115. The Pandavas Reveal Themselves

Soon after the cattle-raid, King Virata was surprised to see Kanka sitting on the royal throne, with the cook and the dancing teacher beside him, plus the cowherd and a stableboy, and even his wife’s maid, dressed up in royal robes.

Suddenly, it all made sense. “King Yudhishthira!” he exclaimed, bowing.

“Our exile is over,” Yudhishthira said, smiling. “We hid ourselves here for the thirteenth year.”

Virata then offered his daughter, Uttarai, Uttara’s sister, in marriage to Arjuna, but Arjuna proposed instead that his son Abhimanyu marry the princess. Thus King Virata became an ally of the Pandavas by marriage.

116. Yudhishthira Hopes for Peace

Krishna rejoiced at the wedding of Uttarai and Abhimanyu, the son of his sister Subhadra. Although he was young, Abhimanyu was an accomplished warrior. He had begun his training already in the womb, listening as his father discussed battle strategies and formations with Krishna. Abhimanyu remembered everything, and he would use his knowledge in the coming war.

“I have sent word to Duryodhana,” Yudhishthira told the guests, “asking him to return our half of the kingdom. Let us all now hope for peace.”

“Though we must also be ready for war,” Krishna added, and then he went home to Dwaraka.

117. Dhritarashtra Sends an Envoy of Peace

Although Duryodhana and Karna advocated for war, King Dhritarashtra decided to send his charioteer Sanjaya to Yudhishthira with an offer of peace.

“I too desire peace,” Yudhishthira told Sanjaya. “I only ask for Indraprastha, the city that my brothers and I built in the wilderness. Give us back what is ours, and there will be no war.”

“You ask only for what is right,” said Sanjaya. “But I am afraid that Duryodhana will refuse.”

“Then give us just five villages,” said Yudhishthira, “one for each son of Pandu. That will be enough. Take that message to the Kauravas in Hastinapura.”

118. Dhritarashtra Seeks Advice

When Sanjaya returned from meeting with Yudhishthira, King Dhritarashtra was uncertain what to do and asked his brother Vidura for advice.

“You must disown Duryodhana,” Vidura told him, “as ill omens at his birth foretold. Although he is your son, he is no better than a viper. Yudhishthira is a worthy heir, righteous and true to his word. Let Yudhishthira rule the kingdom. That is the only way you will know peace.”

“I realize you are right,” Dhritarashtra admitted, “but I am strapped to Time’s wheel; it turns me, and I cannot escape.”

And so King Dhritarashtra rejected Vidura’s advice.

119. Arjuna and Duryodhana Go to Dwaraka

As war loomed, Arjuna went to Dwaraka to ask Krishna for help, and Duryodhana did the same. Krishna was asleep when they arrived; Duryodhana sat at the head of Krishna’s bed, and Arjuna sat reverently at Krishna’s feet.

When Krishna awoke, he saw Arjuna first, and then Duryodhana.

“I have my armies to offer,” said Krishna, “and I offer myself, but not as a warrior. Let Arjuna choose first, as I saw him first.”

“I choose you,” Arjuna said without hesitation.

Duryodhana rejoiced because he also got what he wanted: armies of Yadava warriors who would fight on his side.

120. Whose Side Will Balarama Join?

Krishna agreed to be Arjuna’s charioteer, while Krishna’s army would fight for Duryodhana. Everyone wondered whose side Krishna’s brother Balarama would take.

Duryodhana went to Balarama and said, “You must help me defeat the Pandavas! They stopped me from marrying your sister, and your sister’s son now plots against me. The Pandavas are your enemies too!”

“Don’t listen to him!” countered Bhima. “Your brother Krishna is on our side, as you should be.”

Balarama sighed, for he loved them both. “I reject this war,” he said. “I will fight on neither side. Only fools reject the possibility of peace.”

121. King Shalya Makes an Alliance

Shalya, king of Madra, planned to ally himself with the Pandavas, as his sister Madri had been Pandu’s wife.

Duryodhana, however, learned about this and put up pavilions filled with food and drink along the Madra highway. Shalya assumed this was Yudhishthira’s doing. “I promise my host a boon of his choosing!” Shalya proclaimed.

To Shalya’s surprise, Duryodhana claimed the boon and asked Shalya to fight in his army.

“You are bound by your promise,” Yudhishthira said later, “but when Karna and Arjuna confront each other in battle, help Arjuna if you can.”

Shalya agreed to do as Yudhishthira asked.

122. Duryodhana Insists on War

Duryodhana rejected all proposals of peace. “I will kill the Pandavas and rule the world,” he declared, “or the Pandavas will kill me. There is no other way.”

“My guru Parusharama taught me the mantra of the Brahmastra,” Karna added. “With this weapon I can destroy the Pandavas myself.”

“Your conceit deceives you,” Bhishma said to Karna. “You know nothing of what awaits you.”

“I know that I will not fight so long as you are fighting!” Karna shouted at Bhishma, and he then stormed out of the assembly.

Bhishma scoffed. “With such allies, Duryodhana brings disaster upon us all.”

123. Krishna Consoles the Pandavas

As Yudhishthira contemplated the coming war, he despaired. “Is there no way to obtain peace?” he asked Krishna.

“I myself will go to Hastinapura,” Krishna offered. “I have no hope of changing Duryodhana’s mind, but this way you will know we tried every option.”

Sahadeva, alone among his brothers, rejected peace. “For what Duryodhana tried to do to Draupadi,” he said, “we must kill him, and Shakuni too.”

Draupadi agreed. “I too hope Krishna’s mission will fail,” she admitted.

“The wrongs you have suffered will be avenged,” Krishna promised her. “The war is coming, and no one can stop it.”

124. Dhritarashtra Learns of Krishna’s Coming

When he learned of Krishna’s visit, King Dhritarashtra rejoiced. “We must greet this emissary with gold and jewels and every honor!” he exclaimed.

Vidura rebuked his brother’s exuberance. “Just give the Pandavas their five villages,” he said. “That will please Krishna more.”

But, as before, Dhritarashtra ignored Vidura’s advice.

Meanwhile, Duryodhana had a plan of his own. “I think we should capture Krishna and hold him prisoner.”

His words shocked Dhritarashtra, and he rebuked his son. “You must not say such things. You must not even think them!”

But Duryodhana thought of nothing else as he eagerly awaited Krishna’s arrival.

125. Krishna Comes to Hastinapura

Bhishma, Drona, and all the elders of Hastinapura escorted Krishna to the palace.

There Krishna visited Kunti, who hadn’t seen her sons for thirteen years. “Tell them they must act now,” she said. “The time has come for them to destroy their enemies.”

Duryodhana invited Krishna to a banquet, but Krishna refused.

“You hate the Pandavas,” he said, “so you hate me. I won’t eat the food of hatred with you. I will go to Vidura’s house instead.”

At dinner, Vidura warned Krishna of Duryodhana’s plans, but Krishna only smiled. “I fear nothing,” he said, “nor should you, my friend.”

126. Krishna Addresses the Assembly

“Five villages for the Pandavas,” Krishna announced to the assembly. “That’s all they ask.”

“No! They lost their kingdom!” Duryodhana shouted. “I will give them not so much as a needlepoint of land.”

Duryodhana then summoned his allies to seize Krishna, but Krishna laughed and revealed himself in his divine form containing the sun and moon and stars, with all the world’s armies around him.

Dhritarashtra even regained his sight at that moment; he too saw God.

Duryodhana could not seize Krishna because Krishna was… everything.

Krishna then put on mortal form again and left the assembly in stunned silence.

127. Krishna Speaks with Karna

Before leaving Hastinapura, Krishna sought out Karna. “Because I love you,” Krishna said, “I tell you the truth: you are Kunti’s first-born son, Yudhishthira’s elder brother. Yudhishthira doesn’t know this, but if you tell him, he will gladly make you king. Go to him, Karna. It is the right thing to do.”

“It cannot be right for me to betray Duryodhana,” Karna replied. “Duryodhana is my friend, and the Pandavas are my enemies. The truth of my birth changes nothing.”

“And your loyalty is Duryodhana’s doom,” Krishna said sadly.

Thus Krishna’s mission failed: he could not stop the coming war.