Drona's Dharma Karma
By Joy Jones
To conclude this lecture
on the artifacts
of ancient epics and Dharma, I would like to shift the subject matter
slightly. I have found some truly awe-inspiring remnants in my
exploration of the ruins of Ayodhya. The Ramayana is an incredible story of
stories, and the interweaving of Dharma throughout it is something that
cannot be ignored. As a scholar, I feel it is my duty to share with you something
a bit outside of my research, yet relevant nonetheless.
One of the doctorate students within our department has been researching the other famous Indian epic, the Mahabharata. This story takes place after the events of the Ramayana, and it is the story of the great battle between the two sects of brothers, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. This epic is perhaps even more laden with issues of Dharma than the Ramayana! There is a particular character within the story that has stood out to my fellow researcher in his studies. Drona was the man who taught the Pandavas and Kauravas the ways of weaponry and battle-readiness. The significant detail of this otherwise ordinary situation is that Drona was not a kshatriya of the warrior caste, but rather a brahmin of the priestly caste, and he was therefore meant to spread knowledge of peace, not war. It appears as though an anonymous person within the kingdom of Hastinapura had a dream after Drona's death in which Drona spoke of the way in which he abandoned his Dharma. Fortunately for us, my fellow researcher uncovered a journal in which this person documented Drona's words in a first person format, which illustrates the consequences of not fulfilling one's Dharma.
I am so stupid. I am a stupid, selfish old man. I have visited you in this dream world in hopes that you will learn from my mistakes and spread my message throughout the land because no one should suffer from something that can be avoided.
I was born of the priestly brahmin caste. My people are meant to pursue and spread knowlege. We are meant to promote peace in a world that constantly seeks it. We are scholars and philosophers - not marksmen or warriors. But for some reason, I convinced myself that I was above the truths of the universe and that I could fool my Dharma and the laws of Karma.
I had a childhood friend named Drupada. We were the best of friends and did everything with each other, and we vowed that we would always be by each other's side. Well, my friend Drupada became king of Panchala, and we were separated. Because of our strong friendship, however, I believed I would always be able to count on him. Years later, after my son Aswatthama had been born, I found myself in such poverty that I had not even a drop of milk for him to drink. When I went to the palace and asked King Drupada to grace me with a simple bowl of milk, he pretended he did not even know me - his childhood friend! - and he sent me off to fend for myself. I had such little control over my mind that I allowed the anger to flood every fiber of my being. I vowed that I would one day seek revenge, and I was willing to pursue whatever means necessary.
Seeing the great physical strength of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, I decided to school them in the art of war. Once they and Aswatthama (whom I had also trained) had developed a high level of skill, I asked them to capture King Drupada as a form of payment for their education. When they brought him back to me, I cannot describe the feelings of joy and vindication I experienced. Looking back, I realize how sick my mental state was. At the time, however, all I was concerned with was fulfilling my selfish desire for revenge. I released King Drupada, but only after taking half of his kingdom. I doubted he would be able to forget me again after that!
Years passed, and it appeared as though I had fooled Dharma and Karma after all. It wasn't until the great battles between the Pandavas and Kauravas that I met my justice face to face. I was fighting on the side of the Kauravas, and the Pandavas decided to carry out a plan to bring me to my knees. Knowing that my son, Aswatthama, was the thing in this world that mattered most to me, they tricked me into believing he was dead. In reality, he was not; they had slain an elephant named Aswatthama and allowed me to believe it was my son they were referring to when they said Aswatthama was dead. This paralyzed me. The son I had reared and cared for all those years - the only thing that meant anything to me - was gone.
All of a sudden, I realized my Karma had come upon me. By not only ignoring my Dharma, but using the alternative path to create discontent within the world, I had betrayed the balance of things. I had fulfilled my selfish intentions under the guise of providing a service. I had lied to my pupils, I had robbed King Drupada of half of his kingdom, and I was fighting for the Kauravas even though I believed the Pandavas were more noble. I was a lie.
In my moment of suffering and shame, Drupada's son, Dhrishtadyumna, avenged the humiliation I had bestowed upon his father by drawing his sword and beheading me. I cannot be angry with Dhrishtadyumna or his father or the Pandavas. For I brought my fortune upon myself.
One of the doctorate students within our department has been researching the other famous Indian epic, the Mahabharata. This story takes place after the events of the Ramayana, and it is the story of the great battle between the two sects of brothers, the Pandavas and the Kauravas. This epic is perhaps even more laden with issues of Dharma than the Ramayana! There is a particular character within the story that has stood out to my fellow researcher in his studies. Drona was the man who taught the Pandavas and Kauravas the ways of weaponry and battle-readiness. The significant detail of this otherwise ordinary situation is that Drona was not a kshatriya of the warrior caste, but rather a brahmin of the priestly caste, and he was therefore meant to spread knowledge of peace, not war. It appears as though an anonymous person within the kingdom of Hastinapura had a dream after Drona's death in which Drona spoke of the way in which he abandoned his Dharma. Fortunately for us, my fellow researcher uncovered a journal in which this person documented Drona's words in a first person format, which illustrates the consequences of not fulfilling one's Dharma.
I am so stupid. I am a stupid, selfish old man. I have visited you in this dream world in hopes that you will learn from my mistakes and spread my message throughout the land because no one should suffer from something that can be avoided.
I was born of the priestly brahmin caste. My people are meant to pursue and spread knowlege. We are meant to promote peace in a world that constantly seeks it. We are scholars and philosophers - not marksmen or warriors. But for some reason, I convinced myself that I was above the truths of the universe and that I could fool my Dharma and the laws of Karma.
I had a childhood friend named Drupada. We were the best of friends and did everything with each other, and we vowed that we would always be by each other's side. Well, my friend Drupada became king of Panchala, and we were separated. Because of our strong friendship, however, I believed I would always be able to count on him. Years later, after my son Aswatthama had been born, I found myself in such poverty that I had not even a drop of milk for him to drink. When I went to the palace and asked King Drupada to grace me with a simple bowl of milk, he pretended he did not even know me - his childhood friend! - and he sent me off to fend for myself. I had such little control over my mind that I allowed the anger to flood every fiber of my being. I vowed that I would one day seek revenge, and I was willing to pursue whatever means necessary.
Seeing the great physical strength of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, I decided to school them in the art of war. Once they and Aswatthama (whom I had also trained) had developed a high level of skill, I asked them to capture King Drupada as a form of payment for their education. When they brought him back to me, I cannot describe the feelings of joy and vindication I experienced. Looking back, I realize how sick my mental state was. At the time, however, all I was concerned with was fulfilling my selfish desire for revenge. I released King Drupada, but only after taking half of his kingdom. I doubted he would be able to forget me again after that!
Years passed, and it appeared as though I had fooled Dharma and Karma after all. It wasn't until the great battles between the Pandavas and Kauravas that I met my justice face to face. I was fighting on the side of the Kauravas, and the Pandavas decided to carry out a plan to bring me to my knees. Knowing that my son, Aswatthama, was the thing in this world that mattered most to me, they tricked me into believing he was dead. In reality, he was not; they had slain an elephant named Aswatthama and allowed me to believe it was my son they were referring to when they said Aswatthama was dead. This paralyzed me. The son I had reared and cared for all those years - the only thing that meant anything to me - was gone.
All of a sudden, I realized my Karma had come upon me. By not only ignoring my Dharma, but using the alternative path to create discontent within the world, I had betrayed the balance of things. I had fulfilled my selfish intentions under the guise of providing a service. I had lied to my pupils, I had robbed King Drupada of half of his kingdom, and I was fighting for the Kauravas even though I believed the Pandavas were more noble. I was a lie.
In my moment of suffering and shame, Drupada's son, Dhrishtadyumna, avenged the humiliation I had bestowed upon his father by drawing his sword and beheading me. I cannot be angry with Dhrishtadyumna or his father or the Pandavas. For I brought my fortune upon myself.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Author's Note: The previous three stories
have been in praise of characters who swallowed their pride and made
the necessary sacrifices to follow what they knew to be their true
Dharma. While following one's duty is certainly an important
aspect of Dharma, situations of abandoning one's duty are equally
important because they allow one to see the ramifications of defying
what is considered to be a spiritual law. It could initially
appear as though Drona's actions were a form of innate parental
protection. Closer observation would indicate, however, that
Drona's actions were inspired by his bruised ego and the need to prove
his adequacy. King Drupada may have refused to acknowledge Drona
when he came before his throne, but Drona ultimately refused to
acknowledge the power of Dharma. The Pandavas may not have been
completely honest in their tactics against Drona, but Drona had been
lying to the spiritual world, those around him, and, ultimately, to
himself
all along. Drona's situation was selfish to the end - even once
he realized he had faltered, the damage had been done, and could not be
reversed, because Dhrishtadyumna took his life. Drona therefore
left fatherless the son whom he had been trying to protect in the first
place.~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Buck, William. Ramayana. Berkeley:
University of California Press, Ltd., 1976.
Photo: Spiritual Dimensions of Living and Dying
website
Introduction
Sita's Devotion
Dasaratha's Dilemma
Bharata and Brotherhood