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Chakravyuha - A Play
by Dr. Pradip Bhattacharya
"Chakravyuha" by Manoranjan Bhattacharya, with
lyrics and music by Kazi Nazrul Islam, first
performed on 23rd November 1934. The play is
unique for three reasons:
The novel explanation it offers for the traditionally
accepted "motiveless malignity" of Shakuni, the
set-piece villain of the Mahabharata, depicting an
intriguing understanding between him and
Krishna, who appear almost as partners
orchestrating the Kurukshetra holocaust.
The entrancing picture of the Davidand-Jonathan-like "love passing that of woman"
between Lakshman and Abhimanyu, sons of
Duryodhan and Arjun respectively, who make a
pact to share the kingdom between themselves,
irrespective of what their elders do, if they ever
become heirs to the throne. Ironically, one kills the
other and is himself slain in the deadly discuss
formation of the Kaurav army.
An outstanding scene in which, after Abhimanyu's death, Draupadi confronts
Jayadrath and her husbands in flaming agony.
The extracts that follow relate to the encounters between Shakuni, Bhishma and
Krishna, and Draupadi, her husbands and Jayadrath.
Act I Scene I
(Bhishma, Abhimanyu, Lakshman and Shakuni)
Shakuni
Vasudev? Such a good boy!
When we meet, only jests
saying, "Uncle, Uncle"
Didn't come himself? Could not, I suppose?
Pandavs' incognito time is over,
Many tasks on his shoulders!
He, perhaps, knows where's Yudhishthir.
If only he'd whisper it to me,
secretly the tricks of dice I could teach him.
He knows nothing at all;
only suffers defeat after defeat!
Trained by me,
Duryodhan he could defeat.
On return, the game shall be held,
again kingdom he'll lose at dice.
Had he learnt it, this time Duryodhan
would be forest-bound.
Do not mind, Lakshman.
Kings' exile is but luxury!
Harishchandra, Ramchandra,
Many Chandra-stories I hear in the Purans.
All forest-exiles are a fancy.
What would happen if one didn't go
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Krishna
Your devotion to your father too
I know well.
The burden of his bones
you bear on your breast.
Shakuni
Never have I got you, Krishna, by myself.
In the sabha you look at me and smile,
I myself laugh and try to make all laugh.
This restless agony of mine
who comprehends, who doesn't
I know not, don't worry about.
That you, Krishna, have understood
makes my bearing this burden
worthwhile.
I realize, at long last it's time
to offer father's bones to Ganga.
Krishna
Do so, son of Subala.
Let peace come to this Bharata.
Shakuni
First let peace come to this Bharata.
Subala's bones will reach Ganga thereafter.
Father's refusal to marry his daughter
to blind Dhritarashtra
only this the crime,
for that cause, prison;
for that, death in neglect,
with ninety-nine sons, - you know!
Me alone they all kept alive by their share
of the morsels to repay the debt!
Father's bones keep lidless watch
over my repayment efforts
While that debt remains,
peace will come to this Bharata you imagine?
Krishna
Can past crimes not be forgiven, hero?
Shakuni
I'd thought today I wouldn't laugh.
Now you make me laugh, Keshav,
you speak of forgiveness?
Your father, too, was in prison;
in prison were you born
how much did you forgive Kamsa?
Kaliya, Putana, Chanura, Mushtika, Kamsa,
Shishupal and others
with stories of your forgiveness
Bharata's history is replete.
Krishna
Now it seems perhaps I was mistaken.
Shankuni
Then such mistakes commit some more.
Kurukshetra finish off,
then raise the question of forgiveness
Because of your hesitation
quenching of all flames is delayed.
Your vow not to take up arms in Kurukshetra
is senseless egotism!
Sudharshan at rest will only delay justice.
And then this repeated useless
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enacting of peaceembassies!
All over today?
The attempt to bind you - Shakuni's scheme.
Now speed your way to Virata's city,
seven armies swiftly assemble
on the plains of Kurukshetra.
Krishna
How much pain in how many quarters,
Mahamaya!
Great Creatrix of illusion!
Knot upon knot!
Will you not in compassion un-knot, Mother?
Shakuni
Knot upon knot,
revolutions of eras, of birth
inextricably intertwined!
Amba's ascesis as Shikhandi targets Bhishma;
Drupad's flaming agony birthed Dhrishtadyumna
to slay Dronacharya;
Draupadi's flowing tresses - Bhim's vow
against Duryodhan, Duhshasan;
Gandhar's bones demand oblations
of Kaurav blood;
Amid eighteen armies, if you can seek out,
a wondrous skein
of flaming agonies interwoven
you'll perceive!
How many knots will you unravel?
Sever asunder with an adamantine stroke,
Mahakal!
More the delay, more steely the stroke
will have to be tempered, Discuswielder!
Krishna
So much you see, Shakuni!
Heart's profound agony has honed wisdom!
I understand why Dharmaraj's dharma
mankind can't accept even today!
In ever-new forms, new and newer coils
will ensnare man's heart.
New blows will be needed
to sever them time and again.
Then, one day, man's love
will shine forth piercing the mists of hatred.
Shakuni
That day is still afar, Krishna.
Today's task do today.
Yet, that day's hope time proffers today;
even in this age see Dharmaraj,
even within Shakuni the touch of softness
awakens when I see Lakshman,
like Prahlad among demons, in the Kaurav clan.
That this weakness cause me no anguish,
this little grant,
you, whom all call Narayan.
[ Laughing] Being Narayan is very problematic,
the thief wishes not to be caught. (laughs)
But where's Lakshman?
Again will you take him to Virata's?
I find the art of enchantment you've
gifted all to your nephew!
Lakshman he's turned almost into a Pandav!
Binding leaf to leaf
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Shakuni
Let the death wish awaken in you.
That you've died long ago, realize.
False flatterers lift you skyhigh
with cries of "Bhishma! Bhishma!"
Know yourself.
No longer truthvowed son of Shantanu,
nor Parashuram's victor.
The unjust attack on Gandhar,
the torture in dungeons,
the day these occurred because of you,
that day you died.
Or Bhishma never would've tolerated
torture of woman in the Kaurav clan!
Or you, Bhishma, yourself could have stopped
the infantile rivalry of Kaurav-Pandav,
Or, in mockbattle over nine days in Kurukshetra,
destroying a few petty lives of mere soldiers
uselessly, never would Bhishma have done.
Bhishma
Such bitter words never have I heard
from any mouth!
Shakuni
Angry? Kill me.
You're the general and armed.
Bitter surely my words
but true; think them over
if any sinews of thought remain.
The Pandavs you'll be unable to destroy
or to defeat
then, to fight on Duryodhan's side
is meaningless, senseless.
Stand aside, let Radheya come,
swiftly let the curtain drop on this play. . . .
Act V Scene 1
(Draupadi, Bhim, Yudhishthir, Jayadrath)
Bhim
Death, give me death, you Sindhu hound!
(off stage) Oh you, lustcrazed, greedy for others' wives!
Jayadrath
Lustcrazed, doubtless,
(off stage) Draupadi I still crave for.
(Both enter)
Bhim
Life you'd gifted your relative,
death ask him to give me, O Dharmaraj,
from suicide's sin save me.
Jayadrath
Yudhishthir I see here?
Salutations!
By your generosity,
glory in today's battle is mine.
Yudhisthir
I had gifted you life, Sindhu king,
in return I beg
open the vyuhadoor. We'll enter
to protect the child in battle
only against injustice,
not harm any of the Kaurav side.
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So incapable, Bhimsen,
had I known would I have unbound my tresses?
Come, Sindhu hero,
with your own hands you'll plait my hair
Bhim
Yes, oh yes! Go lovelyhaired one,
go, wed Jayadrath!
Heroic Jayadrath will open up the vyuhapath,
Abhimanyu I'll bring back!
Then, thereafter! Thereafter?
No, no, what is this terrible dilemma?
Sindhubeast will bind up Draupadi's flowing hair?
That flowing hair, that pennant
in joy and sorrow, victory and defeat
that led the Pandav expeditions!
That flowing hair whose history's writ
in letters of blood in Bhim's heart,
that flowing hair!
But within the vyuha imprisoned
lies five Pandavs' life!
His life bought with mother's dishonor
will heroic Abhimanyu ever forgive?
You, Yudhishthir, are still
unkind to Bhim ever!
Won't you guide this imbecile to his duty
this moment?
Draupadi
Determine your own duty,
I have determined mine.
Come, Sindhuraja.
Jayadrath
Thus you inveigled Kichak into the dancing hall!
ensured his destruction.
Deception won't fool me.
Your willing consent's the most terrible!
Terrifying its flames,
even the Pandavs , I see, can't bear!
Remain in the Pandavs' home,
Burn them!
I've to attend to my duty. (Exit)
Draupadi
Then what will I do?
Kill me, Bhimsen. . . .
Act V Scene 2
(Karna, Krishna and Shakuni after Abhimanyu's death)
Karna
I, King of Anga, Kauravally
slew in unfair battle son of the Pandavs!
What other son's sacrifice do you desire,
Narayan?
Feel, now, the pain!
Krishna
Pain today the Pandavs comprehend,
pain today the Kauravs understand,
pain today Virat apprehends,
pain today the Yadavs realize.
Shakuni
How much pain, exposed and secret
in every limb of Bharata,
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concentrated in Kurukshetra
as explosive eruption
if you have understood, masterphysician,
delay no longer the ultimate surgery!...
Arise in fury, O Pandavs,
launch a night assault on the Kaurav camp.
Slay Drona, Karna, Duryodhan, Duhshasan,
myself, all!
All slew your son in unjust battle,
slay all today!
Krishna
Mahakal, Lord of War, Annihilating Time,
at your feet we sacrificed our dearest treasure!
Pray to him,
may we not stray from Dharma in war,
we followers of Dharmaraj.
Karna
Whether Dharma or adharma is mine
Narayan, you know all.
Shakuni
Dharma! Dharma!
Dharma will stay no more, Krishna!
Chakravyuha churning has engendered
adharmavenom in Kurukshetra!
Today the Kauravs have drunk it,
tomorrow the Pandavs.
Slaying Drona, Karna in fair battle
is that possible, you think?
Drinking Duhshasan's heart's blood,
breaking Duryodhan's thigh,
gross violations of Dharma
are Bhim's vows, you know,
yet "dharma, dharma" you chant in deceit?
Hence this terrible blow
had to be hit at you,
had to be hit at Parth!
Don't turn today's blows fruitless, Krishna;
swiftly quench the burning!
Fruitful or fruitless, whatever it be,
today's effort is my last,
no more strength is left.
In the dicegame sabha
casting my father's ribs
I raised a storm;
today, shattering my own ribs,
have I cast them in Kurukshetra!
Pushed Lakshman into death's maw!
Gave Kauravs the scheme to slay Abhimanyu!
Unmasked the real face of war!
Now at its own pace will war move
towards its own goal.
Only, you
must fulfil Abhimanyu's last wish
light twin pyres in Kurukshetra.
Krishna
I will light twin pyres in Kurukshetra today
in that fire let everyone's pain burn away.
Shakuni
Pain not only of now,
The accumulated pain of the age,
The era's collected sickness
burn them in that fire, Keshav,
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18-May-2003
More by : Dr. Pradip Bhattacharya
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