Boasting!

 

Arjun vowed to kill Jayadratha next day & if he fails to do so before sun sets, he’ll enter a blazing fire. He also vowed that besides this, he would also willingly accept hellish destination attained by most sinful persons, such as those wretches who eat sweets in front of servants, children & wives without sharing them, those who bathe naked, those who urinate into a body of water, those who touch Brahmana or fire with their feet & those who glorify unworthy persons

 

Arjun picked up his bow & twanged it menacingly. The he & Sri Krsna blew their mighty conch shells. All Pāndava warriors roared loudly to express approval of Arjuna’s words. Arjuna’s vow was then related to Jayadratha by means of Duryodhana’s spies & so the King of Sindh became exceedingly overwhelmed by fear. He hurried to the assembly of Kuru warriors & pleaded: O Kings! You must protect me at all costs or else grant me permission to return home. Turning to Duryodhana Jayadratha begged: Pls let me return to my kingdom so that Arjun will not even be able to find me tomorrow

 

Duryodhana tried to pacify him by assuring him that all great Kuru heroes would give him ample protection by surrounding him & took him to Drona. When the preceptor understood the situation, he also tried to console the anxious king & said: I’ll personally take responsibility for protecting you from Arjun. Still, you should keep in mind the inevitability of death. Remember that destination of a Kshatriya who dies on the battlefield is the same as that attained by sages after performing very severe austerities

 

Meanwhile, back in Pāndava camp, when they were once again alone together, Sri Krsna chastised Arjun, saying: You’ve acted very rashly by making such a serious vow without consulting Me first. You’ve put yourself in a very dangerous position, for Kauravas have already arranged to give Jayadratha protection by keeping him constantly surrounded by Karna, Bhurisrava, Asvattāma, Vrsasena, Krpā & Salya

 

Arjun boasted: Dear Krsna! You can rest be assured that I’ll easily kill Jayadratha. These six warriors do not equal even half of me. Even if all demigods were to oppose me, it would not be sufficient to protect Jayadratha when I invoke my celestial weapons. Just make sure that my chariot is ready at dawn. Now pls go & console Subhadrā, for I cannot even bear to think of how aggrieved she must be

 

With cheerless heart Sri Krsna went to Subhadra & tried to pacify her by saying: Dear Sister, Abhimanyu died a hero’s death & is now enjoying heavenly reward. Don’t lament for death is inevitable. Arjun has vowed to kill Jayadratha tomorrow & so I can assure you that your son’s death will soon be avenged

 

Boasting about self & ignoring strength of others leads to one’s downfall. Our efforts are always dependent upon Supreme Lord’s will & if we act independent of him, we are in for a shock. Unnecessary rage destroys but patient resolve under the guidance of Supreme, flourishes. We are just instruments in Krsna’s plan. Let’s be like that only

 

Krsna says:

tasmāt tvam uttiṣṭha yaśo labhasva jitvā śatrūn bhuṅkṣva rājyaṁ samṛddham
mayaivaite nihatāḥ pūrvam eva nimitta-mātraṁ bhava savya-sācin

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife