THE SUE FOR PEACE

The Anunnaki and the Pandava were coming to a head with their battles, all being equal in weaponry, so no contest could be had. But they both realized one thing, the people over whom they fought their battles could take no more.

Sodom out of necessity had been destroyed as the people degenerated into final moral depravity with disease abounding. Draupadi had suffered death and since the Middle East was the objective it was slowly being destroyed by all their "celestial weaponry". The Anunnaki knew they had not the power to continue indefinitely nor could they do so under the sun.

These "Sons of Darkness" were being hoist by their own pitard. Both sides had suffered enough; the Pandava with the death of Draupadi which was enough right there.

Many of the officers of the Anunnaki, those with the 'taint' of man, wanted to sue for peace, the Kurus, and they all assembled in their great assembly hall, probably in On, as they and the family of Indra entered. The "hall appeared like a mountain cavern with lions." Their officers were men, not Gods, and they personally addressed the latter in the name of the people. They could no longer endure the warfare anymore.

An envoy had been dispatched to the Pandava who returned, wearing earrings, and jumping off the chariot, entered the assembly. Dhrtarastra (Indra), bid him tell what news the Pandava sent.

The message had come from Arjuna, whom the messenger, said had "red lotus eyes" when he spoke, the message in part reading:

"If the Dhartarastro fails to surrender the realm to Yudhisthira Ajamidha. then surely there has been evil committed that is yet unatoned by the Dhartarastras.

 

To battle with Bhima and Arjuna, with the Asvins' sons and Vasudeva, with the son of Sinin who has token up arms, with Dhrstadyumna and with Sikhandin. with the Indra-like Yudhisthira who with one cross thought can burn heaven and earth  - If Duiyodhana fancies to battle with them, then the Pandavas purpose is amply fulfilled!

 

Do nothing to help the Pandavas' cause, rather come and make war. if you fancy that! If the Pandava. heeding the Law, bedded down, exiled to the woods, on a bed of sorrow, Dhrtarastra's son shall lie down and die on a sorrier bed that shall be his last When the Pandava's eldest, whose soul is honed and whose mind excited, unleashes the wrath that has seethed for many dread years on the Kurus, Dhartarastro's sort shall rue that he warred.

 

As the black-trailed fire that is lit in the summer blazing forth burns down a deadwood's trees.

 

Yudhisthira shall with a glance burn down Duiyodhana s host when his fury is kindled. When the Dhariarostra behold Bhimasena in bottle spewing the venom of rage, the intransigent, club-wielding Pandava of terrible speed, he shall rue this war. When Bhima. wielding his club, set upon Duryodhona's army, of fearful aspect almighty lion invading a cowpen, and smiles them, Duiyodhana'll rue this war..."

I think the latter draws the picture here as the men of Indra will continue to fight with whomever they can get to side with them, but the Pandavas will be forced to destroy all if the madness continues and this may be what eventually happens.

One more addition to the speech of Arjuna was a direct reference to the sons who were captured in On, their children by Draupadi, who would eventually be used by Siva to his evil designs,

"When the Kaurava sees the five child heroes, not like children at all in the use of their weapons, abandoning life to fight the Kekayas, then the Dhartarastro shall rue this war...

 

When he sees all of Draupadi's sons, great archers, sharp warriors and heroes in chariot battles, who advance like cobras of virulent poison, then the Dhartarastra shall rue this was... when he sees Abhimanyu, a child but no child in gallantry, storm on the enemy host like death, that matchless and weapon-wise youth, then the Dhartarastra shall rue this war.

 

When the agile Probhadraka youths, whose might is like that of lions, experienced fighters, smite the Dhartarastras with all their hosts, then the Dhartarastra shall rue this war. When the armored Sikhandin. mowing down warriors, on his chariot makes this attack on Bhisma, with celestial horses trampling the fighters, then the Dhartarastra will rue this war.

 

When he sees in the midst of the Snijaya bands at their head the gloating Dhrastadyumna, to whom the sagacious Drona revealed the secret weapon, Duiyodhana'll rue it... When he sees the chariot, gem-studded, golden, with while steeds yoked, with the monkey banner, on the battlefield driven by Kesava, then that foolish and uncontrolled churl shall rue it."

Given who his sons were, one being King Tutankhamen, those who have seen their pictures and statuary in Egyptian artwork with battle scenes depicted, disbelieve, stating it is just bravado as they are very youthful appearing, still what we today call teenagers.

But they were far advanced mentally, more so than the Anunnaki, who matured too fast and had spent all their intelligence by age thirty as the body and brain did not develop together. The children of the Ennead had more years of development and appeared too young for such intelligence, but their maturity was more thorough and even when young were far advanced in intelligence than an eighty year old of Indra's offspring.

I would say that the age of King Tutankhamen in his youthful portrayals is a person at least 50 years old or more. Remember, also, time was in longer lengths here. He may be over five hundred years old.

Two of the "unborn", the original fathers, appeared and Krsna spoke to Siva:

"Would that the destruction of the Kurus did not loom but your spirit, son, has veered away from Law and Profit1. If you will not heed my words, you shall hear that very many have fallen, for all the Kurus wail on your opinion alone. Of only three do you accept the views, bull of the Bharatas: of Kama, who has been cursed by Rama, that low-caste son of a suta; of Sakuni Saubala: and of that base and evil brother of yours, Duhsasana."

Replied Siva,

"Long-lived grandfather, do not talk of me like that! For I abide by the Law of The baronage without forsaking my own. Where have I conducted myself ill that you berate me? The Dhartarastras know of no misdeeds of mine anywhere, rather all that I do is to please King Dhratarastra... "

One of the great-Gods then spoke saying that they must remember the good deeds the Pandava did to help them,

"there are a good many lies, bull of the Bharatas, that this braggart who has always lacked in Law and Profit likes lo voice! Good luck to thee!" he said to Indra of his son, adding, "Sire, best of the Bharatas, do as Bhisma says, and do not follow instead the advice of those who seek their own profit. I think we should negotiate with the Pandavas before we wage war. I know that Arjuna Pandava will do everything that he has said and that Samjaya has reported, for that archer has no equal in all three worlds!"

But Indra ignored them and asked the envoy of his opinion and it was then the officers, the "Kurus", "lost hope of their lives." The Egyptian Empire was seeing its final hours.

The Pandava were amassing great armies to do battle and,

"the Pancalas, Kekayas, and Matsyas, down to the cowherds and shepherds, salute Yudhisthira Pandava, who brings them joy. Brahmin ladies, princesses, and the commoners daughters crowd together in play lo gaze upon the Pandava, who is girt for war."

When the assembly heard of their great strength, Siva, "heaved deep long sighs and seemed lo be lost in thought" and even the envoy fainted!

After all recovered, the envoy then went on to describe all the warriors they had mustered, all no match for the opposition,

"All the ones you have mentioned," said Indra to him, "are men of great enterprise, yet all of them together are one lo one with Bhima. I have as great a fear of Bhimasena angry and intolerant as a sturdy antelope has of a tiger.

 

I woke through oil the nights heaving deep, hot sighs from fear of the Wolf-Belly, as a weak onhnol fears a lion, for I see no one in this army who could endure in bottle that strong-armed man, whose splendor matches Sokro's.

 

This son of Pandu and Kunti is truculent, determinedly hostile; he does not laugh 01 jokes: he is mod: he looks straight ahead, bellowing his roar. His speed, enterprise, arms, and strength are oil great, and he will put an end to my stupid sons in battle. When he brandishes his club, his enemies are struck with paralysis in their thighs: the bull of the Kurus is like staff-wielding Death in battle."

He then made a very true statement concerning the state of man,

"What am I to do, how am I to do it. where am I going, Somjoya? The foolish Kurus are perishing in the clutches of Time. Powerless before the death of my one hundred sons, friend, I hear the wailing of the women - why, let death seize me too!"

Death, unknown in Egypt was now appearing.

Indra was so correct when he made the following statement, one of the major problems of this war:

"there would be a terrible battle, but no victory on anyone's part. For oil are weapon-wise champions and have earned great fame. They might refuse the overlordship over all the Immortals, but not victory. Surely peace will reign only if they are killed, or Pholguna is killed; yet neither Arjuna's defeat is at hand, nor his slayer. How will his fury calm down when he has risen agonist my dim-witted sons?"

No one would ever win these contests for they were all evenly matched with their "celestial weapons".

He bemoaned that they had no great weapon as the "Gondiva", one of the mighty weapons of this war, but they would soon devise other ways of surpassing their weaknesses.

They worried that their weaponry left aftermaths of wreakage, but the Pandava knew how to develop weapons that would not be a detriment to the environment, something pointed out throughout the Veda,

"We have no bow like that at all, no warrior, no charioteer, but the dimwits who follow Duiyodhanos lead don't see it. The burning thunderbolt, when sinking the head, may leave some remnant, Samjayo, but the arrows shot by the Diodemed One leave nothing."

They also had another problem to surmount, the Pandava themselves who were more astute in matters than they and "masters of their senses" as Indra states here, being more genetically stable,

"A fool is bound to die if he does not avoid the Pandava fire! Thai king is a loll thin flame with the glow of refined gold, and he shall put an end to my nitwit sons in the bottle."

To which Siva replied,

"the lime has come now; but for what? Submission? Flight? Or shall we fight back at the enemies at the risk of our lives? If we fight bock, we are certain to be defeated, for oil the kings of earth are under Yudhisthiro's sway. Our kingdom is disaffected, our allies are angry, we are reviled by oil kings and all our kinfolk.

 

There is no shame in submission to relatives for years everlasting. Nevertheless, I am sorry for my father, the lord of the people, who has the eyesight of insight: because of me he has found grief and come upon trouble without end. Indeed, your sons have blocked the others in order to please me - you have always known that, best of men.

 

The warlike Pandavas will seek revenge by eradicating the house of Dhrolorastro and his councilors!... When others threaten us, we have nothing to fear, enemy-burner. The others are not able to defeat us in bottle, prince. Each of us singly con defeat any of the kings. Let them come! We shall wipe out their pride with sharp arrows."

Said the narrator,

"that was the decision of those boundlessly august men, at a time when the entire earth was in the power of their enemies."

It seems all of Indra's sons were bent on war and he was much displeased knowing what they would all be up against,

"Lost are my sons, all of them, those fools, those crooked gamblers who will have to fight mighty Bhimo in a pitched bottle! All the kings of the earth have been consecrated by the Law of Time and will fly into the fire of Gondiva as moths into a flame. I already con see the army routed by those great-spirited avengers! Who is going to follow an army that has been shuttered by the Pandavas on the battlefield?"

Siva replied,

"We of both parties are of the same stock, we both walk the earth, so why do you think that victory can only come to the Pandavas?... All of the earth has been created for me to put the Pandavas to flight, those noble steadfast champions, who are like fires themselves. The Pandavas cannot even face my troops, for I am fully capable of fighting the Pandavas and their sons."

Siva became insatiable and his father could not dissuade him or make him understand in his youthful exuberance, how the Pandava outweighed them in war.

"My son is raving like a madmen. Somjaya, for he will not be able to defeat in bottle Yudhisthira the King Dhorma! Bhisma indeed has always known how strong the famous, great-spirited and law wise Pandavas and their sons really are. This is why I do not favor war with those men of great spirit."

Their defenses far outstripped them even their aerial support,

"for the celestial chariot of the Govinda bowman is protected by the Gods."

Indra begged that they return to the Pandava's their land for Siva was becoming drowned in his own madness,

"Come look ol this army of yours, son: it is a disease that sops you, but in your folly you don't realize it!"

But Siva was adamant,

"I shall kill the Pandavas and rule the earth. I should rather surrender my life, wealth, and realm steadfast king, then ever dwell together with the Pandavas! We shall not cede to the Pandavas as much land as you can prick with the point of a sharp needle, father!"

His father in his frustration responded,

"I am sorry for all of you. good men, if you are ready to follow this fool on the rood to the kingdom of Yomol I reject Duryodhano (Siva - A.N.)! Like tigers among herds of antelopes, these champion warriors, these sons of Pandu, will close ranks and kill oil your leaders...

 

If you do not make peace with the Pandavas, great peril will be upon you, and instead you will find your peace when yon hove been killed by Bliimoseno's club. When you see the army of the Kurus felled on the battlefield like a large forest that has been cut. then you shall remember my words..."

They had aircraft much more powerful, as Enlil had a "chariot" that "has no equal in splendor on four-bordered earth and with its monsoon-like sound strikes terror in his enemies when people hear its thunder".

But Siva considered himself superior,

"in me are superior wisdom, superior might, superior prowess, superior knowledge, and superior Yogo, which lift me above them. Grandfather, Drono, Krpo, Saiyo, and Sala, whatever they know about weapons is lodged with me."

Indra then explains what a very young man of ages past had done, namely himself, when he got too confident and forsook the advice of his elders. Here we may see what in part happened at the first Fall:

"When Rama of old found out that I lied to obtain from him the Brahma-Head missile, He said to me, "When, at the end of your days you call it you will not remember it!"

Albeith I had wronged him, it was with a bow that the guru of seers put his curse on me, though the seer of fiery splendor was able to set all of earth with her oceans on fire!

And later his mind was placated by me with a student's obedience and masculine valor. That weapon is still completely with me - I am capable therefore: the burden is mine."

I believe what he meant was that he did not know how to master the weapon and it caused all of his physical problems, namely his blindness, and that which stood before him, his son. When he had tried to save the goddesses he did so in haste but he had no other choice it seems and suffered for the deed; the weapon's effects would always be with him and he did not want to see the earth go through what it did before from a nuclear war.

One of the Gods, Vidura. stated,

"when kinsmen get to quarreling over possessions, they fall victim to their enemies, like these birds, because of their quarreling. Kinsmen should eat together, riddle together, come together, but never contend with one another... But they who have obtained wealth that stretches and stretches, and yet act meanly, hand their fortune over to their haters."

This was the saddest part of all this, they were all related.

They then discussed the disc that hung in the sky as Sanjaya said,

"the discus of the spirited Vasudeva, which for the nonce is hidden in the sky, works by magic, my lord. While it is concealed from the Pandavas, they respect it highly. Listen to me as I tell you in brief their strengths and weaknesses."

He then told how it controlled all living creatures and a reference to the magnetic pull,

"the blessed Kesava by his own Yoga makes go around and around, ceaselessly, the Wheel of the World, the Wheel of the Eons."

Rama himself then returned to the earth,

"The Coming of the Lord' as the chapter states. He and his sons were against the idea of war. but they did not want to have to remain without their kingdom."

We want neither to renounce our kingdom nor ruin the family. Peace by surrender is preferable. Those who strive at all do not want war; only if their peaceful overtures are rebuffed is war inevitable. When negotiations fail, the consequences are dreadful. The wise have noticed that it is the same as in a mess of dogs.

It starts with wagging of tails, then a bark, a bark in reply, backing off, baring the teeth, loud barking, and then the fight; and the stronger one eats the meat, Krsna. It is the same with people, there is no difference at all...

But Dhrtarastra's love for his son is great, Madhava, and as long as he is in his son's power, he will violate our surrender."

Rama further stated that he would himself go to the assembly and,

"I shall free the Kurus and Smjayas from the noose of death, free the Pandavas and Dhartaratras, and all of earth."

The "blessed Lord' continued, in part,

"there is not a choice that they will treat you on an equal footing, lord of The people, for they think that with Bhisma, Drona, Krpa, and so forth they are stronger. As long as you treat them with kindness, king, they will keep your kingdom away from you, enemy-tamer. No sympathy, no pusillanimity, no reasons of Law aid Profit will mote the Dhartarasiras do lo your desire, enemy-tamer."

He reminded him of when they were in the assembly hall in disgrace and their people cried openly at their leaving.

"The kings and brahmins did not congratulate him; no, all there in the hall blamed Duryodhana... that very moment, king, when he stood condemned for his shamelessness before all the kings on earth, he was dead, Maharaja!... He should be killed like a snake, that evil-minded man ignoble to all the world."

Bhima added,

"Evil by nature, in mind no better than a dasyu, drunk with intoxication of power, engaged in a feud with the Pandavas, shortsighted, cruel-spoken, quick to deceive, with merciless power, he'd die before sharing his wealth, and he will not give up what he thinks is his... Now this Duryodhana has been gathered up by Time, a vile, evil man, to be the coal that burns up our lineage and that of the Kurus at the end of the Eon."

They had tried so hard to get man back on the road to recovery, now all that would be lost.

Yudhisthira then spoke again and a "terrifying lion's roar rose from all the warriors there. On all sides the heroes applauded his words shouting "Right! Right!"

All the Gods put forth their opinions at their assembly, Vaisompayana said,

"Those who know the Law know that just as it is a sin to kill one who does not deserve il, so a sin is found in not killing one who does deserve il. So see to it, Krsna, that this sin does not touch you, the Pandavas, and the Srnjoyas with their troops, Dasarha!"

Draupadi entered the hall and spoke as all eyes turned on her,

"Jonordana, you are well aware of those grievances-save me again, lotus-eyed one, with brothers, kinsmen, and relations!... This hair was pulled by Duhsasano's bonds, lotus-eyed lord; remember it at all times when you seek peace with the enemies!"

To which strong-armed Kesava said to her soothingly,

"Soon, Krsna, you shall see the women of lire Bharatas weep! They shall timid women, weep for their kinsmen and relatives who are killed. They at whom you are enraged, radiant woman, have already lost their friends and troops. I along with Bhima, Arjuna, and The twins will act as Yudhisthira orders and as ordained fate allows.

 

If The Dhartorastras, cooked in the fire of Time, do not listen to my words, they shall lie killed on the earth as fodder for dogs and jackals. Mount Himalaya may walk, Earth split into a hundred pieces, Heaven fall with its stars, before my words are false! I promise you this truth, Krsna: slop your tears, for soon you shall see your husbands rejoined with their fortune and their enemies slain."

Rama then approached his "celestial chariot" that "had a good sound' and "ascended that chariot, which resembled a peak of the Meru (a chariot shaped like a missile? This is why words as 'chariot' are slang for airships, which makes these writings difficult. A.N.) and thundered like clouds and drums, as after death a man of merit ascends a celestial chariot".

The latter is quite indicative of how we have associated death by going to the heavens above for as we will see, many dead did literally go above, but not in the manner of a 'spirit'.

The brothers spoke of their mother held captured in On.

"loving mother to her sons and beloved of us... Madhava, suffered hardships con stoutly, though she deserved none - ask her her health". On this Rama then made his ascent.

As Rama entered On, the people met him with accolades and honors. And to show his power he put on quite a show for the Anunnaki: "In a clear sky there was thunder and lightning; without clouds Parjanya mined fierce showers behind him. The great and noble rivers that flow east reversed their course.

 

Space was upside down and no directions could be made out. Fires flared up, king, earth shook, wells and jars by the hundreds brimmed over and poured forth water. The entire world was covered with darkness, and dust obscured all points of space.

 

A mighty noise exploded in the sky, but not a body was lo be seen anywhere, king; it was a great marvel... Along the road women came up lo The great-spirited savior of all and scattered fragrant forest flowers over him."

He made his point and Bhisma favored a truce with the Pandava.

But Siva would have none of it,

"King, there is no circumstance in which I could share this fortune, which is solely mine, with the Pandavas and go on living with the living, grandfather!"

He then proposed something bold:

"Listen to what I have determined is my important task: I shall take captive Janardana, who is the last resort of the Pandavas. With him in fetters, the Vrsnis. the earth, and the Pandavas will submit lo me. Tomorrow morning he will be here. Tell me sir, by what means Janardana can be prevented from finding out so that no harm comes to us." Indra was totally against it as the man was an "envoy and our dear friend."

Bhisma could not believe his ears,

"Dhrtarostra, this demented son of yours is possessed! His friends plead with him, and still he chooses disaster over profit!. ... I refuse to listen to any more nonsense .from this evil, cruel brute who has thrown over the Law!"

In anger, he rose and left.

On was lavished with decorations and everyone appeared to see the Great God and his officers. Rama led the way as they entered Indra's white house with pavilions, going through three palace enclosures. Indra and his kinsmen rose from their seats at his approach and saluted and offered a golden throne for him while the latter "jested with the Kurus" and began a conversation with them as they surrounded him.

After the honor ceremony Rama excused himself and left, while his host. Govinda, asked the health of his sons and then took him on his most important meeting, and which probably meant more to him than any other, to see his wife. Devasena stood in a room when he entered like a "serene sun". They embraced and she burst into tears.

After seating themselves she said in a choked voice,

"Krsna, how have the great-spirited sons of Pandu lived in the forest, a life they did not deserve? From boyhood they were eager to obey their elders, la one another they were respected friends and of the same mind; but driven from their rule by deceit, they went into the desolate forest, although they deserved the company of people.

 

They had subdued their angers and their joys, they were brahmininc, they spoke the truth  - then the Parlhas relinquished pleasures and comforts and, leaving me behind in tears, look my heart with il roots with them as they went into the forest."

She would be known by the Egyptians, quite appropriately as the "Lady of On".

"And Draupadi. beloved of all my sons. Janardana, high-born, of fine character and endowed with all virtues, a true woman who chose the life of her husbands over that of her sons, and left her dear sons behind lo follow the Pandavas, born of high family, honored with all she could desire, a lady beautiful in oil respects - how is Draupadi, Acyuta?"

She states it is the fourteenth year she has not seen her. She too knew what her husbands did, that there would be no real contest in this type of war.

"Never have I made any distinction between Dhartarastras and Pandaws: and by this truth I swear to. Krsna, may I see you and the Pandavas survive this war with your enemies slain and fortune around you! Not that they can be defeated, their mettle being what it is... nothing hurls me like being without my sons."

Rama replied,

"The Pandavas and Krsna salute the lady. They convey that they are in good health and ask about yours. You shall soon see the Pandavas healthy and successful in all their affairs, masters of the entire world, with their enemies slain and fortune around them."

She then answered,

"In our family you are the Law, you are the truth, you are great ascetic power, you are the savior, you the great Brahman - on you rests everything. It will be as you say: in you will be the truth."

He then sadly left and returned to Indra's palace.

There negotiations were resumed. Dinner was offered Rama, but he declined. Siva took this as an insult. "Lotus eyed" Govinda with his deep, resonant voice that "sounded -like flood and cloud" with words that were fully articulated, said.

"Envoys eat and accept homage when they have succeeded. When I have succeeded, you and your councilors shall honor me, Bharata."

But Indra said it was not right for them to,

"act improperly toward us. Whether you be successful or not."

But Rama said he would not break the Law as he had no affection for him,

"Alt this good I consider spoiled for me and inedible. I have decided I shall eat only the Steward's food."

In other words, he would only eat kosher foods with those he admired and would not break bread with those he considered fools.

Going by Egyptian cuisine at this time, the introduction of heavily fatted meats and unhealthy foods made a strong influence on the people who would not eat as an Anunnaki. The Steward would serve Rama and his people. Even Joseph of the Bible refuses to eat with the Pharaoh.

For Rama,

"the Steward fetched pure and fine foods and drinks aplenty for the great-spirited Kesava."

That night he and Vidura had a conversation with the latter stating,

"Kesava, it was not a wise decision of yours to come, Dhralaraslra's son has thrown Law and Profit to the winds; he is an impetuous fool. Janardana, belittling others and exalting himself, ignoring the commandments of his elders, trampling the dictates of Law - an evil man possessed... Earth is overturned and cooked by Time!"

Rama appreciated his opinion, but said,

"Steward. I came to the Kauravas with .full knowledge of the wickedness of Dhrtrastra's son and the enmity of The barons. But magnificent would be the Law of him who were set free the whole upside-down earth with horses, chariots, and elephants!...

 

If I can make peace between Kurus and Pandus without hurting the cause of the Pandavas, I shall have earned outstanding merit and set free the Kurus from certain death... Also, all the kings of earth together do not suffice to stand up to me in battle when I am angry, no more than deer stand up to a lion!"

The next morning a "divine chariot" was brought to take Rama to the hall.

The chariot made a noise like a "monsoon cloud". As he rode through the city the people poured out to see him,

the "tamer of enemies" and "the mansions were crowded with women who had come out on the balconies in large numbers that they seemed to sway under the burden."

As he entered the assembly, one of Indra's officer's noticed out of the huge palace opening, the "seers hovering in the sky." Rama's insurance!

He quickly hastened to Bhisma and said,

"Sire, the seers have come to watch this earthly assembly. They should be invited and honored with seats and full hospitality. No man can sit before they are sealed. Let homage be paid at once to these sages, whose souls have been perfected."

How often they would be mentioned, known also as the Watchers in Biblical parlance.

Some did descend and the orderly shouted to the servants, "Seals!" Rama greeted his kin and all sat down. It was a momentous event, especially for the kings of the earth who stared at Rama's olive green skin, "as though drinking Elixir," so in awe were they as they were used to light-skinned Gods.

They mentioned his teeth sparkled, a reference often made in Egyptian texts to the Gods and who wished their teeth were as theirs.

Rama then spoke, as silence fell upon everyone.

"Do not destroy your subjects, king. Restrain your sons who have gone too far in their greed, thinking the profitless profitable and the profitable profitless to themselves. The enemy-taming Partitas stand ready to obey, and they stand ready to fight. Take your stand, enemy-killer, on what is healthiest for you"

Everyone applauded and not one came forward.

Indra urged his son to heed Rama's words and go to Enlil and make peace. But other relatives said that as long as the Gandiva weapon was at rest they had no reason to surrender. Known as the "Gigunu" is Sumerian literature, it too had the same powers of carnage and could turn night into day. make the waters rise and winds blow. Rama was outraged, particularly when Siva then stated he had done no wrong, that the Pandava had approved of the dicing, but it had been a wrongful trick.

Rama could see there was no reaching him.

"You shall have your wish, you shall find a hero's bed! Stand firm with your counselors; there shall be a holocaust! You think you have not wronged the Pandavas, fool?"

He then told how their sons had been deceived. Siva stormed off, "hissing like a great snake."

His father's brother's were displeased also,

"I think the entire baronage is now cooked by Time, for all the princes and their councilors follow him in their folly," said one.

They even fetched Devasena whom they hoped in her feminine ways could dissuade him.

"Fetch my sick son, who craves the kingdom, immediately, for the kingdom cannot be ruled by a man who scoffs at the Law and Profit. You yourself are very much to blame in this matter, Dhartarastro, for out of love for your son you followed his mind, while knowing that he is evil. Now, obsessed with greed and anger and deluded, he can no longer forcibly be turned around by you..."

But even the "Great Lady of On" could do nothing.

Siva then plotted with his officers to forcefully take Rama and when Indra heard it, he said,

"Those fools want to perpetrate a deed that runs counter to Law and Profit and is abhorrent to honest men!"

One of Rama's brothers, Satzaki, "divined the evil plan" and told one of his officers to make ready the army and bid them to come as he would give them a display of their power.

"The conch, discus, mace, spear, horn-bow, plough, and the sword Nandaka were visible, and ail manner of weapons upraised, blazing all around in Krsna's many hands. From his eyes, nose and ears flickered most dreadful flames that smoked, and rays as though from the sun burst forth from the pores."

The Kurus kings "shut their eyes" as the earth and oceans quaked.

Rama then left for his chariot with Indra following him telling him he had no control over his sons and wished for peace, to which Rama replied,

"You have witnessed what happened in the assembly of the Kurus, how that foolish foul repeatedly rose in anger. Rightly does King Dhartarastro call himself powerless! I bid all of you farewell; I shall return to Yudhisthira."

The latter received the dire news and then prepared his armies to march. He feared that the people of the earth would be caught in the middle,

"There shall be a grisly and gruesome holocaust of men. Il is fated and cannot be averted."

A training camp was started and officers brought forth who knew the "entire four-pan Veda of weaponry" and knew the "divine bows of the celestials."

One "sounded like a thundercloud and seemed capable of terrifying the world".

Indra sent them a letter, which stated in part,

"While I know full well the evils of war which will bring on a holocaust, yet I cannot restrain my deceitful son who cheated at gambling, nor act in my own interest. I so have the insight that perceives the evil, bard, but when I am with my son, my mind is perverted..."

Samjaya then said to the Pandava what they all knew, that the bomb would sooner or later be dropped,

"or, indeed. The wind shall carry off Meru, the sky shall fall on earth, the Eon shall turn around, if what you said to me comes true1."

It came true.

 

REFERENCES

1. THE MAHABHARATA-VOL. 4 & 5 - All quotes from here.

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