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| Krishna - arjuna |
There are many misconceptions regarding Mahabharata. To pick five among them is not easy. Still, these were the ones that I found apart from leading ones like Draupadi washing hair with Dussasan’s blood, etc These are not chosen in priority order..all these are doing rounds and this certainly is not good for genuine readers who want to know facts. Anyway some I cite.
No authentic version of Mahabharata had the story of Bhishma having five arrows to kill Pandavas. Of course, Wiki pages or other websites rigorously promoted this along with the Dharma kshetra TV show. By authentic versions,I mean Bori, KMG, and Southern Recension. I will accept this if anyone provides a reference from them and not from Wikipedia, regional adoptions, or summarised Mahabharata versions available right now.
The universal form shown in Kuru Sabha and that which was shown to Arjuna, both are different. I wish those who claim without hesitation that both are the same, for god’s sake, to go through the description of both. The form shown to Arjuna was highly powerful and not seen before by anyone else before. Krishna showed that only to sage Uttanka, after the war when he was on his way to Dwaraka. Sanjaya was fortunate to witness that due to his Devine vision.
Lord himself confessed this truth..in Viswarupa sandarshana yoga, ch 11
na veda-yajnadhyayanair na danair
na ca kriyabhir na tapobhir ugraih
evam-rupah sakya aham nr-loke
drastum tvad anyena kuru-pravira
O best of the Kuru warriors, no one before you has ever seen this universal form of Mine, for neither by studying the Vedas, nor by performing sacrifices, nor by charities or similar activities can this form be seen. Only you have seen this.
That's it. What he showed in Kuru Sabha was simple and precise. What he showed Arjuna was the one not seen by anyone before. I hope this difference should not be overlooked while Answering Gita-related questions.
- Krishna did not stop time at all while delivering Gita. The conversation commenced and finished. But how did it happen, what did everyone else do during that time, we can’t comprehend. Gita contains vast knowledge that happened through conversation between two soulmates. How they both managed it in the midst of two armies, remains beyond our ability to understand and realize.
- There was no jambu fruit story that exposed Draupadi’s feelings towards Karna. It is created intentionally to promote falsehood. Arnab Ghosh presented a well-researched article that traced the roots of this story. It is available in Thoughts on Epics.
- Abhimanyu did not learn the Chakravyuha knowledge from Subhadra’s womb. Arjuna directly instructed him on how to enter but could not complete it for various reasons.
- Yaudheya was Yudhishtira’s son by Devika but not his grandson. Mahabharat clearly told that. Matsyapuran verse also validated the fact.
- Upapandavas were not married in their lifetime. They were Viswedevas born to return without children as per the curse of Viswamitra.
- There was no pushing of the chariot, golden teeth donation, etc connected with Karna in authentic Epic.
- Barbarika was not a part of an authentic Epic. He was present in Skanda Puran .
- There was no mention of daughters of Pandavas in authentic Epic. Vayupuran created confusion regarding the daughter which I explained in My related post elaborately.
Still many are there that need to be mentioned if given a chance again. Left important ones also like the following.
Drona taught Karna Dhanurveda. He did not refuse to teach him which was a misconception Krishna did not offer Draupadi to Karna, It was a mistranslation And Of course the ever controversial line Naham Varayami Sutam. I won't choose a Suta by Draupadi that the Bori team deleted and they were right in doing so. Draupadi did not reject Karna.
My answer is based on authentic Vyasa Bharat, Bhagawad Gita ch 11.
by: Lakshmi Telidevara - Ph.D. in Sanskrit from Andhra University College of Science and Technology
