“The day after tomorrow, on the day of Amavasya. Get your royal elephant to start marching. This will guarantee that victory is yours!”
This was the shocking conversation between Duryodhana and Sahadeva just days before the Kurukshetra yuddha.
Bheema entered just as Duryodhana left. He demanded to know why their arch enemy had come to their camp.
“Duryodhana came to consult to me regarding the most auspicious moment to begin the war.”
“I hope you told him the wrong time to ensure defeat of the Kauravas.”
Sahadeva was angry. “Of course not! How can I abandon the ethics of my profession as an astrologer? I told him the exact right time that will ensure his victory!”
Now it was Bheema’s turn to fume.
“The elder brother destroyed us by playing a game of dice, and the youngest one by being a righteous astrologer!”
At that very moment, Krishna entered and was apprised of the situation.
He had just one question for Sahadeva:
“What made you tell the truth to Duryodhana?”
“The courage that You are with us, O Krishna, and that You always protect those who follow dharma!”
Krishna smiled. The ball was now in His court.
The next afternoon, Krishna went to the riverside spot where Duryodhana was sure to see Him. He began performing the tarpana – the customary oblations offered to ancestors on the day of Amavasya.
Duryodhana was perplexed.
“Why are you doing the tarpana today, Krishna? Amavasya is tomorrow!”
Krishna laughed, “Who told you that, Duryodhana? Today is Amavasya!”
Duryodhana was aghast. He ran to march the royal elephant, for that was what Sahadeva had advised.
Watching this, the deities descended from Swarga.
Chandra and Surya came forward, and asked Krishna why He was doing tarpana a day before Amavasya. He laughed and asked them a simple question.
“Define Amavasya.”
“It is when the Sun and the Moon are aligned together!”
“Well, just look at your positions right now!” quipped the Lord.
Surya and Chandra were in perfect alignment!
“Till now it wasn’t Amavasya, but now it definitely is!” laughed Krishna.
Duryodhana finished marching the royal elephant and was relieved. Victory, he thought, was now assured. But inwardly, he was fuming at the treachery of Sahadeva, who had given him the wrong day for Amavasya.
As he rushed back, he encountered the grandsire Bhishma.
“Where are you rushing in such a black mood, Duryodhana?”
“I’m going deal with Sahadeva. He told me that tomorrow in Amavasya, and marching the royal elephant would guarantee me victory! The liar! I won’t spare him!”
Bhishma was confused.
“But tomorrow IS Amavasya! Sahadeva didn’t lie!”
“I knew it, Pitamaha! You’ve always been a supporter of the Pandavas, and hated us Kauravas! You’re also lying now!”
Unperturbed, Bhishma asked Duryodhana,
“Who told you that today is Amavasya?”
“Of course today is Amavasya! Go and see for yourself! Krishna is sitting by the riverside, performing the Amavasya tarpana!”
The next question from Bhishma made Duryodhana realize his folly.
“For whom is Krishna performing tarpana?”
Duryodhana had totally missed this point. Tarpana is performed for departed parents and ancestors. Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki were both alive and well in Dwaraka!
Duryodhana was now full of rage. Rage born out of despair. He had hastily moved the royal elephant the day before the actual Amavasya. That cowherd Krishna had outwitted him. Victory had slipped away from him!
He reached the riverside. Krishna had just finished the tarpana ritual and was standing up. Sarcastically, Duryodhana asked,
“Who is that fortunate soul for whom you performed the tarpana?”
Krishna had a hard look on His face.
“It was for you, evil Duryodhana! Your destruction in the Kurukshetra war is inevitable, so I performed the tarpana in advance!”
As he rushed back, he encountered the grandsire Bhishma.
“Where are you rushing in such a black mood, Duryodhana?”
“I’m going deal with Sahadeva. He told me that tomorrow in Amavasya, and marching the royal elephant would guarantee me victory! The liar! I won’t spare him!”
Bhishma was confused.
“But tomorrow IS Amavasya! Sahadeva didn’t lie!”
“I knew it, Pitamaha! You’ve always been a supporter of the Pandavas, and hated us Kauravas! You’re also lying now!”
Unperturbed, Bhishma asked Duryodhana,
“Who told you that today is Amavasya?”
“Of course today is Amavasya! Go and see for yourself! Krishna is sitting by the riverside, performing the Amavasya tarpana!”
The next question from Bhishma made Duryodhana realize his folly.
“For whom is Krishna performing tarpana?”
Duryodhana had totally missed this point. Tarpana is performed for departed parents and ancestors. Krishna’s parents Vasudeva and Devaki were both alive and well in Dwaraka!
Duryodhana was now full of rage. Rage born out of despair. He had hastily moved the royal elephant the day before the actual Amavasya. That cowherd Krishna had outwitted him. Victory had slipped away from him!
He reached the riverside. Krishna had just finished the tarpana ritual and was standing up. Sarcastically, Duryodhana asked,
“Who is that fortunate soul for whom you performed the tarpana?”
Krishna had a hard look on His face.
“It was for you, evil Duryodhana! Your destruction in the Kurukshetra war is inevitable, so I performed the tarpana in advance!”
Yet again, Krishna had saved the Pandavas who had unconditionally surrendered at His lotus feet!
What lessons can we learn from this story?
1. Sahadeva knew exactly who was asking him for advice. He also knew what the consequences could be. Yet he did not manipulate his knowledge to favour his own side. He stuck to dharma.
What lessons can we learn from this story?
1. Sahadeva knew exactly who was asking him for advice. He also knew what the consequences could be. Yet he did not manipulate his knowledge to favour his own side. He stuck to dharma.
Dharma means doing what is right even when it may be inconvenient for us.
2. Sahadeva did what was his duty, and left the outcome to Krishna. This, in a nutshell, is karma yoga.
3. Perhaps most important of all, this story teaches us:
यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः — Yato Dharmaḥ Tato Jayaḥ– where there is dharma, there is victory
Note: This story appears in the Villi Bharatam, a Tamizh adaptation of the Mahabharata authored by Villiputhurar in the 14th century. This narration of mine is largely based on the explanation of this episode by Dr. U. Ve. Thirukudanthai N. Venkatesh in his upanyasams.
This episode explains the origin of the Bodhayana Amavasya – the New Moon day observed one day ahead of the regular Amavasya.
2. Sahadeva did what was his duty, and left the outcome to Krishna. This, in a nutshell, is karma yoga.
3. Perhaps most important of all, this story teaches us:
यतो धर्मस्ततो जयः — Yato Dharmaḥ Tato Jayaḥ– where there is dharma, there is victory
Note: This story appears in the Villi Bharatam, a Tamizh adaptation of the Mahabharata authored by Villiputhurar in the 14th century. This narration of mine is largely based on the explanation of this episode by Dr. U. Ve. Thirukudanthai N. Venkatesh in his upanyasams.
This episode explains the origin of the Bodhayana Amavasya – the New Moon day observed one day ahead of the regular Amavasya.
