The Mahabharata
By
The Greatness of the Epic
The Epic in a Nutshell
Heroic Characters
The Message of the Mahabharata
MAHABHARATA—the very mention of the name gives a thrill
of holy ideas. This is a great epic heroic poem. It contains
one hundred thousand verses. It contains the essence of all
scriptures. It is an encyclopaedia of ethics, knowledge,
politics, religion, philosophy and Dharma. If you
cannot find anything here, you cannot find it anywhere else.
It contains eighteen Parvas or sections viz.,
Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga
Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva,
Sauptika Parva, Stree Parva, Shanti Parva, Anushasana Parva,
Asvamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Mausala Parva,
Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohanika Parva.
Each Parva contains many sub-Parvas or subsections.
This wonderful book was composed by Sri Vyasa (Krishna
Dvaipayana) who was the grandfather of the heroes of the
epic. He taught this epic to his son Suka and his disciples
Vaisampayana and others. King Janamejaya, son of Parikshit,
the grandson of the heroes of the epic, performed a great
sacrifice. The epic was recited by Vaisampayana to
Janamejaya at the command of Vyasa. Later on, Suta recited
the Mahabharata as was done by Vaisampayana to Janamejaya,
to Saunaka and others, during a sacrifice performed by
Saunaka in Naimisaranya, which is near Sitapur in Uttar
Pradesh.
It is very interesting to remember the opening and
closing lines of this great epic. It begins with: "Vyasa
sang of the ineffable greatness and splendour of Lord
Vasudeva, who is the source and support for everything, who
is eternal, unchanging, self-luminous, who is the Indweller
in all beings, and the truthfulness and righteousness of the
Pandavas." It ends with: "With raised hands, I shout at the
top of my voice; but alas, no one hears my words which can
give them Supreme Peace, Joy and Eternal Bliss. One can
attain wealth and all objects of desire through Dharma
(righteousness). Why do not people practise Dharma?
One should not abandon Dharma at any cost, even at
the risk of his life. One should not relinquish Dharma out
of passion or fear or covetousness or for the sake of
preserving one’s life. This is the Bharata Gayatri. Meditate
on this daily, O man! when you retire to sleep and when you
rise from your bed every morning. You will attain
everything. You will attain fame, prosperity, long life,
eternal bliss, everlasting peace and immortality."
The Mahabharata is the history of the Great War of India
between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The two brothers
Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born through sage Vyasa after
the death of Vichitravirya. Dhritarashtra being blind, Pandu
succeeded to the throne but he entrusted the kingdom to his
elder brother and himself proceeded to forest where his five
sons Yudhishthira, etc., were born and were called the "Pandavas."
Dhritarashtra also had one hundred children in Duryodhana
and others, who were called the "Kauravas." Pandu died
during the infancy of his sons and Dhritarashtra continued
to rule the kingdom with the help of their granduncle
Bhishma, who had pledged himself to lifelong celibacy. The
Pandava and Kaurava princes were brought up together and
also educated and trained alike through Dronacharya. Both
sets of princes considered themselves entitled to the
kingdom and looked upon the other with hostility and their
feelings and relations grew strained from day to day. On
account of persecution by the Kauravas, the Pandavas left
their home and suffered much hardship and pain, but on their
marriage with the daughter of Drupada, king Dhritarashtra
sent for the Pandavas and made over half the kingdom to
them. The Pandavas improved their country and established
their capital at Indraprastha and then performed the
horse-sacrifice with great pomp. The Kauravas were also
invited there but on seeing the good fortune of the Pandavas
and being offended by jokes made at them, they were overcome
with jealousy and resentment and returned home with feelings
of enmity and revenge. They then conspired against the
Pandavas and invited them to gamble and thereby they won all
their wealth, kingdom and their person and also insulted and
ill-treated their wife, Draupadi, in the presence of all. In
the end, it was settled that the Pandavas should go out in
exile to the forest for twelve years and pass another year
in secrecy and on return from the exile be entitled to get
back their lost kingdom. The Pandavas did all this but on
their return the Kauravas refused to return the kingdom.
This gave rise to the great family war in which all the
Kauravas and the two armies were annihilated and the
Pandavas alone survived and got the victory.
The Pandavas were assisted by Sri Krishna and other
relations, Drupada, Virata, etc., and their forces numbered
seven battalions (Akshauhinis). The Kauravas were also
assisted by their relations and friends and their forces
numbered eleven battalions. The Pandavas were successful on
account of their righteous cause and divine grace.
The blind Dhritarashtra represents Avidya or
ignorance; Yudhishthira represents Dharma; Duryodhana
Adharma; Draupadi Maya; Bhishma dispassion;
Dussasana evil quality; Sakuni jealousy and treachery;
Arjuna the individual soul; and Lord Krishna the Supreme
Soul. Antahkarana is the Kurukshetra.
The Mahabharata war was a just war. If you go through the
speech given by Bhishma to Yudhishthira, you will know the
usages of righteous war. A brave hero would fight only with
an enemy of equal strength and on equal vantage. This was
the motto of every brave soldier who engaged himself in
warfare in days of yore in India. Perfect justice and
fairness in everything was rigidly observed on both sides.
There was no fighting during nights; when the enemy had no
arms in his hands, no arrows were aimed at him.
The Mahabharata, the most renowned epic of India, is the
only book of its kind in the whole world. It contains
countless stories besides the main episode—the
Mahabharata—which teach moral lessons or illustrate
distinguishing characteristics of the ancients of India. It
contains the history of ancient India and all the details of
its political, social and religious life. The stories,
songs, nursery tales, anecdotes, parables, the discourses
and sayings contained in this epic are marvellous and highly
instructive. It contains the brilliant records of mighty
heroes, warriors of great prowess, deep thinkers, profound
philosophers, sages and ascetics and devoted wives of
chastity. The beauty and charm of the language is extremely
striking and attractive.
One is struck with amazement and becomes tongue-tied when
he reads the marvellous strength of Bhima, of the wonderful
skill in archery and bowmanship of Arjuna, of the dexterity
of Sahadeva in the use Of swords and of the profound
knowledge of Nakula in astronomy, and of the extreme
righteous conduct and justice of Yudhishthira in all
matters. The deeds of heroism done by Bhishma, Karna, Drona,
Parasurama, Jayadratha, Dhrishtadyumna and many others are
superhuman. These heroes did severe Tapas and obtained rare
boons from the Lord. That is the reason why they did
marvellous heroic deeds which baffle description.
Yudhishthira did not wield arms. He did not take active
part in the war-front. He did not use bow and arrows. He had
neither the strength of Bhima nor the skill of Arjuna in
archery. But he was an embodiment of righteousness. He was
an incarnation of Dharma. That is the reason why he
was called as Dharmaputra. He was a wise and ideal
king. He established peace and order. He guided his brothers
in the path of truth and righteousness and checked them
whenever they went astray. Arjuna bore manfully the insults
which Draupadi was subjected to before his eyes. He could
not disobey Yudhishthira or show him the least disrespect.
All the brothers were meek and submissive before
Yudhishthira, however mighty and heroic they were. They
could crush mountains and dry up oceans with their arrows.
They were terrible before their opponents but they were mild
and gentle before Yudhishthira and were ever ready to obey
his commands. They would never speak a word in opposition.
Such was the awe-inspiring personality of Yudhishthira. Had
it not been for Yudhishthira, Arjuna and his brothers would
not have won the war. Yudhishthira was the founder of an
empire. He is in an inspiring example, even now, for the
rulers of kingdoms and states. He was an embodiment of
justice, patience, steadiness, purity, truthfulness and
forbearance.
The kings had a complete knowledge of the scriptures and
of right and wrong. They practised rigid austerities also.
That is the reason why Yudhishthira and Nala were able to
bear the privations and hardships. They rolled in wealth and
yet they had the strength and power of endurance to walk
barefooted in forests and sleep on a bed of stones. They had
such a rigorous training and discipline in suffering.
Draupadi, Savitri, Kunti, Madri and Damayanti were highly
devoted to their husbands. They were bold and fearless when
they were under extreme difficulties, hardships, sufferings
and privations. They were pious. They bore the sufferings
through the force of their chastity and moral strength. They
were ideal wives and ideal mothers. That is the reason why
they have left an immortal name behind them.
The Mahabharata still exerts a marvellous influence over
the millions of Hindus. The lustre and high renown of these
brilliant personages of Mahabharata has not suffered a
diminution, in spite of the ravages of cruel time. Their
character was untainted and sublime. Hence their deeds also
were admirable, laudable and sublime. Determination has ever
been the key to success in the lives of great men of all
countries. Heroes would not move an inch from the path of
their duty when they are called upon to perform it. They
were fiery in their determination. They had iron will.
The noble and heroic grandsire Bhishma—who had control
over his death and who was unconquerable in war even by the
gods—still inspires us with the spirit of self-sacrifice,
undaunted courage and purity. Yudhishthira is still a model
of justice and righteousness. Remembrance of his very name
generates a thrill in our hearts and goads us to tread the
path of truth and virtue. Karna still lives in our hearts on
account of his extreme munificence and liberality. Karna’s
name has become proverbial. People even now say, whenever
they come across a very generous man, "He is like Karna in
gifts."
Arjuna was the bravest of all the five Pandavas. Arjuna
had got Draupadi by winning in the selection match and he
had defeated the Kauravas on several occasions. He was a
devoted friend of Sri Krishna who had him married to his
sister Subhadra, even against the wishes of his elder
brother Balarama. Sri Krishna assisted the Pandavas in the
great war on account of Arjuna and by acting as his
charioteer, led him to victory.
Even now, we admire Arjuna as a perfect man and worship
Lord Krishna as our Protector and Saviour. Whenever we are
in trouble and distress we pray to Him, "O Lord! Save us
just as you saved Draupadi and Gajendra in days of yore."
The sufferings of the Pandavas and Draupadi, Nala and
Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, clearly explain to us the
fact or hard truth that the goal of life or perfection can
only be attained through pain and suffering. Pain is the
means through which man is moulded, disciplined and
strengthened. Just as impure gold is turned into pure gold
by melting it in the crucible, so also the impure and
imperfect weak man is rendered pure, perfect and strong, by
being melted in the crucible of pain and suffering.
Therefore, one should not be afraid of pain and sufferings.
They are blessings in disguise. They are eye-openers. They
are silent teachers. They turn the mind towards God and
instil mercy in the heart, strengthen the will and develop
patience and power of endurance, which are the
pre-requisites for God-Realisation.
The message of the Mahabharata is the message of Truth
and Righteousness. The great epic produces a moral awakening
in the readers and exhorts them to tread the path of
Satya and Dharma. It urges them strongly to do
good deeds, practise Dharma, cultivate dispassion by
realising the illusory nature of this universe and its
vainglories and sensual pleasures, and attain Eternal Bliss
and Immortality. It induces people to do what Yudhishthira
did and abandon what Duryodhana did. Stick to Dharma
tenaciously. You will attain everlasting happiness and
Moksha, the summum bonum of life. This is the final
purport or central teachings of the Mahabharata.
May the teachings of this illustrious and ancient epic
guide you in every walk of your life. May you stick to
Dharma. May the great characters of the Mahabharata inspire
you! May you imbibe the righteousness of Yudhishthira, the
purity of Bhishma, the courage of Arjuna and the liberality
of Karna! Glory to Sri Bhagavan Vyasa, the grandsire of the
heroes, the author of the Mahabharata, a Chiranjeevi and an
Avatara of Lord Hari. May His blessings be upon you all!
