The Wrath of Gammon

Disclaimer: This story is my humble attempt to write a fanfiction of the epic Mahabharata. My intention is not to hurt anyone's sentiment.

Aum Namah Shivay!!

Major Jayant Roy, SM is a fictitious character. Any similarity with any living person is merely a coincidence.

Chapter 8

Hastinapur, Dwapar Yuga

Bhishma POV

I was sitting in my room, deep in thought. Today was a day of both happiness and tension for me. I was way happy, because the Pandavas came back to Hastinapur, along with Kunti, Karenumati and Draupadi. With them, came Vasudev Krishna, his elder brother Balrama and a lot of Yadavas. Though Duryodhana had imprisoned two very powerful enemies of them, but he also maintained very tight security there. But still, Jarasandha and Shishupal were two strong and way powerful warriors. If they tried to break free, then our common soldiers couldn't resist them for long. Duryodhana stationed Dussasan, Vikarna, Yuyutsu and Ashwatthama there today. I could only hope for the best.

I looked at Vidura, who was sitting in front of me. Beside him, Dronacharya and Kripacharya were sitting on their respective seats. Every single one of them was thoughtful. It was Vidura, who finally broke the silence.

"Shishupal was not very happy after hearing the news of his daughter's marriage with Nakul. But I am not sure that what is making him angrier...this marriage or the plan of Vasudev Krishna behind it. When he saw the Yadavas entering the palace compound, he started hurling abuses towards them. Satyaki was so angry, that he started hurling abuses too. It was Ashwatthama, who managed to calm Satyaki down. "

He was right. I was there too. I also heard those words of Shishupal. Jarasandha was standing beside Shishupal for the whole time. Though he was silent, but his angry eyes told me everything. I could feel his pain somehow. Jarasandha had enjoyed ultimate power in the whole Aryavart once. He, alongside his allies like Kansa, Poundrak,Mura-Narakasur- Bhagadutta, Rukmi, Vinda-Anuvinda, Hansa-Dimbhok, Shishupal, Dantavakra were an unstoppable force. Even the king of Salva and the Yavana king Kalyavana were his allies. His power was like the powerful elephant in the jungle, which didn't even care the lion of Kuru. But it was Vasudev Krishna, who was born in prison, and brought up with the cowherds, started cleansing his power. He killed Kansa at first. He killed Kalyavana, Mura and Narakasur, by using both his intellect and power. He was gradually bleeding out Jarasandha and his allies. I was closely observing his feats for a long time and I became sure, that he was becoming the glorious full moon in the sky of politics of Aryavart. I respect him deeply in my mind for his ultimate use of intellect in politics. This was time for us, the old players to step down, and clear the field for the new ones. This was politics where one generation of players left their place for the new generation.

But then, another player came in this field.

I knew Duryodhana from his childhood. But to tell the truth, that spoiled, arrogant, pampered and hot-headed boy had changed drastically. I couldn't compare them together sometimes. Was it the result of burning in the fire of maturity and learning? But sometimes, I really felt that the man in front of us was not our Duryodhana, he was some other man in his skin.

When Duryodhana first proposed to attack Magadha, I was shocked to my core. But when he laid down his detailed plan, I was astonished. He went to war with perfect calculation and nearly accurate information. But he had a small miscalculation about Maharaja Bhagadutta, who suddenly came alone in that battlefield. I asked the lord of the mountains later, that why he was alone in that battlefield. He told that he came to Jarasandha with offerings from his yagnya and other gifts. That means, he was just at the wrong place in the wrong time. The spy somehow could not properly send us the news of Bhagadutta leaving his city.

Another masterstroke was the use of the armies of Madra and Trigarta. He pleased Maharaja Shalya by his cooking. I knew Maharaja Shalya from a very long time. His nature was indifferent from the happenings of the world. I remembered him from the time, when I went to him for the marriage of his sister with my grandson, Pandu. But after the death of both Madri and Pandu, Shalya didn't even bother to come here. He went to the swyamvar of Draupadi, where Duryodhana met him. But I didn't know what prompted Maharaja Susharma to make a friendship with Duryodhana? Maybe because it was the powerful warrior and the brother-in-law of the king of Matsya Kingdom, Kichaka, who attacked Trigarta multiple times and humiliated Susharma. Kichaka and his 105 bothers were a formidable force to be dealt with. Though Susharma and his brothers were brave and capable warriors, only time could tell that the alliance between Kuru and Trigarta would be politically profitable for us or not. Madra and Trigarta armies blocked the path for Vidarbha and Karusha, so that Rukmi and Dantavakra could not send any help for Jarasandha. As a result, defeating Jarasandha and Shishupal became way easier for us.

"Gangaputra, what are you thinking?" I heard the voice of Dronacharya.

"Acharya, Hastinapur is now standing in the pathway of a very crucial situation. A political vacuum and a political polarisation are bound to happen after the defeat of Jarasandha. We have to take each and every step very carefully. But the main problem in front of us is choosing one from Yudhisthir and Duryodhana."

Dronacharya nodded affirmatively. His facial expression became thoughtful.

"Arjun captured Drupad in the war. But I must give credit where credit is due. Duryodhana's battle planning was a key aspect of our victory in that war. We again saw that in the war with Magadha. He is a careful strategist, along with good knowledge of warfare. In the war with Panchal, his diversionary tactics using mercenaries was a masterstroke indeed."

"So, can we make Yudhisthir the King of Hastinapur, and make Duryodhana the commander-in-chief of our army?" Kripacharya asked us.

We all were silent again. It was Vidura who spoke first.

"No, Kulguru, this is not easy. Even you know Duryodhana well. His target is the throne. He will not please with the commander-in-chief's post. We must think another thing before handling him the command of our army. If he tries to revolt...."

"If he tries to revolt, then Arjun and I were enough to crush the revolt of him." I spoke in a hard voice.

"Really, Tatshri? Think my words carefully for once. If Duryodhana choose the path of weapons and if my Jyesth Bhrata gives his priority to the duties of a father and orders you not to raise your weapon, then what will you do? Will your vow permits you to refuse the order of Maharaja Dhritarashtra?"

I was silent. Really, I couldn't find any answer for this question. But Vidura didn't stop there.

"Ashwatthama is a dear friend of Duryodhana. Tell me, Acharya Drona, are you totally sure that in case of a revolt, Ashwatthama wouldn't choose his friend? Then, Acharya Drona, you will find yourself in a dangerous crossroads."

Dronacharya became pale. His head was down.

"The situation in front of us is not so easy. I know that Yudhisthir is elder than Duryodhana. But Duryodhana knows about Maharaja Bharat, who found that among his nine sons, none of them are eligible to rule righteously."

"So, his three wives slew their nine sons, and then from a great yagnya organised by Sage Bharadwaja, Bhumanyu was born. Maharaja Bharat then appointed Bhumanyu as his successor. Now, Vidura, are you trying to say..."

"I am not trying to say anything Tatshri; I am just trying to solve this puzzle in front of us. Yudhisthir and Duryodhana are talented statesmen. Both of them have powerful allies. Duryodhana have the power of his brothers, Angraaj, Ashwatthama and Maharaja Bhagadutta and Maharaja Susharma. Yudhisthir have his brothers, Southern Panchal and the Yadavas behind him."

I heaved a sigh.

"Yes, Maharaja Drupad and Vasudev Krishna. As much as I respect and adore him, to tell the truth Vidura, I do not support this axis with the Panchal Kingdom whole heartedly. Now, the Yadavas entered in this axis, making this situation far more complex. The Yadavas are not a force to antagonize. Even Duryodhana would agree with me in this matter. Vasudev Krishna and Balrama...they can crush any number of armies in front of them. Now in this land, there is no one who can compete with Vasudev in the game of politics. But sometimes in my bones, I could feel that Duryodhana is trying to do exactly that."

An eerie silence engulfed the room. It was Kripacharya who broke it.

"Today, Duryodhana has requested me to go to Vidarbha kingdom as his emissary. But I refused him because he is neither Maharaja nor Yuvraaja. He left me without saying much but as much as I understand him, I expect this order will come to me again, this time from Maharaja Dhritarashtra himself. Do you think that he is trying to build up an anti-Yadavas axis?"

"This is highly possible." I said to him, "But we must obtain a solution for the problem in front of us. Vidura, what is the thought of the people of Hastinapur? What is the report of your spies?"

Vidura heaved a deep sigh. This gesture was so unexpected for him, that we were all shocked again. This meant only one thing that the righteous and honest Vidura found himself in a crossroad, where he didn't know the way to move forward.

"Tatshri, this time we again saw an example of how much cunning he is. His simplicity has made him immense popular between the merchants and peasants. The Brahmins and Kshatriyas are divided in two halves. We all agree that he has a likable personality minus his hatred for the four Pandavas. But his announcement of not to take the throne after the so called' death' of his cousins and their mother proved to be a powerful move. Now, with this one gesture, he washed out all possibilities of foul play from the people's mindset. Even the hardcore supporters of Yudhisthir are agreeing that Duryodhana is a good ruler. While in the absence of Pandavas, it was him who was doing all the works. We shouldn't forget his victory over Magadha too. These things have increased his popularity in the eyes of the people of Hastinapur. As much as I understand him, Duryodhana loves his subjects deeply. So, you all can see the problem now. We have to take a step where no one will feel deprived."

The three of us looked at each other. I knew that we were all thinking the same thing in our mind.

"What is inside your mind, Vidura?", I asked him.

Vidura heaved a deep sigh again. Then he hung his head. His voice came slowly,

"I propose to divide the kingdom between the two Kuru Rajkumars."

So, this is the eighth chapter.

Bhumanyu is a mysterious character indeed. In Mahabharata, there are two different stories about him. One story claimed that Maharaja Bharat married to Sunanda, who was the daughter of Sarvasena, the then Maharaja of Kashi. Bhumanyu was born from this union.

The other story claimed that when Maharaja Bharat finds out that none of his nine sons are eligible to properly rule his kingdom, he disowned them all. Their mothers killed all of their sons. Then Maharishi Viswamitra did a great Yagnya, and from that sacred fire, Rajkumar Bhumanyu was born. The word 'Bhumanyu' means emperor.

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