Rekindling hope in Dhritarashtra

 

Rekindling hope in Dhritarashtra

 

 

Pandavas ruled over Indrapastha after destroying their all enemies. Their uncle Dhritarashtra, mother Kunti and aunt Gandhari found themselves unable to withstand the serenity of a royal palace which seemed to be filled with an eerie silence after the great war of Mahabharat. They retreated to solitude in the Himalayas and lived in the forest of Tapovan leading austere life to atone for their follies and attain liberation. Sage Narad who was a witness to the great war of Mahabharata knew the repentance of king Dhritarashtra who reeled mostly in self pity having witnessed the end of his hundred valiant sons and millions of their great soldiers and warriors in the battlefield.

 Moved to generosity to the aging king, one day sage Narad along with his friend muni Parvat, sage Deval and king Shatyoop appeared at Tapovan and met the king. Queen Kunti welcomed the celestial guests and made them comfortable with her hospitality. The celestial guests were pleased with her demeanour and service. The plight of aging king who once harboured the strength of thousands of elephants evoked pity in the heart of sage Narad. To assuage his anxiety towards the future and regret over the past, sage Narad told  him and his family members tales of various kings and queens who suffered and attained higher sphere after mortal death on the strength of their purging  and penance.

 Dhritarashtra however, looked still enmeshed in the quagmire of  repentance recalling over and over his helplessness in having been a witness to such calamitous massacre caused by his own blind attachment to his son and to some extent his failure to guide him to the righteousness. Narad therefore explained to him,-“King see, this is king Shatyoop who once ruled over his empire at Kaikay most powerfully. But at the opportune time, he left everything to his eldest son and retired to the forest and attained Indralok on the strength of his penance only. Penance is such a fire that purges every one of all impurities. You see, I find him in perfectly cheerful condition now while residing in Indralok. Many other great kings such as grandfather of Bhagdatt and many more also have attained higher spheres after mortal death owing to their hard penance only. As you too, have been leading an austere life for long, you are sure to attain a rare disposition after mortal death. You and mother Gandhari are sure to attain glorious status after you leave earth. I have seen king Pandu who is already in swargalok talking about you there. He will ensure that both of you attain a befitting status there. Mother Kunti will also join her husband there”. Hearing such enlightening words of sage Narad, all were pleased and king Dhritarshtra found himself beaming with hope. Thus redeemed from the ocean of gloom and despair he gave up the fear of facing dire consequences after mortal death and reposed peace and composure.

 King Shatyoop found that sage Narad was beyond comparison in assuaging suffering of human beings. Having seen his generosity he said,-“Naradji! you are indeed great. Your revelation has enlightened us all. Please narrate further as to what is destined to king Dhritarashtra.” Narad glowed up and said,-“King! Once when I visited Indralok I found king Pandu discussing things with lord Indra. They talked about the penance of king Dhritarashtra only. Indra himself said that only three yrs life span is left for him. After that he would go to abode of Kuber with mother Gandhari. His all follies will be destroyed as he is now observing penance. This is the secret that I have divulged out of love to him only. All of you have attained purification and shall lead glorious life now onwards. I find you all fully worthy of knowing such esoteric plans..” Thus dispelling the gloom of aging members of the royal family who were reeling in the anxiety of their uncertain and unknowable future, feeling low owing to having been a party to a great scenario of human destruction, Narad spread joy and peace and flew to his further destination accompanied by his celestial friends.