Andha Yug by Dharamvir Bharati

ANDHA YUG -By “Dharamvir Bharati”
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Notes By: ENG HONS HUB
Dharamvir Bharati was a prominent figure in modern Hindi

literature.
Bharati excelled in both novels and short stories.
His works often delve into existential themes like alienation,
the search for meaning, and the complexities of human
relationships.
He employs metaphors and imagery to create a deeper
understanding of his characters' inner world and the themes
he explores.
Dharamvir Bharati's contributions to Hindi literature continue
to inspire generations of writers.
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The play starts with a Sanskrit verse saying

we should respect certain gods before
telling the story. These gods are Narayana,
Nara-Narayana, Saraswati Devi, and Vyasa.
Narayana is a powerful god, Nara-Narayana
are wise sages, Saraswati Devi is the
goddess of knowledge, and Vyasa is a
legendary sage who wrote important texts.
This verse is like a prayer to ask for
blessings and to keep away any troubles during the play.
Then there's a part called "The Proclamation" where some
lines from an ancient text called the Vishnu Purana are
quoted. These lines talk about how the world will
become a bad place, where good things will
disappear, and people will only care about money.
It says people will become so unhappy that they'll
hide in caves. It feels like they're describing a
very dark time. But there's a small hope
mentioned in the character Krishna. Krishna is
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described as someone who stays calm and can maybe save

everyone.
So, the play is about a really tough time in the world, but it's
also about finding wisdom even when things seem really bad.
In the play, both sides in the big

war are blamed for breaking rules
of honor, but it's suggested that
the Kauravas might have done it
more than the Pandavas. The word
'blind' is used a lot to describe the current time, which is the
end of the Dvapara yug, an ancient era.
There are two guards who are sad and tired because they just
walk around the palace corridors, which they call "a blind and
sick kingdom." They talk about a storm coming, but it's
actually the sound of vultures flying over the battlefield.
Vidura is waiting for news from Sanjaya, who tells him about
the battlefield every day. Dhritarashtra,
the king, is scared, but Vidura reminds
him that he didn't listen to warnings
before the war started, even from wise
people like Krishna.
Dhritarashtra blames his blindness and
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his love for his sons for his actions. He can't

even imagine what happened to his son
Dushasana in the war. Gandhari, the queen, is
angry with Krishna for not following the rules
of the battlefield. She thinks duty and honor
are just illusions.
An old man who is an astrologer comes in and
talks about how he thought Duryodhana would
win, but now he's not sure. He realizes that people can change
their destiny if they let go of their ego. Gandhari still hopes
Duryodhana will win and gives the old man some money.
Then everyone leaves, and the guards talk again about how
empty their lives are. The chorus sings about the city being
filled with the shadow of defeat. They blame Dhritarashtra
for being blind and fooling himself.
In the first act, instead of just showing the victory of good
over evil, the play focuses on the last day of the war and how
everyone feels. Gandhari is mad at Krishna and doesn't see
how her own sons did wrong things.
In the play, Sanjaya is struggling with how to tell

Dhritarashtra about the defeat of the Kauravas. He meets a
soldier named Kritavarma and describes the
chaos of the battlefield, where even he was
almost killed by a Pandava warrior. He talks
about Duryodhana's sad state after his defeat,
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which is described with deep sadness.

Then, Kripacharya enters looking for
Ashwatthama. Only three Kaurava warriors
survived. The scene shifts to
Ashwatthama, who is heartbroken over his
father's death. This happened because
Yudhishthira, one of the Pandavas, tricked
his father into thinking that his son was
killed.
Ashwatthama blames Yudhishthira for lying and feels like all
the goodness inside him is gone. He decides to take revenge
and attacks Sanjaya, but is stopped by Kritavarma and
Kripacharya. Ashwatthama is tormented by what he's
becoming.
Later, they find out that Duryodhana is hiding in a lake. They
all go to meet him, and a wise man enters. He believes that the
future isn't fixed and can change based on our actions.
Ashwatthama gets angry and kills the
wise man. Kritavarma and Kripacharya
are shocked. Kripacharya reminds
Kritavarma how both sides did bad
things in the war, like the Pandavas
tricking Dronacharya and the Kauravas
killing Arjuna's son unfairly.
The chorus describes the despair and destruction at the end
of the war with a strong and disturbing comparison.
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In the play, Sanjaya's account of the war's

end deeply affects the people of
Hastinapur. Dhritarashtra, the king, feels
the wounds of the defeated soldiers. A
mute soldier begs for water, showing the
suffering caused by war.
Yuyutsu, Dhritarashtra's son from a slave
girl, returns home after fighting for the
Pandavas. He worries about how his family will react. Vidura
comforts him, but Yuyutsu feels lost, thinking that doing the
right thing didn't bring him anything.
Vidura also feels unsure about what's right and wrong.
Suddenly, news comes that Duryodhana, the Kaurava leader,
has been defeated. The scene shifts to the forest, where
Kritavarma, Kripacharya, and Ashwatthama are hiding.
Balarama, Krishna's brother, scolds Krishna for Bhima's
actions in the war, saying they were wrong. He predicts that
the Pandavas will also face destruction because of their
actions.
Ashwatthama feels burdened by the idea of honor and duty.
He decides to take revenge for
Duryodhana's death and plans to kill the
Pandavas while they sleep.
In the forest, Ashwatthama sees an owl
kill a crow and is inspired to attack the
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Pandavas. He leaves with his soldiers, determined to kill them,

even targeting an unborn child.
Kripacharya tries to stop him, but
Ashwatthama rushes out, leading to a sense
of urgency at the end of the act
In the play, a dark giant named Shankara stops Ashwatthama

at the entrance to the Pandava camp. Shankara blesses him
but also scolds him for his violent actions, saying both sides
broke ethical codes.
Sanjaya tells Gandhari how Ashwatthama killed some of the
Pandavas' key figures. Gandhari isn't shocked by the violence.
Kritavarma and Kripacharya find Duryodhana's dying body.
Ashwatthama later returns, boasting about his plan to kill an
unborn child.
Krishna and the Pandavas chase Ashwatthama. He releases a
deadly weapon, but then faces consequences from Vyasa and
Arjuna.
Gandhari and Sanjaya find Duryodhana dead
and hear wails for the slain child. Gandhari
rejoices at Ashwatthama's revenge.
Dhritarashtra hopes Yudhishthira will make
Yuyutsu king. Vidura tells them about Krishna
saving the child but cursing Ashwatthama.
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They find Ashwatthama, cursed to

suffer eternally. Gandhari blames
Krishna for the war and curses
him.
Krishna accepts her curse, showing
that even gods face consequences.
Gandhari regrets her anger, and the atmosphere turns
ominous.
In this act, titled "Victory and Suicide," the chorus sings of

the Pandavas' victory, which brings no joy. Each brother is
shown as flawed, unlike the heroic figures in popular stories.
Bhima, who killed Duryodhana, lacks compassion and taunts
Dhritarashtra and Gandhari. They, along with Kunti, retire to
the forest due to Bhima's insults.
Yuyutsu's suicide attempt is laughed off by his brothers,
showing the emptiness of victory. Yudhishthira feels
burdened by the crown embedded with Ashwatthama's jewel.
Vidura complains about Bhima's
behavior and consoles Yuyutsu, who
faces mockery. Yuyutsu stabs a
soldier who throws a stone at him,
causing concern among the others.
The elders face a forest fire and
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regret their past actions. They perish in the flames, urging

Sanjaya to escape. The chorus sings of the decline in human
values during the Pandavas' reign.
Yudhishthira wants to renounce
everything, feeling victory is like
slow suicide. Ill omens surround
them, indicating Krishna's
impending departure and
Yamaraj's presence.
The guards feel they are better
off not facing pain or grief amidst the hopelessness. Bharati
condenses many events from the Mahabharata to depict the
overwhelming dismay.
The chorus sings of Lord Krishna's serene presence under a

tree, hinting at his slight fatigue. Ashwatthama accuses the
chorus of false praises, questioning why he suffers while
Krishna, who also killed his kin,
remains unharmed.
Sanjaya tries to stop a hunter,
Jara, from aiming at Krishna, but
fails. Three flute notes mark
Krishna's death, signaling the end
of an era and the beginning of Kali
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Yuga.
Ashwatthama witnesses Krishna's passing
and feels his pain vanish, contemplating the
beginning of faith. Yuyutsu mocks his
newfound faith, questioning who will save
his followers if Krishna couldn't save
Parikshit.
Jara reveals himself as the mendicant
Ashwatthama killed. Krishna turned him into a hunter to fulfill
Gandhari's curse. Ashwatthama realizes his blind vengeance
and feels free from pain.
The mendicant repeats Krishna's last
words of hope, stating that those with
faith will overcome difficulties and build
a new life. Despite doubts, the mendicant
urges others to listen and hold onto their
faith.
The chorus sings of the Dark Age but emphasizes the
importance of following dharma for a sense of purpose and
direction in such times.
1. The Futility of War:

 The play serves as a powerful anti-war allegory. The
catastrophic consequences of the Kurukshetra war are
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depicted, leaving behind only death, destruction, and

despair for all parties involved. This emphasizes the
senselessness of war and the immense human cost it
exacts.
2. Destructive Power of Blind Hatred and Revenge:
 The play portrays the cycle of hatred and revenge that
fuels the war. Characters like Dhritarashtra and
Gandhari are consumed by vengeance, leading to further
bloodshed and suffering. This theme highlights the
dangers of letting hatred dictate actions and the
importance of seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.
3. The Loss of Humanity and Morality:
 The characters grapple with moral dilemmas and engage
in questionable actions during the war. Lying,
manipulation, and violence become commonplace,
showcasing the devastating impact of war on human
morality.
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ANDHA YUG -By “Dharamvir Bharati”

Dharamvir Bharati was a prominent figure in modern Hindi

The play starts with a Sanskrit verse saying

described as someone who stays calm and can maybe save

In the play, both sides in the big

his love for his sons for his actions. He can't

In the play, Sanjaya is struggling with how to tell

which is described with deep sadness.

In the play, Sanjaya's account of the war's

Pandavas. He leaves with his soldiers, determined to kill them,

In the play, a dark giant named Shankara stops Ashwatthama

They find Ashwatthama, cursed to

In this act, titled "Victory and Suicide," the chorus sings of

regret their past actions. They perish in the flames, urging

The chorus sings of Lord Krishna's serene presence under a

1. The Futility of War:

depicted, leaving behind only death, destruction, and

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