Kritavarma - The Yadava Who Chose Kauravas

Dadi: "Guddu beta, tonight I'll tell you about a warrior who fought against his own family - and the terrible price everyone paid."

Guddu: "Who would fight against family?"

Dadi: "Kritavarma was a Yadava warrior - from the same clan as Lord Krishna himself! He was commander of the Narayani Sena, the Yadava army. When the great war approached, Krishna offered Arjuna and Duryodhana a choice."

Guddu: "What choice?"

Dadi: ""Take either me, unarmed, or take my entire army." Arjuna chose Krishna. Duryodhana happily took the army. And with the army went its commander - Kritavarma."

Guddu: "So he had to fight for the Kauravas?"

Dadi: "He could have refused, beta. His cousin Satyaki fought for the Pandavas. But Kritavarma stayed with the army he commanded, even though it meant fighting against Krishna and his kinsmen."

Guddu: "Was he a bad person?"

Dadi: "That's what makes this story complicated. He was loyal to his commitment. But that loyalty led him to something terrible."

Guddu: "What did he do?"

Dadi: "At the end of the eighteen-day war, only three Kaurava warriors survived: Kritavarma, Ashwatthama, and Kripacharya. That night, Ashwatthama planned a horrible act of revenge."

Guddu: "What revenge?"

Dadi: "He attacked the Pandava camp while everyone slept. He murdered warriors in their beds, including Draupadi's five sons. Kritavarma didn't do the killing himself - he guarded the camp entrances to prevent escape."

Guddu: "That's awful! Killing sleeping people?"

Dadi: "The worst kind of cowardice, beta. This act would haunt Kritavarma for the rest of his life."

Guddu: "Did he get punished?"

Dadi: "Not immediately. But thirty-six years later, Gandhari's curse on the Yadava clan came true. The Yadavas gathered for a celebration at Prabhasa, drinking wine and remembering old times."

Guddu: "That sounds nice..."

Dadi: "Until Satyaki approached Kritavarma. Remember, Satyaki had fought for the Pandavas. He looked at Kritavarma and said loudly, "How could you? How could you help kill sleeping warriors?""

Guddu: "He called him out in public?"

Dadi: "In front of everyone. Kritavarma defended himself by reminding Satyaki of his own questionable acts in battle. Words turned to insults. Insults turned to blows."

Guddu: "They fought?"

Dadi: "Satyaki killed Kritavarma. But instead of ending there, the violence spread. Other Yadavas took sides. Someone grabbed reeds from the beach - which mysteriously transformed into iron weapons due to an old curse."

Guddu: "Magic weapons?"

Dadi: "Divine justice. The entire Yadava clan destroyed itself that day. Brothers killed brothers. Cousins killed cousins. The mightiest race of that age wiped itself out completely."

Guddu: "Because of one argument?"

Dadi: "Because of sins that had been building for decades, beta. Kritavarma's participation in the night massacre - that was the spark that ignited everything."

Guddu: "So his choices affected everyone?"

Dadi: "That's the lesson. When Kritavarma chose to guard those camp entrances, he probably thought it was just one night's action. But actions have consequences that ripple outward."

Guddu: "Could he have refused?"

Dadi: "Always. He could have walked away from Ashwatthama's plan. He could have switched sides like his cousin Satyaki. Every moment, we choose."

Guddu: "But he was loyal to his side..."

Dadi: "Loyalty without morality is dangerous, beta. Kritavarma was loyal to the wrong cause. His cousin Vibhishana - remember from the Ramayana? - was loyal to dharma over family, and he's remembered as righteous."

Guddu: "So sometimes you have to choose dharma over loyalty?"

Dadi: "When loyalty requires you to do wrong, yes. Kritavarma's tragedy is that he had the strength to make a different choice but didn't use it."

Guddu: "I feel sad for everyone in this story."

Dadi: "These stories are meant to make us think, beta. Not every tale has heroes we can admire. Sometimes we learn more from those who made mistakes."

Guddu: "I'll remember to think before being loyal to wrong things."

Dadi: "That's wisdom, beta. Now sleep, and may your loyalty always be to what is right."