The War is continuing. What would be the end? The Land of Kurukshethra remained intoxicated with drinking the blood of the wounded and the dead. Who has attained victory and defeat? Draupadi could only look unemotionally at Dharmabrother’s interest in making even the lad Abhimanyu partake in the War. She felt utmost sorrow in Grandfather Bhishma’s fall. Grandfather who always behaved
in a loving manner, fell at the arrow shot by Arjuna.
He sacrificed his own life for the sake of one or another. He destroyed his own youth for fulfilling his father’s desire;deliberately gave up his inheritance in ruling the kingdom ,and served the Kauravas and finally lying on the bed of arrows.
Placing Shikhandi in front, Arjuna shot the arrow.
It was Arjuna, who was more eunuch than Shikhandi, and whose arrow fell on Bhishma. Shikandi was born a eunuch. It was said that Grandfather looked at Arjuna who did a diabolic deed, and told him, “Arjuna! You are the real claimant of my death.” What might have he thought about Parthan who did a more ignoble deed than Shikhandi? There are rules in the war. But the real eunuch is one who applies a most hideous shrewdness to
prompt a person to withdraw from the scene of war.
Arrows were shot all over the body, whether because of Arjuna’s sense of vengeance or for speeding up his death, but however, the fatally wounded Grandfather did not die all on a sudden. With the intense pain of the wounds, he lay there for days.
In the waging wind there was the pungent smell of blood! Eagles were circling in the sky. Draupadi’s heart was filled with fear. What would be the end of this War? Who all will remain alive? She was scared to sit alone in the royal camp. If she went out, there would be the sound of the weapons clashing, wailing, and shrieking. Her mind whispered to her to seek shelter in the Ganges. While she immersed herself in the water and rose, she only remembered to have fallen into the flow. Opening her eyes, she found herself in the arms of somebody. Beyond the dim view, Karna was seen looking at her! In shyness she tried to pull the upper cloth over her chest. But it was lost in the flow. Karna offered her his shawl. Without being conscious of what she was doing, she took it and covered her body. Then she said calmly.
“You need not have saved me. I have willingly got dissolved in the Ganges.”
Without paying heed to the astonishment on Karna’s face she said.
“Don’t know who all would die and who all would live in the war! Before those whom I love leave me, I thought of flowing away from my own life.”
“Draupadi, This war would not end with your taking away your life. I had informed Dharmaputra through a messenger that Uncle Shakuni was trying to capture the country by foul gambling. Still he got involved in it. All is Fate!”
“King of Anga…” Panchali called him in absolute misery. “I have come to know that you are the First Pandava.”
Karna gave an open and sincere laugh. She thought it was the old Karna at Gowri Temple. Years have gone by. He looked the same even now. Panchali said.
“You must stand with the Pandavas in the War. You should bless me to give my lost days in the remaining years.”
“Panchali…” Karna called her with the fullness of love.
“I had already come to know that I was not the son of a charioteer. An old maid had told me that secret.”
“Then why did you keep it as a secret?” Panchali was surprised.
“I never wanted to hurt anybody. I have suffered a lot of sorrows. Humiliation also. Are one’s abilities determined considering one’s clan and caste? First of all, this caste system should be removed. Or, there will be many Karnas and Ekalavyas like me.”
He took a deep breath and said.
“ That night at Indraprastha, that night you told me, you had six nights, all my thoughts were about you that night. A Kshathriya can steal away the bride. I even thought of stealing you away. The Kauravas would have supported me. But I thought of Mother Kunti.”
Panchali reflected that she had also thought in that vein. “ You haven’t responded to my request.”
Karna smiled and said.
“It’s war tactics to retreat and come back with added strength. I’ll return. As Arjuna. The Pandavas should always be five in number.”
“Does that mean Arjuna will be murdered?”
Draupadi looked at Karna with a shudder. Karna laughed. “Oh, the Great Queen Panchali, Were you afraid? So you want Arjuna to live. I too had not desired to come to this bank of the Ganges. In the midst of the war when I thought I
would fail, I had retreated. So I could save you.”
Panchali stood looking at his face that looked brilliant, vibrant, determined and enthusiastic.
She felt disappointment pervading her heart. Karna talked again.
“I don’t think we will ever have another meeting like this.
May you have a happy and fortunate life ahead!” Karna turned and walked back.
Karna, only when you are with me, I will be fortunate. If you are not with me, everything will be inauspicious. She wanted to murmur it into his ears. But, alas, the words got frozen in the throat.
While she was walking back to the royal camp disappointed and sorrowful, she remembered.
If I had known about the secret of Karna’s birth before my Swayamvara… In vain, did I long for….
(Cont’d)
