Dhrta'rashtra' and Dhrta'Hari' - Part 4

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis,
Please accept my humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudev.

This is in continuation of the previous offering titled "Dhrta-rashtra and Dhrta-Hari" wherein we were meditating on verses 1.1 and 1.2 of Bhagavad-Gita

In Bhagavad Gita verse 1.2 Sanjaya says,

sañjaya uvāca
dṛṣṭvā tu pāṇḍavānīkaṁ vyūḍhaṁ duryodhanas tadā
ācāryam upasaṅgamya rājā vacanam abravīt

Sanjaya said: O King, after looking over the army gathered by the sons of Pandu, King Duryodhana went to his teacher and began to speak the following words.

This verse reflects the nature of Duryodhana. Seeing the large army arranged by Pandavas, Duryodhana was amazed as to how it was possible for them to get such an army, inspite of all the tribulations they underwent. Those who are diplomatic, crooked and angry are always fearful. Out of fear of loss of prestige, power and so called positions in the society, one exhibits these qualities. Whereas simple and straight forward people are fearless. They don't have any hankering for others' property or position and with great compassion feel for the pains of others. Chanakya Pandit says in his Niti shastra 

mātravat para dhāreshu para dravyeshu loshtravat
ātmavat sarva bhuteshu yah pashyati sa panditāh 

One who considers another's wife as his mother, another's possessions as a lump of dirt and treats all other living beings as he would himself, is considered to be learned.

Our beloved spiritual master HH Mahavishnu Goswami Maharaj says that, "An attached person never smiles at anyone whereas detached person smiles freely at everyone."

Every child can become a great devotee of the Lord provided the parents give the impression of the same to the child from the beginning. Children learn alot by observing what the parents and elders do. Our attachment and affection to the child should not lead to degradation of their character. There is a famous proverb - "Spare the rod and spoil the child." Inorder to inculcate good behaviour in the children, there need to be right mix of love and strictness. The lives of great devotees like Parikshit Maharaj, Prahlad Maharaj, Dhruva Maharaj, Srila Prabhupada are examples of how the impression they had in the beginning later helped them to take to serious devotional service. 

Here unfortunately Dhrtarashtra was spiritually blind right from the beginning and the same traits were picked up by his children. Srila Prabhupada mentions in the purport to the above verse that Duryodhana was quite fit to be a politician. When there is a need, politicians can become friends even with their worst enemies or with people with whom they are not in good terms. Just to achieve power and position, they can do anything and everyything. There is no neeti (morals) in rajaneeti  (politics). As the saying goes "Empty vessels make most noise." So Duryodhana who is devoid of good qualities and real knowledge approaches Dronacarya.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate further on this topic in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much
Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva
Kalacakra Krsna das