When Yudhisthira, the Pandava ruler of Hastinapur decided to renounce everything and walk up the 'Mandara'; the highest snow clad mountain that led to Swarga Lok; he was hardly prepared for the last and final lesson - 'Swarga Prapti'. Such is the interpretation of events described in a book written by one of the greatest Mythological writers of our times. It gets one thinking. I for one was deeply impacted.The fact that Pandavas lived a righteous life under the guidance of Lord Krishna and yet had to go to hell; and the Kauravas who were not just desolute but practically criminal went to Swarga Lok by virtue of having died in Kurukshetra leaves one in a state of mental flux.
Bhima had to pay for his gluttony, Draupadi who apparently was goddess incarnate had to pay for her hatred, favoritism and manipulative actions and Arjuna for his passion and arrogance. For an ordinary human being like me it becomes a little too much. :) Considering the fact that common people like me have to deal with manipulative people everyday, it becomes too hard to accept that the righteous path may not always take you in the right direction. A disturbing thought!
And then there is the discourse on Dharma by the Lord himself to Arjuna. One has to do ones duty, regardless of the environment, conditions and possible consequences. How can one kill without hatred or passion? If the Pandavas were not just fighting for their land and prestige; and were on the side of dharma, why were they not entitled to Swarga? were their faults that big? Was Yudhisthira not equally responsible, infact more for what happened. After all it was his weakness for dice that led to the fatal turn of events. Was he just when he gambled his brothers lives and his wife? If the thirteen years in exile taught him lessons, did not the other brothers do their part? Was Draupadi's hatred unjustified? Should she have simply forgiven Dushasana? Was it right for Kunti to ask 5 sons to share a wife? Was Draupadi not wronged? She had to pay dearly for rejecting Karna's proposition. What did the others do to earn 'Narak Lok'? Just a thought!
It is all so confusing and I guess too much for a common housewife!
Bhima had to pay for his gluttony, Draupadi who apparently was goddess incarnate had to pay for her hatred, favoritism and manipulative actions and Arjuna for his passion and arrogance. For an ordinary human being like me it becomes a little too much. :) Considering the fact that common people like me have to deal with manipulative people everyday, it becomes too hard to accept that the righteous path may not always take you in the right direction. A disturbing thought!
And then there is the discourse on Dharma by the Lord himself to Arjuna. One has to do ones duty, regardless of the environment, conditions and possible consequences. How can one kill without hatred or passion? If the Pandavas were not just fighting for their land and prestige; and were on the side of dharma, why were they not entitled to Swarga? were their faults that big? Was Yudhisthira not equally responsible, infact more for what happened. After all it was his weakness for dice that led to the fatal turn of events. Was he just when he gambled his brothers lives and his wife? If the thirteen years in exile taught him lessons, did not the other brothers do their part? Was Draupadi's hatred unjustified? Should she have simply forgiven Dushasana? Was it right for Kunti to ask 5 sons to share a wife? Was Draupadi not wronged? She had to pay dearly for rejecting Karna's proposition. What did the others do to earn 'Narak Lok'? Just a thought!
It is all so confusing and I guess too much for a common housewife!
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