Pradeep Bhatta
The bank of Saraswati River is considered to be the storehouse of nature’s richness. In a way unprecedented in any age, fresh and green charm of the Kamyak Jungle, where the melodious chirping of the birds, and the rippling sound of flowing water, sounded enticing even to heaven.
Dhaumya Rishi – the priest of the Pandav – also arrived there intending for mid-day-bath. After the bath, while he was about to change his dhoti he saw Bidur striding towards him. ‘Eh! Why is he perplexed even in such a calm place?’ he asked himself. Further, he asked himself why he came here hastily without any reason.
Thinking so, Dhaumya called him swaying his hand, “Hey Bidur, listen! I am here!”
Taking close with gasp, Bidur said, “Oh! I found God while searching for a stone. I got tired looking for you around your hermitage! Where are the Pandavas?”
“They are in the cottage. Rest for a while and dry up your sweat. Then we will go together.”
“No, it’s OK! I am in a hurry. Rather, tell me the way; I will flee away.”
“Why, what happened?”
“What worse remains to happen?”
“Dhritarastra hasn’t repented, yet? I had considered that he has sent you to receive the Pandavs.”
“Why will such a rough ever repent?”
“If so, why have you been here?
“Oh God! What to say! His son Duryodhan is handling the entire kingdom now. Why would he pay any concern at me! Did you understand?”
“If so, is he settled joyfully?” Dhaumya asked.
“Why wouldn’t he? While I noticed his gentle smile, I clearly said, ‘Don’t you have to die?’ And he said, ‘Death is certain after birth but just because we die, a ruler should not forsake one’s policy’.”
“How did you respond to that?”
“‘Such tactics are devilish, don’t you know that?’ I said. I added, ‘If you do not give up your position, hand over all the power and authority to Yudhisthir and make all the brothers disciple of him.’ And he replied, ‘Are you talking about religious rules or what? Of course, you have pure spirit. Perhaps Yudhisthir is same as you, but are Bhimshen and Arjun similar? How do I shave the hair of my son despite one’s knowledge? Tell me yourself!’”
“Dhritarashtra seems as if he is blind—bothphysically and mentally,” said Dhaumya turning his face red.
Bidur, with his eyebrows narrowed, said, “Dhaumya, did you understand? After that I explicitly told, it is extreme foolishness to doubt on snow to be inflamed. In fact, I have seen people blind like you, who get bewildered with a garland considering it a snake. Dhritarashtra grew furious after listening to me and said, “You glutton! You grew up till now on my grain and food. You! You are calling me blind! Are you yourself? Being my own brother, I told you my all inner intention but in fact, you are more than an idiotic wolf. You are like ‘honey tongue, a heart of gall’. You insidious! You are trying to ruin me by favoring the Pandavs. Shame on you!’ ”
Seeing Bidur spreading out his hand angry red eyes, Dhaumya said, “Is it true that you came here immediately after your brother’s excessively violent reaction?”
Bidur said, “Why should I be anxious of him? Instead, I scolded him with the burst of rage and said, ‘Don’t be mystified. I have neither supported the Pandavas nor will favor the Kauravas. I just want make peace between them. For now, it doesn’t matter whether the helpless or the strong comes out, but I am sure that the virtuous will get victory. Be sure, all of your sons will be beheaded one day and then you will realize,’ I replied to Dhritarastra,” said Bidur.
Dhaumya said, “What Dhritarashtra replied after?”
With saliva drooling out from his mouth, Bidur quickly said, “Unfortunately, Duryodhan arrived there in the meantime and turned his face to Dhritarastra than said, ‘Haven’t you still recognized who Bidur is? I have told you many times, he is the secret messenger of the Pandavas. Hasn’t it come out true? Henceforth, if you support him considering your intelligent brother, we will obviously get perished.’ And I got extremely furious. After that, I groaningly said to Duryodhana, “What are you talking about? You annihilator! Judge yourself before judging others. Listen! If you were not born or had died immediately after birth, it would be far better. Because of your existence till now, destruction is going on. Did you understand that? You never stepped back in any kind of fornication, remember. You might have forgotten that, innocent Bhimshen was given venom and made to flow in a river. Do you realize that once you tried to set fire on resin house to kill the Pandavs? You have done thousands of such crimes. Truly speaking, you should be sent on twelve years of exile into the forest for atonement’.”
Dhaumya giggled wondering that Bidur didn’t leave anything unsaid.
“Why would I leave him just so?” said Bidur and again started to narrate his story, “Wow! How did you even think of saying so indiscriminately with us being in our own state? I won’t consider you my uncle. I will send you to God, be careful!” Duryodhan said angrily.
I said, “What can you do to me? You cannot do anything more than saying ‘get out’. Hereafter I shan’t stay in your palace anymore. I can easily sacrifice my life but cannot prop up injustice.”
“Well done. You are brave. Was it the first time in your life that you were so angry?” said Dhaumya with pampering look at Bidur’s face.
With a light laugher Bidur said, “Dhritarashtra heard our exchange, grinding his teeth with a threat of violence, and turned himself toward me and said, ‘I had believed you are a wise man, but turned out to be really villainous. If you have to support the Pandavas, get out from here right now. Go and follow them!’ And for me the situation was like, ‘A conclusion is simply the place where someone got tired of thinking.’”
“You have been exiled as a consequence of favoring justice, but don’t worry, we will go together,” said Dhaumya with a long sigh.
After purging out the grief of his mind to Dhaumya, Bidur’s emotions calmed down to some extent. Having finished his evening bath, he went toward the hermitage of Dhaumya, murmuring.
[Translation of Nepali Folk Tale “Nyaya” by Pradeep Bhatta]