Ralph C.
Smedley
Today I am again came here with a small story from the epic of Mahabharata to convey 3
messages
1. Don’t make decisions or vow while you are angry
2. Half knowledge could be fatal
3. Don’t celebrate too early
Coming to the story
Krishna was an amiable person hence he tried his best with Meraki to find an amicable
solution between the brothers to avoid the war but failed and the war started.
The Mahabharatha war was going on, everybody especially kauravas were thinking that the
war will end up within in 2 to 3 days, (because most of the highly experienced warriors were
fighting on there side,) just like everybody thought about the war between Russia and
Ukrain.
To capture Yudistira , Guru drona formed a Chakravyuha.
It was the 13 th day of Mahabharata war, Abhimanyu was killed in the Chakravyuha formed
by Guru Drona.
Who was Abhimanyu.? - He was the son of Arjuna , the third of Pandava brothers and
Subhadra the sister of Krisha.
Jayadratha was the main reason behind the killing of Abhimanyu. Who was jayadradha… He
was the king of Sindhu kingdom and was married to the only site of 100 kauravas.
Having known about the reason of Abhimanyus killing, Arjuna could not control his anger
and made an vow to kill him on the battlefield the very next day before the sunset, failing
which Arjuna would kill himself by jumping in a pyre of fire.
Kauravas heard about the vow of Arjun and wanted to save the life of Jayadradha the
husband of their only sister. Then Dronacharya arranged a combination of 3 vyuhas in order
to protect Jayadratha from Arjuna. The first one was Shakata Vyuha, the cart formation; the
second one was Suchimukha Vyuha, the needle formation; and the final was Padma Vyuha
(Lotus Formation).
Then Jayadradha was hiding inside these vyuhas and was protected by thousands of
warriors. Actually the 14 th day of the kurukshethra war was to protect Jaydratha from
Arjuna.
So it was clear that Arjuna couldn't accomplish the goal before the sunset
The sun was nearly going to set and thousands of warriors still between Arjuna and
Jayadratha, Suddenly something happened. Secretly Krishna sends
his Sudarshan Chakra in order to mask the sun and create an illusion of sunset
Everybody thought that the sunset was happened
Now the Kaurava warriors rejoiced over Arjuna's defeat and look forward for his imminent
suicide.
Where is Jayadratha… he was hiding behind Duryodhana, now relieved that he was saved.
Therefore, he came out of the formation to see the suicide of Arjuna.
Suddenly what happened …. Krishna moved the Sudarshana chakra and the sun was freed
from the eclipse .
Everybody was Flabbergasted. Sun is still there. There was no sunset happened.
Pointing at the sun Krishna told Arjuna, that the sun had not yet set. He then pointed at
Jayadratha, told…. Arjuna … sever his head.
He then told Arjuna to shoot the head into the lap of Jayadratha's father. Arjuna then
quickly picked up his Gandiva and shot an Aindrastra at Jayadratha. Jayadratha's head then
flew away very far and landed on lap of his father, Vridhakshatra.
Jayadrada’s father gave him a boon that whoever cause his son’s head to fall on the earth,
his head will burst in to 100 pieces
Lesson: 1. Don’t make decision or vow while you are angry. Had Lord Krishna not
created illusion of sun set, Arjuna could never had killed Jayadratha and instead could have
killed himself because of the pledge. And this could have led to the defeat of Pandavas.
2. Half knowledge could be fatal. Abhimanyu knew how to enter Chakravuyaha but he did
not know how to break it and was later killed inside Chakravuyahu fighting bravely.
3. Don’t celebrate too early. Watching sun set, Kauravas started celebrating and
Jayadratha unaware of the illusion created by Lord Krishna came outside of the vuyaha and
then Lord Krishna freed sun from eclipse and instructed Arjuna to kill him.
