In this series I outline the epic of the Mahabharata. The events that happened before and after the Bhagavad Gita.

For those that have not watched my Bhagavad Gita series you can find it on    • Bhagavad Gita Complete Summary  

For this series I have drawn inspiration from the works of
Sudipta Bhawmik and Avi Ziv in their series “Stories of the Mahabharata” https://shows.acast.com/thestoriesofm... as well as the illustrated “Mahabharata” by Manoj Publications www.manojpublications.com.

Many images are from the visually stunning Mahabharat by StarPlus available on Youtube

Music by ShidenBeatsMusic from Pixabay

Chapter 49 – WAR: Day 1 of the 18 Day War

As the war was about to begin and the armies assembled on either side. Arjuna felt a growing uneasiness. He asked Lord Krishna, who had volunteered to be his charioteer, to take him to a position where he could observe both armies. As Arjuna looked at the opposing side and his eyes fell on his many friends and family, including his beloved Grandfather Bhishma and his revered teacher Drona, Arjuna fell into deep despair.
He dropped his weapons and declared, “I will not fight. What value is this poor earth if it means my hands would be stained with the blood of these valiant warriors.” Arjuna slumped back into his seat and looked to Lord Krishna for guidance. It is at this point, that Arjuna humbling himself as the student, Lord Krishna reveals his true form as the Ultimate Teacher. Time stops as Arjuna is shown the workings of the universe and the nature of individual man.

Many miles away in Hastinapur the blind King Dhrithrasthtra asks his counselor Sanjaya to inform him on the proceedings of the war. Sanjaya gifted with divine sight becomes privy to the conversation between Lord Krishna and Arjuna and relays the wonderous message, sights and sounds conveyed by Lord Krishna. This message in time becomes known as the Bhagavad Gita “the Song of God”.

Once Lord Krishna has finished his discourse Arjuna is once again revitalized and certain in his duty, to restore the balance of justice over injustice. But then his older brother Yudishthir performs a surprising act. Yudishthir removes his battle armor and walks towards the Kuru army with his palms folded. “What is he doing, Krishna?” Arjuna asks. Lord Krishna smiled.

The Kuru army is confused and separate to allow Yudisthir to pass. Yudishthir approaches Grandfather Bhishma first and asks for his blessings. Grandfather Bhishma laughs “Indeed, Yudishthir, you have no equal in your knowledge of the scriptures. I would have cursed you to fail in this war if you had not performed the act of obtaining blessings from your elders first. In return I grant you this boon. Know that I am nigh invincible and that that I can only die at a time and place of my choosing. However, you may approach me at a later stage to obtain knowledge of how you may yet defeat me.”

Yudishthir thanks Bhishma and then obtains blessings from his teacher Drona. Drona advises Yudhishthira that while he holds his weapons in hand, he is undefeatable in battle. Yudishthir then takes his blessings from his teacher Kripa and his uncle Shalya. Before he returns to his army Yudishthir calls out “If there any among the sons of Dhritrasthra who wish to switch sides, you may do so now. This way, at the end of the war, the King will have at least one son remaining who can perform his last rites.”
One voice heeded the call – Yuyutsu, the son of Dhrithrasthtra and the half-brother of Duryodhan. Yudishthir embraced him and they returned to their side for Day 1 of the war to commence.