There
developed a conflict between youths of the same royal family during the epic
age. Kouravs and Pandavas indulged in a severe battle for establishing their
territorial dominance. Was that conflict developed all on a sudden? Was there
any other issue which compelled them to fight for claiming lives of each other?
Obviously, the answer to all such question related to
find out the root cause of war is, No. there developed a conflicting situation
during the Epic Age because of some mis –conduct of some members of the royal
family. They raised their weapons to
kill each other.
The conflict
has a back reference of the time when eight Basus from heaven allegedly
indulged in taking away the holy cow, namely Kama Dhenu, with them to the
heaven without giving any message to Saint Vashishtha. That time Vashishtha was
not there in the hermitage. Whenever he came to know about the incident he had
angrily cursed them that they would have to come to the earth for leading a
life like those of normal human beings. All the Basus started appealing for the
relief from the curse. With a little bit empathy Saint Vashishtha told them to
find out such mother who can liberate them from the life immediately after
birth. They moved on searching for the same and recognized Ganga as the mother
having such power.
On the other hand Shantanu, the member of the Royal
family, was travelling by the sideline of the river Ganga. King Shantanu
recognized a beautiful lady there at the river bank. She was none other than
Ganga. Shantanu approached the lady for developing a marital bond and wanted to
make her a life partner. The lady agreed upon a condition. The condition was
that after marriage she can do with her kids whatever she wishes to, Shantanu
cannot stop her from doing so. The condition was accepted gladly by the royal
king and the infused deeply in the bond of marriage. As per the previously
expressed wishes she started bringing all her kids to death immediately after
the birth and her own river currents received all her sacrifices. The king
remained merely as spectator; he had nothing to say as per the agreement. Lastly King Shantanu stopped her from
sacrificing her eighth kid. It was protected by the King. The name coined for
that holy boy was Devbrat. After that incident Ganga left Shantanu alone and
moved on her own courses.
Deep sorrow mounted on the king. He again started
remaining off his normal duties and day to day royal practices. During another
instances he met another beautiful daughter of a fisherman. She was also
beautiful and attractive. But she refused to develop any marital relations with
the king by saying that his elder son will be the only prince and future king.
She might have no chance of making her own son a king. It was a failure of the
king. He had no scope of developing any permanent bond with Satyawati.
Devbrat came to know about the incident and finalized
to keep himself off the crown for convincing Satyawati for joining the royal
family as a queen. Ultimately the happiest moments came in the life of Shantanu
at the cost of the sacrifice of his beloved son. Satyawati became the mother of
Chitrangad and Vichitrbirya. Devbrat became Bhishma because of his stand of
remaining off the crown.
In due course of time both the sons of Satyawati
remained issue less. That time she requested Bhishma to marry for keeping the
family tree of the royal family evergreen. Bhishma remained stick to his oath
and started working out a strategy to bring issues in the lives of both the
daughter in law. Ultimately Dhritarashtra and Pandu took birth. In due course
of time Dhritarashtra became the father of a hundred sons including Duyodhan;
Pandu became the father of five sons, Arjun was one of them. After the untimely
death of Pandu, Dhritarashtra ascended the throne. He was blind by birth.
Jealous Duryodhan once planned to smash Pandavas by burning them alive in a
house made of wax; although the plan was a failure due to some brilliant
efforts of some of the warriors of that family. They, along with their mother
Kunti, escaped the situation and reached another place safely. Duryodhan took
it for granted that Pandavas along with their mother must have lost their
lives. Pandavas remained wandering for few months and finally reached the place
where king Drupad arranged a ceremony for selecting abled one for his daughter
Draupadi. The person should marry his daughter only after hitting the eye of a
fish by arrow only by seeing the image of that fish in water. It was a critical
task to be accomplished, but Arjun was the abled warrior who has accomplished
the task for accepting Draupadi as his wife. After reaching home they said to
their mother about their victory. Mother instructed them to share the thing
they received by becoming victorious. Accordingly all the five brothers jointly
married Draupadi.
By that time Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and Bidur, the
elder members of the royal family, came to know about Pandavas and finally they
planned to bring them back in the family. Pandavas got the territories of
Indraprashtha and started governing the state happily. Duryodhan, with his
uncle Shakuni planned to invite Pandava bothers to play chess with him. The
game was not a fare one because of the involvement of Shakuni. Pandavas started
losing their lands, territories, money, wealth and many other things including
themselves. Ultimately they brought Draupadi in the royal court and started
insulting her by snatching her dresses. It was none other than Lord Krishna who
saved Draupadi from getting insulted and molested. The final agreement was made
on the condition of 13 years of exile including a yearlong incognito (remaining
non recognizable hide outs) for Pandavas.
If anybody identify them during their last year then they have to go
back for another round of such exhile. If they complete the tenure successfully
then only they will get all their wealth back.
During the last year Pandavas remained in the palace
of King Virat by accepting duties of cooks and helpers. That time Duryodhan
invaded the kingdom of King Virat. During that encounter Duryodhan and Arjun
came face to face in the battle field and remained victorious. That time the
tenure of their exhile was over. Pandava brothers prepared a proposal for King
Dhritarashtra and said that they would make them contented even with a gift of
five villages. That too was not accepted by Duryodhan. Even Lord Krishna
himself visited the royal court to make them convinced for the deal. That time
also Duryodhan insulted Lord Krishna badly. It was the critical juncture where
a war became unavoidable. All the godly efforts of diffusing the tension
remained in vein because of the adamant nature of the elder son of Gandhari.
That day the happiest person in the royal court was Shakuni; his plan was
working perfectly with all minute incarnations. He patted Duryodhan and committed
him for giving all possible support.
Lord Krishna was approached by both the rival brothers,
Arjun and Duryodhan for making his stands in the battle field clear. He had
decided to help both the brothers by part. His armed forces would join a side
and he himself would join the other side. There developed a situation when
Duryodhan claimed the support of his Army. Lord Krishna joined the battle field
as a chariot driver along with Arjun. It was the first point where Arjun
remained victorious by recognizing the hidden power of the Divine for having
its ability of issuing timely instructions and guide, which the army could not have. He had even identified the importance of
strategy and planning as more important factors than compared to numbers.
Ultimately both the families entered the battle field
along with their supporters and well-wishers.
Despondence of Arjun, as narrated in the first chapter of The Gita, was
the only reason Lord Krishna started reminding him his duties. He had also
started narrating religious and noble acts which could make a person wise and
contented. The Gita got its reference at this critical juncuture for diffusing
the war and on the other hand it was also a strict instruction for Arjuna for
delivering his duties as a warrior and an avenger. Lord Krishna marked the
starting of the situation as an unavoidable one because of the series of sins
committed by Kauravas. That is why it is the duty of Arjun to make the wiser
side victorious by smashing all the culprits who have joined the side and even
supported the sinners.
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