KAURAVAS AND PANDAVAS
The throne of Hastinapur was the apple of discord between two brothers, namely Dhritrashtra and Pandu of Kuru royal dynasty. Dhritrashtra was the elder one but blind. So, the younger brother Pandu accepted the responsibility of running the kingdom. Dhritrashtra carried the grudge. He had sired one hundred sons who came to be known as Kauravas. The eldest Kaurava, Duryodhan was an evil natured royal. Pandu had five sons : Yudhishthir, Bheem, Arjun, Nakul and Sahdev.
All the five were noble characters. Draupadi was their common wife. After tragic death of Pandu, blind Dhritrashtra was put on the throne. Pandu’s sons demanded their share. But Duryodhan refused even to yield needle head size land to them. Lord Krishna, the great political ideologue of that time was on the side of Pandavas. He tried to work out a compromise between them but did not succeed due to the obstinacy of Duryodhan who even tried to take him hostage. The attempt failed.
MAHABHARAT WAR DECLARED
The adamance of Duryodhan resulted in Mahabharat war. All the kingdoms of the land of Bharat got divided in two camps, namely Kaurava camp and Pandava camp. As the clash became inevitable the two formations lined up in the battlefield against each other. The line ups were made up of the clan members, elders, kith, kin, friends, near and dear ones.
It was not a fight for a piece of land but confrontation between two opposite ideologies. Pandavas stood for Dharma, the rule of righteousness whereas Kauravas were for Adharma, the expansion of imperialism. Hence, this battle was called Dharma War, the clash of two political and social values.
DHRITRASHTRA AND SANJAY
Dhritrashtra was born blind but his powers of hearing and insight or blind-sight were exceptional. Sanjay was his friend who was blessed with divine sight. He could see things happening thousands of miles away and give a running commentary.
When the battling forces gathered in Kurukshetra, Dhritrashtra wished to know the blow by blow account of the war. So, he invited Sanjay to his palace and said, “Friend Sanjay! Tell me, what are my battle minded sons and those of Pandu doing in Kurukshetra?”
COMMENTARY ON MAHABHARAT
Sanjay turned on his divine tele-sight and saw the scene of the battle field. He spoke, “King! Duryodhan has surveyed the battle formation of Pandava army and approached Guru Drona saying ‘Guru! Your capable pupil and the son of Drupad, Dhrishtadyumna has set the mammoth Pandava army in strategic formation. See it please.” “So, what does Drona say?” Dhritrashtra asked eagerly.
GURU DRONA AND DURYODHAN
“Upon Duryodhan’s request he surveys the Pandava line ups and says, ‘Dear Duryodhan, I can see their great warriors like Bheem, Arjun, Satyiki, Virat, Drupad, Dhrishtaketu, Chekitan, Kashiraj, Purujit, Kuntibhoj, Yudhamanyu, Uttamauja, Abhimanyu etc in battle thirsty mood. But don’t worry. None of them will hold his ground against me.’ To his remarks Duryodhana reacts, ‘O most sublime Brahmin! Now look at my warriors. I have made the grandman, Bhishma the commander of my armies.
You and Karna like archer warriors are with me. Besides this, I have conqueror like Kripacharya, friend Ashwatthama, Dushasan and the son of Somdutt, Bhurishrava. Protected by Grandman Bhishma our army looks invincible.’ ‘You are right, son,’ responds Drona. ‘Assured I am, O guru,’ say Duryodhan proudly.
SOUND OF THE CONCHSHELL
Just then, Grandman Bhishma stood up on his chariot and blew his conchshell sounding like roar of a lion which delighted the heart of Duryodhan. Kaurava army has followed it up by sounding conchshells, drums, kettle drums, tomtoms and narsimha bugles. The terrific battle sound inspired Pandava side too to respond. Arjun and Krishna graced on a sublime chariot with white horses yoked to, sounded their respective conchshells boomingly.
The fierce battle sound response of Krishna’s divine shell Panchjanya, Arjun’s Devdutt and Bheem’s Paundra struck terror in the enemy hearts. Those sounds were amplified by the conchshell blowings by Yudhishthir, Nakul, Sahdev, Kashiraj, Shikhandi, Dhrishtadyumna and the Pandava ally kings into a thunderous declaration of war.
ARJUN AMONGST KITH AND KIN
When the conchshell sounds subsided, Arjun spoke to Krishna, ‘Lord! Please drive the chariot to the middle of the battle line-ups. I want to see the battle thirsty warriors of the opposite side whom I shall be fighting against. Park the chariot there allowing me some time to survey.’ ‘O Parth! I will do as you wish. Let us go and you shall see the warriors of Kaurava side with your own eyes.’
So saying, Krishna gave a tug to the reins and drove the chariot to the middle spot where on the other side stood Bhishma and Guru Drona.’ Now King Dhritrashtra became very curious. He requested Sanjay to reveal what transpired between Arjun and Krishna. Seeing the curiosity of Dhritrashtra, his friend Sanjay focused his tele-power to the spot where the chariot of Arjun stood.
ARJUN IN DISTRESS
Arjun’s heart was filled up with mercy when he saw his own kith and kin ready to battle. Deeply anguished he spoke, ‘O Krishna! Seeing my own clan people in the field desirous of a battle makes my limbs go limp. My mouth dries up and the body trembles. My Gandiva bow is falling down. Mind is confused. I can’t stand. O Keshav, all the signs I see around are not auspicious.
What good shall I do by killing my own clan people, I do not understand? O Lord, I do not want such victory or kingdom. What happiness will come to me by killing my own family? One whose dynastic dharma is destroyed he rots in the hell indefinitely?’ So saying Arjun has tossed down his Gandiva bow and the quiver of arrows. And he has flopped down in the rear part of the chariot.’ ”
