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Satyaki accompanied Govinda* to Hastinapura. Before setting out on his
journey, Krishna had a lone discussion with the Pandavas. Even the mighty Bhima, rather
surprisingly, plumped for peaceful settlement.
"Let not the race be destroy ed. Peace is very much to be
preferred," said he. The poet Vyasa makes Bhima speak thus in order to show that
truly great warriors desire peace, and that to seek peace is not a sign of fear.
But Draupadi could not forget her humilia- tion. Holding her locks in
her hand she stood before Krishna, and in a voice quivering with grief, she said: 'Madhusudana, look at these tresses of mine and do what honour requires to be done. There can be no peace with honour.
Even if Arjuna and Bhima are against war, my father, old though he is, will go tobattle, supported by my children. Even my father can keep out. My children, with Subhadra's son Abhimanyu, at their head, will fight the Kauravas.
I have, for the sake of Dharmaputra, these thirteen years, suppressed
the burning flame of anger within me. I can restrain myself no longer." And she
sobbed, remembering the great outrage.
Author : Shri C. Raja Gopalachari
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