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96.WHO CAN GIVE SOLACE?
Dhritarashtra hugged the metal statue to
his bosom in a firm embrace and then the
thought came to him of how this man had
killed everyone of his sons. And his wrath
increased to such a pitch that the image
was crushed to pieces in his embrace.
"Ha! My anger has deceived me," cried
Dhritarashtra. "I have killed dear Bhima."
Then Krishna said to the blind king:
"Lord, I knew that it would be thus and I
prevented the disaster. You have not
killed Bhimasena. You have crushed only
an iron image that I placed instead before
you. May your anger be appeased with
what you have done to this image. Bhima
is still alive."
The king was composed somewhat and he
blessed Bhima and the other Pandavas
who then took leave of him and went to
Gandhari.
Vyasa was with Gandhari. "Oh
queen,"said the rishi, "be not angry with
the Pandavas. Did you not tell them even
when the battle began: 'Where there is
dharma, there surely will be victory'? And
so it has happened. It is not right to let the
mind dwell on what is past and nurse
one's anger. You must now call to aid
your great fortitude."
Gandhari said: "Bhagavan, I do not envy
the victory of the Pandavas. It is true that
grief for the death of my sons has robbed
me of my understanding. These Pandavas
also are my sons. I know that Duhsasana
and Sakuni brought about this destruction
of our people. Arjuna and Bhima are
blameless. Pride brought this battle about
and my sons deserve the fate they have
met. I do not complain about it. But then,
in Vasudeva's presence, Bhima called
Duryodhana to battle and they fought.
And, knowing that Duryodhana was
stronger and could not be defeated in
single combat, Bhima struck him below
the navel and killed him. Vasudeva was
looking on. This was wrong and it is this
that I find it impossible to forgive."
Bhima, who heard this, came near and
said: "Mother, I did this to save myself in
battle. Whether it was right or wrong, you
should bear with me.
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