bheema:was he really revengeful?

this is something I got from fb and I found it quite interesting!
Lord and his best devotees
People have been making some
unsubstantiated claims that Krishna failed
with Bhima and Twins and thus the disaster
happened. That shows same level knowledge
of a TV aficionado who believes ten episodes
of animal planet makes them the master of
animals (pashupati) and the planet
(viswanath).
The use of word disaster for the
Dharmayudhha implies that your definitions
of disaster and of dharma both are
competing with your knowledge as Pashupati
and Viswanatha.
This article started in anger and ended in joy
so please excuse the narrative which jumps
as the emotions change
Fourth in generation from Brahma, son of
Rishi Vishrawa, grandson of Pulastya, Arya
Ravana was a brilliant scholar and a great
warrior. He reunited the warring Asura
tribes, reintroduced civilization and gave
political unity stretching across the southern
peninsula. He gave a new philosophy, "Vyama
Rakshama", I WIL PROTECT. The deep
meaning is that state acts as the Janaka and
the guardian. State is responsible for the
protection of the individual. State sets the
path and thou shalt follow. The theory is
impressive. The execution was flawless as
Ravana builds a great state across the realms
and looks after the prosperity and welfare of
his subjects in his GOLDEN city. He
establishes an upanivesha or colony in Nasik
aka janasthana. He is called to dinner at
White House (Kailash Parvata) where he
conducts the Yagna for Siva himself. The only
issue Ravana had was worship of older gods,
worship not sanctioned by him. So his
minions in Janasthana attacked and disrupted
the religious activities of local Rishis and
munis but they do not harm the general
populace and or are institutionally cruel to
manavas.
But this is a centralized authoritarian state
where power rests with the crown or crowns
in this case. Power corrupts Absolute Power
corrupts absolutely. The only smidge of taint
on this polity was the personal (maybe
institutional) lust of the sovereign. His
treatment of women in past, but not recently
since his daughter-in-law gave him the curse.
I see several group followers being excited,
yeah all trouble happens because of women!
They will point to women as the cause but
they don't see the lust of the Men. They see
the hem of the skirt but do not question why
their eyes need to drop to that location.
As an aside, Krishna is called Madhava. His
ancestor Madhu accepted Rakshasa dharma
and kidnapped Kumbhanisi, Ravana's own
sister when Ravana was out gallivanting and
kidnapping women while Meghnada was
doing Jala tapasaya. Ravana's own policy
became a Frakenstein's monster. (Later the
other twin, Shatrughana defeated and killed
Lavana, son of Madhu and reestablished rule
of just in Mathura. Many generations later,
the twin's descendent Soora would give up
the throne to marry a tribal. (Krishna would
say "Daddu TUM!!")
Ravana's carefully constructed polity was
overthrown by Rama not because he took his
wife and oh by the way that was in revenge
for his sister's disfigurement. Ok, very
powerful man, very bright scholar, very great
king, the ruler of golden city was not man
enough to stand against Rama but attacked
the weak, the defenseless. The story of the
bully from time immemorial. Attack the
weak, the just, the forgiving, don't engage
with the strength on other side. If he was
sixteenth the part of man as Brihannala was,
why didn't Ravana go up against Lakshaman.
(Btw that is our Ballu bhayya, the guy who
could drag the whole city of Hastinapur and
raised the flood insurance for its denizens.)
While we are on that, I do not remember
Pandavas disfiguring the nose of Dushhla. (I
remember a bad haircut to her husband)
Why were Kaurava noses so out of joint? Ohh
Duryodhana was laughed at. Alle alle bachha,
log tumpe hanse, alle alle le le, tch tch, ohh
no no no, poor baby, don't cry little man,
yeah that is enough for a license for Rape,
go ahead. @##@$@ # R@$ with apologies to
captain haddock.
As an aside (two left), Virata insults
Duryodhana in public and with Karna as a
warrior on his side, Duryodhana keeps quiet
for twelve years when on Kichaka's death,
Duryodhana remembers Virata's insult.
Typical Bully, when there is no Keechaka, I
can take revenge. Even the bullies would not
take on Kichaka. A Just man did, a simple
sudra.
Rama did not kill Ravana for kidnapping his
wife. He killed Ravana for his philosophy was
constricting and damming the independent
thoughts of his own citizens. The philosophy
which was robbing the willpower and
capability of independent thought of the
populace. There was NO DISSENT allowed,
Ravana threw his own REAL brother (Yuyutsu
to tab bhi sauetela tha) out for dissension.
The army which Rama used for that
dharmayudhha was the wild free independent
tribals (VANA-NARAS forest men). Raised in
nature, unashamed to show love, or to show
compassion and stick by friends through
thick and through burning tails.
Yes, they say Gods prepared this army in
advance. We had the world's smartest bear
doing the coordinating (Kanhayya ka
Sasuraa), we had the divine architect in Nala,
the son of Agni Neela, and we had
thunderstorm, gale force and the hurricane
in single form called Hanuman, the son of
Wind. Maruti model Anjaneya (If Indra had
not injured his hanu, and dear ape had
become famous only as Bajrangbali, we
would be having Superbali, Batbali,
Spiderbali, Ironbali..)
Hanuman, devotee number one of Sri Rama.
When the Vanara armies were crossing the
bridge. Did we see Hanumana stop Rama just
before the tolls and asked the question and
Rama said "Karmathye, mat rok humko beech
raste, ma kehti phala accha milta Beach par
saste". (my Awadhi is out of practice).
No he never said that, He did not need to.
Hanuman was the true devotee. Rama never
needed to take him aside (ok third one) and
say "champ, do it my way." Even more so, it
was Hanuman who made promises on Rama's
behalf even promising him in marriage to
Chandrasenaa. (Satyabhama in next life) and
Rama honored those promises.
Then there was Rama and Hanumana. Then
there was Krishna and Bhimasen, Maruti
Model Kaunteya. The gale force, the
hurricane, the thunderstorm reformed as
Vrikodara. When they were going to war,
Bhima stopped Krishna and Krishna said
"Karmanye vadhika raste ma phaleshu
kadachana..."
No he did not. Sons of Vayu, the avatars of
Rochana, the thread of the universe itself
did not need special lectures to realize the
divinity in the Vishnu's forms. It is
instinctive with them, same instinctive
nature which gives them these fearsome
powers. Not only looking up to Vishnu, in the
heart of Agni, Siva had kept his essence alive
from the time of Samudra manthana, the
destructor took form again and again
through the medium of Vayu, as Hanuman,
as Bhima. To destroy Evil and to propagate
HIS glory. If they preserved Har Dharma for
Hari, they destroyed evil for Hara in a hurry.
As Jambavanta regulated the strength, the
power and ferocity of Hanuman, his alter ego
Dharmaraja regulated the strength, the
power, the ferocity of Bhima. Sons of
Dharma were designed to be administering
units on the sons of Vayu, the Power of
Dharma made human. Power uncontrolled is
a bane and directed is the boon. (btw
directed means NOT untamed). Paraphrasing
the bard
There is always a tide in the affairs of men,
Which unleashed at the flood, leads on to
fortune.
Uncontrolled, all the voyage of their life is
bound in shallows and in miseries.
On such a full sea of dharma are we always
afloat.
And Dharma must guide the wind current
when it serves,
or lose HIS ventures
Bhima the human was very intelligent man,
his conversations, his knowledge of history,
his learning bespoke of it. He never lost
temper in battle, at the extreme moments of
pain, he would keep calm. When his
nephews, father-in-law and brother-in-laws
are senselessly slaughtered by deceit, he
keeps calm, he maintains the composure for
Dhrishtadamyun's sake, his army's sake.
Bhima the human also was the strongest
person in the world bar none. And he was
aware of it. Yudhishthara sends him to chase
Susharma and he first looked for a large
tree. Yudhishthara's job was not easy.
(Neither was Jambavanta's )
Bhima had the brains of Lex Luthor with
power of Superbali. And he followed the
dictums of Spiderbali
With Great power comes great responsibility.
As a young man, as a child, an orphan, he
was subjected to brutal attacks and attempts
on his life. THAT CHILD WITH 10000
elephantpower did not kill Dhratrashtras in
face of extreme provocation and YOU CALL
HIM UNTAMABLE. When the child did not
leave the path of Dharma, why would the
adult.
As a youth, Bhima's best friend, his
charioteer is murdered because they could
not murder Bhima. HE DID NOT EXPLODE IN
ANGER and forced Gandhari to get a second
century of sons.
Even Draupadi, ever the understanding wife,
after the Dyuta on meeting Krishna mentions
the scar on Bhima's psyche of his friend
unvented since childhood, before mentioning
her own treatment. If Bhima forgave them
that for so many years, it does not seem
something a revengeful person would do.
Bhima could have waited thirteen months
and as per vrata rules, count them as
thirteen years and turn up at Hastinapur and
increase the sales of chandana wood
overnight. Anyway, we already know that
Duryodhana and Karna do not know how to
count so they wouldn't even question.
Bhima waited 13 years. He waited 13 days
beyond that. He waited 13 more days beyond
that. He waited and enjoyed a marriage feast.
He waited six months after that. He waited
till Krishna said
"Wherever there is Krishna, the master of all
mystics, and wherever there is Arjuna, the
supreme archer, there will also certainly be
opulence, victory, extraordinary power, and
morality. That is my opinion."
And then he did not need wait no more.
For sake of peace, Bhima was willing to put
his immortal soul in peril and give up his
oaths to kill Duryodhana and Dusshasana. He
backed Krishna's peace mission. He gave
peace one last chance. As Krishna gave 100
chances to Sisupala, Bhima with his brothers
gave enough chances to Dhratrashtras.
Bhima was the blunt instrument of Justice, of
Dharma. Bhima fought this war and killed
Duryodhana not for personal revenge. As
Yamaraja executed animals for Brahma's
yagna, Bhima executed Duryodhana and his
brothers as yagna pashu for the Dharma
sacrifice. This was no blind revenge clouding
his conduct.
On third day, Bhima and Ghatotkacha
surprised Duryodhana and Bhimas arrow
pierced Duryodhana's chest and he fell down
in swoon. If Bhima was not being dharmik or
controlled, one signal to Ghatotkacha and
Ghatotkacha would have kicked the shit out
of Duryodhan's body so Gandhari would not
have been able to differentiate which was
flesh and which was just shit.
On fifth day, Bhima penetrated into heart of
Kaurava vyuha and chanced upon Dussasana
and Durvisaha and Dussaha and Durmada and
Jaya, and Jayasena and Vikarna and
Chitrasena and Sudarsana, and Charuchitra
and Suvarman and Duskarna and Karna. A
full buffet meal for Agni.
He attacked them and Bheeshma send
thousands of warriors to try and protect
Kauravas. Thereupon the heroic Bhima,
DISREGADING the sons of Dhritarashtra, slew
in that conflict many foremost warriors (of
the Kaurava army) fighting from cars or
upon the back of elephants and steeds. And
ascertaining the purpose harboured by those
cousins of his who were bent upon his
destruction, the mighty Bhima set his heart
upon slaying them all. He had killed all
mounted folk so only infantry was left. Then
leaving his car and taking up his mace, as
per rules of war, the son of Pandu began to
smite that very sea of Dhartarashtra troops.
Not able to see Bhima, Dhrishtadamyun
chanced upon Bhima's empty chariot and
Visoka sitting coolly waiting for Bhima to
return. Visoka would have said something
like " Tau ne lamba Chalanna Ki Bannya padd
rahi hai".
(my Haryanvi is out of practice Tau is
habitual of long walk)
Dhrishtadamyun then followed the path of
destruction of broken bodies like trees hit by
gale force, elephants fallen down hit by a
thunderstorm, rathas lying upside down
whirled by a hurricane and he chanced upon
the Gale force wind, the hurricane and the
thunderstorm made in human form called
Prabhanjanasuta.
After killing all rathis, Bhima the untamable
was fighting the infantry on foot as an
Enfante terrible. (sorry that was a terrible
pun, sorry again :-0 as an aside)
Seeing many warriors including Duryodhana
attacking Bhima who was on foot from
chariots and elephants, Dhrishtadamyun used
the Pramohana astra and put them all to
sleep. (That guy Neela who lead the monkey
army and made monkey of Indrajeet was DD
in previous life). Bhima to fulfill his oath just
needed to go to these sleeping Kauravas and
make their wives weeping Kauravas. As a
follower of Dharmayudhha, he did not do so.
The warriors even waited there looking like
Nurses in a Kaurava nursery with sleeping
babes of Kaurava princes, the same little
men who felt their dambha was damped by a
laugh, till Drona arrived. Bhima could have
gone to check on Soya-dhan and mace would
have slipped out of his hands and
Dhritrashtra would have khoya-dhan.
Drona then brings huge army down on these
two, who do not even retreat. Not out of
over-confidence or innate belief in their
invincibility. Bhima and Dhrishtadamyun wait
confidently and start fighting as Drona and
this new army totally surrounds them.
Because in few short moments, Dhrishtaketu,
Abhimanyu, 5 sons of Draupadi and 5 Kaikays
creating a 12 chariot mini Suchimukha Vyuha
(needle mouth) penetrate the Kaurava armies
like an injection penetrates the skin and
reached the Brothers-in-law. (So many times
this has been repeated on the field of battle,
looking at unassuming brothers-in-law on
both ends fearsome battery of pacers have
attacked and been found wanting, the real
Visvanath and PremierLeaguepati).
Suddenly, not two but fourteen Maharathis
are now slaughtering Kauravas from inside
(that is why in gentleman's game they only
allow two at a time). Kaikayas also brought
along relaxed Visoka and Bhima's chariot as
well. Duryodhana wakes to find no army. No
warriors protecting him. He with his
awakened brothers now attacked Bhima but
within minutes their true nature asserted and
what we see is a sprint where Kauravas
inside their own army are running helter-
skelter for their camp (daddu bachao daddu
bachao) while Bhima and his sons are
pursuing the running Kauravas.
Catching Royadhana, Bhima said "Thou hadst
also disregarded Krishna who begged thee
(for peace). With a joyous heart didst thou
despatch Uluka (to us) with thy messages.
For all these, I shall slay thee to-day with all
thy kinsmen, and thus avenge all those
offences of thine of former days." He then
dispatched thirty six arrows into general
direction of stench of Bharatas, Duryodhana.
Destroyed Ratha, horses, charioteer, flag,
and ten arrows into Duryodhana who on the
cue fainted away.
If Bhima was just killing for revenge, he
could have gone to the fallen opponent and
killed him right there and then but he did
not. He allowed Jayadratha to retrieve
Duryodhana's body, the description is that
Jayadratha could not lift Duryodhana
properly in fear and dragged him aboard. The
other Kaurava brothers did come and
attacked Bhima, Abhimanyu and
Draupedeyas. Abhimanyu defeated and
almost killed Vikarna and Chitrasena.
Srutakarman, son of Draupadi was attacked
by Durmukha, son of Dhritrashtra who killed
his horses. Staying on an unmoving chariot,
the son of Draupadi hurled a dart with such
might that penetrated the armour and killed
the son of Dhritrashtra. The scoreboard
above te battlefield would have flashed
Ninety to go.
Satanika also killed "thy son" Jayatsena and
his brother Dushkarna as Sanjay informed
grieving father. Bhima was not greedy, the
justice can be executed by any officer on the
side of the Dharma. The executioner is a
medium, not the focus of justice. Five more
sons of Dhritrashtra would have fallen to
Satanika and five Kekayas but for the end of
the day of fighting. For next nine days
Duryodhana the mighty warrior would avoid
Bhima like a plague.
On 14th day Bhima defeated Duryodhana
again and on 16th day as well as on 18th
day. Each time Duryodhana was saved by
either this fainting sickness of his or several
other pashus joined the sacrifice queue
bleating me first me first to Bhima who
obliged them.
These are not actions of someone driven by
revenge; these are actions of the warrior who
fights with honor in service of justice. Indian
army took solace in remembering the mighty
Kusasardula when asked to vacate the Haji
Peer heights we won twice at so much cost in
1965. And took pride in taking the mantle of
one who defeated Jarasandh when on another
fourteenth day, they rent asunder the enemy
in two just like Acyutanuja did. The modern
Indian army, modern construct under the
moderation of modern Indian dharma.
Dharma always regulates the sons of Vayu.
Imagine if Bhima's gada had slipped from his
hand, any time on third day, twice on that
fifth day of battle. 16.5 Akshauhinis were
still alive.
NO BHEESHMA, NO DRONA, NO KARNA, NO
ABHIMANYU, NO GHATOTKACHHA, NO
ANJANPARVA.
Nothing to feel sorry about. Who would have
heard of Karna, the guy who ran from
Gandharvas, he would not even get to fight
in this Mahabharata.
But ways of Dharma are not easy. The early
death of Duryodhana would mean millions of
entitled Kshatriyas would have escaped
justice. No Abhimanyu to inspire future
youngsters. No Ghatotkacha to enforce the
fact that birth may be a rakshasa but death
could be a Kshatriya. No sacrifice by
Abhimanyu would mean no icon for Chand
Bardai to rally the masses around 16 year
old Rainsingh Chauhan when Prithvi fell. No
Bheeshma lying on that bana shayya to
inspire the fitness in the future generations.
No icons for Alha Udal and Banaphars to be
inspired by and hold the line at River
Chambal that evening a thousand years ago.
When Pandavas went into exile, Yudhishthara
handicapped by his tongue could not take
any other role so he played a Brahmin,
Nakula took role of a vaisya, Sahadeva that
of Gopa but Bheema and his wife took role
of Sudras. They had no false pride to
engender; they had no problem being one
with the lowest of the society. Krishna did
not need to work hard with these two!
Let us get back to Rama, and the problem
with Ravana which was that he wanted to
tame everyone.
Vishnu and Siva are not like our modern
leaders, they do not need yes men. Their
best devotees are those who questioned
them, the Uddhava, the Arjuna, the Nandi,
the mischievous ape who remained a
bachelor but gifted the Lord as a husband
(Literally a VAR DAAN), the boisterous older
brother who liked wearing blue and drinking
red, the cousin who banged a few heads to
get a bouquet for his lady love, the brother
with no girlfriends who snapped his fingers
every time Lord yawned and the brother who
had some girlfriends plus a 20% share as
well.
LORD loves the non-comformists, the ones
who are different from the stream, those
who speak with their hearts but listen with
their minds. Bhima, Sahadeva, Hanuman,
Lakshaman, Balarama, Samba, Satyabhama
and Draupadi would sit right next to the
Lord, giggling and laughing and planning next
complication in HIS life. Why do you think
HE comes so often as a human, HE likes it.
And these are the people who make HIS life
interesting.
Do not think what your lord can do for you
think what you can do for your lord