Vedic Wisdom Talks

  Manipulated!   Learning about Duryodhana’s evil intention, Drona thought about the matter for a while & said: O King! I will attempt to capture Yudhisthira. However, I must inform you that it will only be possible to accomplish this bold feat if the Pāndava king remains unprotected by Arjun. I cannot defeat Arjun & so you must first remove him from Yudhisthira’s presence. Only then will I endeavour to seize the pious emperor   Duryodhana knew of Drona’s partiality towards the Pandavas. Therefore, just to ensure that he would keep his promise, the Kaurava king announced his plan before all the assembled warriors. In response there arose loud shouts of joy   Maharaja Yudhisthira also learned of Duryodhana’s evil intention from spies & so he requested Arjun to always stay close by so that he could remain under his protection   Arjun said: My dear elder brother, rest be assured that I will always keep an eye on you. Although I will not kill our precept...

Evil! At Kurukshetra, after Bhisma’s fall, the Kauravas felt like they were sinking in an ocean of helplessness. But, when they remembered Karna, they took shelter of him like a drowning man takes refuge of a boat. Karna was very eager to display his prowess to rescue the Kauravas from their plight He approached Duryodhana & said: Pls give up your grief, for I’m prepared to fight to my utmost ability. Dear Duryodhana, for your sake I promise to either kill all Pandavas or else lie down dead upon battlefield. Karna’s confident & chivalrous words enlivened Kaurava warriors Duryodhana said: Karna, you are our only shelter. Pls give us directions so that we can understand how to proceed Karna said: You should give orders. After all, no one can better understand what should be done in a particular situation than the person whose direct concern it is Duryodhana said: Our first concern is to select a commander-in-chief to replace Bhisma. Kindly advise me in this regard Karna said: Dro...

Soul! After Drona had been killed during the fifteenth day of battle; Sanjaya hurried back to Hastinapura so that he could relate everything to Dhritarashtra. Coming before his master, Sanjaya first offered his respects and then said: My dear King! after killing more than two akshauhinis of the Pāndava army, Dronācharya has been slain by Dhrishtadyumna   Upon receiving this news, terrible grief swelled within Dhritrāshtra’s heart. With great agitation he replied: O Sanjaya, please tell me everything that took place. Drona was unconquerable! How could he have been killed?   Actually, Dhritarashtra went into a state of shock and disbelief upon hearing of Drona's death. After repeatedly questioning Sanjaya, he suddenly fainted, falling unconscious onto the floor. Dhritrāshtra’s servants quickly came & sprinkled cool water over his body and fanned him as the palace ladies rubbed his hands. Slowly raising him up, the ladies placed unconscious Dhritarashtra back o...

  Association!   Grandsire Bhisma said to Duryodhana to not pursue war any further. After saying this, he became silent, applying himself to the practice of mystic yoga while awaiting the auspicious time for passing away from this material world. Duryodhana had heard the beneficial words spoken by the Grandsire, but he declined to accept them, just like a dying man who refuses to take medicine   All the warriors returned to their respective camps. After their departure, Karna came alone to Bhisma, who was lying on his bed of arrows with his eyes closed. After falling down at the Grandsire's feet to offer obeisances, Karna quietly announced: O Bhisma, it is me, Karna, who had formerly looked upon you with so much hatred. Upon hearing this, Bhisma slowly opened his eyes. After dismissing the guards so that they could be alone, he affectionately embraced Karna with his one free arm   Bhisma said: My dear Karna, you are actually the son of Kunti & not the son of Adhi...

  Control! The next morning, all the kings, headed by the Pandavas and Dhartarästras, once again put aside their weapons and went to where Bhisma was laying. There they saw thousands of women gently sprinkling flower petals mixed with sandalwood paste over the Grandsire's body. In fact, all kinds of people had gathered there, including old men and children, just to see the great Kuru hero laying upon his bed of arrows However, Bhisma's body was burning with pain because of his wounds so that he was almost bereft of consciousness. Being exceedingly parched by thirst, Bhisma requested the kings before him to bring some water. All the great warriors thus went & brought cool, clear water in varieties of costly containers made of gold and adorned with jewels. The Grandsire rejected them, saying: I have renounced the use of all kinds of articles intended for human enjoyment Once again Bhisma called for Arjuna, who came forward with folded hands, awaiting his order. Bhi s ma...

Victory! As Bhisma fell from his chariot, Pandava warriors blew their thousands of conch shells & shouted victoriously, while Kauravas stopped fighting. Duhsasana rushed to where Drona was stationed at another part of the battlefield. When the Preceptor was informed of Bhisma's fall, he fainted. After regaining consciousness, Drona forbade Kaurava army from further combat. When Pandavas understood this, they also withdrew from fighting Thereafter, all warriors on both sides put down there weapons & went to where Bhisma was laying upon his bed of arrows. Coming before the Grandsire, both Kauravas & Pandavas offered him great respect. Inturn Bhisma welcomed everyone with great affection and said: O Rulers of the earth, my head is hanging down without support. I wish that someone would bring me a suitable pillow Upon hearing this, all the assembled kings hurriedly went & brought excellent pillows covered with fine cloth. Bhisma refused to accept any of them and then la...