Vedic Wisdom Talks

Real compassion! Duryodhana who was hiding inside the lake, became very depressed hearing the bitter words from Yudhisthira, but since there was no alternative, he finally made up his mind to accept Yudhisthira’s challenge & fight. He said: I’m only one, whereas you Pandavas are many. Therefore, pls do not demand that I fight with all of you at once. Kindly allow me to combat you one at a time. In that way I will be able to kill all of you & thus repay the debt to the great warriors who died for my sake   Yudhisthira said: O Duryodhana. It is very commendable that you have accepted my challenge. Now you can choose whichever one of us you would like to fight with the choice of weapons will be yours. If you are able to kill any one of us Pandavas, you will be given back your kingdom. Otherwise, if we kill you, you will attain a heavenly destination   Duryodhana said: You have amply displayed your noble character by allowing me to fight against only one opponent...

Real courage! As Sanjay walked back to Hastināpur, he came upon Krpā, Asvattāma & Krtavarmā. The 3 warriors were happy to see Sanjay & anxiously enquired about Duryodhana. Sanjay informed them of how the king had entered the lake within forest. When Asvattāma heard this, he lamented: O Sanjay, Duryodhana must not have known that we are still alive. Otherwise, there is no need for him to be morose, because the four of us together are quite competent to vanquish our enemies   They then came back to Kaurav camp & informed the outpost guards, as well as the women & old men about the end of the battle. When they heard about the deaths of their husbands, the wives of Dhārtarāshtrās that were killed that day began to cry very piteously while tearing their bodies with their nails & beating their heads with hands. Untying their braided hair, the widows continued to indulge in profuse lamentations while the men quickly dismantled the camp to go back to Hastināpur ...

Self-destruction! Pāndava warriors triumphantly blew their conch & praised Sahadev highly for exterminating wicked Sakuni. As Sakuni’s followers rushed at Sahadev to gain revenge, Bhima & Arjun intercepted them & so the Gāndhara horse soldiers were quickly killed   Duryodhana became enraged after witnessing Sakuni’s death & so he gathered the remnants of Kaurav army & led them to attack Pāndava army. However, when the remains of Kaurav army attacked, instead of gaining revenge, they met with destruction. Duryodhana was already somewhat dazed due to his numerous wounds. When he saw the complete annihilation of his army & heard the victory shouts of Pāndava warriors, he at last decided to give up fighting & flee from the battlefield   Because his horse had been killed, Duryodhana proceeded on foot towards the east, taking with him only his mace. As he walked, Duryodhana’s heart burnt with grief while thinking over the advice of Vidura had fo...

Wickedness! After Salya’s death, Maharaj Yudhisthira continued to massacre Kaurava soldiers. Salya’s younger brother then rushed at the Pāndava king hoping for revenge, but his head was cut-off. Entire Kaurava army panicked & retreated from the battlefield, Sakuni took his army & came to fight. Picking his mace Bhima came to crush 21000 Kaurav foot soldiers   Salva, the king of mlecchas, rushed at the Pāndava army while riding upon his gigantic elephant & proceeded to afflict Pāndava soldiers so severely that they soon began retreating from the battle. Dhristadyumna rushed to check Salva & by repeatedly piercing his elephant, he forced the mleccha king to turn away   Bhima, Satyaki & Shikhandi surrounded Salva’s elephant & pierced it with innumerable arrows. Finally, as the elephant began to weaken, Dhristadyumna quickly came & smashed it over the head with his mace. With its skull split open, the colossal elephant fell dead. Satyaki then ...

Faith in Krsna’s words! To counter Salya, Yudhisthira ordered Nakula & Sahadev to guard his chariot wheels, Bhima to stay in front, Arjun at back, and Dhrstadyumna & Satyaki to remain at his sides. Thus, ensuring his advantage over Salya, Yudhisthira proceeded towards him while all Pāndava heroes joyfully blew their conch shells Thereafter as Yudhisthira confronted Salya with unprecedented rage, he impetuously rushed at him while ruthlessly slaughtering thousands of Kaurava soldiers standing on way. As the two great kings furiously battled one another, no one could tell whether Yudhisthira would regain the kingdom of earth after killing Salya, or whether Salya would bestow the kingdom upon Duryodhana after killing Yudhisthira   Salya broke Yudhisthira’s bow, but after picking up another one, the Pāndava king broke his opponent’s bow in retaliation. As Salya struggled to pick another bow, Yudhisthira killed his horses & cut down his flag. Seeing this, the Kaura...

Be part of Solution not Problem! Kaurava army began to flee, but Salya appeared on the scene. After rallying his soldiers, he launched a ferocious attack upon Pāndava forces. A great battle took place between Maharāj Yudhisthira, Bhima, Draupadi’s sons, Nakul & Sahadev on one side and Salya, Kripā, Asvattāma, Krtvarma, Duryodhana & Sakuni on the other   Salya killed Sahadev’s horses, but in retaliation Madri’s son jumped from his chariot & killed Salya’s son with his sword. Salya attacked Yudhisthira & so Bhima came with his mace upraised. That celebrated iron mace had eight sides & was bedecked with numerous jewels, as well as the blood and fat of countless slain warriors. With it Bhima crushed Salya’s horses to death. In retaliation Salya angrily hurled a lance that passed right thro’ Bhima’s armour & pierced his chest. Without wavering in the least, Bhima pulled out the lance and used it to kill Salya’s driver   Upon seeing this display of ...