Truth alone triumphs.

Truth alone triumphs.

Everybody knows about the Indian epic “Mahabharata.” The vast kingdom of Dharmaputra was taken by Duryodhana his brother, by way of cheating in a game of dice.


In the battlefield Kurukshetra, the fight was between the kauravas and the Pandavas [both cousin brothers] to relinquish the throne. In that battle field Drona, the mighty warrior and the teacher of both the Kauravas and the Pandavas in the art of war fare, was on the side of Kauravas. Sri Krishna, Pandavas guide and war counselor, thought that the mighty Dhrona was more than a match for the Pandavas and all their forces. So the only hope for pandavas was in making Drona lay down his arms by some means or the other.


Drona has a son by name Aswathama, also an expert in the art war fighting on the side of the Kauravas. Sri Krtishna know that the father loved his son very much. He thought that if Drona could be made to believe that his son was killed in battle, he would throw down his arms in grief and the victory can be easily attained. But, Drona knows Aswathama was an invincible warrior and he will not believe if anybody tells that he was killed except Yudhistra.


Krishna knowing the fact went to Yudhistra and told him, that in the interest of his side, he must take his words otherwise the victory will be to other side. Sri Krishna told Yudhistra that the Pandavas should raise a cry that Aswathama was killed. While Bhima, Arjuna and others consented to do so what Kirshna asked them to, Yudhistra would not. His passion for truth would not allow him to do such a dishonorable act. But Krishna persuaded him by saying that everything was fair in this war because Kauravas were not honest people.


There was an elephant, by name Aswathama on the kauravas side. Bhima killed it and cried that Aswathama was slain. Aswathama, the warrior was fighting in another place of the battle field and Drona unable to see his son, feared the worst and lost all his balance. Drona with full of grief and with falling tears in his eyes cried “O Krishna, is my son really slain? I cannot believe the news of my brave son could be slain and so I will not believe the news of his demise unless I hear it from Yudhistra. Am sure, he will speak the truth only.

Sri Krishna brought Yudhistra before Drona and made him says “Aswathama is slain, and then add inaudibly the words “the elephant”, to ease his conscience. With great reluctance, Yudhistra told the words. Even he uttered the words; Sri Krishna blew his conch so that Drona heard only the words “Aswathama is slain.” On hearing these words Drona fell in a swoon and was killed.


Even though Yudhistra thinking about the elephant and told ‘Aswathama is slain’ the sinful action of Yudhistra bore it fruit not only eventually but also immediately. His chariot that did not touch the ground till then on virtue of truth speaking immediately sank to the earth.
It is a fact that Kauravas were not honest people and by cheating they have taken the Dharmaputra’s kingdom. But it is a lesson for everybody that even the enemy is the worst type, we must talk only the truth. But for the Yudhistras grieving Lord Krishna says that “I will liberate you from all sins, do not grave.”