Sampoorna Mahabharata • సంపూర్ణ శ్రీమహాభారతము • Episode 7

Greatness of Bharata
Tremendous are the results of listening or reading Bharata. The Lord personally leads such people to the supreme goal. Next mathana (recapitulation) and tapana (burning desire to listen to it) both are equally important.
Upon hearing about the war that took place, the Maharishis asked, ‘Please tell us the greatness of Samanta panchaka and akshauhini army assembled there’. Maharishi replied, ‘In the time between Treta-Dwarapa yuga, the angry Parasurama wiped out the entire Kshatriya race from earth’.
This story is covered in Datta darshanam. All forms of difficulties vanish if you read the book. ‘Thereafter, with that blood he created 5 lakes and offered oblations to forefathers.’ Richika and other ancestors then manifested and said, ‘O Rama, laudable is your valour and love for ancestors. We are pleased with you. Choose any boon.’
He said, ‘If you truly are pleased with me, then free me from the sin of killing Kshatriyas. Also, these 5 lakes should become 5 holy places’. They said, ‘So be it. Now forgive the kshatriyas’. Parasurama then calmed down.
From then this place was called Samantaka panchaka and is considered very holy in all the 3 worlds. In the time between Dwapara-Kali, at this spot a terrible war ensued between Kauravas-Pandavas. 18 akshauhini army fought and all of them were slain. Due to this too, it was titled Samantaka panchaka’.
The Maharishis then asked, ‘Please explain in detail about akshauhini’.
Maharishi Lomaharshana replied, ‘1 chariot, 1 elephant, 5 infantry, 3 horses form 1 patti.
3 pattis make 1 senamukha.
3 senamukhas form a gulma;
3 gulmas form a gana;
3 ganas, a vāhini;
3 vahinis, a pritana;
3 pritanas form a chamu;
3 chamus form 1 Anīkini;
10 anīkini is 1 akshauhini.
Therefore, 1 akshauhini= 21,870 chariots, 21,870 elephants, 65,610 cavalry and 109,350 infantry. 18 such akshauhini fought in the war’.
Adding their family members, imagine the world population of that time.
Making Kauravas the cause, time gathered all kings at one spot and slew them. In that terrible battle, Bhishma led for 10 days, Drona for 5 days, Karna for 2 days, Shalya for ½ day, followed by the mace-battle. That night Ashwatthama and others slayed the remaining Pandavas army who were in deep sleep.
Such Mahabharata is composed of many specialities. In Janmejaya’s sarpa yaga Maharishi Vyasa’s disciple Vaiśampayana narrated it completely. In the 1st chapter, we learnt of how Vyasa perceived the entire story. Now in the 2nd chapter, the parvas (mega chapters); their contents; their sub chapters and contents are told.
Just as those seeking liberation necessarily develop dispassion, wise men must necessarily understand Bharata’. We must therefore listen to Bharata. When we listen to it from our dearest Sadguru, it is even more delightful. ‘It is filled with strange meanings; different doctrines and explains various rites. Just as the Self is the most important among things to be known; just as life is the dearest among all objects, Mahabharata is the best among the different treatises.’
There are many who fast endlessly, in the process falling sick and getting hospitalized. Having lost awareness they believe that they are going to Vaikuntha and that the saline being injected is itself nectar.
‘Just as sustaining body is impossible without food or water, without Bharata no story can sustain. It is the foundation for all stories and is revered by poets. Just as words seek refuge in earth and in Vedas, only that intellect which seeks refuge in Bharata is the best. It is our Guru. It is filled with many strange words, interpretations, judgements and Vedic meanings.
Its 18 parva are Adi, Sabha, Aranyaka, Virata, Udyoga, Bhīshma, Drona, Karna, Shalya, Sauptika, Stri, Shanti, Ānushasana, Ashwamedhika, Āśramvasa, Mausala, Mahaprasthanika and Svarga. Each has 100 sub-chapters. 2nd chapter is the summary of all chapters’.
We are skipping that summary for now.
‘18 akshauhini fought for 18 days. Why did such terrible war take place? What led to it? What is the message to be drawn from it? - all these are taught by this treatise. A Brahmin who has studied Vedas but refrains from reading Bharata cannot be said to possess wisdom that discerns good from bad. The wise Maharishi Vyasa authored Bharata such that it is a scripture that deals with dharma; with monetary earnings (artha) and with fulfilment of desires (kama).
Just as after listening to a cuckoo no one seeks to hear a crow, after listening to Bharata no one seeks to hear any other story. Just as the world depends upon the 5 elements, poets depend upon Bharata for their minds to blossom. Just as 4 types of entities exist in creation, subject matter of all 18 Puranas exist in Bharata. Just as servants seeking prosperity work under a good king, best poets always seek support in Bharata.