Be Not The Slave Of Passion - Mahabharata

Virtue characterizes the conduct of the good in this world.

From peace would precede happiness of relatives and friends and of the whole world.

When misfortune overtakes a man, he remembers the wise counsel of his father.

He who cannot digest the words of his well-wishers because they are unpleasant is easily subjugated by his enemies.

Be not the slave of passion. He who is controlled by passion loses the capacity to think and judge properly.

Treat all with equal generosity.

Sri Krishna talks to Duryodhana as Shantidoot or messenger of peace

Revenge can only lead to doom. Mahabharata may revolve around the war of duty. But we cannot escape the fact that the major reason behind the destruction of all was revenge. The Kauravas lost everything to their blinded desire to ruin the Pandavas. The war did not even spare the children, including five sons of Draupadi and Abhimanyu.

Arjuna was initially hesitant to wage war against his family and relatives. But Krishna reminded him that one has to stand by Dharma (duty), even it meant going against family. Therefore, Arjuna had to fulfill his responsibility as a great warrior of Dharma. We need to always stand by what is right.

Abhimanyu teaches us how half-knowledge can have an adverse impact. While Abhimanyu knew how to enter the Chakravyuh, he did not know the way out.