On learning from Sage Narada about what would happen to his uncle Dhritarashtra, Yudhishtira dropped his worry as he knew that his uncle and aunt Gandhari would finally go to their peaceful abode of rest even while they were in meditation in the forest. Coming back to his palace he wondered why Arjuna who had gone to Dwaraka to meet Krishna, had not come back.
He also wondered about the many evil portents that he saw. The seasons had gone completely awry. The words that people spoke were full of anger, greed and falsehood. Concerned, he told his brother Bhima: “Seven months have gone by, I don’t know why Arjuna has not come back.”
He narrates a list of evil omens that he had seen and expressed his fears whether Krishna’s physical form was no longer on earth. Just as he was lamenting, Arjuna, with his banner of Hanuman on his chariot, entered Hastinapura from Dwaraka. Seeing a lacklustre Arjuna bowing down to him, Yudhistira asked him a horde of questions on the wellbeing of the Yadus and particularly, Krishna.
He asked Arjuna certain pointed questions: “Were you treated with disrespect at Dwaraka during your prolonged stay? Hope nobody spoke words without love to you? I hope you have not turned away a man of God, a child, a cow, an aged and ailing person or a woman who sought refuge in you by not protecting them?”
Yudhishtira’s questions show the conditions in which our face can lose its lusture. He also asked Arjuna if he united with a woman who was not a match for him, or ill-treated a woman who was worthy of his full attention. Was he defeated en route by his equals or inferiors in a battle? Did he take food all by himself without feeding the aged or children who were waiting to be fed? Had he done something abominable? Finally he gets to the point: “Have you been separated from your dearest friend, Krishna?”
Arjuna was moved by the barrage of questions from his elder brother. He could no longer contain himself and broke down. With eyes filled with tears and voice choking with emotions, he narrated how he felt lifeless now without his friend who made him win all wars and achieve all success.
He narrated all the events of success in his life. He was bringing back the wives of Krishna to Hastinapura and a group of cowherds won over him in a battle and took them away. “My Gandiva and my arrows, my chariot and myself are the same, but without Krishna, that big power has left me and I feel my power is spent.”
The author is Sevak, Chinmaya Mission, Tiruchi; brni.sharanyachaitanya@gmail.com
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