A Fateful Night in the Mahabharata

By Somnath Khan

"PART 1-Soubala is unsure about his goals. Should he avenge the wrongs done to his family or take the righteous path? Which side must he choose? A unique look at the dichotomy that plagues Soubala in A Night in Mahabharata. 

PART-II Modern life, replete with individualistic ideals, has lost familial bonds, making men mere islands. Evi

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ukiyoto Publishing
• Release date: Aug 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9789361721724

Book preview

A Fateful Night in the Mahabharata

Translated by Sabik Pandit

Somnath Khan

Ukiyoto Publishing

All global publishing rights are held by

Ukiyoto Publishing

Published in 2023

Content Copyright © Somnath Khan

All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in a retrieval system, in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher.

The moral rights of the author have been asserted.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

This book is sold subject to the condition that it shall not by way of trade or otherwise, be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise circulated, without the publisher’s prior consent, in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published.

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To The Future Generation

Contents

Part-1

A Fateful Night in the Mahabharata

Part-2

Elysium’s Tale

Scene 1

Scene 2

Scene 3

Scene 4

Scene 5

Scene 6

Scene 7

Scene 8

Scene 9

About the Author

About the Translator

Part-1

A Fateful Night in the Mahabharata

Characters

Soubala      -       Popularly known as Shakuni in Mahabharata

Subal            -       Soubala’s father

Basudev       -       One of the heroes of Mahabharata

Angad             -       Soubala’s bodyguard. (Not a character from Mahabharata)

Sevadasi      -       A servant girl. (Not a character from Mahabharata)

Stage: The stage is divided into two zones – Upper rostrum and lower zone. Two carved pillars of approximately 4 feet adorn middle left and right of the stage.

One of the pillars hold a lamp, the other holds a fruit vase. A light zone is created in downstage middle and there lay a board for dice game created for the play.

Once the curtain is raised, the audience can see an agitated man, almost in shadows, perambulating in the blue light lit Upper rostrum. He is rubbing dices aggressively in his hands. The only sounds that can be heard are raspy hissing of vultures, barking of dogs and hooting of owls.

The first hours of the night carry ominous messages for all. Angad is visible as the light falls on Down left. Holding a lance, he is judiciously engaged in his post to guard the palace of Hastinapur.

Angad             -       There it is again! Seven times has the ball of fire rived the dark sky and charged on earth. Evil sign indeed! So many years have I guarded the palace gates of Hastinapur, so many sleepless nights have I spent staring at the star sprangled sky but never have I seen such shooting stars. No... once I did witness such a dreadful night when the Pandavas, along with Mata Kunti had begun their journey to Varnavat on the auspicious day of Shiv Chaturdasi. Restless cries of vultures, dogs, and owls had raptured the slumbering night in Hastinapur. Soon after, the messenger had arrived with that dreadful news of Mata Kunti and the Pandavas having charred to death in Varnavat palace. Although that report turned out to be false, but this night resembles that night in so many ways. Once again, the Pandavas have travelled to Hastinapur from Indraprastha, on crowned prince Duryodhana’s invitation to participate in the inaugural ceremony of his new palace.

The prince sincerely wants his eldest brother, Yudhishthira to ceremonially unveil his palace. For the festivity, a friendly bout of dice game has been arranged tomorrow at the court. Yuvraj Yudhishthira has graciously accepted this invitation and have arrived today at Hastinapur with queen mother Kunti, his brothers Bheema, Arjun, Nakul, Sehdev and their wife Draupadi. Tomorrow, the long-estranged family will reunite with the chanting of the Vedic scriptures by the learned sages and blessings of the sacrificial fire. Then why do these dark clouds encircle the sky of Hastinapur tonight! As if some malicious plot echoes within the walls of this slumbering palace.  Alas! Too long is the night!

The upper rostrum lights up. Soubala screams.

Soubala      -       (Muffled scream) Silence! Let trust and not words rule over your soul. Trust me please...

The light dims on Soubala. Lights up on Angad

Angad             -       (Startled) Is it GandharrajSoubala I hear? The midnight moon has past

its prime, the first hour of the night is almost at its end. Who does he speak to at such an hour? Did someone enter his chambersunder my unobservant eyes? Oh! This would indisputably be my last watch as a royal guard. I would be beheaded for such carelessness. (Pause) No, how is this possible? I have guarded these doors like a diligent hound, with all my senses alert just as I was instructed by Senapati Purandar, and I am not the only guard responsible for guarding the palace. It is impossible for even a mouse to avoid their watchful eyes to enter these doors. (Thoughtful) But why this intensified security for GandharrajSoubala’s chambers, like the royal treasure vaults of Hastinapur, is beyond me. Does he fear threat from some unknown assailant? Doubtless, King Duryodhana considers Sire Soubala peerless. Possibly, that’s why he has taken special care to intensify his security and keep him entertained with ample wine and luscious women. Sire Soubala is a dear uncle to our prince, but why this sudden display of compassion towards his maternal