One is often asked the question why even amongst the pandavas and their allies most of them died what was the cause ...?
Mahabharata gives an important insight into a person’s loyalty. It examines not only loyalty but why a person is loyal? If we understand the reasons of loyalty then we get a complete picture. This clarity of vision, reduces the chances of bumping and creating conflict of opinions.
Not everyone on the Pandavas side was fighting for the cause of Dharma. Dharma’s cause is wholesome and benefits society at large for a good amount of time. It is optimization of Dharma over maximization of Adharma.
Adharma’s core principle is narrow and selfish. It is for personal benefit. Adharmik person can practice dharma if it is personally beneficial to them. If it is not beneficial then he or she shall give it up as if it is a tissue paper.
Therefore Krishna knowing these factors, and the people with these Adharmik mentalities, was expert in brining them to the Pandava side so that they could be used against the same kind of people, the Kauravas.
Shikandi was one such person, his aim in life was very selfish and destructive. For three lifetimes he was waiting to kill Bhisma for Bhisma’s apparent mistake. Yes it was wrong on the part of Bhisma to kidnap (Amba) along with her sister to marry them off to Vicitravirya and Citrangadha. Amba had already given her heart to some one else, which Bhisma did not know, and neither had Amba confided in any one else including her parents about her having given her heart to some person. When Bhisma got to know of this after kidnapping her he graciously sent her back to her lover, but unfortunately her lover was too small minded to accept her. He excused himself, citing the reason that she had been touched by another man, so she was unacceptable. This was tragic, and her desire to get Bhisma implicated for having kidnapped her became very strong, and that is how eventually she became Shikandi to destroy Bhisma. How sad, three lives no other goal other than killing Bhisma.
So she was used by Krishna to make Bhisma give up his weapons and be defeated by Arjuna on the battlefield. Very interestingly no one cares for Shikandi for her being a great tool for the pandava victory. Every one glorifies Bhisma for his great character.
One may be successful in life in what one plans to do, but does it bring glory or infamy? Because ultimately glory goes to those who know their cause and who put all their efforts to make their cause wholesome and Dharmik .
Dharmik cause is collective rather than individual, it is for society's benefit rather personal benefit. It is based on compassion rather than violently passionate. Do we fall into the category of Shikandi for having a very small personal goal or do we have a more tangible goal that's wholesome and Dharmik?
Mahabharata gives an important insight into a person’s loyalty. It examines not only loyalty but why a person is loyal? If we understand the reasons of loyalty then we get a complete picture. This clarity of vision, reduces the chances of bumping and creating conflict of opinions.
Not everyone on the Pandavas side was fighting for the cause of Dharma. Dharma’s cause is wholesome and benefits society at large for a good amount of time. It is optimization of Dharma over maximization of Adharma.
Adharma’s core principle is narrow and selfish. It is for personal benefit. Adharmik person can practice dharma if it is personally beneficial to them. If it is not beneficial then he or she shall give it up as if it is a tissue paper.
Therefore Krishna knowing these factors, and the people with these Adharmik mentalities, was expert in brining them to the Pandava side so that they could be used against the same kind of people, the Kauravas.
Shikandi was one such person, his aim in life was very selfish and destructive. For three lifetimes he was waiting to kill Bhisma for Bhisma’s apparent mistake. Yes it was wrong on the part of Bhisma to kidnap (Amba) along with her sister to marry them off to Vicitravirya and Citrangadha. Amba had already given her heart to some one else, which Bhisma did not know, and neither had Amba confided in any one else including her parents about her having given her heart to some person. When Bhisma got to know of this after kidnapping her he graciously sent her back to her lover, but unfortunately her lover was too small minded to accept her. He excused himself, citing the reason that she had been touched by another man, so she was unacceptable. This was tragic, and her desire to get Bhisma implicated for having kidnapped her became very strong, and that is how eventually she became Shikandi to destroy Bhisma. How sad, three lives no other goal other than killing Bhisma.
So she was used by Krishna to make Bhisma give up his weapons and be defeated by Arjuna on the battlefield. Very interestingly no one cares for Shikandi for her being a great tool for the pandava victory. Every one glorifies Bhisma for his great character.
One may be successful in life in what one plans to do, but does it bring glory or infamy? Because ultimately glory goes to those who know their cause and who put all their efforts to make their cause wholesome and Dharmik .
Dharmik cause is collective rather than individual, it is for society's benefit rather personal benefit. It is based on compassion rather than violently passionate. Do we fall into the category of Shikandi for having a very small personal goal or do we have a more tangible goal that's wholesome and Dharmik?
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