Tact to diffuse!

 

Sri Krsna further said to Arjun: As disrespect is equivalent to death for one that has always been honoured, I suggest you show some slight disregard for Yudhisthira, to keep your vow intact. This can be accomplished if you simply address him as “you” instead of the formal “your honour”

 

But in response Arjun spoke very harshly: O king, Bhima may have the right to criticize me, for he is an un-retreating hero that has killed many thousands of warriors in battle. You have no such right, however especially while lying here on Draupadi’s bed after fearfully fleeing from the battlefield

 

Frankly speaking, I’m not very enthusiastic about fighting to regain the kingdom you foolishly lost by gambling. Because of your addiction to dice, you plunged your entire family into depths of despair & yet you still have the nerve to ask us to fight so that you can take back the kingdom you had stupidly lost. As if this was not enough, you are such an ungrateful wretch that you criticize me for no reason

 

Arjun was very soft hearted by nature & so he was afraid of deviating from the path of virtue. After speaking to his elder brother so harshly, he was very depressed. Having plunged into an ocean of despair, he suddenly unsheathed his sword. With great surprise, Sri Krsna asked: What is it you intend to do Partha?

 

Arjun replied: I will kill myself, for I cannot bear to go on living after acting so abominably towards my elder brother

 

Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, by committing suicide you will sink down into an even lower hell than that which you would have to attain for killing your elder brother. Instead, I suggest you kill yourself by boasting of your own glories, for to become too puffed-up with false pride is in itself spiritual suicide

 

Accepting this advice, Arjun bragged: O Krsna, I have already single-handedly killed half of the Kaurava army, while my impotent brothers & allies have more or less stood aside as spectators. Now it is my solemn promise that I will kill Karna this very day & thus prove that I’m not merely a heroic talker

 

After saying this, Arjun put his sword back in it sheath. With folded hands & his head hanging down in shame, he begged forgiveness from Maharaj Yudhisthira & assured him that he would quickly return to the battlefield to fight with Karna. He touched his brother’s feet & prepared to depart

 

It takes lot of efforts to diffuse a potentially deadly situation. Here Sri Krsna uses his wizardry of words. He buys time for situation to calm down & frayed tempers are then soothed. He did not allow either Yudhisthira or Arjun to lose face and also allowed Arjun to fulfil his promise and atone for insulting his brother. In this manner, the younger brother’s anger was calmed, and the elder brother’s respect was also maintained

 

Huge lessons for all of us. Not every quarrel needs to be resolved with the use of the sword. This learning can be used to satisfy opposing egos of people & impending wars can be avoided

 

Thoughts! #gameoflife

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
  Victory! It was early in morning as both sides awaited the rising of Sun, a brisk wind carried drops of water & thunder was heard, although not a cloud was seen in sky. After some time, the wind picked up so that not only was there a dust storm, but even small pebbles were blown here & there. Meteors fell from the sky & earth trembled. When the Sun rose, it lacked its usual splendor. And yet both armies looked magnificent & all warriors appeared jubilant in anticipation When Maharaj Yudhisthira saw the vast Kaurava army with Bhisma in its midst, he became disheartened & his face became pale. He said to his brother Arjun: I don’t think that we have a chance for victory. The vast army containing so many illustrious warriors appears impenetrable Arjun said: Dear brother, you must remain confident, knowing that even though we are inferior in numbers, victory is always with the righteous. You have forgotten that Lord Krsna is protecting us? Sri Krsna is the Supreme...
Read more
Image
Emotions! As R āksasās led by Ghatotkaca attacked, only Asvattāma remained firm & dispelled their illusions. Ghatotkaca rushed at Asvattāma, but the son of Drona drove him back with a forceful stream of arrows. The son of Ghatotkaca, named Anjanaparva joined the fray, showering his arrows upon Asvattāma, but Drona’s son quickly retaliated by knocking down his flag, killing his two drivers, breaking his bow & at last killing his horses   Anjanaparva flew into the sky & began showering trees upon Asvattāma. In retaliation the son of Drona afflicted him so severely that the Rāksasā soon had to return to the shelter of his chariot. Asvattāma discharged a fierce arrow that took away Anjanaparva’s life & then continued to slaughter many other Pāndava warriors   Ghatotkaca became terribly aggrieved seeing the death of his son & so he rushed at Asvattāma while challenging him. In the spectacular duel that followed the entire sky became lit up by the spark...
Read more
Image
  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 Du...
Read more