The Hindu Article - Self-control, mark of culture

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Date:09/12/2002 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/09/stories/2002120901120900.htm

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Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Self-control, mark of culture

 

CHENNAI DEC.9. It has been the traditional practice to elucidate the

Bhagavad Gita from the second chapter onwards as the emphasis of this

text is on spirituality but a detailed perusal of the opening chapter

becomes necessary to situate the work in the Mahabharata in which it

occurs. From this perspective the first chapter becomes the seed of

the Gita and it gives insight into human nature through the different

characters it portrays. The Gita opens with a description of the

events in the battlefield as narrated by Sanjaya to the blind king,

Dhritarashtra. Seeing the army of the Pandavas arrayed in battle

Duryodana approached the teachers of the princes, Drona, and spoke to

him without even saluting him.

 

An eminent scholar observed, "Culture is control". So a person who is

cultured is expected to exercise self-control in his social

behaviour. If this yardstick is applied Duryodana lacked culture.

There is a famous Vedic dictum, which behoves a student to revere his

parents and teacher as God. Duryodana should have at least had the

courtesy to greet Dronacharya first. But his arrogance made him speak

the way he did, "Teacher! Behold this great army of the sons of

Pandu, arrayed in battle order by your talented disciple, the son of

Drupada." He spoke words laced with sarcasm, not sense, for he was

not cultured though born in a great lineage and taught by such a

great teacher.

 

In her discourse, Smt. Prema Pandurang said Duryodana's behaviour

should be seen in the context of the Mahabharata story. Drona and

Drupada were close childhood friends who subsequently became sworn

enemies proving the cliché that there is only a very thin line

dividing friendship and enemity. When Drona sought his friend to

alleviate his poverty, the king turned him away with the harsh words

that he could not claim friendship with him, as they were not equals.

Their friendship soured to the extent that Drona became a warrior and

a renowned teacher in archery to the Kuru princes and as fee for

teaching them asked Bhima and Arjuna to defeat Drupada and bring him

bound alive. And, to add insult to injury Drona returned half his

kingdom back to him when he released him saying they were now equals.

To take revenge Drupada sired his son Drishtadyumna with the sole

intention of killing Drona but he trained in warfare under this great

teacher. Duryodana taunted his teacher for his magnanimity in

imparting archery to Drishtadyumna.

 

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