Veṇīsaṃhāra: Second Act (summary)

The second act starts with the entrance with the chamberlain who is ordered by Duryodhana says that Vinayandhara (Chamberkin of Kauravas) should go before long and search for Queen Bhānumatī and find out if she has come back or not after touching the feet of the mother. For after seeing her, he has to go to the battle-field and congratulate Rādheya (i.e. Karṇa) of Jayadratha and other commanders of their army who have killed Abhimanyu, so he has to go quickly. He becomes surprise regarding the high mindedness of the king as because he is old but he has his dignity in the haven. He thinks that there is no reason to neglect of his old age on the other hand, he consider it as the official Customary.

Though he has his wide eyes, he never saw to his satisfaction enough; though hearing, he heard not; though strong enough, he resorted to official stuff since it was so prescribed; always giving his thought to stumbling everywhere, he never walked erect.

The chamberlain moves observing in the sky, enquires the condition of Bhānumatī, The queen. And he comes to learn that Bhānumatī has performed the salutation to the feet of the elder i.e. Gāndharī with a desive to success of his husband. Hence, he requests the good lady to do her own duty and wants to tell the king that Bhānumatī is staying there. Here it is also wished that the gods will do good for them. Then ends the prelude.

Then enters Queen Bhānumatī seated on a seat and also as friend and a maid. The friend wants to know from Bhānumatī that being a beloved wife of Duryodhana, why she repenting regarding the dream seem by her in the sleep and the maid also supports the former. But Queen Bhānumatī cannot control herself and decides to perform religious activities to get rid of the evil effects of the dream.

Then enters Duryodhana along with chamberlain and says that if has been well said by somebody. An injury to the enemies, great or small, inflicted covertly or directly, by oneself or by another Yields great pleasure. He also become too much happy for the slaining of Abhimanyu. The chamberlain does not consider it a matter of Praise. But the king disagree with him and does not hesitate to call bad names such as “Idiot”. He also adds, the sons of Pāndu got appreciation by killing the old-age Bhīṣma in front of Sikhandi; which would happen in case of them.

In embarrassment, chamberlain praises Duryodhana for his success in all spheres. Duryodhana supports him and says that the Pāndus will kill servants, friends, sons, younger along with him (Duryodhana). There after he himself repents for such speech and blames himself for this opposite speech spoken by him. Due to the absence of Bhānumatī his mind becomes upset and he does not understand what he is going to say and request the chamberlain to direct him to the place where she is. After that king Duryodhana with the aid of chamberlain search to find out Bhānumatī; who is busy in discussion with Suvadana and Taralikā. The king out of curosity begin to hear the discussion. Duryodhaṇa does not find the cause of grief of Bhānumatī; he thinks that he could not contact with Bhānumatī which may be the cause of her grif. Bhānumatī discusses with the maid that her mind became distracted on seeing the Nakula (Mongoose) and she, at once left the place. Duryodhana doubts his wife considering the fact that Bhānumatī at last fell in love with Nakula, the son of Madri, Out of range he considers her as most sinful as well as Characterless woman.

Bhānumatī describes that the Nakula followed her when she left the place. After a few moment, Duryodhana understands that the Nakula, here is a mongoose and not the son of Madrī. Bhānumatī wishes to worship Lord Sun to get rid of the evil effects of such bad dream. The king join the discussion Bhānumatī wants to take permission to do worship in the hope of success and safety of the Kauravas on hearing this, the proudly king addresses the queen as a timid lady and says that being the wife of Duryodhana the lord of lions, cosily reposed in the shade of the wood of the arms of his hundred brothers; need not to fear. Bhānumatī politely says that as long as he is near to her, there is indeed no source of anxiety to her. But she becomes delighted in the fulfiling the desire of her noble lord.

Then everybody listen a hue and cry behind the scenes. Bhānumatī out of fear embraces the king and request to protect her. The king tells Bhānumatī not worry about; as it is only the wind, terrible in its working, that has scattered helter skelter in all quarter’s branches of trees that has in the mid region a whirling column of dust bristling with blades of grass, that is attended on the roads by a hissing noise and is charged with sand particles that is smoky on account of robbing of the branches of trees against one another, and that has a deep and rumbling sound like the thundering of a very fresh cloud, that is blowing in all directions. So, there is nothing to fear about it. The female friend requests the king to enter into the place on the wooden hill as the terrible wind was creating great troubles for them. But the king out of joy declares that it is a beneficial situation for Suyodhana created by the whirl-wind. At last the king follows the suggestions of female friend and began to proceed towards the palace of wooden hill along with all. The two friends request the king to sit on, as Bhānumatī in not standing up due to her pain in the pair of thighs. Looking at the queen, the king opines that not a little harms is done to her by the whirlwind, it has rather make the queen more beautiful than before. All of them sit on the hard slab of stone.

After that enters Chamberlain in hurry, throwing off the curtain and tells the king that something is broken. Both the king and the queen enquire of it and come to learn that the flag of the chariot is broken and fall on by the strong wind. The king repents for breaking of his flag of his chariot, when Bhānumatī suggests the king that let this counteracted by the chant of Vedas recited by the Brahmins propitiated and which is performed accordingly, though the king was not so interested in performing that.

Then enters embarrassed mother of Jayadratha and also Duhsalā and both fall on Duryodhanas feet. And with anxiety mother expresses that Arjuna (the holder of Gandiva) enraged by the slaughter of his son has taken up a vow to kill him before the sun sets. Hearing this king replies smiling that it is the cause of grief of both mother and Duhsalā. He advises both the women not to worry for Arjuna who can do nothing for him. The women again repeats her weakness that Arjuna along with others would kill the Kauravas in the battle. But the king does not give much weight on the speech of mother; on the contrary he criticise the matter. Mother says that Arjuna has avowed selfimmolation if his mighty vow is left unfulfilled. He accepts the matter for pleasure and opines that Yudhiṣṭhira together with his yonger brothers is now uprooted. Moreover, he assures mother, what power has Danañjaya or anyone else to utter even name of her son, whose greatness is enhanced by a circle of a hundred Kuruvs, and whose unrestricted valour is doubled by the prowess of such great chariot fighters as Kṛpa, Karṇa, Drona, Aśvatthāmā and the son of Dharma i.e. Yudhiṣṭhira and the twins (i.e. Nukala and Sahadeva) there can be no talk at all (as being possible rivals of Jayadratha). Out of Vṛkodara and Kiritabhṛt (i.e. Bhīma and Arjuna) which one is able per force to attack the king of the Sindhus whose long drawn bow is flashing in the rim?

Bhānumatī tells the king, though it is so, yet he is, indeed, a source of fear since the responsibility of the vow taken by Arjuna is heavy. Mother agrees with Bhānumatī on this point. But the king does not bother regarding the matter. He, on the contrary says that Bhānumatī knows well regarding the powers of Pāndavas. He says that the vow of high spirited Pāndavas for the slaughter of Jayadratha should be understood as being on a par with their vow for the drinking of the blood from Duhśāsana’s heart and that for the breaking of the thigh of Duryadhaṇa with a mace.

Thereafter, the king announces to get ready his victorious car so that by merely protecting Jayadratha, he will teach that haughty Pāndava a death bought about in disgrace due to the frustration of his vow, a death unconcentrerted by weapons. Then enters Chamberlain with the gorgeous chariots and offers it to the king. Thus ends the second Act.