"Rukmini is driving the chariot and not Arjuna. This means that she is eloping with him as per her wish. There is no need to attack Arjuna". Thus spoke Krishna to Balarama and the others to defend Arjuna and Rukmini while they were eloping from Dwaraka.
With Krishna's guidance, Pandavas had set the forest of Khandavaprastha (which was a home to many Nagas and Rakshasas) on fire. It is said that Agni Deva (lord of fire) had come to the Pandavas and requested them to burn something ro restore the lustre he has had from all the ghee that was poured into him. Is it just an indication that performing yagnas or puja's (ritual ceremonies) for greed or other selfish gains was not actually good for the cosmic balance? Fire, just like many other elements, need to be used for a constructive purpose and for the betterment of the cosmos. Else, fire which is the purifying element too might loose it's lustre or importance.
Krishna instructed Pandavas that nothing should survive in this. Is this an indication that it was time for Pandavas and humanity to burn all the old values and traditions which were clouding the mind (forest) and create a much more controlled and balanced mind/civilisation?
All the creatures and Nagas (forest tribe or a metaphor for the lower tendencies?) were destroyed. Agni Deva presented Arjuna with a Gandiva (a powerful bow) and Krishna a discus (Sudarshan Chakra). Hence, anyone killed by Krishna becomes liberated. Sudarshan Chakra in some ways denote the wheel of time or the 1000 petaled lotus (Sahasrara Chakra as per Kundalini Yoga where an individual looses all duality and become one with the universe). So who else but Krishna can be denoted to have such a symbolic weapon. Maybe someone more advanced can decipher it better.
One Rakshasa (Forest tribe?) is spared by Pandavas who constructs a beautiful city (which houses the Palace of Illusions) for the Pandavas in retribution. Pandavas named this city as Indraprastha. This city became very prosperous and many people from across India migrated to this city. Under the reign of Yuddhistira, there was no corruption and the law of Dharma (righteousness) prevailed.
The Pandava brothers followed the instructions provided by Krishna (Vyasa in some retellings) for sharing Draupadi equally. Each brother used to stay with Draupadi for a year and then wait for another four years to get the turn again. During this time, none of the others were to go to Draupadi's chamber out of turn. If anyone breaks this rule, then he will have to live in exile.
One day Arjuna entered Draupadi's chamber to retrieve his weapons when she was with Yuddhistira. Arjuna was trying to protect the cattle of a brahmin from some thieves. Then he rightfully accepted the rule of exile. Arjuna gave importance to his Kshatriya dharma (warrior code) over the other family law.
During this exile, Arjuna went to pilgrimage centers. He had a fling with Ulupi (naga woman) and fathered a child called Iravan. Arjuna gradually forgot this as well. Arjuna also married a great warrior woman called Chitrangada in Manipur. He visited Dwaraka and stayed with Shri Krishna for some time.
Krishna knew that his sister Subhadra was in love with Arjuna. Balarama wanted to fix her wedding with his favourite student Duryodhana. Krishna encouraged Subhadra and Arjuna to elope. He specifically mentioned that Subhadra should drive the chariot. So when they were eloping and leaving the city, Balarama wanted to capture and punish Arjuna. That is when Krishna uttered the above lines in defence and cooled down Balarama. Krishna is a great strategician is known to all. Here, he showed that he preferred the laws of the heart over the laws of the family (Balarama's wish to have Subhadra marry Duryodhana).
With Krishna's guidance, Pandavas had set the forest of Khandavaprastha (which was a home to many Nagas and Rakshasas) on fire. It is said that Agni Deva (lord of fire) had come to the Pandavas and requested them to burn something ro restore the lustre he has had from all the ghee that was poured into him. Is it just an indication that performing yagnas or puja's (ritual ceremonies) for greed or other selfish gains was not actually good for the cosmic balance? Fire, just like many other elements, need to be used for a constructive purpose and for the betterment of the cosmos. Else, fire which is the purifying element too might loose it's lustre or importance.
Krishna instructed Pandavas that nothing should survive in this. Is this an indication that it was time for Pandavas and humanity to burn all the old values and traditions which were clouding the mind (forest) and create a much more controlled and balanced mind/civilisation?
All the creatures and Nagas (forest tribe or a metaphor for the lower tendencies?) were destroyed. Agni Deva presented Arjuna with a Gandiva (a powerful bow) and Krishna a discus (Sudarshan Chakra). Hence, anyone killed by Krishna becomes liberated. Sudarshan Chakra in some ways denote the wheel of time or the 1000 petaled lotus (Sahasrara Chakra as per Kundalini Yoga where an individual looses all duality and become one with the universe). So who else but Krishna can be denoted to have such a symbolic weapon. Maybe someone more advanced can decipher it better.
One Rakshasa (Forest tribe?) is spared by Pandavas who constructs a beautiful city (which houses the Palace of Illusions) for the Pandavas in retribution. Pandavas named this city as Indraprastha. This city became very prosperous and many people from across India migrated to this city. Under the reign of Yuddhistira, there was no corruption and the law of Dharma (righteousness) prevailed.
The Pandava brothers followed the instructions provided by Krishna (Vyasa in some retellings) for sharing Draupadi equally. Each brother used to stay with Draupadi for a year and then wait for another four years to get the turn again. During this time, none of the others were to go to Draupadi's chamber out of turn. If anyone breaks this rule, then he will have to live in exile.
One day Arjuna entered Draupadi's chamber to retrieve his weapons when she was with Yuddhistira. Arjuna was trying to protect the cattle of a brahmin from some thieves. Then he rightfully accepted the rule of exile. Arjuna gave importance to his Kshatriya dharma (warrior code) over the other family law.
During this exile, Arjuna went to pilgrimage centers. He had a fling with Ulupi (naga woman) and fathered a child called Iravan. Arjuna gradually forgot this as well. Arjuna also married a great warrior woman called Chitrangada in Manipur. He visited Dwaraka and stayed with Shri Krishna for some time.
Krishna knew that his sister Subhadra was in love with Arjuna. Balarama wanted to fix her wedding with his favourite student Duryodhana. Krishna encouraged Subhadra and Arjuna to elope. He specifically mentioned that Subhadra should drive the chariot. So when they were eloping and leaving the city, Balarama wanted to capture and punish Arjuna. That is when Krishna uttered the above lines in defence and cooled down Balarama. Krishna is a great strategician is known to all. Here, he showed that he preferred the laws of the heart over the laws of the family (Balarama's wish to have Subhadra marry Duryodhana).
Interesting take on Mahabharat and good explainations for certain situations that arise in this story.
ReplyDeleteAbove you mention " Rukmini is driving the chariot and not Arjuna" . I guess thats a typo and it should be Subhadhra.
All these while I though Rukmini was Krishna's wife and Subhadra was his sister and they are different persons isn't that true?
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree Rukmini was Krishna's wife. It is a typing mistake where instead of Subhadra, Rukmini is typed. Wonderful analysis Abhinesh Warrier. Would like to contribute some of my thoughts as well, but first let me read all these posts by you. Keep it up.
ReplyDelete