Fw: Insight into human nature

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<aakumar

<mpmahesh

Thursday, May 29, 2003 2:12 PM

Insight into human nature

 

 

 

Insight into human nature

 

 

The fratricidal war waged by the Pandavas and the Kauravas

recounted by Veda Vyasa in the Mahabharata is not just an epic

elaborating the lives of these cousins but is symbolic of the

perpetual conflict that goes on within every human being. Thus it

is perennially relevant to the human situation and will never fail

to give insight into human nature. Man has a dual personality, a

virtuous side, which behoves him to abide by righteousness and

another dark side, which makes him a slave to vices and indolence.

These opposing tendencies are always in conflict giving rise to

mental dilemma.

 

 

The reference to the battlefield of Kurukshetra as "Dharmakshetra"

is a metaphor for a human being in whom the clash between Dharma

and Adharma (virtue and vice) takes place during every predicament

posed by life. The Pandavas are the personification of Dharma and

the Kauravas of Adharma. The epic depicts that God always graces

the person who is wedded to righteousness and hence he is bound to

emerge victorious. This subtlety can be seen in the manner in which

Lord Krishna's bountiful grace helped the Pandavas to overcome the

difficulties they faced throughout their lives. It was their

adherence to Dharma that merited His grace.

 

 

In his discourse, Swami Vidya Sagara Madhava Theertha said one must

discern the plan of the imperceptible Lord behind all the action

and drama recounted in this epic. One incident, which is

illustrative of Lord Krishna's design, was when Arjuna and

Duryodana rushed to His side for help when the war became imminent.

Duryodana wanted to outdo the Pandavas in seeking the allegiance of

as many armies as possible. So he forestalled Arjuna by reaching

Krishna who was sleeping then. He waited sitting on a seat placed

near His head whereas Arjuna stood humbly by His feet. And,

naturally when He woke up His eyes rested on Arjuna.

 

 

When the purpose of their visit was expressed, Krishna offered them

a choice? between all His armies and Himself without wielding any

weapon during the battle. Prodded by their respective natures

Arjuna who was asked to choose first fell at His feet with tears of

gratitude in His eyes and declared, "I want You, My Lord."

Duryodana was delighted that he got His armies as he wanted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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