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Description

Mahabharat. The grand Epic [arguably the oldest of the ancient Epic tradition covering both eastern (e.g. Ramayan) and the western (epitomized in Homer's Odyssey and Iliad) world. An epic may deal with such various subjects as histories, myths, heroic legends, edifying religious tales, philosophical or moral theories.] covering more than 100,000 stanzas has shone like a beacon of Knowledge for mankind through the millennia. Human nature in all it's awesome glory and at the same time moral decadence comes forth as a naked truth in Mahabharat. Such is the veritable scope in Mahabharat of emotions, situations and characters that scholars of yore acknowledged, 'that which does not belong to Mahabharat can not be found in Bharat.'

'Yugant', offers a refreshingly new outlook on Mahabharat. It was authored by Dr. Irawati Karve, a gifted anthropologist from Mahatashtra. Organized as a series of critical interpretations of a few protagonists from Mahabharat, this book was well received in literary circles and was awarded the prestigious Sahitya Academy Award in the year 1968. The reader is transfixed by the fresh, consistently rational enquiry into the usually well known territory (at least in India). The language is lucid, succinct, factual and at the same time packed with intuitive insights.

This is my attempt to translate not only the prose but also the untold yet tangible facets. Subtlties of language impart it a uniqueness and when the language has sprouted from an ancient culture, cultivated on it's traditions and emotions these nuances carry a hidden kernel of knowledge. At times I have elaborated some portions and there the flow of narration becomes inconsistent with the original text. Instances of such digression cross it out as a strict translation and to call it a loose translation would be more appropriate.

I have no reason (or authorisation from the author/publisher) other than the personal satisfaction I may get out of this effort to do it. This introduction should also serve as a disclaimer.

Anant mbhaikar

Author's Note: In this article, only the following themes are consistent with the researched version of Mahabharat:
1. Gandhari tied the blindfold when she found that Drtarashtra was blind.
2. Gandhari gave birth to a lot of children and they all were killed on Kurukshetra.
3. Gandhari, Drtarashtra and Kunti were consumed in a wild fire.
Unlike in this story, Vidur died much before these three in Mahabharat.

I

The hilly landscape of north India was over and the dreary vastness of plains lay before. A river or a few forests that came across were all that punctuated the monotony of the journey through the interminable plains. Gandhari, the princess traveled sometimes in her chariot, sometimes on foot and sometimes in her palanquin. Her maid, who was only just older than her, accompanied her as chaperon. She had consoled the Princess when they left her father's abode. She kept her company, kept her engaged in talking and diverted her attention to the scenic marvels on the route as they passed, just so that the young Princess would feel less nostalgic. Gandhari missed her home, her family back in the rugged country of Gandhar but she was fortunate to have her brother, Prince Shakuni, accompany her as her escort to Hastinapur. The journey took her farther and farther away from home and the thoughts of home were slowly replaced by the anticipation of an unseen home in Hastinapur.

The people from Hastinapur had come to Gandhar to ask for her hand in marriage and she remembered that everyone was so greatly impressed by the invaluable gifts they had brought her. Their chariots, their silken garments, everything on them was priceless. Their manners were impeccable and their language refined. Even now, the entourage had more people from Hastinapur than Gandhar. However, the journey was so long and excruciating that the Princess was weary by now, and in her exhaustion, wanted nothing better than the journey to stop.

At last the journey came to an end! From Hastinapur Bheeshma had come to receive the Princess. People of Hastinapur thronged the avenues on both sides as she entered and showered flowers in her welcome. But Gandhari was simply too tired to pay any attention and acknowledge... She came to the royal chamber assigned her and did not venture out for a couple of days, she was too weary from the arduous journey and homesick too. Her maid, however, used to go about in the palace and bring her reports of the greatness and the riches of Kurus. Gandhari was surprised to learn that Shakuni had decided to camp permanently in Hastinapur; but this was not very unusual. She knew of a number of families where the elder brother became the King and the younger moved to other provinces and made his name there. And she was certainly relieved when it crossed her mind how fortunate she was! In this land far far away from her home, she had her brother close by. She had not left everything behind after all, she was still near her family in some way. She was filled with pride for her new family and it's riches when the maid described the magnificent palace given to Shakuni.

She had come to terrace this evening and she was watching in awe the capital teeming with people, the deep forests lining the Yamuna beyond the cityscape. She had never seen such vast plains before. Her palace, too, was much bigger than the one in Gandhara. She was getting ready to be the Queen now and the Princess in her was making way for the Queen... Suddenly, the maid disturbed her solitude and Gandhari looked at her wondering what more news of fame and riches she had to narrate. But today she looked different. There was no bubbly, hurried walk there. She was white-faced, her steps were faltering. The Princess thought that her friend was unwell and as she went towards her, the maid clasped her hands and stuttered: "..oh Princess! we are tricked! oh poor you! we are taken for! The Prince whom you are to marry... is blind, blind since birth!" For a moment, it seemed to her, as though there was no meaning to these words.. but the next moment the Princess fainted and collapsed.

II

If Drtarashtra had any illusions about having his wife as his walker and guide, they were destroyed forthwith. Gandhari tied a blindfold when she came to know that her husband was blind. But even then the family prospered and multiplied. Gandhari had a lot of children. They were all killed on Kurukshetra. Her eldest son, Duryodhana, survived till the end of war, but a messenger eventually brought the news of his end.

III

Gandhari was in her chamber. Her maid was caressing her hair standing behind her. She was trying to console Gandhari even as tears rolled down her own cheeks. "..Have hope, my princess! be calm.."

Gandhari had sons and she also had grandsons but still her friend called her "my princess..". As she consoled the Queen, she sensed the helplessness of Gandhari.. She thought:
"What is left for her now to take heart? For what must she live her days now? All her sons except Duryodhana had been dead but with him alive, she at least had one son. She could walk with dignity, even in such depths of sorrow, when he was around.. Now what would she do?"

The maid said: "be calm, Gandhari..." and Gandhari replied with a sigh:

"There is nothing to disturb the silent waters of my heart.. You thought that poor Gandhari had a flock of children and at last she had something to light up her dark world, but that was not to be... that was not to be! When they were hurt, I was anxious with concern. I was not myself with distress when I heard them cry. When I heard, "..they have lost the chariot race!" I was greatly saddened... When they tasted defeat and disgrace at the 'Ghosh-yatra', I was mad in despair like never before... Pandavas had come to pay respect to me when they were ordered out of the Kingdom. I wished them the best... but in my heart I felt relieved for my sons. Even before the war began I went to the council and suggested them not to fight... that too at your advice. I was hopeful the throne would belong to my sons but then each day brought more dreadful news from the battlefield. I used to be forlorn never knowing what the next day held for me. Everyday I asked myself, now how many are left? I lived through the death of each child in living agony.. My life had not remained my own. Every moment they laughed, every moment of their despair had became my own."

Gandhari was now talking with a passion and her friend grew anxious for her. She cried, "please be quiet, be calm!!"

Gandhari replied immediately: "Don't worry, I am quite calm.. I have become silent in every way. My heart will know no joy for anyone now, and it will cry tears for no one. I won't fear for anyone anymore.."

As she talked of her broken spirit, Drtarashtra came to share her grief holding the hand of a servant to her door. He was himself a broken man. He called out to gandhari from the door. As she finished her last sentence, she heard his call. At once she knew how wrong her words were. As long as her blind husband was alive, she could not overlook her duties.. her heart could not renounce everything. She got up in a hurry muttering something and then she fainted, for the second time in her life.

Seeing the Queen unconscious, all the servants rushed to the scene.. Even the maid holding the hand of Drtarashtra rushed.. Drtarashtra could not see what had happened and he was left stranded on the spot. He could hear the confusion but did not know what to do. His lifeless eyes rolled in their sockets as he asked despairingly: "what happened? will someone tell me what happened?...

IV

Today they were moving up the mountains leaving their shacks at the foothills of Himalayas. In these huts there were servants for them. Sages camping there kept them company. Prince Dharmaraj and others had visited them twice. Life was quiet. Drtarashtra, Gandhari, Vidur and Kunti spent their time this way, day after day. Gandhari and Kunti listened while Drtarashtra and Vidur discussed something with the yogis and sages. This superficial quietude would be filled with ripples from the bitter past when the guests from Hastinapur would come to see them. Now they were Kings, not Princes and the whole area would be full of people when they visited. They would come and bow their heads in respect and touch their feet and everyone would have a rush of different emotions. Everything would return to normal, at least outwardly, when they would leave. But the storm of emotions stirred from the bottom would take some time to subside. Today the sons and daughters-in-law from Hastinapur had come to see them. Drtarashtra, having made up his mind, told Yudhisthira:

"Yudhisthira, this is not the real Sanyaasa. We must live in a place in total solitude. We rested here on our way to get used to the life in mountains, and it has already been months since then. Now it's time we moved up in the forests."

Yudhisthira and the others tried to dissuade him from going away but Drtarashtra was adamant. Dharma looked in appeal at Vidur but Vidur saw it fit too,

"Dharma, you know well that what Drtarashtra says is right. You must bid us farewell now. You know the tenets of Dharma, so don't stop us now. Don't let bonds of affection cloud your reason."

Kunti had tears in her eyes. But even she resolutely pronounced her decision of leaving this shack and moving with the others. Nobody had stopped to ask Gandhari, everyone assumed that what was best for Drtarashtra was best for her too.

They walked all day. Everyone, not only the sons and daughters but also the sages and yogis, came to bid them farewell. The river had narrowed at a place. Vidur chose a quiet, plain spot under the shelter of trees. Servants who had come with them raised a hut and made necessary provisions to last for least a while. Everybody stayed there that night and the next morning returned with a heavy heart. Not one servant or maid was allowed at Drtarashtra's insistance. Vidura took up looking after Drtarashtra. Kunti took it upon herself to care for Gandhari. Gandhari approved everything and was quite firm on having no maid at her service. They bade farewell at last. Dharma sought out Vidur before leaving for good and told him,

"I have arranged for a few loyal servants to camp nearby. They would enquire once in a while and make sure everything was going on well. Please don't refuse them. I am instructing them not to disturb you otherwise."

Vidur walked a few paces with Dharma and returned. Now they were all alone in that silence.

When the morning chores were done, Vidur took Drtarashtra by hand and sat him where it would not get too warm. Kunti followed suit with Gandhari. They themselves chose to rest at a distance.

Gandhari was sitting lonely. She let out a long sigh. Drtarashtra turned to her and said in a tired, sarcastic tone,

"well, why let out a sigh now? we lived like two blind people living together.." Gandhari caught the tone and she was startled. She wouldn't have replied otherwise but the sarcasm was palpably caustic and she replied dryly,

"I sighed not for my own sorrow, O King.. Ever since we came here the blowing wind of the hills, the thick carpet of long leaves on the ground, the mild fragrance of the Devadara, the soft rustling of leaves as though the wilderness is speaking in it's hushed tone, the never ending sound of the river, all of it reminded me of life in Gandhara and a sigh escaped me.. that's all."

Hearing these words Drtarashtra was touched and setting aside all the bitterness he said earnestly,

"Why did you have to go through it Gandhari? Indeed, Gandhari, you have only this old blind man to blame for your misfortune. You must be torn with the memories of your father's home." Gandhari replied,

"not at all.. I had cast those memories far far away the day I became your wife. Today I was reminded of that country, it's sounds and smells.. not it's people though. You must know, O King, that even when we lived close by in the palace I never spoke to my brother."

Moments passed in silence. Viduar and Kunti were surprised.. Kunti seemed to be concerned where the conversation of husband and wife might lead. It was Drtarashtra's turn to speak. The initial sarcasm was gone from his voice. He said in somewhat earnest,

"You were cheated... you knew not when you were brought in that I was a blind.. and you were married to me. Both the families, all of us have criminally wronged you. But Gandhari, you avenged the wrongs many times over. Will you not forgive now, after all this?"

Thinking that a personal conversation such as this was best not overheard, Kunti and Vidur started going away. But Drtarashtra could hear their moves better than a normal man with vision could see them. He turned in their direction and called out,

"Don't go away. Stay here. We never had a dialogue like this before and we might never have in future. I am asking you to stay, as the eldest. Stay here, don't go away."

He waited just long enough to make sure they obeyed his command and then turning to Gandhari he said in choked, excited voice,

"You have punished heavily, Gandhari.. I didn't think as much when you came for marriage tying the cloth on your eyes. I thought I will urge you, relieve your anguish with my love; but that did not happen. You staggered into the room on our wedding night, with the cloth tied on your eyes, holding someone's hand. I was born a blind; I knew the ways of living in darkness. But you had tied it knowing fully well what it meant. You did not know how to move. What a terrible night it was!! why I didn't strangle you that very same night, I can't understand."

Gandhari retorted bitterly,
"That would have saved us a lot of trouble. it would have been the best for everyone."

"Don't say that, Gandhari, don't!" Drtarashtra said in anguish, "We the descendants of Kuru haven't forgotten our Kshatriya Dharma..we wouldn't kill a woman no matter how depraved we are. Our valour is not hurled at women."

saying this he continued his fist sentence as if no one had interrupted, " I was a sovereign king. I could have brushed aside that piece of fabric from your eyes. but I did not want to use my authority to do it. I wanted to wait. But you had not forgotten your revenge one bit.. When you had a child, I had wanted to say that perhaps not for me but at least open your eyes to see the baby. But by then my heart had turned to stone. You could have opened your eyes for the baby but I was not ready to see you experience that joy! I was secretly delighted that you too could not see your child.. You were going about with your eyes shut, feeling proud of the sacrifice you had made. But in reality you were caught in the web of your own decision made in a moment of thoughtless impulse. You could not open your eyes now. Only at my command could you open it and I chose not to command you.

We stayed together but for the love, yes- blind love, of our children. You never felt any affinity for me apart from it. You, the women of Kuru family, suffered gravely at the hands of we men. Fate has returned us every pang of it in good measure. Bheeshma was tormented due to Amba. I am tormented due to you. My sons burned in this fire of hatred. Kunti herself was married to one such handicapped, but she played the part of a wife, albeit a less favourite wife, to perfection. Moreover she took care of her fatherless children. It seems to me that every one of us is caught in some web of injustice. I wronged you, Pandu wronged Kunti. And who is to blame for the frustrations we lived and burned through? Vidur was of sound mind and body. Our father was the same. He was not named the King because his mother was a lowly servant! yet he never took out his frustrations upon anyone in his life. In our entire family only Kunti and Vidur kept their sanity of mind. Do you think that you alone suffered, Gandhari? Think about it: In three generations, every one of us is deprived of something.. This I tell you not because I seek forgiveness but because I can no longer witness your torment and your frustration with fate. And because you were wronged does not give you a right to wrong others like me and your sons. One injustice can not be undone by another, Gandhari. Even now the time has not run out, open your eyes. See the world around you with open eyes and look afresh at all that you lived through. We are nearing our end. Don't die with your eyes shut that way...."

Drtarashtra could manage to speak no more. The rest were pensive. Gandhari said softly after some time,

"O king, I have opened my eyes.. but I can not see clearly." Drtarashtra held her hands for the first time in unrestrained earnest and he cried like a child. Drtarashtra and Gandhari were the partakers in the bitter-sweet joys and sorrows of Kurus. Kunti and Vidur stood witness. But today they had tears in their eyes. Drtarashtra spoke softly after his tears subsided:

"Gandhari, you will regain your vision in a day or two. When you can see clearly, bring me here yourself." Nobody could say anything anymore. Everyone was lost in thoughts.

Two days had passed. Gandhari had learned to work around with open eyes. She brought Drtarashtra holding his hand to the usual place of rest. Everyone sat close by and, as if nothing had happened there in the meanwhile, they resumed the last conversation.

Drtarashtra did not let go of Gandhari's hand when he sat down. He started speaking:

"Gandhari, you are younger to me. Even after me you will be able to live independently."

Gandhari was quick to cover his mouth as she heard it. She said,
"No, That won't happen. I have held your hand to walk with you and I have opened my eyes for us both."

Drtarashtra was silent for a while. Then calming himself down he continued,
"Gandhari, I can sense what you can not see. I can smell it, I can even hear it. I have been picking up the smoke since morning... Looks like there is a wildfire somewhere. Can you hear the frightened sounds of birds? I think it is coming from this side of the river. There somewhere the forest is on fire. It has not reached close enough for us to feel the blaze. Can you see anything?"

Vidur, Kunti and Gandhari got up to see what it was and indeed, they could see smoke rising at a distance. They spotted the bright yellow-red flame licking the sky. They sat down. Gandhari spoke softly yet clearly.

"You are right.. the fire is not more than a mile farther from here.."

Drtarashtra replied, "Gandhari, it is difficult to hold my hand till the end. I am tired of waiting for death, I am tired of burning in the old memories and again calming my mind. I am staying put here. You can cross the river out of danger."

Gandhari held his hand firmly and said, "I am not leaving your side now. Let us not wait for the blaze to reach us. Instead, let us walk to it."

"You are right Gandhari", said Drtarashtra. They started walking towards the fire. Drtarashtra stopped when he heard Kunti and Vidur following them. He looked back and said, "you too..." and then again resumed his walk.

A strange thing was happening. A loyal wife was holding the hand of her live husband and offering herself to flames with him. A brother was walking his widowed sister-in-law to the burning pyre.

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