think we should sue for peace. Speak gently to Duryodhana at first; if he does not listen, use strong words, threaten him. Tell him about the kshatriyas who are with us. Duryodhana is just a man, like any other; he can be frightened into accepting peace on our terms. And when you are the messenger, Krishna, there is nothing that cannot be achieved.”
Krishna smiled and did not have time to turn to Sahadeva, before the youngest Pandava sprang up and cried, “We must have war, Krishna! You must make certain we do. Let the Kauravas beg for peace, if they like; but we must have war and only war, with them! What else can we want after what they did to Panchali in their sabha? How can we think of peace for even a moment? I don’t agree with my brothers. If Yudhishtira, Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula want peace, let them make shameful peace with those animals. I mean to fight, if I have to fight alone and to see Duryodhana dead. Tell him from me, Krishna, that Sahadeva says he will die.
If my brothers decide that virtue lies in seeking peace with Duryodhana, let them keep such virtue for themselves. I will fight and kill that devil!”
Satyaki jumped up and cried, “I am with you, Sahadeva! We shall have no peace with the Kauravas. Death is what Duryodhana deserves and death he shall find. Krishna, you saw these Pandavas in the forest, wearing valkala, like beggars. How can you make peace with the men who reduced them to that? The Kauravas must die, every one of them!”
The sabha resounded with the approval of the kings in it. Suddenly, Krishna turned his face to where the most beautiful woman on earth sat. Krishna asked gently, “Panchali, what have you to say?
Her lovely eyes were full of tears and she rose without wiping them, so they fell down her face. Draupadi said fiercely, “I bless Sahadeva and Satyaki! Who, it seems, are the only kshatriyas in this sabha. Krishna, you know everything that happened. I beg you, if you care at all for my honor, use no soft words with Duryodhana. Gentleness wins only good men, not fiends of hell. Hastinapura is a nest of demons; it must burn!
I wonder that you can even ask me what I have to say. I want war, Krishna, a bloody war to avenge what I suffered on that terrible day and for thirteen years after. I want every Kaurava killed. The elders who sat by, not lifting a finger to help me when I begged them to, I want to see them dead! I know Yudhishtira was always for peace, at whatever cost to himself and his family. But when I hear Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula talking of peace today, I can hardly stand it. I want neither peace nor friendship with the Kauravas. If you love me at all, Krishna, if you ever felt sorry for what happened to me, make sure there is war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. I must see my enemies lying dead on the field, as carrion for jackals and vultures.”
She lost control of herself. Convulsed with sobs, she took her hair, hanging behind her like a dark serpent and brandished it at that court. “I have not tied my hair since the day Dusasana dragged me by it! Look at my hair, all you kings. I carry it like a stain on my very soul, that the beast defiled it with his filthy hands.
In the forest, Yudhishtira said to me that I must be patient for thirteen years. I have waited thirteen years and only I know how long the wait has been. And now what do I hear from Yudhishtira? Not a word of war or revenge, but again words of peace. And today I am amazed to hear Bheema talking of peace! Duryodhana was not mistaken when he called these cowards. How lofty it is to talk peace. But who will bring peace to my heart?
For thirteen years, every night I was awake thinking of just one thing: the day I would see Dusasana’s jeweled hand cut off and lying on the ground streaming blood. I will have no rest until I see that sight before my eyes. Krishna, think of me when you are in Hastinapura. For it was I who was dragged like a whore through the palace there, I who was
Krishna smiled and did not have time to turn to Sahadeva, before the youngest Pandava sprang up and cried, “We must have war, Krishna! You must make certain we do. Let the Kauravas beg for peace, if they like; but we must have war and only war, with them! What else can we want after what they did to Panchali in their sabha? How can we think of peace for even a moment? I don’t agree with my brothers. If Yudhishtira, Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula want peace, let them make shameful peace with those animals. I mean to fight, if I have to fight alone and to see Duryodhana dead. Tell him from me, Krishna, that Sahadeva says he will die.
If my brothers decide that virtue lies in seeking peace with Duryodhana, let them keep such virtue for themselves. I will fight and kill that devil!”
Satyaki jumped up and cried, “I am with you, Sahadeva! We shall have no peace with the Kauravas. Death is what Duryodhana deserves and death he shall find. Krishna, you saw these Pandavas in the forest, wearing valkala, like beggars. How can you make peace with the men who reduced them to that? The Kauravas must die, every one of them!”
The sabha resounded with the approval of the kings in it. Suddenly, Krishna turned his face to where the most beautiful woman on earth sat. Krishna asked gently, “Panchali, what have you to say?
Her lovely eyes were full of tears and she rose without wiping them, so they fell down her face. Draupadi said fiercely, “I bless Sahadeva and Satyaki! Who, it seems, are the only kshatriyas in this sabha. Krishna, you know everything that happened. I beg you, if you care at all for my honor, use no soft words with Duryodhana. Gentleness wins only good men, not fiends of hell. Hastinapura is a nest of demons; it must burn!
I wonder that you can even ask me what I have to say. I want war, Krishna, a bloody war to avenge what I suffered on that terrible day and for thirteen years after. I want every Kaurava killed. The elders who sat by, not lifting a finger to help me when I begged them to, I want to see them dead! I know Yudhishtira was always for peace, at whatever cost to himself and his family. But when I hear Bheema, Arjuna and Nakula talking of peace today, I can hardly stand it. I want neither peace nor friendship with the Kauravas. If you love me at all, Krishna, if you ever felt sorry for what happened to me, make sure there is war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. I must see my enemies lying dead on the field, as carrion for jackals and vultures.”
She lost control of herself. Convulsed with sobs, she took her hair, hanging behind her like a dark serpent and brandished it at that court. “I have not tied my hair since the day Dusasana dragged me by it! Look at my hair, all you kings. I carry it like a stain on my very soul, that the beast defiled it with his filthy hands.
In the forest, Yudhishtira said to me that I must be patient for thirteen years. I have waited thirteen years and only I know how long the wait has been. And now what do I hear from Yudhishtira? Not a word of war or revenge, but again words of peace. And today I am amazed to hear Bheema talking of peace! Duryodhana was not mistaken when he called these cowards. How lofty it is to talk peace. But who will bring peace to my heart?
For thirteen years, every night I was awake thinking of just one thing: the day I would see Dusasana’s jeweled hand cut off and lying on the ground streaming blood. I will have no rest until I see that sight before my eyes. Krishna, think of me when you are in Hastinapura. For it was I who was dragged like a whore through the palace there, I who was
Similar Books
