On the way, Krishna met Satyaki. Krishna seated him beside himself and
without questioning any of his prior roles, he straightaway remarked that according to the
information available to him, Satyaki was deeply involved in forming a strategy against
him.
On listening this Satyaki
answered that Krishna was his friend and teacher. He said that since he had learnt the art
of bow fighting from Krishna, he could not even think of going against him. Secondly, he
had come to Mathura only before a few days. It was there that aunt Kansa had informed him
of Krishna's death. Satyaki said that he was shocked by the news.
Satyaki went on, "I
still remember your words. You had said that man is a beautiful flower of the nature, but
is himself responsible for his bloom. God deputes him to perform the deeds that he is
destined to do. After doing the job, he withers away."
After listening to
Satyaki’s words, Krishna said that he had come to establish dharma (religion)
and to uproot the unethical evils. Then, he asked Satyaki to concentrate on the trial for
the battle and said that there should be no laxity in the run through since a contest was
due in fifteen days.
Krishna stopped his
chariot in front of Akrur’s house. At the entrance, he met Akrur’s son, Updev,
who said that his father had gone to Hastinapur. Thus, he greeted his aunt and went to
meet his mother where Malini and Shaivya were also present.
Krishna began to think
why uncle Akrur had gone to Hastinapur because uncle had always led an unprejudiced
existence and had accepted every situation as God’s grace.
| |
In a short while, Akrur returned from Hastinapur. He described the scenario of Hastinapur and said that Kunti was highly disheartened. Tough times were hovering around the Pandavas. Their lives too were in peril. The ambitions of Dhritrashtra and his love for his son, Duryodhan and uncle Shakuni were escalating day by day. In this regard, Kunti had revealed that Bhima was one day poisoned and thrown in the river Ganga. Grandfather Bhishma’s condition was peculiar. No one paid heed to his advices. Vidur too had pleaded helplessness in this matter. Akrur stated that while returning, he had met Sage Ved Vyas and had discussed the prevailing situation of Hastinapur. He had said that the Pandavas’ lives were currently out of danger but could be endangered in the future. |
Krishna remained silent
while Akrur uncle was speaking. He did not react to the news at that time.
On the other side, the
politics in Mathura had begun to heat up. Since Satyaki was handed over the reins of the
supervision of the battle warm up, all sorts of gossips had crept up.
Meanwhile, Krishna came
to know that Satyabhama’s father Satrajit had come to Mathura. Satrajit was an old
enemy of Krishna. He had accused Krishna of stealing his parasmani (Syamantak Gem).
Krishna had organized a meeting of the
Yadavas after four days. He went to meet grandfather for that purpose. He requested
grandfather to announce the official declaration of the meeting. Grandfather agreed to
issue such a declaration. |
