Draupadi's Anguish

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunaabhigamana parva XXVII

 Vaisampayana continues the story,

The sons of Pritha, Pandavas, are exiled unto woods and they spent their time there. They were sitting under a tree and conversed amongst themselves. Then Draupadi spoke the following words to Yudhishtir expressing her anguish,

"O King, Yudhishtira, Best among men, that wretched son of Dhritarashtra sent you to forest on exile by deceipt and he rejoices in your misery. Entire kuru clan was in tears when you set out to forest wearing deer skin except 4 people (Duryodhana, Shakuni, Karna, and Dussasana). The evil son of Dhritarashtra is full of hatred for you. Why do you forgive him, why dont you get anger on him.

I have seen you on the throne bedecked with jewels. I have seen you in a palace filled with jewels and ivory and all finer materials. I see you now in forest without any grandeur. I have seen you on the throne attended upon by many kings. Here I see you sitting on a seat made of Kusa grass under a tree without any retinue. I have seen your body adorned with many perfumes and sandal paste and glowing, I see now that your body is smeared with mud and dirt. I have seen you fed with choicest dishes made by best royal chefs. I see you now subsisting on what is found in forest. I have seen you feed thousands of brahmanas in golden plates everyday, I see you now without proper food. I have seen you wearing fine silk, now I see you in ragged clothes. Why do you forgive son of Dhritarashtra, why dont you get anger on him ?

Dont you see the mighty Bhima your brother, who can vanquish entire Kaurava army with his might alone, suffering in the woods. Dont you see Bhima, who has the power of a thousand elephants, living in forest just because he wants to honour your word. Why do you forgive son of Dhritarashtra ? why dont you get anger on him ?

Dont you see the skillful archer Arjuna, your brother, who cannot be defeated in a battle, is facing the difficulties of the forest, just because he is bound by your word. Arjuna is capable of discharging 500 arrows at the same time. He is equal in archery to the thousand armed Kartaviryarjuna of the yore. Why do you forgive son of Dhritarashtra ? Why dont you get anger on him ?

Dont you see Nakula and Sahadeva, your brothers , best of swordsmen, struggling in this forest, to honour your word. Why do you forgive son of Dhritarashtra ? why dont you get anger on him ?

Dont you see me, princess of Panchala, sister of Drishtadyumna, daughter of King of Panchala, who is suffering in the forest ? Why do you forgive son of Dhritarashtra ? why dont you get anger on him ?

Why are you suffering silently in this forest ? Does not your anger aroused ? 

You being a Kshatriya (warrior class), how can you be calm without getting anger aroused ? What kind of a Kshatriya are you ? "

Hari Om Tat Sat

Sri Gurubhyoh Namah

Brahmana's sight, Kshatriya's might

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunaabhigamanaparva XXVI

Vaisampayana continues the story : The sons of Pandu were living in the forest of dvaitavana, along with many brahmanas. Those brahmanas were performing many rituals as per their traditions. The recitation of Vedic hymns were resounding in that part of forest. The sounds of Vedas rik, yaju, sama were intermingled with the sounds of the twangs of the bows and swishing of swords by the sons of Pandu and giving the combined might of Brahma and Kshatriya and gave a beautiful union.

One evening, Yudishtir was sitting in the midst of Brahmanas along with his brothers, Rishi Baka of Dalvya family addressed him and spoke thus,

"O Just King Yudishtir, Behold, the time for homa oblation into fire has come, performed by the rishis of ascetic vows, and protected by you. The rishis who are descendents of  sages like Angiras, Bhrigu, Agastya, Vasishtha, Kashyapa, Atri , and many other rishis of ascetic vows are along with you. Listen O King along with your brothers, As fire is aided by wind and consumes a forest, similarly the Brahmana energy combines with Kshatriya energy, and consumes their enemies. A king should never be without the guidance of a learned Brahmana. The sight of Brahmana combined with the might of a Kshatriya will defeat their enemies easily. A king should take guidance from a Brahmana who is noble, well read in the religious matters and worldly affairs and who is without greed. King Bali in yonder times took the guidance of Brahmanas and won over all the three worlds, and met with his destruction when he disregarded Brahmanas advice. The earth will not bear the burden of a king for long who does not get guided by a Brahmana. A kshatriya should take counsel of a Brahmana to get what he has not got and increase what he has. O King, you also have a Brahmana as your guide. You have always been respectful towards Brahmanas and taken their counsel. For this reason your fame has spread far and wide in three worlds.Victory be yours."

All the rishis assembled there praised Baka and are pleased by his speech. They adored Yudhistir like the celestial King.

No one should act unrighteously

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunaabhigamanaparva XXV

The Pandavas began to stay in Dvaitavana. Yudhistir, the just king, even in that distressed state, was was performing his dharma and was serving the Yatis and Munis (ascetics) of the forest by offering them fruits and roots. While they were enjoying their exile in forest, there comes an exalted visitor, who is old rishi (sage) Markandeya, possessor of brahma tejas. Yudhistir recieves him and pays homage to rishi Markandeya and offers him fruits and flowers. The sage sees the plight of Pandavas and Draupadi, and remembers the similar plight of Sri Rama and smiles with amusement. Yudhistir gets distressed by this smile and asks the sage, "Sir, all the rishis, munis were sorry for my plight, but you seem to enjoy my distress, may I know why you smiled?". 

Sage Markandeya replies "Hey Raja, I did not smile in glee at your plight or with joy. I remembered seeing Lord Sri Rama, who was valiant and equal in prowess to Indra, who was like Yama (Lord of Death) to foes, who has unmatched energy, and was undefeatable in war but had to roam in jungles and was in exile like you for honouring the words of his father. Nobody should be proud and say I am mighty and do whatever they like. One has to adhere to Dharma, the truth, honour and has to be humble and undergo difficulties like you and Lord Rama to uphold the word given. O Child, King Nabhaga and King Bhagiratha also were bound to Dharma and suffered many difficulties, hence no one should act unrighteously / adharmic ways and say I am mighty and I can do whatever I can. Lot of illustrious men upholded Dharma in their lives and endured sufferings while upholding dharma, no one should act unrighteously and say I am mighty and do whatever I can. The seven rishis also upheld dharma and never transgressed dharma, so no one should act unrighteously and say I am mighty and do whatever I want. The huge elephants of the jungle, even though they are mighty, yet they do not transgress their boundaries, so no one should act unrighteously and say I am mighty and do whatever I want. All the creatures created by the creator act within their limitations, so no one should act unrigheously and say I am mighty and do what I want. You have been upholding your dharma and honouring your word and you are staying in jungle along with your valiant brothers and queen. You are a just king. You will pass this calamity and will endure this exile and after completing this exile will again regain your glory and kingdom, do not grieve".

Sage Marakandeya having said these kind words to Yudhistir took leave of Pandavas, their priest Dhaumya and other munis, and ascetics left them and continued his journey towards northern direction.

Shiva+Shakti

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Dear Guruji,

Pranam,

I am Shiva+Shakti. Entire Universe is Shiva+Shakti. Shiva and Shakti cannot be separated. 

What I considered as me, the individual, is a story woven with memory of few events stringed together. Whereas I am, was, always will be what I Am, Shiva+Shakti.

Please validate.

Guruji : Correct

Internal purity is important

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Nahaye Dhoye kya hua, mann ki mayl na jaaye,

Meen sada jal me rahe, dhoye baas na jaaye, kabira,

dhoye baas na jaaye

-- Kabir das

Meaning:

What is the use of bathing the body, when the impurities of mind are not cleaned,

Fish stays in water always, yet its foul smell doesnt go however much you wash it.

Speak gently

Sri Sadgurubhoh Namah

Aisi vaani boliye, mann ka aapa khoye,

auran ko sheethal kare, aap ho sheethal hoye, kabira,

aap ho sheethal hoye

-- Kabir das

Meaning :

Speak gently so that agitations of mind are removed,

May others feel peace in your presence and speech, and may you feel peaceful.

Dwaitavana

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunaabhigamanaparva XXIII & XXIV

SriKrishna leaves for Dvaraka. After he leaves, Pandavas along with Draupadi leave for the forest on chariots. They are greeted by the illustrious Brahmanas of Kurujangala. Yudhistira the just, feels for them with fatherly affection and they also feel like sons who are bidding farewell to their father. They cry out, "Alas, O King, where are you going leaving us as orphans. You are leaving the magnificent palace and the kingdom to stand on your word. You are Dharma personified. You are true to your word. Fie on the Kauravas, Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and Karna who are bent upon doing evil towards you." . Vibhatsu, Arjuna, consoles them saying "Yudhistira is leaving to stay in the forest for 14 years true to his words, by doing so he will be robbing the good name of the evil doers Kauravas, He is intending to uphold Dharma and show the Adharma in true light. Please return to the kingdom and approach the Sadhus and ascetics and  appraise them of our situation and let them show us the true way". On hearing this, they return to the kingdom with a heavy heart.

Yudhistira who is truthful and unwavering in his word, said to his brothers "Find a suitable place in this forest for us to stay". Arjuna replies to him "Brother, you are a virtuous man and you stand on your word. You have always attended upon rishis, ascetics, sadhus, and you have attended upon Narada, Badarayana (vyasa) and other high souled rishis. You know what is right and wrong. If you think it is right path to leave kingdom and stay in forest, we will follow you unhesitatingly. You are the guide, and mentor for us. You decided that forest is the place for us. So be it. We will gladly follow you. There is a lake inside this forest called Dwaitavana. We will stay near that place if you wish so". Yudhistira agrees to that proposal. The Pandavas along with  Draupadi enter the forest and reach Dwaitavana and rest under a tree. The place is beautiful with many trees, plants, fresh water, birds, elephants, wild animals. The siddhas in the forest, who are wearing tree barks and with matted locks, who do severe penance come there to see the King who stood for his word, and salute him. Yudhistir on his part salute them in return. Few brahmanas accompany Pandavas and settle there too. Few were well versed in Vedas. Few were doing severe penances. That place looks like Kailas upon Pandavas arrival. Yudhistir along with his brothers and Draupadi stay in the forest  just like his father Pandu.

Hari OM