Gain of intelligence Vs Loss of false ego!

 

As Duryodhana saw Karna dazed by Bhima’s incessant onslaught, he ordered his brother Durjaya to quickly go to Karna’s rescue. However, as Durjaya rushed towards Karna showering arrows, Bhima effortlessly killed him. While weeping in grief, Karna respectfully circumambulated Durjaya’s dead body & then mounted another chariot sent for him

 

Regaining composure, Karna once again attacked Bhima with arrows. Bhima suddenly hurled his mace, killing Karna’s horses & then knocked his flag & killed his driver, forcing him to abandon his chariot. After getting down, Karna stood on ground with bow in hand. Seeing that Karna was once again in vulnerable position, Duryodhana sent his brother Durmukha. As Bhima saw Durmukha coming, with nine arrows he sent him to the abode of Yamarāj With tears in eyes, Karna momentarily refrained from fighting

 

Bhima took advantage of this & pierced Karna deeply, forcing him to flee from the battlefield, being very badly wounded & exceedingly distressed at heart as well

 

As Sanjay related to Dhritrāshtra all that had taken place at Kurukshetra, the old king fervently interrupted him to inquire about various details. When he heard how Karna, Drona & other great Kuru heroes had been repeatedly vanquished by the Pandavas & their allies, he again and again exclaimed: O Sanjay! It appears to me that the Pandavas are invincible! I am convinced that Destiny will destroy all my sons in this great war. Oh! My son Duryodhana was a great fool for having bragged so much about Karna’s prowess. Now I hear how Suta’s son was repeatedly defeated by Bhima

 

Sanjay said: O King! Even though you bitterly lament your son’s actions, it is you alone who is the root cause of this great carnage. It was you, as head of the family, who sanctioned Duryodhana’s evil plans instead of refraining him

 

Meanwhile, five Dhārtarāshtrās attacked Bhima. The son of Vāyu killed them all while simultaneously fighting with Karna, who had returned with renewed vigor. This made Karna very depressed because the slaughter of Duryodhana’s brothers had taken place in his presence, and thus he considered himself responsible. Although cheerless, Karna continued to fight as Bhima relentlessly pierced him with numerous arrows

 

Bhima once again broke Karna’s bow & killed his horses & driver, and after doing so he laughed victoriously. Karna jumped from his chariot & hurled a mace, but Bhima cut it into fragments with his arrows. From the ground Karna began to exert himself very heroically & managed to break off Bhima’s armor. Becoming almost frenzied with rage; Bhima retaliated by showering arrows so impetuously that Karna had to turn his back & flee from fighting

 

What a perfect example of how a false ego takes us for a ride & makes us blind not to see the obvious and hoping against hope. When we have the curtains of false ego which prevents us from seeing reality, our end is near. Humility is not weakening of our ego but it is strengthening or gaining our intelligence to see truth

 

Humility overcomes our reluctance to accept that we are wrong and work on improvements. We may lose our ego by the acceptance of our shortcomings, but with intelligence we definitely gain – gain greater wisdom, experience & insight! If our focus is on the gains against what we lose (ego), humility will be very easier to cultivate

 

Krsna says:

amānitvam adambhitvam ahiṁsā kṣāntir ārjavam
ācāryopāsanaṁ śaucaṁ sthairyam ātma-vinigrahaḥ

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife