Duryodhana

[Pujar]

In the epic Mahabharata, Duryodhana appears to be totally besotted with the happiness from materialistic life (like Hastinapur Kingdom etc.),degraded morally to the extent of trying to strip his sister-in-law in the court, trying to kill Pandavas at every possible opportunity, doing injustice (knowingly) to Pandavas. However, how could he be lucky enough to partake food with Lord Krishna, have parleys with Him and so on? Was it due to his good deeds in his previous birth? Most of us (I am sure) are certainly not as bad as Duryodhana, even then, why can not we have even a glimpse of Lord, even after a fervent prayer?

 

[gHari]

Because we don't want Him enough.

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Many demons such as Kamsa, Hiranyakashipu, etc., thought about the Lord constantly, but they thought of Him as an enemy. Despite their hatred for the Lord, their full absorption on Him brought them ultimate good fortune.

 

[karthik_v]

I have also heard that Duryodhana is part of the eternal pastime enacted by Krishna. At this moment too, Mahabharata is getting enacted in some universe and Duryodhana is against Krishna.

 

A question for J N Das: Does it mean that Duryodhana is in reality an exalted or liberated person, who is just playing a role in Krishna's pastime?

[valaya]

Originally posted by jndas:

Many demons such as Kamsa, Hiranyakashipu, etc., thought about the Lord constantly, but they thought of Him as an enemy. Despite their hatred for the Lord, their full absorption on Him brought them ultimate good fortune.

Say, I can personally attest to that!

valaya

 

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Radhe Radhe always Radhe!

amanpeter@hotmail.com

 

[This message has been edited by valaya (edited 02-02-2002).]

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

A question for J N Das: Does it mean that Duryodhana is in reality an exalted or liberated person, who is just playing a role in Krishna's pastime?

He is not a devotees in the common sense (since devotion entails favourable service), but he is in practical terms situated in his constitutional position. He has perfectly developed a quality of envying the Lord so much so that he accompanies the Lord eternally to partake in His pastimes in the material universes. From one perspective, what more can he desire? He gets to associate with the Supreme Lord face to face eternally.

 

From another perspective Duryodhana is a "devotee" of Lord Balarama, and thus he receives a lot of the Lord's mercy. But here devotee does not refer to a true bhakta, but more of a ritualistic worshipper. Still, by being connected to Balarama he receives the Lord's mercy. Duryodana is the speaker of Balarama Sahasranama as well as Balarama Kavacham found in Garga samhita. He certainly isn't an ordinary soul.

 

 

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Duryodhana is also the disciple of Balarama. Balarama was angry with Lord Krishna because He wanted Subhadra to marry Duryodhana. As the elder brother, Balarama's desire should have been accepted, but Lord Krishna resorted to trickery to arrange that Arjuna could marry Subhadra.

 

Also during the battle of Kurukshetra, Balarama arranged that he would be away on pilgrimage. Otherwise he would have to fight on the side of His disciple Duryodhana. We could imagine how the battle would have been if it was the Supreme Lord Krishna verse the Supreme Lord Balarama. It would never end.

 

Balarama went on tirtha-yatra throughout India traveling to all the holy places to atone for a "sin" he had committed. Actually there is no sin for the Lord, but He wanted an excuse to avoid the battle of Kurukshetra.

 

 

[This message has been edited by jndas (edited 02-02-2002).]

[Tarun]

Apart from Duryodhana & DuhzAsan, any info about other 98?

[mahak]

All smashed by Bhima, tarun, and Gandhari had a hard time with all of that.

 

The Duryodhana character in the play called Krsna Katha is a very special person. If there was no Duryodhana, there would be no Bhagavad Gita.

 

As far as us demons being less demoniac than Duryodhana, that may be a fact according to the role of Duryodhana being played, but perhaps the one playing that role is an eternal associate of the Lord. Jaya and Vijaya are also eternal associates of the Lord who happened to be involved in the arrangement of the Lord to engage in chivalrous pastimes in the mahat tattwa. The took on roles of great demons like Hiranyaksa, Ravana, Kamsa, etc., yet their positions as servants of the Lord Narayana never ceased, and their choice to be demons thrice was more pleasing than choosing their option of being demigod 100 times.

 

Things are not always how they seem, so we must hate demoniac activity of giving trouble to devotees, but even seeming demons may actually be engaged in misunderstood pastimes of the Lord. Hate the sin, not the sinner.

 

lub, mudmon

[karthik_v]

J N Das Prabhu,

 

Thanks for the explanation. I have another question. In case of Jai and Vijay, they appeared as demons thrice, before being liberated. Why is that Duryodhana never gets that chance and plays the eternal demon?

[Jahnava Nitai Das]

Its not a curse for him, but his own desire to play this role. Whatever we want Krishna will give us.

[Tarun]

If Duryodhan knows what he's doing, he's transcendental.

This is so much so, that on or after 18th day D argues...

First KRSNa approaches him, hip broken, lying on ground.

KRSNa begins to blame Duryodhan for everything.

BTW, KRSNa always called Duryodhan "SUryodhan".

Why? It cannot be written. You'll have to figure it out yourselves.

So after K finished blaming D, D countered all of K's arguments.

D did this very quickly & thoroughly, like a boomerang mirror image.

Moreover, D convinced K to grant him one boon:

What was that boon? Hmm.

[xvi000]

Please pay extra attention to Mbh.'s ending, which is as important as the myth at the beginning. For a soul that attaches to his flesh & world, suras is better than asuras. But in Brahman's (not viSNu's) Great Plan, they are equal & responsible for opposite missions. Refer to --

 

The Keys Of Enoch

I was told how those who govern the power upon the earth are those who have fallen from the higher heavens and now indwell in the stars known by earthman as Ursa Major. From this threshold gate, they control one of the major entrance points into our local system from the higher heavens.

 

I saw how the Masters from previous cycles were cast down to these stars from which they now govern the lower planetary worlds and the karmic penalties that were assigned to each. I was shown how earth was part of a biochemical testing zone using both fallen and divine thoughtforms in determining what type of intelligence could eventually free itself from the countless physical rounds of existence controlled by the fallen hierarchies inhabiting the regions of Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Polaris, and Thuban. These realms contain beings in imperfect bodies of Light who use their power to establish themselves as gods in the lower realms.

 

******

Bhg.

A Karma-yogi gets freedom from both vice and virtue in this life

itself. Therefore, strive for Karma-yoga. Working to the best of

one's abilities without getting attached to the fruits of work is

called (Nishkaama) Karma-yoga. (2.50)

------

Raaga and Dwesha (or the attachments and aversions) for the sense objects remain in the senses. One should not come under the control of these two, because they are two stumbling blocks, indeed, on one's path of Self-realization. (3.34)

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The Lord does not take the (responsibility for) good or evil deeds

of anybody. The knowledge is covered by (the veil of) ignorance, thereby people are deluded. (5.15)

 

Most of us (I am sure) are certainly not as bad as Duryodhana, even then, why can not we have even a glimpse of Lord, even after a fervent prayer?

Not because Lord is unfair. Becuase you are deluded. You are treated with equity at any time & you never know it.

 

But their knowledge, whose ignorance is destroyed by the

Self-knowledge, reveals the Supreme like the sun (reveals the

beauty of objects of the world). (5.16)

 

They, whose mind and intellect are absorbed in the Self, who remain firmly attached with the Self, who have Self as their supreme goal, whose sins (or impurities) have been destroyed by the knowledge, do not take birth again. (5.17)

 

An enlightened person looks at a learned and humble Braahmana, an outcast, even a cow, an elephant, or a dog with an equal eye.

(5.18)

 

Everything has been accomplished in this very life by those whose

mind is set in equality. Such a person has realized Brahman because

Brahman is flawless and impartial. (See also 18.55) (5.19)

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A person is considered superior who is impartial towards

companions, friends, enemies, neutrals, arbiters, haters,

relatives, saints, and sinners. (6.09)

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All beings in this world are in utter ignorance due to the delusion

of dualities born of likes and dislikes, O Arjuna. (7.27)

------

The Self is present equally in all beings. There is no one hateful or

dear to Me. But, those who worship Me with devotion, they are with Me

and I am also with them. (See also 7.18) (9.29)

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Of these, Sattva, being calm, is illuminating and ethical. It

fetters the embodied being, the Jeevaatma or Purusha, by attachment

to happiness and knowledge, O Arjuna. (14.06)

 

 

[This message has been edited by xvi000 (edited 02-05-2002).]

[Avinash]

Its not a curse for him, but his own desire to play this role. Whatever we want Krishna will give us.

 

Does the same soul become Duryodhana every time?

Another question. In how much time do Jaya and Vijaya complete the three rebirths? In one kalpa, in one Manavantra, in one Chaturyuga or in some other time duration?

[gHari]

No tough questions allowed!

[gHari]

Prabhupada said that Arjuna is always Arjuna - not that a different jiva soul plays the role each time. He is okay with that. Since the material world is only manifest half the time, perhaps he holidays with Krsna in Goloka during the breaks.

[Tarun]

First vacation stop, MahA-ViSNu. Not a tiny village.

Not a Banana Republic. Not a 3rd World Country.

Nara-NArAyaN notarized or ViSNu/vaiSNav visa required.

[karthik_v]

Originally posted by Avinash:

Another question. In how much time do Jaya and Vijaya complete the three rebirths? In one kalpa, in one Manavantra, in one Chaturyuga or in some other time duration?

I want to add 1 more question as well. Even the pastimes of Lord Narasimha are re-enacted in every catur yuga. If so, who takes the place of Jai and Vijay, now that they have played that role thrice and are liberated?