PROLOGUE--ANCIENT STORY .
One day, Shantanu, the king of Hasinapura ,belonging to the Kuru dynasty, while walking along the shores of the Holy River Ganga met a beautiful lady . Attracted by her divine beauty, Shantanu approached her and requested her to become his wife. The lady, who in fact was none other than Goddess Ganga, born in human form due to a curse of Lord Brahma, agreed to this on condition that the king would never stand against her will on any account. If any such instance occurred at any time, she would leave him at once.Having been so much fascinated by her beauty Shantanu agreed to these conditions and they soon became man and wife.Seven sons were born to them, and Ganga devi threw all of them in the River as soon as they were born. King Shantanu was very much grieved by this cruel act on the part of his wife, but suffered the grief silently as he did not want to lose his beautiful wife. But when the eighth son was about to be thrown into the river, the king could no longer resist himself and asked his wife to spare at least that child.
Ganga Devi, then revealed her identity and told the king that all these eight sons born to him from her, were the eight Vasus who had bees cursed by Maharshi Vasishta to become humans as a punishment for trying to steal his divine cow . The first seven had redeemed their punishment as soon as they took birth as humans and that was why they were thrown into the river to leave their human body and return to their permanent abode in the heaven.But the eighth Vasu who was the leader of the clan and the one actually responsible for stealing the cow, had to undergo the punishment and live a full span of human life in this world . So saying, Goddess Ganga disappeared from the earth.However, the goddess took the infant boy with her and returned him to the king after eighteen years as a fully grown up and properly educated young prince befitting the Kuru dynasty.This young prince named Devavrata, was received by his father with great joy. Devavrata had acquired complete knowledge of everything that a prince should know and had become an invincible archer and a great scholar .
However,by destiny,he could not become the king of Hastinapura after his father. After Ganga Devi's disappearance, King Shantanu had been living a lonely life, till the return of his son. One day, the king came across a beautiful young lady named on the banks of River Ganga. She was Satyavati, the daughter of the cheif-tain of the fishermen folk .The King expressed his desire to marry her; but her father told him point blank that he would give his daughter to the king in marriage only on condition that her sons would become successors to the throne of Hastinapura after the king's time. It was a great shock to the king , who could not disinherit his noble son Devavrata from the throne of Hastinapura. However, he became very dejected and gloomy after that incident. Young Devavrata noticed the change in his father, found out the reason from the king's followers and decided to fulfil his father's wish.He approached the fisherman and assured him to relinquish his claim for the throne if he would give Satyavati to his father. But the fisherman expressed his doubt whether Devavrata's sons would forgo their claim for the throne. At this, Devavrata took a fierce vow and declared that he not only relinquished his claim for the throne, but also took the vow that he would never marry or begot any child during his life time. After this, Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma( one who has taken a fierce vow)
Devavrata himself escorted his step mother to his father. One learning what his son has done , King Shantanu was overwhelmed with emotion. He embraced his son and gave him a boon that death would approach him only at his will.King Shantanu had two sons from Satyavati, named Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya . Chitrangada was killed in fight by a gandharva of the same name . Vichitra veerya succeeded his father and became king of hastinapura. Although he had married Ambika and Ambalika the daughters of the king of Kashi, Vichitraveerya died of tuberculosis, leaving the throne of Hastinapura intestate. Therefore, Bhishma who had relinquished his claim for throne looked after the affairs of the kingdom as regent.
According to the custom prevalent at that time, it was rightful for an elder brother to beget child in the widow of a younger brother in order to maintain the family lineage. Satyavati , therefore , requested Bhishma to relax his vow and beget children in widows of Vichitraveerya; but Bhishma decilned.Having no other go, Satyavati summoned her pre-born son Veda Vyasa and asked him to do so.(As a flash back, it may be recalled that Satyavati, had given birth to Vyasa from the sage Parasara, long before her marriage to Shantanu .By the blessing of the sage, her virginity had been restored to her. Vyasa, as soon as he was born, grew into a youth and bid farewell to his mother,giving her an assurance that he would appear before her any time when she wanted to see him.)
Vyasa begot a son each to Ambika and Ambalika . Ambika approached Vyasa with her eyes closed, in order not to see the ugly body of the sage; and the son born to her was blind Dhritarashtra.Ambalika became pale with disgust when she saw Vyasa and so her son Pandu was pale throughout his life.As the elder son was blind, Satyavati asked Ambika to beget another son from the sage; but instead of going herself to the sage she sent her maid dressed like a queen.This maid was very devoted and approached the sage with great reverence and love.The son born to her was the noble Vidura, who in fact was the reincarnation of Lord yama
Dhritarashtra being blind by birth was not entitled to the throne .So Pandu the younger brother became king of Hastinapura,but met with an untimely death on account of the curse of a Muni.After Pandu's death, Dhritarashtra, the blind prince , came to be king of Hastianpura.When Pandu died, Madri, the younger of his two wives also entered the funeral pyre and ended her life.Thereafter, the three Sons of Pandu born to his elder wife Kunti and twin brothers born to Madri were bred and brought up by Kunti, in Hastinapura along with the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra.The five sons of Kunti named Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna and the twinsons of Madri named nakula and Sahadeva waer generally known as Pandavas( Pandu's sons).The hundred sons od Dhritarashtra, were known as Kauravas(the sons of Kuru) . Duryodhana, Dusshasana and Vikarna were the elders among Kauravas and they had a sister named Dusshala.
However,by destiny,he could not become the king of Hastinapura after his father. After Ganga Devi's disappearance, King Shantanu had been living a lonely life, till the return of his son. One day, the king came across a beautiful young lady named on the banks of River Ganga. She was Satyavati, the daughter of the cheif-tain of the fishermen folk .The King expressed his desire to marry her; but her father told him point blank that he would give his daughter to the king in marriage only on condition that her sons would become successors to the throne of Hastinapura after the king's time. It was a great shock to the king , who could not disinherit his noble son Devavrata from the throne of Hastinapura. However, he became very dejected and gloomy after that incident. Young Devavrata noticed the change in his father, found out the reason from the king's followers and decided to fulfil his father's wish.He approached the fisherman and assured him to relinquish his claim for the throne if he would give Satyavati to his father. But the fisherman expressed his doubt whether Devavrata's sons would forgo their claim for the throne. At this, Devavrata took a fierce vow and declared that he not only relinquished his claim for the throne, but also took the vow that he would never marry or begot any child during his life time. After this, Devavrata came to be known as Bhishma( one who has taken a fierce vow)
Devavrata himself escorted his step mother to his father. One learning what his son has done , King Shantanu was overwhelmed with emotion. He embraced his son and gave him a boon that death would approach him only at his will.King Shantanu had two sons from Satyavati, named Chitrangada and Vichitraveerya . Chitrangada was killed in fight by a gandharva of the same name . Vichitra veerya succeeded his father and became king of hastinapura. Although he had married Ambika and Ambalika the daughters of the king of Kashi, Vichitraveerya died of tuberculosis, leaving the throne of Hastinapura intestate. Therefore, Bhishma who had relinquished his claim for throne looked after the affairs of the kingdom as regent.
According to the custom prevalent at that time, it was rightful for an elder brother to beget child in the widow of a younger brother in order to maintain the family lineage. Satyavati , therefore , requested Bhishma to relax his vow and beget children in widows of Vichitraveerya; but Bhishma decilned.Having no other go, Satyavati summoned her pre-born son Veda Vyasa and asked him to do so.(As a flash back, it may be recalled that Satyavati, had given birth to Vyasa from the sage Parasara, long before her marriage to Shantanu .By the blessing of the sage, her virginity had been restored to her. Vyasa, as soon as he was born, grew into a youth and bid farewell to his mother,giving her an assurance that he would appear before her any time when she wanted to see him.)
Vyasa begot a son each to Ambika and Ambalika . Ambika approached Vyasa with her eyes closed, in order not to see the ugly body of the sage; and the son born to her was blind Dhritarashtra.Ambalika became pale with disgust when she saw Vyasa and so her son Pandu was pale throughout his life.As the elder son was blind, Satyavati asked Ambika to beget another son from the sage; but instead of going herself to the sage she sent her maid dressed like a queen.This maid was very devoted and approached the sage with great reverence and love.The son born to her was the noble Vidura, who in fact was the reincarnation of Lord yama
Dhritarashtra being blind by birth was not entitled to the throne .So Pandu the younger brother became king of Hastinapura,but met with an untimely death on account of the curse of a Muni.After Pandu's death, Dhritarashtra, the blind prince , came to be king of Hastianpura.When Pandu died, Madri, the younger of his two wives also entered the funeral pyre and ended her life.Thereafter, the three Sons of Pandu born to his elder wife Kunti and twin brothers born to Madri were bred and brought up by Kunti, in Hastinapura along with the hundred sons of Dhritarashtra.The five sons of Kunti named Yudhishtira, Bhima, Arjuna and the twinsons of Madri named nakula and Sahadeva waer generally known as Pandavas( Pandu's sons).The hundred sons od Dhritarashtra, were known as Kauravas(the sons of Kuru) . Duryodhana, Dusshasana and Vikarna were the elders among Kauravas and they had a sister named Dusshala.
After the death of Pandu, the Pandavas were living at Hastinapura under the care of their grandsire Bhishma, in the palace of Dhritarashtra.Being the children of Pandu, who was the rightful ruler of the kingdom, Pandavas were to succeed the kingdom after their father. But Duryodhana, being the son of Dhritarashtra who was the de-facto ruler, wanted to become king after his father.He, therefore, hatched several plans to do away with Kunti and Pandavas.
He tried to burn them in a house of lacquer; tried to kill Bhima by drowning him in the Ganges. But Lord Krishna protected them from all dangers and finally a compromise was reached by giving half the kingdom to Pandavas.They got their capital built at Indraprastha and started ruling their kingdom righteously.
But Duryodhana did not sit quiet. One day Duryodhana invited Yudhishtira to Hastinapura for a game of dice.As had been the custom among the kings at that time ,it was improper to decline such an invitation and so Yudhishtira came and participated in the game.Duryodhana, with the help of his uncle Shakuni, defeated Yudhishtira by foulplay and deprived him of his kingdom and all possessions including his brothers and wife Panchali.Dusshasana tried to dishonour Panchali in the open court, but Lord Krishna rescued her from disgrace by providing endless clothing on her body even as Dushhasana was trying to undress her. In the end, the game was compromised and all possessions of Yudhishtira were restored to him.
This was , however, not the end. Not long afterwards, Yudhishtira was enticed into another game of dice at Hastinapura, and was defeated as before. This time the condition was that the loser should relinquish his kingdom and live in the forest for twelve years and spend the thirteenth year in cognito.If they were detected during this period, they had to repeat the whole process again.With the help of Lord Krishna , the Pandavas successfully completed the twelve years of forest life and on year of life in cognito.However when they came back and claimed their kingdom Duryodhana declined to give it back .Negotiations and mediations followed and even Lord Krishna played the role of mediator ;but none yielded any result as Duryudhana was adamant on his stand.The Pandavas were left with no choice other than a righteous war with the Kauravas to get back their kingdom.The war was announced and Kurukshetra was selected as the war-field.
Before starting the war, both Duryodhana and Arjuna formally visited Lord Krishna at Dwaraka to enlist His support for their side of the war.The Lord who knew the intention of both had taken a posture of affected sleep and was reposing on a couch. Duryodhana who came first, occupied a seat at the head of the couch and waited. When Arjuna entered the room he stood at the foot of the couch facing the Lord. Soon Lord Krishna opened His eyes and asked them what brought them there. After hearing their purpose of visit, the Lord said that He would offer His entire army and ammunition to one side and would join the other side unarmed and asked them to give their options. Suddenly Duryodhana intervened and said that he had come first and should get the first opportunity to opt.But the Lord said that being younger of the two Arjuna should give his option first.Duryodhana feared that Arjuna would take away the army and ammunition and he would get only the 'useless' unarmed Krishna. But to his surprise, Arjuna said he wanted only the Lord with him and not His army or ammunition. Duryodhana was delighted at this. He took Krishna's Army as his share and went on his way.Krishna agreed to remain with Arjuna as his charioteer in the war.
DHRITHARASHTRA'S DILEMMA.
After the declaration of war, many righteous kings including those of Panchala, Virata,Kasi and other strong kingdoms joined the Pandava's side. Duryodhana also had enlisted the help of several unrighteous and wicked kings. Dhritarashtra was upset when he heard that Lord Krishna was assisting Arjuna in the war acting as his charioteer, because he was sure that only Lord Krishna'a side would be crowned with victory. He, therefore, secretly sent his minister Sanjaya to Arjuna to dissuade him from fighting the war, as it was a sinful act to kill friends and relatives, even if it was in a war.But Krishna stood sternly beside Arjuna and asked Sanjaya to go and tell Dhritarashtra that his counsel should be given to his wicked son Duryodhana who was unlawfully occupying the kingdom rightfully belonging to the Pandavas, and not to Arjuna.
The time and place for the commencement of war were fixed. Sage Vyasa , who had previously warned Dhritrashtra about the consequences of a war with Pandavas, offerred to give him divine eye-sight so as to enable him to see the war sitting in his palace.But Dhritarashtra said he could not bear the sight of his sons falling dead in the war field.Instead, he asked Vyasa to give that divine sight to his minister Sanjaya, who could see the war and give him a narration of the events as and when necessary.
THE WAR
Accordingly, on the appointed day, Pandavas and Kouravas with their armies arrayed on opposite sides, stood in the war-field of Krukshetra to commence the righteous war. Bhishma the grand sire, Drona and Kripa the chief masters were invincible warriors. But they were compelled to remain with Kouravas, on account of their allegience to the ruling monarch of the land, who happened to be Dhritarashtra for the time being. Karna,the son born to Kunti, from the Sun-God, before her marriage with Pandu, was another great warrior who was also on Kauravaside. Bhishma was the commander-in chief of Kourava Army. Pandava'sArmy was under the command of Dhrishtadyumna, Panchali's brother , whose birth was ordained for killing Drona.Similarly, Shikhandi on Pandava's side was destined to kill Bhishma.
Before starting the war, Yudhishtira went and bowed before Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa and asked for their permission to fight against them and also prayed for their blessings for his victory.The war started and Sanjaya kept watching the events.On the tenth day, grand-sire Bhishma who was fatally wounded by Arjuna's arrows fell in the battle field.The failure of Bhishma was a sure sign of the disaster to follow on the Kourava's side.Sanjaya could not wait any longer. He immediately went to Dhritarashtra and reported the fall of Bhishma .On hearing this terrible news, Dhritarashtra was dumbfounded for a while. He soon pulled himself together and asked Sanjaya to give a first hand report from the beginning of the war.
CHAPTER I -ARJUNA VISHADA YOGA( YOGA OF ARJUNA'S DESPONDENCY)
Sreemad Bhagavad Gita opens up with the first question that was asked by Dhritarshtra to Sanjaya."Oh! Sanjaya! Tell me. What did my children and the sons of Pandu actually do, after they had assembled at Kurukshetra, the field of righteousness, desiring to fight out their case. (I-1)
(Dhritarashtra had an expectation that the counsel that he sent through Sanjaya would have some impact on Arjuna, and he would have withdrawn from the fighting.But the contrary had happened. He wanted to know what exaxtly were the turn of events)
In reply to this question,Sajaya said:"Oh! King! On seeing the Pandava's army , arranged in several rows, King Duryodhana approached his master Drona and said these words." (I-2)
(Duryodhana to Drona) "Oh! Revered Master! kindly see the mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed for battle by your own talented disciple ,Dhrshtadyumna, son of Drupada. (I-3)
(Implying that Dhrshtadyumna was born to kill Drona, but Drona himself trained him in Archery and made him a talented warrior) "In that army, there are many mighty heroes like Satyaki, Virata,Drupada, Dhrshtaketu, Chekitana, King of Kashi, Purujit, Kunti Bhoja Shaibya, Yudhamanyu,Uthamauja, Abhimanyu and the five sons of Panchali. All of them are equal in their military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna. (I-4,5,6)
(Bhima and Arjuna are universally accepted as invincible warriors.All others on that side are equally strong men. So the strength of the opposite side cannot be ignored) " Oh!the best of Brahmins! We have also may great warriors in my army.I shall mention them for your information. (I-7)
(Implying that after all Drona is only a Brahmin who is inherently not of the fighter class.Reference to Kaurava army as 'my army' shows Duryuodhana's egoism and arrogance)
" Your goodself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, who is always a victor in battles, Aswadhama,Vikarna, Bhurishrava and Jayadratha." (I-8)
(Equating Drona, Bhishma, and Kripa with other warriors, shows Duryodhana's scant regard for the Grand Sire Bishma and the great Acharyas Drona and Kripa)
"There are many other heroes, well versed in the use of various weapons,and skilled in warfare, who have staked their lives for my sake." (I-9)
( Duryodhana's words 'staked their lives for my sake' portent the outcome of the war.)
"So long as Bhishma is protecting our Army , none can defeat us.On the other hand, their army protected by Bhima can easily be defeated by us.So my request is that all of you stationed in you respective positions, should safeguard Bhishma from all sides." (I- 10,11)
( Sanjaya continues) Hearing these words of Duryodhana, in order to make him happy, grand old patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, Bhishma roared like a lion and blew his conch. (I-12)
Then followed a tumultuous and disorderly noise of conches, drums,and trumpets from from the Kaurava side .(I-13)
At this point, seated in a glorious chariot, drawn by white horses, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches Panchajanya and Devadatta.This was followed by other warriors on the Pandava side systematically. Bhima of terrible deeds blew His great conch Paundra, Yudhishtira blew Anantavijayam and Nakula and Sahadev blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka respectively. The excellent archer,King of Kashi,Sikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna,Virata, Satyaki Drupada,Panchali's sons and Abhimanyu blew their respective conches from all sides.This terrible noise resounding through heaven and earth nearly crushed the hearts od Kauravas.(I-14,15,16,17,18,19)
Having found that the Armies were ready to fight and it was time to use the weapons, Arjuna raised his bow and said the following words to Lord Krishna :-"Oh! Achyutha!Please place my chariot between the to armies and keep it there till I have seen those who have come to fight with me. I should also like to see all the well-wishers of wicked Duryodhana, who have come to fight in this war."(I-20,21,22,23)
Having been told so by Arjuna, Lord Krishna placed the glorious chariot between the two armies in front of Bhishma, Drona and all the Kings and said:-"Arjuna! now look at the Kurus assembled here"(I-24,25)
When Arjuna looked towards both Armies, he could not see any foes; but only kinsmen like parents, grandparents, uncles, teachers, brothers, cousins, nephews, friends and so on.On seeing all these people, Arjuna's heart was siezed by deep compassion and he started speaking sorrowful words.(I-26,27)
[This was what Dhritrashtra wanted to take place when he sent Sanjaya a few days before the commencement of War, to counsel Arjuna about the evils of killing one's own kith and kin in war.]
Arjuna said:-Oh! Krishna! On seeing these kinsmen in the battlefield, my limbs are getting tired, my mouth is drying up,my body is trembling and my hairs stand on end.My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand;my skin is burning with heat; my body and mind seem to have become unsteady.Not only that, what I see are all bad omens and I do not see any good in killing our own kinsmen in battle.Krishna!To tell you the truth, I do not covet victory , nor kingdom nor the pleasures attached to it.In fact, what is the use of all these and even what is the use of life?For whose sake we seek kingdom and all the pleasures, those very persons are standing here arrayed for battle, staking their life and wealth. So I do not want to kill them, even if they kill me; not even for the sovereignity of all the three worlds, not to speak of this small earth.
Oh! Janardana!.What do we gain by killing the sons of Dhritharashtra? Although they are scoundrels, killing them will bring only sin to us.It is ,therefore, not proper for us to kill our own relatives.Oh!Madhava! How can we derive any happiness from killing kinsmen?
Oh! Janardana!They may not see the evil in destroying one' own race and and the sin in killing kinsmen, because they are blinded by greed. But we are different and can see these cosnequences clearly. Should we not then desist from commiting such attrocities?As you know very well, if the family is destroyed, age-old traditions of the family will cease to exist; family virtues will vanish and vices will take their place.Oh! Varshneya! When vices thrive, naturally women become corrupt , which in turn brings admixture of races.Consequently, deprived of the prescribed offerings, the departed souls of the family will fall into the hell.This will lead to the fall of those responsible for destroying the family.It is heard that men who have lost their family and its traditions will dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time.
Oh! What a pity!We who are possessed of discriminative intelligence to know all these ,have ourselves come up for commiting the sinof killing kinsmen, just because of our greed for kingdom and its pleasures .
I consider it better for me if the Kauravas armed with weapons, kill me while I remain unarmed and unresisting.(I-28 to 46)
Sanjaya said:-Arjuna, his mind being agitated by grief, after speaking thus to Lord Krishna , put his bow and arrows down ans sat on the hind part of his chariot.
Thus ends Chapter I of Sreemad Bhagavad Gita entitled
"The yoga of Arjuna's despondency"
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He tried to burn them in a house of lacquer; tried to kill Bhima by drowning him in the Ganges. But Lord Krishna protected them from all dangers and finally a compromise was reached by giving half the kingdom to Pandavas.They got their capital built at Indraprastha and started ruling their kingdom righteously.
But Duryodhana did not sit quiet. One day Duryodhana invited Yudhishtira to Hastinapura for a game of dice.As had been the custom among the kings at that time ,it was improper to decline such an invitation and so Yudhishtira came and participated in the game.Duryodhana, with the help of his uncle Shakuni, defeated Yudhishtira by foulplay and deprived him of his kingdom and all possessions including his brothers and wife Panchali.Dusshasana tried to dishonour Panchali in the open court, but Lord Krishna rescued her from disgrace by providing endless clothing on her body even as Dushhasana was trying to undress her. In the end, the game was compromised and all possessions of Yudhishtira were restored to him.
This was , however, not the end. Not long afterwards, Yudhishtira was enticed into another game of dice at Hastinapura, and was defeated as before. This time the condition was that the loser should relinquish his kingdom and live in the forest for twelve years and spend the thirteenth year in cognito.If they were detected during this period, they had to repeat the whole process again.With the help of Lord Krishna , the Pandavas successfully completed the twelve years of forest life and on year of life in cognito.However when they came back and claimed their kingdom Duryodhana declined to give it back .Negotiations and mediations followed and even Lord Krishna played the role of mediator ;but none yielded any result as Duryudhana was adamant on his stand.The Pandavas were left with no choice other than a righteous war with the Kauravas to get back their kingdom.The war was announced and Kurukshetra was selected as the war-field.
Before starting the war, both Duryodhana and Arjuna formally visited Lord Krishna at Dwaraka to enlist His support for their side of the war.The Lord who knew the intention of both had taken a posture of affected sleep and was reposing on a couch. Duryodhana who came first, occupied a seat at the head of the couch and waited. When Arjuna entered the room he stood at the foot of the couch facing the Lord. Soon Lord Krishna opened His eyes and asked them what brought them there. After hearing their purpose of visit, the Lord said that He would offer His entire army and ammunition to one side and would join the other side unarmed and asked them to give their options. Suddenly Duryodhana intervened and said that he had come first and should get the first opportunity to opt.But the Lord said that being younger of the two Arjuna should give his option first.Duryodhana feared that Arjuna would take away the army and ammunition and he would get only the 'useless' unarmed Krishna. But to his surprise, Arjuna said he wanted only the Lord with him and not His army or ammunition. Duryodhana was delighted at this. He took Krishna's Army as his share and went on his way.Krishna agreed to remain with Arjuna as his charioteer in the war.
DHRITHARASHTRA'S DILEMMA.
After the declaration of war, many righteous kings including those of Panchala, Virata,Kasi and other strong kingdoms joined the Pandava's side. Duryodhana also had enlisted the help of several unrighteous and wicked kings. Dhritarashtra was upset when he heard that Lord Krishna was assisting Arjuna in the war acting as his charioteer, because he was sure that only Lord Krishna'a side would be crowned with victory. He, therefore, secretly sent his minister Sanjaya to Arjuna to dissuade him from fighting the war, as it was a sinful act to kill friends and relatives, even if it was in a war.But Krishna stood sternly beside Arjuna and asked Sanjaya to go and tell Dhritarashtra that his counsel should be given to his wicked son Duryodhana who was unlawfully occupying the kingdom rightfully belonging to the Pandavas, and not to Arjuna.
The time and place for the commencement of war were fixed. Sage Vyasa , who had previously warned Dhritrashtra about the consequences of a war with Pandavas, offerred to give him divine eye-sight so as to enable him to see the war sitting in his palace.But Dhritarashtra said he could not bear the sight of his sons falling dead in the war field.Instead, he asked Vyasa to give that divine sight to his minister Sanjaya, who could see the war and give him a narration of the events as and when necessary.
THE WAR
Accordingly, on the appointed day, Pandavas and Kouravas with their armies arrayed on opposite sides, stood in the war-field of Krukshetra to commence the righteous war. Bhishma the grand sire, Drona and Kripa the chief masters were invincible warriors. But they were compelled to remain with Kouravas, on account of their allegience to the ruling monarch of the land, who happened to be Dhritarashtra for the time being. Karna,the son born to Kunti, from the Sun-God, before her marriage with Pandu, was another great warrior who was also on Kauravaside. Bhishma was the commander-in chief of Kourava Army. Pandava'sArmy was under the command of Dhrishtadyumna, Panchali's brother , whose birth was ordained for killing Drona.Similarly, Shikhandi on Pandava's side was destined to kill Bhishma.
Before starting the war, Yudhishtira went and bowed before Bhishma, Drona, and Kripa and asked for their permission to fight against them and also prayed for their blessings for his victory.The war started and Sanjaya kept watching the events.On the tenth day, grand-sire Bhishma who was fatally wounded by Arjuna's arrows fell in the battle field.The failure of Bhishma was a sure sign of the disaster to follow on the Kourava's side.Sanjaya could not wait any longer. He immediately went to Dhritarashtra and reported the fall of Bhishma .On hearing this terrible news, Dhritarashtra was dumbfounded for a while. He soon pulled himself together and asked Sanjaya to give a first hand report from the beginning of the war.
CHAPTER I -ARJUNA VISHADA YOGA( YOGA OF ARJUNA'S DESPONDENCY)
Sreemad Bhagavad Gita opens up with the first question that was asked by Dhritarshtra to Sanjaya."Oh! Sanjaya! Tell me. What did my children and the sons of Pandu actually do, after they had assembled at Kurukshetra, the field of righteousness, desiring to fight out their case. (I-1)
(Dhritarashtra had an expectation that the counsel that he sent through Sanjaya would have some impact on Arjuna, and he would have withdrawn from the fighting.But the contrary had happened. He wanted to know what exaxtly were the turn of events)
In reply to this question,Sajaya said:"Oh! King! On seeing the Pandava's army , arranged in several rows, King Duryodhana approached his master Drona and said these words." (I-2)
(Duryodhana to Drona) "Oh! Revered Master! kindly see the mighty army of the sons of Pandu, arrayed for battle by your own talented disciple ,Dhrshtadyumna, son of Drupada. (I-3)
(Implying that Dhrshtadyumna was born to kill Drona, but Drona himself trained him in Archery and made him a talented warrior) "In that army, there are many mighty heroes like Satyaki, Virata,Drupada, Dhrshtaketu, Chekitana, King of Kashi, Purujit, Kunti Bhoja Shaibya, Yudhamanyu,Uthamauja, Abhimanyu and the five sons of Panchali. All of them are equal in their military prowess to Bhima and Arjuna. (I-4,5,6)
(Bhima and Arjuna are universally accepted as invincible warriors.All others on that side are equally strong men. So the strength of the opposite side cannot be ignored) " Oh!the best of Brahmins! We have also may great warriors in my army.I shall mention them for your information. (I-7)
(Implying that after all Drona is only a Brahmin who is inherently not of the fighter class.Reference to Kaurava army as 'my army' shows Duryuodhana's egoism and arrogance)
" Your goodself, Bhishma, Karna, Kripa, who is always a victor in battles, Aswadhama,Vikarna, Bhurishrava and Jayadratha." (I-8)
(Equating Drona, Bhishma, and Kripa with other warriors, shows Duryodhana's scant regard for the Grand Sire Bishma and the great Acharyas Drona and Kripa)
"There are many other heroes, well versed in the use of various weapons,and skilled in warfare, who have staked their lives for my sake." (I-9)
( Duryodhana's words 'staked their lives for my sake' portent the outcome of the war.)
"So long as Bhishma is protecting our Army , none can defeat us.On the other hand, their army protected by Bhima can easily be defeated by us.So my request is that all of you stationed in you respective positions, should safeguard Bhishma from all sides." (I- 10,11)
( Sanjaya continues) Hearing these words of Duryodhana, in order to make him happy, grand old patriarch of the Kuru dynasty, Bhishma roared like a lion and blew his conch. (I-12)
Then followed a tumultuous and disorderly noise of conches, drums,and trumpets from from the Kaurava side .(I-13)
At this point, seated in a glorious chariot, drawn by white horses, Lord Krishna and Arjuna blew their celestial conches Panchajanya and Devadatta.This was followed by other warriors on the Pandava side systematically. Bhima of terrible deeds blew His great conch Paundra, Yudhishtira blew Anantavijayam and Nakula and Sahadev blew Sughosha and Manipushpaka respectively. The excellent archer,King of Kashi,Sikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna,Virata, Satyaki Drupada,Panchali's sons and Abhimanyu blew their respective conches from all sides.This terrible noise resounding through heaven and earth nearly crushed the hearts od Kauravas.(I-14,15,16,17,18,19)
Having found that the Armies were ready to fight and it was time to use the weapons, Arjuna raised his bow and said the following words to Lord Krishna :-"Oh! Achyutha!Please place my chariot between the to armies and keep it there till I have seen those who have come to fight with me. I should also like to see all the well-wishers of wicked Duryodhana, who have come to fight in this war."(I-20,21,22,23)
Having been told so by Arjuna, Lord Krishna placed the glorious chariot between the two armies in front of Bhishma, Drona and all the Kings and said:-"Arjuna! now look at the Kurus assembled here"(I-24,25)
When Arjuna looked towards both Armies, he could not see any foes; but only kinsmen like parents, grandparents, uncles, teachers, brothers, cousins, nephews, friends and so on.On seeing all these people, Arjuna's heart was siezed by deep compassion and he started speaking sorrowful words.(I-26,27)
[This was what Dhritrashtra wanted to take place when he sent Sanjaya a few days before the commencement of War, to counsel Arjuna about the evils of killing one's own kith and kin in war.]
Arjuna said:-Oh! Krishna! On seeing these kinsmen in the battlefield, my limbs are getting tired, my mouth is drying up,my body is trembling and my hairs stand on end.My bow Gandiva is slipping from my hand;my skin is burning with heat; my body and mind seem to have become unsteady.Not only that, what I see are all bad omens and I do not see any good in killing our own kinsmen in battle.Krishna!To tell you the truth, I do not covet victory , nor kingdom nor the pleasures attached to it.In fact, what is the use of all these and even what is the use of life?For whose sake we seek kingdom and all the pleasures, those very persons are standing here arrayed for battle, staking their life and wealth. So I do not want to kill them, even if they kill me; not even for the sovereignity of all the three worlds, not to speak of this small earth.
Oh! Janardana!.What do we gain by killing the sons of Dhritharashtra? Although they are scoundrels, killing them will bring only sin to us.It is ,therefore, not proper for us to kill our own relatives.Oh!Madhava! How can we derive any happiness from killing kinsmen?
Oh! Janardana!They may not see the evil in destroying one' own race and and the sin in killing kinsmen, because they are blinded by greed. But we are different and can see these cosnequences clearly. Should we not then desist from commiting such attrocities?As you know very well, if the family is destroyed, age-old traditions of the family will cease to exist; family virtues will vanish and vices will take their place.Oh! Varshneya! When vices thrive, naturally women become corrupt , which in turn brings admixture of races.Consequently, deprived of the prescribed offerings, the departed souls of the family will fall into the hell.This will lead to the fall of those responsible for destroying the family.It is heard that men who have lost their family and its traditions will dwell in hell for an indefinite period of time.
Oh! What a pity!We who are possessed of discriminative intelligence to know all these ,have ourselves come up for commiting the sinof killing kinsmen, just because of our greed for kingdom and its pleasures .
I consider it better for me if the Kauravas armed with weapons, kill me while I remain unarmed and unresisting.(I-28 to 46)
Sanjaya said:-Arjuna, his mind being agitated by grief, after speaking thus to Lord Krishna , put his bow and arrows down ans sat on the hind part of his chariot.
Thus ends Chapter I of Sreemad Bhagavad Gita entitled
"The yoga of Arjuna's despondency"
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