Journey through the Grand Canyon (Drisana's Mahabharat #2)

Chapter 6

"Kunti? Is it true that Karna is your son?" Maharaj Dhritrastra asked in a stern voice. His voice reverberated in the whole sabha. Absolute silence descended as everyone was eagerly waiting for Rajmata Kunti to answer.

"Yes, Maharaj. It is true. Karna is my son. My eldest son." Kunti said firmly.

"Who is his father then?" Maharaj Dhritrastra asked again even knowing the answer. So everyone present and the entire Hastinapur could know the truth from her mouth only.

"The one whose radiance is seen on Karna's face. The one who protects Karna through the divine Kavach and Kundal. Suryanarayan is the father of Karna." Kunti replied and once again repeated Karna's birth story. But only this time, she didn't shed any tears, nor her voice trembled facing so many spectators and accusers.

"Wow, Kunti! Wow! How easily you left an innocent child to die! Not only you did a big sin, but cheated us, Kuruvanshis by hiding this truth from us." Maharaj Dhritrastra said in an angry tone.

"No, Tatshree. Mata -" Yudhisthir started to say but was stopped by Maharaj Dhritrastra.

"Moun raho Putra Yudhisthir. Moun raho. (Keep quiet Yudhisthir.) Tum toh aapni Mata ka hi paksh loge na. Kintu iss samay mein tumhari Mata se nehi, balki Kuruvansh ki Kulvadhu se baat kar raha hu.

(You will only take your mother's side. But I am not talking to your mother right now. I'm talking to Kuruvansh's daughter-in-law.)" Maharaj Dhritrastra said sternly and added,

"Aur mujhe Kuruvansh ke Kulvadhu se yeh prasna puchne ka aadhikar hai, ki kyu usne vivha se purb aapni santan ki baat chupakar mere anuj ko, hamare parivar ko chala hai. Uttar do mujhe Kunti.
(And I have full right to ask Kuruvansh's daughter-in-law, why she hided her child's truth and cheated my younger brother and our whole family. Answer me Kunti.)"

Yudhisthir glanced at Pitamah Bheesmh and Mahamantri Vidur. Both were unusually quiet.

"Mujhe shama kare Jyesth. Parantu iska uttar mein pehle hi de cuki hu. Mein bibash thi. (Forgive me Jyesth. But I have already answered that. I was helpless.)"

Kunti replied with a blank face. She knew that accusations were going to be thrown at her after this truth came out. She had stilled herself for it.

"Mujhe yeh kehte huye khed hai Rajmata, kintu bibashta ke cadar se aap apna aapradh nehi dhak sakti. (I'm sorry to say this Rajmata. But you can't hide your crime under the pretense of helplessness.)"

Shakuni said coming in front and folding his hands in an apologetic manner.

"Aapne nahi kebal ek aabodh balak ka tyag kiya, aapetu ek Ksatriya ko Soota ka jeevhan jine par bibash kiya. Samaj ka aapman, aur sanghorso ke saath Maharathi Karna ne aapke aapradh ki kimat cukaayi hai.

(You not only left an innocent boy, but also forced a Kshatriya to live like a Soota. By bearing society's insults and sufferings, Maharathi Karna has paid for the fault you did.)" Shakuni added.

"Mujhe aapne aapradh ka aavhas hai Gandharraj. Aur uske liye mera Putra mujhe jo bhi dand dega, mujhe woh manya hoga.
(I'm aware of my fault Gandharraj. And I am ready to bear any punishment given by my son.)"

Kunti said gently and added the last part looking at Karna.

"Aannay kebal Karna ke sath nehi, tumne Hastinapur ke saath bhi kiya hai Kunti. (You've not only done wrong with Karna, but to Hastinapur too.)" Maharaj Dhritrastra accused her again.

"Pad pad par tumne humse Karna ka aapman karwaya hai. Yeh jante huye bhi Karna ek Kshatriya hai, tumne chup rehkar uska aapman hone diya. Jab Soota kehkar use Rangbhumi se bahar nikal diya ja raha tha, uska aapman ho raha tha, toh tum chup cap dekhti rahi. Humse yeh paap karwaya. Aur tumhe iska dand aabasya milega.