Are You Interpreting Mahabharata’s Characters the Right Way?

?The Mahabharata is not just an ancient war story, and the battle of Kurukshetra was not merely a historical war—it symbolizes the inner struggle between the soul’s divine aspirations and the material illusions that keep it bound. Paramahansa Yogananda, in God Talks with Arjuna, reveals the Bhagavad Gita as a guide to inner transformation.

Our inner Pandavas must battle the Kauravas within to achieve self-realization, guided by Krishna—the voice of divine wisdom.

The Forces of Righteousness (Pandavas & Allies)

1. Kunti – The nurturing faith and devotion that protect and guide divine qualities.
2. Pandu – The intellect, weakened by misdirection but powerful when aligned with righteousness.
3. Drupada – Represents detachment from material pleasure due to deep spiritual yearning.
4. Dhrishtadyumna – Awakening intuition that arises in the devotee.
5. Draupadi – The divine Kundalini energy, spiritually awakening when guided by the five Pandavas.
6. Yudhishthira – King Calmness, representing divine discrimination (Cervical/Ether center).
7. Bhima – The soul-controlled life force (Dorsal/Air center), the link between matter and spirit.
8. Arjuna – The divine fire-force, patience, and self-control (Lumbar/Fire center).
9. Nakula – The discipline to follow positive spiritual rules (thou-shalts) (Sacral/Water center).
10. Sahadeva – The power to observe the negative rules of morality (thou-shalt-nots) (Coccygeal/Earth center).
11. Sons of Draupadi – Manifestations of the awakened spiritual centers.

The Forces of Material Bondage (Kauravas & Allies)

1. Dhritarashtra (Blind King) – The mind blinded by material attachments, lacking spiritual wisdom (Buddhi).
2. Gandhari (Self-Blinded Queen) – Willful ignorance due to attachment (moha), with Shakuni as its embodiment.
3. Bhishma – The ego (asmita), which binds consciousness to the body instead of God.
4. Drona – Samskara (mental impressions from past thoughts and actions that shape future tendencies).
5. Ashwatthama – The ever-living latent desires within us, always capable of activation.
6. Duryodhana – Material desire (Kama), leading to attachment and suffering.
7. Duhshasana – Anger (Krodha) arising from unfulfilled desires.
8. Karna – Inclination toward sensory pleasure, even against moral righteousness.
9. Kripa – Individual delusion (Avidya), sustaining material consciousness.

Duryodhana’s existence is dependent on Bhishma (Ego), Drona (Habitual Tendencies), and Kripa (Delusion), located in the medulla center.

Key Spiritual Lessons from the Mahabharata

The Chariot of Life: Who Is in Control?

• The Body – The chariot
• The Soul – The charioteer (true owner)
• Intelligence (Buddhi) – The charioteer guiding the senses
• The Senses – The five horses that must be controlled

Krishna as Arjuna’s charioteer represents the soul’s surrender to divine wisdom, leading to enlightenment.

Hanuman’s Presence in Both the Ramayana and Mahabharata

Hanuman, the embodiment of devotion (Bhakti), is present on Arjuna’s chariot and in Rama’s service. This signifies that devotion transcends time and is essential for both duty (Rama’s path) and wisdom (Krishna’s path).

The Children of the Pandavas: Spiritual Achievements

The Pandavas' children symbolize the rewards of spiritual discipline. However, they are slain by Ashwatthama, showing that even the highest spiritual attainments can be lost if latent desires are reactivated.

Ganga and the Seven Drowned Sons: The Hidden Chakras

Ganga, representing creative consciousness, immerses her seven sons and leaves only Bhishma alive. This implies that we primarily identify with the lower egoic self (Bhishma/Muladhara chakra), forgetting the seven higher states of consciousness. As we progress spiritually, we become aware of these centers:

• Medulla (Superconsciousness) – M (Jiva or Maya)
• Frontal brain (Christ/Krishna Consciousness) – U (Shakthi)
• Crown (Cosmic Consciousness) – A (Shiva)?

The battle of the Mahabharata is not just a myth—it plays out within us every day. By recognizing our Duryodhanas (desires), Bhishmas (ego), and Dronas (habitual tendencies), and by surrendering to Krishna (inner divine wisdom), we can emerge victorious in this spiritual war and attain self-realization.