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When Drona was teaching the Pandava and Kaurava boys archery, he was accused by Duryodhana of favouring Arjuna. To prove why he thought Arjuna was the most superior warrior of them all, Drona placed a wooden bird on a branch and asked the boys what they could see when they took aim at the bird. All of them replied in the same vein, that they could see the bird, the branch, the sky, the tree, etc.
With his eye focused only on the prize, he was leaps and bounds ahead of those who were distracted by everything around them. In the modern world, distractions are many, and when you take your eye off the ball, it can be detrimental to your success. When the Pandavas and the Kauravas were canvassing for support before the war of Kurukshetra, both Arjuna and Duryodhana came to ask for Krishna's support. Duryodhana smiled, thinking he had got the best of the deal -- what use was one unarmed man against an army of skilled warriors!
But Arjuna knew that even the best of resources, such as the Narayani Sena, were useless without the strategic vision of Krishna. It transpired that the lone Krishna, serving as Arjuna's charioteer, was all the Pandavas needed to win the war of Kurukshetra, and Arjun had chosen wisely. So we learn that even if something looks brighter on the surface, it's not necessarily the right choice for us. Shantanu was blinded by love for a fisherwoman, and he allowed his son Bheeshma to take a vow of celibacy. Pandu too made a rash decision -- when he was cursed by Rishi Kindhama, he was so distraught that he gave up his throne to Dhritarashtra and went to the forest to lead a retired life.
Had he thought it through, he may not have taken such an unwise decision, which led to the uncertain future of his five sons and their calamitous enmity with the Kauravas. All decisions should be analysed with a clear mind, while being cognisant of any future repercussions. The Bhagvad Gita, an intrinsic part of the Mahabharata, has life-lessons hidden on every page, but the one that is most commonly taught is that we should do our work without hankering after the reward. Many spiritual and philosophical explanations for this abound, but I like to look at it from a more practical point of view.
I believe that all work is meditation; whether you are making a paratha or populating a spreadsheet, if you are focusing as you should be it is a form of meditation. If thoughts are clouding your mind about whether your husband will complement you on dinner tonight, or your boss will give you a promotion detract from that meditation. I truly believe that when we are not attached to the fruit of out actions, we are able to focus on our efforts in entirety, and consequently achieve better results. That didn't stop him from breaking the vyuha and facing the wrath of the Kaurava maharathis alone -- it says a lot for his bravery, but not much for his strategic planning.
His death at the hands of six great warriors was one of the more tragic and unrighteous acts committed on the battlefield of Kurukshetra, but it does teach us that in order to be successful, one needs to be prepared.
Whether it's an examination or a presentation, being armed with all the facts is mandatory if one wants to succeed. NewsApp Free Read news as it happens Available on.
This world is a cruel, cruel place. You should realize it sooner than you can. Shakuni mama is one character that every reader hates. He destroyed what Kauravas owned and forced them to be the way they are: If you analyze the epic, the whole war started because of his one decision. Lord Krishna always backed Pandavas, while Karna always backed Kauravas.
It was because of Krishna and Karna, that the two parties became stronger. Without Karna, Duryodhan was completely weak. There were Kauravas. Yes, of them fighting for the same thing.
To be practical, just think how had they even divided that entire empire amongst that many sons. It is necessary to be occupied with life. Cooking and cleaning will allow you to do so, and is also less stressful. It will definitely make your life easy. There is something that rightfully belongs to you. And then there is something that you think you deserve. What is rightfully yours? You need to contemplate on it and fight for it.
Pandavas never stopped what belonged to them. Love is blind, as the saying goes. Such was the same for Dhritarashtra and his love for his son.
Many historians argue that this is when Duryodhan swore revenge on the Pandavas. She has learnt a lot as a teacher. The Mahabharata is a Smriti text. They have scant respect for relationships, family, tradition and moral values. Though I was a working mom, I never compromised on time spent with my son during his childhood. Duryodhana teaches us how blind swa-dharma desires for your own Self can lead you to "Adharma.
He was always torn throughout the epic to follow his principles and to take actions to keep his son happy. This made him even more evil that he really was. Wars followed where he went.
Arjun was a master of learning. He took whatever came his way. He learned the best of military science from Drona, learned about divine weapons from Indra, learned about Pashupatastra from Mahadev, and whenever he could, he treated Yudhisthir and Krishna as his mentor. Yes, Kauravas were greater in number, but even their supporters were not really committed to them.
Bheeshma, Vidura and Drona admired Pandavas too.