In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna explaining to Arjuna, the reasons why the chariot burst up into flames after both of them got down from it. Bhagawan Krishna explains that the chariot had bore the brunt of several powerful “Asthrams” like the “Indra-Asthram”, “Varuna-Asthram”, “Aagneya-Asthram”, “Naaga-Asthram”, etc. over the past eighteen days at Kurukshetra. After all this, the chariot was simmering with enormous heat, as it absorbed everything! Bhagawan Krishna explains that Arjuna is safe till today only because of this chariot absorbing everything and not allowing any “Asthram” to hit him directly. However, at some stage the chariot has to give up, as it is beyond it’s capacity to hold several “Asthrams” within it. This is the reason, the chariot burst into flames after Arjuna and Bhagawan Krishna got down from it. Moreover, Bhagawan Krishna reminds Arjuna in the sidelines of this incident that he was able to win over the Kauravas, not just because of his effort, but it was possible because of Bhagawan Krishna’s divine “Anugraha” and presence with him all the time. Bhagawan says further that when He had visited Hastinapura as a messenger of Yudishtra to broker peace between the two camps, Duryodhana & Co. insulted Him big time, and with this, Bhagawan Krishna’s mere glance at everyone sucked all their powers out! Hence, what Arjuna had to do now is only to fight with the “almost dead bodies” of all these people!
Moving on further from here, Yudishtra comes to Bhagawan Krishna and prays thus, “Oh Bhagawan! We’ve been celebrating our victory for a while now. However, there are two important people at Hastinapura who have lost all their hundred sons in the battle, for no fault of theirs!” We can see here how Yudishtra doesn’t forsake his “Dharma” even at this point in time. He had won the Kurukshetra battle and now he can officially become the king of unified Hastinapura. However, just because of one psychopath called “Duryodhana”, all these people had lost their lives and livelihood. Yudishtra’s heart melts towards all of them and their families! The first amongst all is the most unfortunate couple of Gaandhaari and King Dhritarashtra, isn’t it? Hence Yudishtra prays to Bhagawan Krishna thus, “Oh Bhagawan! I’m sure that both these people would be in extreme grief over losing their entire set of sons in the battle. This is something which is unconsolable for both of them, and they’re going to live with this blot in their lives forever from now! As part of our “Dharma” it is important to take care of these aged people first and to try and alleviate the unbearable pain that they would be going through at this time! Hence, Bhagawan Krishna! Can you go to Hastinapura once and meet both of them and console them for the time being? I shall also come later to spend time with them!”
Now this is a very important request from Yudishtra here. Even though Duryodhana was vengeful against Yudishtra all through his life, Yudishtra is always respectful towards Duryodhana’s family. This is where we’ve to understand that as a leader, one should have the quality of being calm and composed even during dangers and tough situations. Yudishtra could have easily deserted King Dhritarashtra, because Duryodhana and his brothers were his bitter enemies. In fact, during several occasions, King Dhritarashtra himself has blatantly and openly acted against Yudishtra’s interests, with the sole reason of favouring his son Duryodhana. Even though several incidents like this have happened in the past, Yudishtra wants to pay his respects to King Dhritarashtra, because he considers King Dhritarashtra as his own father, after King Paandu passed away. We’ve seen this during our earlier episodes in detail – When King Paandu passed away, Bhishmachaarya brings these children (Yudishtra & Co.) along with Kunthi Devi to Hastinapura from the forest, and asks King Dhritarashtra to treat them as his own sons, on par with Duryodhana and Co. However, it was King Dhritarashtra who failed in his duty! Whereas, Yudishtra is extremely steadfast in his “Dharma” that no matter whatever happened between him and Duryodhana, his respect towards King Dhritarashtra remains unchanged even today!
So this is a very important lesson that all of us have to learn from Yudishtra, the righteous leader! So for today, let us understand this point, and we shall wait till the next episode to witness what Bhagawan Krishna is going to do next. Is He going to execute Yudishtra’s request and go to Hastinapura? Stay tuned for an important accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 