01At Krishna’s feet
After the wedding the kings sat in council at Virata’s court. Drupada sent his purohita to Hastinapura and messengers to every ally. Duryodhana and Arjuna reached Dvaraka on the same day to ask Shri Krishna’s help, and found him asleep. Duryodhana sat at the head of the bed, Arjuna at the feet. Krishna woke and saw Arjuna first. He offered a choice: on one side his Narayani army of a vast number of cowherd warriors; on the other himself alone, who would not fight. Arjuna, asked first because he was younger, chose Krishna without a pause. Duryodhana left delighted with the army. Krishna agreed to drive Arjuna’s chariot.
02Shalya and Sanjaya
Shalya, king of Madra and brother of Madri, set out with his army to join his nephews. On the road Duryodhana had pavilions built and fed him so lavishly that Shalya, thinking Yudhishthira his host, offered a boon, and was bound to the Kaurava side. He went on to Yudhishthira and promised one thing: if made Karna’s charioteer, he would wear down Karna’s spirit. Dhritarashtra sent Sanjaya to Upaplavya with soft words and no land. Yudhishthira sent back his minimum: give the five brothers five villages, Kushasthala, Vrikasthala, Asandi, Varanavata and any fifth, and let there be peace among kin.
03A sleepless night: Vidura Niti
Sanjaya returned late, scolded the king and said he would speak in the assembly in the morning. Dhritarashtra could not sleep. He called Vidura, and through that night, the Prajagara, Vidura gave him counsel on how a wise man lives and a king rules. A man who wants to prosper should give up six faults: sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, sloth and procrastination. Trust the one who has proved trustworthy. Do not cut down a forest with its tiger. His counsel always came back to one point: give the Pandavas their share. Then the eternal rishi Sanatsujata came at Vidura’s call and taught the king about death and the undying Self.
04Krishna’s embassy
Shri Krishna set out for Hastinapura in the month of Kartika to make one last effort. He ate at Vidura’s house, not at Duryodhana’s feast. In the Kuru assembly he asked for the Pandavas’ share and offered peace; Bhishma, Drona and Gandhari pleaded with Duryodhana. Duryodhana answered that he would not give the Pandavas as much land as the tip of a sharp needle can pierce. He and his friends planned to seize Krishna. Krishna laughed and showed his Vishvarupa. Brahma stood on his brow and Rudra on his chest, the lokapalas on his arms; Arjuna appeared at his right and Balarama at his left, the other Pandavas behind. Only Bhishma, Drona, Vidura, Sanjaya and the rishis could look, because Krishna gave them divine sight; in the vulgate Dhritarashtra too is given sight for that moment. Then Krishna walked out.
05Karna’s answer
Leaving the city, Krishna took Karna into his chariot and told him the secret: he was Kunti’s son, the eldest Pandava. If he crossed over, Yudhishthira and the others would serve him, and Draupadi too would be his. Karna said he knew it. Adhiratha and Radha had raised him; Duryodhana had trusted him for thirteen years. He would not break faith now. Then Kunti came to him on the bank of the Ganga as he finished his prayers to Surya. Karna would not leave Duryodhana, but he gave her a promise: he would not kill Yudhishthira, Bhima, Nakula or Sahadeva. Only Arjuna. Either way, she would still have five sons.
06Amba and the armies
Bhishma was named commander of the Kauravas. He would kill ten thousand warriors a day, he said, but not the sons of Pandu; and Karna swore he would not fight while Bhishma lived. Bhishma also refused to strike Shikhandi, and told Duryodhana why. Amba, eldest of the Kashi princesses he had carried off, loved King Shalva; Shalva refused her, and Bhishma would not marry her because of his vow. She went to Parashurama, who fought Bhishma for twenty-three days and could not defeat him. Amba did tapas, won Shiva’s boon to be the cause of Bhishma’s death, and entered the fire. She was reborn as Drupada’s child Shikhandi. The Pandavas made Dhrishtadyumna their commander. Seven akshauhinis stood with the Pandavas and eleven with Duryodhana. Balarama would fight for neither and went on pilgrimage along the Sarasvati.
Famous verses
षड्दोषाः पुरुषेणेह हातव्या भूतिमिच्छता । निद्रा तन्द्री भयं क्रोध आलस्यं दीर्घसूत्रता ॥
A man who seeks prosperity should give up six faults here: sleep, drowsiness, fear, anger, sloth and procrastination.Mahabharata 5.33.66 (BORI CE), Vidura Niti