Everybody thinks Duryodhana, is the reason for the Mahabharat war. Blaming him is easy, as he is the textbook villain. He does everything wrong, deliberately. He tries to kill the Pandavas, relies on evil Shakuni and even tries to Arrest Lord Krishna.
He's clearly the evil man
He's clearly the evil man
But there is one person, in my opinion who is more culpable than Duryodhana, for the Mahabharat War, is the guy, who could have stopped him, Dhritarashtra.
When Duryodhana was born, Vidura advises Dhritarashtra to kill him as he was prophesied to destroy to the whole Kuru family
When Duryodhana was born, Vidura advises Dhritarashtra to kill him as he was prophesied to destroy to the whole Kuru family
And it was kind of OK, because Dhritarashtra had 99 other sons, so he wouldn't miss one. But he doesn't.
He then asks Pandavas to go to Varanasi, on the advise of his evil minister Kanika, where he knows Duryodhana will kill them.
He then asks Pandavas to go to Varanasi, on the advise of his evil minister Kanika, where he knows Duryodhana will kill them.
After they return from the "Dead", he refuses to proclaim Yudhishtir, as the prince of Hastinapur, which would have sorted everything out. He refuses and partitions the kingdom.
He then watches the dice game and what injustice that follows it, silently.
He then watches the dice game and what injustice that follows it, silently.
He doesn't call back the Pandavas from their Vanavas on the 13th Day, when can. And finally, doesn't step in the negotiations, which could have prevented the war.
He finally makes his allegiance to Duryodhana, very clear in the first shloka of the Geeta.
He finally makes his allegiance to Duryodhana, very clear in the first shloka of the Geeta.
Dhritarashtra, could have prevented Mahabharata, at any point in time. He doesn't even try. And that leads to annihilation.
And if you look at it, we all have a potential Dhritarashtra within us. You can even call it the brain.
And if you look at it, we all have a potential Dhritarashtra within us. You can even call it the brain.
On its own, it is blind, but acts on the information it receives from various centres.
It has to choose between the right, that is our conscience or the wrong, which is our ego. The ego within all of us, is the Duryodhana.
It has to choose between the right, that is our conscience or the wrong, which is our ego. The ego within all of us, is the Duryodhana.
The thing is, Brain likes the ego more than the conscience. But if it ignores the conscience to favour our ego, it will always lead to our annihilation. Because ego is meant to destroy things, you can't blame it.
But ultimately, it is the brain that allows it to.
But ultimately, it is the brain that allows it to.
