Monday, June 10, 2013

33. The Secret of Brahmastra - Part 4



The disciples were listening with rapt attention. Their eyes told that they wanted to listen more and more. Meanwhile, Ashwathama had a query:

‘Sire, is there any counter to these weapons?’

‘Few, very few indeed. A Brhama Astra can be countered by another Brahma Astra or  Vashnav Astra or Pashupat Astra and likewise. All these three categories are equally potent. They are the powers of the Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva respectively - each of them forming part of the all important trinity in charge of 'creation', 'maintenance' and 'destruction' of the universe.

‘But sons, the consequences of these Astras countering each other are simply devastating. Since these are equally powerful, their continued friction can annihilate the whole ‘creation’.’

‘But can’t the warriors who used them take these back?’ Arjun enquired.

‘Yes, it is possible. But that requires the person to have even higher orders of control over mind – so high that only very very few can achieve such a state.

‘And it may sound strange to you – once you have attained such a state as to acquire these dangerous celestial weapons, you have almost turned into a ‘Yogi’ who is a master of his mind and senses and one who has surpassed the normal base human natures like greed, jealousy, vengefulness etc. In fact one attaining that stage loses much of the motivation for which he wants to acquire these weapons as a normal human being. It almost turns out that such a person is motivated to use these weapons only to serve some higher purpose, not narrow personal ends. Such are the glory of them!’

Dronacharya stopped and looked at Arjun and Ashwathama to know their mind. Arjun said he would like to begin the lessons right then. Ashwathama also decided to follow suit.

Dronacharya was happy. He asked both to turn up for the first lesson the very next day.

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