THE MAHABHARATA
Rishi
Veda Vyasa is a Hindu figure of
yore, a divine guru, a luminary of spirituality whose status in Hinduism is
equal to that of the gods. Appearing anachronistically in numerous texts from
the Classic to early Modern period of Hinduism, he plays an important role in
not only the literature but the belief of many Hindus. His name means
"splitter," as in "Veda Vyasa," or "Splitter of the
Vedas," a feat that, according to Hindus, allowed mere mortals to
comprehend the grandeur of divine Vedic knowledge.
He
is purported to have written the Mahabharata. He is also known as Krishna
Dvaipayana (the dark one born on an island) and in many languages
(Sanskrit, Hindi) as Rishi Veda Vyaas or, ore simply, Vyaas.
Vyasa: a 'history'
By most accounts of yore, Vyasa was the
grandfather of both the warring parties of the Mahabharata, the Kauravas and
the Pandavas. He is also the narrator of the story and is said to have asked Lord Ganesh to aid him in writing it
down for posterity. Vyasa was the son of Satyavati, a ferryman's daughter, and
the wandering sage Parashara. He was born on an island in the River Yamuna. The
father of the princes Dhritarashtra and Pandu (by Ambika and Ambalika, the
wives of King Vichitravirya), he also
had a third son, Vidura, by a serving maid.
According
to some accounts he is supposed to have sectioned the Vedic scriptures into
appropriate format for the rest of humanity. His knowledge was supposed to be
unique and whatever he knew could only be partially learnt by anyone else,
whether by meditation, study of the Vedas, fasting, self improvement, etc. He
is deemed to be the ideal Brahmarishi, omniscient, truthful, purest of the pure
and possessor of knowledge of the essence of Brahma.
The Greatness of
the Epic
MAHABHARATA—the very mention of the name gives a
thrill of holy ideas. This is a great epic heroic poem. It contains one hundred
thousand verses. It contains the essence of all scriptures. It is an
encyclopedia of ethics, knowledge, politics, religion, philosophy and Dharma.
If you cannot find anything here, you cannot find it anywhere else. It contains eighteen Parvas or sections viz. Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virata
Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva,
Sauptika Parva, StreeParva, Shanti Parva, Anushasana Parva, Asvamedha Parva,
Ashramavasika Parva, Mausala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohanika Parva. EachParva contains many sub-Parvas or subsections.
This wonderful book
was composed by Sri Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) who was the grandfather of the
heroes of the epic. He taught this epic to his son Suka and his disciples Vaisampayana
and others. King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit, the grandson of the heroes of
the epic, performed a great sacrifice.
The epic was recited by Vaisampayana to Janamejaya at the command of Vyasa.
Later on, Suta recited the Mahabharata as was done by Vaisampayana to
Janamejaya, to Saunaka and others, during a sacrifice performed by Saunaka in
Naimisaranya, which is near Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh. I
t
is very interesting to remember the opening and closing lines of this great
epic. It begins with: "Vyasa sang of the ineffable greatness and splendour
of Lord Vasudeva, who is the source and support for everything, who is eternal,
unchanging, and self-luminous, who is the Indweller in all beings, and the
truthfulness and righteousness of the Pandavas." It ends with: "With
raised hands, I shout at the top of my voice; but alas, no one hears my words
which can give them Supreme Peace, Joy and Eternal Bliss. One can attain wealth
and all objects of desire through Dharma (righteousness). Why do not
people practise Dharma? One should not abandon Dharma at any
cost, even at the risk of his life. One should not relinquish Dharma out of
passion or fear or covetousness or for the sake of preserving one’s life. This
is the Bharata Gayatri. Meditate on this daily, O man! When you retire to sleep
and when you rise from your bed every morning. You will attain everything. You
will attain fame, prosperity, long life, eternal bliss, everlasting peace and
immortality."
The Epic in a
Nutshell
The Mahabharata is the history of the Great War
of India between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The two brothers Dhritarashtra
and Pandu were born through sage Vyasa after the death of Vichitravirya.
Dhritarashtra being blind, Pandu succeeded to the throne but he entrusted the
kingdom to his elder brother and himself proceeded to forest where his five
sons Yudhishthira, etc., were born and were called the "Pandavas."
Dhritarashtra also had one hundred children in Duryodhana and others, who were
called the "Kauravas." Pandu died during the infancy of his sons and
Dhritarashtra continued to rule the kingdom with the help of their granduncle
Bhishma, who had pledged himself to lifelong celibacy. The Pandava and Kaurava
princes were brought up together and also educated and trained alike through
Dronacharya. Both sets of princes considered them entitled to the kingdom and looked
upon the other with hostility and their feelings and relations grew strained
from day to day. On account of persecution by the Kauravas, the Pandavas left
their home and suffered much hardship and pain, but on their marriage with the
daughter of Drupada, king Dhritarashtra sent for the Pandavas and made over
half the kingdom to them. The Pandavas improved their country and established
their capital at Indraprastha and then performed the horse-sacrifice with great
pomp. The Kauravas were also invited there but on seeing the good fortune of
the Pandavas and being offended by jokes made at them, they were overcome with
jealousy and resentment and returned home with eelings of enmity and revenge.
They then conspired against the Pandavas and invited them to gamble and thereby
they won all their wealth, kingdom and their person and also insulted and
ill-treated their wife, Draupadi, in the presence of all. In the end, it was
settled that the Pandavas should go out in exile to the forest for twelve years
and pass another year in secrecy and on return from the exile be entitled to
get back their lost kingdom. The Pandavas did all this but on their return the
Kauravas refused to return the kingdom. This gave rise to the great family war
in which all the Kauravas and the two armies were annihilated and the Pandavas
alone survived and got the victory.
The
Pandavas were assisted by Sri Krishna and other relations, Drupada, Virata,
etc., and their forces numbered seven battalions (Akshauhinis). The Kauravas
were also assisted by their relations and friends and their forces numbered
eleven battalions. The Pandavas were successful on account of their righteous
cause and divine grace.
The
blind Dhritarashtra represents Avidya or ignorance; Yudhishthira
represents Dharma; Duryodhana Adharma;
Draupadi Maya; Bhishma dispassion; Dussasana evil quality; Sakuni
jealousy and treachery; Arjuna the individual soul; and Lord Krishna the
Supreme Soul. Antahkarana is
the Kurukshetra.
Heroic Characters
The Mahabharata war
was a just war. If you go through the speech given by Bhishma to Yudhishthira,
you will know the usages of righteous war. A brave hero would fight only with
an enemy of equal strength and on equal vantage. This was the motto of every
brave soldier who engaged himself in warfare in days of yore in India
The
Mahabharata, the most renowned epic of India India India
One
is struck with amazement and becomes tongue-tied when he reads the marvellous
strength of Bhima, of the wonderful skill in archery and bow manship of Arjuna,
of the dexterity of Sahadeva in the use of swords and of the profound knowledge
of Nakula in astronomy, and of the extreme righteous conduct and justice of
Yudhishthira in all matters. The deeds of heroism done by Bhishma, Karna,
Drona, Parasurama, Jayadratha, Dhrishtadyumna and many others are superhuman.
These heroes did severe Tapas and obtained rare boons from the Lord. That is
the reason why they did marvellous
heroic deeds which baffle description.
Yudhishthira
did not wield arms. He did not take active part in the war-front. He did not
use bow and arrows. He had neither the strength of Bhima nor the skill of
Arjuna in archery. But he was an embodiment of righteousness. He was an
incarnation of Dharma. That is the reason why he was called as Dharmaputra.
He was a wise and ideal king. He established peace and order. He guided his brothers
in the path of truth and righteousness and checked them whenever they went
astray. Arjuna bore manfully the insults which Draupadi was subjected to before
his eyes. He could not disobey Yudhishthira or show him the least disrespect.
All the brothers were meek and submissive before Yudhishthira, however mighty
and heroic they were. They could crush mountains and dry up oceans with their
arrows. They were terrible before their opponents but they were mild and gentle
before Yudhishthira and were ever ready to obey his commands. They would never
speak a word in opposition. Such was the awe-inspiring personality of
Yudhishthira. Had it not been for Yudhishthira, Arjuna and his brothers would
not have won the war. Yudhishthira was the founder of an empire. He is in an
inspiring example, even now, for the rulers of kingdoms and states. He was an
embodiment of justice, patience, steadiness, purity, truthfulness and
forbearance.
The
kings had a complete knowledge of the scriptures and of right and wrong. They
practised rigid austerities also. That
is the reason why Yudhishthira and Nala were able to bear the privations and
hardships. They rolled in wealth and yet they had the strength and power of
endurance to walk barefooted in forests and sleep on a bed of stones. They had
such a rigorous training and discipline in suffering.
Draupadi,
Savitri, Kunti, Madri and Damayanti were highly devoted to their husbands. They
were bold and fearless when they were under extreme difficulties, hardships,
sufferings and privations.They were pious. They bore the sufferings through the
force of their chastity and moral strength. They were ideal wives and ideal
mothers. That is the reason why they have left an immortal name behind them.
The
Mahabharata still exerts a marvellous influence over the millions of Hindus.
The luster and high renown of these brilliant personages of Mahabharata has not
suffered a diminution, in spite of the ravages of cruel time. Their character
was untainted and sublime. Hence their deeds also were admirable, laudable and
sublime. Determination has ever been the key to success in the lives of great men
of all countries. Heroes would not move an inch from the path of their duty
when they are called upon to perform it.
They were fiery in their determination. They had iron will.
The
noble and heroic grandsire Bhishma—who had control over his death and who was unconquerable
in war even by the gods—still inspires us with the spirit of self-sacrifice,
undaunted courage and purity. Yudhishthira is still a model of justice and
righteousness. Remembrance of his very name generates a thrill in our hearts
and goads us to tread the path of truth and virtue. Karna still lives in our
hearts on account of his extreme munificence and liberality. Karna’s name has
become proverbial. People even now say, whenever they come across a very
generous man, "He is like Karna in gifts."
Arjuna
was the bravest of all the five Pandavas. Arjuna had got Draupadi by winning in
th eselection match and he had defeated the Kauravas on several occasions. He was
a devoted friend of Sri Krishna who had him married to his sister Subhadra,
even against the wishes of his elder brother Balarama. Sri Krishna assisted the
Pandavas in the Great War on account of Arjuna and by acting as his charioteer,
led him to victory.
Even
now, we admire Arjuna as a perfect man and worship Lord Krishna as our
Protector and Saviour. Whenever we are
in trouble and distress we pray to Him, "O Lord! Save us just as you saved
Draupadi and Gajendra in days of yore."
The Message of the
Mahabharata
The sufferings of the Pandavas and Draupadi,
Nala and Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, clearly explain to us the fact or
hard truth that the goal of life or perfection can only be attained through
pain and suffering. Pain is the means through which man is moulded, disciplined
and strengthened. Just as impure gold is turned into pure gold by melting it in
the crucible, so also the impure and imperfect weak man is rendered pure,
perfect and strong, by being melted in the crucible of pain and suffering.
Therefore, one should not be afraid of pain and sufferings. They are blessings
in disguise. They are eye-openers. They are silent teachers. They turn the mind
towards God and instill mercy in the heart, strengthen the will and develop
patience and power of endurance, which are the pre-requisites for
God-Realization.
The
message of the Mahabharata is the message of Truth and Righteousness. The great
epic produces a moral awakening in the readers and exhorts them to tread the
path of Satya and Dharma. It urges them strongly to do good
deeds, practise Dharma, cultivate dispassion by realising the illusory nature
of this universe and its vainglories and sensual pleasures, and attain Eternal
Bliss and Immortality. It induces people
to do what Yudhishthira did and abandon what Duryodhana did. Stick to Dharma
tenaciously. You will attain everlasting happiness and Moksha, the summum
bonum of life. This is the final purport or central teachings of the
Mahabharata.
May
the teachings of this illustrious and ancient epic guide you in every walk of
your life. May you stick to Dharma. May the great characters of the Mahabharata
inspire you! May you imbibe the righteousness of Yudhishthira, the purity of
Bhishma, the courage of Arjuna and the liberality of Karna! Glory to Sri Bhagavan Vyasa, the
grandsire of the heroes, the author of the Mahabharata, a Chiranjeevi and an
Avatara of Lord Hari. May His blessings be upon you all!
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