Are You Taking All The Credit For Your Success?

Your success is the result of not only your efforts, it is a combination of several other factors and support systems

While the battle of Kurukshetra was at its peak, Arjuna and Karna were fighting each other. It was a battle to witness, a flurry of arrows were being exchanged, and even the gods were witnessing this epic battle between the two warriors.

Arjuna would shoot his arrows and the impact of these arrows was so intense that Karna’s chariot would go back by 25-30 feet. People who witnessed this were amazed by the skills of Arjuna.

Karna was no less. When he shot arrows, Arjuna’s chariot would also shake and go back by three-four feet.

More than anyone else, Krishna would applaud Karna every time his arrow hit Arjuna’s chariot. But not once did he applaud Arjuna’s skills.

At the end of the day, Arjuna asked Krishna: “O Lord, I have shot so many arrows at Karna’s chariot, it was being displaced like a feather in the wind, but not once did you appreciate me. Rather, you would appreciate Karna’s skill despite his arrows just displacing my chariot a little.”

Krishna smiled and replied: “Arjuna, remember, your chariot is protected by Hanuman on your flag at the top; you have me as your charioteer in the front and you have Sheshnag at its wheels, yet the whole chariot would still sway and get displaced whenever the valiant Karna hit us with his arrows. But Karna’s chariot is not protected by any such force. He is on his own, yet he fights valiantly.”

It is said that after the battle of Kurukshetra was over, Krishna refused to get off the chariot till Arjuna got down. Once Krishna alighted from the chariot, it caught fire and was reduced to dust.

Krishna said: “O Arjuna, your chariot was destroyed by Karna a long time ago; I was still protecting it. Never in your life have the arrogance to say that you have achieved great heights. If you have achieved something, it is due to the divine will. It is divine intervention that has always protected you, cleared your path and given you right opportunities at the right time!” ■

More than anyone else, Krishna would applaud Karna every time his arrow hit Arjuna’s chariot. But not once did he applaud Arjuna’s skills

 An excerpt from the Mahabharata