End of Kurukshetra War!

         With 18 days of war ending as the major cataclysm of all time, the Pandavas won the war, at the cost of the life of their brothers, friends, relatives, followers and their sons. The 18 day war consumed lives of elegant kings, mighty warriors and greater number of animals like steeds and elephants. Pandavas were filled with tears and grief. The victory at the cost of all the lives never really counted as a victory for them.

         After 18 days of war, the entire army was lost in both the sides. 1,530,900 soldiers of Pandavas side and 2,405,700 soldiers and mighty warriors of Kauravas side were dead. Only the Pandavas, Krishna, Satyaki and Yuyutsu were alive in the Pandavas side while Aswathama, Krpacharya and Kritavarman were alive in the Kauravas side.

         The Kurukshetra battlefield that was shining gloriously with the 18 Akshauhinis 18 days back was now filled with bodies of the dead warriors still holding their weapon in their hands, broken chariots on which the kings and commanders rode, dead steeds and elephants decorated with gold ornaments and shields which participated and perished in the war like a Kshatriya. The land was gushing red filled with the blood of all those lost lives for the past 18 days. The vultures and wolves lost their appetite because of the surplus death for the past 18 days.

         The warriors and the animals those died in the last night’s wrath were arranged for pyre. The last rites and funeral arrangements were made and carried out for every single warrior and animal, irrespective of the side they fought for. Pandavas made the final funeral arrangements for their sons, Duryodhana, Sikandi and Dhrishtadyumna. Yuyutsu performed the last rites for his brother.

         Draupathi who sobbed all night for the loss of her sons stood in the Pandavas’ camp and witnessed the pyre of her sons, brother, sister and other relatives and soldiers who fought. Though her tears filled eyes were fixed to the pyre, her vision was aimless. Her world was filled with pain, questions, distress and agony.

         “What is the use of this victory achieved on my sons’ death, Krishna? I find no reason to live. No reason to accept this victory. My sons are not with me anymore. Why should my sons face such an unfair death?”- sobbed Draupathi.

         “Draupathi, victory in war is always hard to digest. People realize that only after starting the war or at the end. It’s the loss that makes them realize the truth. They fail to think about this pain when they have the chance. Forgiving is the only thing that can stop these tragedies. Dharma is sustained only when people live in harmony. All these are the results of not accepting dharma. Matha Gandhari realized that in war, she will definitely lose her sons and that’s why she pleaded for no war. Think about the future of your citizens and Hastinapur.” – Krishna consoled Draupathi.

         “All this is because of me. All these deaths are because of me. It’s all because of me, my husbands vowed to destroy the Kauravas. Is it such a worst thing to restore a women’s dignity on this earth? I lost my sons trying to restore my pride. ‘A women’s pride restored at the cost of her sons’ lives.’ Does it even sound worthy? Where is dharma in it? In the end, I stand losing everything. Again. Was this war even a necessary one?” – Draupathi questioned Krishna.

         Krishna spoke, “Draupathi, What happened to you in the court was adharma. Every soul should be respected. Real adharma is, it took such a long time to restore a women’s pride. It all happened because the rulers paved path for adharma. When we have a shrub that yields poisonous fruit in our garden, we don’t take pity on the shrub. We uproot it. It’s for our safety. Same way, adharma is a poisonous tree. We have to uproot it. That was your destiny: To remove the weeds of adharma so that the sapling of dharma will sprout and will provide shade to every soul on this earth. To remove the weeds of adharma, war was necessary. This war paved path for dharma. You gave the citizens of this world and the future generations a world that walks on the path of dharma.”

         “Why war, Govinda? Why didn’t you visit the kings and demand them to follow dharma? You are the king of leela. You could have at least taken that path and made people follow dharma. All these lives would have been spared at least.” – Draupathi asked Krishna.

      “Draupathi, every human soul has got its freedom. Demanding or commanding is not the way to sustain dharma. Choosing dharma is in the decision made by the soul. No leela can change it. Every human has to think to choose and follow dharma. Sadly, parents don’t teach their kids to think and decide that way. Guru fails to make his disciples think in the path of dharma. Everyone in this world run to accomplish their wants. They fail to understand whether it’s a need or want. They fail to find and think about dharma. They fail to choose eternal happiness. That’s why war was the only way to sustain dharma on this earth and in the hearts of people. Karma and destiny always holds hands together but people fail to realize it.” -  Krishna spoke in a distressed voice.

         “If that’s so, then how come we are still alive? This war started because of us. We were the ones who vowed and were responsible for the war. How come my sons are dead at young age fighting to restore their mother’s pride but we, who should be held responsible for all these death are still alive?” – Draupathi looked at Krishna expecting an explanation.

         “Draupathi, you and your husbands were born for a purpose. You are all born to devas. Your blood is pure, not stained. The purpose of you all is to sustain dharma. War has only paved path for dharma to sprout. You and your husbands should help in developing the sprout into a tree to sustain dharma all over the world.” – Krishna continued after eyeing Draupathi who looked pacified and was listening with effort, “Draupathi, my dear friend, loss in war is inevitable. It affects even those who haven’t participated. Develop courage in yourself to improve the lives of the citizens of the people who are hurt both psychologically and economically. Just like how sun always illumines the world, lead the people in the path of dharma. Parikshith is going to be the future ruler of this world and make sure you and your husbands give him the world with citizens who follow the path of dharma.”

The sun rose on the east, bright and warm, representing the new dawn.