Conversations in Mahabharat

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This list is almost endless. The Mahabharata is replete with instances conversations between characters, primary and secondary, which are exciting, meaningful and hit the nail on the head. Full of wisdom, they are relevant even today. A few that come to my mind instantly are:

1. Shakuni and Bhishma

This conversation happens after the Pandavas have returned to Hastinapur from Varnavat and are now married to Draupadi. In the meantime, thinking that the Pandavas are dead, Duryodahana is named as the crown-prince.

Obviously there is talk of Duryodhana refusing to abdicate.

Shakuni : Duryodhana has become adamant like a child (Baalhatt).

Bhishm: O Shakuni! Prince of Gandhara! If a child is not allowed to grow, he will continue to be a child. If a house gets washed away during a flood, the fault is of the house not the flood. If the fault would have been of the flood , all the houses would have been washed away.

2.Bhishma and Vidura

This conversation occurs after Vidura has come after inviting Yudhishtira to the game of dice on behalf of Dhritarashtra. Bhishma berates him for doing so without realising the consequences.

V: But the game will be played by Duryodhana, Pitamaha

Bhishma: Yes. The game will played by Duryodhana but the die will be cast by Shakuni.

Vidura : But, Pitamaaha...

Bhishma : Get rid of these ‘buts’ Vidura. War is always between kings but the fighting is done by the armies. Therefore, don’t commit the mistake of raising this question in the assembly hall. Accepted that you went as Dhritrashtra’s emissary.... Contd.

..Also accepted that you could nor cross the boundaries of your responsibility. But you should have given a thought to the fact that you are not only the Prime Minister of Hastinapur. You are uncle to both the Pandavas and Kauravas. ..

Contd..

...Didn’t your loyalty towards Hastinapur tell you that it was also your duty to warn Yudhishtira? Do you belong to Hastinapur or Dhritarashtra?

Vidura: The question is not about loyalties Pitamaaha ?

Bhishma: Then what is it about? I even accepted partition of the kingdom so that internal tensions end. I let this injustice happen to the Pandavas because the only dream which the blind Dhritarashtra has is to see his son Duryodhana on the throne of Hastinapur. ... Contd..

... But, Duryodhana wants to extend his ambitious hand and snatch Indraprastha also. Couldn’t you see that during the Rajasuya, one fire was burning in the altar and the second one in Duryodhana’s heart?

Vidura: I had seen it Pitamaaha.

Bhishma : And even after seeing this you simply invited him to a game of dice and came back? It’s for the first time you have disappointed me Vidura. My shoulders do not have the strength to carry the corpse of Hastinapur.

My shoulders don’t have this strength. Whoever wins the game of dice, My Hastinapur will lose, My Hastinapur will lose.

In one such dialogue between Karna and Krishna; Karna asks him the most painful question that had pained him all his life, followed by many other such question.

He asks Krishna – “My mother left me the moment I was born. Is it my fault I was born an illegitimate child?”

Krishna in a firm tone yet patiently answered that He was born in a jail and his death was destined even before he opened his eyes in this world, adding on to all the questions that Karana had asked.

What Krishna really meant to make Karna understand was –

Life wasn’t fair to anyone. In fact, it can never be because in this human form all of us were here to learn certain lessons and it was important that we did.

He explained just because life has been unfair to you and a certain person has been good to you, who is essentially a threat to the entire society; you will, in the end, have to choose your conscience above the person.

It is the right dharma. It is the only way.

The fact of the matter is, whether be Karna or Krishna, they were essentially here expressing themselves in a human form. This world is a stage and we are all mere characters fulfilling the destiny of the biggest play of all time we call Life.

Universe has a way of manifesting things and we are all in alignment with our soul path.

Those who realise and align themselves with their path are freed from the Karmic bondage those who don’t, they come back again to complete the lesson and knowledge that is still unavailable.

The dialogue between Krishna and Karna is a classic example of understanding the difference between ignorance and awareness. Sulking in self-pity has never given any solution.

However, when you stand up many times to hold yourself erect and speak your truth, you release yourself from all the unnecessary drama.

Life is a lesson and one should accept all they are to experience.

In Mahaprasthanika Parva, When Pandavas set out for their last journey, a dog also starts following them.

While the Pandavas set out for the forest, a dog followed them.

When all the other brothers eventually dies, the dog still follows him.

He had only one companion, the dog, that followed him now.

Suddenly, Indra appears before Yudisthira and asks to ascend with him, but Yudisthira refuses to go without the dog.

Yudhishthira said, ‘This dog, O lord Indra, is exceedingly devoted to me. He should go with me. My heart is full of compassion for him.

Shakra said, ‘Immortality and a condition equal to mine, O king…. Do thou cast off this dog. In this there will be no cruelty.

Yudhishthira said, ‘Lord, it is exceedingly difficult for one that is of righteous behaviour to perpetrate an act that is unrighteous. I do not desire that union with prosperity for which I shall have to cast off my companion’

Indra said, ‘There is no place in Heaven for persons with dogs.

Yudhishthira said, ‘It has been said that the abandonment of one’s companion is infinitely sinful. It is equal to the sin that one incurs by slaying a Brahmana.

"Hence, O great Indra, I shall not abandon this dog today from desire of my happiness. I shall never give up this dog till my own life is at an end"

By refusing to enter paradise without the dog, Yudhisthira once again proved his greatness.

During the Kurukshetra War, after knowing that Karna is his brother.

Arjuna : I killed my own brother (Karna) because of you!
Krishna : Do you think it is you who killed him? No, it is not you. Before you,

Six people killed him:

Indra procured Karna's kavacha kundala (armour) from him as alms.

Parasuram with his curse on Karna that the brahmastra be useless.

A Brahman who lost his son because of Karna, cursed that his chariot will not function at the time of need.

Your mother Kunti who made Karna vow that the Nagastra shouldn't be stroked on you for the second time.

King Shalya(charioteer) did not assist when the chariot stuck in the middle of the war (Brahman's curse)

And finally, I, who saved you from Nagastra( by lowering the chariot).

Thus, 6 people have saved you by killing him in all these ways. But you're mourning here believing that it is you who killed him.

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