35. BHIMA ENCOURAGES YUDHISHTHIRA

SRIMAD MAHABHARATA > AARANYA PARVA > ARJUNABHIGAMANA PARVA > CHAPTER 35 - BHIMA ENCOURAGES YUDHISHTHIRA

“Bhima said, ‘O king (Yudhishthira), having no material substance like froth, unstable like a fruit (falling when ripe), dependent on time, and mortal, having entered into an agreement in respect of time, which is infinite and immeasurable, quick like an arrow or flowing like a stream, and carrying everything before it like death itself, how can you regard it as available to you? How can he, O Kaunteya (Yudhishthira), wait whose life is shortened every moment, like a quantity of collyrium (Kaajal in Hindi) that is lessened each time a grain is taken up by the needle? Only he whose life is unlimited or who knows with certainty what the period of his life is, and who knows the future as if it were before his eyes, can indeed wait for the arrival of (an expected) time. If we wait, O king (Yudhishthira), for thirteen years, that period, shortening our lives, will bring us nearer to death.

“Death is sure to overtake every creature having a physical existence. Therefore, we should strive for the possession of our kingdom before we die. He that fails to achieve fame, by failing to punish his enemies, is like an unclean thing. He is a useless burden on the earth like a bull deprived of strength and perishes ingloriously. The man who, devoid of strength, courage, does not punish his enemies, lives in vain, I regard such a one as low-born. Your hand can rain gold; your fame spreads over the whole earth; slaying your enemies, therefore, in battle, you enjoy the wealth acquired by the might of your arms. O repressor of all enemies, O king (Yudhishthira), if a man slaying his injurer, goes the same day into hell, that hell becomes heaven to him. O king, the pain one feels in having to control one’s anger is more burning than fire itself. Now I burn with it and cannot sleep in the day or the night. This Paartha, called Bibhatsu (Arjuna), is foremost in drawing the bow-string. He certainly burns with grief, though he lives here like a lion in his den. This one that desire to slay without aid all wielders of the bow on earth, controls the anger that rises in his heart, like a mighty elephant.

“Nakula, Sahadeva, and old Kunti – that mother of heroes (Veera in Sanskrit), are all dumb, desiring to please you. All our friends along with the Srinjayaas equally desire to please you. I alone, and Prativindhya’s mother (Draupadi) speak to you burning with grief. Whatever I speak to you is agreeable to all of them, for all of them plunged in distress, eagerly wish for battle. Then, O monarch (Yudhishthira), what more wretched a calamity can overtake us that our kingdom should be snatched from us by weak and hateful enemies and enjoyed by them? O king (Yudhishthira), from the weakness of your nature you feel shame in violating your pledge. But, O slayer of enemies (Yudhishthira), no one applaudes you for thus suffering such pain in consequence of the kindliness of your nature.

“Your intellect, O king (Yudhishthira), does not see the truth, like that of a foolish and ignorant person of high birth who has committed the words of the Vedas to memory without understanding their sense. You are kind like a Brahmana. How have you been born in the Kshatriya order? They that are born in the Kshatriya order are generally of crooked hearts. You have heard (recited) the Raaja Dharma, as made known by Manu, filled with crookedness and unfairness and principal opposite to peace and virtue. Why do you then, O king, forgive the wicked (Duraatma in Sanskrit) sons of Dhritarashtra? You have intelligence, prowess (Veera in Sanskrit), learning and high birth. Why do you then, O tiger among men (Yudhishthira), act in respect of thy duties, like a huge snake that is without movement?

“O Kaunteya (Yudhishthira), he that desires to hide us, only wishes to hide the mountains of Himavat (present-day Himalayas) by means of a handful of grass. O Paartha (Yudhishthira), as you are known over the entire earth, you will not be able to live unknown, like the Sun that can never travel through the sky unknown to men. Like a large tree in a well-watered region with spreading branches and flowers and leaves, or like (Lord) Indra’s elephant, how will Jishnu (Arjuna) live unknown? Also, how will these children, the brothers, Nakula and Sahadeva, equal to a couple of young lions, both live in secret? How, O Paarthaa (Yudhishthira), will Krishna – the Draupadi – a princess and mother of heroes, of virtuous deeds (Punya Keerti in Sanskrit) and known over all the world, live unknown? Everybody knows me from my boyhood. I do not see how I can live unknown. It as well that mighty mountains of Meru be sought to be hidden. Then, again, many kings had been expelled by us from their kingdom. These kings and princes will all follow the bad son of Dhritarashtra, as they all have taken and exiled by us, they have not still become friendly. Desiring to do good to Dhritarashtra, they will certainly seek to injure us. They will certainly set against us numerous spies in disguise. If these discover us and report their discovery, a great danger will overtake us. We have already lived in the forest full thirteen months. Regard them, O king (Yudhishthira), for their length as thirteen years. The wise have said that a month is a substitute for a year, like the pot-herb (Pootikaamam in Sanskrit) that is regarded as a substitute for the Soma. Or, (if you break your pledge), O king (Yudhishthira), you may free yourself from this sin by offering good savoury food to a silent bull carrying sacred burdens. Therefore, O king, you resolve to slay thy enemies. There is no Dharma higher than fighting, for every Kshatriya!’”