North India Statesman
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News India Live, Digital Desk: The story of Mahabharata is not just about victory and defeat, it is the story of characters and their ideals. The way the great masters of this war lived their lives, their deaths also taught an equally great lesson. When the body was leaving and the journey of life was coming to an end, the last words that came out of the mouth of these warriors were the essence of their entire life.
Let us know about the four great characters of Mahabharata and their last wishes, which show us the mirror of life even today.
1. Bhishma Pitamah: Waiting for Dharma and Moksha
When Bhishma Pitamah was lying on the bed of arrows pierced by Arjun’s arrows, he had the boon of voluntary death. If he wanted, he could have sacrificed his life immediately, but he did not do so. His last wish was to sacrifice his life only when the sun was ‘Uttarayan’. It is believed that the soul leaving the body in Uttarayan directly attains salvation. Despite enduring unbearable pain for weeks, he waited for the right time for religion. This shows his tolerance and unwavering loyalty towards religion.
2. Guru Dronacharya: Attachment to son and fire of revenge
The story of Dronacharya’s death shows how even the most knowledgeable person can fall into the trap of attachment. When the Pandavas spread the false news that “Ashvatthama was killed”, Guru Drona laid down his weapons in mourning for his son and sat in samadhi. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Dhrishtadyumna severed his head. Dying Guru Drona’s last wish was not for salvation or peace, but for revenge. His last wish was that his son Ashwatthama should avenge his death. This shows that till the end he could not rise above his feelings of attachment to his son and revenge.
3. Danveer Karna: The pinnacle of humanity and charity
When Karna was counting his last breaths, Lord Krishna arrived in the guise of a Brahmin to test his charity and asked for charity. Karna thought for a few moments and then broke his gold teeth with a stone and gave them to him. Krishna came in his true form and asked Karna for his last wish. Karna said, “O Lord, I have two wishes. One, my last rites should be at a place where no sin has been committed. And second, if I am born again, please give me birth only among those people who are backward and poor, so that I can devote my life to their service.” Hearing this, Krishna’s eyes also became moist. This wish of Karna shows that he was not just a ‘philanthropist’ but also the biggest worshiper of humanity.
4. Duryodhana: Intoxicated with pride till his death
Even when Duryodhana, the villain of the story, was defeated by Bhima and was lying with his thigh broken, his ego did not diminish. He told Krishna his three last wishes:
- He wants to die in the golden palace of Hastinapur.
- All the wives of Pandavas should become widows.
- He wants to rule Hastinapur from heaven.
These wishes of his clearly show that he did not learn anything from his mistakes and he left this world burning with his hatred and jealousy. The last wishes of all these warriors are a true reflection of their character and teach us a lot about different aspects of life.
