Hari OM Parents,
Please find below updates from our class on Nov 22nd.
We started our class with 3 OMs and the following slokas
Sahana Vavatu
Vakratunda Mahakaya
Saraswathi Namastubhyam
Guru Brahma Guru Vishnu
We recited the Daily Prayers ( page#11) in the order of:
- Karagre Vasate
- Samudra Vasane
- Gange cha Yamune
- Sarasvati Namastubhyam
- Brahmaarpanam
- Shubham Karoti
- Kara-charana-krtam vak
Drona suggested that the army must be arrayed well since Arjuna had come. Duryodhana mentioned that even if it were Arjuna, if he is exposed then it would mean that the Pandavas would have to go in exile for another twelve years since the thirteenth year has not ended yet. Hence, there was no need for fear or worry. Karna suggested that he would single handedly face Arjuna and win him. Kripa also suggested that they should make a combined attack on Arjuna if they were to succeed in the battle. When Karna sneered at Kripa and Drona, Aswatthama, Drona's son got angry and reminded him that the battle is yet to be won and that he had not found in any sastra that it is honorable for kings to seize kingdoms by cheating at dice. The leaders of the Kaurava army lost their patience and began to argue loudly. Seeing this, the grandsire Bhishma was filled with sorrow and said that wise men do not insult their teachers. He urged that this was not the time to nurse enmity and asked Aswatthama to not mind Karna's offensive remarks. He pacified the Kaurava army and said that they could conquer Arjuna only if they joined together and fought him. He added that the thirteenth year had ended the day before. He asked Duryodhana to reflect before deciding on war. He could still make peace with the Pandavas. But Duryodhana did not wish for peace. He mentioned that he would not give even a village to the Pandavas. Drona suggested that Duryodhana should take away a fourth of the army to guard him and return to Hastinapura and another fourth of the army should seize the cows. With the rest of the army, the
Kaurava leaders would fight Arjuna.
When Arjuna did not see Duryodhana, he knew that Duryodhana was driving away the cows to Hastinapura. Arjuna moved away from the Kaurava army and went after Duryodhana. As he was passing his teachers, he respectfully greeted them and his grandsire by drawing his Gandiva bow and sending arrows to fall near their feet. He thus reverentially saluted them. Arjuna defeated the marauding forces and recovered the cows. He asked the cowherds to take them to the byres. Arjuna then pursued Duryodhana. Seeing this, Bhishma and other Kaurava warriors rushed to the rescue. A fierce battle ensued, but Arjuna defeated Karna, Drona, Kripa and Aswatthama. He then had a glorious fight with Bhishma which it said that the gods themselves came to see.
Finally, he succeeded and went after Duryodhana and defeated him. But when Arjuna taunted him with cowardice, Duryodhana came back to fight with him again. Bhishma and others joined the fight. Arjuna employed a magic weapon and made them all fall unconscious and snatched away their garments. The seizure of the enemy's clothes was the sign of decisive victory in those days. The whole army returned to Hastinapura after the humiliating defeat. Arjuna instructed Uttara to turn back the horses. The cows had been regained and the enemy defeated. He deposited the weapons as before on the tree and dressed himself once more as Brihannala. He sent messengers in advance to proclaim in the city that Uttara had won a glorious victory.
Kaurava leaders would fight Arjuna.
When Arjuna did not see Duryodhana, he knew that Duryodhana was driving away the cows to Hastinapura. Arjuna moved away from the Kaurava army and went after Duryodhana. As he was passing his teachers, he respectfully greeted them and his grandsire by drawing his Gandiva bow and sending arrows to fall near their feet. He thus reverentially saluted them. Arjuna defeated the marauding forces and recovered the cows. He asked the cowherds to take them to the byres. Arjuna then pursued Duryodhana. Seeing this, Bhishma and other Kaurava warriors rushed to the rescue. A fierce battle ensued, but Arjuna defeated Karna, Drona, Kripa and Aswatthama. He then had a glorious fight with Bhishma which it said that the gods themselves came to see.
Finally, he succeeded and went after Duryodhana and defeated him. But when Arjuna taunted him with cowardice, Duryodhana came back to fight with him again. Bhishma and others joined the fight. Arjuna employed a magic weapon and made them all fall unconscious and snatched away their garments. The seizure of the enemy's clothes was the sign of decisive victory in those days. The whole army returned to Hastinapura after the humiliating defeat. Arjuna instructed Uttara to turn back the horses. The cows had been regained and the enemy defeated. He deposited the weapons as before on the tree and dressed himself once more as Brihannala. He sent messengers in advance to proclaim in the city that Uttara had won a glorious victory.
When Virata returned to the capital after defeating Susarma, he saw prince Uttara was not there and the womenfolk told him with much elation that he had set out to conquer the Kauravas with Brihannala as the charioteer. The king's heart sank, and he was overwhelmed with anguish to think that his son could be dead. He bade his ministers to gather a strong force and rescue Uttara if he was still alive. Yudhishthira, now disguised as the sannyasin Kanka, tried to comfort Virata by assuring him that the prince would come to no harm, since Brihannala had gone as a charioteer. Meanwhile the courtiers arrived from the field of battle with the glad news that Uttara had defeated the Kaurava forces and recovered the cows. The king was elated and made large gifts of precious stones and wealth to the messengers who brought him the good news. The king ordered for the prince to be welcomed in a befitting manner. Special prayers of thanksgiving were offered at all places of worship, the streets were decorated with flags and the citizens lined up to welcome the prince with triumphant music.
King Virata retired to his private apartments and asked Sairandhri to bring the dice. He asked Kanka to play a game with him. The king continued to praise the prince. Yudhishthira again mentioned that his son had the good fortune of having Brihannala as his charioteer. Virata now became very angry. While he was praising his son's victory, Kanka kept mentioning that Brihannala was no ordinary person. The chariot she drove could never see defeat and whoever was in it was sure of success in any undertaking no matter how difficult.
The king in a bout of anger flung the dice on Yudhishthira's face and followed up with a blow on his cheek. Yudhishthira was hurt and blood flowed down his face. Sairandhri who was nearby, wiped the blood with the edge of her garment and squeezed it into a golden cup saying that a sannyasin's blood may not be spilt on the ground and that the rains may fail for as many years as there were drops of blood on the earth.
The gatekeeper announced that Uttara and Brihannala had arrived and were waiting to seek an audience with the king. Yudhishthira whispered to the sentry to only let Uttara to come in and for Brihannala to stay behind. He did this to prevent a catastrophe for he knew Arjuna would be unable to control his anger when he saw the injury on his brother's face. He could not bear to see Dharmaputra hurt by anyone except in a fair battle.
Uttara entered and paid due homage to his royal father. He then turned to Kanka to do obeisance but was horrified to see his bleeding face. The king mentioned that he had hit him because Kanka repeatedly praised his charioteer, the eunuch, and gave victory to him. Uttara was overwhelmed with fear and asked his father to fall at Kanka's feet and ask for forgiveness. King Virata stood puzzled, and the prince bowed to Yudhishthira asking for pardon.
The king then praised his son for his victory and asked him to narrate how he had conquered the Kauravas and recovered the cows. Uttara hung his head and said that he conquered no army. He had the help of a god-prince who rescued him and defeated the Kauravas. King Virata was eager to see the god-prince and he wanted to give his daughter Uttara in marriage to him. But the prince mentioned that the god-prince had disappeared for the time being, but he would come again soon.
In Virata's assembly, all the leading citizens had gathered to celebrate the King's and prince's victory. Kanka, Valala, Brihannala, Dharmagranthi, and Tantripala also arrived and on entering the hall, to everyone's surprise sat among the princes. On seeing this, the king got furious and lost his temper. The Pandavas then disclosed their identity to everyone's surprise. The king embraced Kanka in exuberant gratitude and insisted that he should give his daughter in marriage to Arjuna. But Arjuna refused saying that he had taught dance and music and he was her teacher and in a position of father to her. He agreed to accept her for his son Abhimanyu.
Meanwhile envoys arrived from Duryodhana with a message to Yudhishthira that since Arjuna had let himself be recognized before the thirteenth year was over, the Pandavas had to dwell in the forest for another twelve years. Yudhishthira laughed and told the messengers to relay to Duryodhana to make further enquiry and that Bhishma and others learned in the stars would tell him that the thirteen years had been completed before the Kaurava forces heard the twang of the Arjuna's Gandiva.
King Virata retired to his private apartments and asked Sairandhri to bring the dice. He asked Kanka to play a game with him. The king continued to praise the prince. Yudhishthira again mentioned that his son had the good fortune of having Brihannala as his charioteer. Virata now became very angry. While he was praising his son's victory, Kanka kept mentioning that Brihannala was no ordinary person. The chariot she drove could never see defeat and whoever was in it was sure of success in any undertaking no matter how difficult.
The king in a bout of anger flung the dice on Yudhishthira's face and followed up with a blow on his cheek. Yudhishthira was hurt and blood flowed down his face. Sairandhri who was nearby, wiped the blood with the edge of her garment and squeezed it into a golden cup saying that a sannyasin's blood may not be spilt on the ground and that the rains may fail for as many years as there were drops of blood on the earth.
The gatekeeper announced that Uttara and Brihannala had arrived and were waiting to seek an audience with the king. Yudhishthira whispered to the sentry to only let Uttara to come in and for Brihannala to stay behind. He did this to prevent a catastrophe for he knew Arjuna would be unable to control his anger when he saw the injury on his brother's face. He could not bear to see Dharmaputra hurt by anyone except in a fair battle.
Uttara entered and paid due homage to his royal father. He then turned to Kanka to do obeisance but was horrified to see his bleeding face. The king mentioned that he had hit him because Kanka repeatedly praised his charioteer, the eunuch, and gave victory to him. Uttara was overwhelmed with fear and asked his father to fall at Kanka's feet and ask for forgiveness. King Virata stood puzzled, and the prince bowed to Yudhishthira asking for pardon.
The king then praised his son for his victory and asked him to narrate how he had conquered the Kauravas and recovered the cows. Uttara hung his head and said that he conquered no army. He had the help of a god-prince who rescued him and defeated the Kauravas. King Virata was eager to see the god-prince and he wanted to give his daughter Uttara in marriage to him. But the prince mentioned that the god-prince had disappeared for the time being, but he would come again soon.
In Virata's assembly, all the leading citizens had gathered to celebrate the King's and prince's victory. Kanka, Valala, Brihannala, Dharmagranthi, and Tantripala also arrived and on entering the hall, to everyone's surprise sat among the princes. On seeing this, the king got furious and lost his temper. The Pandavas then disclosed their identity to everyone's surprise. The king embraced Kanka in exuberant gratitude and insisted that he should give his daughter in marriage to Arjuna. But Arjuna refused saying that he had taught dance and music and he was her teacher and in a position of father to her. He agreed to accept her for his son Abhimanyu.
Meanwhile envoys arrived from Duryodhana with a message to Yudhishthira that since Arjuna had let himself be recognized before the thirteenth year was over, the Pandavas had to dwell in the forest for another twelve years. Yudhishthira laughed and told the messengers to relay to Duryodhana to make further enquiry and that Bhishma and others learned in the stars would tell him that the thirteen years had been completed before the Kaurava forces heard the twang of the Arjuna's Gandiva.
The children had an assignment to think and relate to what Bhishma had mentioned to the Kaurava army - Engage in battle (situations) only after a careful assessment of time, place and circumstance. The children were able to relate that to project activities, school club activities and how they handled situations that needed alertness and attention. We also discussed team spirit and if they worked as a team in project activities, they should be ready to help and educate their partners and not ignore them or do all the work by themselves. Arjuna saw how scared Prince Uttarakumara was when he was face to face with the Kaurava army. As a true and noble warrior, Arjuna helped Uttarakumara to rise above his fear and face the army.
Bhagavad Gita: Verses 6 & 7 from chapter 5 were taught and rehearsed this week, following our Swamiji, Swami Shantanandaji's chanting video.
We assembled in the prayer hall for aarthi and pledge.
Next class is on Friday, Dec 6th at 7 pm.
Thank you,
Purnima & Anupama
