People wept as the Pandavas, with Draupadi, went into exile. Dhritarashtra was worried, because Narada proclaimed that after fourteen years the race of the Kauravas would be destroyed because of Duryodhana’s crime. No one had any comfort to offer the blind king or his son but they all knew that Duryodhana would do whatever he felt like and Dhritarashtra, whatever he might say, would support his son. In fact, when Vidura criticized Duryodhana and told Dhritarashtra to give the kingdom back to the Pandavas, he threw him out of the kingdom, only to repent and recall him immediately. The elders stayed in Hastinapura because of their loyalty to the kingdom. Duryodhana was deaf to advice from the elders. Sage Maitreya on a visit asked him to do what was right, but Duryodhana laughed and slapped his thigh in delight at having exiled the Pandavas. Sage Maitreya cursed that he would be killed by Bhima breaking his thighs.
Deaf Ears
