MAHABHARATAM BHEESHMA PARVAM Chilukuru Venkateswarlu MAHABHARATAM BHEESHMA PARVAM © Chilukuru Venkateswarlu Year : 2014 Copies can be had from : SRI RAMAKRISHNA TAPOVANAM Chennai – 600 032, Mobile : 9884708559 Website : sriramakrishnatapovanam.org E-mail ID : [email protected] Typesetting by : R. Anuradha Raghuram, Hyderabad. (9441186831) 2 Dedication Sri Nori Sreenadha Venkata Somayazulu & Smt. Subbalakshmi Dedicated to my brother Sree Nori Sreenadha venkata Somayazulu and Smt. Subbalakshmi. Sree Somayazulu was born on 10-12-1922 at Thotlavalluru. He was the second son of late Sri Nori Suryanarayana and Seetamma. He learnt Vedas from his grandfather late Sri Nori Ramavadhani. Some how he did not showed much interest in academic education. In those days, education, economic background were not considered as an important parameter for a marriage. Arshayam and Paursheom are considered to be supreme. So he was married at a very early age with late Smt. Subbalakshmi at her eighth year. After marriage, he was inclined to equip himself with some professional qualifications. In those days the country was in the heat of independence movement under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. In 3 his movement Gandhiji strongly felt that there must be a common bondage to make the country united. He choose the propagation of Hindi as a common language in the country. Sri Somayazulu was one of the millions of youth influenced by Gandhiji’s call and immediately jumped into the movement. He started adult education in his house for adults in his village. With the same spirit he started learning Hindi and Sanskrit from scholars like Sri Ramananda Sarma, Sri Jatavallabhula Purushottam and pursued with great devotion. In the process he acquired several degrees in Hindi such as Vidwan, SahityaRatna from Allahabad University; B.A and Telugu Vidwan B.Ed degrees from Andhra University, Waltair. To spread the message of Gandhiji further he started “Netaji Hindi Vidyalaya” in Machilipatnam. (Krishna District A.P) Subsequently, He joined ZillaParishad (Krishna District), served as a Hindi, Telugu Pandit and retired as A Head Master. He helped his younger brothers Sri Ramakrishaiah, Narayanamoorthy in building up their careers. During early sixties to help. His youngest brother Chilukuru Venkateswarlu, a career he wrote the biographies of ancient Telugu poets and fixed his career as a publisher. (Subsequently, Venkateswarlu became a successful industrialist and as a writer in Telugu and English, settled at Chennai) He wrote many books on Vedanta such as Upanishads, Bhagavatgeeta, Brahmasutras, Patanjali yoga sutras etc. He died on 02- 02-1997 in his own house which was fondly named as ‘Upanishad Kuteeram’ at Tadigadapa, Vijayawada. Srimathi Subbalakshmi his wife was born in Gollakoderu near Kaikaluru Krishna district. They had six daughters and a son. I feel I am privileged to dedicate Sri Mahabharatam to my brother and sister-in-law. - Chilukuru Venkateswarlu 4 BETWEEN YOU AND ME Ramayana, Mahabharata, Bhagavatams are the reflection of Indian heritage and culture. With the grace of my guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa I have already written Ramayanam and Bhagavatam. Now by writing Mahabharatam, I feel I am privileged and fortunate. Even late Sri C. Rajagopalachari expressed his happiness that he enjoyed more Anandam after writing Ramayana and Mahabharata than occupying the seat of Governor General. Mahabharatam provides us all the knowledge to pursue the principal objects of a human life viz dharma, ardha, kaama and moksha. It contains the essence of Vedas, Sastras, Upanishads and Puranas and it is said “What is in Mahabharata is everywhere, what is not in Mahabharata is not available anywhere”. Pandits applauded Mahabharatam as “Panchama Vedam” (Fifth Vedam). Vyasa Maharishi has written this great epic in three years for the benefit of the mankind. Kavitrayam (Nannaya, Tikkana and Errapreggada) was written in Telugu in about three centuries. It is very astonishing to note that though three different poets have written, spread over in three centuries, the reader will have a feeling that the entire epic was written by one single poet during his lifetime. All this is because of the blessings of Vyasa Maharishi and the good fortune of Telugu Literature. 5 Mahabharatam is not only the oldest scripture in the world (over 5000 years) but also bigger than “Illiad” and “Oddessy” (The ancient Greek epics). It is bigger not only in volume, but by its character delineation and it’s range of emotions. Mahabharatam tells us the righteous character of Pandavas and the wicked nature of Duryodhana and his associates. The conflict of these two characters lead to the great battle of Kurukshetra. Bhagavat Geeta is like the soul of Mahabharata. Pandavas are it’s body. The Purushardhas, Ithihasas, Upakhyanas and Dharmas are it’s energy. Vyasa Maharishi has churned the ocean of human life and took out nectar in the form of Mahabharatam for the benefit of the mankind. In short Mahabharatam is the spiritual torch for the human life. It not only teaches all dharmas from Vedas and Puranas, but also gives their subtle nature and leads the people to right path at times of need. Kavitrayam are like Trimoortis. Aadikavi Nannaya is Vishnu. Kavibrahma Tiikana was Brahma. Prabandha Parameswara ‘Errapreggada’ was Parameswara. Though they lived in different ages, they aptly had the titles as Trimoortis and became popular as Kavitrayam. I take this opportunity and pay my respects to my parents Sri Nori Suryanarayana and Seetamma and to my adopted mother Sri Chilukuru Syamalamba. I prostrate at the lotus feet of my guru Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. I pray my gurudev to spread the message of Indian culture and heritage through these epics to one and all in the world. - Chilukuru Venkateswarlu 6 SRIMADANDHRA MAHABHARATHAM BHEESHMA PARVAM Chapter – 1 Veda Vyasa arrives: Both the armies of Kaurava and Pandavas built tents around Kurukshetra. At that time, king Dhrutarashtra was distressed about saving the pride of his sons. At the time Sanjaya was also by his side. Unexpectedly, Vyasa maharishi appeared and said to Dhrutarashtra: Vyasa maharishi: “My son! If you want to witness the war between Kauravas and Pandavas, I shall bless you with divine sight, so that you can watch them from your bed .” Dhrutarashtra: “Maharishi! When two brothers are fighting to kill each other, I can’t happily witness those scenes. I don’t mind to hear what is happening there. So please give such a power to Sanjaya. I will hear from him.” Vyasa maharishi: “My son! I am giving super natural power to Sanjaya. He can go anywhere in the battle field. No weapon will touch him. He can read others minds and know what they are thinking. He can also see the forms of gods watching the battle. You don’t have to worry about this war. It is pre-determine by the god. By this war, the burden on the earth will be reduced and disappeared.” Dhrutarashtra: “Sanjaya! Right from the times immemorial, people give even their life for the sake of land. Can you tell me the reason for it? Kauravas and Pandavas are Bheeshma parvam 7 fighting only for a piece of land. Why they are fastened with greed?” Sanjaya: King! Pandavas are not greedy. Their mind will be always fix on dharma. Your son Duryodhana is greedy. He dances to the tunes of Sakuni and others. They are all pretending friendship with your son. In olden days also, king Bhageeratha, king Yayati , king Raghu, Nahusha and many others fought battles for land. This tradition is not started with your sons alone. Whichever side god favours, that side will win the battle. Dhrutarashtra: Tell me what is happening in Kurukshetra now? Sanjaya went to Kurukshetra and returned with divine power. He fell at the feet of Dhrutarashtra and wept bitterly. Sanjaya: King! Bheeshma had collapsed in the battlefield. It is nothing but the act of fate. He once fought and defeated great Parasurama. Such a great Pitamaha fell in the hands of Sikhandi. Duryodhana deceived Pandavas in a game of dice and slept peacefully only on the strength of Bheeshma. Now Bheeshma fell down in the battlefield and Duryodhana became sleepless. Bheeshma was capable of killing even ten thousand kings; such a Bheeshma fell on the ground with the arrows of Sikhandi. Dhrutarashtra grieves for the death of Bheeshma: Dhrutarashtra: Sanjaya! Nobody can surpass and out class Bheeshma, who is nothing but an ocean of valour. How Sikhandi crossed such a fearful ocean? Oh Amba! You took a vow that “I shall take another birth to kill you”. Now you did it. What a surprise? He was the protector of Kaurava family. He led a most principled life. Even after killing such a virtuous grand old man, Pandavas want still to rule this country? even 8 Mahabharatam god also colludes with Pandavas, what else can be said? Adharma is overruling dharma. In spite of losing Bheeshma how is that Kauravas are continuing to fight for kingdom? Is it not a sin? Of all said and done, a Kshatriya is the most cruel person among all varnas . To take birth as a Kshatriya is also a sin. The Kaurava army has become a widow after losing Bheeshma. How Can I grieve for Kauravas? I am afraid they may even loose their lives. “Sanjaya! Where are Drona, Krupa leaving Bheeshma a prey for Sikhandi? What such a big army was doing when Bheeshma was attacked? Why none of them stood in support of him? Leaving him alone, were they looking fun and frolic at his fall? Perhaps they must be over confident that none could fell Bheeshma. Pandavas must have consolidated all their strength and instigated Sikhandi against Bheeshma? At that moment did my sons run away into forests, out of fear for life? After the fall of Bheeshma, what else remained for them? We lost everything.