Mahabharata Katha

MaatriRupena Samsthitaa

"Maa! When will father return?"

Valandhara wiped her tears and turned to her son. This was not time to cry. Veerpatni she was. She knew her duty in this situation. She won't break, neither would she let her child break!

"Arise, Sarvaga!" Said the mother, "You have no time to waste! Do prepare in this thirteen years in such way that your father feels proud of you when he will return! Know that it's the best you can do for him, and for me!"

***

Prativindhya had fallen asleep with a book in his hand. Smiling to herself, Subhadra kept the book aside and put off the night lamp. At the other corner of the room, little Shrutakarma sobbed within his sleep. She hurried to console the baby in her lap. When all six kids fell asleep, she took a deep breath, looking at their sleeping faces.

"You be with them, Jiji!" She mentally addressed Draupadi who were in the Dwaita forest. "Let me do your part here, for our sons! I promise you, me being alive, they will never feel the absence of mother!"

***

"Maa, who are those demons who hurt Mata Draupadi?" Niramitra asked, "Can you show me?"

"I can. But can you vanquish them right now?" Karenumati's voice was calm.

Niramitra looked up, his little eyes widened.

"Mitra, you need to learn weapons first to fight against those demons! Remember that they are powerful. And you need to have more power in you to face them! Hence, go to your Mama and take training from him. When I will see you ready, I myself will let you go!"

***

"Then why do they say that my father alone is at fault, Maa?" Little Yaudheya narrowed his eyes. 

"Because that is the only way they can save the actual sinners, my son!" Devika gritted her jaw. "Shifting blame on your father saves the rest who humiliated your Mata Draupadi."

"I understood, Maa!" His little eyes shone. "I'll do everything to bring his lost glory back, and to punish the sinners!"

"Vijayi Bhava!" Devika handed over her sword to Yaudheya, smiling.

***

"Peace!" Draupadi frowned. "You want peace, Dharmaraj? And you four, too?" She glanced on her husbands and then on Krishna who was about to leave for Hastinapura with peace proposal.

"Fine!" Her jaws tightened. "I don't need any of you! I have my sons to fight for me!" The proud mother beamed, looking at the twelve young boys who bowed to her in acknowledgement.

"My boys will never fail me! They will bring justice for me, their mother!"

***

"Go, Iravan! Know that your Mata Draupadi's insult is no different from my insult! Remember that you have to punish them who dared to drag your mother by her hair!" Anger flashed in Ulupi's large eyes. "All my knowledge of weapons, and my power, will stay with you, son! Show the world what Arjuna Putra can do to adharmis!"

"This Arjuna Putra will not fail you, Maa!" The Naga Prince bowed. "I promise I will make the battlefield of Kurukshetra bow to you! To your sacrifice, to your sanskar that energies me!"

***

"Who is this young boy who could defeat the wielder of Gandiva?" Arjuna muttered.

"He is our son, Swami!" Chitrangada smiled a proud smile.

"Babhru!" Arjuna's eyes were moist. The next moment they rested on his warrior wife.

"You have achieved it, Chitra! I can see your valour, your teachings, your tej in him! He mirrors you, both in power and character."

"I fulfilled my promise to you, Nath!"

***

"What holds you back, Suhotra?" Vijaya was firm. "That your grandfather will be facing you at battlefield? Do you think you should step back from Dharma for that?"

"I'm confused, Maa!" Suhotra lowered his head.

"Don't! There is no place of confusion when it's between Dharma and adharma! And there is no greater Dharma for you than being the shield of your brothers! Go! Fulfill your duty!"

***

"Go, Putra! Remember that your valour and your nobility alone will represent me to the rest of the world! I promised to bring up the eldest son of Pandavas in such a way that no one can ever complain that he didn't get his ancestors' ideals because of a Rakshashi mother! It's your responsibility to honour that promise of mine, Ghatotkacha!"

The young Rakshas king bowed to his mother's feet. "Bless me, Maa!"

Placing her palm on his pot-head, Hidimbaa smiled. "Vijayi Bhava!"
_______________________________________

The VeeraPatnis. The Sahadharminis. The VeerMaatas.
They nourished their kids with love, inserted their power into their little hearts, and uplifted their moral characters. They made their sons worth of being called DevaSambhavaah, the children of Gods and Goddesses.
It was for them, their sons were able to fight for Dharma!
On this mother's day, I bow to those nine forms of motherhood!

#PandavaPatnisForever