Conviction!

Seeing Duryodhana pained at heart, Karna proceeded towards Abhimanyu while showering 100’s of arrows. Abhimanyu didn’t waver & retaliated by releasing a single arrow that broke Karna’s bow & knocked down his emblem. One of Karna’s younger brothers rushed at Abhimanyu, but with single arrow Subhadra’s son beheaded him. Driving Karna away from fight, Abhimanyu continued to exterminate Kaurava army so that 1000’s of mutilated bodies were soon strewn all over

Meanwhile, Yudhisthira Bhima Nakula Sahadeva Satyaki Dhrishtadyumna, Drupada Shikhandi & Draupadi’s sons had followed Abhimanyu when he daringly penetrated the Kaurava army. Jayadratha then came to oppose them & due to the benediction he had previously received from Lord Siva, he was able to single-handedly check all these great heroes. Indeed, Jayadratha’s unprecedented showers of arrows pierced all great Pāndava warriors so severely that they were forced to halt their progress

As the Pāndava heroes struggled to overcome Jayadratha’s fierce attack, the path that Abhimanyu had opened through Kauravas’ circular formation once again closed

Next, a son of Salya named Rukmaratha rushed at Abhimanyu, desiring to end the slaughter of Kaurava soldiers. As he approached, Abhimanyu smashed his bow to pieces, severed his arms & at last cut off his head. 100 enraged friends of Rukmaratha then surrounded Abhimanyu while releasing torrents of arrows with hope to gain revenge. Indeed, the attack was so violent that for a moment Duryodhana thought that Abhimanyu had been killed

The young 16 year old Pāndava hero, then employed a Gandharva weapon. As a result, an illusion was created whereby it sometimes appeared as if there was only Abhimanyu & the next moment it looked as if there were 100’s or even 1000’s of Abhimanyus. This completely bewildered Rukmaratha’s friends & taking advantage of situation, Abhimanyu cut them all to pieces

Even though becoming very fearful seeing this wonderful display of mystic power, Duryodhana rushed at Abhimanyu. After a short but fierce battle, Duryodhana had to retreat wounded by Abhimanyu’s arrows

When we have conviction about the greatness of a cause, we are ready to endure difficulties for that cause. What is required to bolster this endurance, while serving the cause bigger than ourselves, is courage coupled with service attitude

Gita provides a philosophical foundation for such a service attitude by revealing that we all are parts of a divine reality far greater than ourselves, that divinity is the supreme benefactor of everyone & we can do the best service by acting in harmony with the divine will. And so, Gita commends courage as not just a virtue, but as a virtue reflective of a divine nature

Simultaneously, Gita wisdom also reproaches impulsiveness & recklessness, even if driven by a noble sentiment. It asserts that action in mode of ignorance involves distress & destruction without affecting much transformation in situation

Thoughts? #gameoflife