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Duryodhanas Big Mistake Stories
From Mahabharat
03 Feb 2012 59 Comments
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One of many stories from Mahabharat that showcase Krishnas
intelligence and playful mischievousness, this story relates a situation
when Krishna was approached to become an ally, by both Duryodhana
and Arjuna, as they were building up great armies before the battle at
Kurukshetra. Duryodhanas attitude and choice cost him dearly, though
he doesnt immediately realize his folly.
Sadhguru: There is a beautiful situation or incident that occurred in the
Mahabharat. The Kurukshetra war is imminent and these two parties are
going about campaigning. At that time there were only two fronts the
Kauravas and the Pandavas. They are trying to gather all the support they
can because they are going to war and every man matters. You would like
to have the maximum numbers because its life and death, its not an
election. Theyre going from kingdom to kingdom campaigning and both
of them have acquired formidable armies behind them.
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9/5/2014 Duryodhana's Big Mistake - Stories From Mahabharat
http://www.ishafoundation.org/blog/yoga-meditation/history-of-yoga/duryodhana/ 2/5
Puppets from a Wayang beber play depicting the Mahabharata in Indonesia.
From right: Drona, Duryodhana, Karna and Dushasana.
Krishna is not a king, but he has a well trained army with over 10,000
men, who have been in many campaigns a great asset. So in the
afternoon Krishna is pretending to sleep. He is like that he is pretending
to sleep because when you know what is the next step and you still dont
want to disturb the game, a certain amount of pretension is needed. So he
is pretending to sleep, stretched out on his bed. Duryodhana, the eldest of
the Kauravas came, walked into this room and saw Krishna was sleeping.
He sat down, wanting to wait. Krishna was just sleeping with a gentle
smile on his face. His feet were pointed towards Duryodhana. Duryodhana
looked at it and he didnt like it. He is not even a king; he is a cowherd. I
am a great emperor. Why am I sitting at his feet? So slowly he got up and
came and sat close to his head. Then Arjuna came, a devotee of Krishna,
and sat where Duryodhana had sat earlier. Krishnas feet were pointing at
him, he sees that as a blessing. So he sat there. Krishna opened his eyes
after sometime, pretending to wake up. See this is the problem. Once you
pretend to sleep you have to pretend to wake up. One act leads to many
complex acts.
So he pretended to wake up, opened his eyes, and said, Oh, Arjuna you
have come. Arjuna said, Yes Bhagwan, I have come. Before they could
talk further Duryodhana cleared his throat to make his presence felt.
Krishna said, Oh Duryodhana, even you? Both of you at the same time
what brings both of you here? He knows the whole act.
Then both of them said that they have come to ask for his help in the war.
Krishna said, Both of you have come and both of you are asking for the
same thing, so let me put it this way. One of you can have my army,
another can have me. But I wont fight, Ill just come with you. Because my
vision fell upon Arjuna first, he gets the first choice. Duryodhana
protested, I came here first! Krishna said, But what can I do? I saw him
first.
Then Krishna told Arjuna , You choose what you want. Arjuna said,
Bhagwan we want you, I dont care about the army. We just want you with
us. Krishna warned, I am not going to fight for you. Ill just come with
you. He said, You dont have to do anything, we just want you with us.
Then Duryodhana let out a sigh of relief he was so happy! He knew the
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9/5/2014 Duryodhana's Big Mistake - Stories From Mahabharat
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POSTED IN: YOGA & MEDITATION, HISTORY OF YOGA
TAGS: krishna stories, mahabharata stories
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