The Shattered Thigh

Urubhangam
 {6}

The Shattered Thigh

Urubhangam

The last great battle of the Mahābhārata war was a duel

with maces between the Kaurava chief Duryodhana and the
Pandava prince Bhima, which ended with the former’s
defeat and death.
As described in the ninth book of the epic, this nal clash
took place in the presence of the other four Pandava princes,
as well as Krishna and his brother Balarama. Duryodhana
was alone. In the beginning the combat did not go well for
Bhima. Krishna told Arjuna that it would not be possible to
defeat Duryodhana in a fair ght and, at his urging, Arjuna
signalled to Bhima that he should aim for his opponent’s
thigh. This was a foul blow according to the rules of combat
with maces. But Bhima executed it and shattered
Duryodhana’s thigh. He then abused the fallen Duryodhana,
and in turn was censured by Balarama for using unfair
means. Krishna defended Bhima, but Balarama was not
convinced and left the scene after praising Duryodhana. The
Pandavas and Krishna also departed after some heated
words with the mortally wounded but still de ant
Duryodhana.
While Krishna and the Pandavas were consoling
Duryodhana’s parents, the blind Dhritarashtra and queen
Gandhari, at their palace, Duryodhana was visited by the
few remaining Kaurava warriors. One of them was
Ashwatthama, the son of the royal preceptor Drona who had
earlier perished in the war. Greatly moved to see the once
mighty Duryodhana lying defeated, Ashwatthama swore that
he would destroy the Pandavas. Duryodhana promptly
consecrated him as his next commander-in-chief. The tenth
book of the epic narrates Ashwatthama’s nocturnal attack on
the Pandava camp and the subsequent death of Duryodhana.
In the present play these events are described in a
compressed form. Departing from the epic, the playwright
creates his own dramatic e ect by bringing Duryodhana’s
parents to his side together with his two queens and a young
son. The latter does not gure in the epic at all.
The play is also remarkable for its tragic ending, and for
the depiction of Duryodhana’s death on stage, in breach of
the classic conventions of Sanskrit dramaturgy. On the other
hand, it adheres to the convention of not depicting warfare
on stage. The duel between Bhima and Duryodhana is,
instead, vividly described in an opening interlude through a
chorus of three soldiers, comparable to the three priests
describing the sacri cial ceremony in Five Nights.
Duryodhana is the central gure is this play. In turn
de ant or resigned, vindictive or forgiving, despairing or
proud, his characterization here completes the portrait
earlier outlined in Five Nights, The Envoy and The Message.
An additional touch is given by the poignant encounter of
the dying Duryodhana with his wives and his son.
This play, again of the type anka evoking the heroic and
the compassionate avours, is probably the nearest to a
tragedy in the modern sense that exists in classical Sanskrit
literature.
  

Cast in order of appearance

The Producer in the Prologue

His assistant in the Prologue
Three Soldiers of the Kaurava army
Balarama elder brother of Krishna
Duryodhana chief of the Kauravas, eldest son of Dhritarashtra
Dhritarashtra the blind old king
Gandhari wife of Dhritarashtra
Malavi wife of Duryodhana
Pauravi wife of Duryodhana
Durjaya young son of Duryodhana
Ashwatthama son of the Kurus’ preceptor
Other characters mentioned in the play
Vyasa a famous sage
Vidura a half-brother of Dhritarashtra

Prologue

[After the benediction, enter the Producer]

PRODUCER May Krishna help you surmount your enemies. The same,
who took Arjuna across the ooded river of his foes. A river
whose source was Shakuni, and the torrent Duryodhana. A river
full of swords and arrows, with Jayadratha as the water and
Karna as the waves, with Bhishma and Drona as its two banks,
and with Ashwatthama and Kripa as lurking crocodiles. And now,
distinguished spectators, I have to announce that—but what is
 that? There seems to be a sound just as I was about to start. Well,
let me look.
[Voices o stage]
VOICES We are here! Sir, we are here!
PRODUCER Ah, I see.
[Enter an Assistant]
ASSISTANT Sir, from where have these people come? Their limbs are
wounded with thrusts of spears and arrows and elephant tusks.
They challenge each other as they rush about. It seems they want
to die ghting for the sake of glory.
PRODUCER Don’t you understand, sir? Kurukshetra is littered with the
corpses of kings. Only Duryodhana remains on the side of blind
Dhritarashtra who has already lost a hundred sons. And on the
side of Yudhishthira, only Krishna and the Pandava brothers
remain. The battle eld is like one of those pictures, full of minute
details. Dead elephants and horses, dead kings and soldiers, all
killed in combat. And the combat of Bhima and Duryodhana is
about to begin. Their warriors are already dead.
[Exit]

[END OF PROLOGUE]
 ACT I

[Enter three soldiers]

ALL We are here! Sir, we are here!
FIRST This is war. The cauldron of hate and brute force, of pride and
glory. Where the nymphs of heaven select their bridegrooms.
Where lives are sacri ced, and princes nd heroic deathbeds and
stairways to paradise.
SECOND That’s right. The ground is dotted with dead elephants. There
are nesting vultures and empty chariots on all sides. The princes
are no more. Yet, they still live, such were their deeds in battle.
THIRD Quite so. War is a sacred sacri ce. Enmity fans its ames.
Elephant trunks are the ritual posts, and arrows the ceremonial
grass. Men perish there as sacri cial beasts. Their cries are the
sacred chants.
FIRST Look this side, gentlemen. These nobles lie dead here, struck by
each others’ shafts. And those birds with bloodstained beaks are
trying to loosen the ornaments from their bodies.
SECOND And that war-elephant fallen under a hail of darts, its armour
pierced. It looks like an arsenal with all the bows and arrows
around it.
THIRD And there’s another sight. Those jackals are eagerly pulling
out a dead warrior from his chariot, with all his jewelled quiver
and garlands. From the same chariot, would his sisters-in-law
have helped him down when he was a bridegroom.
ALL Kurukshetra is a terrifying sight today. The ground is a slush
with the blood of elephants, horses and men. Broken armour and
all kinds of weapons are scattered everywhere.
FIRST Dead elephants lie like bridges in pools of blood. Others
wander crazed, without their drivers. Horses pull empty chariots.
Headless trunks writhe and twitch.
SECOND Look at those vultures with wings outstretched, like palm-
leaf fans in the sky. They have pale eyes, and beaks like elephant
goads, with bits of esh on them like coral.
THIRD All these dead horses and elephants, soldiers and chieftains are
so sharply etched by the harsh glare of sunlight. And so are the
scattered spears and arrows, swords and daggers. Like stars fallen
on the earth.
FIRST But even in this condition, the warriors look splendid. Their
fearless faces are still like lotuses, lying on land.
SECOND Even such warriors cannot resist death, what to say of lesser
people.
THIRD Death is the soldier’s fate.
FIRST Without doubt.
SECOND That’s not so. It was Arjuna who forced death on these proud
chiefs, with his sharp arrows and terrible bow.
ALL Listen, there’s a sound. The rumble of a thundercloud? A
thunderbolt on a mountain peak? A tremor in the earth below?
The crash of waves in a stormy sea? Let’s see.
[All move around]
FIRST Look! The combat between Bhima and Duryodhana has begun.
The middle Pandava is incensed, remembering the humiliation of
Draupadi. The king is enraged at the killing of his hundred
brothers. They are duelling with maces before Vyasa and Vidura,
Krishna and Balarama, and the other Kuru and Yadava leaders.
SECOND Bhima’s broad chest is like a golden rock. Duryodhana’s
shoulders are hard as an elephant’s trunk. They strike at each
other with weapons poised. That sound is the clash of their maces.
THIRD Look at the king! His face is ushed with anger. His helmet
plume quivers as he advances crouching, his arm extended. The
blood-spattered mace in his right hand gleams like lightning on
Mount Kailasa.
FIRST Look at Bhima. His body is covered with blood. It ows from
his gashed brow and shoulders. His chest is wet with gouts of
 blood. Wounded and bleeding from mace blows, he looks like a
mountain covered with streams of red mud.
SECOND Duryodhana swings a fearful mace. He roars as he springs.
He is quick to draw his arm and ward the other’s blow. He
advances striking relentlessly. The king has more skill. But Bhima
is stronger.
THIRD Bhima is like a mountain. He has no match in a ght. But he is
wet with blood from that big wound on his head. And look! He
has fallen down! Like a mountain peak struck by lightning.
FIRST Bhimasena has fallen! His legs buckled under that heavy blow.
Vyasa seems astonished, his face upturned resting on a single
nger under the chin.
SECOND Yudhishthira looks distressed. Vidura is in tears.
THIRD Arjuna plucks at his bow, Gandiva. Krishna stares at the sky.
ALL Balarama is waving his plough with excitement. He loves his
pupil.
FIRST The king is brave. His helmet gleams with gems. He is radiant
with daring, with dignity and arrogance. He says mockingly:
‘Don’t be afraid, Bhima. The brave do not strike someone who is
down during battle!’
SECOND Seeing Bhimasena thus ridiculed, Krishna now gives him a
sign, striking his own thighs.
THIRD That sign seems to have assured Bhima. Seeing his son’s
distress, the wind-god has also given him strength. He knits his
brow, wipes o the sweat, and grasps his mace ‘Chitrangada’ with
both hands. Then, roaring like a lion at a bull, he stands up again.
FIRST Oh! The combat has started again. The son of Pandu rubs his
hands on the ground, bites his lip and roars with rage. But that’s a
foul! He follows Krishna’s sign, but ignores the rules. With a swift
and deep two-handed swing he has hurled the mace on the thighs
of Gandhari’s son!
ALL Alas! The king has fallen.
THIRD Seeing the king fallen, his body pale with loss of blood, the
blessed Vyasa has risen into the sky. Balarama covers his eyes. He
is angry for Duryodhana. Meanwhile, on Vyasa’s advice, Krishna
and the Pandavas lead Bhima away.
FIRSTBhimasena’s departure has been noticed by Balarama, even
though his eyes were closed. Balarama’s headdress quivers. His
eyes are bloodshot with anger. As he pulls up his garland and
draws his dark garment around his body, he looks like the moon
descended on earth.
SECOND Come, let us also go and attend on the king.
THE OTHERS Very good.
[Exit all]
 ACT II

[Enter Balarama]
BALARAMA That was not fair, O you kings. He cheated in the contest.
He was too proud to care about me or my death-dealing plough.
In open battle he brought the mace down on Duryodhana’s thighs,
and also dragged down the reputation of his own family. Live on,
Duryodhana! Till I plunge this plough into Bhima’s breast today,
and make it full of furrows wet with sweat and blood.
[Voice o stage]
VOICE Please! Please, lord Balarama!
BALARAMA O poor Duryodhana! Even in this plight he follows me.
Like a child he drags himself on the ground. His arms are pale
with dust. His body is smeared and wet with the bloody cosmetic
of war. But he is splendid, like the serpent dragging its tired body
through the water, after having been used to churn the ocean.
[Enter Duryodhana, with both his thighs broken]
DURYODHANA Here I am. Bhima broke the rules of war. His mace blow
shattered my thighs. I drag my half-dead body along the earth
with my arms. But please, lord Balarama, please calm your anger.
Today, for the rst time, this head is on the ground, at your feet.
We are nished. And so is the war and the enmity. Now just let
the funeral of the Kuru clan proceed.
BALARAMA O Duryodhana, live on, at least for a little while.
DURYODHANA What are you going to do?
BALARAMA Listen. I will make an o ering for your fallen comrades. I
will give them the sons of Pandu, their bodies pierced with my
plough and smashed with my club.
DURYODHANA No, no, sir. Bhima ful lled his vow. My brothers have
gone to heaven. I am in this condition. What will be achieved by
ghting?
BALARAMA Sir, you were cheated before my eyes. That has made me
very angry.
DURYODHANA You think I was cheated?
BALARAMA Is there any doubt about it?
DURYODHANA O I had put my life on stake. Bhima had the wit to
escape from that dreadful re in the house of lac. He survived the
avalanche of rocks in the battle with Kubera. He killed the demon
Hidimba. If you think, Balarama, that he beat me today by deceit,
that is just not so.
BALARAMA Should Bhimasena live, having cheated you in battle?
DURYODHANA Was I cheated by Bhimasena?
BALARAMA Then by whom have you been brought to this pass?
DURYODHANA Listen. Who de ed Indra and took away the wishing
tree from paradise? Who sleeps for sport on the ocean for a
thousand celestial years? Who is the world’s beloved? It was he
who suddenly entered Bhima’s sharp mace and delivered me to
death.
[Voices o stage]
VOICES Move aside, gentlemen, move aside!
BALARAMA (Looking) Oh! That is His Majesty Dhritarashtra with
Gandhari, led by Durjaya. The ladies of the inner palace are also
with him. His step falters. His heart is full of grief. But it is also
full of courage. The gods were fearful at his birth, and blinded
him. He distributed his sight among a hundred sons. He still
stands proud and upright. His long arms are like columns of gold.
[Enter Dhritarashtra, Gandhari, two Queens and Durjaya]
DHRITARASHTRA My son, where are you?
GANDHARI Where are you, my child?
QUEENS Great king, where are you?
DHRITARASHTRA Alas! My sightless eyes have been blinded even more
by tears since I heard today that my son had been struck down by
trickery. Gandhari, are you there?
GANDHARI Alas! I am still alive.
QUEENS Great king! O great king!
DURYODHANA Alas! My wives are also weeping. I had hardly noticed
the mace’s blow before. It is only now that I feel its full force,
when my women come into the battle eld with their heads
uncovered.
DHRITARASHTRA Gandhari, can you see Duryodhana, the pride of our
family?
GANDHARI I cannot see him, Your Majesty.
DHRITARASHTRA What do you mean? Alas, today I am truly blind,
when I cannot even see my son at this time of need. I was the
proud father of a hundred splendid sons. Do I not deserve that
even one should remain to make my funeral o ering?
GANDHARI Suyodhana, my boy, answer me. Say something to console
your grief-stricken father.
BALARAMA That is queen Gandhari. She always yearned to see her
children and grand-children, but kept her eyes bandaged out of
devotion to her husband. Now even her fortitude is overcome by
grief. That bandage of devotion is wet with tears.
DHRITARASHTRA Duryodhana! My son! King of eighteen armies! Where
are you?
DURYODHANA A king indeed today!
DHRITARASHTRA My rstborn son! Come! Answer me!
DURYODHANA Answer you indeed! I am ashamed at what has
happened.
DHRITARASHTRA Come, my son, greet me.
DURYODHANA I am coming. (Tries to get up, but falls again) Alas! This is
the second blow. Bhimasena’s mace has today deprived me, both
of using my thighs and of saluting my father.
GANDHARI Here, my daughters.
QUEENS We are here, madam.
GANDHARI Go to your husband.
QUEENS We go, ill-fated as we are.
DHRITARASHTRA Who is this guiding me? Tugging at the hem of my
garment?
DURJAYA It’s me, grandfather. Durjaya.
DHRITARASHTRA Durjaya! Go, grandson, look to your father.
DURJAYA But I am tired, grandfather.
DHRITARASHTRA Go, rest in your father’s lap.
DURJAYA I am going. (Approaching) Father, where are you?
DURYODHANA Oh, he has come too. Love for a son is always in one’s
heart. In all conditions. But now it burns me. Durjaya has never
known sorrow. He has only known the comfort of his father’s lap.
What will he say when he sees me defeated?
DURJAYA Here’s the great king. He’s sitting on the ground.
DURYODHANA My son! Why have you come?
DURJAYA You were away for so long.
DURYODHANA Ah! Even in this condition, love for my son burns my
heart.
DURJAYA I want to sit in your lap. (Tries to climb on to Duryodhana’s
thighs)
DURYODHANA (Preventing him) Durjaya! Durjaya! The pain! Alas! This
light of my eyes, delight of my heart, this moon, is now a burning
re.
DURJAYA Why don’t you let me sit in your lap?
DURYODHANA Let it be, my son. Sit anywhere else. From today your
old familiar sitting place is not there any more.
DURJAYA Why, where is the great king going?
DURYODHANA I am going to my brothers.
DURJAYA Take me there also.
DURYODHANA Tell that to Bhima, my son.
DURJAYA Come, great king, you are being called.
DURYODHANA By whom, son?
DURJAYA By Her Majesty and His Majesty and all the palace ladies.
DURYODHANA You go, my son. I cannot come.
DURJAYA I’ll take you.
DURYODHANA You are still too small, my son.
DURJAYA (Walking around) Ladies, the great king is here.
QUEENS The great king! Alas! Alas!
DHRITARASHTRA Where is the great king?
GANDHARI Where is my child?
DURJAYA Here he is, sitting on the ground.
DHRITARASHTRA Alas! Is this the great king? He was like a pillar of
gold, the king of all kings. And now my poor boy lies on the oor,
like a broken doorpost.
GANDHARI Suyodhana, my child. You must be tired.
DURYODHANA My lady, I am your son.
DHRITARASHTRA Who is that?
GANDHARI It is I, great king, who gave birth to fearless sons.
DURYODHANA I now feel reborn today. Come father, why this distress
now?
DHRITARASHTRA Why would I be distressed, son? Your hundred brave
brothers were consecrated for battle. They have all perished. With
you, I also am dead. (Falls)
DURYODHANA Alas! His Majesty has fallen. Father, you must console
the queen.
DHRITARASHTRA What consolation can I give her?
DURYODHANA Say I died in battle facing the foe. O father, control your
grief for my sake. I have bowed my head only at your feet. I have
no care for this re raging within me. I will go to heaven just as
proudly as I was born.
DHRITARASHTRA I am old and blind from birth. I have no wish to live.
And now this bitter grief for my children has come upon me.
BALARAMA Alas! His eyes are closed for ever. He has lost all hope for
his son. I can hardly announce myself to him just now.
DURYODHANA My lady, I would like to say something to you.
GANDHARI Speak, my child.
DURYODHANA With folded hands I say to you, if I have done any good
at all in this life, be my mother in my future lives also.
GANDHARI You speak indeed my own wish.
DURYODHANA Malavi, you also listen. Blows of the mace have
bloodied my brow. The blood on my breast leaves no place for
garlands. Look at my arms, with wounds as ne as golden
bracelets. But your husband fell in battle without turning his
back. You are a warrior’s wife. Why should you weep?
MALAVI I am just a girl, your wedded wife. So I weep.
DURYODHANA And you, Pauravi. We performed the various sacri ces
enjoined by the scriptures. We looked after the family. Our
 dependents had no complaints. Our dear brothers subjugated the
enemies. The kings of the eighteen armies were given a hard
battle. You are a proud woman. Think of my pride. Wives of such
men do not weep.
PAURAVI I have already decided to go with you. So I do not weep.
DURYODHANA Durjaya, you listen also.
DHRITARASHTRA Gandhari, what does he say?
GANDHARI My own thoughts.
DURYODHANA You must listen to the Pandavas just as you do to me.
Obey the orders of the lady, mother Kunti. Honour Draupadi and
the mother of Abhimanyu like your own mother. Look, my son!
Duryodhana was your father. He was splendid and glorious. His
heart was red with pride. He fell in battle facing an equal
adversary. Just remember this and give up grief. Then, touching
the silk on Yudhishthira’s strong right arm, you must join the sons
of Pandu in o ering the funeral water in my name.
BALARAMA Ah! Enmity gives way to remorse. Well, the drums and
trumpets are silent. Arrows and armour, fans and umbrellas, all
lie scattered. The soldiers and charioteers all lie dead. But there is
a noise. Frightened crows are wheeling in the sky. From whose
bow is that sound?
[Ashwatthama’s voice o stage]
ASHWATTHAMA I came to this battle with Duryodhana when he raised
the bow. I was as eager as a priest coming to the great horse
sacri ce. Now I have come again.
BALARAMA Oh, that is the preceptor’s son coming here. Ashwatthama.
Large, clear eyes. Long golden arms. Angrily drawing that terrible
bow. He shines like Mount Meru with a rainbow on its peak.
[Enter Ashwatthama]
ASHWATTHAMA Listen to me, you warrior kings. Your armies came
together in battle like two oceans. Like sharks were the upraised
weapons. Few survive, and their life ebbs with each breath. But it
was the Kuru king, not I, whose thighs were shattered by deceit. It
was the charioteer’s son, not I, whose weapons failed. Today, I,
the son of Drona, stand alone on this eld of victory, my weapons
drawn. But, for me also, what is the point of glory in war without
 the accolade of victory. (Walking around) But, no. The king of the
Kurus was cheated when I was busy with my father’s funeral. Who
will believe it? The lords of eleven armies waited with folded
hands upon his words. Bhishma and my father fought for him in
the battle. It is clear that Duryodhana was defeated only by bad
luck. Now where is he? (Walking around and looking) Ah! Here is
the Kuru king. He has crossed the ocean of war, and now lies in
the midst of fallen elephants and horses, chariots and soldiers. His
hair is dishevelled. His limbs are wet with blood from mace
blows. He lies on this nal stony seat, like the sun at sunset,
sinking into twilight. (Approaching him) O Kuru king, what is this?
DURYODHANA The fruit of craving, O son of my teacher.
ASHWATTHAMA Your Majesty, I am going to put aside the proprieties.
DURYODHANA What are you going to do?
ASHWATTHAMA Krishna wants to ght. I am going to wipe out the sons
of Pandu, together with him and his eagle and discus. Like bad
lines from a drawing.
DURYODHANA No. No, sir, not that. All those crowned kings are no
more. Karna has gone to heaven. Bhishma has fallen. All my
hundred brothers have perished in battle. And we are in this
condition. Lay down your bow, sir.
ASHWATTHAMA Your Majesty, it seems that in the contest when Bhima
struck you with the mace and seized you by the hair, he crushed
your pride and spirit also, along with your thighs.
DURYODHANA No, no. What are kings but pride. It was for the sake of
pride that I chose this war. Look, teacher’s son, how Draupadi was
dragged by the hair at the gambling match, how Abhimanyu was
killed in battle while still a boy, how the Pandavas were beaten
by a trick of the dice and sent to live in the forest with wild
animals. Just think, there is not much they have done to break my
spirit and pride.
ASHWATTHAMA I swear by everything, by you, by the paradise of
warriors, by my own soul, I will attack tonight and destroy the
Pandavas in battle.
BALARAMA This will certainly happen. The preceptor’s son has said it.
ASHWATTHAMA Lord Balarama.
DHRITARASHTRA Alas, this conspiracy has a witness.
ASHWATTHAMA Come here, Durjaya. By this priest’s oath, may you be
the uncrowned king of all the realm won by your father’s strength
and valour.
DURYODHANA Bless you! What my heart wanted is done. Now my life
is going. Shantanu and all my royal ancestors are here. Here are
my brothers with Karna at their head. Here too is Abhimanyu,
with his boyish tresses, sitting on Indra’s elephant, berating me
angrily. Urvashi and the celestial nymphs have come to receive
me. Here are the oceans, and the Ganga and the other rivers.
Death has sent a warrior’s car drawn by a thousand swans to fetch
me. I come. (Dies)
[He is covered with a cloth]
DHRITARASHTRA Curse this kingdom, useless with the death of my
sons. I go to the forest hermitage where decent people live.
ASHWATTHAMA And I go, weapon in hand, ready to kill those who
sleep tonight.

Benediction

BALARAMA May the lord of men destroy the enemies and protect us
all.
[Exit all]