Kaun Banega Arjuna?

 Last month, a major gang-rape–cum-assault incident in the nation’s capital instigated a huge uproar throughout the nation. The victim, eventually, succumbed to her injuries on December 29, after struggling for 13 days.

Srimad Bhagavatam explains that amongst the four pillars of religion – truthfulness, austerity, cleanliness and mercy – the last three are already extinct in this age of Kali-Yuga. Only the principle of truthfulness continues to survive in some tiny proportion; though, even that is on a gradual decline. This fact was highlighted in this recent incident, when our society could not tolerate such a gross violation of law and order of country of India, which brags "Satyameva Jayate" (Truth Alone Prevails) as its national motto.  When a woman, Draupadi, was forced to strip off her clothes, Lord Krishna felt the necessity to wage a war. And the famous Mahabharata war ensued. Unfortunately, in the same India,  24,206 rape cases were reported in 2011 (what to speak of unreported cases!). Although the public is demanding stronger laws to prevent such acts, this will only result in a superficial treatment of such problems, unless the root cause of the problem – our polluted hearts – are treated. Such incidents like rape are just an external manifestation of our internal disease of boiling lust. In fact, we see striking similarities between the setting scene of the Mahabharata war and the current scene of world, which calls for a Mahabharata-like war to be fought against the enemy of lust.

In the Mahabharata war, the Kauravas were the antagonists, representing irreligion; while, the Pandavas were the protagonists, battling to uphold the righteous principles. In the modern setting, the enemy is the lower nature of one’s own self; and battling with it is a higher nature, which wants to abide by righteous principles.

Before the war, it was the unholy counseling of people like Shakuni and Kaliraj, which prompted Duryodhana and his associates to go to extent of attempting to strip off Draupadi. Similarly, in the modern setting, the media, cinema and TV offer the unholy counseling by facilitating widespread propaganda of ideas like free sex, hedonism, consumerism, etc.

It was Dhritarashtra, whose duty was to restrain the Kauravas and guide them on the right path. On account of selfish interests, however, he failed to do so. At the same time, wise people like Bhisma and Dronacharya kept mum against the atrocities of Duryodhana and his associates, which gave way for the evil deeds of Duryodhana to thrive without any guilt. Similarly, the modern governors, who are supposed to restrain the unholy forces, have failed to do so, because of their own political and selfish interests. At the same time, a handful of wise people, who have the right knowledge and are free from personal interests, have shut their mouths to bury themselves safely in their comfort zones.

Just like Arjuna – the hero of the Mahabharata war – was bewildered and unwilling to fight in the war against his own kith and kin, because of his intense attachment with them; similarly, the common man, who is in the same situation as Arjuna, due to excessive attachment, is unwilling to fight in the war against the enemy of one’s lower nature, which precipitates in the form of lust and greed in one’s heart.

Just as Krishna – the Lord and universal guru – made Himself available to both parties; but, it was the Pandavas, who took His help and emerged victorious. Similarly, it is the spiritual master, who is coming in the same line of succession from the Lord, in the parampara system, and who is as good as the Lord, making himself available to everyone out of his mercy; but, there are very few people willing to benefit from him.

In the battle of Mahabharata, Lord Krishna, who was the incarnation for that age, instructed Arjuna to fight. And when Arjuna was hesitant about success, Krishna assured Arjuna that he will be victorious just by becoming an instrument. Similarly, Lord Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is yugavatar for this age, instructed to fight against one’s lower nature and help others in doing so. He proclaimed,

bhärata-bhümite haila manuñya-janma yära

janma särthaka kari' kara para-upakära

It translates as “One who has taken his birth as a human being in the land of India [Bhärata-varña] should make his life successful and work for the benefit of all other people." Lord Chaitanya also assures of the success –

prithivite ache jato nagaradi gram,

sarvatra prachara hoibe mora nam

which means, Lord's holy name will be chanted in the nook and corners of this world. Since Lord is the personification of religion and His names are non-different from Him, this statement of the Lord assures victory of righteousness in the battle against evil. Few people might have longed (At least in fantasy) to be in the position of Arjuna, as in the historic battle of Mahabharata, directly carrying out the instructions of the Lord in the middle of a raging war. The same opportunity is as well available to each one of us, to be like Arjuna, with help from the Lord and His bonafide representatives, to wage the war against the enemies in our own heart and help others. And one cannot escape this battle. If he takes the side of the Lord, emulating Arjuna, his higher nature wins the battle; otherwise, one obviously falls prey to the lower nature emulating Duryodhana.

So, are you ready to be the Arjuna?