Only a few days before the celebrations to mark the beginning of Subhadra's son Abhimanyu had been held in Indraprasth with great pomp and show. Then both Krishnas had come and after blessing Abhimanyu had gone back. While returning, Krishna Vasudev had said in jest, "Krishnaa! Subhadra's son has arrived as this family's eldest son. Do not grieve over this. This is the tradition of the Puru dynasty. Though Gandhari was pregnant first, still, because the sons of the younger sister-in-law, Kunti, were born first, they are shouldering the grave responsibilities of the first-born. You should be glad that your sons will not have to bear the heavy burden of the royal crown." Laughing I said, "Sakha! Despite being born of Subhadra's womb Abhimanyu is my husband's son. Therefore, Abhimanyu is my eldest son. Abhimanyu calls me ma while he calls Subhadra chhoti ma, 'junior mother'. Subhadra has only given him birth but he is growing up in my lap. It is with me that he studies, learns singing, draws pictures. Listening to tales of his ancestors he drops off to sleep in my lap. Subhadra's childishness has not yet gone. Should Abhimanyu insist on anything with her, she teases him all the more. When Abhimanyu weeps, instead of consoling him Subhadra is on the verge of tears. When Abhimanyu chatters away, Subhadra packs him off to me. Now tell me, is he my son or Subhadra's?" Laughing, Krishna said, "What should I say! Abhimanyu is himself going around saying this. The first day his teacher asked him 'What is your introduction?' Abhimanyu said, 'My father is Arjun, maternal uncle is Krishan and mother is Krishnaa " just this is my introduction.' There is no trace of my darling sister, Subhadra there." So Krishna was jesting! Still I said, "Sakha, since birth Abhimanyu has been listening to the history of his clan from my lips. In his dynasty it is the eldest who has the highest status. Not just because of the respect due to age, but it is because of intellect, discrimination and nobility of heart that the eldest was given the highest status. The sons of Madri, Nakul and Sahadev, too, feel proud to call themselves Kunti's sons. Despite enmity between the Kauravs and the Pandavs, in the eyes of mothers Gandhari and Kunti the hundred Kauravs and the five Pandavs are brothers. So how is it unnatural in any way if Abhimanyu introduces himself as 'son of Krishnaa'?" Sakha laughed aloud and left. While leaving, he said, "Sakhi, my heart is not in Dvaraka. I constantly wait for an opportunity to visit Indraprasth. Do not begin the education of your five sons Prativindhya, Shrutasom, Shrutakarma, Shatanik and Shrutakirti together. I will get the chance of coming each time for the ceremony of each one. Then I will not have to make up false excuses before brother Balaram for coming here."
Pratibha Ray ( ). Yajnaseni: The Story of Draupadi (Kindle Locations 3119-3128). . Kindle Edition.
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