamsa to act, so that Krishna's appearance would be
assured.
"Be careful
with family members who make promises."
|
Narada warned Kamsa: "Be
careful with family members who make promises."
But Kamsa, being a bit
thick-headed didn't understand his meaning.
"I don't follow you, O
sage among the gods. Please explain your meaning."
"Explain
your meaning."
|
"Soon, among the Yadus
will appear one who will challenge your authority. The gods are taking birth in
the family of the Yadu dynasty and soon Mathura will be theirs. In your former
life you are a demon called Kalanemi and you committed great crimes. These
crimes will be avenged by the devas. They will annihilate you and all the
demonic kings who are your allies. You have many demonic friends: Keshi,
Putana, Jarasandha, the king of Magadha and many others. All these will be
destroyed by the son of Devaki. Beware the son of Devaki."
 |
"Beware the
son of Devaki"
|
Soon after Narada left, Kamsa
thought about his words and decided he had been too patient. He had been
cheated by Vasudeva. He had allowed the sweet faces of his innocent children to
seduce him into inactivity. It was time to act. He summoned his brother-in-law
Vasudeva and his sister Devaki and told them, "I have been too kind with
you. Soon your eighth child will be born. I'm sorry, but my death was foretold.
I can no longer trust the two of you. Guards!"
And so Devaki and Vasudeva
were imprisoned. Kamsa locked them up in the dungeons of his palace.
The reign of terror had begun.
Kamsa began a murderous purge, killing all who were suspected of having been
born of gods. His murderous campaign took many lives. He killed many innocent
children. He summoned the children of Vasudeva, the boys whose lives he had
formerly spared, and condemned them to death. He personally smashed them
against the rocks with his own demonic hands.
 |
Kamsa's Reign of
Terror
|
Kamsa imprisoned his father
Ugrasena because he was the chief king among the Yadu, Bhoja, and Andhaka
dynasties, and he also occupied the kingdom of Surasena, Vasudeva's father. He
declared himself the king of all the land. He imprisoned and murdered all the
opposing princes and members of royal families. Kamsa was on a murderous
rampage. Where would it end?
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