Vedic Wisdom Talks

  Inner consciousness Vs Outer disturbance!   On Drona’s urging, Dushasana launched an attack on Sātyaki, but he quickly scattered the Kaurava forces with incessant showers of arrows. Dushasana was quickly afflicted & seeing this Duryodhana sent 3000 Trigarta warriors to assist his younger brother. When Sātyaki quickly slaughtered 500 of them, the rest fled towards Drona   Sātyaki proceeded towards Arjun, but when Dushasana persisted in attacking him, he pierced him severely in the chest. At that time  Sātyaki could have easily killed him but he did not do so, remembering Bhima’s vow to kill all the Dhārtarāshtrās   Maharāj Yudhisthira, Bhima & Dhrishtadyumna led a massive attack on the Kaurava army with the idea of taking some pressure off  Sātyaki & Arjun. Duryodhana rushed to check the assault & after penetrating the Pāndava army, he fearlessly slaughtered enemy  soldiers with great vengeance. Yudhisthira & Bhima trie...

  Real well-wishers!   As Sātyaki saw Duryodhana, Dushasana & other Dhārtarāshtrās trying to overtake him from the rear, he instructed his driver to slow down so that he could encounter the onrushing foe   As Kaurava army attacked, Sātyaki quickly killed 300 horse soldiers, 400 elephants & numerous foot soldiers. Dushasana ordered some mountain warriors who fought only with stones to attack Sātyaki. He encouraged them by saying that the Yādava hero wasn’t familiar with this mode of warfare. When these mountaineers surrounded him with their upraised stones, Sātyaki not only smashed their rocks to pieces with his arrows, but severed their limbs, so that at least 500 fell dead, some of them crushed by their own boulders. As the remaining warriors fled, Sātyaki killed them by the thousands   After seeing Sātyaki route the Kaurava army, Drona wondered whether he should continue to follow the Yadu hero or go back to where the Pāndava & Pāncāla warri...

Courage! As Sātyaki set out towards Kauravas ranks, Drona came to check him. The preceptor challenged: O Yuyudhāna, you’ll surely be killed if you don’t avoid fighting with me like your guru, Arjuna, did   Sātyaki said: Instead of wasting my time fighting with you, I’ll obey Yudhisthira’s command. I’ll follow path taken by Arjuna, for it is duty of a disciple to traverse the path his guru has chalked out. Saying this, he avoided Drona & continued to penetrate Kaurava army. Krtavarmā next confronted Sātyaki & after piercing him very deeply, he broke his bow in half. Sātyaki calmly picked up another bow & beheaded Krtavarmā’s driver so that the unguided horses carried him wildly away from battle   Krtavarmā finally managed to grab reins to bring horses under control, but by that time Sātyaki had proceeded on. Drona chased Sātyaki & so Yudhisthira and Bhima advanced with Pāndava forces to check him. Krtavarmā gave up the idea of fighting with Sātyaki so that he co...

Instructions! Upon witnessing the terrible death of Alamvusa , who had oppressed them so greatly, Pāndava warriors shouted with joy, waved their garments & heartily congratulated Bhima’s heroic son Ghatotkaca   Meanwhile, Drona & Satyaki battled one another. Due to Preceptor’s incessant stream of arrows, the Yadu hero finally became so afflicted that he lost heart & became confused about what to do next. As Kaurava warriors roared with delight, Dhrishtadyumna & Bhima led Pāndava army in an assault on Drona, hoping to rescue Satyaki. Drona cheerfully faced them all, like a pious householder receiving guests. In the great fight that followed, he killed 25 mahā-rathas amongst the Pāncalas. Indeed, he fought so fiercely while engaged in slaughtering countless enemy soldiers that no one dared approach him   Yudhisthira heard the blare of Sri Krsna’s Pāncajanya conch shell, but because he was unable to hear the twang of Gāndiva bow, and because the shouts o...

  Illusion!   Yudhisthira roared loudly as he hurled a blazing spear with a golden shaft. Drona invoked Brahmāstra that reduced the spear to ashes. As that powerful weapon continued towards his chariot, Yudhisthira neutralized it with his own Brahmāstra. He then pierced Drona with 5 arrows & broke his bow. When Drona hurled it, Yudhisthira threw his mace so that the two crashed & fell to ground   Drona was very agitated seeing Yudhisthira destroying his weapons & quickly killed his horses. Drona then broke his bow, knocked down his royal insignia & pierced him with arrows. Being, weapon less, Yudhisthira jumped from his chariot & stood upon ground with upraised arms. The Preceptor rushed to make good his vow while showering arrows to drive away Pāndava warriors attempting to protect the king. Still, before Drona could reach him, Yudhisthira was picked up by Sahadeva & carried away   Formerly, Bhima had killed Alamvusa’s brother Vak...

Grab or Lose! As Krsna implored Arjun on why his arrows are not able to penetrate Duryodhana’s armour, he said: You’re knower of everything-past, present & future. Why do You inquire from me about cause of my failure? I think that Duryodhana must have got Drona’s impenetrable armour capable of repelling even Indra’s thunderbolt. Even if this is so, it doesn’t matter. Kaurava king is certainly no more capable of utilizing it properly than a woman. Be assured that I'll vanquish Duryodhana, despite his armour Saying this, Arjun empowered some arrows with a special mantra & placed them on his bowstring. However, Asvattāma broke those arrows to pieces before Arjun can release them. Arjun was highly amazed & said: O Krsna! I can’t employ this weapon twice. If I were to do so, it would destroy me instead of my enemy Meanwhile, Duryodhana continued to fearlessly shower arrows upon Arjun & Krsna. Arjun carefully scrutinized Duryodhana & yet could not discern a single pla...

  Constructive criticism!   Knowing that Arjun’s horses were fatigued, entire Kaurava army gradually surrounded him. Arjun said: O Krsna, what should I do? We’re still a long distance from Jarasandha. I think You should quickly get down from chariot & tend to horses. Pluck the arrows from their bodies & let them rest for few minutes before we continue penetrating Kaurav ranks   Sri Krsna considered this as a good idea & so both He & Arjun dismounted. Kaurav warriors were overjoyed to obtain this golden opportunity & began showering their arrows upon Arjun with great enthusiasm. Arjun stood upon the ground, bow in hand. As he proceeded to foil enemy’s weapons & check their progress, Sri Krsna said: Your horses are desperately in need of water, but there is no well to be found here   Hearing this, Arjun pierced the earth with a wonderful celestial weapon that instantly created a beautiful lake containing cool transparent water, filled with lotus...

 P raise!   Duryodhana with celestial armour given by Drona, proceeded to where Arjun stayed, followed by 1000 elephants, 100000 horse soldiers & innumerable chariot warriors   At noon, Pāndava army attacked Drona who was stationed at the head of Kaurava army. Dhrishtadyumna led Pāndava forces & while confronting Drona he succeeded in dividing Kaurava army into 3 parts so that a great massacre took place. Drona flared up like a raging fire & began consuming Pāndava warriors in retaliation. At this time no one dared come before him   Bhima fought Jalasandha, Yudhisthira with Krtavarmā, Sātyaki with Dushasana, Sanjaya with Cekitāna & Sakuni became so hard-pressed while fighting with Nakula and Sahadev, that he fled to Drona’s shelter. Dhrishtadyumna rushed to check Drona. In the fierce duel that followed, great warriors were killed on both sides. The two then came so close that as Drona’s white horses mixed with Dhrista’s red ones, they appe...

  Words!   Sudaksina rushed at Arjun, but after a brief exchange of arrows his bow was broken & his flag was cut down. He hurled a blazing spear that pierced Arjun deeply, making him momentarily fall unconscious. After recovering, Arjun angrily smashed Sudaksina’s chariot to pieces & then sent him to the abode of Yamarāj   1000’s of Kamboj warriors rushed at Arjun in retaliation, but when 600 of them were killed within moments, rest beat a hasty retreat. Unable to tolerate this, Srutāyu & Acyutāyu rushed impetuously at Arjun showering arrows at him. Srutāyu pierced Arjun with a lance, making him reel due to dizziness. Taking advantage, Acyutāyu pierced him with a spear. Being deeply wounded, Arjun had to steady himself by holding on to his flagpole. When Kaurava warriors saw this, they thought that Arjun was slain & shouted with joy   Sri Krsna became exceedingly aggrieved to see Arjun practically losing consciousness. He tendered to him w...

  Anger!   Drona released torrents of arrows completely covering Arjun’s chariot. Arjun attacked Drona in return, but it soon became apparent that the Preceptor was getting the better of his disciple   Drona cut Arjun’s bowstring. Arjun quickly put a new string & began killing many of Drona’s supporting warriors, but then the preceptor pierced him very deeply in chest causing him to tremble violently. Arjun regained his composure & continued fighting but Drona still predominated   Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun! You must keep in mind today’s main business & thus not waste time fighting with Drona. Pass him by & penetrate deeper into Kaurava ranks. Obeying Krsna’s command, Arjun left aside Drona. At this the Preceptor challenged: O son of Kunti, why are you fleeing? Come back & try to vanquish your enemy   Arjun cleverly said: You’re not my enemy, you’re my guru & so I’m not capable of vanquishing you   Saying this, Arjun continued to pen...

  Krsna's Vow!   On the morning of 14 th day of the war, Maharāj Yudhisthira approached Sri Krsna & said: You are our only shelter. Pls rescue us from this great danger by enabling Arjun to fulfil his vow   Sri Krsna said: I promise that Jayadratha will be dead upon the battlefield before sun sets today. My words cannot prove false & so be assured that there is no doubt about this. Arjun then entered the assembly. After being heartily embraced by Yudhisthira, he related previous night’s wonderful dream wherein he met Lord Siva, by Sri Krsna’s grace. Hearing Arjun’s account, all Pāndava warriors became enlivened, for they were confident that he would fulfil his vow   As the Pāndava army set out that morning, fragrant breezes blew from behind & there were many other signs indicating victory. Arjun ordered Sātyaki to protect Maharāj Yudhisthira so that he would be free to penetrate Kaurava army & fulfil his vow   Meanwhile, Drona ha...