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Thursday, January 21, 2021

The Mahabharata on the Power of Time

“You should not sorrow for that which was bound to happen. Those who are wise do not feel sorry over fate. Even with the greatest wisdom, that which is ordained will happen. No one can transgress the path that has been laid down. Time brings existence and non-existence, pleasure and pain. Time creates all elements and time destroys all beings. Time burns all subjects and it is time that extinguishes the fire. Time alone is awake when everything is asleep. Time cannot be conquered. Time walks in all elements, pervasive and impartial. Knowing that everything, past, present and future, is created by time, it is not appropriate that you should be consumed by grief,” said Sanjaya to console the blind King Dhritarashtra who was burning with grief over the death of his sons in the great Mahabharata battle (The Mahabharata; Section: “Anukramanika Parva”; Bibek Debroy’s translation)

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