In the previous episode, we continued with our important discussion on the conversation between Yudishtra and Bhishmachaarya, along with Bhagawan Krishna and the others. While Bhagawan Krishna is a silent spectator till this point, the conversation is steered by Sage Naarada, who had just completed a very important accord on why Karna had to meet an unfortunate end to his life. Subsequently, Yudishtra wasn’t really convinced that it was destiny which pulled Karna down. He pinned the blame squarely on Mother Kunthi Devi for disregarding Karna right from Day One of his birth and cursed her. As Yudishtra does so, he vents more in frustration that he wants to go to the forest by renouncing everything. He doesn’t want to continue as the king of Hastinapura for obvious reasons. He is feeling the guilt of killing everybody and ascending to the throne thereby at the cost of others’ miseries. He has also heard the loud heart-breaking cries of all the relatives who had lost their near and dear ones in the battle, and this has impacted Yudishtra big time!
As Yudishtra says during his accord that only those people who reside in the forest with complete detachment from what is happening in the kingdom will be eligible to attain “Moksha”, this triggers the conversation further. Sage Naarada quickly intervenes and cuts Yudishtra’s accord in the middle. Upping the ante, Sage Naarada asks a series of counter questions thus, “Oh Yudishtra! What are you saying? Do you mean that those who are in the kingdom will never attain “Moksha”? What an absurd argument is this? If you’re saying that only those in the forest do not accumulate sins, does it mean all people residing in the kingdom are sinful in nature?” As Sage Naarada asks thus, Yudishtra is very quick to respond. He replies back thus, “Oh Great Sage Naarada! I did not mean that! I’m only talking about myself in this context. I’ve been responsible for the demise of thousands and lakhs of people for no fault of theirs. This is the greatest sin that I’ve ever committed in my life. As a person who follows the path of “Dharma”, if I’ve to come out of this, I should keep thinking about the heinous crime that I have committed again and again. I should repent for what I did, constantly every minute of my life. Because of this, I should feel the guilt in me. As I feel the guilt, I should not rule this kingdom any further. I should ascend to the forest. I will henceforth not desire for other people’s wealth or property. I will not search for my own food. All I will do in the forest is survive with bare minimal requirements of fruits that are hanging from the trees and water from the river to drink. I shall perform “Tapas”, sitting in the forest, without causing any further harm to any living being around. Eventually I will meet my demise when the time comes. Perhaps, this is the best way to wash away all my “Paapa Karma” that I’ve accumulated over the past eighteen days.
Saying thus, Yudishtra continues further. He now opens this up to his brothers as well and says thus, “Oh Arjuna! Oh Bheemasena! If you are interested in coming along with me, please do so! Else, if you feel that you should still remain in the kingdom, you may do so as well! I’m not compelling any of you to follow my path. It is your prerogative to make your own decision!” As Yudishtra says thus, Arjuna replies with his points of view. Arjuna says thus, “Oh Yudishtra! I feel that whatever you’re saying is quite absurd! Who told you that possessing wealth is wrong and is part of “Adharma”? As a king, you have every right to possess wealth! Moreover, only if a king possesses wealth, will he be able to garner respect from everyone. If the king becomes a popper, what will happen to the state of the kingdom? How will you protect people? As per “Raaja-Dharma”, a king should have the interest in earning wealth, and spending it for the welfare of his people. Of course, I’m not saying that you should accumulate all the wealth for yourself. But at the same time, earning wealth and possessing it is important. Moreover, please think in this way too – You were the one who accepted to fight the war. You were the one who stood in the front and led the entire group. You were the one who was conferred victorious. After doing everything, if you leave everything and go, what is the purpose of doing all your previous actions that I had mentioned? Hence I feel that you should have a revisit of your thought process. You should continue as a king and serve the people of Hastinapura, rather than talking negatively like this!”
Saying thus, Arjuna is now going to talk for this entire “Adhyaayam”! He is going to emphasize a lot of important points pertaining to “Raaja Dharma”, before Bhishmachaarya begins his accord originally! We shall understand up to this point for today, and we shall continue further in the next episode to witness what Arjuna has got to say! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 