Courage!

 

Pāndavās challenged Jayadratha to stop his chariot & fight. Upon hearing this, the king of Sindhudesa lost heart & turning to Draupadi said: Point out to me your five husbands by name. She said: You fool, since you’re about to die, what is the use of this information? Still, she described the five Pāndavās, just to intimidate her captor

 

As Pāndavās attacked leading chariot fighters, Kotika had numerous warriors surrounding Jayadratha for his protection. Pāndavās proceeded to slaughter many hundreds enemy soldiers but then a Trigarta warrior managed to kill Yudhisthira’s four horses. With a crescent shaped arrow, Yudhisthira killed Trigarta & then he & Indrasena got onto Sahadev’s chariot

 

Another Trigarta attacked Nakula’s chariot but was killed soon. Bhima beheaded Kotika’s driver & then killed the prince with a spear. Meanwhile, seeing Arjuna killing many of his leading warriors, Jayadratha became overwhelmed by fear. Taking advantage of the confused state of affairs caused by raging battle, he left Draupadi & began to flee in great haste

 

Yudhisthira saw Draupadi with Dhaumya & took them on the chariot. Bhima said to his brother: Pls take Draupadi back to our cottage while I follow Jayadratha. Even if he tries to take shelter in heaven or in hell, I will give him just award

 

Yudhisthira said: Jayadratha should not be killed for he is husband of our cousin sister Duhsāla. If he is killed, it would bring great pain to our aunt Gāndhāri. Yudhisthira’s display of mildness made Draupadi very angry. With great indignation she prodded Bhima & Arjuna saying: Jayadratha must be killed! A man who kidnaps one’s wife should never be forgiven, even if he begs for mercy

 

Bhima & Arjun quickly set out following Jayadratha’s trail. When he finally came into view, Arjun killed his horses from a distance. Getting down from his disabled chariot, terrified Jayadratha fled on foot & so Bhima and Arjun ran after him. Arjun repeatedly challenged Jayadratha to stand & fight but the coward did not even look back and continued running at great speed. Bhima finally caught him & grabbing him by hair, picked him up over his head & smashed him onto the ground

 

Jayadratha lost consciousness & as he regained, he was pounded again & again by Bhima. Arjun forbade Bhima to beat any further reminding him of Yudhisthira’s order. Bhima reluctantly desisted, but with disgusted tone said: How unfortunate it is that I have to cater to Yudhisthira’s overflowing mercy & your childish sense of morality

 

Bhima then shaved off Jayadratha’s hair in such a way as to leave five unsightly tufts here & there. Jayadratha remained silent & Bhima told him: If you want to remain alive, you must go to Yudhisthira & declare that you’re his slave. Jayadratha agreed & after binding him in chains, they took him on chariot & returned to their cottage to hand him to Yudhisthira

 

We also may feel overwhelmed with emotion & try to reciprocate for other’s unjust behavior. It takes courage to restrain ourselves for higher good. Here the consideration for others happiness is paramount at the expense of troubles one faces and retribution one may like to exert

 

Courage is simply not one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point in our lives

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife

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