That year the rainy season had been particularly terrible: the monsoons had blown with unprecedented fury. Autumn, with its warm sun and its quiet days, was welcomed with joy by all. The Pandavas took advantage of the arrival of summer to return to Kamyaka.
Krishna, who had been informed of the latest news regarding his friends, decided to visit them in Kamyaka along with his wife Satyabhama. It is superfluous to talk about the Pandavas’ joy. For them, every time that Devaki’s son went to visit them it was an extraordinary event. He was the person they loved most, as much as their own life.
Krishna immediately proceeded to reassure them about their family members who had been living in Dvaraka for years.
“Subhadra and your son Abhimanyu are fine with us,” He told Arjuna. “Draupadi’s children are also in excellent health and grow up vigorous and healthy in body and soul. Everyone is studying with great commitment and enthusiasm, so much so that they have almost become masters in the art of war. In a short time you will be able to see them and hug them again.
During the days when Krishna was in Kamyaka, Narada came and after a while Markandeya also arrived.
They spent fantastic hours talking about so many things, and especially the latter entranced everyone with tales of events that had happened millions of years ago, when he had seen Krishna during one of the destructions of the universe and learned that He was the Supreme Lord.
A few days later, Krishna returned to Dvaraka.
But what was happening in the Kurava household? While in the early years Duryodhana had finally felt happy to be rid of his cousins, he was now rekindling old anxieties, aggravated by the thought of their revenge. The peaceful moments were about to end. He had probably believed that thirteen years were longer, but then he had had to change his mind and see first-hand the transience of earthly situations.
Just during those days, a passing Brahmana arrived in Hastinapura. He told the adventures of Arjuna in Svarga, and especially focused on the story of the extermination of the Asuras. That news certainly did not have a reassuring effect on the elderly blind king, who, despite Duryodhana’s and Karna’s bluster, could no longer sleep peacefully. He feared too much for his children’s lives.
On the other hand, Duryodhana, blinded by pride and envy, had full confidence in the warrior skills of his dear friend Karna, who for his part, wanting to lift everyone’s spirits agreed with Sakuni and Duryodhana on a plan that would serve to ridicule the Pandavas, who at that time were in Dvaitavana.
“Let’s organize a pleasure trip,” Karna proposed, “and take our families and closest friends with us. Once in Dvaitavana we can go and visit Pandu’s children and make fun of them, comparing our wealth to their poverty. They will die of anger, and we will be able to taste the joy of triumph.”
“That would be nice, but my father will never allow such a thing,” Duryodhana retorted. “He is too afraid of their strength and might fear their reaction.”
“But there is no need to tell him the truth,” Sakuni intervened, “we can tell him that we are going to check our pastures and our herds that are right there. We will promise him that we will not have contact with the Pandavas.”
Naturally enthusiastic about the idea, Duryodhana proposed it to his father. He was not entirely happy with it as he knew that his nephews were in that area, but pressed by his son, as usual, he agreed.
This is a section of the book “Maha-bharata, Vol. 1”.
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