Bhishma and others try to talk to Duryodhana

Janmajeya asked - Please tell what did the Pandavas do? Whom did they send as a mediator?What did the Kauravas do when they were defeated by Arjuna?
The sage said - Listen to me.

Having been defeated, the Kauravas came back to their camp. Karna said they would plan to kill the Pandavas like Indra killed Vrittasura and Shiva vanquished Tripura. It had to be planned carefully. Get them here and then let us put an end to them.Invite all for a feast and poison their food.
Duryodhana said All my plans are spoiled. The Pandavas survived the forest and the one year in hiding. Now they will demand their land. I will not give up without a fight. I will send out messages asking people to join me for the war. All my allies should join me.

Karna praised Duryodhana and said Well said.

Bhishma said What you say is not correct and I am not pleased. Do not fight the Pandavas. Form a truce. The Pandavas will readily accept a small part and go happily. You cheated them but they did not harm you in anyway. They have fulfilled all their conditions. Now they are entitled to their kingdom.

Duryodhana kept quiet for a while and then said I will not go and please my enemy. The war will happen.

Bhishma said Then do whatever you wish. You will not listen to good advise.

Drona, Kripa, Dhritarashtra and Vidura tried to talk to Duryodhana but he would not listen. They tried to tell Duryodhana about how Ravana was proud and had great warriors but yet faced defeat. They said they would tell about what had happened in the earlier times. 

Abhimanyu weds Uttara

Messengers were sent out. Allies of the Pandavas, hearing they were well all rushed to the kingdom of Matysa. Hearing the news Krishna and Balarama rushed towards Matsya on Garuda. His sons, wives and other faily members followed. Drupada came with his wife and sons.

Seeing Krishna, the Pandavas greeted him with eyes full of tears. Nephew of Krishna, Abhimanyu, came there and well amazed to see him.

With with all rites and rituals Abhimanyu was married to Uttara. Slowly the guests started departing. Krishna stayed back to spend some time with the Pandavas.

Thus ends the Virat Parva of Mahabharata. 

Virata gets to know the Pandavas

In the night the Pandavas and Draupadi met. Yudhistira said to Arjuna I heard you fought a great battle and killed many.
Arjuna said I saw Duryodhana and realize now that a war is inevitable and Duryodhana will not give up our kingdom without a battle. Yudhistira wanted to know how Arjuna knew this and Arjuna said Drona had told him so, indirectly through his actions.
Yudhistira said Why did you go and disclose your self. We have to be in exile again. Sahadeva, please calculate and let me know how many days are left for our exile to be over.
Sahadeva said We have entered the fourteenth year. Our time is up.
Yudhistira asked then when was the next auspicious day. Sahadeva said that was in three days time.

Three days from then, all got up and early and dressed up in royal robes. When the time was correct, Yudhitira sat on the throne of Virata and Draupadi sat near him on his left. Bhima stood on the right holding the umbrella. Arjuna stood near with folded hands and Nakula and Sahadeva stood with fans.

This was reported to Virata. The king rushed there with his sons Shweta and Shankha. Uttar heard this and he too rushed there. Uttar went there and bowed down to Yudhistira.

Virata entered and said Kanka, How can you dare to sit on my throne? You had said you had no needs and were happy to sleep on the floor and now you desire my throne. And then Sairandhari is sitting there too. You have no shame. I am seeing Brihannala here along with my cook and cowherd and stable man. Sairandhri I thought was devoted to her husbands. Then how could she desire Kanka and sit with him.

Uttar tried to stop his father.

Virata said How can you act like this? How do act this, being my son?

Bhima tried to do something but Yudhistira stopped him.
Slowly, with a smile, Arjuna said - What you say is true. There are thrones which are respected by the Gods and that is the throne that Kanka should be sitting on. So why should he sitting on this throne? He who is worshiped by kings from all lands, how can he sit on this throne? One who is protected by Bhima and Arjuna, how can he sit here? One who had the sons of Madri to cover his back and has lost games of dice with Duryodhana, how can he sit here? One who roamed for twelve years in the forest, this is Yudhistira.

Virata said If this is true Brihannala, then tell me where is the daughter of Drupada? Where are his other brothers?

Arjuna said There is Vrikodara (Bhima) whose name itself brings fear in the hearts of enemies. He is the one killed your brother in law, Kichaka. The cowherd and the stable hand are the sons of Madri. The Lotus eyed one sitting with the king is the daughter of Drupada. Also know me as Dhanajaya.

Uttar then said Struck by misfortune, the Pandavas took refuge in our kingdom. It is because of some good deeds in the past, that they came to us.

Virata with folded hands fell on the ground and said Forgive me. I have done you wrong.

The king hearted Yudhistira asked Arjuna to life Virata up.

Virata asked for forgiveness and Yudhistira said there was nothing to fault him.

Virata said If you are happy then let my daughter Uttara marry Arjuna.

Arjuna said That is not possible.

Virata said I and my queen may have wronged you but what did my daughter do? Why do you reject her?

Arjuna said I lived for a year as womand and I know your daughter is pure. She has taught by me and she deserves to be married to my son Abhimanyu.

Yudhistira asked Virata to send messengers to Dwaraka.

Uttar tells about the battle

Virat then asked his son Do tell about the war that you fought.
Uttar said I was scared seeing the army. When I was wondering what to do a divine person came there. I acted as the charioteer of the person and he fought the battle. I did not defeat the army nor did I free the cattle.
Virata said I want to meet this person.
Uttar said In the next two three days that person will come here and meet you.

Brihannala went where the women folk were and gave the dresses and ornaments to Uttara. 

Virata strikes Kanka

In the meanwhile, having been freed from the king of Trigarta, Virata returned. The people were celebrating his return. He came and sat and all came and greeted him. He looked around and could not see his son. The queen said When you went to fight the Trigarta king, Uttar went to fight the Kauravas who had stolen the cows.He had taken Brihannala as his charioteer.
The king was shocked. How could Uttar fight the Kaurava army with an eunuch as a charioteer?
He asked his army to get ready and go to help Uttar.
Hearing this Yudhitira said to Virata Do not worry., With Brihannala around, even Indra cannot defeat your son.
When this was happening Uttar's messenger arrived. The messenger said Uttar was returning victorious.
Yudhistira said I told you earlier that with Brihannala on his side, your son will not lose.
The messenger was rewarded and Uttara was asked to welcome Brihannala and Uttar.
The king then said to Yudhistira Let us play a game of dice, Sairadhnri, please fetch the game pieces for us.
Yudhistira said This is not the time for the game. This is the time for enjoyment. This game will be the cause of downfall if played at a wrong time.
Virata said I have no enemies. My son has defeated Duryodhana. What do I have to fear?
Yudhistira said Well said. How can one have fear when Brihannala is near.
The king got angry - My son has won over the enemies and all you do is praise Brihannala. Please do not say something which is not pleasing to the ears.
Saying this the king lost his temper and hurled a glass near his hand, at Yudhistira. The dice hit Yudhistira and he started bleeding. Yudhistira held the wound to control the bleeding. Draupadi, who was there, took a glass and held that to prevent the blood from falling on the ground.

Uttar then asked for permission to come there with Brihannala. Virata said Call my son and make sure Brihannala does not come here. The guard went and asked the prince to come alone.

Uttar came and greeted his father. He then saw Yudhistira bleeding. He asked his father Why was Kanka on the floor, bleeding?

Virata said When I was praising you and your skill, Kanka kept praising Brihannala. I lost my temper and hurled a glass at him. This is why he is bleeding.

Uttar said You thought Kanka to be an ordinary Brahaman and did this. Please ask for forgiveness.

The king did what was asked and said He had lost his temper and asked to be forgiven.

Yudhistira said I have no anger in me. All I can say is, it is good that my blood did not spill in your land. If that had happened, misfortune would have hit you.

Uttar said Kanka is kind and for that all are safe. If Brihannala was here and saw the bleeding Kanka, I am not sure what would have happened. 

Weapons are tied back

Arjuna and Uttar returned to the Shami tree and tied up the weapons and kept it back. Arjuna took the form of an eunuch and wore his ornaments and braided his hair.
He said to Uttar - Please do not tell anyone that the Pandavas are in your court. If your father askes, tell him you won the battle fighting yourself.
Uttar said How is this possible? How can I take credit for something you did?I will tell my father in a way that your identity is not disclosed?
Arjuna said I will come to the court in the evening.

Uttar asked a messenger to say that was returning.

Duryodhana's crown falls

The Kaurava army started regaining their senses. Some saw their ornaments missing and some were missing their dresses.
Arjuna from a distance shot arrows touching the feet of Drona and Bhishma. Then with a crescent shaped arrow, Arjuna aimed at the crown of Duryodhana. The crown fell on the ground.
Scared, Duryodhana tried to run but Drona asked him to calm down. He said Arjuna would not kill anyone without the permission of Yudhistira. On the contrary, if Bhima had come, all would have been dead.
After this they started looking for Shanuki. They found him tied on the back of an ass. He was freed and it was reported to Duryodhana that his uncle had been found.

When this was happening, Susharma came there and said he had been defeated by a Gandharva. The counselor of the king, Kanka, had saved his life.

The Kauravas then returned back to Hastinapura.