After, Draupadi, it is Bhima’s turn to disagree with
Yudhishtra and tell him that the Pandavas should go to war with the Kauravas
and get their land back. He says: “Sometime forgiveness is mistaken for
incompetence and weakness. Virtue itself can become a source of weakness. Virtue (dharma)
has to be practiced for a purpose. It should be the basis for the acquisition
of wealth (artha) and objects of
desire (kama). He that practices virtue for virtue's sake
always suffers, because he does not know the purposes of virtue, like a blind
man incapable of perceiving the solar light”.
"One should regard virtue, wealth and pleasure one
after another, in that order. One should ever pursue all three. The scriptures
ordain that one should seek virtue in the morning, wealth at noon, and pleasure
in the evening. The scriptures also ordain that one should seek pleasure in the
first portion of life, wealth in the second, and virtue in the last. One should
pursue all three, namely virtue, wealth, and pleasure dividing their time duly”.
There is a discussion on what pleasure is and how one gets
it. Bhima says: “Pleasure may be derived
from the possession of various objects of enjoyment. The joy that arises from the senses, the
intellect and the heart when directed to the object of desire is called
pleasure. But, once obtained the acquired objects do not remain the same. They
undergo changes. At their loss or disappearance, or in the case of happiness
involving people, when they get old and disabled or when they die, we
experience distress. We are, at present, in this state of distress. Why not go
and fight to get the land back?”
Yudhishtra acknowledges his mistake and says that he should
not have played dice with those whom he knew were better at it than him and
whom he knew may also cheat. But having given a promise that the Pandavas will
go into exile if he lost, he had to keep the promise. He owns up to his mistake
and apologizes to his brothers and to Draupadi for putting them into this
distress.
He says: “O Bhima, you do not know how much I am hurting for
all this, particularly to the insult heaped upon Draupadi. Having, however,
given that pledge in the midst of the Kuru heroes, I am unable to violate it
now. Wait, O Bhima, for the return of our better days. You can take your
revenge at a suitable time. But for now,
O Bhima, my promise can never be untrue. I regard keeping one’s promise to be
paramount”.
But, Bhima continues: “Only they who have unlimited life or
know for certain how long they are going to live can wait for the right time.
If we wait for thirteen years, our life will be that much shorter. As
Kshatriyas we should fight for our kingdom and get it before we die. If we do
not chastise our foes we are useless burden on earth. You are loath to violate
your pledge out of weakness of disposition. Besides how are we going to be
incognito for one whole year? Everyone knows us all everywhere. We should fight
now”.
Yudhsihtra replies: "One cannot succeed with courage alone. In
order to succeed one should think through and approach the task with well-directed
energy, and all necessary implements. We know that all those kings we defeated
and those who are already under Dhrithrashtra will be on the Kaurava side. In
addition, Bhishma, Drona and Kripa are obliged to him because of the fact they
are supported by the king. And then there is Karna. How do you expect to win
the battle with such a formidable enemy?”
At this time, Sage Vyasa comes there and speaks with
Yudhishtra alone and tells him that good times are ahead. He asks Yudhishtra
not wo worry. He then gives him a special mantra called Pratismiriti to be
taught to Arjuna. Vyasa says that Arjuna is none other than Narayana and that
with the mantra in his possession, Arjuna should go the land of the Gods and
obtain celestial weapons from Indra, Vayu and Yama. Vyasa also says something
very inteersting: “Since you have a large retinue, continued residence here
might exhaust the deer of this forest, and be destructive of the creepers and
plants. Therefore, plan on moving to a different place” and then disappears.
Yudhishtra gets the mantra and moves from Dwaitavana to Kamyaka forest near the
river Saraswati.
In another episode, Arjuna is sent to obtain celestial
weapons. In the section describing Arjuna entering Amaravati, there is a
statement that “eaters of unsanctified meat are not fit to enter that town”.
That suggests that “meat eating” was prevalent at that time particularly among
the Kshatriyas. This statement also talks about “sanctified meat”. It probably
means that meat offered first to the Gods, in the homa fire, and the left-over.
The sanctification of meat is practiced in other traditions too.
Later, when Bhima and others are sad at the absence of
Arjuna, a rishi by name Brihadaswa arrives and narrates the story of
Nala-Damayanti.
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