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Bhishma speaks!

For some of you, this might be a bit off. I trust that you will follow your instincts and learn something new today. I heard Bhishma speak today. There he lay, on a bed of arrows, asking for deliverance and some water. He was supposed to fight for the Kauravas, but we all knew, his heart lay on the side of the Pandavas. Only, in the modern day world, Bhishma happens to have a very famous New England surname, almost American regalness. Sure, he does not have a lion rampant or one that is passant or salient for that matter on his standard, but Bhishma was there in all his glory, renouncing everything, waiting for Hastinapur to go back into the hands of the righteous before he dies. He even made the pledge to not die until Hastinapur changes hands back to the Pandavas.

Somewhere along the way, the children of Hastinapur get confusing. They mould swiftly from the Elephant and the Ass to Hillary and the one that is Arjuna. Not Ranatunga mind you, but the real deal. Arjuna who is the third son of Pandu. He has the charm of Bhishma's brother, remember him? He was shot in the deep south. Well, Dallas counts as the deep south right?

Arjuna seems to have the charisma of that man. Bhishma took an oath of celibacy... not his brother mind you. Arjuna learned from Bhishma's brother. He is his re-incarnation some would say. Only half-black and better. He has that suave, sexy ocean going feel about him. Women swoon at his feet. Of course, Arjuna only seems to have eyes for Draupadi Mokrasi (say it a few time and it will come to you), but we won't let on. He needs to win them over. Because you see, the Kauravas had the edge on the plains of Kurukshetra. They were the incumbents, the kindgom was already theirs. Through crook or otherwise. Or so they thought. But you see, little Arjuna, even when he was out far away near Putrajaya, harboured designs on what was righfully his, that is Hastinapur. The Kauravas meanwhile, being the incumbents, decided to not push hard enough and get rid of him quickly enough. The primaries (aka battles) came... and they started to lose some of them.

Until recently, the Kauravas and their leader Drona, that great teacher who taught and gave Arjuna everything (from shooting the bird in the eye to taking away Ekalavya's thumb) have been at odds as to who won. Drona was unlike Bhishma. He has the suave, sexyness that Arjuna seems to have. Drona was the darling of Hastinapur once. He even left a stain on a blue dress if one recalls. But today, Drona fights for the Kauravas. He is their general. Their commander in chief. But he must know that he's backing the wrong side. For nothing can stop the 'Yes we can' that Arjuna and the Pandavas has got going.

This is not to say that the Kauravas are necessarily evil and the Pandavas good. Arjuna recently deployed his chariot driver... one Sri Krishna onto the battlefield. When Arjuna felt like he didn't want ot fight his cousins, Krishna egged him on. Krishna is from Delaware by the way. He got Arjuna going initially. Said that he would never drive that chariot, no matter what. He would much rather spend time stealing butter. But my, how things have changed. Krishna is the charioteer. Arjuna has a quill full of arrows. And as Bhishma stands fighthing his last battle, he unleashes volley upon volley of arrows... to make him a bed of arrows. Not the tantric kind you sleep on, these arrows went through Bhishma and pinned him to the ground.

Let no one forget that the Kauravas and Pandavas are but two sides of the same family. They battle like there is no tomorrow, vicious sometimes, but clearly we know that even Drona has it in him to grudging admit defeat to his most perfect disciple. For today is Arjuna's day to shine. He is the knight in shining armour. He shall win this epic battle for the Pandavas and take back Hastinapur.

We need to pause now, and look forward to the next episode of Mahabhrata. Bhishma is lying on his bed of arrows. He is thirsty. And there is not a drop of water to be found. Who but Arjuna can shoot an arrow into the ground, make water appear out of nowhere and quench his thirst? That happens on Thrusday in Denver apparently.

Yours Truly,
--
Vyasa

Comments

Murali said…
That was interesting, you brought in a centuries old epic into the current political drama....wow!
Wicked!
What can I say, I try. I had lots of help from Shashi Tharoor and his book, The Great Indian Novel.

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