“Time gives every coward an opportunity to become a knight. The moment is now!”
(Samay Har Kayar Ko Shoorveer Banne Ka Avsar Deta Hai, Veh Kshan Yahi Hai)
When Amarendra Bahubali admonish a terror stricken Kumara Varman unable to defend the royal women folk of Kuntala from the invading Pindaris, did you feel the scribbles of an ancient poet-sage on a dried palm leaf?
Did you see the silhouette of Bahubali, the legendary Arjuna, when the on-screen Bahubali lifted the spirits of the Kuntala prince with his inspiring words?
Right! The sequence of Kumara Varman and Amarendra Bahubali (undercover as Shivu), was inspired from the story of Uttara Kumara from Virata Parva of the Mahabharata.
As I watched Bahubali 2 last night, I couldn’t but replay that episode of Mahabharat, the way it unfolded before the teenager I was, while reading Rajaji (C Rajagopalachari) in the silence of a moonlit night.
—
The Ajnata-vaas was almost over. Living incognito, in the palace of Virata, in the kingdom of Matsya, was Draupadi and the Pandavas- the scions of Kuru vamsha, the rightful heirs to the throne of Hastinapura!
The Kauravas trying hard to locate their rivals, had finally got a hint of their presence in Viratanagari, the capital of King Virata. Wasting no time, Duryodhana declared war on Matsya, and pounced on it from the south.
With the king away from the capital, the stage was set for a young prince’s claim to glory. Enter Uttara Kumara, the sixteen year old yuvraj of Matsya.
Flushed with excitement, and over confidence obvious to his age, he grabbed the bow and arrows. As he wrapped the armour around, he swore to his sister to bring the capes of Bhishma, Drona, Kripa, Karna and Duryodhana… to make clothes for her dolls! With Brihannala, the eunuch, as his charioteer, he flew to the war front.
All was well till Uttara Kumara met Kauravas face to face. He stood there staring at a sea of soldiers, elephants, horses, and chariots. The gleam of armours and weapons was blinding. Terror struck his heart.
Riding the white stallion was a fierce looking Duryodhana. Next to him was god like Bhishma. Kripa, Drona, Karna, Ashwattama…. awe inspiring men stood galore on the other side.
Uttara Kumara was drowning in the sea raging inside his chest. The terrified prince flung his bow, leapt from the chariot and started running back to the city.
“Disgrace not your noble birth. Better die in the battle than run away.”
Screaming thus, an infuriated Brihannala, the eunuch, swung into action. She grabbed the fleeing prince and threw him back on the chariot. Taking charge, infusing fresh courage into his heart, holding him by her side, she rode fiercely into the Kurus.
Uttara Kumara was yet to know that he was under the wings of Dhananjaya, the conqueror of monarchs. Brihannala was Arjuna in disguise!
—
Srinath Mohandas
May 09, 2017
Śrīnāth Mohandās 