Appointment of the Crown Prince

Although Dhritraashtra had already consulted his interim committee and everybody was of the opinion that Yudhishthir should be appointed the Crown Prince of Hastinaapur, still he was trying to find some clue from where he could plead for his son to be appointed as the Crown Prince. There was a conflict between selfishness and the righteousness in his mind. Selection of the Crown Prince was the sprout of Kurukshetra war. All wanted that Yudhishthir should be the Crown Prince, but a father's heart did not agree for it. But Dhritraashtra was intelligent and he knew politics. He would never say even to Gaandhaaree that he wanted to give Yudhishthir's rights to Duryodhan.

Vidur had guessed it that Dhritraashtra was not satisfied with the interim committee's decision, although he didn't say anything apparently. So first he spread his secret envoys around the town to know the public opinion about as who should be appointed as Crown Prince. His people informed that the public wanted Yudhishthir to be as their Crown Prince. Then he said to Dhritraashtra - "Let the royal court decide with proof." Dhritraashtra again got worried that nobody knows what game Vidur is going to play now, but he could not have refused logic.

So next day, when all gathered to hear the news of Crown Prince, there appeared four criminals in the royal court. All killed a person and all accepted their crime. When Dhritraashtra wanted to decide their case, then Vidur intervened - "Mahaaraaj, If you are going to appoint one of these two princes as Crown Prince, then provide the opportunity to both of them to decide their case so that the public can also see the ability of both princes."

Duryodhan said - "Because I am the eldest son of the king, that is why I should be given first opportunity to do justice." Vidur said - "No, not because of this that you are the eldest son of the king, but maybe because you are the younger brother of Yudhishthir, you can get this opportunity." Dhritraashtra asked - "Duryodhan, According to you what punishment should be prescribed for these four criminals?" Duryodhan said - "There is no need to think in this matter. We have the tradition that a killer gets the death sentence, that is why I prescribe death sentence to all four criminals."

Dhritraashtra got the opportunity to declare Duryodhan the Crown Prince, but Vidur intervened him again and said - "Mahaaraaj, You have not given the opportunity to Yudhishthir to do justice with them. We don't know whether he agrees with this decision or not." Dhritraashtra said - "Now what is the problem in this to agree or not to agree with." Vidur said - "Mahaaraaj, If Yudhishthir does not agree with this then he himself will say this." Dhritraashtra asked Yudhishthir - "Don't you agree with your younger brother's decision?"

Yudhishthir said - "I can not answer this without knowing everything." Dhritraashtra asked - "What do you want to know now?" Yudhishthir said - "I want to know their Varn and castes before deciding anything." Karn intervened - "What is the relationship between caste and justice?" Yudhishthir said - "If I didn't need it, I would not have asked this."

The four criminals were Braahman, Kshatriya, Vaishya and Shoodra. All committed the same crime - to kill a person. Yudhishthir said - "According to the rules of justice, a Shoodra criminal should be imprisoned for 4 years; A Vaishya criminal should be imprisoned for 8 years; and a Kshatriya should be imprisoned for 16 years. But a Braahman criminal cannot be prescribed death sentence, therefore Kul Guru Kripaa should decide his punishment."

Shakuni laughed and said - "Good, crime is only one and the punishments are four?" Yudhishthir explained - "Maamaa, The crime is not one. Shoodra's crime is a crime of an ignorant, that is why his punishment is only 4 years in prison. But Vaishya is not so much ignorant about the crime, that is why his punishment becomes its double - 8 years. And since a Kshatriya is to protect the people, if he kills a person then his punishment goes double than the Vaishya's punishment - 16 years. Braahman is Gyaanee (knowledgeable), he has killed a person in his full senses, his crime is of highest degree. To treat them all alike is not justice but is injustice."

All people sitting in the court admired Yudhishthir very much on his judgment. Vidur now requested Dhritraashtra that he could then announce the name of the Crown Prince." Dhritraashtra had no alternative except to announce Yudhishthir as Crown Prince. So Yudhishthir was declared the Crown prince. Naturally Duryodhan was not happy with this decision, he was jealous. After the coronation, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and Sahadev went to their victory tour.