Studies in the Epics and Puranas c12.92

c12.92

The game of dice that finally led to the banishment of the Pāṇḍavas was played immediately after Kṛṣṇa left for Dvārakā. During the Pāṇḍavas’ exile, Kṛṣṇa visited them thrice in deep forest, and attended the marriage of Abhimanyu (son of Subhadrā and Arjuna) with Uttarā, daughter of king Virāṭa, at Virāṭanagara, after the period of exile was over. After returning to Hastināpura, the Pāṇḍavas demanded their share of the kingdom from Duryodhana, the Kuru prince, but the latter turned a deaf ear to all proposals from the Pāṇḍavas. Envoys were sent by each side to try to effect a compromise between the contending parties, but these proved futile. After it was found that war was inevitable, both parties tried to gather forces on their sides, and Arjuna and Duryodhana went to Dvārakā to seek the aid of Kṛṣṇa. Arjuna preferred the single-handed, non-combatant Kṛṣṇa as an ally who, later, became his charioteer; and Duryodhana selected the large army of veteran Nārāyaṇas. Balarāma preferred to remain neutral. As a last resort, Kṛṣṇa himself went as the envoy of the Pāṇḍavas to Hastināpura to see if any means could be found to avoid the disastrous war. His efforts were of no avail. He tried to win over Karṇa to the side of the Pāṇḍavas, but Karṇa desired to remain true and loyal to Duryodhana.