In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very interesting event that unfolded, after Bhagawan Krishna and the Paandava brothers returned back to their tents. This was after Duryodhana had ranted enough, and Bhagawan Krishna had become fed up with his unrelenting psychopath behaviour. As Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna reached their tents, Bhagawan Krishna wanted Arjuna to get down from the chariot first. Even though initially Arjuna didn’t want to do so, as it was a deviation from the protocol, Arjuna ended up obeying Bhagawan Krishna’s words, which he is known for! As both of them get down, to the utter shock of Arjuna, the chariot is suddenly up in flames! Of course, by that time, Hanuman (in the form of the flag on top of the chariot) had already fled from there. As the chariot is up in flames, it bursts into several pieces as well, with a loud explosion sound! As this happens, Bhagawan Krishna pulls Arjuna to a safe distance so that he doesn’t get hurt because of the explosion!
Now, Arjuna asks Bhagawan Krishna the reason behind this sudden explosion of the chariot, and what would have happened had Bhagawan Krishna got down first from the chariot. As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna replies – “Oh Arjuna! If you had not got down by obeying my words, whatever happened to the chariot would have happened to you also! In other words, you would have been burnt down by the flames!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Arjuna is surprised! He asks back thus, “Oh Bhagawan Krishna! I had won over all the Kaurava warriors, and would I be destroyed just by this single fire incident? How can this be possible?” As Arjuna asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna laughs out loud! He replies back thus, “Oh Arjuna! I’ve given you the entire Bhagawad Gita at the start of the war, and even after listening to all the 700 shlokas, you’re saying this? Do you think you won the battle on your own? You’re making this mistake again and again! It is because of my divine “Anugraha” only you have won this battle! Oh Arjuna! Let me tell you a few things now – The day I went to Hastinapura as your messenger, I made a few preliminary arrangements for the war! When Duryodhana insulted me with his abusive words, and when Ducchaasana supported him, I cast a look upon both of them! With this look itself, I drew out all their powers and reduced them to nothing! With this, they had already become extremely weak even before they walked into the battlefield! Oh Arjuna! In your absence, I had met Karna and had taken away his “Kavacha-Kundalam” (Protective earrings) which Indra had gifted him. Had Karna worn it during the battle, you wouldn’t have been able to kill him at all! He was invincible! I was the one who neutralized several of Karna’s powerful “Asthras” even during the battle! Hence, Oh Arjuna! Please do not think that you’ve done a great job by defeating these people! It is because of all these preliminary actions, the Kaurava warriors were already reduced to nothing, even before the war commenced! Your contribution to this war is very miniscule and you’ve to understand this!”
Saying this, Bhagawan Krishna now comes to the most important point. He says thus, “Oh Arjuna! You asked me why the chariot got burnt down, didn’t you? Let me tell you one thing! When the war was going on, there were enormous “Asthrams” that came towards you, in the likes of several Brahma-Asthrams, Indra-Asthrams, Aagneya-Asthrams, Vaaruna-Asthrams, etc.! Where do you think these “Asthrams” went? All of them were absorbed by the chariot. Some of them were taken on by me, which includes the powerful Narayana-Asthram. So where will the “Asthrams” go? How will they be neutralized? Till now they’ve been absorbed by the chariot and it was simmering with enormous negative power and vibrations. Now that the war is over, it was time for all the “Asthrams” to get neutralized. This is the reason the chariot got burnt down! Beyond a point, the chariot was unable to hold back the immense heat and power. This is why I asked you to get down from the chariot first. Had I got down before you, the fire would have burnt you down and you wouldn’t have been able to overcome it! Hence, Arjuna! Please do not think that everything was possible just because of you. There is something called “Anugraha” which overpowers everything in this world!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna makes Arjuna realize a very important universal truth behind this incident! So for today, let us understand up to this point and we shall continue this discussion forward into the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 