"Sanjay said: Looking at Paandav-army in battle array, king Duryodhan approached DronAachaarya, and said: Please look at the vast Paandav-army that has been placed in military array by your talented disciple, the son of Drupad. Like Bheem and Arjun, this army has heroes and prominent archers: Yuyudhaan (Saatyaki), Viraat, great warrior Drupad; Dhrishtketu, Chekitaan, and the valiant king of Kaashi, Purujit, KuntiBhoj, and the choicest among men like Shaiabya; chivalrous Yudhaamanyu, valiant Uttamaujaa, Subhadra’s son, and sons of Draupadi, all great warriors" Shlok 2-6
About Dron’Aachaarya
He was the common Aachaarya (teacher) of Kauravs and Paandavs. Arjun was favorite disciple of Dron. He was known to be the best teacher of archery, of his time, in the whole country. Dron drew his salary from the treasury of Hastinaapur, and therefore, unwillingly, he was obliged to fight for the king of Hastinaapur, Duryodhan.
About Bheem
Bheem was the second Paandav. He was born with the blessings of PavanDev and with the share of his divine power. PavanDev is the controller of the air movement of the universe. In Adhyaay 3 Karm Yog, we will deal with the concept of Devta in depth, with a very different perspective. Bheem was known to be the most powerful man, of his time, in the country. Bheem and Duryodhan, in their youth, learned club-fight from the same teacher, Balraam, elder brother of Shri Krishn. Duryodhan, since his childhood, always treated Bheem as his arch rival.
About Arjun
He was the third Paandav. He was born with the blessings of IndrDev and with the share of his divine power. IndrDev is the controller of the rains in the universe and also the king of devtas. Arjun was known to be the best archer, of his time, in the country. Once, Dron was teaching archery to Kauravs and Paandavs, in their childhood. Dron pointed towards a bird sitting on a tree, and asked all his disciples to aim at the eye of the bird. After everyone had set his aim, Dron asked one-by-one: What do you see? Someone answered: Sir, I see the tree, its branches, and leaves on them, the bird sitting, and its eye. Another child answered: Sir, I see the branches, the leaves, the bird, and the eye. Yet another said: Sir, I see the leaves, the bird, and the eye. Someone else said: Sir, I see the bird and its eye. Finally, DronAachaarya asked Arjun, what do you see, Arjun? The reply came: The eye, Sir! Such legendary was Arjun’s concentration, and aim!
About the Bird
A live bird wouldn’t sit there watching all those boys taking aim at it one by one. Naturally it has to save its life, so it would fly away much before Arjun's turn would come and Dron would ask him that question. And Dron knew it pretty well. So, he could not have taken chance with a live bird as target for his pupil. If he was planning a test of so many boys, he would have had to be well prepared. He could not have hoped to find an appropriate tree with an appropriate branch, and on it a bird sitting and waiting for boys to take aim at it, and eventually get killed if one of the boys were to actually shoot. That would be too much for a coincidence to take place at the same time. And someone of Dron's caliber would not bank on such a possibility. So, he had arranged through a craftsman to get a mechanical bird prepared and planted at the desired place before the boys could arrive at the scene of their archery test.
Highly acclaimed incidence of Buddh’s early life
During my childhood days, our textbooks contained a highly publicized story of Buddh’s early life, when he was the young prince Siddhaarth. The story goes something like this. Probably a cousin or a brother or somebody of Siddhaarth shoots a bird with an arrow for pleasure. Siddhaarth goes and picks up the wounded bird, removes the arrow, applies medicine, tries to heal the bird. The cousin claims the bird as it was his prey. Siddhaarth refuses to handover the bird to him. Both go to the king for justice. King delivers his verdict after hearing what had happened. He explains that the ‘cousin’ had attempted to kill the bird for his pleasure or for relishing its meat; whereas Siddhaarth tried to save its life. Hence, Siddhaarth has a right to retain the bird alive than the cousin to kill it, cook it, and eat it. In our childhood days at school, we were made to read this story again and again, over and again, so that the idea gets firmly implanted in our impressionable minds. This over emphasis on such one-sided interpretation was largely due to influence of Gandhian thoughts during early post independence days.
The other side of the story that was deliberately under played
In case of Dron, his purpose was to train his pupil in archery. His pupils were of Kshatriya Varn. Their prime duty would be to protect their subjects, protect their kingdom, when they grow up. In the process, they would be required to fight battles. In battles, men would die. Blood would spill. A Kshatriya could not have aversion to blood. The training cannot be with fake object all the time. A Kshatriya is also taught that he need not spill blood for nothing. But then, in every profession we have right and wrong people who abuse the system. One Kshatriya would kill for pleasure, and another for duty. But killing would be part of his life. Now, this balanced explanation is always missing. The moral of each story should be spelt out with reference to the context. It should never be generalized. If we do that, our children get the wrong message.
Those who promoted Buddh’s story with such fervor
Those who promote Buddh’s story with such enthusiasm tend to keep quiet about the killings of innocent birds/animals that go on a phenomenal scale worldwide. Such selective ideologies reflect at their hypocrisy. Let us take for example a report that appeared in New York Times on 12 May 1996 that on an average day the following numbers of animals are slaughtered in American slaughterhouses. Hundred and thirty thousand cattle, seven thousand calves, three hundred and sixty thousand hogs and twenty four million chickens are killed every day in USA to fill the bellies of men, women and children.
About Drupad
Drupad द्रुपद was a King’s son. Dron was a poor Braahman's son. Both studied at the place of the same teacher. As they grew up together through their schooling, they became very close friends. Drupad had said: "We are friends; what is mine, is yours; half mine half yours". At completion of their studies, they parted, and returned home. Dron was very poor. He could not afford milk for his son Ashwatthaama. His wife Kripi asked him to visit Drupad and ask for a cow. Dron went to see his childhood friend, and reminded him of their friendship and that Drupad had said ‘what is mine, half is yours’. Drupad laughed and ridiculed poor Dron: "Friends? One who is not a king himself cannot be the friend of another king. What makes us equal? Half mine, half yours?" Dron felt deeply wounded. He did not return home. Wandering he reached Hastinaapur. There he became the teacher of Kauravs and Paandavs. At the completion of their education, as the tradition demands, Dron asked his disciples for Drupad as GuruDakshina. Paandavs defeated Drupad, arrested, and brought him to Dron. Dron told Drupad: "Now your entire kingdom is mine; do you want my friendship? I am willing, so I return you your half. I retain my half, and that makes me a king; as you had said without being a king myself I cannot be your friend."
Bound by Ethics that a Braahman was required to follow
Dron did not necessarily need Paandavs to do the job; he could have done it by himself. One, who made Arjun, "The Arjun", could have done what Arjun could do. But he was bound by the ethics that a Braahman was required to follow. He could not have waged war against the King for his personal gain or personal insult. Dron also had the right to retain the whole of Drupad's kingdom but then again, it would have been against Braahmanical principle. A Braahman was not expected to be in the shoes of a Kshatriya king in normal circumstances. He explained to Drupad why he retained half the kingdom. By and large, Braahmans used to be the poorest among the four Varn(s). If I were to narrate to you the entire episode of Ashwatthaama, Kripi, Dron and "milk", tears may roll down your eyes, and your heart may be filled with anger as to how cunning the ChristianBritish intellectuals were, who turned you into "anti-Braahman" by resorting to intellectual frauds of immense magnitude. And why they did it - only to turn Hindus into Christianity (Seed 2, 6). Braahmans became rich only during the ChristianBritish regime. The process has been analyzed in those two books (Seed 2, 6).
MahaaRath
This adjective would be often used in BhagavadGita in relation to great warriors. Some texts on BhagavadGita take the meaning as great chariot-warrior. M Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English dictionary (p.799) gives two meanings for MahaaRath: a great chariot; a great warrior. Vaman Shivram Apte’s Sanskrit-English dictionary (p.431) gives two meanings for MahaaRath: a great chariot; a great warrior or hero. This indicates that it is either a great chariot or a great warrior, not a combination of the two: a great chariot-warrior. In BhagavadGita, MahaaRath महारथ has been often used with the names of people. Therefore, I have taken the meaning as a great warrior. I have avoided combining great chariot and great warrior to make it a great chariot-warrior, as some authors do. [Sanskrit महारथ Hindi महारथी]
About Subhadra and Abhimanyu
Subhadra सुभद्रा was the sister of Shri Krishn and Balraam. She was married to Arjun. Abhimanyu अभिमन्यु was born of their union. This child would be a legend in the battle of MahaaBhaarat, and one whole day would be devoted to him, when he alone would be holding the choicest of warriors of the entire Kaurav-army for that one full day!
About Draupadi
Drupad had not forgotten his insult as he returned to his halved kingdom. He did a Yagya यज्ञ. M Monier-Williams’ Sanskrit-English dictionary (p.839) describes Yagya as Worship, devotion, prayer, and praise; act of worship or devotion, offering, oblation, sacrifice (the former meanings prevailing in Ved, the latter in post-Vedic literature). In our context, the post-Vedic meaning is relevant. From the Yagya was born Dhrisht’dyumn, the son who would later be responsible for death of DronAachaarya. From the Yagya was also born Draupadi, the daughter who would later be the catalyst for destruction of the entire Kaurav-clan. Draupadi was born with dark complexion, and therefore, she was named Krishna कृष्णा. Being daughter of Drupad, she was also named Draupadi द्रौपदी.
A few words for the skeptics
Those, who would scoff at the statement that Dhrisht’dyumn and Draupadi were born from the Yagya performed, are currently living at a level of understanding where their vision is restricted by the accomplishments of modern science developed by the ChristianWorld. They are so very blinded by the attainments of modern science that they fail to see that the science developed by ChristianWorld is yet at its infancy as it knows too little of this universe. I have elaborated on this point at different places in my various works with examples from today’s world, and wouldn’t want to delve into it here much farther. As a passing reference I might suggest reading Autobiography of a Yogi written by Paramahansa Yogananda, and particularly that part of the book which relates to early period of his life, that is, the period before he got mixed up with the ChristianWorld of America.
Unusual
condition for Draupadi’s marriage
Drupad had kept the most unusual condition for his daughter's marriage. The contender would be required to hit the eye of the golden fish, which would be constantly moving in a circular motion, above the head of the archer. The archer would not be allowed to look up at the moving fish, while aiming at it. He would have the option to look down, at the image of the moving fish, in the water. Looking down at the water below, he would be required to aim up, at the eye of the "continuously moving" fish, placed above his head! He would be required to hit the eye successfully, to be able to marry Draupadi. Arjun did it successfully.
Unusual unfulfilled desire in Draupadi’s Past
Draupadi’s present birth was the result of her Tapasya during prior births. She had obtained a boon as a result of that Tapasya. She had asked for husband who would be epitome of Dharm, unmatched in physical strength, extraordinary archer, extremely handsome and one more such quality that I do not remember of now. She attained the boon as the result of her Karm (Tapasya) but that led to a complexity. In real-life it is extremely difficult to find so many qualities in superlative degree in one human being. But at the same time the boon granted to Draupadi could not go waste. This led to the following event that occurred in Draupadi’s life during her current birth to fulfill her unfulfilled ambition of prior births.
Draupadi's Tapasya, her Karm [not Karm'Yog]
But before explaining the event let me explain the concept behind it. Here I will be speaking of Karm, which is very different from Karm'Yog. This note has been necessary because plenty of TV serials have popularized the term Karm implying Karm'Yog and thus, misleading the audience ~ this media driven knowledge expansion system is the gift of ChristianWorld where anyone with a superficial knowledge and understanding becomes qualified enough to spread his half knowledge and understanding and thus, merrily compounds his ignorance making rest of the world a party to it.
Human ambitions/wishes are unfulfilled/non-materialized Karm up to a point ~ Karm that have not taken physical shape yet ~ Karm that will materialize at a later point of time.
Thoughts and desires first surface on our mind and then they take shape of action ~ that is when they take shape of Karm. Simply speaking, Karm is action materialized whereas Karm'Yog is action without seeking anything out of it. This is an oversimplified definition but it should suffice for the time being as this is not the place to discuss Karm'Yog. Current topic relates to an action out of which Draupadi had sought some benefit. And, that benefit was to get in her next life a husband who would be epitome of Dharm, unmatched in physical strength, extraordinary archer, extremely handsome and so. In her previous life these were her ambitions/desires or whatever you may want to call them. And she had done Tapasya for accomplishing that. I may deal with the concept of Tapasya at some other place in detail. For the time being it should suffice to say that it was her Karm in her previous life. The action had already taken place in a very intense manner. A Tapasya has the unique characteristic of extraordinary intensity in the action performed. It has also other dimensions added to an action performed that we may discuss as and when an opportunity presents itself.Karm and its result
It should also be understood clearly that no action ever gets wasted if it is performed with a desire for some result. It is, however, a different thing if the result would translate into what the person had sought, or the opposite of it, or a combination of thereof. This is something that is not under control of the individual performing the Karm. And that is what Bhagawaan Shri Krishn says by कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन। मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते संगोsस्त्वकर्मणि।। To say that it means "Do your duty, do not expect the results" is a wrong interpretation promoted by anti-Hindus (reasons explained in detail elsewhere in my works), and popularized by the ignorant.
Not Sir Isaac Newton
"Every action has an equal and opposite reaction" this is something we are taught from our childhood and it is credited to Knight Isaac Newton (1642-1727). The impression created in a child's impressionable mind that it was the ChristianBritish scientist who invented it. We are not told that he only figured out only a small part of that truth which was already known to the HinduWorld from time immemorial. Thus, we Hindu children are taught to admire the ChristianBritish for their contribution to the world. We are never taught to be proud of our own ancestors. Nor we are ever told that ChristianBritish were adept at the art of plagiarizing. Newton did not think of the concept out of vacuum. His library was known for good collection of works on Hindu Jyotir'Vidya. And that is one discipline of ancient Hindu knowledgebase that dealt profoundly on the subject of Karm, the theory of actions and reactions.
HinduWorld never believed in patenting anything. Knowledge was not a commodity for sale to them. It was the ChristianWorld that taught us to stoop down to that lowly level.
Oblivion that could be bliss
Human life is short; so is the calendar designed by the humans. We count the days and the years and the life time. Beyond that we have no memory. Isn't it good? Visualize a situation in which you find that you remember the events of your prior birth including who all you loved and hated, who all had been faithful to you and those who betrayed you, what happiness and pain you had to endure in your prior life, and so on. Do you think you would have managed it? Don't you see how difficult it is to manage the memories of this one short life! The challenges, the disappointments, the unhappiness, etc. that you have to endure by the side of success and happiness that you get in one life. If you were to retain the unpleasant memories of the prior birth, won't it be a curse in itself? Then think of hundreds and thousands of the lives and if you were to remember the details as to in which life you had been a pig, or an insect born in a drain, won't it be too much for you to digest? So finally, wouldn't you want to settle with the memories of present birth and be content with it? Thinking of all this, you might come to the conclusion that oblivion could be a bliss, and forgetting past lives is a boon.
Universe does not run by what you believe in or believe not
Some of you may want to argue that I do not believe in prior birth. So what, "your believing or not believing" does not run this Universe. Simply it matters not to the Universe whether "you" believe in it or "you" do not. Who are you; a puny little creature who cannot manage well your own affairs and wants to manage the affairs of this Universe? And what shaped your belief system - Christianity's teachings? How much does Christianity know? It's born just two thousand years ago. In comparison to these billions of years old planet Earth, what is Christianity's two thousand years? And do you know that Christianity also believed in prior births? It's only a few arrogant fools who chose to alter that belief; in effect they tried to tell the Creator of this Universe how to run its business; whether to, or not to grant multiple births. They also told rest of the Christians that if anybody said or thought of birth after death, such person would be accursed (anathema). And because these handful few jokers decided it you too chose to follow them like a sheep?
"There was a time that the belief [birth after death], was held by Christianity too but it was given up at an early stage strangely enough first at the wishes of Empress Theodora. It was condemned at the Council of Constantinople (ad 543) as an Origenist error. "If any one says or thinks that human souls had a previous existence – anathema sit," the Council declared. It had to do it. Following Plato, Basilides, Origen and many other early Christian writers believed that souls in their original purity pre-existed, that any punishment of hell was temporary, to be followed by the general restoration of all souls to their former state (Apokatastasis). But this belief went completely against some of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity: the doctrines of one life and one judgment, of pre-election, of some saved but many condemned to suffering eternal punishment in hell. Therefore, reincarnation had to be given up" ISBN 81-85990-66-2
"Anathema - a formal curse by a pope or by a council of the Church, excommunicating a person or denouncing a doctrine. Origen (c.185-c.254) Christian scholar and theologian, probably born in Alexandria. His Neo-Platonist theology was ultimately rejected by Church orthodoxy" Oxford Dictionary
Why I say Modern Science is in its infancy
When you perform a Karm you must get the result disregard whether it is the way you wanted, or differently. Yes, you must get the result disregard whether it is in your current birth or in the next, or in the next to next, or so on. Now it is true that you cannot keep an account of all that but do not underestimate the Creator of this Universe. Yes, I am speaking of this very Universe that comprises of innumerable Galaxies, and within each galaxy innumerable Solar Systems, and within each solar system so many Planets, and our "Modern" Science, the pride of ChristianWorld, knows "not enough" of "one" Solar System that is our Sun! So, you understand now why I say that this Modern Science is in its infancy, and there is no reason for you to be so elated about its achievements so far. The enormity of accomplishments of modern science could seem to you as mind-boggling but then you need to realize how small your mind is and how little it has evolved so far! Therefore, the achievements that may appear to you as mind-boggling can be nothing but a minuscule of what the modern science has "yet to accomplish". Even in comparison to the ancient Hindus it is way behind. Modern science has very recently found out that this universe is expanding day by day. But this very "ever expanding character" of this universe was known to the ancient Hindus thousands and thousands of years ago. It was not only known but it was well documented as well. But then the ChristianBritish not only bothered to learn all that, instead they paid some intellectual whores (those who rent their intellect for money much the same way as whores rent their body for money) fabulous sums of money to show Hinduism in poor light by deliberately misinterpreting Sanskrit text into English (details: Seed 2). ChristianBritish did not stop at this as they believed in doing a thorough job. They picked up Sanskrit texts (palm leaf originals) and shipped them to their (so-called Great) Britain and mostly to Vatican. Christian Missionary schools, spread all over the country, taught our innocent Hindu children for six generations that Hindus did not document anything and whatever they are told by their own people is nothing but creation of fiction, full of imaginary details. If you want to know more about Hindu accomplishments in the field of science you will find some passing references in my other works, and time permitting some day, I would want to present you with many more facts based on research data available with me. As for the Great Britain I have yet to figure out if they had an iota of greatness, except that they were great in cunningness, which if you think qualifies them as Great, then let it be so, I have no qualms about it.
Do not undermine the capabilities of the Creator
So, I was talking about the Creator of this Universe and asking you not to undermine His capabilities. You saw how vast is His Creation, and now think of one small planet called Earth. And think of billions and billions of people that have lived here, that are living here, and that will live here in times to come. Think of their billions and billions of thumb impressions and the impressions of their eyes. None of them match with each other. In other words, each such impression is unique in itself. When someone creates innumerable unique impressions, don't be fool enough to claim that it happens "by accident" as do those who call themselves to be the progeny of the monkey named Charles (Robert) Darwin (1809-82), the Evolutionist. No, this all does not happen "by accident". It is all by design of the Creator. The One who designed all these, don't you think that He would have retained the blueprint of each of His creation in his Chest? As a scientist if you happen to create a Robot will you not keep tab on its activities? So, what makes you think that "your" Creator would not keep a tab on "your" activities? He will, and He does. You use your computer to keep track of all your work and at times you lose data because the technology is yet in its infancy, disregard how much pride you may have in its capabilities. But then your Creator's "Super Computer" doesn't lose data for it has perfected that Science to the "State of Art". Isn't it how you say when you want to describe a technology that has been highly evolved as the "State of Art Technology"? Yes, you do; and thus, you admit though not quite so realizing that Science is inferior to Art, and as your science progresses and evolves itself more and more it attains the State of Art.
Hindu Sciences had attained the State of Art
That is why you find differences between physicians. Some are dependent on a variety of reports (investigations) before they begin to figure out what has gone wrong with the body, and "this" is "science". But then, Hindu physicians called Vaids were not at that lowly level of science; they would hold your pulse and figure out how many ribs in your chest were broken and exactly at which locations. That is an example of science having itself evolved to the State of Art. But the ChristianBritish found it appropriate in their wisdom to derecognize that branch of study terming it as unscientific (because the ChristianBritish were yet toddlers in science); withdrew all State support to the institutions of higher learning based on ancient Hindu education system; taught Hindu children (through the ChristianEnglish Missionary Education system) that such physicians were quacks; and thus, left behind a legacy of six generations of ChristianizedHindus who keep reflecting it in their thought process, and use every possible platform available to them to make fun of those Vaids as quacks. The greater harm they do is that they pass on their ignorance to the next generation [as I write these lines I can hear from our living room television dialogues of serial Sai'Baba in which the Vaid and the Braahman are being depicted as the villains and are being made fun of. Serial Sai'Baba has been produced by epic serial Raamaayan's maker Late Ramanand Sagar's children who are propagating what they have learned from their ChristianizedEnglish education].
If you cannot elevate yourself then pull the other down
I had figured it out long before when I started understanding a bit of Economics that Communists were a particular type of animal who believed in one simple strategy: if you cannot elevate yourself to the level of the economically well-to-do people then first thing you must do is to pull them down to your level so that all can become "equal". Much later when I began to understand a bit of World Religions I figured it out that Communism rose from the ashes of Christianity (see Seed 4 for the logic and details that substantiate this view) and their character build-up had lot to do with their Christian ancestry. So, the Communists derived many of their in-built characteristics from Christianity. In other words, many of those characteristics can be found among the Christians as well, because the seed came from there. That it why you find Christians follow this simple strategy: if you cannot raise yourself to the level of those who are educationally, culturally, morally superior to you then first you must uproot them from their roots so that they can be pulled down to your level, and simultaneously you must rob them well of all their physical wealth and resources so that they reach lowered than the level at which you yourself are (see Seed-2 for documented evidence and details).
Extraordinary system that the Creator has designed
So, I was talking to you that the Creator's Super Computer [Hindu name: Chitr'Gupt presumably meaning the one who can record with the precision of an image (Chitr)] keeps a tab on Karm performed by each individual with phenomenal degree of accuracy and needed secrecy (Gupt). The "System" that the Creator has devised operates by itself; He does not have to keep supervising it (a higher version of autopilot mode as is used in unmanned aircraft). Reason is pretty simple: He remains ever busy creating those new Galaxies that we spoke of earlier. For Him each galaxy has to be unique, and within it each Solar system has to be unique, and within that each planet has to be unique, and on each planet each life-form is to be unique, and so on. Therefore, you should not expect Him to bother with such nitty-gritty like assigning marks to each person's score sheet based on the Karm he/she has performed. That all is taken care by fully-automated systems having phenomenal capabilities that are even beyond your imagination.
TIME is the Calendar of the Universe
The Performance-Reward System designed by the Creator works with reference to a much wider calendar called TIME. So far this ever expanding Universe is concerned this element called TIME is without beginning and without end; it evolves from the Creator and also submerges into the Creator. The Creator Himself being without beginning and without end. But when it comes to a part of the creation, be it a galaxy, or a solar system, or a planet, it has a beginning and an end. Our planet Earth too has its beginning and its end. But to humans like us "that" beginning and "that" end, may be too vast to compare with our relatively minuscule life cycle. For this reason, innumerable births that we take on this planet Earth can only be charted on a calendar called TIME, which to us may seem as without a beginning and without an end. While we may perform our Karm during one or more life cycles, the reward can be disbursed over one or many life cycles. And isn't it good that it happens so? Look at it this way: if we get all good rewards in one life then we may hit the roof in complicity and arrogance. Similarly if we get all bad rewards (punishments) during one life cycle in concentrated dose we may go nuts. Tapering them off over many life cycles makes the impact less severe; enduring it becomes relatively easier for you.
Why I use the term Creator, not God
You have already seen a glimpse of teachings of the "Only Son of God" as documented in New Testament of Holy Bible. You may have a taste of the character of "that" God by reading a few of teachings in my works. If you read Seed 4 and/or Seed 6 you will come to know how very ugly that character can look like. And, if I were to reproduce much more from Holy Bible itself you may have no appetite left for knowing "such" God. Having understood that God better I am convinced that he cannot be the Creator of this Universe. So, I prefer not to give Bible God any credit.
Paandavs lived in a Shoodr's house without hesitation
After Vaarnaavat episode, Paandavs were living at a Kumhaar's house. A Kumhaar is one who makes earthen pots. He is a Shoodr. Paandavs had no hesitation in living in the cottage of a Kumhaar. Please remember this point. We will revisit this issue at a later point of time and discuss it in greater depth. The reason I ask you to remember this is that everyone today points finger at Hinduism under the pretext of Caste system. And you Hindus accept their accusations meekly. I do not blame you for this. This is what you have been taught for past six generations ever since Christian Missionary Education System replaced your Ancient, and much superior as well as much advanced, Hindu Education System and the ChristianBritish methodically destroyed your ancient system on purpose (details: Seed-2).
Untouchables and the ChristianBritish
A Shoodr is the one who serves other three Varn(s): Braahman, Kshatriya, and Vaishya. He is not necessarily an untouchable unless he is in a profession which makes him untouchable. But the Christian Missionaries told the whole world that all Shoodrs were untouchables. They had a purpose. They needed to pull down Hinduism in everyone's eyes. They wanted the world, including Hindus themselves who had been taught by them, know that Hinduism practiced such a grave crime against humanity that they treated vast majority of their own people as untouchable. At the same time, they avoided telling the world that Gora Sahibs (white skin gentlemen "ruling" BhaaratVarsh) would not touch (shake hand with) vast majority Coolies (brown skin men "ruled" Bhaaratiyas) as if it was not a grave crime towards humanity. But why? Is it because it was practiced by the ChristianBritish? Is it because Christianity claims to be the religion of those people who "only" are entitled to salvation/redemption and none else? Gora Sahib (white skin Christian) treating a Coolie (brown skin Hindu) as untouchable was no crime towards humanity! When Gora Sahib had no option and he must touch the Coolie (that is how Goras addressed your ancestors) then that touch would be with the boot by kicking him.
Shoodrs of ChristianWorld
Shoodrs were service class people; they did not need much education beyond literacy. Same was the case with Europeans in those days. Roughly the same is the case with an average American who is a handyman, a plumber, an electrician, a shopkeeper, and so on. You guys listen to these Goras speak English and think that they are educated people. It doesn't occur to you that they are simply speaking in their mother tongue! Oh no, they don't call it mother tongue. Plenty of them may not know much of their parents. They may be the product of some kind of live-in arrangement or some broken marriage, or why marriage, now to be parents you don't even have to be man and woman, you can simply be two men (gay) or two women (lesbian). So, they call it their first language. Giving it the respected place of mother tongue doesn't fit into their scheme of things. Now talking of such Gora (white man) Shoodrs. Not many will be able to write grammatically/spelling perfect text. Plenty may be high school drop outs and don't think all high school drop outs are Bill Gates. So, our Hindu Shoodrs spoke their mother tongue and were not so educated. Similarly, our Gora Shoodrs speak their first language and are not so educated. Much the same, European Shoodrs of those days were not much educated. They came here and earned thousand times more than they would have earned in their home country. At the same time those Gora Shoodrs treated your ancestors as Coolies.
Upper class Hindus and the ChristianBritish, and the victims of a larger conspiracy
"Macaulay: We must at present do our best to form a class who may be ... Bhaaratiya in blood and color, but English in taste, in opinions, in morals and in intellect" ISBN 81-85990-52-2
As Shoodrs were not much in education as they were primarily craftsmen of one type or other, the ChristianBritish had to look towards the Braahmans and Kshatriyas whom you call upper class because they were educated. Their need was a selfish one. They needed these Braahmans and Kshatriyas to help them in administration of the country. Therefore, they chose to train them in their own ways. These Hindu children were uprooted from their roots from their very childhood by walking them through Christian Missionary education, reshaping their thoughts, emotions, cultural values, and practically everything that mattered. Thus, these were the victims of a larger conspiracy. What was made of them has been aptly described by Robindro Naath Thaakur.
"Rabindrnath Tagore used to call them ‘shadows’. They are not real people, but zombies programmed by Macaulay to act like the Caliban, the slave (the slave in Shakespeare's The Tempest)" http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Glimpses_XIII.htm
You will only harm your own people by accusing the victims on account of your inability to identify the true culprit
What these Gora Sahibs did to the Coolies, the same those Hindu children were taught to do who went to Christian Missionary schools. They copied everything that their masters did. These Brown Sahibs also learned from their Gora Sahibs how to treat the rest of the Coolies. They were taught to feel proud of it much the same way those Gora Sahibs felt. You can locate these Brown sahibs around you even today as Gora Sahibs left the crops behind after altering the genetics of the seeds carefully. Look at Malcolm Muggeridge's comments and feel for yourself how well he has described what ChristianBritish did to us. And then think what's the point accusing the victim - it's not going to help you build a healthy nation. Yes, you can give ultimatum to these remaining Brown Sahibs to mend their ways but don't disturb your calm arguing that it is Braahmans who did most harm to the Hindu society. If you do not learn to identify the true culprit then you will remain divided, and that is precisely what those true culprits had wanted, did practice, prepared fertile ground, and left the seeds sown in that soil.
It is now for you to sit up and take notice
Do not continue playing pawns in their hands. If you do then you will be answerable to you later generations. For long you will not be able to keep arguing that you were not aware. I am making you aware. It is now for you to sit up and take notice. No point keep repeating like a parrot as you have been doing all along. It were not the Braahmans who destroyed Hindu society, it were the ChristianBritish who did it (details: Seed-2). And for your information, I am not a Braahman by birth and therefore I have no hidden interest in arguing for them.
Malcolm Muggeridge, who worked in BhaaratVarsh as a teacher and journalist for long years, writes: "I dimly realized, that a people can be laid waste culturally, as well as physically—not only in their land but in their inner life—as if it is sown with salt. That is what happened in BhaaratVarsh; an alien culture, itself exhausted, trivialized and shallow, was imposed on them. When we (British) went, we left behind... a spiritual wasteland. We had drained the country of its life and creativity, making it a place of echoes and mimicry." http://www.atributetohinduism.com/Glimpses_XIII.htm
Why do I keep taking detours?
Quite often you find me taking a detour from the supposedly main theme of BhagavadGita. I say supposedly, because it has been taken for granted that Gita relates to spirituality. And you will find that people read Gita with interest during that phase of their life when they tend to become spiritually inclined. For rest of their life they don't touch it - they don't think it is relevant at all.
Shlok 7-10
"Duryodhan continued to speak to his teacher DronAachaarya, "Now, please know the names of the commanders in my army: You yourself, Bheeshm, Karn, victorious Krip, Ashwatthaama, Vikarn, and son of SomDutt; and other warriors who are ready to give up their lives for me. Our army, protected by Bheeshm, is unlimited; whereas, Paandav-army protected by Bheem, is limited."
Bheeshm
Dev’Vrat became known as Bheeshm (भीष्म not Bhisma भिस्मा), in his youth, when he took the extraordinary vow to help his father, and he lived by it through all his life.
His father Shaantanu had been lonely for many years, as he had lost his wife immediately after DevVrat was born. Now, he fell in love with a young girl Satyavati. Shaantanu, (the King of Hastinaapur) went to Satyavati’s father (a fisherman) for permission to marry her. Her father agreed subject to the right to the throne to the children of Satyavati. Shaantanu could not agree to this, as it would then be injustice to DevVrat, not only because DevVrat was the eldest son, but also because he truly deserved the throne, besides he had already been proclaimed as the crown prince. DevVrat had become known to be the formidable archer of his time, at such young age, with no one daring to challenge him in the whole country. Shaantanu could not take away the right of his worthy son. At the same time, he could not forget Satyavati. He told no one anything, remained lost within him.
DevVrat sensed his father’s condition. His father would not share his predicament with his son. DevVrat found out about Satyavati and went to meet her father. On learning his wish, he promised that he would have no claim to the throne. At this, her angler father asked: What if your children claim the throne? DevVrat took the vow that he would never marry. Then, father of Satyavati agreed to marry her to Shaantanu. Bheeshm remained lifelong unmarried, celibate.
Shaantanu gave Bheeshm the boon that he could choose the time of his death. People, who lived a truthful life, had the power to make their utterances come true. In turn, Bheeshm promised to his father that he would protect the throne of Hastinaapur, and he would not give up his body until he finds that the throne is safe.
He was bound by his vow to place children of Satyavati to the throne. He did so. Satyavati’s children died early age. He placed Satyavati’s grandchildren to the throne, first Paandu, and then Dhritraashtr. Dhritraashtr gave it to Duryodhan.
Bheeshm had to stand by the throne to protect it, and unwillingly he had to fight for Duryodhan. He regretted throughout his life, finding himself imprisoned to a not well thought out vow. He knew dharm was on the side of Paandavs, and yet he was bound to fight for the side, which supported adharm. In his mind, he was not fighting for Duryodhan or Dhritraashtr, but for the king of Hastinaapur who had been challenged by the Paandavs.
Bheeshm could not be defeated, and death could not touch him until he wished to live. He gave away the secret of his defeat, later in course of the war, when Yudhisthir approached him humbly for his help to show him the way. He gave up his body after the end of the battle of MahaaBhaarat, seeing the Paandavs victorious, knowing that the kingdom was now in safe hands.
Karn
Karn (कर्ण not Karna करना) treated Arjun as his arch rival. In his mind, he always felt that he was as good as Arjun in archery but he was not recognized for his capabilities because he was not known to have a royal birth.
He wanted one opportunity to challenge Arjun at the battlefield and prove himself superior to Arjun. This happened to his life’s sole ambition. Duryodhan took the advantage of this hatred, and he made Karn his friend, and he made him the king of AngDesh. Karn remained indebted to Duryodhan through his lifetime due to this favor.
Size of the two armies
In those days, the size was expressed in terms of Akshauhini. One Akshauhini comprised of 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 3 times of 21,870 = 65,610 horse Mounties, 5 times of 21,870 = 109,350 foot soldiers.
Kaurav-army consisted of eleven akshauhini as compared to seven akshauhini of Paandav-army. In total, 4 million (40 lakh) people fought at KuruKshetr.
Eighteen
The two armies totaled 18 Akshauhini 11+7. MahaaBhaarat war continued for 18 days. BhagavadGita has 18 chapters. Eighteen represents Spiritual-Material conflict. It symbolizes materialism trying to destroy the spiritual side of the nature.
Shlok 11
Duryodhan instructed everyone, "Now, all of you please protect Bheeshm Pitaamah, from all directions, by staying in your respective positions in the array."
Commander-in–Chief
Bheeshm was addressed as Pitaamah, being the great grandfather. In that formation of military array, the commander-in-chief’s position was in the center, and other commanders were positioned around him in different directions. Bheeshm was capable of protecting himself. He had made it clear that he would not strike at Shikhandi. Therefore, Duryodhan was concerned and he wanted that all commanders take positions so that Shikhandi could not approach Bheeshm.
Shikhandi (शिखण्डी)
He was born in Drupad’s family. His birth was the result of an obsession for revenge with Bheeshm. He was a woman in prior birth, named Amba, the daughter of king of Kaashi, who had taken the vow to become the cause of death for Bheeshm. In present birth also, he was born as a girl child, but treated and raised as a male child. Later, in his youth, he practiced austere penance and become a man.
Bheeshm, however, would not strike at a woman born, though now he may have become a man. Bheeshm also needed a reason to give up his body, as death would approach him only when he wished. He could not give up his body until he saw the throne of Hastinaapur in safe hands. Bheeshm could not be defeated otherwise, and someone had to be the cause. Shikhandi would be that cause.
Shlok 12-13
"To raise DurYodhan's spirits, the valiant elderly Bheeshm Pitaamah roared like a lion and blew his conch in high pitch. Following this [inspired by commander-in-chief’s declaration of readiness for war], many conches, kettledrums, tabors, trumpets, and cow-horns started blowing. Their collective resonance was tremendous."
Oxford Dictionary describes Conch (we call it Shankh) shell as a tropical marine mollusk with a robust spiral shell, which may bear long projections and have a flared lip. A shell of this kind blown like a trumpet to produce a hollow-sounding musical note, often depicted as played by Tritons and other mythological figures p.381
Shlok 14-16
"After this, Shri Krishn and Arjun, sitting in their magnificent chariot drawn by white horses, blew their own divine conches. Hrishikesh (Shri Krishn) blew his Paanchajanya; Dhananjay (Arjun) blew his DevDutt; Vrikodar (Bheem) blew his great conch Paundr. Kunti’s son King Yudhisthir blew his AnantVijay; Nakul blew his SuGhosh, and Sahdev blew ManiPushpak."
The Chariot was a gift from AgniDev', the controller of Fire in the universe. Horses were gifted by celestial musician ChitrRath, and had the capability of drawing the chariot to anywhere, just anywhere, unhindered. Paanchajanya and DevDutt were exceptional conches. Paundr was a very large conch producing exceptional sound.
Shlok 17-20
"Great archer the king of Kaashi, great warrior Shikhandi, king Viraat, invincible Saatyaki, king Drupad, all sons of Draupadi, and Subhadra’s mahaabaahu son (Abhimanyu), all of them blew their individual conches. Tremendous sound created by this, echoed through the earth and the sky, and that shook the sons of Dhritraashtr. Then Arjun, whose flag carried the image of Shri Hanumaan, looking at the well-organized military array of Kauravs, and as the time approached for the battle in action, raised his bow."
Mahaabaahu (महाबाहु)
This adjective would be often used in BhagavadGita in relation to certain personalities. Dictionary meaning of Mahaabaahu is long-armed, powerful. Long arms were the characteristics of an excellent archer, who needed long arms to stretch the bow to the maximum. Mahaabaahu is actually a qualitative reference to such person.
Shri Hanumaan (हनुमान) on the flag of Arjun
Shri Hanumaan was born with the blessings of Rudr (Shiv) and PavanDev (and with the share of their combined divine powers). He carried the power and speed of the wind. His birth was for assisting Shri Raam for destroying Raawan.
Asur king Raawan had observed extremely severe Tapasya (most austere penance) with the objective of getting the boon of immortality.
Every action must bear fruit, is one of the Laws of Creation. Therefore, he must attain the result of his Tapasya. Immortality, however, could not be granted to any body, as it would go against another Law of Creation, which specifies that everything which has a beginning must come to an end.
Therefore, he acquired the boon that he would not be killed by any of these … a list in which he included conceivably all possible powers on the earth.
He, nevertheless, forgot about (or ignored?) humans and monkeys, considering them not worthy of his match. Thus, his acquired immunity from death had a flaw, which he did not realize!
Raawan was a very learned person, but after the virtual immunity from death, he became arrogant and tyrannical. Gradually his abuse of power grew so much that his elimination became necessary.
Bhagawaan Vishnu, took Avataar as Shri Raam, and eliminated Raawan. Shri Hanumaan had a significant role in that process. The epic is known as Raamaayan (रामायण not रामायना Ramayana), and is much older than MahaaBhaarat.
While we are on it let us discuss the concept of Avataar.
Several aspects of the Supreme Soul
Concept of Avataar (अवतार)
"Yadaa yadaa hi dharmasya glaanirbhavati Bhaarat, abhyutthaanamadharmasya tadaatmaanam srijaamyaham, Paritraanaay saadhoonaam vinaashaay ch dushkritaam, Dharmsansthaapanaarthaay sambhavaami yuge yuge"
BhagavadGita chapter 4 Shlok 7 & 8
It means
"In every age, as adharm rises and dharm declines, I manifest My Self to protect the good, to destroy the wicked, and to reestablish dharm".
AAvataar is a state when God descends on earth in form of a living being, with the intent of performing some specific task, which cannot be performed by other living beings.
His Leela
During such incarnation, He is himself governed by the laws of the land. In other words, if He is born as a human then He lives like a human, with most human limitations, as well. This part of his role-play is called as His Leela. Leela signifies God becoming like a simple man.
God is the protector of His creation, and He does it so by following the rules He has made for everybody, not making an exception for Him Self.
He does not reveal His Supreme characteristics to all
अव्यक्तं व्यक्तिमापन्नं मन्यन्ते मामबुद्धयः।
परं भावमजानन्तो ममाव्ययमनुत्तमम्।।24।।
नाहंप्रकाशः सर्वस्य योगमायासमावृतः।
मूढोsयं नाभिजानाति लोको मामजमव्ययम्।।25।।
वेदाहं समतीतानि वर्तमाननि चार्जुन।
भविष्याणि च भूतानि मांम तु वेद न कश्चन।।26।।
"Avyaktam vyaktimaapannam manyante maambuddhayh, Param bhaavmjaananto mamaavyayamanuttmam, Naaham prakaashah sarvasya yogmaayaasamaavritah, Moorhoayam naabhijaanaati loko maamajamvyayam, Vedaaham samteetaani vartmaanaani chaarjun, Bhavishyaani ch bhootaani maam tu ved na kashchan."
"Not knowing of my indestructible nature, which is beyond the comprehension of mind and intellect, ignorant men see Me born as a human, and think of Me as a mortal. Moreover, because of my YogMaya, the hidden me, does not become apparent to all, and this deluded mass of people does not know the unborn, the unending and Me. O Arjun! I know all the beings that existed in the Past, all those who exist in the Present, and all those who will come to exist in the Future, but, none among them knows me." BhagavadGita chapter 7 Shlok 24-26
As an Avataar, He does not reveal His Supreme characteristics to all. Only enlightened souls are able to recognize Him. During the course of His Leela, He appears to the vast majority of people as an ordinary human being, because His objective is not to prove His superiority, but to accomplish His task for which He has descended on the earth as an animate being.
Whether He is visible as a living being, or invisible as a spirit, He never tries to establish His superiority over others. You can declare that He does not exist; He is not going to come and prove that He does exist. You can abuse Him, but He is not going to come and punish you for that.
He is detached
He is not emotionally involved like we are. Someone abuses us and we get angry. However, He is detached. He has brought this universe into existence, and He lets it run by a few simple rules. One of them is: every action must bear its fruit, in due course of time. That is it!
We will touch upon this concept and its application, in considerable depth, throughout the course of discussions on BhagavadGita. This is not the right place to dive too deep into that subject.
Several aspect of the Supreme Soul
While we are on it let us talk about several aspects of the Supreme Soul that we identify by a separate name. The Creator of this universe also has the responsibility for its preservation.
He discharges His different categories of responsibilities in His different aspects. In His aspect as the Creator of the Universe, we identify Him as Brahma. In His aspect as the Preserver of the creation, we identify Him as Vishnu. In His aspect as the one who triggers the process of dissolution of this creation, in order to pave the way for yet another new creation, we identify Him as Shiv Shankar.
In His passive aspect, we identify Him as the Brahm. In His generative aspect and in His expression as the Mother Nature, we identify Him as the Divine Mother, the most comprehensive expression of which is found in the concept of Ma Kaali.
Kali/Kaali (काली)
Kali is the popular spelling, but a new reader may mistakenly pronounce the single-a in Kali, as in ‘rural’ with short tone, like it is pronounced in ‘Kali Yug’. Therefore, the need for double-a to give clue to the reader that it requires a long tone.
Divine Mother
"She stands on the bosom of Her Consort, Shiv; it is because She is the Shakti, the Power, inseparable from the Absolute. She is surrounded by jackals and other unholy creatures, the denizens of the cremation ground; but is not the Ultimate Reality above holiness and unholiness? She appears to be reeling under the spell of wine. But who would create this mad world unless under the influence of divine drunkenness? She is the highest symbol of all the forces of nature, the synthesis of their antinomies, the Ultimate divine in the form of a woman. Maya, the mighty weaver of the grab, is none other than Ma Kaali, the Divine Mother. She is the primordial Divine Energy, Shakti, and She can no more be distinguished from the Supreme Brahm than can the power of burning be distinguished from fire. She projects the world and again withdraws it. She spins it as the spider spins its web. She is the Mother of the Universe, identical with the Brahman of Vedaant, and with Atman of Yog. As eternal Lawgiver, She makes and unmakes laws; it is by Her imperious will that Karm yields its fruit. She ensnares men with illusion and again releases from bondage with a look of Her benign eyes. She is supreme Mistress of the cosmic play, and all objects, animate and inanimate, dance by Her will. Even those who realize the Absolute in Nirvikalp Samaadhi are under Her jurisdiction as long as they still live on the relative plane. Shri RaamKrishn discovered that Maya operates in the relative world in two ways, and he termed these Avidya Maya and Vidya Maya. Avidya Maya represents the dark forces of the creation: sensuous desires, evil passions, greed, lust, cruelty, and so on. It sustains the world system on the lower planes. It is responsible for round of man’s birth and death. It must be fought and vanquished. But Vidya Maya is the higher force of the creation: the spiritual virtues, the enlightening qualities, kindness, purity, love, and devotion. Vidya Maya elevates the man to higher planes of consciousness. The two aspects of Maya are the two forces of creation, the two powers of Ma Kaali; and She stands beyond them." ISBN 0-911206-01-9, p.13
"She has four arms. The lower left hand holds a severed human head and the upper grips a bloodstained sabre. One right hand offers boons to Her children; the other allays their fear. The majesty of Her posture can hardly be described. It combines the terror of destruction with reassurance of motherly tenderness. For, She is Cosmic Power, the totality of the universe, a glorious harmony of the pairs of opposites. She deals out death, as She creates and preserves. She has three eyes, the third being the symbol of divine wisdom; they strike dismay into the wicked, yet pour out affection for Her devotees. She is Prakriti, the Procreatrix, Nature, the Destroyer, and the Creator. Nay, She is something greater and deeper still for those who have eyes to see. She is the Universal Mother, the All-powerful, who reveals Herself to Her children under different aspects and Divine Incarnations, the Visible God, who leads the elect to the Invisible Reality; and if it so pleases Her, She takes away the last trace of ego from created beings and merges it in the consciousness of the Absolute, the undifferentiated God. Through Her grace, the finite ego looses itself in the illimitable Ego-Atman-Brahman." Romain Rolland, Prophets of the New India, p 11 quoted in ISBN 0-911206-01-9, pp.9-10
This explanation is not without purpose
Please understand that this explanation of the Divine Mother, the most comprehensive expression of which is found in the concept of Ma Kaali, is not out of purpose.
As the Noble Laureate Romain Rolland says ‘She is Prakriti, the Procreatrix, Nature, the Destroyer, and the Creator’. And then as Swami Nikhilananda says ‘But who would create this mad world unless under the influence of divine drunkenness? ... She projects the world and again withdraws it. She spins it as the spider spins its web’.
These have great relevance to the MahaaBhaarat as a whole, and BhagavadGita in particular, though it is not generally perceived that way.
Those who worship Bhagawaan Shri Krishn they generally tend to ignore Divine Mother Ma Kaali and many of them even tend to look down upon that image, particularly those with a trace of Christianity’s influence, for the image of Ma Kaali is rather repulsive to their taste [see Tell them what our Gods mean].
These people tend to restrict the image of God in their small-restricted mind as the one, which is only beautiful. They fail to realize the basic fact of this creation that God is limitless in His own qualities and their expression.
Don’t we see this Mother Nature around us? When she turns angry no modern technology can contain her fury. Have we forgotten Montreal Ice Storm of January 1998? They were cut off from rest of the world for some days and to accomplish that the Mother Nature did not take that long!
Do not separate Mother Nature from God. She is only yet another aspect of Him. When we talk of Divine Mother you can see the reflection of Mother Nature in Her.
As Romain Rolland describes "the lower left hand holds a severed human head and the upper grips a bloodstained sabre. One right hand offers boons to Her children; the other allays their fear. The majesty of Her posture can hardly be described. It combines the terror of destruction with reassurance of motherly tenderness. For, She is Cosmic Power, the totality of the universe, a glorious harmony of the pairs of opposites. She deals out death, as She creates and preserves".
Returning to MahaaBhaarat we will see ample reflection of such disagreeable aspects of creation in it. But just because we may want to think of them as disagreeable does not necessarily make them disagreeable, for they are part of this creation, of which positive and negative, black and white, day and night, good and evil are essential ingredients.
The battle of MahaaBhaarat ended with the saga of a massive destruction, on the premise of which rose a revived Hindu Society of extraordinary Character and Integrity!
BhagavadGita — Adhyaay' 1 — Arjun'Vishaad'Yog'
— Shlok' 1
Participants in the Battle of Dharm'
and Adharm' — Shlok' 2-20
Arjun’s Dilemma — Shlok' 21-39
Arjun’s Concerns about the
deterioration of the eternal Family-Dharm' — Shlok' 40-43
Arjun’s Concerns about
the deterioration of the eternal Family-Dharm' — Shlok' 40-43 (continued)
Arjun’s Concerns about
the deterioration of the eternal Family-Dharm' — Shlok' 40-43 (continued 2)
Arjun gives up and resigns,
so has Hindu given up — Shlok' 44-47