Mahabharata – Part I

The Great Song of the Bharata Tribe

This ancient Indian epic is often referred to as the Indian encyclopedia of history and mythology, politics, law, theology, and philosophy. In addition to the historical elements that depict the development and changes within the ancient Aryan civilization, the Mahabharata reflects both the world of one of the oldest known religions, the Vedic religion, and the world of the historically much younger Hinduism. The oldest and foundational Indian philosophical teachings about the universe, nature, and humans speak through the verses, mythological beings, symbols, and parables, throughout the numerous pages of the Mahabharata.

Today, this text is considered one of the most extensive epics in world literature; according to tradition, it contains one hundred thousand slokas (ancient Indian couplets).

The age of the Mahabharata is estimated only approximately, based on certain historical, social, and cultural facts. It is believed that the complete form of the epic was created in the period from the 4th to the 3rd century BCE. However, the events described in the epic are connected to The so-called Vedic period of Indian civilization (1500-600 BCE). It is assumed that this period was preceded by the Aryan expansion in the Ganges Valley, and that the content of the epic relates to a well-structured civilization in which battles were fought among the rulers of the kingdoms in northern India. It is believed that the Mahabharata, as a comprehensive text, was created over centuries by gradually adding new episodes, stories, and legends that carried a specific message and were more or less connected to the core of the epic, which is the conflict between two branches of the royal lineage in the Bharata tribe. Although the Mahabharata still remains a mystery in many ways, it is not completely inaccessible and incomprehensible to the modern man. Without delving into its complex theological symbolism or intricate philosophical systems and concepts, we will try to touch upon the messages that this ancient pedagogical text is intended for – not the theologian or sage, but the person who lives their days and often wonders: How? We will therefore touch upon one aspect of ethics. The ancient Aryans believe that virtue is the fundamental means of spiritual development for individuals and humanity as a whole. They consider virtue to be the answer to the question of how to live, and the lack of virtue leads to the decline of humanity. The messages conveyed by this aspect of the Mahabharata are simple, understandable, and surprisingly relevant, making them relatable to modern man.

The Mahabharata is often referred to as the fifth Veda and is considered an authority on ethical behavior. Within the ancient Aryan teachings on the birth and life of the universe, as well as philosophical principles on harmonious relationships within nature, man in the Mahabharata represents the element that connects different worlds – the world of law or Heaven, and the world of matter or Earth. Man is a being whose task is to ascend to the heavenly realm. However, the Mahabharata states that this ascent begins and takes place within man, within his own soul. This will also determine his actions in the earthly world. The more the soul of man is oriented towards heavenly values, the more it will be influenced by divine guidance, and the more virtuous and righteous his actions will be. ispravno djelovao,
Neka stekne glasovito ime: uzdržavajući se od oštrih riječi i prezirući loše ljude. Žene koje žude za čovjekom kojeg drugi obožavaju nemaju vlastitu volju, niti muškarac koji poštuje drugoga samo zato što ga drugi poštuju. Želje siromašnoga su siromašne, a gnjev slaboga je poput trnja zabodenog u tijelo. Onaj koji nije ljubomoran na druge, ljubazan je prema slabima, ne prepiru se i ne govori oholo, i nije zlopamtilo, svuda je hvaljen. Onaj tko osjeća sram, makar njegovi grijesi bili veliki, ima plemenitost u sebi, a onaj koji nema stida, bez obzira kolike vrline posjeduje, nema vrijednosti. Tko se raduje ili tuguje radi vlastite koristi, radi vlastite sreće, radi vlastite oholosti, taj neprimjeren djeluje. Tko je blag, tko je vedar i tko je miran, vješto djeluje. Tko je ponizan, tko ne traži čast i tko ne misli o sebi, tko pati i tko ne pokazuje svoje slabosti, djeluje ispravno. Onaj tko je hrabar, tko se ne plaši opasnosti, tko je ustrajan i tko je odlučan, djeluje ispravno. Onaj tko je darežljiv, tko je skroman, tko je strpljiv i tko je odan, vješt je u djelovanju. Onaj tko uspijeva brzo obuzdati vlastite strasti, tko je u kontroli uma i tko je skoncentriran, djeluje ispravno. “and known only to him, he is highly respected among people.”
Forgiveness
“One should forgive an offense to someone who has done them a favor before, even if they were wrong in front of you and committed a grave injustice. Remember the good they have done for you. And even those who offend due to their ignorance and foolishness, should be forgiven, because a person struggles to gain wisdom.”
Anger
“Anger is the destroyer of people, but also their creator. Anger is the root of all well-being and all poverty. There is no deed that an angry person won’t do or words that they won’t utter. A person in anger falls into sin. They will even kill their own teacher and insult the elders with sharp words. They cannot distinguish what should be said and what should not. In their fury, they can even kill the innocent and show respect to those who deserve death. So how can someone like me let anger run loose when it is so destructive for the world? A wise person, who, although offended, does not allow it to torment them, rejoices in the afterlife because they have surpassed the offense of their wrongdoer with indifference. Only the ignorant ones Alice believes that anger is equivalent to strength… If there were no patient and tolerant people among humans, there would be no peace in the world, only constant warfare that triggers anger…”

Pain

Action
“I do nothing eagerly anticipating the fruits of action. It is my duty to give, and I give… I do the best I can and fulfill what a family man must fulfill, without caring whether it will bear fruit or not. My role models are the good and wise, and I do not expect the fruits of my actions but rather find satisfaction in performing my duties.” I strive not to violate the provisions of the Vedas. Justice attracts my heart naturally. And the one who longs to reap its fruits is a deceiver and never attains those fruits, just like the one who doubts it, due to their indecisiveness. Therefore, I tell you what the Vedas dictate because they are the highest judge in this matter. Never doubt virtue!… Foolish is the one who doubts faith and relies on evidence from their own mind, disregarding any other proof and only seeing the external world that satisfies their senses, but is blind to everything else. Actions in this world bear fruits in eternity, even if you cannot see them now. Do not doubt justice and do not slander God, the Lord of all creation, but learn how to know Him! Bow down to the one through whose grace mortal man attains immortality.”

Justice
“Thousands of mothers and fathers, hundreds of sons and spouses are born in this world and depart from it, and those who come after them will depart in the same way. There are thousands of opportunities for rejoicing and hundreds of opportunities for fear. Day by day, this can disturb an unstable, but never wise person… No one should reject justice for the sake of pleasure or desire, or out of fear. Justice should not be forgotten even for the sake of life itself! Justice is eternal, while pain and pleasure are temporary. The soul is eternal, while the causes of its attachment to the body are fleeting.”

Victory
“Then Yudhishthira, pale at the sight of Duryodhana’s army, addressed Arjuna: “Arjuna, can we truly overcome this vast army? Bhisma, our invincible grandfather, is in front of it. The Kuru army is indeed so great that I wonder how we could overcome it.” To this, Arjuna replied: “O king, those who desire victory do not win through strength and boldness alone, but through truth, caution, righteousness, and effort. One must discern justice from injustice, understand what greed is, and then make the effort and enter into battle without arrogance, because victory lies where justice is as well.”