Mahabharata: The Condensed Version of the World's Greatest Epic

by Krishna Dharma

Becoming degrad...

descend into lower and lower states of life. “The fruits of both sin and virtue are not immediately seen, gentle lady, but they manifest in due course. This is a highly mysterious subject, bewildering to even the gods. The results of work, known as karma, are controlled by Supreme Providence and he alone understands its mysteries....

him your forgiveness and virtue is nothing more than weakness.

Acts performed out of pride or passion will end

in grief.

“This region cannot be reached by any of atheistic temperament.

those who have practiced sacrifice and penance can come here. Heroes who never turn their backs in battle and rishis of rigid vows ascend to this planet, O pure minded one. The sinful can never see it even in their dreams. Behold now Amaravati, Indra’s capital.”

“It seems contradictory, dear child, but you should not grieve. Any success obtained as a consequence of sin is soon lost. It may be seen that wicked men prosper for a while, but eventually they are destroyed at the root.”

It rises fifty miles into the heavens and cannot

be accessed by the sinful.

There had been no chastisement for his heinous behaviour during the gambling

“Your sworn enemy now depends on you. What could give you more happiness than this opportunity to protect him?”

Surely those men are blessed who can sacrifice their own interests for the welfare of others.”

But peace can only be had when we control our senses. One who acts only for the pleasure of his senses soon encounters

misery.

An elder, teacher or superior is fit to be

rejected when he abandons virtue.

“It is said that man proposes and God disposes, O king,” Sanjaya said. “The Lord gives us the results

of

our own acts, good or bad. But he also has his own desires. It is only when we understand and surrender to those desires that we can be truly happy. Otherwise...

victory follows righteousness.

“Battles are not won by prowess alone. Virtue also plays a part. Wherever there is righteousness and truth, and wherever Krishna is found, there will be victory.”

Reluctantly Yudhishthira went over to Drona and called out, “Ashvatthama is dead!”, adding inaudibly, “The elephant.”

“No one is anyone’s father, son, uncle or anything else. We are all eternal parts of the Lord, living only temporarily in different bodies.”

No man can ever perform good

deeds alone.

Gazing at Krishna’s

face he felt supreme happiness.

What...

could anyone ...