In the previous episode, we had witnessed how Bhagawan Ganesha is writing down the Mahabharata text, as and how Sage Vyaasa is dictating. As per the rule, Bhagawan Ganesha shouldn’t interpret the slokas in the way He wants to. His duty is only to convey what Sage Vyaasa’s intentions were, behind each and every sloka. Also, Sage Vyaasa shouldn’t stop anywhere in the middle. He should keep on narrating sloka after sloka with a great speed, and Bhagawan Ganesha would be closely following him while documenting. If at all there is a pause, Bhagawan Ganesha would immediately stop writing and vanish away! In this accord, both started their works, and we’ve eventually witnessed in yesterday’s episode that there are around 8,800 slokas in the Mahabharata text for which none can infer their meaning and significance. Perhaps with the exceptions of Sage Vyaasa’s son and Sanjaya, there might not be anybody in this world, including Bhagawan Ganesha who could understand and comprehend any of these 8,800 slokas. Thus, the entire Mahabharata text was documented successfully by Bhagawan Ganesha, as Sage Vyaasa dictated it.
Moving on thus, Sage Vyaasa explains the crux of the entire Mahabharata text. As many of us might be knowing, there are two important camps – The Kaurava camp and the Paandava camp. Sage Vyaasa now equates these two camps to two trees standing opposite to each other. On one side there is the Paandava tree and on the other side there is the Kaurava tree. Sage Vyaasa explains thus,
“Duryodhano manyu mayaha mahaadhrumaha!
Kandaha karnaha shakunistasya shaakaaha!!
Duschyaasanaha pushpam phalam!
Samruddhe moolam raajaa dhirdraashtraha maneeshi!!”
Through this sloka, Sage Vyaasa clearly explains the characteristics of the Kaurava tree. The entire Kaurava tree revolves around this person called Durydhana. This Duryodhana, as Sage Vyaasa explains, is an epitome of anger. For anything and everything, Duryodhana would burst out in anger and would try to establish only his point of view. He would not listen to anybody who is trying to give a different point of view. Even if someone tries to make him understand his mistakes and tries to pacify him, he would burst out in anger and would insult them left, right and center! Thus, Duryodhana was an epitome of “Manyu” (Anger”). Moving on further, any tree should have a strong foundation called “roots”, isn’t it? Only with strong roots can a tree stand tall. The root of this Kaurava tree is none other than Karna. This is why we see that Duryodhana’s most trusted aide was Karna. Even if Guru Dhronaachaarya and Bhishmaachaarya deserted him midway, Duryodhana was super-confident that Karna would never desert him at any point in time. Thus, Karna forms the root of this Kaurava tree.
Moving on further, Shakuni, who was Duryodhana’s uncle, formed the various branches and leaves of the Kaurava tree. If we’ve to start counting the number of leaves that are there in a banyan tree, are we going to succeed in doing so? The answer is “No”, isn’t it? Similarly here too, the number of “false malices” that Shakuni did for the sake of Duryodhana is countless. Moreover, the confusions that he created in the Kaurava family was also enormous, which ultimately led to the downfall of the entire clan. Hence, Shakuni forms the branches and leaves of this Kaurava tree. Similarly, Ducchaasana, who was Duryodhana’s brother, formed the fruits and flowers that the Kaurava tree would produce. Ducchaasana was the one who fulfilled all the worldly desires in the name of Duryodhana, isn’t it? He tried to meddle with Draupati (Wife of the Paandava brothers), he tried to strip her off, etc. Thus, Ducchaasana was the person who was like a thorn in the flesh for Duryodhana and Co.
Finally, the very fundamental reason for the Kaurava tree’s existence was King Dhirdiraashtra, who was the father of Duryodhana and Co. It is only because of King Dhirdiraashtra’s blind affection and attachment towards Duryodhana, all the faults took place, isn’t it? On the pretext of doing good to his sons and protecting them, King Dhirdiraashtra eventually stood by all the “Adharma” that his sons did. If King Dhirdiraashtra would have been strict towards his sons and if he would have punished Duryodhana for all the wrong things that he did, we wouldn’t be having the entire Mahabharata text, isn’t it? Everything would have been set right then and there! Thus, King Dhirdiraashtra was the one who was solely responsible for all what happened at the Hastinapura kingdom!
So far thus, we’ve witnessed the Kaurava tree and its constituents. Similarly, Sage Vyaasa is now going to explain the “Paandava” tree. What are the constituents of the Paandava tree? Let’s wait for the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 