TOUGH LESSONS FROM HISTORY

Jeff Fortune

Arjuna and Duryodhana Position Themselves
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ordained by God. The Parlimentarians seek the support of the people. Jacob, this is brilliant!"

"My hope is that you can avert the tragedy that we could not. Of all the soldiers fighting the war, millions of men, only twelve survived," he said.

His words still ring in my ears. I came here to learn how England could best rule India. What I've found is a country that's already been through the

same war we're fighting. If only we could learn from their lessons.
We have God's will behind us, but I fear Cromwell and his cronies will not give up their cause so easily. Sadly, it appears as though we're doomed to repeat their history. I can only hope that more than twelve of us survive.

During this final installment, Hobbes has a chance to reflect on India's history, drawing parallels with the civil war raging at home in England.

June 2, 1649
Our short journey from Hastinapur to Kurukshetra is complete. Today, we reached the killing fields of Kurukshetra. After all that Jacob has told me about the battles that took place here, I can't help but feel a special kinship to these people.

My Indian guide, Jacob, told me more today about the preparations and deal-making that occurred before the war began.

"Thomas," he said, "your people would do well to stay faithful to your God."

I gave him a puzzled look.

"Consider Arjuna and Duryodhana," he told me. "They represented each side in the upcoming battle. Arjuna was a Pandava prince; Duryodhana was a Kaurava prince. Each sought to align themselves with Krishna."

"Krishna, the Supreme Being?"

"There are many that believe so, Thomas. I believe Krishna is an avatar of the Supreme Being Vishnu, but many Hindus believe Krishna himself is the Supreme Being."

I nodded and he continued.

"Krishna had a massive army, one million strong. Though Duryodhana and the Kauravas had the support of some of the local kingdoms, they sought an alliance with Krishna to solidify a huge numerical advantage over the Pandavas."

"Such," I said, "is the nature of conflict. We often seek to strengthen our support by such selfish means."

"Duryodhana arrived while Krishna was sleeping. Thinking himself Krishna's equal, he positioned himself at the head. When Arjuna arrived, he took a position at Krishna's feet. It may seem like a petty thing to you, Thomas, but they each asserted something very specific by where they sat. Duryodhana showed his pride, and Arjuna showed his modesty."

"No," I said. "I think I understand perfectly. Duryodhana was indicating that Krishna had no superiority to him. Arjuna acknowledged Krisha's superiority and

subjected himself to Krishna's will."

"That's it, precisely," Jacob said. "When Krishna awoke, he saw Arjuna at his feet and smiled. He asked Arjuna how he could help him. As Arjuna started to explain that he was there for Krishna's help, Duryodhana interrupted and demanded Krishna side with the Kauravas.

"As you can imagine," Jacob continued, "Krishna wasn't pleased with Duryodhana's outburst. Knowing Duryodhana's heart, he gave Arjuna a choice. Krishna himself would fight for one side; Krishna's massive army would fight for the other side. He gave Arjuna the option to choose. Arjuna chose wisely and elected to have Krishna on his side. Duryodhana was elated to have such a powerful army now under his command. Everyone seemed satisfied with the arrangement."

"Duryodhana wanted men behind him rather than the power of the Almighty?" I was incredulous. As I thought about it, though, everything clicked into place. As the realization hit me, Jacob grinned.

"You see, now, why I've told you this story?" he asked.

"My King rules by the divine right of kings,

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Author's Note: Hobbes and Jacob have continued their trip to the northwest. Shortly after their trip the Hastinapur, they arrive at the infamous fields of Kurukshetra. Jacob takes this opportunity to try to give Hobbes a warning from history. The parallels with the English civil wars and the great war between the Kauravas and Pandavas are shown in detail. The crown loyalists, including Hobbes, appeal to the divinity while the Parlimentarians appeal to the will of the people. In this way, Hobbes identifies more with the Pandavas, as evidenced by the humble deferment Arjuna gives when asking for Krishna's help. Oliver Cromwell, the leader of the Parlimentarians, is likened unto Duryodhana with his arrogance (at least as Hobbes sees it) in calling the people's authority equal to God's authority. Unfortunately, the parallels don't end there. The English civil war rages on for two more years after our story ends here. Charles II is crowned king of England eleven years after his father was murdered and he was exiled. Just as it was in the Mahabharata, once the stage was set, there was no avoiding the carnage. There could have been no other resolution to the conflicts, due, primarily, to the interests and egos of the people involved.

Source: •Buck, William (1973). Mahabharata - Sanjaya Returns