Mahabharata Katha

A Letter To My Love

Bharata-Samrat Ajatashatru,

Would you mind me calling you so, instead of your most popularly known other names? You know, Samrat, this name of yours is my most favourite! No, not because of the poetic contrast of having no enemy despite of the presence of more than hundred enemies in your real life! I love this 'Ajatashatru' name for the reason that this is the only name you have not received from any Gods or God incarnations. This name was given to you by your subjects of Indraprastha, the commoners like us, like me. You may be 'Yudhishthira' to your celestial father, Lord Dharma, you may be the ideal ruler, the 'Dharmaraja' to Shri Krishna, but for us, your people, you are only Ajatashatru! Our Ajatashatru! Because you, the son of God, the beloved of God, the one who was born for the work of God, - is finally ours! Of commoners! Hence, as a present inhabitant of your empire Bharatavarsha, let this be the address from my side!

You won't know me (or maybe you do, being in your true Deva swarupa right now?). I'm a mere girl from such a region of your Aaryavarta where your very name is commonly used as a sarcasm. 'Dharmaputra Yudhishthira' is a mockery in my mother tongue. Most of the people in my place cannot think of anything other than a gambling fool regarding you. Being born and raised up in such a place, I never knew that some day you would become so close to my heart!

Ajatashatru, since years I have been trying to know you, feel you, to realize your thoughts, your guilt, your dilemma. I saw people grossly misunderstanding your Dharma, without going deep to the philosophy of life which you followed. I saw people not putting themselves in your shoes to feel your pains, - your fatherless childhood, your burden of responsibility, your struggles to uphold Dharma every moment, all are overlooked. The lack of understanding led to lots of misunderstandings. And here we are, almost going to lose your deeds from the pages of history, almost going to forget your contribution in Dharma sansthapana!

Alas, Ajatashatru! The one who was the most compassionate ruler of his time, the Emperor who never had his meal without feeding his hungry people, the kindest heart who gambled away everything just to save his empire from bloodshed, - is now reduced to a mere gambling addict! The one who was 'Dharma-Nitya', eternal shelter of Dharma according to Maharishi Vyasa, one who was worshiped as Dharmaraja by the Lord himself, the one who was chosen by the Lord for his mission of Dharma sansthapana, is now reduced to a worthless king! The one who was Bhima and Arjuna's Guru, who was the best of men in Draupadi's eyes, the one who, according to Ganga putra Bhishma, could make any land pious just by his very presence, - is now been looked up as an evil person who tried to separate his own family members, his loved ones! Alas, Samrat! I wish you did so! I wish you could think of yourself at least once in your lifetime, not prioritizing the interest of others!

You have your flaws. But which human does not? Which human is perfect, Ajatashatru? But not everyone can accept, rectify and learn from own mistake. Those who can, are blessed. You are blessed, my dear Samrat, you are divine! To err is human, to rectify is divine! To fall is human, to rise again is divine! To get dusted is common, to get purified is divine! You are the second one, my Ajatashatru!

I have been judged several times for loving a gambling addict who gambled away his family. I could not explain them that I do not love you for your mistake. I love you for your rectification, your repent, your power of rising again! I accept your flaws as a human. I love your divinity.

May Kaliyuga forgive me, but I couldn't be among them who visualize only a gambler whenever your name is uttered! For me, you are much beyond that single day! You are not perfect, you are the honest effort to reach perfection! You are the wisdom that can save lives, you are the humanity that can treat even enemy's women with much respect, you are the forgiveness that can care even for the root of adharma tree! You are the utmost honesty that can lose everything like Raja Harishchandra yet not lose truth, yet you are the utmost devotion that can sacrifice truth on a single command of God, for the sake of Dharma! O Ajatashatru! You, the wide-visioned Emperor, the unique choice-maker, heaven-sacrificer out of compassion, - you are the real personification of Dharma for me! My Dharmaraja! Let that just, compassionate, wise form of yours rule my heart forever!

One day, Lord Krishna made you sit on Aaryavarta's throne. May I be able to place you on the throne of hearts of Bharatavaasis' hearts once again! That place is yours, Dharmaraj! May I succeed in restoring that place for you! May your blessing be with me to portray your life in the light of truth!

A very happy birthday, Nath! May one more heart see the truth of your pious character this year! May one more heart reads and realizes you correctly! May one more fake devotee turns real!

What do I have to gift you now? You have abducted my heart and soul long ago! My brain and hand too I have surrendered to you, for writing your trilogy. Now I can just throw myself at your feet. Please accept whatever little love I have for you!

My humble pranam at those feet of yours that were reverently touched by Lord Krishna himself!

- With all my love,
A mere kaliyugi author of your life story