Vedic Wisdom Talks

Compassion! When Maharāj Yudhisthira heard the joyful shouts of the Kauravas, he could understand that Salya has been installed as their new commander-in-chief. He went to Sri Krsna & said: Dear Lord, we are Your surrendered souls & ever obedient servants. Please do whatever is required for my welfare & that of my brothers   Sri Krsna replied: Dear Yudhisthira, Salya is a very great warrior, perhaps even superior to Bhisma, Drona & Karna. In fact, I consider him to be superior even to Arjun, Bhima & Sātyaki. I do not see any of your allies who can kill him. Only you are a fit match for Salya & so you must fight with him tomorrow. After killing him, you will be able to enjoy the kingdom of the earth. Don’t think of exhibiting compassion for your maternal uncle. You have already crossed over three vast oceans, represented by Bhisma, Drona & Karna. Now you must be careful not to sink into the calf’s hoof print that is represented by Salya. After sayin...

Blindness! As Krpā begged Duryodhana to make peace with Pāndavās, he said-how will Bhima agree to forgo his vow to kill me, along with all my brothers? How could the Pāndavās, Krsna & Subhadra be expected to forget the killing of Abhimanyu? How could Krsna forgive the offenses I committed when He came to Hastinapur as an envoy?   My dear Krpā, even if I were to beg for peace, the Pāndavās would never believe my words, since I had formerly cheated them while playing dice. Besides, I have become accustomed to having unrivalled sovereignty over the earth. How could I remain satisfied being Maharāj Yudhisthira’s subordinate, humbly following him in the shadows? For all these reasons I will never be able to surrender to Sri Krsna & Yudhisthira   My dear Brāhmana, I have already performed numerous sacrifices, I have given away vast amount of wealth in charity to the brāhmanās, and I have enjoyed everything possible for a human being to enjoy. Let me now die upon th...

Make amends rather than just feel sorry!   After Salya’s death at noon on the 18 th Day of battle, the subsequent killing of Duryodhana by Bhima later that day & the massacre of Pāncālas by Asvattāma that night, Sanjay hurriedly returned to Hastinapur. Overwhelmed by grief, he entered Dhritrāshtra palace while shedding tears & exclaiming again & again: Duryodhana and his allies have been killed by the Pāndavās   Hearing this calamitous news, all the palace residents began running about as if demented while wailing aloud & crying piteously. When Sanjay entered Dhritrāshtra’s chambers, he saw the old blind king seated upon his throne, surrounded by Gāndhari, Vidura, his eldest daughter-in-law & other friends and relatives   With voice choked up due to excessive grief, Sanjay announced his presence & said: O King, your son Duryodhana has been killed by Bhima! In fact, there are now only seven warriors remaining on Pāndava side – Pāndu’s f...

Ignorance! Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, let us go & inform Maharāj Yudhisthira of your victory. Even though he re-entered the battlefield so that he could witness your duel with Karna, he once again became wounded by the Suta’s onslaught of arrows & was forced to return to his camp   Both Krsnās proceeded towards the Pāndava camp while being congratulated by the numerous well-wishers surrounding them. Indeed, innumerable demigods, sages, human beings & other creatures worshiped Sri Krsna & Arjun after the killing of Karna   Thereafter, as the Pāndava army remained on the battlefield in case of an enemy attack, Sri Krsna & Arjun came before Maharāj Yudhisthira, who was lying on his bead. As Sri Krsna & Arjun came and touched his feet, Yudhisthira saw their beaming faces and extraordinary wounds. With great happiness Yudhisthira got up & repeatedly embraced Sri Krsna & Arjun. Then, in answer to the king’s eager inquiries, Sri Krsna narrat...

Mind-Biggest Enemy! Seeing Karna slain, Sri Krsna, Arjun & other Pāndava warriors joyfully blew their conch shells while the Pāncālas played their trumpets & waved their garments in ecstasy. Indeed, some of the Pāncāla warriors danced and shouted, while others embraced one another. All of them declared: It is our good fortune that Karna has finally been killed by mighty Arjun. Thus the Karna-sun, with its arrowy rays, after having scorched our army for many days, has at last been made to set by indefatigable, Arjun-time!   After Karna’s death, Salya beat a hasty retreat, so did the rest of the Kaurava army. Salya went to Duryodhana, who was crying because of Karna’s death, and tried to console him. Despite Salya’s attempts, Duryodhana remained standing as if demented while internally reflecting over his former evil deeds   No one even thought of rallying panic-stricken Kaurava soldiers as they trampled one another while stampeding from the battlefield. In fac...

Even the mighty Fall! Karna pleaded: O Arjun! You stop fighting for as long as I’m in this vulnerable condition. Pls do not kill me while I am trying to pull my chariot wheel from the ground. You know very well the code of ethics that forbids a Kshatriya from attacking one with a dishevelled hair, one who is fleeing from battle, a brahmana, one who stands with folded hands, one who has surrendered or who begs for protection, one who has put down his weapons, one whose arrows have become exhausted & one whose armour has become displaced   Sri Krsna sarcastically said: Dear Karna, It is very commendable that you have remembered the path of virtue at this time, for wicked person generally criticize Destiny when they are put into distress. Still, it appears that you have forgotten your past misdeeds. Do you remember how you had forced Draupadi to come before assembled Kurus & then had insulted her with harsh words?   Where were your consideration of virtue then, ...