TODAY’S PAIN – TOMORROW’S STRENGTH
Before the dice game, the Pandavas had reached the peak of prosperity and power.
Unfortunately, they were not wise enough to handle such growth.
Their spiritual guidance had always been Krishna. The one time he was not there – look what a mess they made!
Their spiritual guidance had always been Krishna. The one time he was not there – look what a mess they made!
The problem was, while the Pandavas were decent, god-fearing and unquestioningly rule abiding - a higher maturity was missing. They were not in touch with their inner voices and intuitive wisdom.
In fact, Krishna was their inner voice. But they needed to reach within, and find “Krishna-hood” autonomously, in their hearts.
Yudhishtir’s handling of the game showed that he was not complete emperor material– just yet. Bookish perfection was not enough. He may be justice incarnate – but he, and his brothers, still had some harsh lessons to learn.
They needed to distinguish the thin line between forgiving and standing up against abuse;
The thinner line between when to follow rules and when to abandon them;
And the thinnest line of all, between justice and revenge.
Krishna deliberately did not bail them out of their exile, because they needed to learn these lessons. And nothing can teach a lesson like suffering. Nothing purifies the heart like sorrow.
When they left for Vanavas, the Pandavas were indeed crushed with pain. In one shot, they went from Emperor-hood to pauper-hood- and had themselves to blame.
But the exile was really their rebirth.
It was a period of repentance, learning, nursing of wounds, healing, maturing, and spiritual evolution.
During this phase a lot happened.
It was not a time that they wasted wallowing in self pity.
It was a time they used to grow up. They went to faraway places which widened their horizons. They met people from all walks of life who added new dimensions to their learning. They lived in the company of enlightened sages who imparted subtle and profound truths. They underwent rigorous academic and spiritual training. They undertook physically challenging journeys. They found solace amidst mountains, lakes, trees and beasts. They introspected in the solitude of the forests. And by living in nature, they got in touch with their own inner nature.
Really speaking, it was a return to their home. The wilderness was their mother’s lap. After all, they were children of the forest.
The Kauravas on the other hand never had to rough it out in life as much as they did. Why – even Karna, who though experienced immense pain all his life, did not see the abysmal lows that the Pandavas did. They had seen destitution, orphan-hood, homelessness, abuse and discrimination within the family of the severest kind.
And while the Kauravas continued to live in mind numbing, idiotic luxury, the Pandavas roughed it out. While the Kauravas remained in their comfort zones, the Pandavas pushed their limits. While the Kauravas did not change one bit, the Pandavas underwent a transformation. While the mirror of the Kaurava’s souls gathered dust and soot, the Pandavas were purified and cleansed.
That is why when they returned, they were willing for peace, but not at the cost of justice.
The exile was supposed to be a punishment, which they deserved. But it also turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
The pain of today, indeed became the strength of tomorrow.
Champa
Champa
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