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MEHENDALE: Nemesis and some Mahabharata episodes
one has to suffer the fruits of one's bad conduct. Did this law of retribution remain suspended in the case of these two powerful persons? No, it does not seem so. The events in the Mahabharata show that the Pandavas had to suffer for the misdeeds of Arjuna connived at by them they suffered almost the same way, perhaps, even more cruelly. We cannot possibly overlook the connection between the events the one narrated above and those to be narrated below.
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Duryodhana fell on the battle-field when he was struck down by Bhima. He was no more able to stand on his feet. From the point of view of the Pandavas the war had ended. Yudhisthira felt that he was now the ruler of the earth.
All the warriors on the side of the Pandavas went to Duryodhana's camp and looted it. All of them then decided to spend the night in the camp of the Pandavas but Krsna suggested that he, together with the Pandavas and Satyaki, stay away as they had to perform some auspicious ceremony. The Mahabharata does not tell us what this ceremony was, and how it was performed. It makes only a casual reference to it in the following words:
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athābravin mahārāja vāsudevo muhāyaśāḥ/
asmābhir mangalärthaya vastavyam sibiräd bahiḥ //
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tathety uktva ca te sarve pändaväḥ satyakis tatha
väsudevena sahitä mangalärtham yayur bahiḥ // (9.61.35-36).
Although Krsna suggested that the Pandavas should stay away for the performance of an auspicious ceremony, it is quite clear that this was only a pretext. He was aware that Asvatthaman was up to some evil design. He told this clearly to Dhrtarastra when he was deputed by the Pandavas to console Dhrtarastra and Gandhärl. He said:
apreche tväin kurusrestha mã ca soke manaḥ kṛthäh draunen papo aty abhiprayas tenäha sahasotthitab/
pāṇḍavānāṁ vadhe ratrau buddhis tena pradarkitä (9. 62.68).
When Aivatthäman, Krpa, and Kṛtavarman meet Duryodhana lying wounded on the battle-field, Asvatthäman, in a fit of anger, vows to kill the Pancalas. At the instance of Duryodhana, Krpa consecrates Aávatthäman as the commander of Duryodhana's forces, which means that from the point of view of the Kauravas the war had not ended. While Aivatthäman anxiously ponders
4. One only does not know why he did not caution the Pandavas against the possible danger to their lives.
Madhu Vidya/416
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