Many people ask this question.
After the Rajasuya Yagna was completed, Vyasa Maharishi blessed Yudhishthira. But he also gave him a terrible prophecy.
“A great war will take place in the future. The entire Kuru race will perish, except for the five Pandavas. And you, Yudhishthira, will be responsible for this calamity.”
Yudhishthira was devastated.
That very moment, he took a vow.
“I won’t allow this to ever happen! From now onwards, I will never speak harshly or refuse any request or do anything at all to displease anyone, especially the Kauravas! I will be even more alert in following the Kshatriya code of conduct.”
Some time later came the invitation from Dhritarashtra to play the game of dice.
Yudhishthira accepted it - because it was against the Kshatriya code to refuse an invitation, and equally, because of his vow.
The game began.
Yudhisthira did not question the terms of the game.
He didn’t object to Shakuni throwing the dice on Duryodhana's behalf.
He didn't protest against the outrageous stakes.
Why?
Because his whole focus was on not antagonizing the Kauravas.
Why?
Because his whole focus was on not antagonizing the Kauravas.
He was desperate to prevent the calamity that Vyasa had foreseen.
Yudhishthira was trying to control the future. He believed that if he acted carefully enough, he could prevent the prophecy from coming true.
He had taken doership upon himself.
His intention was to avert a catastrophe. But in trying to control what might happen tomorrow, he lost sight of what he should do today.
In trying to protect the Kuru race, he neglected the welfare of his own brothers and wife who were his responsibility!
What could he have done differently?
Instead of taking the onus on himself, maybe he could have sought counsel?
He could have turned to Krishna for guidance?
We also often behave in this way. In the sense that we try to control every outcome in our life only by our own efforts.
Yudhishthira was trying to control the future. He believed that if he acted carefully enough, he could prevent the prophecy from coming true.
He had taken doership upon himself.
His intention was to avert a catastrophe. But in trying to control what might happen tomorrow, he lost sight of what he should do today.
In trying to protect the Kuru race, he neglected the welfare of his own brothers and wife who were his responsibility!
What could he have done differently?
Instead of taking the onus on himself, maybe he could have sought counsel?
He could have turned to Krishna for guidance?
We also often behave in this way. In the sense that we try to control every outcome in our life only by our own efforts.
We compromise on what is right because we fear what might happen if we don't.
We say we are being wise, when it is actually fear that drives our decisions.
Like Yudhishthira, we become so preoccupied with preventing an unpleasant future that we fail to see the harm we are causing in the present.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the best way out – do what is right, recognize the limits of your own control, and surrender the outcome to the Lord.
Like Yudhishthira, we become so preoccupied with preventing an unpleasant future that we fail to see the harm we are causing in the present.
The Bhagavad Gita teaches us the best way out – do what is right, recognize the limits of your own control, and surrender the outcome to the Lord.
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