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Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com)

 

Humility, hallmark of a balanced person

 

CHENNAI, OCT. 1. Human beings are endowed differently and even

among those who have the same talent, the finesse and ease with

which it is expressed will vary from person to person. Only a few

are exceptional but this should not make others who are less

accomplished jealous of those who are prodigious and resort to

bragging about themselves to camouflage their limitations. Their

true colours will be known only when their skill is put to the

test. When the Pandavas were living incognito in Virata's kingdom

during the last year of their exile, Duryodana attacked the

country from two sides with the help of Susarma, the king of

Trigartas, with the intention of flushing out the Pandavas so

that they could be banished again. As they were brave warriors

Duryodana was sure that they would come to the aid of their

benefactor.

 

Except Arjuna who had disguised himself as a woman under the name

Brihannala and was teaching dance to the princess of the country,

the other Pandavas offered their services to Virata and went

along with him to fight Susarma's army. On the following day when

the Kauravas attacked the city from another direction by

capturing all the cows, only the prince, Uttara Kumara, was there

in the palace. Hearing the appeal of the distressed people the

prince offered to come to their rescue but expressed his

predicament that he had no good charioteer.

 

He bragged, ``I do not care about the enemies. If I have a good

charioteer I can tackle Bheeshma, Drona, Kripa, Aswatthama and

Radheya single-handed... People who see me fighting will say: `Is

it Arjuna? There is no one else who can fight so well'. Please

arrange for a charioteer at once.'' Little did that pompous

prince realise that he would be witness to Arjuna's valour before

the day ended. Sairandhri, Draupadi in disguise, happened to

overhear this and greatly angered reported the matter to Arjuna,

who told her to tell the princess to convince her brother to take

him as his charioteer. The prince was outraged with the

suggestion that a woman be made his charioteer but had to agree

as it was an emergency, said Sri N.Vaidyanatha Dikshitar in his

discourse.

 

Uttara Kumara turned tail the moment Arjuna positioned the

chariot before the Kaurava army and became the laughing stock of

the enemy but Arjuna brought him to his senses. Arjuna then

offered to fight himself by revealing his identity as the 13-year

period of exile was long over and routed the Kaurava army.

 

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