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 could oppose onrushing Pāndavās. Thus, a fierce battle ensued

 

Krtavarmā soon broke Bhima’s bow & then wounded him so severely that he trembled violently standing on his chariot. Yudhisthira urged his army to protect Bhima by attacking Krtavarmā. As numerous warriors rushed at him, the Bhoja hero pierced them all & broke Shikhandi’s bow

 

In retaliation, Shikhandi unsheathed his sword & impetuously threw it, slicing Krtavarmā’s bow in half. Krta picked another bow & pierced Pāncāla prince so deeply that he fainted. As his driver hastily took Shikhandi away from battle, Krta continued to slaughter Pāncāla soldiers. Unable to tolerate this, Sātyaki turned back & broke Krta’s bow & killed his horses

 

Sātyaki proceeded on & soon came up against a large elephant division. He massacred them & broke thro’ the ranks. Jalasandha opposed Sātyaki & fought fiercely but was eventually killed by Yadu hero. Seeing their king killed, Magadha warriors panicked & fled

 

Next Dhārtarāshtrās caught up with Sātyaki & an intense battle took place. After rushing at Duryodhana, Sātyaki broke his bow twice, killed his horses & charioteer. As Duryodhana escaped getting onto Citrasena’s chariot. Krtavarmā confronted Sātyaki but was soon injured and fainted

 

Sātyaki valiantly fought against Kambojas, mlecchas, sakas & other uncivilized warrior tribes, quickly routed all of them

 

All of us need courage to fight in situations that go against our principles. And to be courageous means to uproot fear from our heart. But fear is always not undesirable. Fear is a mechanism which prepares us against odds, develops focus & alertness in circumstances and not be overconfident. We only need to prevent ourselves from fear that is unreliable, misrepresenting & cowing us down by not relying on our capabilities

 

Also, if we want to be courageous on a regular basis, we need to expand our definition of courage–staying true to our principle by turning down excuses, temptations & distractions that can be used to prefer convenience over principle

 

Courage is not absence of fear but focussing on purpose bigger than our fears

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife

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