Bhishma is Furious With Vidura For suggesting Division of Hastinapura : Episode 72

Recap of the Previous Episode :

Dhritarashtra seeks Vyasa’s guidance and is told to think like a king, not a father. Krishna delays Balarama’s plan to seek Duryodhana’s alliance for Subhadra. Vidura learns that most citizens support Yudhishtra but fear unrest. Kunti counsels Draupadi and her sons during a tense discussion on insults and past injustices. Dhritarashtra tries to persuade Duryodhana, who briefly softens but relapses into anger. Bhishma grieves for Hastinapura, and Vidura prepares to visit Vyasa. Gandhari advises Dhritarashtra to entrust decisions to a trusted advisor and follow that guidance without hesitation.

Vidura Seeks Guidance from Vyasa

Vidura arrives at Sage Vyasa’s ashram and explains the growing tension in the kingdom. Vyasa listens silently. He then asks Vaishampayana to fetch some fruit. The disciple brings a single mango. Vyasa asks him to divide it into two and offers one half to Vidura. He tells Vidura that the solution to his dilemma lies hidden in this simple act. When Vidura reflects in a calm, unbiased mind, clarity will come.

Kunti’s Pain and Bhishma’s Support

Kunti approaches Bhishma, distressed by the insults cast upon her. Bhishma admits his helplessness — he failed to defend her when Duryodhana slandered her. He assures her that she has his full support in what lies ahead.

Dhritarashtra Hands Over Decision-Making

Dhritarashtra calls Bhishma and Vidura to his chamber. He confesses that his judgement is clouded by love and fear for his sons. Therefore, he wishes to surrender all decision-making power to both of them and promises to abide by whatever they decide.

Gandhari’s Interpretation of the King’s Move

After the two leave, she asks Dhritarashtra why he acted so quickly. She explains that by handing decision-making to Bhishma and Vidura — both known to favour the Pandavas — the king has cleverly shifted the burden. Earlier Dhritarashtra was forced to appear impartial. Now he can question every decision they make, especially anything that harms the Kauravas. In reality, his surrender has given him greater freedom. Dhritarashtra smiles and says that he learned this subtle art from Shakuni. He is pleased that Gandhari now thinks like a mother who places her children first, much like Kunti.

A Lesson from Sulabha

That night Bhishma and Vidura remain awake, worrying over possible solutions. Sulabha notices Vidura’s sleeplessness. When Vidura urges her to share his burdens like Gandhari does for Dhritarashtra, Sulabha replies shyly that she knows nothing of politics. Vidura sees the mango she has cut into small pieces to feed the birds and asks why she didn’t leave it whole. Sulabha explains that a whole fruit would lead to a fight among the birds, but divided pieces let every bird take its share peacefully. Vidura suddenly recalls Vyasa dividing the mango and realises the lesson hidden in it.

The Proposal Before Dhritarashtra

The next morning Bhishma and Vidura meet Dhritarashtra again. Bhishma proposes crowning Yudhishtra as king and making Duryodhana the prime minister with equal authority. If Duryodhana rejects this, Dhritarashtra suggests reversing the roles. Vidura disagrees strongly — neither Kunti nor the Pandavas will accept such an arrangement, and even if they did, both sides are too opposed to rule jointly.

Vidura then offers his own solution: both Yudhishtra and Duryodhana should be crowned kings and given different regions to rule.

Bhishma’s Firm Opposition

Bhishma reacts sharply. He declares that the kingdom must never be divided. He once promised his father that Hastinapura would remain united, and he will uphold that vow till his death. If anyone other than Vidura had suggested division, Bhishma says he would have killed them instantly. As long as he lives, Hastinapura must remain whole.