| Awaken Bharata |
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| Books By David Frawley |
| THE IMPORTANCE OF KSHATRIYA DHARMA | |
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But it was Krishna himself who made the Pandavas go through with this terrible battle. Not only that Krishna encouraged the Pandavas to bend or break the traditional rules of chivalry in Indian warfare in order to deal with a more numerous and more cunning enemy that did not always respect these rules either. The deaths of Bhishma, Drona, and Duryodhana all involved such a breaking of the usual rules of combat. After the war when Yudhishthira lamented the loss of life in the battle, with so many friends and kinsmen slain, not only Krishna but all the sages came to point out the value of such a Kshatriya role in spite of the dire consequences. This section of the text, Raja Dharma Parva, on the role of Kings, is worth much study in this context. There is an entire chapter on the greatness of the Raja Danda or royal use of punishment (Shanti Parva XV.7) which states, "They sink into blinding darkness if the Danda (rod of punishment) is not employed."When Yudhishthira wanted to leave the world and become a monk he was told not to and taught, "The Danda is the Kshatriya Dharma, not shaving one's head (becoming a monk, XXIII. 47)." The same section teaches skill in battle and a righteous war not only as the duty of the Kshatriya but as the foundation of any healthy society, and the basis of spirituality because without the protection of a spiritual Kshatriya, Brahmins, monks and yogis themselves will have no protection or support. |
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