Aug 12, 2023, 04:54 PM IST

6 Life Lessons You Must Learn from Mahabharata 

Tanisha Rajput

Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics in Hinduism, that imparts valuable lessons through its stories. Here are 7 life lessons we can learn from Mahabharata: 

Stay United 

United we stand, divided we fall, this is one basic and most important principle of life. It was the unity of the Pandavas that led them to victory. Any task will be easier if you have people with you. 

Revenge is futile 

It was Shakuni’s revenge that led to Mahabharata. His vow to destroy the entire clan led to the plotting of the battle. After his sister Gandhari married Dhritarashtra, who was blind, without consulting him, he vowed to destroy the kingdom of Hastinapur. It teaches us that revenge will not take us anywhere in life, we should just forget and move on. 

No knowledge is better than incomplete one 

If Arjun’s son Abhimanyu had full knowledge of the Chakravyuh, then he would not have lost his life. He knew how to enter the maze but was unaware of how to exit it and was killed by Kauravas mercilessly. This instance gives us a valuable lesson that we should first gain full knowledge and then take action. 

Choose your friends wisely 

While Arjun had Krishna, Duryodhan had Karna. Because of Krishna’s wisdom, Arjun learnt what was right and wrong, while Karna, despite being a follower of dharma, supported Duryodhan in his misdeeds. This tells us that only loyal and true friends will help us and tell us what to do when things aren’t right in life

Ego destroys intellect 

One of the most significant lesson from Mahabharat is that ego leads to self-destruction. Duryodhan tried to take the kingdom from Pandavas due to his ego but lost the battle and perished with his brothers. It is correctly said that ego is a prison for wisdom

Think twice before you speak 

It was Draupadi’s harsh words that provoked Duryodhan to hurt her. This act of revenge happened when Duryodhan planned to defame Draupadi by stripping her in the sabha, though Krishna saved her, but it teaches us to choose our words wisely.