Mantralaya-1064
(What is truth and Real reason behind death of Dronacharyaru in Mahabharat - Part1)
Date Nov 16, 2023
Background
Dear Devotees : Namaskara.
| Sri MannMoolaRamastu Mannmathe Moolamahasamsthhaana Mantralaya Sri Rayaramathe||
|| OM SRI RAGHAVENDRAAYA NAMAHA||
SATYAMEVA JAYATI NA ANRUTA
What is truth and Real reason behind death of Dronacharyaru in Mahabharata is described in Mantralaya(1064).
Meaning
Sri
Raghavendra Teertharu and Sri Madhwacharyaru have provided insights
into the genuine rationale behind the demise of Dronacharya. On the
surface, it might seem as though Krishna instructed a false statement
regarding his son Ashwathama's death, deceiving Dronacharya. However, a
more detailed examination is necessary to unravel the deeper layers of
this narrative.
Dronacharya, a Brahmin and Vedic scholar,
possessed expertise not only in Vedic knowledge but also in the art of
war. Adhering to the principles outlined in the Shastra, he embraced a
traditional Brahmin lifestyle. His daily routine involved gathering
grains from cow dung, washing them, and consuming them, believing that
the produce of the land should be shared with both animals and humans.
Utilizing his yogic abilities to sustain himself on this humble diet,
he found contentment.
As time passed, Dronacharya became
associated with the royal family and assumed the role of the teacher
for both the Pandavas and Kauravas. This shift in his circumstances led
to a transformation in his way of life.
Bhima Sena possessed
unparalleled knowledge, surpassing all others, and held a special place
in Lord Krishna's heart. Following their exile in the forest (Vanavasa)
and the incognito period (Agnatya Vasa), Lord Krishna, in an attempt to
avert the impending war, decided to act as a peacemaker and approached
King Dhritarashtra.
However, the Pandavas, excluding Bhima, were
displeased with the idea of seeking peace. Amidst the discontent from
four Pandavas, Bhima, the repository of profound wisdom, expressed his
willingness to support a peace deal. He went a step further, stating
that he would even serve the Kauravas if it contributed to establishing
peace. Bhima foresaw the magnitude of the impending destruction in the
Kurukshetra war.
Despite Krishna's efforts for peace talks in
Hastinapur, he confided in Bhima, whispering that preparations for war
should be made, as he sensed that peace might not be achievable. This
incident exemplifies the deep trust and affection that Lord Krishna had
for Bhima.
Following the defeat of BhishmaCharyaru, Dronacharya
assumed command and led the war effort against the Pandavas. During
this time, Duryodhana, exhibiting skepticism, mocked Dronacharya,
insinuating that he might show favoritism towards the Pandavas.
In
response to Duryodhana's taunt, Dronacharya made a solemn vow, pledging
to slay 10,000 soldiers from the Pandava army every day in the
battlefield. He added a weighty consequence, declaring that failure to
meet this commitment would lead him to take his own life. This resolute
promise underscored Dronacharya's determination and the gravity with
which he approached his role as the commander in the war.
Lord
Krishna devised a strategic plan during the war. An elephant named
Ashwathama had perished, and Krishna instructed Bhima to inform
Dronacharya, ensuring that he only mentioned, "Ashwathama Hataha"
(Ashwathama is dead) without adding "Kunjaraha" (the elephant). Bhima,
without contemplating the consequences, faithfully conveyed Krishna's
directive to Dronacharya.
Although taken aback, Dronacharya
expressed skepticism, stating that he would believe the news only if
Dharmaraj Yudhisthira confirmed it. Krishna then instructed Yudhisthira
to deliver the same message. Yudhisthira, torn between upholding truth
and adhering to Krishna's plan, audibly declared, "Ashwathama Hataha,"
but added "Kunjaraha" softly to himself. This subtle inclusion of the
elephant's name satisfied Yudhisthira's commitment to a form of truth,
albeit deceptive.
Upon hearing Yudhisthira's words, Dronacharya,
trusting the word of the righteous Yudhisthira, relinquished his
weapons and entered into meditation. It was during this vulnerable
moment that Dhrishtadyumna seized the opportunity and slew Dronacharya.
This well-known story underscores the complexity of truth and the moral
dilemmas faced by the characters in the Mahabharata.
Numerous
questions arise in contemplation. What prompted Krishna to choose the
path of causing Dronacharya's death? Can we assert that Yudhisthira
lacked a deep understanding of truth? Moreover, is the act of killing
Dronacharya through deceit morally justifiable?
Let's interpret this based on the perspective presented in Mahabharata Tatapariya Nirnaya from Sri Rayaru and Sri Madhwaru
Recall
Dronacharya's commitment to the Kauravas—slaughtering 10,000
individuals daily. Lord Krishna and Bhima, witnessing this relentless
descent into negative karma, felt profound sorrow for Dronacharya. The
gravity intensified as a Brahmin, he deviated from Dharma by ruthlessly
taking the lives of those fighting for righteousness, thereby defying
the sacred duty to protect those devoted to the path of Lord and
Dharma. Each passing day, Lord Krishna and Bhima were gripped by the
powerful realization that Dronacharya's once-positive karma was being
mercilessly washed away.
We discussed Yudhisthira's hesitation
to tell a lie. He quietly added "Kunjaraha" when saying "Ashwathama
Hataha." Bhima hurriedly goes to Yudhisthira and tells him he made a
serious mistake by not listening to Lord Krishna. Bhima reminds
Yudhisthira about Lord Krishna's teachings on truth. According to the
Geeta, truth is not just saying what is, but speaking what is right and
good for Dharma. Bhima reminded the story that Kirsh
Once, Lord
Krishna shared a story to illustrate a point. In this tale, a Brahmin
set out to visit various temples to offer prayers and donations. While
passing through a jungle, a thief began chasing him. The Brahmin
spotted a hut where a sage was meditating and sought refuge. He asked
the sage to say he went in another direction if the thief inquired,
explaining that he needed to offer prayers to God.
The sage,
bound by his commitment to truth, disclosed the Brahmin's hiding place
when the thief asked. Lord Krishna explained that what the sage
considered truth had severe consequences. By revealing the Brahmin's
identity to the thief, the sage had depleted his positive karma and was
headed for hell.
Lord Krishna emphasized the importance of
discerning the impact of one's words. When telling the truth, one must
consider whether it leads to positive or negative karma. In this
situation, the sage could have said he didn't see the Brahmin,
recognizing that the Brahmin's intention was virtuous—offering money to
temples—while the thief intended to use the money for nefarious
purposes. Thus, what may seem like the truth may not always align with
the greater moral truth.
Bhima tells Yudhisthira that “Lord
Krishna showed mercy to Dronacharya because, each day, he would
unintentionally cause the demise of 10,000 righteous individuals.
Hence, Krishna instructed you Yudhisthira to say "Ashwathama Hataha"
and but you silently added "Kunjaraha." “. Despite Yudhisthira's
profound knowledge of Dharma, he struggled to grasp the intricacies of
truth, leading to his realization of the mistake later on.
Consequently, after Yudhisthira's demise towards the end of the
Mahabharata, he experienced a visit to hell, distant and observational,
as a consequence of not fully trusting Lord Krishna.
When Drona
ceased fighting upon hearing Yudhisthira's proclamation of "Ashwathama
Hataha," Bhima approached him and delivered a poignant reality check.
Addressing his guru, Bhima questioned Drona's presence on the
battlefield, questioning the incongruence between his Brahmin identity
and his involvement in the war. He challenged Drona, asking whom he was
truly fighting for and why he was supporting adharma. Bhima reminded
Drona of his righteous role as a performer of Vedic chants and a
servant of the nation through positive karma.
In response, Drona
reflected on his past commitment to dharma, recalling a time when he
conscientiously abstained from consuming anything grown as a
compassionate gesture towards animals. He acknowledged the stark
contrast with his current actions and realized that he had no rightful
place in the Kshatriya war. Overwhelmed by regret, Drona admitted that
his ego had led him into Duryodhana's trap, compelling him to declare
the intent to kill 10,000 people.
Haunted by the shame of being
involved in disreputable events like the humiliation of Draupadi and
Krishna's peace-making efforts, Drona recognized that he could have
disassociated himself from the Kauravas long ago. However, the allure
of wealth and luxury provided by Duryodhana kept him tethered.
Confronting his numerous mistakes, Drona resolved to end his life
through meditation. Sitting on the ground, he entered deep meditation,
channeling energy from the bottom to the top of his head.
Observing
Drona's spiritual journey, Krishna and the Pandavas witnessed his soul
departing through meditation. Dhrishtadyumna, misunderstanding Drona's
state as an act, also entered meditation and proceeded to kill Drona's
physical body. In his final moments, Drona harbored gratitude towards
Bhima for awakening him to the gravity of his errors.
Lord
Krishna's strategy in orchestrating the circumstances that led to
Drona's departure and Bhima's subsequent actions were designed with the
ultimate purpose of benefiting Drona's soul. Drona, who had once been a
repository of knowledge, found himself deviating from the innate nature
of his soul (Jiva Swabhava). Recognizing this departure, Lord Krishna
intervened to guide and correct the path of this pure soul. The events
unfolded not merely as a sequence of actions on the battlefield but as
a divine plan aimed at the spiritual well-being and correction of
Drona's soul.
At first glance, the events in the Mahabharata may
raise questions about why Lord Krishna and Bhima seemingly didn't act
in a straightforward manner. However, upon deeper examination, Sri
Raghavendra Swamy suggests that Bhima was a Brahmagyani, someone
endowed with profound spiritual knowledge, who received the complete
blessings of Lord Krishna. This perspective invites a nuanced
understanding of the characters and their actions, revealing a deeper
spiritual significance to the unfolding events in the epic.
The devotion towards
Sri Raghavendrateertharu is the ultimate truth and is the most simple
and effective way to reach Sri Hari - "NAMBI KETTAVARILLAVO EE
GURUGALA"! “Those who have complete faith in this Guru will never be
disappointed.”
|| BICHALI JAPADAKATTI SRI APPANACHARYA PRIYA MANTRALAYA
SRI RAGHAVENDRATEERTHA GURUBHYO NAMAHA||