Madhuvidya

SR No.: 006525
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: S D Laddu, T N Dharmadhikari, Madhvi Kolhatkar, Pratibha Pingle
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 2001
Total Pages: 762
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, Literature, & Philosophy
File Size: 17 MB

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Annals BORI, LXIX (1988)
aure about his calculations be left the decision to Bbisma. Bbişma informed Duryodbana that the Pandavas bad carried out the undertaking exactly as they had promised.18 It was therefore necessary for Duryodhana to invite the Paodavas and return to them their part of the kingdom as agreed to in terms of the game.
But Duryodhana was determined not to bonour the contractual undertaking and return to the Pagdavas their share of the kingdom.80
Hence, if Duryodbana has gone back on his word and if he is called mitradruh, the expression is better interpreted to mean one who has broken the contract'.
This interpretation of the term mitradruh gets support from a passage that is put in the mouth of Bhlşma towards the end of the Bhişmaparvan. Bhişma tries to persuade Duryodhana to give up war and coaclude a treaty with the Pandavas ( sandhis te tâta yujyatām / 6. 116. 40.). In this context ho tells Duryodhana i rājyasyārdham diyalām pāndavānām indraprastham dharmarājo 'nusāstu / ma mitradhruk pārthivānām jaghanyah...( 6. 116.48). Bhişma asks Duryodhada to save himself from beiag charged to be a mitradruh'. Since, according to Bhişma, this charge could be avoided only by giving back to the Pandavas half of the kiogdom, i. e. by fulfilling the contract entered into before the game of dice, the term mitradruh can only mean its opposite i. e. one who falsifies the contract'. "Fulll the contract, and do not be a mitradruh" that is what Bhlşma tells Duryodhana.
Let us consider one more passage where not only Duryodhana, but also his father Dhrtarăşfra, is called mitradruh. Sanjaya tells Yudhisthira i “If (Duryodhana ) behaves towards the Pandavas who had not belied the contract (adrug dheşu), as if they had done so drugdhavat), that act of Duryodhana ) is not proper (na sådhu ), that act is not moral(na dharmyam). Dhrtarăştra, in that case, along with his son, will become a mitradruh ",11 Here the words adrugdha and drugdhavat cannot mean who had not injured ( a friend )' and 'as though they had injured ( a friend)', but they have the meaning oply in terms of not breaking' or 'breaking (the agreemcot). Hence, here also the term mitradruh can only mean one who has broken the agreement'.
10 sarvain yathavac caritam yad yad ebhiḥ pratisrutam / 4.47.5. Krsna also bad
no doubt on tbis point. He says : satye sthitais tac caritam yathavat / pandoh sutaih 5. 1. 11. For the view of Yudhişthira, sce 5. 70. 10.
nahan rajyam pradasyāmi pāndavanām pitämaha / 4. 47.15; also cf. 5.90.11. 31 yad yusmākam vartate 'sau na dharmyam
adrugdhesu drugdhavat tan na sadhu / mnitradhruk syād dhrtarāştrak saputro yuşman dvişan sadhuvșttan asudhuh // Mbb. 5. 24. 3.
Madhu Vidyā/164