Grudge!

 

Dhritrāshtra inquired: O Sanjaya, how is it that incomparably heroic Sātyaki, after having vanquished Drona, Karna & many other great heroes, could have been thrown down and dragged by Bhurisrāva, a much lesser warrior?

 

Sanjaya replied: O King! I will explain how this came to be. Surasena, the father Vasudeva, is a descendent in the Soma dynasty. Another son of Surasena is Sini. When Maharāj Devaka held a Swayamvara for his daughter, Devaki, Sini forcibly took her away on his chariot with the intention of handing her over to Vasudeva

 

Somadatta could not tolerate this & so he fought with Sini. Finally, after half the day had passed in battle. Sini threw Somadatta to the ground as they were wrestling. Then, as he held Somadatta by the hair, Sini drew his sword & kicked him in the head while thousands of kings watched. Sini then released Somadatta out of compassion, but thereafter Somadatta angrily sought revenge while worshipping Lord Siva

 

Lord Siva became pleased & thus appeared before Somadatta to award him benediction. Somadatta begged Lord Siva to grant him a son who would one day throw down & kick in the head a descendent of Sini in the midst of thousands of kings. Lord Siva granted this boon & then disappeared from view

 

Somadatta later begot Bhurisravā, who was thus predestined to throw down Sini’s grandson while engaged in battle. For this reason, even though Sātyaki is otherwise conquerable, on this occasion he was put into an exceedingly precarious situation

 

Back at Kurukshetra, Arjun once again urged Sri Krsna to take him towards Jayadratha, for the sun was quickly descending towards the western horizon. Then as Arjun rushed towards Jayadratha, numerous enemy warriors advanced to oppose him

 

At that time, Duryodhana went to Karna and urged: My friend, the time has come for you to exhibit your full prowess. If Arjun fails to fulfill his vow & thus gives up his life by entering fire, it will certainly mean victory for us

 

Karna replied: Dear Duryodhana, I am deeply pained & fatigued after fighting with Bhima. Still, since I have dedicated my life for your sake, I will fight to the best of my capacity. In any case, victory will be determined by destiny & not by anyone’s personal endeavor

 

Meanwhile, with the support of Bhima & Sātyaki, Arjun slaughtered many Kaurava soldiers while proceeding towards Jayadratha. Then Duryodhana, Karna, Krpā, Salya, Asvattāma & many other great warriors came & surrounded Arjun as the sun assumed a reddish hue. At that time Karna fought so furiously that he was able to check the progress of Arjun, Bhima & Sātyaki. Arjun then killed Karna’s horses & driver so that Asvattāma had to come & take him on his chariot

 

Hate or aversion can take one to the depths of nescience. Holding grudge in heart diminishes our hearts propensity to love and this goes not only in this life but subsequent lifetimes as well. Krsna says in Bhagvad Gita

 

adveṣṭā sarva-bhūtānāṁ maitraḥ karuṇa eva ca
nirmamo nirahaṅkāraḥ sama-duḥkha-sukhaḥ kṣamī

santuṣṭaḥ satataṁ yogī yatātmā dṛḍha-niścayaḥ
mayy arpita-mano-buddhir yo mad-bhaktaḥ sa me priyaḥ

 

One who is not envious but is a kind friend to all living entities, who does not think himself a proprietor and is free from false ego, who is equal in both happiness and distress, who is tolerant, always satisfied, self-controlled, and engaged in devotional service with determination, his mind and intelligence fixed on Me – such a devotee of Mine is very dear to Me

 

These are the transcendental qualities of a pure devotee. All these qualifications enable him to fix his mind and intelligence entirely on the Supreme Lord and thus he does not have any inkling to hold grudge or aversion of any sort

 

tat te ’nukampāṁ su-samīkṣamāṇo bhuñjāna evātma-kṛtaṁ vipākam
hṛd-vāg-vapurbhir vidadhan namas te jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk

 

Thoughts? #gameoflife


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