In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of the initial segment of the “Viraata Parva” wherein the Paandavas are commencing their crucial “Agnyaata Vaasam” time period. This is like a “make or break” situation for the Paandava brothers, and if by any chance, their identity is found out by Duryodhana and Co., they’ve to take up another twelve years of “Vana-Vaasam” followed by “Agnyaata Vaasam” for the next one year! Thus, to avoid all these unforeseen circumstances, Yudishtra and Co. carefully plan their “Agnyaata Vaasam” and how they should lead a disguised life at the Viraata Desha. We’ve witnessed the roles that each of the five brothers and Draupati would be playing in the previous episode. Also, we’ve seen how the Paandava brothers stored all their weapons amidst a tree trunk safely, so that nobody spots them. As they do this, each of them disperse off with a heavy heart!
By looking at all these incidents, we might wonder thus, “Oh! Why should Yudishtra and Co. suffer so much? Why can’t they simply take on Duryodhana straightaway and destroy him completely? Why should they trouble themselves for twelve long years, and why should they disguise themselves for the thirteenth year? Is it really necessary? Moreover, Yudishtra often proclaims that becoming a king again is not his real wish and enjoying the luxuries of being a king is not his priority in life. Yet, why do we see the Paandavas undergoing all these ordeals?” The answer is very simple – Yudishtra and Co. undergo all these, so as to uphold and uplift “Dharma”! At a time when “Dharma” is on the brink, the Paandava brothers take it upon themselves to protect it! Yes. Bheemasena and Arjuna could have directly taken down Duryodhana within minutes, but they refrained from doing so, because it is an instruction from King Dhritarashtra that they should undergo this 13-year forest life. If they disobey the king’s words, it would be against “Dharma”, isn’t it? Moreover, they would be setting an example to the rest of the world that if the king’s decision doesn’t favour someone, he / she can go ahead and act against the interests of the leader and the country! Yudishtra is wary of all these bad consequences and this is why he decides to take it upon himself to show to the world that no matter whether the king’s decision is favourable or unfavourable to him, he would go ahead and execute it without any blemish.
Moreover, Yudishtra stood by “Dharma” for another main reason – Merely being a king of Indraprastha is grossly different from being a king as per the “Dharma”, isn’t it? Yudishtra’s aim of being a king was to perform the “Dharma-Rajya” and for this, he had to endure certain difficulties along its path. We should always remember this in our life – Walking the path of “Dharma” is very difficult. But if we do it successfully, we are on the path of attaining the highest “Moksha”. It is not only our “Moksha” that is of concern here, but also the happiness and satisfaction of all the countrymen! The duty of a king is to take all his people along with him towards the path of “Dharma”. Moreover, like I had stressed upon earlier, there is no “shortcut” to success. If that is so, Yudishtra and Co. could have easily disobeyed King Dhirtarashtra’s words, called Duryodhana for a war then and there and could have given him a befitting reply for what he did to them! However, Yudishtra refrained from it. Even now we’re witnessing Yudishtra and Co. taking up all the difficulties upon them. If Arjuna had to keep down his “Gaandeepa” bow, which is his favourite weapon, for a one-year-period, we can imagine how disgusted he would have felt! Even in our own case, if we’re liking some item very much, and if we’re forced to refrain from having that item with us, how bad would we feel? However, the Paandavas take this in the right sense and move on with their “Agnyaata Vaasam” and this is the underlying message that all of us have to understand here.
So for today, let us reflect upon this point and let us understand how Yudishtra and Co. tried their best to stand by their “Dharma”, even though they had to face tough situations in life. More than the mere storyline, these are the subtle messages that Sage Vyaasa is trying to convey through the Mahabharata for all of us! Hence, let us think and reflect upon this for today, and in the next episode, we shall witness how the Paandavas go ahead with their business for the next one year! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 