The Women In Mahabharata 2 - Kunti -------Continued from - These women displayed that the truly powerful do not cling to power. They knew when and how to wield it but also, even more important, to when not to use it The years that followed Pandu’s death were truly of great distress . Poverty , insecurity and shame haunted her and her sons . Unaided by the Vrishnis or the Bhojas , Kunti alone protected and guided her sons from the treacheries plotted by the sons of Gandhari .Her lone trustworthy contact in Hastinapura was Vidura the son of Ambika’s maid. He too offered help covertly, in fear of Kurus. It was with his help that Kunti managed to rescue her sons and herself from the arson at Varanavruta. A question that usually comes up is: why kunti could not get (seek) assistance from the Vrishnis or the Bhojas (both being Yadavas – Kunti’s maternal clan). This question has not been answered clearly. I do not know the exact reason that forced Kunti to fight it out alone. However, I surmise the following context of those times could provide some clues to why Kunti had to brave her troubles alone. I could be wrong. Yet;.. At that time the entire north India as also the Yadava country was in turmoil. They were under repeated attacks by Jarasandha of Magadha (Bihar) who formed a confederation consisting Dantavakra of Karusha and Sishupala of Chedi in central India, Bhishmaka of Vidarbha in the south-west, Kalayavana beyond the western borders, the ruler of Kashi (Benares), Paundraka Vasudeva of Pundra (Bengal) in the east, Naraka of Pragjyotishapura (Assam) in the north east. Jarasandha thus established a tyrannical supremacy over the other regions. For fear of Jarasandha and his hordes, the king of the Salwayana tribe with their brethren and followers such as the southern Panchalas and the eastern Kosalas all fled to the country of the Kuntis. Similarly, the Matsyas (Rajasthan area) and the Sannyastapadas, overcome with fear, fled into the southern country. And so did the others, alarmed at the power of jarasandha, left their kingdoms and fled in all directions. Jarasandha was particularly angry with the establishment at Mathura and the Yadavas in general, because his son-in-law Kamsa had been slain by Yadava Krishna. Jarasandha, in rage and retaliation, attacked and imprisoned as many as eighty-six princes, it is said. Krishna in order to save the Yadavas from being enslaved persuaded his clan leaders to abandon Mathura, and to re-establish themselves in the fortified city of Dwaraka on the western seashore. It is said;the eighteen tribes of Yadavas including the Bhojas, with the Surasenas, the Bhadrakas, the Yodhas, the Salwas, the Patachchavas, the Susthalas, the Mukuttas, and the Kulindas, along with the Kuntis, all fled towards the west for fear of jarasandha. Meanwhile, Bhishma who then was the regent of the Kingdom of Hasthinapura found it wiser and safer to appease and to make truce with Jarasandha. Srimad Bhagavatha Purana even mentions that some troops of Hasthinapura assisted Jarasandha and accompanied the Magadha army’s onslaught on Mathura. It therefore appears that during the time in question, Hasthinapura region was comparatively safe. Further, all the Yadavas clans had abandoned Mathura and fled to Dwaraka in the far west. Therefore none of Kunti’s maternal-clans was near her nor was in a position to help her. It is also likely that Kunti might have reasoned that the fate and future of her sons were tied to Hasthinapura over which they had to assert their right. And, Kunti and her sons therefore had to be in Hasthinapura region. Being closer to the Yadava clans or their support, in any case, was not of great consequence. When Bhima was about to drive away , for ever , the infatuated Hidamba , Kunti had the presence of mind and foresight to spot an opportunity that came her way for forging a new alliance; and , she grasped it by advising Bhima to marry the love thirsty girl, ” I can see no way of taking fit revenge for the terrible injustices that Duryodhana has done us. A grave problem faces us. You know Hidimba loves you...Have a son by her. I wish it. He will work for our welfare. My son, I do not want a no from you. I want your promise now, in front of both of us.” She realized that her friendless , shelter-less and impoverished sons badly needed supporters and allies if they had to survive , fight back their tormentors ; and regain the lost kingdom and honor. Thanks to Kunti’s foresight , that union of Bhima and Hidamba not merely ------To be continued
Posted on: Wed, 13 Aug 2014 03:47:34 +0000
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