M132 - Qualities of Yudhisthira and Duryodhana

As Training for Kuru princes continues.... One day Drona called for Yudhisthira and Duryodhana, and ordered them, to go among the citizens and find someone who has some faults. When you have found that person, bring him to me. Drona then requested Duryodhana to go among the citizens and find someone who is superior in quality to you. When you find that person, bring him to me. Both the students then left, and Drona returned to his quarters.

At the end of the day Duryodhana returned to his teacher and informed him, O my teacher, I have searched the kingdom for a person who is superior in quality to me, but I have not found anyone. Having concluded my inspection, I have returned to your presence. Drona then dismissed Duryodhana.
When the sun had set on the horizon, Yudhisthira arrived and offered obeisances to his martial teacher. Drona then inquired, Have you found someone of inferior quality? Yudhisthira replied, I have searched all day, but I could not find anyone. However, toward the end of the day, I saw a vaishya man drawing water from a well, and since it was ekadasi (fasting day), I thought to bring him to you. Just as I was about to arrest him, but later I saw that he fed the water to his animals. Therefore, I have not found anyone with inferior qualities, but I have brought myself for fault finding with others. Drona then dismissed Yudhisthira and reflected on the qualities of the two princes. He concluded that Yudhisthira was the personification of humility and fit to rule the people, whereas Duryodhana was too proud to be a pious king and would ultimately ruin the Kuru dynasty.

After Drona was satisfied that the Kaurava and the Pandava princes had become accomplished in the use of arms, he went to King Dritharashtra and told him that the princes had completed their education and that it was time for them to show their proficiency. Bhishma, Vidura, Vyasa , Kripa and others were present at that time.  Dritharashtra felt very happy on hearing this and praised Drona for accomplishing a great deed by educating the princes. He felt sorry that he could not witness the feats that would be performed by his sons and others. He then asked Vidura to arrange for the function in consultation with Drona.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

M220 - Pandu's Life in the Forest

Image
Pandu began his ascetic way of life along with his two wives, Kunti and Madri. He travelled from place to place in the mountains. By virtue of his strict adherence to austerity, he became the favorite of various groups of ascetics like the Siddhas and Charanyas living in the woods. Many Rishis (sages) also adored Pandu, some treating him as their son, some as their brother and some as their friend.  Some even treated him as a Brahmarishi, a title that could be earned only by a Brahmin. One day, Pandu lamented to the sages about his fate of having to go with no children because of the curse delivered on him by sage Kindama. He said, “Men  born in this world have four obligations or debts that they owe, one to the gods, one to the rishis, one to their ancestors and one to other men.  The gods have to be pleased by performing sacrifices; the debt owed to sages can be repaid  by doing meditation and practicing asceticism, the debt owed to the ancestors can be repaid by begetting so
Read more

M127 - Story of Dronacharya

Image
Sage Bharadwaja was living at the source of the river Ganga, observing rigid vows. Once when he went to the river to perform his ablutions, he met Ghritachi, a celestial woman known as an Apsara. Seeing the beautiful woman emerging from the river after taking her bath, the sage was consumed with a burning desire. On seeing her clothes coming off her body, his vital fluid came out. The sage held it in a vessel called Drona. Eventually, Drona, the child, sprang out of the fluid preserved by the sage.  The child thus born studied the Vedas and other scriptures.  Bharadwaja taught his knowledge of arms to his illustrious disciple Agnivesa, who was born from fire. Agnivesa, in turn, taught the Science of Weapons to Drona. King Prishata, a great friend of Bharadwaja had a son by name  Drupada.  Drupada, came to the hermitage of Bharadwaja to study under the sage. He was studying in the company of Drona. They became good friends. Their friendship became so intimate that at one st
Read more

M101 - Curse on Ganga and Mahabhisha by Brahma

Image
There was a king known by the name of Mahabhishak born in the race of Ikshvaku . He became the great king among all the kings on the earth, and was truthful (in speech) and of true prowess. By a thousand horse-sacrifices 'Asvametha' and 'Vajapeya' a hundred Rajasuyas he had gratified the chief of the celestials(devas) and ultimately attained to heaven. One day the celestials had assembled together and were worshiping Brahma the creator in his Court .  Ganga , the queen of rivers, also came there to pay her adoration to the Grandsire Lord Brahma . During this time, there was a sudden gust of wind which momentarily displaced her garments as white as the beams of the moon. As her skin became exposed, the celestials bowed down their heads to avoid looking at her in respect to the presence of Brahma. But Mahabhishak was immensely attracted to Ganga and started staring at her continuously. To which Ganga also reciprocated with her amorous glances. Brahma got dis
Read more