AstroVed Astrology
PODCAST

()

With the massive Kaurava and Pandava armies standing in formation against each other in the Kurukshetra battlefield, ready to launch an attack and start the war, Arjuna told his charioteer Krishna to take his chariot to the middle of the armies so that he could see clearly the warriors raring to go. Thus positioning himself at a vantage point between the 2 armies, what Arjuna saw before him made him dumb. Right in front, among his opponents, stood Bheeshma, the highly revered family elder, and Drona, the teacher dearest to him. Then he saw in both armies his relatives like grandfathers, uncles, brothers, cousins, nephews, sons, teachers, friends, and well-wishers all set to combat and kill one another. The very sight overwhelmed Arjuna with compassion, distress and sorrow, and he started sharing his deep emotions with his friend Krishna. “Seeing my own people arrayed against each other in this bloody war, I am losing my physical stability and mental balance; my mind is thoroughly confused, and I cannot hold even Gaandeev, my bow in hand. I see only misfortune and no good in killing the near and dear! I don’t desire victory, kingdom, power, pleasures, and joy at the cost of people like these. What I get by slaying them cannot be pleasure but only sin. And having known that killing is a crime, should I commit this sin at all? This terrible war can destroy an entire dynasty and wipe out traditions. Then the families may give into vices; women can turn immoral and give birth to unwanted progenies, ruining all virtues and destroying the quality of life. And those who cause this are sure to get hell. Instead of committing this horrendous sin, I prefer to stand unarmed and get killed on this battlefield.” Devastated thus by anguish and grief, Arjuna threw away his bow and arrows and sat on the chariot itself in despair.