Episode # 1234 – “The birth-death cycle is extremely treacherous!” – Vidura explains to King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura continuing with a very important accord on how “Dharma” works in this world. Vidura’s accord is brutally honest on the face of King Dhritarashtra, who is still mourning the demise of his entire Kaurava clan. Vidura tries to motivate King Dhritarashtra to come out of this grief and is making him understand certain important facts of life in this world. In this way, Vidura explains how the “Mrithyu Devata” is always waiting to knock doors, so as to take away our life from this world. Vidura explains that anybody who is born in this world is destined to be destroyed. There is no going back on this. The point here is that we never know when our end will come. For some people, the end might come earlier than expected, whereas for some others, the end might come at a later point in time. However, what is constant here is that all living beings taking birth in this world, have to meet destruction at some point. For this, the “Mrithyu Devata” is responsible and depending upon our “Karma” accounts, she swings into action at an appropriate time. 

Saying all these, Vidura continues further thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Just like how we are seeing here that death is extremely painful for living beings, the process of birth is also very painful, but we do not realize it. Once a relationship between a male and a female happens, the female’s womb starts developing the embryo with the combination of the male sperm and the female ovum. Subsequently, the embryo starts growing and it slowly develops the vital human organs like head, hands, legs, etc. This is a very difficult phase for the baby inside the womb because it doesn’t have breathing space, nor light, nor sound! The mother’s womb is a very dark place and the other problem here is that the child does not have adequate space inside the womb, as it starts growing. Especially during the sixth and seventh months of pregnancy, the child starts developing all its organs fully and at this time, it starts kicking inside the mother’s womb, unable to break free. Moreover, with regards to the food, the baby has a tough time. For instance, if the mother consumes more spicy food, the baby will not be able to take it. If the mother doesn’t consume any food, the baby will start feeling hungry and it will be unable to express its hunger to the outside world! Nobody will even know that the baby is in need of food! If the baby stops it’s kicking and rolling inside the womb, the mother thinks that something is wrong with it and she immediately goes to the doctor for checks. The doctor gives some medicines, which are extremely bitter in taste for the baby! Once the medicine goes inside the baby’s body, it feels extremely uneasy with it! Finally during the ninth or tenth month, when the baby is taken out, the head portion of the baby should come out first! This is also not easy! The baby is literally pulled out with some surgical instruments in many cases!” 

Continuing further thus, Vidura says – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Do you think all these above-mentioned processes are easy? The baby undergoes enormous torture before coming out of the mother’s womb! At this point, the baby’s “Atman” prays to Bhagawan to grant “Moksha” then and there, without even coming into this world! However, Bhagawan pushes it upside down into the world from the mother’s womb, and this is why the head portion of the baby is the first to come out during pregnancy! Thus, the process of taking birth and giving birth is extremely tough for the child and the mother respectively. However, after taking birth, is the child happy? It has to cry and cry for everything in this world, including food and water! As the child grows up, it undergoes enormous suffering because of the mind, “Karma”, etc. This continues until death, without a break in the middle! Oh King Dhritarashtra! All of us undergo all these things, but in the process, we fail to remember the difficulty we faced during those challenging times. We tend to forget things and move forward! Similarly here also, of course, I understand that Duryodhana’s demise is not easy to digest, however, with time, you’ve to move on. You cannot sit here brooding over what has happened in the past. Birth and death is part of the life cycle in this world!” 

Saying thus, Vidura continues further – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! The problem comes here – Once the child grows up, he / she gets educated. As growth happens, the male child starts admiring the female beauty and the female child starts admiring the male charm. Again there is a union and this happens beyond the mind’s control. We start running behind money, name and fame in whatever activities we do! Our “Indriyas” start running here and there without any sort of control. Because of these uncontrollable “Indriyas”, we get into several problems as life progresses and we spend most of our time navigating through these self-made problems! In the middle of all this, if we have the “Vasana” towards Bhagawan, we try to seek “Sharanagati” (Surrender to His divine lotus feet). However, five in a thousand people might have this! The remaining people keep continuing with this process of birth and death for several births together! This is how life functions in this world and you should somehow try and break this cycle!” 

These are very important points that Vidura is explaining here. Some of these might not be in good taste for us also to take in the right meaning. But, whatever Vidura says is the brutal truth! So for today, let us try and understand Vidura’s words in the right sense and let us do whatever possible from our end to make a movement towards “Sharanagati”! We shall continue this discussion in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1233 – “Mrithyu Devata doesn’t wait for anyone or anything!” – Vidura explains to King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed a very important accord given by Vidura to King Dhritarashtra with regards to how the “Karma” and “Karma-Phalam” works in this world. The operating procedure of Bhagawan is very simple – Keeping a tab on whatever actions we’re performing – Both good and bad, and ensuring that we experience the resultant of all our actions at an appropriate time. The only glitch here is that, we will never come to know at any instance as to what this “appropriate time” is! For instance, we might perform an action today, and the resultant of the action might come immediately in the next moment itself. However, in some cases, the resultant of our actions might come after several births as well! This is why we are not able to accurately relate the “cause and effect” of our “Karma”. Thus, Vidura highlights this important point that our “Karma” keeps a watch on us continuously over several births and ensures that we get our due at the right time. 

In our day-to-day life also, we keep performing a lot of actions – Some might be good and some might be bad. We keep undergoing a lot of happiness and suffering as well. However, we’ve to realize the fact that not all of our actions might be good in nature, which would earn us the “Punya-Karma”. There might be a few things here and there which might fall under the purview of the “Paapa Karma” also, knowingly or unknowingly. Even if we commit an action unknowingly, we’ve to experience the “Karma-Phalam” for it – For the simple fact that every action of ours has an effect on the world and the universe at large! For instance, if we keep chanting our “Mantra” continuously, it has an impact not only on ourselves, but also amidst the entire universe. The vibrations of the “Mantra” that we chant will keep on spreading into the universe, which would result in a positive change. Similarly, if we kill a living being or even hurt a living being by any chance – The living being tries to fight for its survival, isn’t it? This creates a lot of stress and a whole lot of bad vibrations coming out. This also spreads to the universe and has a negative impact. This living being that we’re talking about can be as small as a mosquito, a fly or as large as an elephant (Humans included of course!). Hence, the point that Vidura is trying to make here is that, whatever action we do, the universe gives it back to us at an appropriate time, and hence, we’ve to be very careful with whatever we’re doing. 

Moving on thus, Vidura continues further – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please think in this angle – You are brooding over the loss of Duryodhana and Co., aren’t you? Just because you’re brooding over as a father, is Duryodhana going to come back? Whatever happened, has happened – And neither you nor me can reverse this situation now. Moreover, for how long are you going to keep thinking about this? You’ve to try and move on with the remaining part of your life. If you try and think constantly about the past, you will never be able to come out of it. Rather, you should divert your mind into something else, so that it will be easier for you to come out. For instance, if a person falls into a pit hole, he / she can come out only if someone else pulls them out. If this person tries to move his legs and hands to come out of it, he / she would only be pushed down further into the pit. This is a very tricky situation. Similarly you are like this someone who has fallen into the pit. Rather than brooding over the same thing again and again, you should divert your mind into some other happy thing and try to forget this sadness. This is the only way to move ahead. Oh King Dhritarashtra! You might ask me a counter question here – Given this extremely painful situation, how do you say that I’ve to divert my mind into some happy things? Where is the happiness for me here? Let me tell you – When I say “Happiness”, it means “Surrender to Bhagawan”. Oh King Dhritarashtra! Even now it is not too late! Divert your mind by surrendering to the lotus feet of Bhagawan Krishna. He will ensure that you come out of this depressed state of affairs!” 

Saying thus, Vidura continues further. He says, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please calm down! Whatever happened at Kurukshetra – Please try and forget it as a bad dream and try to move ahead! Try to divert your mind away from the “Samsaram”. The more you keep thinking of your “Samsaram” – Please understand that it is nothing other than “Maaya” (Illusion). It will keep pushing you further and further into a pit, from which you will never be able to get up! Oh King Dhritarashtra! “Samsaram” is not as easy to navigate through as you think. It is difficult. You need to put in meticulous effort to come out of it. Please start at this moment itself! For everybody, “Mrithyu Devata” will be waiting at their doorstep to keep monitoring the time of death. This is inevitable. The moment the time arrives, “Mrithyu Devata” will spring into action and take you away! She doesn’t wait for time or tide or anyone in this world!” 

Saying thus, Vidura tries to console King Dhritarashtra, and for today, let us understand these important points that Vidura is narrating here. We shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1232 – “None can escape their “Karma” & “Karma-Phalam” – Vidura explains to King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had continued our discussion on Vidura’s key points pertaining to “Dharma” and the practicality of this world. Vidura talks about all these to King Dhritarashtra, who is currently brooding over the loss of his dear son Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra battlefield. Vidura explains how birth and death forms a vicious cycle in this world and everything which is created, has to face destruction at some point or the other. Moreover, Vidura underscores the important point that Duryodhana should consider himself to be extremely fortunate because, after all the “Adharma” that he did towards Yudishtra & Co., he still had the opportunity to attain “Veera-Svargam”, instead to being pushed into the treacherous “Naraka-Lokha”. Hence, Vidura tries to motivate King Dhritarashtra to come out of his grief and move on with life. Moreover, Vidura once again puts a riddle to King Dhritatashtra – Which is that one thing which follows us everytime whenever we perform any action in this world, including sleep? Especially when we’re sleeping, it is always awake and watching us! As usual, King Dhritarashtra doesn’t know the answer, and Vidura is now going to give an important accord which is quite applicable to all of us as well! 

So moving on thus, as King Dhritatashtra is not in a mood right now to listen to riddles from Vidura, he openly asks Vidura for the answer. Upon asking thus, Vidura explains – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! It is nothing but your “Karma” (Actions) and “Karma-Phalam” (Resultant of your actions). Thus, whenever you perform any action, your “Karma” keeps following you! When you sleep, your “Karma” doesn’t sleep along with you, but it keeps watching you! Bhagawan is very smart – He knows when to add points to your “Karma” and how! He is the best judge in this world with regards to differentiating which is good and bad. Bhagawan keeps an account of all our “Karma” that we perform and keeps updating it accurately every passing minute! While we go to bed every night, Bhagawan keeps watching us through our “Karma” and is waiting for an opportunity to unleash the “Karma-Phalam” at the right time and at the right place! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Imagine the extent of “Karma” that Duryodhana has accumulated throughout his life – Especially the bad ones (“Paapa Karma”). If he doesn’t experience the resultant (“Karma Phalam”) for whatever he has done, how will it balance? Every action has an equal and opposite reaction in this world, isn’t it? Hence, if Duryodhana escapes from all these “Karma Phalams”, how will he be released into the ultimate “Moksha”? Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand one thing clearly – “Moksha” is very difficult to attain (or even impossible to attain) if we do not wash away our “Karma-Phalam”. Please understand that Duryodhana has done just that and so are we! You have a “Karma-Phalam” of mourning the loss of your dear sons and you are currently experiencing it. Let it be. Do not frown over it or do not try and fix blame on someone else over this loss!” 

As Vidura says thus, King Dhritatashtra asks a follow-up question – “Oh Vidura! I understand the effect of my “Karma” and my “Karma-Phalam”. However, please explain to me – What will happen to my “Karma” after I pass away? Now, Duryodhana has passed away, hasn’t’ he?  So with this, has his “Karma” and “Karma-Phalam” come to an end?” For this, Vidura gives an important clarification thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand – “Karma” doesn’t end when your current birth comes to an end. Your “Shareeram” (Physical body) is destroyable in nature and you keep taking different “Shareerams” in different births. However, your “Karma” and “Karma Phalam” keep coming at you even when you take different births. This is because your “Atman” is “Nithyam” (Permanent). Your “Atman” doesn’t change with several births and is a constant at all times. Hence, your “Karma” follows your “Atman” and whenever you’re taking subsequent births, you will still be washing away your pending “Karma-Phalams” from your previous births. Of course, you will also keep adding more “Karma” to your present birth with whatever “Shareeram” you get. Thus, the “Karma” cycle is virtually a never-ending process and it constantly keeps coming at you! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Now that Duryodhana has passed away – His “Karma Phalam” might not be over. For all the “Punya-Karma” that he  might have done over the past several births, he has currently attained the “Svarga Lokham”. But this is not going to last long. He will once again be pushed into this world at an appropriate time, to start experiencing all the “Karma-Phalam” for whatever he has done!” 

Now this is  a very important explanation that Vidura is giving to King Dhritarashtra and of course to all of us as well. So for today, let us ponder over these points and reflect upon ourselves. We shall wait till the next episode to discuss more on this! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1231 – “By brooding over Duryodhana’s demise, you’re competing with “Kaalam” (Time)!” – Vidura tells King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura’s important accord on how life is all about creation and destruction. He makes these remarks to King Dhritarashtra, who is currently brooding over the loss of his hundred sons including Duryodhana in the Kurukshetra war. King Dhritarashtra squarely tries to put the blame on Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna for the entire disaster, and little does he understand that this fiasco was solely because he has been completely indecisive over dealing with Duryodhana all these years. Sanjaya tries his best to explain this point, and now Vidura is chipping in with his narratives. Currently we’re at a point where Vidura is explaining several hard-hitting facts of this world – Birth and death keeps repeating at all times. Whoever takes birth in this world, has to die some day. Whatever is created in this world will definitely face destruction. Some people might face death today, while many others will eventually face it tomorrow or some day down the future. Hence, there is no escape from this cycle, no matter whoever or whatever we are or we might be. Adding on further, Vidura also highlights how fortunate Duryodhana has been – Even though he has been an epitome of several aspects of “Adharma”, he had the golden opportunity of attaining the “Veera-Svargam” – Thanks to the Kurukshetra war. It is widely believed that if a warrior (no matter whether he stands for “Dharma” or “Adharma”) dies while performing his duty towards his territory and people, he will definitely attain “Veera-Gathi”. Vidura highlights that Duryodhana has been fortunate enough to attain this state, else, he would have had to wade through the treacherous “Naraka Lokham”. Hence, Vidura explains that King Dhritarashtra should consider himself to be very fortunate to see his son attaining the “Svarga Lokham” in spite of whatever happened. 

Adding further to this point, Vidura continues thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! By brooding over the loss of Duryodhana thus, you are trying to compete with “Kaalam” (Time). There is a time for everything in this world. Please understand – Time is one of the most brutally honest elements in this world. The moment a living being takes birth – Anything and everything might happen around this person, but there is one thing which constantly keeps ticking every moment – This is nothing but “Time”! Bhagawan keeps a count of the time for every living being in this world, and none of us including you and me can escape Bhagawan’s arithmetic with respect to time. The moment we take birth in this world, the clock starts ticking – Second after second, minute after minute, day after day, month after month and year after year pass by! We might think that we’ve accomplished so many things within a short span of time – But Bhagawan ultimately has the last laugh! Once we’re reaching the time of demise, whatever we might be greatly accomplishing comes to a grinding halt! We cannot win over time at any instance! If our destiny is saying that we will live for seventy-five years, we cannot live for the seventy-sixth year! It’s as simple as that! Hence, Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand – Duryodhana’s time has come for him to leave this world, and his end has come through this recently concluded Kurukshetra war. Similarly, everyone will have a reason through which our tenure in this world will come to an end, when the time comes!” 

Adding further thus, Vidura explains – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Let me ask you one important question here. Till now, I’ve been telling you several perspectives of life and death. But let me ask you this – Do you know of something which does whatever you do, but doesn’t sleep when you sleep?” As Vidura asks this, it might seem as if it is a riddle! But there’s a very deep sense behind Vidura’s question. As usual – King Dhritarashtra doesn’t understand Vidura’s question and now Vidura rephrases it slightly thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Tell me one thing in this world which eats with you when you consume food, which walks along with you when you walk, which runs along with you when you run, laughs along with you when you laugh, cry along with you when you cry – However – When you fall asleep every night, it stays wide awake, looking at you at all times! What is this thing that I’m talking about?” 

So what is this thing that Vidura is talking about here? Along with King Dhritarashtra, let us also ponder over the answer for this tricky question of Vidura’s till the next episode! We shall wait till tomorrow to find out the answer for this! Stay tuned! 🙂 

Episode # 1230 – Understanding “Maranam” (Death) – Vidura gives his perspectives!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Vidura explaining a few important aspects of “Dharma” yet again to King Dhritarashtra. This comes as an aftermath of the destructive Kurukshetra war wherein King Dhritarashtra has lost all his hundred sons to Yudishtra’s Pandava army. As King Dhritarashtra feels bad about the exorbitant loss that he has suffered, he still has a grudge upon Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna and thinks that they were the root cause of the entire misery. However, Vidura and Sanjaya echo the same point together that it is not Yudishtra and Bhagawan Krishna who are responsible, but the onus lies on King Dhritarashtra himself. If he would have curtailed his son’s atrocities, things wouldn’t have gone this awry. But, the one which prevented King Dhritarashtra from taking any decisive action against Duryodhana was his mind! His mind was confused. He did not take a stern decision, even after several people in the likes of Sage Vyaasa, Guru Dhronachaarya, Bhishmachaarya, etc.  advised him. Bhagawan Krishna Himself came and begged him for giving five villages to Yudishtra, even then King Dhritarashtra did not relent. Now, after all these opportunities of course correction, how fair is it to blame Bhagawan Krishna or Yudishtra for this debacle? 

Saying this, Vidura continues further thus, “Oh King Dhritatashtra! You’re mourning over the demise of your sons so much, aren’t you? Now let me tell you one more thing – Relationships in this world are extremely fickle! Today it might seem that you might have several people around you, but tomorrow none of them might be there! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Just think for a minute – The day when you were born – Did you know that you are going to have a son called Duryodhana or Ducchaasana? Did you know that you’re going to have a wife by name Gandhaari? Do you think all these people are going to come along with you till your last day? Didn’t your parents pass away in the course of your life? Even though they loved you so much, were they able to come along with you till date? Oh King Dhritarashtra! Life is full of uncertainties and you’ve to learn to move on with things. Nothing in this world is permanent. People were there yesterday, will come today, will leave tomorrow! This is how the world is extremely impermanent for all of us. All of us come to this world with a definitive purpose. Once that purpose is fulfilled, we’ve to face death and it is inevitable. Nobody is an exception for this. Hence, whatever you’ve experienced today is part and parcel of life. Whatever has been created, has to be destroyed some day, and please understand that the day of destruction had arrived for Duryodhana and Co.!” 

Saying thus, Vidura continues further – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand this from a different angle now – All of us are created in this world and all of us have to be destroyed as well. All of us have a time for destruction. If that time comes, automatically destruction becomes inevitable. Oh King Dhritarashtra – I have a time for destruction. Similarly you have your own time for destruction. In the same lines, Duryodhana has already had the time of destruction. The only thing here is that all of us are in a queue to be destroyed. Some of them might have that destruction earlier, while some of them might have it late! Oh King Dhritarashtra – Think now from another angle as well – For all the bad deeds that Duryodhana had committed till now – If this war wouldn’t have taken place, Duryodhana would have definitely reached the “Naraka-Loka” without any doubt. However, the battle at Kurukshetra had been created by Bhagawan Krishna to send people like Duryodhana also to the “Svarga Lokha”. Had Duryodhana gone to the “Naraka Lokha”, do you think Duryodhana would have had a good time there? He would have suffered like hell! Oh King Dhritarashtra! In fact, rather than brooding over, you should feel thankful to Bhagawan Krishna for allowing a sinful person like Duryodhana to also attain “Veera-Svargam”!”

We can see in this, several perspectives of how to view and understand “Maranam” (Death) of a person, and Vidura brings out these perspectives beautifully for all of us to understand. He commenced from the fact that nothing is permanent in this world, to explaining how all of us are in the queue sooner or later to be destroyed, to explaining how relationships in this world are extremely fickle in nature, to finally explaining how Duryodhana is in a way fortunate enough to reach the “Svarga Lokha” even after committing several capital crimes against Yudishtra & Co. and acting against “Dharma” at all times! So for today, let us understand these four points very clearly and we shall wait till the next episode to continue this discussion further! Stay tuned! 🙂 

Episode # 1229 – “Your mind is the sole cause of all destruction!” – Vidura slams King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Sanjaya lambasting King Dhritarashtra yet another time for his gross inaction and favouritism towards his son Duryodhana, which ultimately led to the downfall of the Kaurava clan. Now as King Dhritarashtra is mourning the demise of all his hundred sons, Sanjaya doesn’t have mercy on him – Rather he slams King Dhritarashtra by saying that this entire fiasco that unfolded at Kurukshetra was because of one person and that one person is none other than King Dhritarashtra himself. Had he paid heed to the advice of several people like Sage Vyaasa, Guru Dhronachaarya, Bhishmachaarya and Bhagawan Krishna Himself who literally begged him to give five villages to Yudishtra, such a disaster wouldn’t have unfolded! Had he mended Duryodhana’s ways after Draupati was insulted publicly in front of the entire courtroom, things would have been very different today! Saying all this, Sanjaya explains to King Dhritarashtra that atleast now he should repent for his actions, and pave the way for Yudishtra to formally take over the reigns of the unified Hastinapura kingdom. 

As Sanjaya says thus, Vidura enters into the “Sabha-Mandapam” where both of them are talking. Vidura was off the scene till now, as he had gone on a “Teertha-Yatra” for all this while. As Vidura comes in, he also starts taunting King Dhritarashtra from his side. King Dhritarashtra initially welcomes Vidura and cries profusely to him over the loss of his sons in the war. Upon listening to King Dhritarashtra, Vidura commences his accord. Initially, King Dhritarashtra thought that he could find solace in Vidura’s words and Vidura would soothe him. However, what came back to King Dhritarashtra is something different – As we’ve seen earlier also, both Sanjaya and Vidura are epitomes of “Dharma”. They will never twist “Dharma” for King Dhritarashtra’s whims and fancies and try to console him by saying that he’s right. Vidura is known to talk bluntly when it comes to aspects of “Dharma” and here too, he lives up to this expectation. Vidura says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Do you remember – I’ve spoken to you on this earlier when you were unable to sleep one night – What did I tell you? If you’re unable to sleep properly, it is because you’ve deviated from the path of “Dharma” and you’ve caused misery to someone else! (We’ve witnessed a whole project on this as part of our blog series called “Vidura-Neeti”, which has eight “Adhyaayas” under the main “Udyoga Parva” just before Bhagawan Krishna visited Hastinapura as Yudishtra’s messenger) I had warned you earlier that if you did not mend your sons’ ways, you will have to meet a great disaster. You have conveniently disobeyed and discarded my words and now why are you brooding over what has happened? This disaster was completely man-made and it is solely because of you!” 

As Vidura bluntly says thus, King Dhritarashtra asks him back – “Oh Vidura! How could both of you squarely put the blame on me for this? What wrong did I do? How can I be responsible for the entire fiasco that took place?” Vidura immediately replies back thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Do you even know what you’re asking me? Yes – You’re the sole responsibility for this entire fiasco and the buck stops with you only! Oh King Dhritarashtra! The entire fiasco happened because of your mind! If your mind would have been clear without any confusion, things wouldn’t have gone awry! It is only because you’ve failed to control your mind, you are in this disastrous state of affairs!” As Vidura says thus, King Dhritarashtra asks back – “Oh Vidura! How can my mind be responsible for this? It is a small entity and is not very significant as well! How do you say that this disaster was because of my mind?” 

As King Dhritarashtra asks thus, Vidura explains this reasoning very beautifully. He says thus, “Oh King! The mind is the seat of power and decision-making in any human-being. The mind is the one which instructs a person to walk in a particular direction. Your mind was completely jeopardised and was overtaken by the “Putra-Vaatsalyam” (Excessive attachment towards your son). Your mind failed to differentiate between “Dharma” and “Adharma” and ultimately took the wrong path of “Adharma”. This is the biggest reason for the entire mess! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please understand atleast now – Everything in this world which is created in this world has to be destroyed. This is the fact of the world and it’s functioning. Neither you nor me can change it. Whatever has happened, is because of Bhagawan’s “Deiva-Sankalpa”. You’ve to move on from this, and duly hand over the responsibility to Yudishtra henceforth. He has rightfully earned it at the expense of your son’s atrocities and ill-mannered behavior!” Saying thus, Vidura commences an important line of discussion wherein he is yet again going to highlight a few important aspects of “Dharma” here. So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall continue this discussion further to see what Vidura is going to talk about with King Dhritarashtra! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1228 – “The entire destruction is only because of you!” – Sanjaya slams King Dhritarashtra!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Bhagawan Krishna consoling Yudishtra and Draupati over the loss of their near and dear ones. It is of course a very difficult loss to handle for Yudishtra, but since he sticks to the path of “Dharma” at all times, he doesn’t get carried away completely by his emotions. However, Draupati, being a woman and a mother of her dead sons, was extremely devastated. Bhagawan Krishna’s “Deiva-Sankalpam” ensured that Draupati’s emotions were calmed down atleast to a certain extent. With this, we come to the end of the “Saankya Parva” and we now move into the “Sthree Parva”. Here, all the women who lost their husbands in the disastrous war are performing the “Jala-Tarpanam” for the departed souls. A lot of trauma unfolds for all the near and dear ones of the dead warriors. Meanwhile, we’re also going to witness an important conversation between Vidura and King Dhritarashtra later in this Parva. 

Moving into the “Sthree Parva” thus, there are several “Upa-Parvas” just like the previous ones. The first one is the “Jala-Pradhaanika Parva”. Now, as everything is over at Kurukshetra, the entire set of people (very few of them) including Bhagawan Krishna are commencing their journey back to the kingdom. As the journey starts, Sanjaya understands that everybody are coming back and updates King Dhritarashtra on this. Sanjaya comes into King Dhritarashtra’s chamber once again after a break, and sees King Dhritarashtra lying down on the ground with tears in his eyes! He is unable to digest the fact that all his hundred sons are dead! The entire “Kaurava Vamsam” is destroyed! Upon seeing King Dhritarashtra in this state, Sanjaya says thus, “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Please come to terms with practicality! All the eighteen “Akshauhinis” of the army on both sides have been destroyed! This is a disaster beyond explanation. However, all these events unfolded because of one person, and that is none other than you! It is because of your poor administrative and decision-making skills, the entire army of the kingdom is in shambles. Jamadagni’s son, Parashurama came and advised you and you never paid heed to his words. Next, your own seniors in the courtroom – Bhishmachaarya and Guru Dhronachaarya advised you several times to change your course of action, but you never obeyed their words. More than anybody else, Bhagawan Krishna Himself came and spoke to you. He literally begged you to change your stance. Have you seen Bhagawan Krishna going anywhere else and begging in front of anyone? He is Bhagawan Vishnu’s divine incarnation! You conveniently discarded His divine words of wisdom as well! Oh King Dhritarashtra! Draupati is your sacred daughter-in-law and she deems to be respected in the highest order. You allowed your son Duryodhana to publicly insult and molest her. Vidura appealed to you in the courtroom on that fateful day, and yet, you remained silent! Hence, Oh King Dhritarashtra! You are the one who is responsible for all this mess! Once all this has happened, why do you feign upon Bhagawan Krishna or Yudishtra for it? You should introspect within yourself atleast now! You should accept responsibility for whatever happened!” 

Saying thus, Sanjaya continues further – “Oh King Dhritarashtra! Just like how Shrinjaya lost his sons due to his “Karma-Phalam” (We’ve seen this story earlier), you’ve lost your sons today due to your own “Karma-Phalam”! You’ve treated the Pandava brothers with a lot of partiality, even after several sages advised you to take care of them like your own sons. This Hastinapura kingdom should rightly be under Yudishtra, as he is the successor of your elder brother, King Paandu. But you’ve abducted the kingdom after your brother’s demise. When the time came to hand over the kingdom to Yudishtra, you never did so. Now whose mistake is it? Oh King Dhritarashtra! If you perform “Dharma-Kaaryam” (Good deeds) all through your life, you will get happiness and satisfaction. Now think for a moment – What “Dharma-Kaaryam” did you or your sons do in this world? All that you’ve done is to abduct someone else’s belongings, trying several times to taunt, abuse and kill them, etc. What “Karma-Phalam” do you expect for all these acts of yours? Hence, Oh King Dhritarashtra! Motivate yourself now. There’s no point in feeling bad! Realize your failure atleast now and pave the way for Yudishtra to succeed you!” 

As Sanjaya keeps saying thus, Vidura comes in. Till now, during these eighteen days of the war, Vidura was not in the picture at all! He had become frustrated to the core and had gone on a “Teertha-Yatra”, leaving King Dhritarashtra with Sanjaya. Now, upon seeing King Dhritarashtra’s condition, Vidura’s heart melts. So what is Vidura going to say now? Let us wait and witness in the next episode! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1227 – “Every creation in this world has to face destruction!” – Bhagawan Krishna consoles Yudishtra!!!

We’re at a crucial juncture wherein Ashwatthama has destroyed Utthara’s child, which is the next generation of Abhimanyu and Arjuna. However, Bhagawan Krishna is not going to allow the destruction to happen and He unleashes yet another divine “Leela” in front of everyone – As the baby comes out of Utthara’s womb in the form of a lifeless burnt stick, Bhagawan Krishna slowly touches it with His divine toe, caresses it gently and with this, the child comes back to life! As this happens, Bhagawan Krishna claims in front of everyone that if it is true that He is a “Brahmachari” beyond any question and if He hasn’t uttered even a single lie during His entire lifetime, let this child come alive once again! To everybody’s utter amazement, the child springs back to life and is named by Bhagawan Krishna as “Parikshit”. Thus, it is clear now that Parikshit will be the next successor of Yudishtra, in the absence of Abhimanyu and the other Upa-Pandavas. 

As this unfolds, Ashwatthama quietly leaves the place, thanks to Bhagawan Krishna’s intense curse and a few hard-hitting words and with this, Ashwatthama is gone forever! He lived in this world for the next three thousand years, and there are a sect of people even today who believe that Ashwatthama is still alive somewhere. Now, as this happens, Yudishtra questions Bhagawan Krishna for the reason of such a disastrous happening. Bhagawan Krishna gives an important reply to Yudishtra by revealing some facts. He says thus, “Oh Yudishtra! Everything has a timing in this world. As I continue to create and protect living beings in this world, there is definitely a job called “Destruction” (“Samhaaram”) which has to be done. This job of “Samhaaram” is performed ably by Bhagawan Shiva. In fact, the time for such a vast destruction had come earlier itself and Bhagawan Shiva was gearing up to spring into action. However, I had requested Bhagawan Shiva to wait for some time and upon my request, Bhagawan Shiva was quiet. However, He had given me a deadline of protection and had questioned me for how long I would keep protecting all of them. Bhagawan Shiva’s point was very valid and thus, I had given Him a deadline. Now this deadline has come to an end, and Bhagawan Shiva has sprung into action. He came in the form of Ashwatthama and ensured that your entire generation of family and relatives were killed. Oh Yudishtra! Please understand – Everything that is being created and protected in this world has to face destruction at some point in time. This is inevitable. Bhagawan Shiva is just doing His duty and there’s no point in brooding over it. We’ve to move on with life and see what best can be done at the present moment. If not for Ashwatthama to come and unleash his activities, destruction would have happened in some other form. Hence, Ashwatthama was just an instrument in the hands of Bhagawan Shiva, who entered into his powerful “Asthrams” and weapons. Even if you would have fought him in the battlefield today, none of you would have survived Ashwatthama’s wrath! Hence, whatever happens, happens for good and it is better to move on from this, rather than thinking too much about it!” 

Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna consoles Yudishtra and Draupati over the loss of their sons and relatives to Ashwatthama. With this, we come to the end of the “Soutthika Parva” and we now enter into the next “Parva” called “Sthree Parva”. This is a very short “Parva” and here, all the women mourn the loss of their husbands in the war. All the women go to a nearby lake and perform the “Jala-Tarpanam” for all the departed souls. This is a very short “Parva”, but at one point, Vidura is going to give a very important message, which we are going to witness in a bit of detail as that context arrives. So for today, let us understand up to this point and in the next episode, we shall formally commence the “Sthree Parva” and continue with our discussion further! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1226 – Bhagawan Krishna brings Parikshit back to life!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed the continuation of a very crucial discussion wherein Ashwatthama is unable to take back his “Brahma-Shiras” “Asthram”. However, he is defending himself upon why he employed it upon Arjuna and Co. This irks Sage Vyaasa in the first place, and subsequently Bhagawan Krishna also, who curses Ashwatthama that he would suffer enormous insult and abuse in this world for the next three thousand years. Unmindful of all this, Ashwatthama still tells Bhagawan Krishna that the next generation of Yudishtra will be completely wiped out from this world with this “Brahma-Shiras” weapon. However, Bhagawan counters him that nothing of that sort can happen and Parikshit (Arjuna’s grandson) is destined to rule the kingdom after Yudishtra. 

As Bhagawan says thus, Utthara (Abhimanyu’s wife) starts getting the labor pain and as the “Brahma-Shiras” “Asthram” hits her womb, she is suffering unbearably! The “Asthram” shows its power and burns the baby inside completely! After a while, Utthara delivers a dead baby without any sign of life! The dead baby is in the form of a burnt stick – Primarily because Ashwatthama’s “Brahma-Shiras” has burnt the baby completely! Upon seeing a dead baby being delivered, the entire family is in grief! Utthara cannot see her child being dead even while it is born! It breaks her heart completely! On the other hand, Draupati is crying with uncontrollable grief as well! All the women folks are mourning this shocking incident! Now, Bhagawan Krishna’s “Deiva-Sankalpam” swings into action! He proclaims loudly with a lot of anger towards Ashwatthama thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! You’ve shown your attitude and cowardliness to the world by trying to destroy Yudishtra’s next generation. Now let me prove a point to this world – “Deiva Sankalpam” is extremely powerful and can defeat any human force in this world! Now that you’ve done whatever you’ve to do, it is now my responsibility to bring this dead baby back to life!” 

Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna continues further – “Oh Yudishtra! Oh Arjuna! Oh Draupati! Oh Sage Vyasa! If it is true that I’m a strict and an austere “Brahmachari” and if it is true that I’ve never uttered even a single lie in this world during this incarnation of mine, let this baby rise and come back to its life!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, He first takes the form of the Divine “Chakra-Aayudham”, enters into Utthara’s womb and protects the baby from the “Asthram”. Even after that, when Utthara delivers the baby, it comes out as a burnt stick! Now, Bhagawan Krishna plays a divine “Leela” here – He slowly caresses the baby with His divine toe and has a deep look at its face! After a few seconds of Bhagawan’s action, the baby suddenly springs to life! This makes people go into utter amazement and joy! Pariskshit is born in this world! Even though the next generation of the Pandavas is no more, (Abhimanyu and the Upa-Pandavas are dead), Parikshit comes as a savior for Yudishtra as part of the subsequent generation after Abhimanyu. 

Now as this happens, Ashwatthama is helpless and he is in utter shock! As Parikshit has come to life, Ashwatthama has nothing more to do from here on. He accepts his defeat with a lot of embarrassment and shame, hands over the bell from his forehead into Bhagawan Krishna’s hands and silently leaves that place – Once and forever! Taking the bell from Ashwatthama’s hands, Bhagawan Krishna hands it over to Draupati. We’ve seen this earlier – Draupati wanted Yudishtra and Co. to go after Ashwatthama, kill him and bring his bell as a token of victory. Now that the entire episode has been completed, Draupati receives the bell from Bhagawan Krishna’s hands and with this, she is also happy! Now, Yudishtra asks a very important question to Bhaagwan Krishna thus, Oh Bhagawan! Why have all our friends and family members passed away like this? What is the reason behind this happening?” To this, Bhagawan Krishna is going to give a very important reply to Yudishtra, which we shall wait and witness in the next episode! Stay tuned! 

Episode # 1225 – “You’ll be insulted & abused for the next 3,000 years!” – Bhagawan Krishna curses Ashwatthama!!!

In the previous episode, we had witnessed Ashwatthama’s gross inability to take back the “brahma-Shiras” “Asthram” that he had employed to destroy the entire Pandava clan. Sage Vyaasa angrily intervenes and is about to curse Ashwatthama very badly for the blunder that he has committed. It is not just the destruction of the Pandavas that is under question here – Ashwatthama’s “Brahma-Shiras” is like a nuclear weapon which has the capability to destroy the entire world. As Sage Vyaasa takes out his “Kamandalam” and sprinkles water from it on Ashwatthama with a curse, Bhagawan Krishna quickly intervenes. He puts this entire fiasco to rest by declaring that from this point onwards, “Deiva-Sankalpam” (Divine Will) will take over. Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna starts His “Divine Play”. What is He going to do? How is He going to save the Pandavas from here on? 

Moving on thus, Bhagawan Krishna replies to Ashwatthama – “Oh Dhrauni! (Son of Guru Dhronachaarya)! You’ve committed a blunder today and the entire world will remember you for it. Now you’ve done whatever you’ve to do, go away from this place after accepting defeat! You should not be present here even for a moment more! Oh Ashwatthama! Whatever you wished, will never happen in this world! The Pandava brothers cannot be killed! Moreover, you’ve also tried to destroy the entire “Vamsam” (Clan) of the Pandava brothers by targeting Utthara’s “Garbham” (Womb)! (Utthara is the wife of Abhimanyu, who is pregnant while the war is going on)!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, Ashwatthama replies back – “Oh Krishna! I know you will intervene and do some tricks here and there to save them! This is why I’m very particular that the next generation of the Pandavas should not exist. Now this “Brahma-Shiras” will destroy Utthara’s womb and when she gives birth, the child will be born as a burnt stick! It will not survive!” 

As Ashwatthama says thus, Bhagawan Krishna becomes angry. He replies back thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! You think that you’ve achieved something great! But do not rest on your laurels! “Deiva Sankalpam” is more powerful than any other thing in this world! I’ve decided that this child will survive! Nobody can stop it! You’ve destroyed her womb, haven’t you? I know how to give life to that burnt stick that comes out of Utthara! No matter how much ever you try, you will not be able to destroy the “Pandava-Vamsa”! There is going to be the successor of Yudishtra by name “Parikshit” and he will happily rule the kingdom after Yudishtra retires. Moreover, when Abhimanyu was born to Arjuna and Subadhra (Subadhra is Bhagawan Krishna’s sister, who got married to Arjuna. We’ve seen this in our earlier episodes as well), there was a “Divine voice” which claimed the greatness of their son! Similarly, for the next generation too, the voice claimed that there will be no destruction at all by any means! Parikshit is here to survive and rule!” 

Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna becomes more angry than ever. He now says thus, “Oh Ashwatthama! For all that you’ve done in such a cowardly manner, I’m hereby cursing you – You will be alive in this world for the next 3,000 years or so, and will be insulted left, right and centre by anybody and everybody who sees you! You will get beaten up, insulted, abused, etc. wherever you go in this world! You’ve to live like this for three thousand years! Forget Sage Vyaasa cursing you – This curse of mine will definitely come true and you are going to reap the fruit for what you’ve done to Yudishtra & Co.!” 

This is the reason why it is believed that Ashwatthama is still alive in some part of the world! 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!