Emotional outburst – It hurts!

 

Hearing Bhima’s roar, all Pāndava warriors triumphantly blew conch shells & shouted with joy. Duryodhana went to Drona on a swift chariot. With great anger he said: O Preceptor! Arjun, Sātyaki & Bhima have approached Jayadratha after vanquishing our soldiers. How could you let them defeat you & then pass right thro’ your army? Do you not know that all our warriors harshly criticize you for this grievous lapse? Anyways, let us forget what has passed. Now pls instruct me about what should be done for Jayadratha’s protection?

 

Drona replied: To protect Jayadratha is certainly our foremost duty, but I wish to remind you that all our present sufferings were brought about because you made Sakuni challenge Yudhisthira to gamble at the dice board. That dice game was the preliminary contest, but this war is the real gambling match wherein Jayadratha has become the stake & the deadly arrows are the dice. Go now, my dear Duryodhana & with the other warriors, protect Jayadratha as best as you can. I will remain here to ward off the Pāndavās & Pāncalās

 

After departing, Duryodhana came to Yudhāmanyu & Uttamaujā, who were protecting Arjuna’s chariot wheels but had been unable to keep up with him. These Pāncāla princes were proceeding to Arjun’s aid, but when they saw Duryodhana, they rushed at him while releasing volumes of arrows. In retaliation, Duryodhana killed Yudhāmanyu’s charioteer. In turn Uttamaujā killed Kaurav king’s driver. A fierce battle ensued between them

 

Meanwhile, Karna had returned to continue fighting with Bhima. Remembering Karna’s former offenses, Bhima fought fiercely whereas Karna appeared to be fighting mildly, although he soon covered his adversary with arrows, making him look like a porcupine. Bhima killed Karna’s horses, driver & pierced him deeply in chest. Karna then fought with Bhima in great rage

 

Bhima remembered how Karna had insulted Draupadi & how he had derided him & his brothers as they were about to depart for the forest. Indeed, these memories caused Bhima to become so agitated that he fought recklessly, without any consideration of protecting his life

 

As Bhima & Karna fought, warriors who stood surrounding them as spectators could not distinguish any difference in their prowess or skill. At last Bhima broke the deadlock by smashing Karna’s bow & killing his driver

 

In a fierce duel that followed, Karna became somewhat dazed by Bhima’s incessant onslaught of arrows. At this crucial moment he became confused & could not decide what to do next

 

Our emotional outburst sometimes makes intelligence take a back seat. When we resolve to do something positive, uplifting & adhering to our goals, we should be very careful about our feelings. They should not sabotage our efforts by taking away our power of reasoning and understanding

 

To be able to persevere, we need to realize that our emotions don’t have control on our efforts. With understanding that we are souls & we have a mind and body, and the body can be controlled by the soul, not by the mind, we can put aside our emotions & continue with our actions. The strength to act is by the divine grace of the Supreme Lord & we are just instruments to act

 

Krsna says:

sarvasya cāhaṁ hṛdi sanniviṣṭo mattaḥ smṛtir jñānam apohanaṁ ca
vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyo vedānta-kṛd veda-vid eva cāham

 

I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness. By all the Vedas, I am to be known. Indeed, I am the compiler of Vedānta, and I am the knower of the Vedas

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife