Mahabharata – lessons and Learnings for our daily life.

The Mahabharata is one of the two major ancient Indian epics, alongside the Ramayana. It is an immense narrative that chronicles the conflicts and struggles of two rival families, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, as they vie for power and righteousness. At its core, the Mahabharata is a story of dharma (righteousness), duty, and the consequences of human actions.

This epic, attributed to the sage Vyasa, is not merely a tale of war but a repository of philosophical and moral teachings. It contains numerous subplots, dialogues, and teachings that explore complex themes such as the nature of existence, the importance of righteousness, the power of karma (action), and the intricacies of human relationships.

At its core, the Mahabharata explores complex themes such as dharma (righteousness), karma (action and its consequences), and the nature of existence. The epic is renowned for its rich mythology, diverse characters, and philosophical dialogues, particularly the Bhagavad Gita, which is a part of the Mahabharata.

The Mahabharata’s impact on our lives is profound and multifaceted. Here are a few ways in which it influences us:

Moral and Ethical Guidance: The Mahabharata provides timeless ethical and moral guidance through the actions and dilemmas faced by its characters. It prompts us to reflect on the consequences of our actions and the importance of adhering to moral principles in our daily lives. It also serves as a guide for navigating the complexities of right and wrong in our own lives. Just as the characters in the Mahabharata, we often find ourselves in situations where we must choose between conflicting duties or lesser evils, reminding us of the complexities of life’s choices.

The Importance of Duty and Righteousness: Duty (dharma) to one’s family, society, and oneself is a central theme of the Mahabharata. It mirrors our daily struggles to balance personal desires with responsibilities towards our family, work, and society. The characters’ lives underscore the importance of fulfilling duties, even when it’s difficult, a lesson that resonates in our lives as we navigate through personal and professional commitments.

The Importance of Intentions: Krishna emphasizes the importance of one’s intentions behind actions. The Bhagavad Gita teaches that, actions devoid of selfish desires and performed as a duty, lead to spiritual liberation. Performing our duties with sincerity and without attachment to the outcomes can lead to personal growth and fulfilment. A soldier can kill the enemy in the battlefront, but the same person cannot kill someone in the city. Same examples can also be given about doctors who can cut human body in an operation theatre to treat a disease but not on the street.

Philosophical Insight: The Bhagavad Gita, a key component of the Mahabharata, offers philosophical insights into duty, spirituality, and the nature of reality. It encourages contemplation on the nature of reality, the pursuit of knowledge, and the path to spiritual enlightenment for individuals seeking a deeper understanding of life.

The Consequences of Actions (Karma): The concept of karma, where every action has a consequence, is a key lesson from the Mahabharata that applies to daily life. The epic teaches that good deeds are rewarded and wrongdoings are punished, emphasizing the importance of making ethical choices and being mindful of our actions’ impact on our lives and others’.

Conflict Resolution and Negotiation: The Mahabharata is a tale of familial disputes, conflicts, and attempts at negotiation, much like the conflicts we encounter in our personal and professional lives. It offers insights into conflict resolution, the importance of communication, and the need for compromise and diplomacy to avoid unnecessary battles.

The Role of Fate and Free Will: While the Mahabharata often discusses fate and destiny, it also highlights the power of free will and personal effort. This dualism reflects our own lives, where we often find ourselves in situations shaped by circumstances beyond our control (fate), yet how we respond to these situations (free will) that defines our character and life path.

The Importance of Wisdom and Guidance: Just as characters in the Mahabharata seek advice from sages and gods, we look for guidance from mentors, teachers, and elders in our lives. The epic teaches the value of wisdom, learning from others’ experiences, and the importance of seeking guidance in making difficult decisions.

Social and Family Dynamics: Through its intricate portrayal of family relationships and societal structures, including love, rivalry, loyalty, and betrayal, the Mahabharata offers insights into the complexities of human interactions. It prompts us to examine our own relationships and societal roles and offers lessons on managing relationships in our daily lives.

Human Emotions and Relationships: The Mahabharata explores a wide range of human emotions and relationships, including love, jealousy, ambition, and betrayal, which are all too familiar in our daily lives. The epic’s stories remind us of the complexity of human relationships and the need for empathy, understanding, and forgiveness.

Alliances and Relationships: The alliances formed and broken during the Mahabharata war reflect the complexities of human relationships. Similarly, in everyday life, individuals navigate relationships with family, friends, colleagues, and society, often encountering loyalty conflicts and shifting allegiances.

Personal Growth: The characters in the Mahabharata undergo personal growth and transformation through their trials and tribulations. Their journeys inspire us to strive for self-improvement, resilience, and inner strength in the face of adversity.

Leadership and Governance: The epic delves into the responsibilities and challenges of leadership, addressing issues of governance, justice, and the consequences of power. These themes are relevant in various social and political contexts.

Resilience and Adaptability: Characters in the Mahabharata face numerous trials and tribulations, emphasizing the importance of resilience and adaptability in the face of adversity. Such lessons are applicable in our own journeys through life.

Spiritual Quest: Many characters in the Mahabharata embark on spiritual journeys or seek higher truths. The epic inspires individuals in their spiritual quests and the pursuit of self-discovery.

Consequences of Ego and Greed: The Mahabharata highlights the destructive consequences of ego, greed, and attachment to power. Similarly, in everyday life, unchecked ego and greed can lead to conflicts, suffering, and downfall.

Cultural Identity: The Mahabharata is deeply ingrained in Indian cultural identity and has influenced art, literature, theatre, and religious practices for centuries. It serves as a cultural touchstone that connects individuals to their heritage and traditions.

Adapting to Change: The Pandavas’ exile and their journey through different challenges reflect the need to adapt to change. In our lives, adaptability is crucial as we face various situations and circumstances.

Merit v/s Reservation:  The story comes out strongly in favour of merit and castigates those who favour any type of nepotism or corrupting practices to perpetuate reservations for a position. Furthermore, the story itself is that of attempt on part of Dhritarashtra to upstage meritorious claims to the throne of Yudhishthir and his desire to find ways (even by bending or breaking laws) to place his son Duryodhana on the throne instead.

Resilience and Adaptability: Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, characters in the Mahabharata display resilience and adaptability in overcoming adversity. This resilience is also relevant to everyday life, where individuals must navigate uncertainties and setbacks with resilience and adapt to changing circumstances. The sufferings of the Pandavas and Draupadi, Nala and Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, clearly explain to us the hard truth that the goal of life or perfection can only be attained through pain and suffering. Pain is the means through which man is moulded, disciplined and strengthened. Just as impure gold is turned into pure gold by melting it in the crucible, so also the impure and imperfect weak man is rendered pure, perfect and strong, by being melted in the crucible of pain and suffering. Therefore, one should not be afraid of pain and sufferings. They are blessings in disguise. They are eye-openers. They are silent teachers. They turn the mind towards God and instill mercy in the heart, strengthen the will and develop patience and power of endurance, which are the pre-requisites for God-Realization.

Half knowledge can be dangerous: Abhimanyu, Arjuna’s son, knew how to enter the Chakravyuha formation in battle but lacked the knowledge to exit. His partial understanding led to tragic consequences.

Other Lessons

The story also tells the consequences of giving too much indulgence to children and how things get ruined therefore. The story tells of the bond of friendship through the Duryodhana and Karna relationship. It also tells how a wicked and scheming person (as Shakuni) can poison not only grownups (as Dhritarashtra), but children as well (Duryodhana and Dushasana and all Kauravas).

It tells of the ills of gambling, the woes of the mother (in the woes of Gandhari and Kunti), the pain of children in broken families (as of Karna), the disastrous consequences of excess sexuality (as for Shantanu and Pandu), tells of inferiority complex (Dhritarashtra), devotion (Arjuna towards Krishna), truthfulness and honesty (Yudhishthir), Valour, pride and how events and situations may humble the mightiest. It tells of treating the cunning with equal cunning (as of dealings of Krishna in many situations), of peace, of war and strategies, of human patience and how it wears thin leading to breaking of rules (as in the war …. as it grows longer, more and more rules get broken and baser and baser methods get used).

It tells of God, of universe, of science, of philosophy, of social relationship, of morals and codes of conducts in different situations. It talks of perseverance and concentration in acquiring skills (as of Arjuna and Bhim), it tells of women and their problems (Draupadi, Kunti, Gandhari, Subhadra, Rukmini. Mahabharat tells about politics, about teachers, about common men and their behaviour, of courage, of cowardice, of jealousy, of generosity, of lies, murder, of truth and how God works through men.

The great epic is besides a storehouse of ancient knowledge, philosophy, religion, customs and rituals, polity, science, social life, geography, history, economics, code of conduct, etc. That is why some consider Mahabharata as a common man’s Veda (knowledge).

The message of the Mahabharata is the message of Truth and Righteousness. The great epic produces a moral awakening in the readers and exhorts them to tread the path of Satya and Dharma. It urges them strongly to do good deeds, practise Dharma, cultivate dispassion by realising the illusory nature of this universe and its vainglories and sensual pleasures, and attain Eternal Bliss and Immortality. It induces people to do what Yudhishthira did and abandon what Duryodhana did. Stick to Dharma tenaciously. You will attain everlasting happiness and Moksha, the summum bonum of life. This is the final purport or central teachings of the Mahabharata.

Overall, the Mahabharata’s enduring relevance lies in its ability to transcend time and culture, offering profound insights into the human condition and guiding us on the path towards personal and moral growth in our everyday lives. The epic encourages reflection, introspection, and the pursuit of a balanced and righteous way of living. It offers timeless wisdom on navigating the complexities of life, emphasizing the importance of ethics, duty, wisdom, and the consequences of our actions.