The battle of Kurukshetra was at its peak. Arjun and Karna were fighting each other. It was a battle to witness as a flurry of arrows were being exchanged and even the Gods were watching this battle between the two warriors.
Arjun would shoot his arrows and the impact of the arrows was so intense that, it would push Karna’s chariot by twenty-five-thirty feet. People witnessing this were amazed by Arjuna’s skills.
Karna was no less. When he shot the arrow’s, Arjun’s chariot would go back four-five feet.
More than anyone else, Krishna would applaud Karna every time his arrow hit Arjuna’s chariot. But not once did he applaud Arjun’s skills.
At the end of the day, Arjuna asked Krishna –
“O Krishna, I have shot so many arrows at Karna’s chariot, it was getting displaced like a feature in the wind but not once did you appreciate me. Rather, you would appreciate Karna’s skill despite his arrows just displacing my chariot a few feet.”
Krishna smiled and replied –
“Arjun, remember, your chariot is protected by lord Hanuman on your flag at the top, you have me as your charioteer in the front and you have the Sheshnaag (King of the Nagas) at its wheels, yet the whole chariot would still sway whenever the valiant Karna hit us with his arrows. On the other hand, Karna’s chariot is not protected by any such force. He is on his own, yet he fights valiantly.”
After the battle of Kurukshetra was over, Krishna asked Arjun to get off the chariot first before he got down. Once Krishna alighted from the chariot, it went up in flames and reduced to ashes.
When Arjun saw this, he was shocked. Krishna said –
“O Arjun, your chariot was destroyed by Karna a long time ago. I was still protecting it.”
Wisdom Bite
We should never have arrogance in our achievements and take all the credit for success. Arjun could not have won the war without the help of Krishna and the blessings of his mother no matter how great an archer he was.
We think that it is because of our skills and abilities that we have become successful which in reality contributes only a small part. The factors that we often ignore to see are our good karmas and the divine will. That is what protects us, gives us the right opportunity at the right time. Then there are people in our life – our parents, teachers, friends, colleagues who would have played a role in our success. How much gratitude do we show them?
What history teaches us is to remain humble in our success and cultivate an attitude of gratitude.
October 13, 2020
Very true.The Highest gratitude is shown to Parents, Even Lord Mahaveer placed them before their own way of Liberation. Without them , no one is anything.