I - Return of Kunti

There were commotions in the Hastinapur Palace right from early morning. The palace servants were seen in huddle in several places talking about the return of the former queen Kunti with her five sons. Most of the older palace-staff had seen the heydays of Pandu’s reign. Often he would go out on conquest and return with huge bounties. Each such occasion was celebrated joyously when the servants would also be showered with money and gold. But there were more than these in their relationship with the monarch. They were proud of their youthful, handsome, brave master whose heroics had become legendary. They loved him because he was kind hearted and dispensed justice. When Pandu and his two queens had left the palace for the forest leaving the reins in elder Dhritarashtra’s hands, many of them had wept bitterly. For weeks and months, the palace remained gloomy. That wound was healed by the passage of time. Of course, Dhritarashtra himself also ruled well in keeping with the lofty traditions of the Kuru dynasty. Hastinapur was reconciled to the new dispensation when the news of Kunti’s return arrived. Kunti the former first queen was both popular and revered. She was beautiful, intelligent, pious and strong willed woman who matched her husband in every respect. Now, many stories were doing round about her five sons, all of whom had a parentage from illustrious gods from the heavens. As such not only the palace but the whole city waited for the arrival of the former queen and her sons.

It was noon – the sun was in the mid-sky. Gandhari, the present queen, entered the King Dhritarashtra’s court. She was anxiously waiting for her sister in law’s arrival. Walking close to her husband she asked:

"Your majesty, why is it taking so long for Kunti to arrive? Whom have you sent to bring them? It is already mid noon. There are children with her. Don’t know if they have taken food en route."

The King replied:

"Queen, please have faith in me. Cosy chariots have been despatched. Bidur himself has gone to fetch them. Few sages from the forests are accompanying. Don’t have to worry a bit. Rather, look over the arrangements here. See food is ready and every one is taken proper care of."

By then roars of citizens started renting the air. Many people had gathered on both sides of the palace road, curious to have a glimpse of Kunti and her sons. As the chariot approached before them the people became overcast with emotion and they gave her a rousing welcome. Kunti had treaded this road on luxury chariots many a times earlier by the side of her late husband taking the customary salute of the citizens. Seeing the sea of cheering humanity on the road, she grew nostalgic from to time. To the children, this was the first encounter with a city. As they kept surveying its huge roads, arches, mansions and citizens in colourful robes, they also did not fail to notice the morose and melancholy that were setting in their mother from time to time. Looking at her misty eyes, the eldest son Yudhisthir, the epitome of equanimity and intelligence, came closer, held her hand and whispered:

"Dear mother, are you alright?"

"Yes son, I am. Where are your brothers? Take care of them. The chariot is moving fast. May be we will reach the palace soon."

Someone in the bustling crowd pointed his finger at him and said to the others:

"Look at that Prince. How handsome, serene and graceful he looks. He seems to be the eldest."

In the meantime, Bhim, the next brother, with a vigorous physique was standing on another side of the chariot holding its railings. He seemed to be enjoying this huge reception and waved at the people with both hands intermittently. This made the mass very happy. They started speculating over the seniority of the brothers.

Arjun was at the other side taking care of younger siblings Nakul and Sahadev. The bystanders could not fail to notice their heavenly gait and graceful appearances even as the car sped past them in seconds.

Even as she was crestfallen after the recent bereavement of her dear husband, the overflowing love and respect of the people of Hastinapur moved Kunti to tears. At last, the main gate of the huge palace became visible and a world of memories kept crowding into her mind.

The one hundred princes of the country, the sons of Dhritsrahtra, were also waiting for the arrival of their cousins. They were a huge gang themselves and spending time playfully and joyously. They had all the wealth and amenities on earth but no burden of any responsibilities. In play and all outings, elders Duryadhan and Dushashan herded the princes. Barring one or two, the others would faithfully carry out the dictates of the two senior brothers without a question.

When he first received the news of his aunt’s homecoming with his cousins, Duryadhan did not feel happy. Although he was too young to understand the intricacies of politics, he developed an uneasy feeling – as if some challenge might be thrown to his position of pre-eminence. His ascension to the position of crown prince was a settled question till now. He was not sure, whether the new arrival, shall have anything to do with it.

Duryadhan had heard the stories of the throne of Hastinapur from his father. Even though Dhritarashtra was securely placed on the King’s seat well before his birth, Dhritarashtra could not often conceal his emotion while telling his son the story of how uncle Bhisma and even grandmother Satyabati had deprived him by choosing younger brother Pandu as the king. He was always convinced that he had everything in him to make a great king but was unfairly ignored for the sole reason of his blindness. When Pandu retired to the forest leaving him in the throne, Dhritarashtra did not feel grateful – rather thought at as a rectification of an age-old mistake –late.

As a child Duryadhan could identify with the intensity of his father’s feelings and vowed to avenge this insult and humiliation. But as he was growing up there was no adversary in sight on whom he could explode as a volcano. However, he was less respectful to the senior royals including grandfather Bhisma even as the latter was trying to groom him as a worthy prince. Despite his attitude, the entire royalty projected him as the next crown prince. In the wake of his cousins’ arrival he tried to re-assess the situation and be reassured. Any case, he was determined to blast out if anyone including the grandfather dared to play with the settled equation. Then thinking more rationally he felt he was needlessly exaggerating the situation. His cousins grew up in forests in the company of the sages – as such they were at best a pack of rustic folks…. no competition to him. At the end, some measures of curiosity arose within to meet those benign and possibly naïve souls once they arrived. But obviously he would not line up at the gate but meet them at his will and time of choice, so he thought. Calling the sentry Duryadhan ordered to be intimated once the family reached the palace.

Bhisma, the grandfather, and the most important royal protecting the kingdom, was briskly walking in his austerely decorated palace. The welfare and prosperity of Hastinapur eventually rested on his broad shoulder. He had literally groomed Dhritarashtra, Pandu and Bidur and was now doing the same for sons of Dhritarashtra. He had just returned after concluding last rites of Pandu who had been like a dear son. But he could not allow himself to be overcome with grief. For noble souls sense of duty often push personal losses or emotions to the backseat.

Now bringing up Pandu’s five sons turned out to be his additional responsibility. Through the state intelligence spread all over the land, he had come to know about each of the sons of Pandu. He was at once worried about their right grooming. This was a part of a broader programme of preparing the next generation of the royalty. While all these thoughts were crossing his mind, Bhisma realized it was time that Bidur should have reached the palace with Kunti and the princes.

Gandhari was looking ahead to meet Kunti after a long time. Since they last parted company destiny had drastically changed their personal and family circumstances. As long as Pandu rode the throne, Kunti was the empress – the first queen. However not for a day Kunti allowed this to cast a shadow over their warm relationship. She gave Gandhari due respect as the senior daughter in law of the Hastinapur royalty and bonded well as two sisters. It was a much-publicised story about the elder daughter-in-law that this exceptional princess from Gandhar had put a blindfold on her eyes the very day her father decided to offer her in marriage to Dhritarasthra so that she could share the miseries of her would-be blind husband. The enormity of this sacrifice was simply stunning and gave her an unprecedented moral halo. By the time the new bride from Gandhar entered the palace, she had already risen in the esteem of the Hastinapur royalty. On her part Kunti came from another highly respectable royal family. In fact she combined in her the lofty values and traditions of two royalties – first the illustrious Yaduvanshis where she was born (to whom belonged Sri Krishna himself), and then the Bhoj dynasty whose King had adopted her. The relationship between the two queens was one based on mutual respect. After Kunti and Madri had gone into the forest with Pandu, it was a loss of a dear sister for Gandhari. However, since then she was the new empress, a role she had been carrying out with lots of dignity.

Gandhari and Kunti were now to meet again but in drastically different circumstances. Gandhari was now the undisputed queen and Kunti, a helpless widow with five minor children, even if a royalty and a former queen. Gandhari was therefore extra cautious to ensure that she does not hurt Kunti’s feelings in any manner by her actions or words. She also had a motherly heart for Kunti’s five sons and longed to see them. She had heard about the stories of their birth, appearances and extra-ordinary qualities - all of that enhanced her eagerness to meet these children. But in some dark chamber of her mind, she also could not resist a comparison with her own sons. Duryadhan and his brothers were both strong and healthy but more often than not, they failed to display qualities that were associated with noble princes. She sometimes felt sad that her sons were so very different in their thoughts and actions than herself. Many of these thoughts crossed her mind today making her a bit apprehensive about how the children from two families would adjust with each other.

After speaking to Dhritarashtra Gandhari had entered the temple to pray for the welfare of the Kuru royalty and Hastinapur. Just at that time, the chief housemaid arrived hastily:

"Your majesty! Queen Kunti has arrived with her sons."

At this Gandhri finished her prayers fast, and with the blindfold on eyes walked as quickly as possible to the main gate ordering the maid en-route to bring the holy lamp with vermillion and other auspicious things on a customary gold plate. She stopped slightly before the gate. On the other side, stood a frail frame clad in white attire. Her face showed it all – the bereavement of the husband, the anxiety for the future of five sons on the top of the long austere life in the forest. However, her big bright eyes showed up her undying spirit, her unshakable faith in the almighty god, her expectations that she would be warmly embraced back into the fold of the Kuru royalty, her love and respect for Gandhari and her husband. Gandhari was not able to see, but she could at once feel the situation. The silence spoke aloud.

After the auspicious welcoming ceremony was over, Gandhari embraced Kunti warmly and then caressed and kissed the children. Kunti and her sons touched the feet of Gandhari and Dhritarashtra. The blind king was moved by the reunion and blessed them.

Bhisma the great grandfather came to bless them. The children were at once impressed by his appearance. He seemed to be the fountain of love and affection. In his tall, resolute structure, supremely confident gestures and reassuring eyes the children found everything – the father, the mentor, the teacher. Bhisma’s trained eyes at once recognized that worthy inheritors of the Kuru dynasty were right before his eyes. Although he had been affectionately bringing up sons of Dhritarashtra he never had the same kind of feeling towards them. The very next moment however, he admonished himself for tending to be biased. Still he could not help looking at these graceful handsome children again and again, and every time his heart got filled with affection and expectations. Of them again he had taken a particular notice of Arjun, the middle brother whose dark and contemplative eyes held out the vision of a great warrior. Bhisma embraced each of the brothers clasping close to his chest and blessed.

As these introductions were going on, Gandhari enquired with the maids if Duryadhan and her other sons were around. The royal couple had expected their children would join them in welcoming their aunt and cousins. Their absence disheartened the parents. Servants were despatched to bring Duryadhan and his brothers. After waiting for a while in vain all of them entered the main hall. It was a splendid piece of architecture –thousand lights were hung from the ceilings in which hundreds of precious gems engraved on the pillars sparkled. The elders took their seats and Gandhari affectionately made Yudhisthir sit by her side and they talked.

Soon sounds of many footsteps were heard in the corridor along with a commanding voice of a teenager admonishing the sentries and servants for reasons that could not be made out from the hall. Soon thereafter prince Duryadhan entered the hall along with Dushashan and a dozen of other brothers. All of them were immaculately dressed and they stared at the poorly attired cousins indignantly. Yudhisthir however did not mind this misdemeanour. He stood up and proceeded to embrace Duryadhan. But that gesture was curtly ignored. Gandhari was not able to see these interactions but she sensed there was anything but bonhomie between the children. To lighten a brewing up tension she told her son:

"Duryadhan, meet Yudhisthir your elder brother"

"What elder you are talking about mother? I am the eldest and I do not recognize any one elder to me." – Duryadhan retorted.

As an embarrassed Gandhari tried to reason out with her son, Yudhisthir implored his aunt to allow the matter to rest. Then he affectionately addressed his angry cousin:

"Dear brother, I would love to call you as Suyodhan, Would you let me?"

"I hate these pretensions. Mind your own business and leave us alone. Will you?" - Duryadhan retorted.

"Brother, are you angry that we have come? Is it not nice that we are now hundred and five brothers – stronger and wiser"

T$his angered Duryadhan no end and he shouted:

"Stop all this rubbish. We are hundred brothers and you are five. Let the things remain that way. Do not try to make fool of us. Is that clear - once and for all?"

An uncomfortable silence descended on the hall and for some time none knew how to react.