In the previous episode, we had witnessed the commencement of the most important “Shanti Parva” of the Mahabharata text. As mentioned earlier, this “Parva” is packed with several important aspects of “Dharma”, as mentioned by Bhishmachaarya to Yudishtra and the Pandava brothers. We are going to witness in detail, several aspects of “Raaja-Dharma”, “Aapat-Dharma” and “Moksha-Dharma” as part of this “Shanti Parva”. Of course, this is extremely lengthy – Given our limitations, we shall see a few important points from this, which is directly applicable to modern-day leadership and management contexts and also a few personal contexts with respect to value systems, morality and ethics. Of course, having said this, it does not mean that the rest of the pointers in the “Shanti Parva” are unimportant. Everything is important, but due to paucity of time, limitations with regards to interpretations, applicability, etc. we shall limit to the important pointers as highlighted by Bhishmachaarya.
Now, as we enter into the “Shanti Parva”, we’ve to set up the context for discussion. Sage Vyaasa beautifully sets it up for us in a way that the “Jala-Tarpanam” for all the departed souls is over at Kurukshetra. Subsequently, all of them vacate the battlefield tents and start returning to Hastinapura, as all the formalities have come to an end. Kurukshetra battlefield remains disastrous with all the destruction, and those people who are still alive, are back at the palace of Hastinapura. In the presence of everyone, Sage Vyaasa and the other important sages assembled there, recommend unanimously that Yudishtra should be the next successor of Hastinapura, after King Dhritarashtra. By this time, King Dhritarashtra and Mother Gandhari also leave for the “Vaanaprastha-Ashramam”, unable to bear the pain of the demise of the entire Kaurava clan. At this point, Yudishtra is not very happy internally within himself. However, with the insistence of Sage Vyaasa and Bhagawan Krishna, Yudishtra reluctantly accepts to be crowned to the Hastinapura throne. A grand “Pattabishekam” (Coronation Ceremony) is arranged at the Hastinapura palace, and in the presence of Draupati, Bhagawan Krishna, Sage Vyaasa, Sage Kripachaarya, and other important seniors like Vidura, Sanjaya, etc., Yudishtra takes oath as the next king of Hastinapura.
Subsequently as this happens, Yudishtra’s reluctance and uneasiness at the throne is only increasing by the minute. He is not very comfortable in ruling the kingdom after the disaster that unfolded in Kurukshetra. Of course, the war was for the sake of “Dharma”, but given the extent of the disaster that unfolded, Yudishtra is mentally devastated. Also, as not many people are remaining in the kingdom (Most of them, including normal people have died in the war), including his own family members, loneliness starts haunting Yudishtra. At this time, unable to bear this mental weakness, Yudishtra approaches Bhagawan Krishna. He talks to Bhagawan Krishna thus, “Oh Bhagawan! I obeyed your words and fought this war at Kurukshetra. This war however, has left me completely orphaned! For whom am I ruling this kingdom? This palace, which used to be sprawling and vibrant with so much activity and people, has completely gone deserted, sans very few people around! Also, the demise of my elder brother, Karna, is haunting me constantly. How do I go about this? Should I really continue to be the king of Hastinapura? Given a chance, I would like to renounce the kingdom and instead go to the forest and start performing “Tapas”! After losing everyone, what is the point in becoming a king for an empty kingdom?”
As Yudishtra says thus, he breaks down in front of Bhagawan Krishna! This is the same way in which Arjuna broke down in front of the entire Kaurava army on Day one at Kurukshetra, which led to the birth of the famed Bhagawad Gita. Now, after the entire war is over and after emerging victorious, Yudishtra is facing the same mental block. So now, how is Bhagawan Krishna going to handle this? How is He going to convince Yudishtra to stay strong and continue with his “Dharma”? We shall wait till the next episode to find out! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 