THE MAHABHARATAM : 5.

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Monday, March 14, 2022. 20:00.

Prelude to the Bhagavad Geeta :

Meditation on the Bhagavad Geeta.

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In 18 Episodes : 

Episode 1: How the Writing Began

Episode 2: The Story of Bhishma

Episode 3: Amba Seeks Revenge on Bhishma

Episode 4: The Story of Vidhura

Episode 5: The Story of Queen Kunti

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Reflections by Swami Gurubhaktananda on the Series of 13 Lectures by Swami Advayananda Acharyaji, 15th Batch Vedanta Course at Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai, Mumbai Mahabharata: October 8th – October 18th , 2012 (10 Lectures) Geeta Dhyanam: October 25th– October 27th, 2012 (3 Lectures).

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Adi Shankaracharya Swami Sivananda Swami Tapovanji Swami Chinmayananda

SERVE  LOVE  GIVE  PURIFY  MEDITATE  REALISE

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Episode 6: The Young Princes Grow Up Together :

The Pandavas and Kauravas grew up together, being cousins in the same household. They played together, studied together, ate together, and had many, many fights together from childhood.

A common childish prank of Bhima was to irritate Duryodhana and Duhsasana at every opportunity. Little Duryodhana was mortally afraid of his cousin Bhima who was of his own age. From that early age the two grew up to dislike each other. Duryodhana had wickedness running in his blood. While still a youth, he planned with his brothers one day to kill Bhima so that he will be king one day. He knew Bhima liked food, so he planned to poison his food. Bhima ate the food heartily and became drowsy.

In that condition Duryodhana and his brothers tied him up with creepers and put him into the river to drown. Snakes started biting Bhima. The poison from their fangs acted as an antidote to the poison he had drunk. Bhima became even stronger than before. After a few days Bhima returned and narrated to his mother what had happened. From that day Kuntidevi was always wary of the actions of the Kauravas. “Be very careful of your cousin’s evil designs,” she warned them. Vidhura was the only other person that knew this.

A side-incident of note at this time was that Dronacharya had befriended King Drupada. The latter one day promised half his kingdom to go to Dronacharya at a later date. Dronacharya married Kripi and had a son named Aswathama of whom he was very fond.

As Dronacharya was living the life of a very poor Brahmin, Kripi asked him to go to his friend Drupada for some financial help. There was hardly any milk to give to Aswathama. When Drona went there, Drupada disowned his friendship. “Who are you?” he asked Drona. “I am your friend, don’t you remember me?” replied Drona. “Friend? Friendship is between equals,” came Drupada’s hurtful reply.

Drona left with the thought, “I will teach him a lesson.”

One day the Pandavas were playing ball when it fell into the water. Yudhishthira’s ring also fell in. They could not find a way to take it out.

At that time Dronacharya happened to pass by. He said, “I know a way to pull the ball out.” Yudhistira said, “Sir, if you take this ball out of the water we will get you a good meal.” Drona then put many pieces of kusha grass together end to end, making a string of grass, as it were, and took the ball out, to the amazement of the boys. Then he took even the ring out using his bow and arrow. The boys fulfilled their promise, and asked him, “Who are you, sire?”

“Go to Bhishma and tell him what has happened just now. He will tell you who I am,” said Dronacharya, still not revealing his identity. To shorten the story, Dronacharya was appointed as the trainer for the Pandavas and the Kauravas to teach them the art of archery. Thus began another joint activity. As fate had it, it sowed further seeds of enmity between them.

An exhibition to display the talents of his students came up. Dronacharya enrolled some of his bright students, among them Arjuna. At the exhibition, young Arjuna excelled. He was told he was the best.

Just then a radiant warrior stepped in and said, “O Prince, don’t be arrogant. I will prove myself to be better than you. Duryodhana was delighted at this challenge – here was somebody who dared to challenge Arjuna! Drona said, “Arjuna is a Prince. A Prince can be challenged only another prince. Tell me whose son are you?” The new youngster had no reply; indeed, he did not know himself whose son he was. He could not take up the challenge.

Duryodhana saw a cunning opportunity in this situation. He called the young, radiant youth to himself, and offered to make him the King of Angad, a part of the kingdom belonging to the Kurus. Whilst the Pandavas thus looked down upon the new arrival, and Bhima even began taunting him, the sun was setting. It was time for all to depart. Duryodhana took the new youth among them with him in his chariot. Indeed, a friendship was struck that day that had far-reaching effects for the Pandavas.

That youth was none other than Radheya (Karna)!

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NEXT -  Episode 7: The Development of Karna :

To be continued ...

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