Ignorance!

Sri Krsna said: Dear Arjun, let us go & inform Maharāj Yudhisthira of your victory. Even though he re-entered the battlefield so that he could witness your duel with Karna, he once again became wounded by the Suta’s onslaught of arrows & was forced to return to his camp

 

Both Krsnās proceeded towards the Pāndava camp while being congratulated by the numerous well-wishers surrounding them. Indeed, innumerable demigods, sages, human beings & other creatures worshiped Sri Krsna & Arjun after the killing of Karna

 

Thereafter, as the Pāndava army remained on the battlefield in case of an enemy attack, Sri Krsna & Arjun came before Maharāj Yudhisthira, who was lying on his bead. As Sri Krsna & Arjun came and touched his feet, Yudhisthira saw their beaming faces and extraordinary wounds. With great happiness Yudhisthira got up & repeatedly embraced Sri Krsna & Arjun. Then, in answer to the king’s eager inquiries, Sri Krsna narrated the entire story of how Karna had met his end. After hearing the narration, Yudhisthira praised Sri Krsna with heartfelt gratitude for His having enabled Arjun to perform such a heroic feat

 

Yudhisthira then mounted his chariot & set out with Sri Krsna & Arjun to go and view Karna’s slain body. Although devoid of life, Karna’s body miraculously had not lost any of its natural beauty & its complexion still appeared molten gold

 

When Maharāj Yudhisthira gazed at Karna’s fallen body, he could hardly believe it, for it seemed too good to be true that he was finally relieved of the great fear that had haunted him for so many years

 

He said: My dear Sri Krsna, it is your causeless mercy that you have always enabled us to come out victorious

 

Sri Krsna replied: My dear Yudhisthira, let Me assure you that your kingdom has now been regained, so that your long-cherished objective has been accomplished

 

Indeed, Maharaj Yudhisthira felt reborn after seeing Karna’s dead body. All of the great Pāndava warriors approached the king and praised him, along with Sri Krsna & Arjun. After doing so, they retired to their camp for the night

 

While hearing about Karna’s demise, Dhritrāshtra fainted, falling down from his throne onto the floor. As Sanjay & Vidura rushed to pick up the old king, Gāndhari also swooned, and so the palace ladies rushed to her aid. Finally, after regaining consciousness, Dhritrāshtra remained silent for some time as he inwardly indulged in great melancholy

 

The old king & his wife understood that their son Duryodhana’s fate is now sealed, and his demise is very near. Ignorance of Duryodhana, has brought near annihilation of all Kurus

 

Those in goodness & in ignorance may seem to be similar when they are quiet. But on closer examination – those in goodness will be engaged in a constructive thought, whereas those in ignorance will be slouching with their thoughts wandering aimlessly

 

Bhagvad Gita explains that people in ignorance are characterized by neither contemplation or action but just delusion. Those in goodness contemplate before action and those in passion act before contemplation. Duryodhana, full of delusion and false pride caused demise of such great warriors like Karna

 

aprakāśo ’pravṛttiś ca pramādo moha eva ca
tamasy etāni jāyante vivṛddhe kuru-nandana

 

When there is an increase in the mode of ignorance, O son of Kuru, darkness, inertia, madness and illusion are manifested

 

Very pertinent life lesson for all of us. Thoughts? 

#gameoflife

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