Suta's Samragini

CHAPTER 23

What is it putra Dhritrashtra? What is so important that you have convened the meeting so late in the night especially it being the night of celebration of putra Pandu' s marriage.

Rajmata began Dhritrashtra gravely. I have received an important message. In fact you can call it a cry for help from hastinapur.

Help from hastinapur. Everyone was shocked. But Vidur quickly recovered from initial shock and asked Jyestha please continue. We are eager to know who has sought our help.

Hearing Vidur' s voice Dhritrashtra blood boiled. But Shakuni who was sitting beside noticed the change in the demeanor of Dhritrashtra quickly got up and went near him. He put his hand on his shoulder probably to indicate Dhritrashtra to keep calm and continue as discussed.

Dhritrashtra probably understood what he meant. But Shakuni started Forgive me the esteemed courtiers and our King.
If Jijashree allows me i would like to share the rest of the news as i was the one who officially received the message as everyone else's from the royal family were engaged in the festivity.

Please continue Gandharraj said Pandu. Before Vidur can ask more. Shakuni with a devious smile to Bhishma began as my king wishes. It is a cry of help from one of the bahaliks kingdom Madra.

Madra. Pandu was surprised. But Hastinapur has no military alliance with them. So why are they asking for help from us?.

Maharaj said Shakuni in an even sweeter tone desperate situation calls for desperate measures.
You know Bahaliks comprises  several tribes such as Gandhar; Kirats; Kekays; Kambojs etc.

But they often engages themselvees in a brutal battle between themselves. But this time the keykays and kirats  combined troops have decided to attack madra. Even though Madra has a large army but it is not sufficient for the combined forces of keykays and kirats.

Since Hastinapur is the nearest one that can at once mobilise their army for their assistance. They have asked for our help.

Pandu began to think whether ro help him or not. Sensing the silence in the court. Dhritrashtra who has initially sat down when Shakuni began now stood up and said it is my advice that we should help them and it will be benefited for us.

How will it be beneficial for us. This time Rajmata Satyavati asked.

Rajmata because everyone knows the quality of horses from bahaliks kingdom and moreover their is a martial training centre for such horses. If we xan eatablish alliance with Madra then we can receive such horses and trained elephants of superior quality even superior than what is currently available to the other kingdoms of Aryavarta including Magadha.
( Dhritrashtra knowingly took the name of Magadha because he knew it to be Pandu' s sore point).

On hearing Magadha ' s name. Pandu became agitated and stated Yes you are right Jyestha. It is indeed beneficial for us to establish an alliance with Madra. There I king of Hastinapur has decided to send military assistance to Madra.

But putra you are newly married. Today it is going to be your first night with your wife so are you going to leave her at this crucial juncture countered Satyavati.

No Rajmata. Tatshree Mahamahim will lead the army. I am not going - Pandu.

Dhritrashtra grew frustrated first by the counter of Satyvati now pandu refusing to go. He wanted to vent out.
But Shakuni beat him to it.

Pardon me Rajmata. It may seem my transgression but i would like to state a simple fact that if our king send mahamahim to the battlefield then it would deliver a very wrong message to our public.

Mamhamahim was not liking all this from the beginning. He had suspected something is fishy. But now he couldn't take it any longer so he asked what wrong message Gandharraj speak clearly.