Vedic Wisdom Talks

  Lamentation!   Arjun lamented as he saw his relatives on the other side of the battlefield and filled with compassion said: This massacre will only result in evil. So many dynasties will be destroyed, causing their family traditions & moral standards to be discarded. The unprotected women will give birth to unwanted progeny who will thereafter make the world a hellish place to live. O Krsna! If out of greed I fight this sinful war surely, I will have to eternally suffer in hell as punishment   After saying this, Arjun threw down his bow & arrows and dejectedly sat on his chariot. Sri Krsna chastised Arjun saying: O descendent of Bharata, this behavior is not at all befitting an Aryan (one who knows the higher values of life), and it will never lead you to heaven. Give up this weakness of heart & fight, for that is your religious duty as a kshatriya   kutas tvā kaśmalam idaṁ viṣame samupasthitam anārya-juṣṭam asvargyam akīrti-karam arjuna   In his b...

  Cross-over! After giving blessings to Arjun, Goddess Durgā disappeared from view. Hearing her words, Arjun became confident that his victory was assured. He got back onto his chariot & joyfully blew his mighty conch shell, as did Sri Krsna Sanjay said: My dear Dhritrāshtra, you should know that wherever the is Sri Krsna, there is victory. Therefore, you can understand without doubt that your sons are now hopelessly entangled in the meshes of death’s net Dhritrāshtra inquired: O Sanjay! What did my sons & the sons of Pāndu do after having assembled at the holy place of pilgrimage, Kurukshetra? dharma-kṣetre kuru-kṣetre samavetā yuyutsavaḥ māmakāḥ pāṇḍavāś caiva kim akurvata sañjaya Sanjay replied: O king, your son Duryodhana went to Dronācharya & said: My dear preceptor, pls make sure that you fight whole-heartedly against your disciples, especially Dhrishtadyumna, who has arranged the Pāndava army. Under the care of Bhisma, our army is practically unlimited in strengt...

  Victory! It was early in morning as both sides awaited the rising of Sun, a brisk wind carried drops of water & thunder was heard, although not a cloud was seen in sky. After some time, the wind picked up so that not only was there a dust storm, but even small pebbles were blown here & there. Meteors fell from the sky & earth trembled. When the Sun rose, it lacked its usual splendor. And yet both armies looked magnificent & all warriors appeared jubilant in anticipation When Maharaj Yudhisthira saw the vast Kaurava army with Bhisma in its midst, he became disheartened & his face became pale. He said to his brother Arjun: I don’t think that we have a chance for victory. The vast army containing so many illustrious warriors appears impenetrable Arjun said: Dear brother, you must remain confident, knowing that even though we are inferior in numbers, victory is always with the righteous. You have forgotten that Lord Krsna is protecting us? Sri Krsna is the Supreme...

  Hope! After taking permission from Dhritrāshtra, Sanjaya went to join the Kaurava army at Kurukshetra. After completion of 10th day of fighting, when Bhisma was finally defeated & had to lie down on bed of arrows, Sanjay quickly returned to royal court in Hastināpur so that he could inform Dhritrāshtra of all that had happened When Dhritrāshtra heard that Bhisma had been mortally wounded by Shikhandi, it was a terrible blow to him. He had placed all his hopes for victory upon the Grandsire, whom even Parasurāma had been unable to defeat. In shock, he repeatedly questioned: Sanjay, how could the unconquerable Bhisma have been killed by Shikhandi? Pls describe to me everything in detail To give comfort to the blind king, Sanjay said: Everyone suffers because of his own past misdeeds. Therefore, no one should place blame for his miseries upon others. You should not lament for your sons, because the destruction of wicked persons is predestined By the mercy of Vyāsdev, I’ve obtain...