Bhurishravas
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Bhurishravas was a prince of a minor kingdom[1] in the kingdom of Bahlika, Persia, and played a role in the Mahabharata epic.
Bhurishravas' father, Somadatta, once clashed with another prince called Sini. When Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna, was still unwed, many princes competed for her hand in marriage, including Somadatta and Sini, who fought a great battle over her. Sini, fighting on behalf of Vasudeva, won. The incident launched a feud between the Sini and Somadatta families.[2]
By the time of the Battle of Kurukshetra, Sini's grandson Satyaki, now a king of the Vrishnis, was allied with the Pandava army while Bhurishravas, now aged, sided with the Kauravas and was one of the eleven commanders of the Kaurava army.[2]
On the 14th day of the battle Bhurishravas challenged Satyaki. When Satyaki began to tire after a long and bloody battle, Bhurishravas battered him and dragged him across the battlefield. Arjuna, the leading warrior on the Pandava army, was alerted to Satyaki's danger by Lord Krishna. Just as Bhurishravas was preparing to kill Satyaki, Arjuna came to the rescue, shooting an arrow cutting off Bhurishravas' arm.[2][1]
Bhurishravas wailed that by striking him without a formal challenge, and from behind, Arjuna had disgraced the honor between warriors. Arjuna in turn rebuked Bhurishravas for attempting to kill an unarmed Satyaki - an act also against the rules of war. Arjuna reiterated that protecting Satyaki's life at all costs was his responsibility as a friend and comrade in arms.[2]
At this point, realising his folly, Bhurishravas laid down his weapons, and sat in the lotus posture to practice yoga.[2][1]
But then Satyaki emerged from his swoon, and before Arjuna could stop him, swiftly decapitated his enemy.[2][1]
The warriors on both sides of the battle universally condemned Satyaki for this act[1] - one of the incidents in the epic showing the helplessness of dharma and honor against the uncontrollable power of hatred.[2] Symbolically, as Bhurishravas' attempt to kill the unarmed Satyaki immediately resulted in his own death in the same manner, Bhurishravas can be seen as representing the binding effects of one's material actions (karma).[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e Essential Hinduism by Steven J. Rosen and Graham M. Schweig. Greenwood Publishing, 2006, page 96. Google books link accessed May 27, 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g Mahabharata Online: Somadatta's End, accessed May 27, 2008.
- ^ God Talks with Arjuna: The Bhagavad Gita: A new translation and commentary by Paramahansa Yogananda. Self-Realization Fellowship, 1995, page 87. Google books link accessed May 27, 2008.
[edit] External links
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