Episode 99 – The Danavas Intervene to Save Duryodhana
Recap of Previous Episode :
Chitrasena captures Duryodhana, Shakuni, and Dushasana for their arrogance.Bhanumathi seeks refuge with the Pandavas.
Draupadi persuades the Pandavas to uphold dharma and rescue their enemies.
Arjuna persuades Chitrasena to release the captives as per Yudhishtra’s command.
Duryodhana returns humiliated and burning with resentment.
Duryodhana Burns with Humiliation
Arjuna persuades Chitrasena to release the captives as per Yudhishtra’s command. He brings them as captives to Yudhishtra.
Duryodhana, Dushshasana, and Shakuni stand handcuffed before Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra orders Arjuna and Bhima to release them. Bhima cannot resist and mocks them openly. The Kauravas burn with humiliation at receiving mercy from those they consider inferior.
Duryodhana offers to give compensation to Yudhishtra, but Yudhishtra declines. Duryodhana feels humiliated by this refusal.
Shakuni attempts to salvage their pride. He declares that since Duryodhana is the emperor and the Pandavas only subjects under his rule, the Pandavas merely fulfilled their duty by saving their sovereign’s life.
Under this pretext, Duryodhana offers a gift to Yudhishtra. Yudhishtra declines, but when pressed repeatedly, he says calmly that he will ask for the boon at an appropriate future time.
Duryodhana’s Resolve to Die
After returning from the Gandharva episode, Duryodhana is unable to accept what has happened. He feels that being rescued by the Pandavas is worse than defeat in battle.
Karna, Dushshasana, and Shakuni try to console him. They argue that reverses happen in war and that the Pandavas only acted according to dharma.
Duryodhana does not accept their reasoning. He states that he cannot return to Hastinapura after such humiliation.
He removes his royal garments, wears simple clothes, sits on kusha grass, and begins a vow of fasting unto death.
The Danavas and Daityas Become Aware
While Duryodhana observes his vow, the Danavas and Daityas become aware of his intention. They consider Duryodhana essential to their cause on earth. Many among them had taken birth as kings and warriors with the expectation that he would oppose the Pandavas and other rulers who supported the gods through sacrifices.
They fear that if Duryodhana dies, their efforts will fail.
To prevent this, they perform a fire sacrifice. They engage Brahmins to chant mantras from the Atharva Veda and the Upanishads.
From the fire, a divine female figure appears. The Danavas instruct her to bring Duryodhana to them while he is engaged in his vow.
She takes Duryodhana in his subtle body and brings him to their assembly.
What the Danavas Tell Duryodhana
Duryodhana finds himself in an assembly of Danavas.
Their leader tells him that suicide leads to suffering and brings no benefit. He says that Duryodhana’s resolve will only strengthen his enemies.
The Danavas explain that Duryodhana was born as the result of their austerities and that they had obtained him as a boon from Shiva. They say that his body was made powerful for the purpose of battle.
They confirm that he is the partial incarnation of Kali (the demon of strife), while his brothers are incarnations of other Rakshasas.
The Daityas also explain that many heroic souls born on Earth, such as the Samsaptakas, are actually demons in human form who would fight for him and ensure he is not defeated by the Pandavas.
They assure him that Arjuna should not be feared. They say that the spirit of Naraka has taken birth as Karna and that past enmities will play their role in the coming war.
They tell him that at the time of war, even respected elders such as Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa will abandon restraint under the influence of destiny and fight without hesitation.
They conclude by telling Duryodhana that his survival is necessary for their cause and that he should give up his vow.
Duryodhana Returns
After hearing them, Duryodhana regains determination. He returns from the Danavas’ assembly and awakens beside the fire where he had begun his fast. He abandons his vow, decides to live, and continue his hostility toward the Pandavas.
Seeing him alive, Karna, Shakuni, Dushshasana, and Bhanumathi are relieved.
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