CHAPTER 5 - TheVowsWeTake

The Vows
We Take
In the present module, we will be
focusing on the vows taken by a few
characters from Mahābhārata -
Gāndhārī, Arjuna, and Bhīma.
Pratijñā The circumstances under which the

Pratijñās were taken.
The consequences that followed.

Daughter of King Subala from Gandhāra
deśa.
Bhīṣma was in search of a suitable bride for

the blind prince Dhṛtarāṣṭra.
Gāndhārī
He asks for Gāndhārī's hand in marriage.
King Subala hesitated as Prince Dhṛtarāṣṭra

was blind. However, he agreed considering
the greatness of Kurus and Bhīṣma.
Gāndhārī, on hearing that her
parents had arranged her
marriage to the blind
Dhṛtarāṣṭra, picked up a piece
of cloth and blindfolded herself.
Circumstances
She decided resolutely that she
would never experience more
than what her husband could.
• Was this a hasty
decision?
• Was it born out of the
impulsiveness of a
naïve mind?
Consequences
The choice to keep her

Duryodhana’s eyes closed also has an As a result of the vow, she
stubbornness and inflated inner connotation, to turn failed to influence her
ego were never corrected. a blind eye to all the children for the better.
activities done by her sons.
Arjuna
• His Pratijñā was to kill Jayadratha before sunset.

• Droṇāchārya constructed a deadly army formation called Chakravyūha. The
Pāṇḍavas planned that Abhimanyu would penetrate the army formation, while the
other warriors would follow. But due to King Jayadratha’s unexpected interference,
he prevented the rest of the Pāṇḍava warriors from entering.
• Abhimanyu, however breached the army formation, but breaking all the ethics of
dharma yuddha, Abhimanyu was simultaneously attacked by many powerful
warriors of Duryodhana’s army and ultimately killed by Duhsāsana's son.
• Filled with anger Arjuna pledged that he would kill Jayadratha
the very next day before sunset.
• Duryodhana, hearing Arjuna's Pratijñā consulted his advisors to
come up with a plan to prevent Arjuna from killing Jayadratha.
• Droṇāchārya arranged a combination of three vyuhas (military
formations) in order to protect Jayadratha.
• Despite their best efforts it was evident that Arjuna would not
be able to kill Jayadratha before sunset.
• But Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa came to his rescue and masks the sun,
creating the illusion of a sunset. Jayadratha came out thinking
the sun had set and is killed by Arjuna.
Points to consider
• Again we can see that Arjuna’s

Pratijñā did not arise from clear
thought, rather it was an
emotional response to the
anger he felt, learning of his
son’s death by adharma.
• The Kauravas planned well and
would've succeeded were
it not for Bhagavān’s
intervention.
Bhīma
In the game of dice between the Pandavas and Kauravas, Yudhiṣṭhira
lost everything; his army, kingdom, his brothers, and himself to
Duryodhana and finally even their wife Draupadī.
Draupadī was forcefully pulled by her hair into the sabhā and
Duhsāsana attempted to disrobe her, but she was saved by
Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa.
Then Duryodhana taunted Draupadī by exposing his thigh, gesturing
Draupadī to come and sit, indicating her slavery to him.
Infuriated, Bhima undertakes 2 Pratijñās.
1)- To tear open Duhsāsana's chest and drink

his blood.
2)- That he would break Duryodhana’s thigh

in battle.
Bhīma took this vow due to his emotions (just

like the other vows discussed). However, the
case of Bhīma’s Pratijñā is markedly different.
In Udyogaparva, we see the Pāṇḍavas requesting their
kingdom back from the Kauravas, as agreed in the ‘Game of
Dice’. Duryodhana however refuses this request, and all
other requests made by the Pāṇḍavas.
Though war seemed inevitable, Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa went as a

peace messenger to the court of the Kauravas. Kṛṣṇa
How is it consulted all the five Pāṇḍavas and Draupadī, before his
different? journey to meet Duryodhana.
Surprisingly, Bhīma approved of peace rather than war, just

like his elder brother Yudhishtira. He was willing to forgo his
Pratijñā to kill Duryodhana and Duhsāsana. Though Bhīma
ended up making Pratijñā’s out of anger, he did not let it
cloud his judgement or his decisions.
All three Pratijñās were emotionally biased.
Gāndhārī’s Pratijñā, though considered
noble, blinded her to the adharma of her
children.
Arjuna’s Pratijñā could have gotten him in a
Conclusion fix since he took the vow without any

forethought. But thanks to Kṛṣṇa he could
fulfil it.
Bhīma while taking the Pratijñā was in an

emotionally challenging situation, but was
willing to prioritize dharma, he was willing
to opt for peace over war.
We all take such Pratijñās in our daily lives.
How does But there are two questions that we should contemplate.
this apply to
us? Whether we took the vow out of intellectual clarity or whether it was a spontaneous
outburst to a demanding situation.
If we took the Pratijñā as an emotional retort, then the second question is to see
whether there is any use in sticking to that Pratijñā. If we comprehend the bigger
picture and still feel that the Pratijñā is beneficial for us or our society, we can follow
it. If not, we should drop it.

CHAPTER 5 - TheVowsWeTake

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHAPTER 5 - TheVowsWeTake

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CHAPTER 5 - TheVowsWeTake

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Vows

Pratijñā The circumstances under which the

The consequences that followed.

Bhīṣma was in search of a suitable bride for

King Subala hesitated as Prince Dhṛtarāṣṭra

The choice to keep her

• His Pratijñā was to kill Jayadratha before sunset.

• Again we can see that Arjuna’s

1)- To tear open Duhsāsana's chest and drink

2)- That he would break Duryodhana’s thigh

Bhīma took this vow due to his emotions (just

Though war seemed inevitable, Bhagavān Kṛṣṇa went as a

Surprisingly, Bhīma approved of peace rather than war, just

Arjuna’s Pratijñā could have gotten him in a

Conclusion fix since he took the vow without any

Bhīma while taking the Pratijñā was in an

You might also like