We have heard of the forms of Durga, the feminine energy of the Supreme, that have played a role in the affairs of the gods, demons, and the material world, as described in the Mahabharata.
Visiting the core scenes of the Mahabharata, at an all-important time; on the cusp of war, indeed after the assembling of the Pandava and Kaurava armies; and it is the eve of the first day of war. The Parva is the Bhishma Parva, and the sub-parva, is none other than the Bhagavad Gita Parva, where Krishna will deliver the key teachings of the entire story. It is here, that Arjuna will come face to face with Durga. Let us see what interactions and discussions preceded this most wonderful encounter.
Sitting afar from the Battlefield of Kurukshetra, in the royal hall, of the royal palace of Hastinapura, is Dhṛtarāṣṭra, father of the Kauravas. Sat with only Sanjaya, his servant, by his side, who with the aid of divine vision granted by Sage Vyasa, Sanjaya explains what he sees.
Sanjaya speaks, Beholding the vast Dhṛtarāṣṭra army ready for battle, the son of Kunti, King Yudhisthira, has given way to grief. Seeing that impenetrable array formed by Bhishma and regarding it as really impenetrable, the King became pale and addressed Arjuna, saying:
“O mighty armed Dhananjaya, how shall we be able to fight in battle with the Dhṛtarāṣṭras who have the Grandsire for their Chief combatant? Immovable and impenetrable is this array that hath been designed, according to the rules laid down in the scriptures, by that grinder of foes, Bhishma of transcendent glory. With our troops we have become doubtful of success, O grinder of foes. How, indeed, will victory be ours in the face of this mighty array?”
Thus addressed, that slayer of foes Arjuna answered his elder brother Yudhisthira, the son of Pritha, who had been plunged into grief at the sight:
“O King, of thy army, in these words, hear how soldiers that are few in number may vanquish the many that are possessed of every quality. Thou art without malice; I shall, therefore, tell thee the means, O King. The Sage Narada knows it, as also doth both Bhishma and Drona.
Referring to this means, the Grandsire Brahma, himself in days of old on the occasion of the battle between the Gods and the Asuras said unto Indra and the other celestials:
“They that are desirous of victory do not conquer by might and energy so much as by truth, compassion, righteousness and energy. Discriminating then between righteousness, and unrighteousness, and understanding what is meant by covetousness and having recourse to exertion fight without arrogance, for victory is there where righteousness is.
For this know, O king, that to us victory is certain in this battle. Indeed, as Narada said:
“There is victory where Krishna is. Victory is inherent to Krishna. Indeed, it followeth Madhava. And as victory is one of His attributes, so humility is another of His attributes. Govinda is possessed of energy that is infinite. Even in the midst of immeasurable foes, He is without pain. He is the most eternal of male beings. And there victory is where Krishna is. Even He, indestructible and of weapons incapable of being baffled, appearing as Hari in olden days, said in a loud voice unto the gods and the asuras, “Who amongst you would be victorious?”
It was through Krishna’s grace that the three worlds were obtained by the gods headed by Indra. I do not, therefore, behold the slightest cause of sorrow in thee, thee that hast the Sovereign of the Universe and the Lord himself of the celestials, for wishing victory to thyself."
King Yudhishthira, disposing his own troops in counter array against the divisions of Bhishma, urged them on, saying:
“The Pandavas have now disposed their forces in counter array agreeably to what is laid down in the scriptures. Ye sinless ones, fight fairly, desirous of entering the highest heaven.”
In the centre of the Pandava army, was Śikhaṇḍī and his troops, protected by Arjuna. And Dhrishtadyumna the brother of Draupadi and Commander in Chief of the Pandava forces, moved forward in his chariot, protected by Bhima. The southern division of the Pandava army was protected O king, by that mighty bowman, the handsome Satyaki, who also goes by the name Yuyudhana, that foremost combatant of the Satwata race, resembling Indra himself.
Yudhisthira was stationed on a car that was worthy of bearing Mount Mahendra himself, adorned with an excellent standard, variegated with gold and gems, and furnished with golden traces for the steeds, in the midst of his elephant divisions. His pure white umbrella with ivory handle, raised over his head, looked exceedingly beautiful; and many great Rishis walked around the king uttering words in his praise. And many priests, and regenerate Rishis and Siddhas, uttering hymns in his praise wished him, as they walked around, the destructions of his enemies, by the aid of Japas, and Mantras, and diverse propitiatory ceremonies. That high-souled chief of the Kurus, then giving away unto the Brahmanas cows and fruits and flowers and golden coins along with cloths proceeded like Sakra, the chief of the celestials.
The car of Arjuna, furnished with a hundred bells, decked with Jamvunada gold of the best kind, endued with excellent wheels, possessed of the effulgence of fire, and unto which were yoked white steeds, looked exceedingly brilliant like a thousand suns. And on that ape-bannered car the reins of which were held by Kesava, stood Arjuna, with the acclaimed bow of that god of fire Agni, the Gandiva and arrows in hand; a bowman whose peer exists not on earth, nor ever will.
For crushing thy sons' troops, he who assumeth the most awful form, who divested of weapons, with only his bare hands, poundeth to dust men, horses, and elephants, the strong-armed Bhima, otherwise called Vrikodara, accompanied by the twins, became the protector of the heroic car-warriors of the Pandava army. Like unto a furious prince of lions of sportive gait, or like the great Indra himself with earthly body on the Earth, beholding that invincible Vrikodara, like unto a proud leader of an elephantine herd, stationed in the van of the army, the warriors on thy side, their strength weakened by fear, began to tremble like elephants sunk in mire.
Unto that invincible prince Gudakesa staying in the midst of his troops, Janardana, O chief of the Bharata race, said:
“He, who scorching us with his wrath, stayeth in the midst of his forces, he, who will attack our troops like a lion, he, who performed three hundred horse-sacrifices, that very emblem of Kuru race, Bhishma, stayeth yonder! Assemble around him on all sides, great warriors like the clouds shrouding the bright luminary. O foremost of men, slaying the troops, seek battle with that bull of Bharata's race."
Beholding the Dhṛtarāṣṭra army approach for fight, Krishna said these words for Arjuna's benefit. The holy one said:
“Cleansing thyself, O mighty-armed one, utter on the eve of the battle, thy hymn to Durga for compassing the defeat of the foe."
Thus addressed on the eve of battle by Vasudeva, endued with great intelligence, the son of Pritha, Arjuna, alighting from his chariot, spoke the following hymn, prostrate with folded palms.
“I bow to thee, O leader of Yogins, O thou that art identical with Brahman, O thou that dwellest in the forest of Mandara, O thou that art freed from decrepitude and decay, O Kali, O wife of Kapala, O thou that art of a black and tawny hue, I bow to thee.
O bringer of benefits to thy devotees, I bow to thee, O Mahakali, O wife of the universal destroyer, I bow to thee.
O proud one, O thou that rescuest from dangers, O thou that art endued with every auspicious attribute. O thou that art sprung from the Kata race, O thou that deservest the most regardful worship, O fierce one, O giver of victory, O victory's self, O thou that bearest a banner of peacock plumes, O thou that art decked with every ornament, O thou that bearest an awful spear, O thou that holdest a sword and shield, O thou that art the younger sister of the chief of cow-herds, O eldest one, O thou that wert born in the race of the cowherd Nanda!
O thou that art always fond of buffalo's blood, O thou that wert born in the race of Kusika, O thou that art dressed in yellow robes, O thou that hadst devoured Asuras assuming the face of a wolf, I bow to thee that art fond of battle!
O Uma, Shakambari, O thou that art white in hue, O thou that art black in hue, O thou that hast slain the Asura Kaitabha, O thou that art yellow-eyed, O thou that art diverse-eyed, O thou of eyes that have the colour of smoke, I bow to thee.
O thou that art the Vedas, the Srutis, and the highest virtue, O thou that art propitious to Brahmanas engaged in sacrifice, O thou that hast a knowledge of the past, thou that art ever present in the sacred abodes erected to thee in cities of Jamvudwipa, I bow to thee.
Thou art the science of Brahma among sciences, and thou that art that sleep of creatures from which there is no waking. O mother of Skanda, O thou that possessest the six attributes, O Durga, O thou that dwellest in accessible regions, thou art described as Swaha, and Swadha, as Kala, as Kashta, and as Saraswati, as Savitra the mother of the Vedas, and as the science of Vedanta. With inner soul cleansed, I praise thee.
O great goddess, let victory always attend me through thy grace on the field of battle. In inaccessible regions, where there is fear, in places of difficulty, in the abodes of thy worshippers and in the nether regions (Patala), thou always dwellest.
Thou always defeatest the Dānavas. Thou art the unconsciousness, the sleep, the illusion, the modesty, the beauty of all creatures. Thou art the twilight, thou art the day, thou art Savitri, and thou art the mother. Thou art contentment, thou art growth, thou art light. It is thou that supportest the Sun and the Moon and that makes them shine.
Thou art the prosperity of those that are prosperous. The Siddhas and the Charanas behold thee in contemplation."
Understanding the measure of Arjunas devotion, Durga who is always graciously inclined towards mankind, appeared in the firmament and in the presence of Govinda, said these words.
'Within a short time thou shalt conquer thy foes, O Pandava. O invincible one, thou hast Narayana again for aiding thee. Thou art incapable of being defeated by foes, even by the wielder of the thunderbolt himself.'
Sanjaya explained to Dhṛtarāṣṭra:
Having said this, the boon-giving goddess disappeared soon. The son of Kunti, however, obtaining that boon, regarded himself as successful, and the son of Pritha then mounted his own excellent car. And then Krishna and Arjuna, seated on the same car, blew their celestial conches.
O Dhṛtarāṣṭra, I have known all this through the grace of Vyasa endued with great wisdom. Thy wicked sons, however, all entangled in the meshes of death, do not, from ignorance, know them to be Nara and Narayana. Nor do they, entangled in the meshes of death, know that the hour of this kingdom hath arrived. Dwaipayana and Narada, and Kanwa, and the sinless Rama, had all prevented thy son. But he did not accept their words.
There where righteousness is, there are glory and beauty. There where modesty is, there are prosperity and intelligence. There where righteousness is, there is Krishna; and there where Krishna is, there is victory.
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