Bhagavadyāna Parva: Kṛshṇa's Journey to Hastināpura

The Bhagavadyāna Parva is the part of the Udyoga Parva of the Mahābhārata that covers Chapters 72 to 100. Its name means “the parva of the journey of Bhagavān Kṛshṇa”. It tells how Kṛshṇa leaves Upaplavya, travels to Hastināpura, and goes to the Kaurava court to ask for peace.

The parva holds Kṛshṇa’s great speech to Dhṛtarāshṭra (Chapter 95), Paraśurāma’s Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna (Chapter 96) and the beginning of the Mātali Upākhyāna (Chapters 97 to 100). It also holds Duryodhana’s refusal of peace, his plot to seize Kṛshṇa, Kuntī’s lament and Draupadī’s appeal.

The five villages

Before Kṛshṇa leaves, Yudhishṭhira states the least the Pāṇḍavas will accept. They are ready to give up their whole kingdom and take only five villages: Avishṭhala, Vṛkasthala, Mākandī, Vārāṇāvata and one more of their own choosing. This would save their honour and prevent war. If even this is refused, the dharma of a kshatriya (warrior) says they must fight.

Bhīma and the 18 kings (Chapter 74)

In Chapter 74 Bhīma names 18 kings whose deaths in the war will bring the end of their families (kula-kshaya). This list is known as the Kula-Kshaya Kings passage. It shows what the war will cost: not only an enemy beaten, but great houses ended. The war lasts 18 days, the armies total 18 akshauhiṇīs (divisions), and the Bhagavad-gītā has 18 chapters.

Draupadī’s lament (Chapter 82)

Before Kṛshṇa leaves, Draupadī comes to him. Her lament is one of the strongest passages in the Mahābhārata. She recalls each wrong done to her: the dice game, the vastraharaṇa (the pulling of her cloth), and the years of exile. She tells Kṛshṇa that he must not return with a peace that costs her honour. She has borne what no woman should bear. Her hair has hung loose since the vastraharaṇa, and she will not tie it up again until she has washed it in the blood of those who wronged her. Her words set a limit on any peace.

Kṛshṇa’s departure (Chapter 83)

Kṛshṇa sets out in his great divine chariot. Its four horses are Śaibya, Sugrīva, Meghapushpa and Valāhaka, and the account describes their divine splendour. His charioteer Dāruka drives, and Satyabhāmā goes with Kṛshṇa on the journey. On the road Kṛshṇa meets ṛshis, whose blessings and advice go with him. The journey has a sacred quality: Bhagavān Kṛshṇa moves through the world to prevent a great harm.

The reception at Hastināpura (Chapters 85 to 89)

Dhṛtarāshṭra’s plans (Chapters 85 and 86). Dhṛtarāshṭra plans a rich welcome: sixteen chariots, eight war elephants, a hundred dāsīs (maidservants), gold, jewels and every comfort. Vidura advises him to hold back. Kṛshṇa cannot be won with gifts, and such show misses the purpose of his visit.

Vidura’s warning (Chapter 87). Vidura speaks at length to Dhṛtarāshṭra. He urges him to receive Kṛshṇa with true honour and to accept the terms of peace. He warns that Duryodhana’s stubbornness is bringing ruin on the Kuru house.

Duryodhana’s plot and Bhīshma’s exit (Chapter 88). Duryodhana tells Karṇa and Śakuni that he means to seize Kṛshṇa when he arrives, so that the mission fails. Bhīshma hears of the plan and is filled with anger. He walks out of the assembly. This shows that he will have no part in such an act against dharma.

Kṛshṇa enters Hastināpura (Chapter 89). Kṛshṇa arrives and enters the city with great ceremony. The court and the people receive him.

Kṛshṇa visits Kuntī (Chapter 90)

Before the formal assembly, Kṛshṇa visits Kuntī alone. Her lament is long and moving. She speaks of her sons’ sufferings through the years of exile and wrong. She speaks of the pain of a mother who cannot act. With deep sorrow she speaks of Karṇa, her firstborn, whom she gave up at birth and who now stands on the other side and cannot be openly named her son. She does not ask Kṛshṇa to bring peace at any price. She asks him to see that her sons are given back their rightful place with honour. She gives Kṛshṇa a mother’s message to carry to her sons.

Kṛshṇa refuses food (Chapter 91)

Duryodhana invites Kṛshṇa to eat before any talks begin. This is a common courtesy, but Kṛshṇa refuses. He says plainly that he does not eat the food of those with whom his business is unfinished. He has come on a mission, and the mission must be done first. He eats instead at Vidura’s house. The refusal is itself a message. It marks Vidura as a man of dharma who deserves honour, and Duryodhana as one with whom Kṛshṇa stands apart until the matter is settled.

Vidura’s warning at night (Chapters 92 and 93)

At night Vidura meets Kṛshṇa alone and plainly warns him of Duryodhana’s plot to seize him. Kṛshṇa listens calmly. He knows the danger well and is not troubled. Kṛshṇa holds up the whole universe, and the schemes of mortals, however strong, cannot bind him. He will go to the assembly as planned.

Entering the assembly (Chapter 94)

Kṛshṇa performs his morning rites. The account describes the splendour of his chariot. He enters the great Kaurava assembly hall together with Nārada Maharshi. The presence of Nārada, the ṛshi who moves between the worlds, shows that this is more than a visit between kings. It is a moment in the larger unfolding of dharma.

Kṛshṇa’s great speech (Chapter 95)

This is the centre of the Bhagavadyāna Parva. Kṛshṇa speaks to Dhṛtarāshṭra and the whole court. He sets out the Pāṇḍavas’ right under dharma and the wrongs done to them. He describes how surely the Kauravas will be destroyed if war comes. He names the mighty warriors who will stand against Duryodhana. He offers the way of honour: give back the Pāṇḍavas’ kingdom, or at least the five villages, and let the Kuru house live. He speaks to Dhṛtarāshṭra as a father who still has the power to hold back his son.

Duryodhana refuses. He rises and walks out, taking his main allies with him. The mission has failed.

Paraśurāma’s Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna (Chapter 96)

Paraśurāma is in the assembly. After Duryodhana’s refusal he rises and tells the Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna. Dambhodbhava was an ancient king. He won a battle and became so proud that he challenged every opponent to fight him. When he had beaten them all, he challenged Nara and Nārāyaṇa themselves. The ṛshis answered his challenge, not with weapons but with kuśa grass. They turned it into arrows of such force that Dambhodbhava was beaten down and brought to his knees.

The account is aimed at Duryodhana. Kṛshṇa and Arjuna are Nara and Nārāyaṇa in this yuga, and no ordinary power can stand against them.

The Mātali Upākhyāna (Chapters 97 to 100)

Kaṇva Maharshi is also in the assembly. He begins to tell the Mātali Upākhyāna. Mātali is the divine charioteer of Indra. He is looking for a husband for his daughter Guṇakeśī. He cannot find a worthy match among the devas or among men, so he asks Nārada for help, and the two go down to the lower worlds.

On this search:

They go to Varuṇaloka, where the Gāṇḍīva bow is kept (Chapter 98). The bow comes from Varuṇa’s divine armory.
They cross the Pātāla realms (Chapter 99), with their detailed geography of the kingdoms of the nāgas, dānavas and others.
They reach Hiraṇyapura (Chapter 100), the great city of the dānavas in the underworld, where the search for Guṇakeśī’s bridegroom comes to its high point.

The Upākhyāna is told in the assembly as a teaching. Within the account of the embassy it shows the realities of the worlds and the nature of true strength for those present.

Sources

Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 72 to 100, the Bhagavadyāna Parva
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 74 (Bhīma’s 18 kings)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 82 (Draupadī’s lament)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 83 (Kṛshṇa’s departure)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 85 to 89 (the reception at Hastināpura)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 90 (Kṛshṇa and Kuntī)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 91 (Kṛshṇa refuses food)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 92 and 93 (Vidura’s night warning)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 94 (entering the assembly)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 95 (Kṛshṇa’s great speech)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapter 96 (Dambhodbhava Upākhyāna)
Mahābhārata, Udyoga Parva, Chapters 97 to 100 (Mātali Upākhyāna)