novelraw Arc 9 - Vidhuragamana - Chapter 3 - Vidhur’s arrival
Arc 9 - Vidhuragamana - Chapter 3 - Vidhur’s arrival
Vaiśampāyana continued:
At the command of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, Vidura—knower of all śāstras and master of moral law—set forth on his journey, carrying with him rich treasures of gold, jewels, ornaments, and garments.
These were gifts for Draupadī,
For the sons of Pāṇḍu,
For Yajñasena, lord of Pāñcāla,
And for all the scions of Pṛṣata’s house.
Arriving at the palace of Drupada, Vidura was welcomed in the manner due to a noble envoy. The king of Pāñcāla, high of soul and rich in honor, rose to greet him, and the two elders exchanged words of goodwill and kinship.
Then Vidura beheld the Pāṇḍavas, seated with Vāsudeva, the radiant Kṛṣṇa, whose gaze pierced illusion. At once, Vidura embraced them all with the affection of a father returned from long absence.
The sons of Kuntī, noble and radiant,
Rose and worshipped him in due order—
As did Kṛṣṇa, knower of time and truth.
And Vidura, in the name of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, enquired after their well-being, again and again, his words imbued with deep love.
He gave unto them the wealth sent by the Kauravas—
To Kuntī, to Draupadī, to Drupada and his sons—
Gifts rich with royal splendor,
Yet offered with the hope of reconciliation.
Vaiśampāyana continued:
Then Vidura, ever modest and possessed of immeasurable intelligence, rose to speak in the royal court of Drupada. With hands joined and voice steady, he addressed the noble king in the presence of the Pāṇḍavas and the illustrious Keśava, the ever-smiling Kṛṣṇa:
“O King, O lord of Pāñcāla,
Hear me now with thy sons and ministers beside thee.
I come not with mere formality,
But with the heartfelt message of Dhṛtarāṣṭra,
Who sends greetings and goodwill,
Accompanied by his sons, his counselors, and his kin.”
“With a joyous heart, he has heard of this great alliance.
The union between the Pāṇḍavas and thy noble house
Has gladdened him more than conquest of a kingdom.”
“And not he alone, O Yajñasena—
The venerable Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu,
Wise and far-seeing,
Sends blessings to thee and thine.”
“The noble Droṇa, born of Bharadvāja,
Thy companion of old in arms and knowledge,
Though not here in body,
Embraces thee with the heart of a friend.”
“All the Kurus, O King,
Rejoice in this new bond.
They count themselves blessed
To call thee their ally and kin.”
Vidura paused, then gently turned to the purpose of his journey:
“Knowing all this, O noble one,
Permit now the Pāṇḍavas, thy sons by alliance,
To return to Hastināpura, their ancestral home.
Long have they been absent.
Their hearts must yearn for the soil of their fathers.”
“Kuntī, the revered mother, waits also
To see her palace, her people, her place in the world.
And the women of Kuru’s royal house,
And the citizens, and all the kingdom’s subjects—
They burn with longing to behold once more
Draupadī, princess of Pāñcāla,
Whose fame has already crossed the bounds of Bharatavarṣa.”
“Therefore, O Yajñasena,
If it pleases thee, permit this noble company to depart.
With thy blessing, they shall journey to the city of kings.”
“And once thy permission is given,
I shall send swift messengers to Dhṛtarāṣṭra,
That preparations may be made to receive them with honor.”
“Then shall the Pāṇḍavas, with Kuntī and Kṛṣṇā,
Depart from thy palace—
Bearing thy goodwill and the blessings of this sacred alliance.”
Vaiśampāyana continued:
When Vidura had spoken his gentle words,
King Drupada, lord of Pāñcāla, rich in wisdom and restraint, replied with due reverence:
“O Vidura, thy words are well-spoken,
Clear as polished crystal and rooted in dharma.
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I too am gladdened by this noble alliance.
It is most fitting that these sons of Pāṇḍu
Should return to the land of their fathers.”
“Yet, O wise one, though my heart approves,
I cannot bid them go by my will alone.
Let the Pāṇḍavas themselves express their desire—
Let Yudhiṣṭhira, Bhīma, Arjuna, and the heroic twins decide.
And let it be done only if Rāma and Keśava,
Masters of dharma and protectors of virtue,
Are also of one mind.”
“For these two, Baladeva and Kṛṣṇa,
Tigers among men and lords of righteous conduct,
Ever act for the good of the sons of Pāṇḍu.”
Then Yudhiṣṭhira, ever humble, rose with folded hands and said:
“O king, we and our younger brothers
Stand bound to thee by love and alliance.
We shall gladly walk the path thou choosest for us.
Command us, and we shall obey.”
Then Vāsudeva, smiling gently, added:
“I too believe it is time for the sons of Pāṇḍu to return.
Yet let us all abide by the word of Drupada,
For he is wise and learned in the laws of kings and men.”
Hearing this, Drupada, touched by the honor shown to him, spoke again—his voice steady, his gaze fixed on Dharma’s path:
“What Kṛṣṇa has spoken is wise,
And I accept it with full heart.
These sons of Pāṇḍu are now to me
What they are to Keśava himself.”
“Indeed, I say this truly:
Not even Yudhiṣṭhira, son of Kuntī,
Seeks the welfare of his brothers
With the same fervor,
As does Kṛṣṇa, the lion of the Yādavas.”
Vaiśampāyana continued:
At the command of the illustrious Drupada, the noble sons of Pāṇḍu, accompanied by Kṛṣṇa of Dvārakā, the wise Vidura, and the radiant Kṛṣṇā, daughter of the fire-born king, prepared for their journey. With them too came the revered Kuntī, mother of heroes, her heart lifted after long sorrow.
Together they departed toward the city named after the elephant, the ancient stronghold of the Kuru race—Hastināpura.
And as they journeyed, O King,
They halted in pleasant groves and sacred spots,
Finding joy in each step and gladness in the air—
For the path homeward was lit with hope.
When Dhṛtarāṣṭra, lord of the Kuru court, learned that the sons of Pāṇḍu had neared the city, his heart stirred with both relief and unease. Yet he sent forth a delegation—mighty and honorable—to greet them.
Among those who rode out were:
Vikarna, skilled in arms and of noble heart,
Chitrasena, gallant and adorned with grace,
The venerable Droṇa, master of weapons and restraint,
And Kripa, scion of Gautama, calm-eyed and wise.
Thus flanked by warriors of fame and dignity, the Pāṇḍavas entered the capital—
And their arrival was like the return of the moon-bearers to the sky.
The streets of Hastināpura swelled with people,
A joyous tide of men, women, and children,
Gathering as though for a festival of the gods.
Bright silks fluttered, conches rang,
And garlands showered from balconies high.
Everywhere, voices rose like sacred hymns,
For the people loved the sons of Pāṇḍu,
And long had they yearned to behold them again.
From every street and rooftop, cries were heard:
“Look! The tigers among men return—
Protectors of dharma, gentle and just,
Who shield us like kinsmen,
Though born to rule above us!”
Others, weeping with joy, exclaimed:
“Is this not the spirit of King Pāṇḍu returned?
Do we not see in Yudhiṣṭhira’s brow
The same compassion, the same justice,
That once lit this city with peace?”
And many joined in solemn hope:
“If ever we gave alms with a true heart,
If ever we poured sacred ghee upon the fire,
If any merit lives in our prayers,
Let the sons of Pṛthā dwell here a hundred years!
Let them reign as long as the stars endure!”
“Let Kuntī’s sons, born of gods,
Restore the glory of the Kuru house.”
Vaiśampāyana continued:
At last, the Pāṇḍavas—noble sons of Kuntī and heirs to dharma—entered the royal court of Hastināpura, their hearts steady and reverent. With folded hands and bowed heads, they worshipped the feet of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the aged monarch, and of the venerable Bhīṣma, son of Śāntanu, the guardian of Kuru’s legacy.
One by one, they paid homage to all elders,
Offering respect where it was due,
And greeting the citizens with gracious words,
As protectors returning to their people.
Then, at the command of the king, they were led to chambers prepared for them—
Rooms cooled with sandalwood paste, filled with silken cushions and the scent of aloes.
There, they rested for a time, the weight of travel lifted.
But not long after, they were summoned once more.
In the assembly hall, under the gaze of Kuru elders, Dhṛtarāṣṭra addressed Yudhiṣṭhira, his voice clothed in both diplomacy and subtle caution:
“O son of Pāṇḍu, O son of Kuntī,
With thy heroic brothers, hear now my words.
Go forth to Khaṇḍavaprastha,
That there may be no future discord between you and my sons.
Let there be peace through distance, not division.
And let this be thy share—half the kingdom,
For thou art protected by Arjuna,
Even as the gods are guarded by the thunderbolt of Indra.”
And Yudhiṣṭhira, ever humble, bowed his head in acceptance.
The sons of Pāṇḍu, content in righteousness and brotherhood, took their leave.
They departed from Hastināpura,
With their mother Kuntī and their queen Kṛṣṇā,
With the wise Kṛṣṇa of the Yādavas at their side,
And with their warriors, priests, and banners aloft.
They arrived at Khaṇḍavaprastha, a barren and desolate land—
Once rich, now reclaimed by wilderness and silence.
But there, with Vyāsa’s guidance, they consecrated the ground—
Performing ancient rites, invoking the blessings of the gods,
And selecting a region sacred and auspicious to raise their new capital.
And what rose from that dust and dry soil
Was no mere city,
But a second heaven.
Encircled by trenches wide as ocean moats,
And by walls that reached the clouds,
Gleaming white like the moon’s pure light,
The city shone like Bhogavatī, the jeweled realm of the Nāgas.
Palaces adorned with soaring gates and winged panels
Gleamed like the wings of Garuḍa mid-flight.
Each entrance stood high and terrible,
As if fashioned from thunderclouds and crowned with peaks like Mandara.
And within those walls, mighty weapons were mounted—
Hooks, darts, śataghnis, and wheels of iron—
Enough to repel even armies of the gods.
Turrets lined with archers, warriors in training,
Filled the city with readiness and valor.
And everywhere, order prevailed:
Wide streets laid in straight lines,
Free from accident, secure and splendid.
Thus did Indraprastha arise—
Like Amarāvatī, the city of Indra himself,
Adorned with mansions, towers, and gardens of delight.
The palace of the Pāṇḍavas stood at its heart,
Glistening with gold, gems, and celestial design,
Like a storm cloud crowned with lightning.
A home of wealth, virtue, and divine harmony—
It stood not merely as a seat of kings,
But as a symbol of dharma restored.
Vaiśampāyana continued:
When the city of Indraprastha was completed—shining like Amarāvatī, the capital of heaven—there came, O King, streams of people from all directions, drawn as though by the pull of destiny.
Brahmanas came first, robed in purity,
Masters of the Vedas, versed in ritual and sacred tongue,
Gentle of speech and steadfast in tapas,
Seeking a home where virtue ruled.
Then came merchants, bearing wares from distant lands—
Ivory from the forest, silks from the south,
Pearls from the sea, and gems that held fire within.
Their hopes rode on profit, their hearts on fortune.
And artisans came—sculptors, painters, smiths,
Masons, jewelers, dancers, and bards—
Each eager to find favor in the court of the Pāṇḍavas,
Each carrying a flame of beauty and skill.
Around the gleaming city, gardens were laid like garlands:
Trees of all kinds rose in harmony—
Mangoes and Amaratakas, their branches heavy with fruit,
Aśokas and Champakas, exhaling fragrance with each breeze.
Nāgas, Punnāgas, and Pānasas stood in orderly joy,
While Śāla and Tāla, Tāmalas and Vakulas
Offered shelter to flocks of feathery singers.
There bloomed the golden Ketakas, the radiant Āmalakas,
And the shaded groves of Jāmbus, Pāṭalas, and Karavīras,
Alive with flowers that never faded
And fruits that ripened with the rhythm of the sun.
The air was filled with the cries of peacocks,
Their plumes flashing like rainbows of the forest,
And the soft warble of Kokilas, black as night and sweet as nectar.
Everywhere were seen bowers of creepers,
Pleasure-houses mirrored in marble and glass,
Man-made hillocks shaped like shrines,
And still lakes where lotuses opened like stars on water.
There, crystal tanks brimmed with clean, fragrant water,
Where swans, ducks, and chakravākas swam without fear.
Aquatic plants spread like garlands beneath the surface,
And lilies rose with pale faces to kiss the sun.
Ponds deep as silence, pools wide as dharma itself,
Reflected the sky and the joy of the realm.
And in the midst of it all, the sons of Pāṇḍu, noble and virtuous,
Dwelt in prosperity, their hearts lightened by peace,
Their spirits nourished by gratitude and joy.
Each day brought new fragrance, new praise,
As dharma blossomed in their land
And the blessings of heaven and earth gathered like dew
Upon the kingdom they had built.
Vaiśampāyana continued:
Thus, O King, through the virtuous conduct of Bhīṣma, guardian of the Kuru line, and the deliberate grace of Dhṛtarāṣṭra, the sons of Pāṇḍu took up residence in Khaṇḍavaprastha.
And what once had been a wilderness reborn now shone like Bhogavatī, the jeweled capital of the Nāgas, gleaming in the nether worlds—
So too did Indraprastha gleam, adorned by five mighty warriors,
Each radiant in strength and character,
Each like a second Indra in human form.
Crowned with valor, veiled in humility,
Those sons of gods and dharma
Gave light and order to their realm—
A city not merely built, but consecrated by fate.
And after all was complete—
After peace had been offered and strength secured—
The wielder of the discus, the knower of time, the unfailing friend—
Kṛṣṇa of Dvārakā, the slayer of Kaṁsa,
Took leave of the Pāṇḍavas with blessings and affection.
With Rāma, the mighty plough-bearer at his side,
The two Yādava heroes, protectors of dharma,
Departed for Dvāravatī,
Leaving behind a realm poised for greatness.
And so began the reign of Indraprastha—
A land of peace, prosperity, and purpose,
Where dharma took root in golden soil,
And where the wheel of destiny turned once more
In favor of the sons of light.