CHAPTER X. NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE RESTORATION OF THE PANDAVAS. INDIA. PART II. character of sequent associa Pandavas. In the negotiations which were carried on after HISTORY OF the alleged marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttará, Krishna still plays a prominent part, although in no Questionable case does his presence seem necessary to the progress Krishna's subof the story; and this question, as to the real or tion with the mythical association of Krishna and the Pándavas, should be especially borne in mind whilst dealing with the remaining portion of the Mahá Bhárata. The history of the negotiations which preceded the History of the great war may be best considered under four heads, which preceded as follows: 1st, The great Council of the Pándavas and their allies at the marriage feast of Abhimanyu and Uttará. 2nd, The embassy of the Bráhman priest of Raja Drupada to the city of Hastinápur. 3rd, The embassy of Sanjaya, the charioteer of the Maharaja, to the city of Viráta. 4th, The final mission of Krishna to the Kau ravas. negotiations treated under four heads. cil of the Pandavas and riage feast of Ab The history of the negotiations commences with 1st, Great Counthe first great Council of the Pándavas, on the day allies at the marafter the marriage of Abhimanyu and Uttará. There himanyu and are said to have been minor Councils in the city of Viráta, in which the Pándavas had publicly dis Uttará. PART II. HISTORY OF closed who they were, and in which the marriage INDIA. itself had been discussed; but on the present occasion all the allies of the Pándavas, including their father-in-law Raja Drupada, and Krishna and Balaráma, the alleged brothers-in-law of Arjuna, are said to have been present. The traditionary account of this Council may now be related as follows: Traditional account of the Now on the morning after the marriage of the son of Great Council. Arjuna with the daughter of Raja Viráta, the Pándavas and all their kinsmen who had assembled in that city to celebrate the marriage, bedecked themselves with garlands and gathered together in the Court-hall. And Rajas Viráta and Drupada took their seats; and then followed Krishna and some reverend and ancient men; and then Sátyaki, the kinsman of Krishna, and Balaráma and Yudhishthira; and then the sons of Drupada, and the brothers of Yudhishthira, and the sons of Viráta, and many others whose names need not be declared. Speech of Krishna:-"The Pán fulfilled their period of exile and desire the restoration of their rights; but before going to war, an ambas sador might be sent to the Kauravas." And when all the Chieftains were seated, Krishna addavas have now dressed the Council as follows:-" All of you know how Raja Yudhishthira lost his Raj, and was sent into the wilderness by the evil machinations of Sakuni, who challenged him to the game of dice: You know too how Yudhishthira and his brethren braved the dangers of their exile, and passed twelve years openly in the wilderness, and one year secretly in this city without being discovered; and especially how they suffered during the last year, when for the sake of concealment they became servants to Raja Viráta : Now it is for you to consider what the Pándavas should do: Yudhishthira would not commit an unfair action, even though he might thereby gain the sovereignty of Indra; and he would be satisfied with a small village provided only that he had gained it by fair means: The sons of Dhritaráshtra cannot subdue the Pándavas, but they are still trying by unfair means to exclude their kinsmen from the Raj of their father Pándu; yet the Pándavas bear no malice towards them, and rather than go to war would give up their INDIA. PART II. claim to the paternal share of the Raj of Bhárata, provided HISTORY OF only that they regained those districts, in Khándava-prastha, which they conquered with their own hands: I pray you to consider well the insatiable ambition of the Kauravas, and the truthfulness of Yudhishthira, and the relationship that exists between them, and then say what is to be done: Two courses appear to be left open; either the Pándavas should go and slay Dhritarashtra and his sons, or you should go. and counsel Dhritarashtra to restore to the Pándavas their rightful share of the Raj: If the Pándavas go to war, it is certain that they will come out victorious; and it therefore seems to me that we should act wisely if we sent an ambassador to counsel the Kauravas to restore half the Raj to the sons of Pándu." ráma :-"I agree especially as by persisting in is really the au thor of his own misfortunes." Now when Krishna had spoken, his brother, Balaráma, arose and seconded his proposition. And Balaráma said :— Speech of Bala"It is true that the Kauravas have ill-treated the Pándavas, with Krishna, but it would not be wise to drive them to extremity, but Yudhishthira rather to gain our object by peaceable means: Yudhishthira the game at dice may also be said to have brought his misfortunes upon himself: He knew that he was not expert at dice, and he ought to have listened to the counsel of his elders, who tried to dissuade him from continuing in the play: But he turned a deaf ear to all their words and persisted in the game: There were hundreds of players in the court of Duryodhana who were inferior to him in skill, and he could have selected one of these and defeated him with ease; but as ill fortune would have it he chose to play with Sakuni, who was the most expert of all the players, and he would not leave off Speech of Sátyuntil he had lost all: Now let an eloquent man be sent to agree with BalaMaharaja Dhritarashtra to propose a treaty, and I doubt not pose war: The that a treaty will be accepted, and this will be far better gether a cheat, than going to war." aki:-"I do not ráma, and I pro game was alto but still the Pandavas have fulfilled their and no Kshatri for that which Then Sátyaki, who was the kinsman of Krishna, arose engagement, and said :—" I am not surprised at your speech, O Balarama, va should beg but still those who listened to your words cannot but be angry: How can you pronounce the victory of Duryodhana is his right Moreover, the Kauravas are as badly disposed to be a just one, when he set an expert dice-player to towards them as ever." PART II. HISTORY OF challenge Yudhishthira, who is a mere novice at the game? INDIA. Had Yudhishthira been playing with his brethren in his own house, and had Duryodhana and his party come there by chance and defeated him, then the victory and defeat would have been fair: But Yudhishthira was invited to the house of Duryodhana, and there defeated with loaded dice: At this moment however Yudhishthira has fulfilled all the obligations of his defeat; why then should he go and beg of Duryodhana and his wicked Ministers? From the day his thirteenth year of exile was fulfilled, he became entitled to his ancestral rights; why then should he ask for his share of the Raj when it is his by right? Even if he were to covet the property of other people, he is bound as a Kshatriya to take it by force of arms, and never to beg for it: Moreover, how can you attribute goodwill to the Kauravas, when, notwithstanding the Pándavas have fulfilled their engagement, they still persist in saying that the sons of Pándu were discovered within the thirteenth year; and when, notwithstanding the advice of Bhishma and Drona, they still continue to keep Yudhishthira out of his share of the Raj? Bear you all in mind that it is no sin to slay our enemies, but that it is a great disgrace and infamy to beg from them: Consider then, I pray you, what means should be adopted to restore Yudhishthira to his share of the Raj: My counsel is to let the Kauravas come forward and give peaceful possession to Yudhishthira; and if they do not so, then let us go to war." Speech of Raja agree with Sát yaki: The in fluence of Dur yodhana is paramount at Hastinápur, and the we are, the more Raja Drupada then said:-"What has been said by Sátyaki is true: Duryodhana will never restore the share of the Raj of his own accord : The doting Maharaja has become a mere tool in the hands of Duryodhana; and Bhishma and more submissive Drona must second the Maharaja because they are poor; arrogant he will whilst Karna is a creature of Duryodhana, and Sakuni is an ignorant intriguer: It is therefore my opinion that the beforehand with proposal of Balaráma will do no good, for Duryodhana will never be pacified by mild means; the more submissive we are the more arrogant he will prove, and will mistake mildness for want of courage: Let us therefore collect armies become: Let us summon our allies, and be the Kauravas.". INDIA. PART II. and send messengers to our friends with all speed; for HISTORY OF Duryodhana will likewise send messengers in different directions; and according to the general custom, the Rajas will side with that party whose messenger arrives first: We have many things to do, and many difficulties to encounter, so let our messengers act with promptitude, forethought, and wisdom." of Krishna:-"I pada, but wish Krishna then spoke a second time, as follows:-"The Second speech counsel of Raja Drupada is reasonable, and if the Pándavas agree with Druare wise they will follow it: But as regards my family and to be neutral.” myself, we are equally related to the Kauravas and Pandavas; and they have ever treated us with civility and respect: We have come here to a marriage feast, and now that the feast is over, we shall be glad to return to our own homes." evitable, let the come to me last." Krishna then turned to Raja Drupada, and said:-" You "If war is inare superior to all of us in age and wisdom; so that what- messengers ever you say regarding the welfare of the Pándavas will be acceptable to all: If Duryodhana will consent to a just treaty, very many lives will be saved: If he will not so consent, then send out your messengers, but let your messengers come to us last of all.” the Council. After this the Council broke up, and Krishna and his Breaking up of brother Balaráma returned to their city of Dwáraká, whilst Raja Drupada despatched his own priest to Hastinapur as envoy to the Kauravas. foregoing tradi Council. The proceedings of the foregoing Council call Review of the for little or no remark. It was determined to tionof the Great send the family priest of Raja Drupada to endeavour if possible to conclude a treaty; and meantime the Pándavas summoned all their allies far and near, and made every preparation for carrying on a war. The speech of Krishna, however, demands some explanation. It was natural and appropriate to the occasion; and so far seems to militate against the hypothesis that his traditionary history is altogether independent of that of the |