✓ Narottam Arjun: Soul of the Sage

t h i r t e e n - f i r e

As per the wish of Dron, his students went on a war with Drupad, the King of Panchal.
Duryodhan with his brothers went first, and lost.
Then Yudhishthir with his brothers came victorious, and captured Drupad.

Dronacharya had called Ashwatthama, to crown him as the King of half Panchal.

"Pitashree," Drauni looked at his father, "You have taught me to never take anything in donation if we do not need it. Then how can we take Panchal, even if your shishyas have won the war fairly." 

Ashwatthama then turned to Drupad and said, "Maharaj Drupad, when I met you first, I was barely five, yet that memory of you insulting my father is stuck. You know, no matter how childish it sounds, but I will never forgive you for the way you treated my father." He looked straight in his eyes and sternly said.

Something that we are told as child, we remember it forever. Even though as adults we know there are no ghosts, yet the slightest sound in darkness makes our heart drop in fear.
That is why we learn values at early age and then the curriculum.

Ashwatthama may not like his father's behaviour with Arjun, but he was still his father, and Drauni loved him a lot.

"But Maharaj Drupad, I shall not take your Kingdom. I would rather be Mahamahim of my Karm Bhumi than to be the King of a Kingdom that was yours and you failed it." He said with slight arrogance in his voice.

Ashwatthama wanted Drupad to know that the Dron and Drauni he insulted years ago were now so capable that they were returning him his Kingdom.

"I am proud of you Ashwatthama, of what a man you have become." Dron said, "But there is something I wish to say my son.
I know the way I treated Radhey, it was wrong, I did not realise it until now, when I see him, I see myself failing. How blind I was that I did that. I am so..." Dron was interrupted by Ashwatthama, "Father, the past is past, all is forgotten. Do no apologise, my heart bleeds when you bow down your head." 

The students of Dron looked at Ashwatthama and were speechless, after all they didn't expect Dron's son to be so generous, kind, and at the same time to be a master of word play, as he politely flaunted his and Drupad's status to him.

Duryodhan had just one thing in mind, allies, and DronPutra could be a good one. He walked over to Ashwatthama, "Guruputr, it is my pleasure to meet you. I have been waiting to meet the best friend of Mitr Arjun," He said, knowingly added Arjun's name.

Ashwatthama smiled, Arjun had spoke about Duryodhan, with nothing but a few good words, how Duryodhan had supported him, "I know, Mitr Dhananjay spoke highly of you. I wish to thank you GandhariNandan, you stood for him when no one else." Ashwatthama had a smile, a true one.

Dron stood in center and said, "Shishyo, I am proud of you all. Victory or defeat, doesn't matter, but your hard work does. I am proud of what all have become. May Mahadev bless you all with best." He said and then put his hand on Ashwatthama's shoulder, "you too," he whispered to his son.

Karn looked at Ashwatthama in awe, the aura around him, the power he held. When everyone was returning back to Hastinapur, Ashwatthama had taken a turn in midway, and Karn was riding with Ashwatthama.

Drauni was surprised but didn't a word, he rode his horse in silence, sparing Karn a few glances every now and then.

"Hello," Karn started vaguely, "Actually, I wanted to aplogise, to Maharaj Arjun, for my behaviour. When I woke up, Jyesth told me how Maharani saved my life. And then I realised that I have been behaving rudely, and that was not acceptable.
I did not have courage to write him a letter after what I did. But today, I thought that it is high time I must apologise, or the guilt will drown me." He said.

Ashwatthama was surprised, but understood. Being born as Prince, as Suryaputra, from being everyone's favourite, and constantly told by his teacher that he was the best; Karn had a hard time realising that someone actually defeated him.

But when processed the information, he had already done the damage. And now, he would repair it, by whatever means.

"He will understand," Ashwatthama assured, he knew his friend. "I hope so, then I can go to Varnavrat with light mind." Karn replied.

"Varnavrat?" Ashwatthama asked. Karn nodded and replied, "A puja is held for my father there, we six would go there."

Ashwatthama nodded.

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P A N C H A L : 

Drupad was beyond furious, the way Dron and then his son Ashwatthama had insulted him, he burning in rage, and his mind yearned for one thing, 'Revenge'
He called his men and ordered them to prepare for a Yagna. Now only a son born from the sacrificial fire could quench his thirst for revenge. 

When Maharishi Yaja asked him to ask for attributes for his son, Drupad started, "I want a son who will kill Dron," He prayed and gave aahuti  to Yagna. A tall figure walked out of fire, his face melted Drupad and washed of all anger he had. 

Revenge was now forgotten as he felt blessed to have another child, "Dhristidyumna," He named. 

"Maharaj, the Devtas have blessed you with a daughter as well," Said Maharishi Yaja.

"Daughter? If this is what Devtas wish, then I want a daughter who would be as pure as Ganga, but let her character be tainted like mud.
Give me a daughter, O residents of Swarg, who's beauty shall be greater than your Queen, but a beauty for which swords would clash in a family.
A daughter such, who has learnt everything, yet she would divide her husband's home.
Give me daughter who shall go through pain many times, and will fall down, yet will stand and rise again." Drupad demanded.

After a few minutes of silence, "Even the Gods cannot me give me such a daughter," Drupad smirked and started to walk out.

But the fire raged till sky, and an ethereal beauty walked out, Drupad saw his daughter and instantly regretted his words.

She was soft like lotus and mad in his anger he had destroyed her life, "O Daughter, forgive me for what I have asked for you," But his daughter just smiled, "Father, I accept everything. What you have asked was my destiny before, you haven't changed anything, you have just spoken it out aloud." she said.

Tears rolled his eyes, "I am blessed to have you,"

"The Gods have named her Krishna, for her dark complexion;
But she will be known as Draupadi, the daughter of Drupad," Maharishi Yaja said.

"No, after what I have asked, Draupadi will be only an insult to her.
I name her Padmakshi, one who's eyes are like lotus," Drupad said. To have his daughter carry his name was an honour, but he knew, that he didn't deserve it.

Padamakshi, she loved the name, it with her father who it gave it after all. She forgave him for the destiny he spoke.

She however loved Dhristidyumna the most, siding with her brother in all circumstances.

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Chalo chalo, Draupadi aka our Padmakshi is born, mithai baaton sab log.
*shares Kaju Katli with everyone*