Passage 8

The fate of those who hated God

Ravana, Hiranya Kashyapa and Duryodhana hated God and were utterly destroyed. The basic difference between the Kauravas and the Pandavas was in their attitude towards God. The Pandavas had full faith in God. They thought God was their all. The Kauravas were indifferent to God. All they wanted was only the kingdom. Before the Kurukshetra war, Arjuna went to Krishna to seek His help and Duryodhana also went to Krishna. Krishna saw both of them coming. He closed his eyes and acted as if He was sleeping. He wanted to teach the world the difference between the two. When he was awakened he found Arjuna sitting at his feet. Duryodhana was full of ego. He thought: "I am a king. How can I sit at the feet of Krishna?" He took his seat behind the head of Krishna. On opening His eyes, Krishna saw Arjuna, who was sitting at his feet. Krishna asked, "Brother-in-law, why have you come?" Duryodhana was filled with jealousy. He reflected, "As soon as He got up, Krishna is talking to Arjuna and not to me." He did not realise that it was only natural for Krishna to see Arjuna first because he was sitting at Krishna's feet. Arjuna got up and offered Namaskar. Krishna knew that Duryodhana was sitting behind. He asked Arjuna, "What do you want?" Duryodhana came closer and said, "Krishna I have also come." Krishna said, "So both of you have come. I have two things to offer. On one side I am alone. On the other side there is my entire army. Do you want my army and kingdom or Myself?" Being apprehensive that Arjuna might ask for the Army, Duryodhana came forward and said, "Krishna, I want your army." He said, "Duryodhana, I give you my army, you can go." Arjuna told Krishna, "Swami, I do not want anything except you. I will be happy if I have you alone." Right from the beginning the Pandavas believed in "God first, the world next and finally the I." The belief of the Kauravas was: "I first, the world next and God last." So, for them God was last.