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The Tales in Mahābhārata
111'
Arjuna of all the five brothers nearest to Krsna. It will be noticed that towards the end of Ādip, just before the episode of Khāņdava-daba, it is only Krşņa and Arjuna who enjoy themselves in the company of beautiful women in the lovely forests on the bank of river Yamunā.123 We have just seen above how the romantically attractive trait of his personality leads him to numerous love-adventures. If then, this Arjuna must keep to his easy natural self so as not to rouse any suspicion, he must remain in the company of women. So there is no better ruse than becoming a dancing-master of the royal harem who is naturally expected to remain almost constantly in the company of women.
Now it is obvious that either the princess or the other girls of the royal harem would not normally be trusted with an alien male. Therefore, it is almost incumbent upon Arjuna to present himself as a sexless person, a eunuch.124 But this is actually a boon in disguise. However freely do the girls behave with their dancing master, they will never fall in love with a eunuch. So by presenting himself as a sexless ptrson, Arjuna actually makes himself immune from any possible potential love-affair which, otherwise, can in all likelihood expose his identity before the stipulated time. Arjuna's incognito, thus, is adopted after properly sizing up the dangers of his personality against the situation
A similar thoughtfulness is obvious in the guises of other characters also. Bhima's problem would be the amount of food he needs. That can attract anyone's attention. He is presented as a cook125 and kept in the royal kitchen so he can manage his meals without arousing any suspicion, Yudhisthira and Draupadi choose to keep com pany to the king and the queen respectively. 126 The atmosphere around the royal figures would be pompous enough, in which the dignified demeanours of Yudhisthira and Draupadi will not be a matter of much distinction.
The two episodes where Yudhisthira is the hero are more sober, quite in keeping with the character of Yudhisthira. In Ajagara-Parvan,127 a python catches Bhima and would not release him until Yudhisthira answers his questions which are mainly ethical. The python in the end is revealed as Nabusa, an ancestor of the Kurus. Similarly, in Araneya-parvan, 128 the four brothers, being thirsty, rush to drink from a lake, ignore the guarding Yakşa's warning not to drink without answering his questions, and life dead. Finally Yudhisthira answers all the questions -- again mostly ethical, religious and philosophical to the Yakşa's satisfaction, and with his grace.
123 AdiP. 214. 124. Vir P. 2.21. pratijñāın şandhako'şiniti karisyāmi māhipate / 125 VirP. 2.2. supan asya karisyami kušalo'smi mahänase / 126 VirP. 1.20. sabhāstāro bhavişyämi tasya rājño mahātmanaḥ /
VirP. 3.16-17. sairandhryo rakṣitā loke bhuj işyāḥ santi bhārata / sāham bruvānā sairandhri... 127 Van P. 173-178. 128 VanP. 295–298.
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