Mahabharat Essay Writing Competition Winning Essays (Part 3)
Our Winners Under English Category -
3rd Place Winners -
Shambhavi Salimath
Essay -
Mahabharata meaning “भरतवंशस्य महान् इतिहासः” (The Epic of the great descendants of Bharata), tends to be a guiding text to the entire mankind. It is an ocean where all the rivers are destined to be. It is a combination of series of short/long events that are well settled at the end in the war. Nothing more, nothing less. Every character or situation is so deeply important that for a moment every reads sees each character as a hero of this epic. This great text beholds every relationships a man can have in his/her life. For example, parent – child, friendship, guru – shishya, enemies, adoptive parent – child, brothers and most importantly the highly unaccepted relation till date i.e. a man and a woman being friends. But this text proves way before Kali yuga it is possible to have a platonic friendship between a man and a woman (Krishna and Krishnaa). Mahabharata is a beautiful mixture of all the emotions making it the best dish served.
There is no one specific lesson or a particular teaching from this text to the entire mankind. It was never a rulebook to be followed. One’s mind-set, situation one is in and the ability to observe through the writer’s (the legendary author Krishna Dvaipayana) point of view, altogether become a life lesson to each individual soul. And this makes each individual’s learnings interesting.
Firstly, every character struggles while making a decision in their life that keep up with their Dharma (the path of righteousness), but is one’s own Dharma far more important than that of the Dharma one has towards society? A society wherein you have the power to influence people’s action and intention. Now take a jump with me directly to the Vastraharan episode where Draupadi was humiliated fiercely and everyone had to keep mum just to keep up with their own personal Dharma. This event is an evidence to the contemporary world that if your Dharma is withdrawing you from preventing an Adharma action that affects the society majorly then you, yourself become a part of the occurring Adharma.
Secondly, surrenderance is most important to gain knowledge or the eternal wisdom. Be it towards the Guru or the Ultimate Supreme Energy (in this case Krishna himself). Here, comes the two most popular and widely acknowledged scenarios. One the Vastraharan episode where Draupadi surrenders herself to the God Almighty to save her when everyone else fail to. Because Bhakti and Love are the only ways to bind Krishna with.
And the other event where Arjun’s will falls apart right before the war is about to take place. It is again Krishna who comes to the rescue and imparts the Ultimate Gita Gyan to his Parth. Builds his strength, breaks his delusion and makes sure Dharma wins. As said earlier, one calls out for the Lord himself and the other needs a Guru. Eventually, we all need Him just in different forms.
Now going forward, let’s go into the adolescence of the Kuru princes. We have seen and heard that Duryodhan and his brothers were always led by their maternal uncle Shakuni, the King of Ghandar throughout their life and who is also believed to be one of the major reasons for the war. In a popular opinion, children are solely and strictly the responsibility of the parents and no other. We witness how Shakuni has always backed Duryodhan’s misdeeds towards his cousins, the Pandavas. Instead of educating him the difference between the right and wrong he always uplifted his nephew’s mistakes and sowed the seed of hatredness in him. On the other hand we see that the Pandavas were brought up by their parents in a low-key life style despite being princes since birth. These differences are evidently visible in so many instances in the Kuru princes’s adulthood.
Be it then, now or in the coming days, parents are always responsible for their children and no other person is. Because it is the parents who are ready to educate their child/children even through “Saam, Daam, Dand, Bhed”.
Next coming to one of the most debated topics of all times – Actions versus Intentions. Some argue that physical actions is more important as they lead to the further consequences quickly. And on the other hand some argue that intentions or thoughts behind the actions matter more as it defines the soul’s true nature. No action is naturally good or bad based solely on the physical deed. The intention dictates the moral weight of your actions, with pure intentions rooted in selflessness, duty, and love.
Certain events cross our minds over this topic – the helplessness of few noble and honoured personalities present in the sabha while the disrespecting of Draupadi carried on. Do you think they did not wish to stop the inhumane act or did they not have the power to stop Duryodhan from doing so? Of course they never intended to support the evil act but just because they were bound by their own personal Dharma no one acted on protecting the royal woman. As wisely said “Intentions without actions are useless and Actions without intentions are meaningless”.
Our texts and scriptures provide us abundant knowledge, wisdom and lessons for life. But Mahabharata in particular is a perfect mix of humans, evil and Gods. Hence, most of us can relate ourselves to the story.
Be it Mythology or Sattology, Mahabharata is a complete package of guidance.
3rd Place Winner -
Shikha Gupta
"You have a right to perform your prescribed duty, but you are not entited to the fruits of action."
The Mahabharata is a vast epic of ethical guidance, duty and philosophy. It explores the depth of human nature, making its wisdom highly profound.
Krishna says, "The greatest enemy is the world within."
From Bhishma we learn -"A person should never do to others what he does not like to be done to him.
From Yudhishtra we learn -"where there is 'dharma '(righteousness ), there is victory.
We also learn, "To forgive is the virtue of the virtuous :it is a great sacrifice."We learn, desires never end by fulfilling, they only grow stronger.
Krishna says,"pleasures from the senses seem like nectar at first, but it is bitter as poison in the end."The greatest wonder is, each day people die, yet the living think -they 'll live forever. Everything is temporary so never grieve for that which is lost.
The great epic teaches us humility and good conduct, we must free ourselves from evils.
We must curb our attachment for our relatives. Wealth should be enjoyed and given as charity too.
We must avoid anger and learn forbearence.
We must respect our parents as weighter than earth and heaven.
"Where there is 'dharma 'lies victory -this is the very keynote of Highest court of India -the supreme court."karmaney vadhikarastey ma phaleshu kadachnan..."
"Ahimsa permo dharma ".-non -violence is the ultimate dharma -so too is violence in the service of dharma.
Time creates and destroys, burns and extinguishes.
Krishna says to Arjuna,"Not everyone deserves your explanation, sometimes its okay to be silent. Let them assume that you are wrong. Wrong thinking is the only problem in life. Kindness attracts God. If your thoughts and intentions are good -God कैन change your destiny too.
God says,"I am with you always, i'm the supreme and no one कैन even touch you. "Do what is right, no matter who is against you. "Leave all, forget all.-"follow only me "-you will be free and will be safe in all circumstances. Be God 's follower and friend -will get all. "Attachment leads to desire, and from desire arises anger."
"One who believes in himself, has no need to convince others."
Mahabharta teaches us duty and truth.
Destiny is all about what we see and what we believe, not what we think.
Gita wasn 't spoken in a temple, it was spoken on a 'Battlefield '. You learn nothing from life if you think you are right all the time.
"The mind is everything, what you think you become."
We learn that we should break all shackles and boundations with everyone and take His shelter and we would automatically be free. Then God is sure to help us in every circumstance and problem. The moment we are 'Krishnabhavnabhavit ', all our shackles of this world are automatically cut.
"Ma Shuchh "-man 's tension as to how can he leave all and go in God 's 'sharan '-is waste.
"Ones try -will experience."
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