Character & Conduct: Lessons From Mahabharata Personalities - Part 4

Link to Part 1: http://bolharrybol.blogspot.com/2020/12/character-conduct-lessons-from.html

Link to Part 2: http://bolharrybol.blogspot.com/2020/12/character-conduct-lessons-from_12.html

Link to Part 3: http://bolharrybol.blogspot.com/2020/12/character-conduct-lessons-from_4.html

Character Lesson 14: Never Lose Perspective

Life works on certain principles, some bitter truths. Gandhari always knew the Kauravas invited their doom through their series of misdeeds and injustice meted out to the Pandavas. Yet, she lost sight of the larger picture when drowned in the sorrow of the loss of her sons. Life sometimes may push us to the limit, but keeping the perspective acts as an anchor to stay the course. Gandhari cursed Krishna that his Yadava dynasty would be annihilated just as the Kauravas were. Krishna had the power to withdraw any curse, yet he chose to accept Gandhari's anger and go his way. The Yadava dynasty did meet its fate eventually and Krishna too departed from the world.

Even after the Pandavas start ruling Hastinapur, they continue to shower their love and respect on Dridharashtra and Gandhari, holding no remorse against them. This despite the fact that Dridharashtra tries to kill Bhima by giving him a 'fatal death hug'. Krishna saves the day for Bhima by asking him to place in front of the blind Dridharashtra his statue and expose the defeated King's intentions. Dridharashtra, despite his life and regime being in ruins, cannot overcome the death of Duryodhan, and so tries to kill Bhima. Duryodhan is killed by Bhima in a terrible mace duel, and the war is eventually won by the Pandavas.

Character Lesson 15: Maybe, You Cannot Forget, But Forgive And Move On

Yudhishthir is truly a virtuous and morally upright leader. He has won the war at a great cost. Losing all his brothers, including Karna, is painful and a massive price to pay. He wants to let bygones be bygones and thus stops Dridhrashtra and Gandhari from proceeding to the forest. He feels pained at his own decision to fight the war and has the heart to forgive his father's elder brother who never treated the Pandavas justly.

The Pandavas rue the fact that they lost their eldest brother Karna. They make amends by reuniting with Karna's family.

In our lives too, we can benefit much by forgiving self and others. As much as possible, avoid burning bridges. Healthy relationships are central to our existence. Bitter experiences are almost impossible to forget, but we can certainly try to forgive and move on. Karma plays itself out in various ways. Maybe, someone hurt us back due to our past Karmas, which we cannot recall.

Forgiving can be mighty tough though. Duryodhan could not forgive Draupadi for her insulting words, Draupadi could not forget and forgive her ill-treatment during the dice game when Dushasan tried to disrobe her. Draupadi, in a way, also pushed her husbands into war to avenge their spineless silence when she was being insulted in front of those present, including stalwarts like Bhishma, Kripacharya and Dronacharya.

The silence of these so-called great men sowed the seeds of humanity's most terrible war, whose reverberations can be heard even today 5,000-plus years later.

Character Lesson 16: To Commit Injustice Is Bad, But To Tolerate Injustice Is Worse

The world continues to face the sin of silence. The Mahabharata is not just a story or an epoch-making event, but also a metaphor for multiple dimensions of human behaviour and nature. Even today, there is a 'Bhishma' who is bound by his own 'careless oath'; even today there are scores of Duryodhans whose lust for power is breeding unprecedented injustice; even today there is a Draupadi who does not know to bite her tongue to stop insulting words; even today, there is a Shakuni who is always on the prowl to manipulate the vulnerable and gullible........

But where is Krishna? Right within us I suppose. Krishna is not just God-incarnate, he is our conscience. Through his role in the world and by rendering the Bhagavad Gita, he has left a legacy of wisdom which in the modern world can be acquired at just the click of a button.

We Are Not Done Yet

The Kurukshetra war was fought for eighteen days, each day more horrifying than the previous one. However, it could all have ended in just one day, if only Krishna had decided to take up arms. Instead, he chose to be a charioteer to Arjuna.

Krishna chose to be, not a frontline leader, but a Servant Leader.

Character Lesson 17: Serve Your People, Don't Boss Over Them

Krishna was the Boss, everyone knew it, though some, like Duryodhan, did not accept it. Even the ruthlessly cunning Shakuni knew Krishna was unconquerable. Nothing was hidden from him, nothing could be hidden from him. He advised Duryodhan to have Krishna by his side, not his army. But Duryodhan, blinded by ego, could not see the wisdom in Shakuni's words. Duryodhan simply did not have the character to discriminate between truth and untruth.

But Barbaric, the grandson of Bhima, had both the character and the vision to see Krishna's greatness. He was so powerful that he too could have ended the war in the Pandavas' favour in one day. But he had promised his Guru that he would always fight on the side of the weak. So even if he had fought on the Pandavas' side, he would have eventually gone to the Kauravas' side as they would have been weakened, eventually flip-flopping so much that he would have been the only one alive at the end of the war. Krishna knew this. So he asked for Barbarik's head and placed it atop a mountain so that he, though could not participate, could watch the war. Krishna asks Barbarik too if he did not give a thought before promising his Guru what he was getting into?

Krishna at every stage demonstrates he is a Servant Leader. He is the Doer, but never interferes in anyone's chosen Karma. Yet, at every stage, he facilitates. He does not impose himself on anyone, but knows when to push and when to pull. He in a way 'allows' the war to happen, so that humanity never forgets its terrible consequences. Nations would do well to study the Mahabharata and the role of Krishna to understand the futility of unhealthy conflict, conflict management and leadership.

Character Lesson 18: Be An Adaptable Leader

Krishna is a Complete Leader. He navigates through the various leadership styles as per situations and the personalities of people he has to lead. He leverages everyone as per their capacities and temperaments. He has specific roles for each of the Pandavas. He knows which Kaurava warrior needs to be defeated in which way. Krishna is a Strategist, Facilitator, Coach, Aggressor, Pacifist, Mediator, Peace Ambassador......

Modern day leaders are not expected to be Krishna, as we are not God. But leadership does require high levels of adaptability and ability to switch roles effortlessly and endlessly.

We Are Done, Almost

Krishna is the pivot around which everything in the Mahabharata revolves. The Mahabharata is a poignant story. It is a story of greed, deceit, lust for power, property, disrespect of women, heinous crimes, but it is Krishna who acts as a soothing balm. He is with the Pandavas, not because he is their relative, but because they are on the right side of the moral code and have been unjustly treated.

Most of the Mahabharata is filled with pain and poignant drama, but the life of Krishna is the joyful part of the whole saga. His escapades as a child in Vrindavan, the miracles he performs even as a kid and the naughtiness of his demeanour bring a smile to your face. Krishna regales, educates and navigates through the complications and complexities he encounters during his lifetime. He himself is a King and also the protector of the world.

Krishna pervades, presides and preaches. Somewhere, amidst the din and dust of human politics, Krishna constantly tries to get people to understand the true meaning of life. He chooses the chaotic setting of The Kurukshetra to preach to the world The Bhagavad Gita. He speaks not just to Arjuna, but to each one of us. The Bhagavad Gita is an example of a true legacy. Its relevance is increasingly felt with each passing day even 5,000 years later.

The world more than ever needs Krishna. It seems little has changed since the Mahabharata. That the Mahabharata is still relevant from a moralistic standpoint is not a great commentary on how the human race has been conducting itself. Krishna is within us. We cannot expect that another avatar will come and liberate us. We have to take responsibility for our lives and perform our Karmas understanding the consequences.

Krishna has offered to the world the blueprint of living. It is up to us now to start living those principles. The Mahabharata is not just an epic, it is a metaphor for human frailties and foils. The war still rages on in the various Kurukshetras of our lives - at home, in the office, in the streets, in politics....Let's invoke the Krishna in us.

CONCLUDED