Tethered ; Arjun and Draupadi

9. The Pandavas join Arjun in the War

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Arjun was bewildered. King Dhritarashtra had sentenced him to 1 year of slavery for protecting his wife's honour and was ignorant towards Duryodhan's sin. Before Arjun could protest, Bheeshma stood up and said to Dhritarashtra, "Dhritarashtra! How are you not ashamed of yourself? It is because of your son's crime that Arjun had to raise his weapon in the court". Bheeshma was furious at Dhritarashtra. It was as though if Dhritarashtra and Duryodhan weren't his kin, Bheeshma would've used his ability to incinerate his opponent through his eyes.

Shakuni chimed in and said, "Mahamahim! Your oath prescribes you to never protest against Maharaj's word. Have you forgotten, GangaPutr?". Shakuni smirked knowing Bheeshma would be forced to stay silent. Such were Bheeshma's shackles of duty. Bheeshma loathed Gandhar Raj since the day the latter had arrived at Hastinapur. But he knew Gandhar Raj was not wrong. Bheeshma had infact pledged complete loyalty towards Dhritarashtra and his sons. Bheeshma's insides churned in agony as the realisation that his oath was being used by the Kauravas and Shakuni to commit crimes dawned upon him. Bheeshma who had pledged on his mother Ganga's purity that he would establish Dharma in Hastinapur could see how instead his righteousness was being used as a shield for unrighteousness. Bheeshma's old heart experienced flinching agony at his inability to stand by his grandson and his granddaughter in law.

Dhritarashtra, though harboured a weakness towards his sons, could not let his Tashri be disappointed in him beyond repair either. He addressed Bheeshma and said, "Tashri, forgive me. Duryodhan makes me weak. I know, real love lies in strength and not in weakness as you have taught me. But Tashri, my blindness sometimes veils my heart too. The darkness in my eyes seeps in to my heart as well. I cannot take back my punishment for Arjun but I can lessen it". Arjun intently looked at Dhritarashtra, awaiting his decision. Dhritarashtra addressed Arjun and said, "Arjun, my dear, please forgive me. In heat of the moment, I banished you from the kingdom for 12 years after your period of slavery ends. I am a helpless man. Duryodhan will not rest until he gets the satisfaction of you serving him. He has inflicted irreparable damage on Kuru Dynasty's reputation today. I do not want him to continue to harm you and Draupadi for longer than he should. Putri Draupadi wished to live a normal life with you. I will not be the cause of yours and hers separation. Therefore, I am taking the liberty of reforming the punishment that I gave you. I declare that you will not have to set on forest exile. After 1 year of serving Duryodhan, you can go back to living a normal life". Duryodhan clenched his fists in fury and screamed at his father. "Pitashree, I am the new ruler of Indraprasth. I will not let Arjun be the Senapati. He shall only be my slave". Said a sour Duryodhan.

"Yuvraj Duryodhan, never forget. You cannot enslave somebody who does not accept being a slave. You cannot enslave Rajkumar Arjun by compelling your father to punish him", said a confident Draupadi. "Keep Quiet or else you too will have to become my Daasi along with your husband", said Duryodhan as he glared at the woman whose confidence he had failed to shatter. Arjun turned to Duryodhan and said, "I accept Tashri's punishment. Duryodhan, consider this to be my duty towards you as your younger brother. Like an animal is fed well before sacrificial purposes, I too will serve you before I put an end to your life". The torch of revenge had lit up itself in Arjun's heart. "Daas Arjun! I will put an end to your life right this instant if you utter another word". Duryodhan warned Arjun. Arjun scoffed and said, "All you have is a year Duryodhan. After my sentence ends, I will soon walk past the boundary of the city of Hastinapur and arrive with yours and all of your 99 brothers' death sentences. Tashri has saved me the struggle of an exile. If I were you, I would start making the remainder of my days count". Arjun looked at Draupadi for a moment. Her bruises, her cheeks stained with tears, her awry hair and her shredded garment became the catalyst of his journey towards revenge. "Soon, Duryodhan will experience the torment of the Seven Circles of Hell. Today marks the beginning of his end. The day I will stand against Duryodhan and his brothers in the battlefield, Aryavart will see a catastrophe like it has never before. This is my oath". Arjun declared to the court of Hastinapur. The elders of the Kuru Dynasty watched as they saw the end of their lineage in foresight. Yet, all they could do was be silent spectators.