The Unfinished Mahabharata: Are We Living the Epic?

 

The Battle That Never Left Us

"We may not hold bows or swords, but every day, we make choices. Every day, we fight battles. Some visible, some silent. The Mahabharata isn’t ancient—it’s happening now, inside each of us."

Was the Mahabharata real? Did Kurukshetra exist? That’s not the debate. Because Mahabharata isn’t just history—it’s a truth about human nature.

A truth about power and ambition, about fear and hesitation, about loyalty and betrayal, about the choices we make and the wars we wage—in the world around us, and within ourselves.

Some battles are obvious—the ones fought on streets, in protests, in parliament. Some are quiet—the ones unfolding in boardrooms, family discussions, WhatsApp forwards. And then, there’s the battle no one sees. The one within you.

India today feels strangely familiar to an ancient battlefield. Politics is dirty. Power is a game. People are divided, fighting over religion, language, identity—choosing sides without asking why.

But look closer. What’s happening in the world is just a reflection of the wars we fight inside.

• Because Duryodhana still exists.

• Because Karna is still fighting for people who won’t fight for him.

• Because Bhishma is still staying silent when he shouldn’t.

• Because Krishna is still whispering wisdom, but most of us are too distracted to listen.

• And because Arjuna is still standing in the middle of all this, bow in hand, paralyzed by doubt.

The Arjuna Inside Us

Arjuna had everything—a warrior’s skill, a king’s wisdom, a leader’s heart. And yet, in the moment when battle called, he hesitated.

Ever been there? That moment before a difficult conversation. The hesitation before standing up for something. The fear of losing people if you choose truth over comfort.

• You know what needs to be done, but doubt creeps in.

• You’re afraid of making the wrong choice, of hurting the wrong people.

• You second-guess everything, hoping someone will tell you what to do.

That’s Arjuna’s battle. And his battle is ours.

The Duryodhana Inside Us ->The Ego That Refuses to Yield

Duryodhana wasn’t dangerous because he was evil. He was dangerous because he was absolutely convinced he was right.

Sound familiar?

• That argument you refuse to let go, even when you know you’re wrong? That’s Duryodhana.

• The grudge you carry for years because forgiving feels like losing? That’s Duryodhana.

• The refusal to question your beliefs, because change feels like weakness? Duryodhana.

It’s easy to blame politicians for their arrogance, to see Duryodhana in world leaders. But the harder truth? He lives in us too.

Shakuni & The Art of Deception

Shakuni never fought—he made others fight. He twisted narratives, fed illusions, made people believe in false wars.

Now look at the world today.

• Politicians spread lies, using fear as a weapon.

• The media spins stories, selling division for engagement.

• People choose sides blindly, convinced they’re defending truth.

But Shakuni isn’t just out there—he’s inside us too.

• That moment when you believe a lie because it comforts you? He wins.

• That moment when you spread something without checking if it’s true? He thrives.

• That moment when you let emotions replace logic? Shakuni tightens his grip.

And just like in Mahabharata, it’s never Shakuni who suffers. It’s the people who fight the wrong wars, believing they’re doing the right thing.

Karna – The Tragedy of Misplaced Loyalty

Karna wasn’t weak. He wasn’t wrong. He just chose the wrong side—out of loyalty, out of pride, out of obligation.

Ever stayed in a friendship that drained you? Ever supported someone who wouldn’t stand up for you? Ever fought battles that weren’t yours, just because you felt you had to?

• That toxic friendship you won’t walk away from? Karna understands.

• That job you hate, but stay in because leaving feels like failure? Karna’s been there.

• That belief you stick to, even when deep down you know it’s flawed? Karna whispers, “Stay. Don’t question it.”

But loyalty, without truth, is a prison. And Karna—Karna learned that too late.

Bhishma – The Cost of Silence

Bhishma wasn’t weak. He had wisdom, power, experience. He could have stopped the war. But he stayed silent.

How many Bhishmas exist today?

• The leader who sees corruption but stays neutral.

• The friend who watches injustice but doesn’t step in.

• The citizen who complains, but never acts.

We think silence keeps us safe. But history keeps proving—silence doesn’t protect you. It destroys you.

At some point, you have to ask—what am I choosing silence over? And will I regret it?

Krishna – The Voice We Ignore

Krishna never forced Arjuna to fight. He gave him clarity.

That’s what truth does. It doesn’t push—it reveals. It doesn’t scream—it whispers.

• Krishna exists in the moment your gut tells you something isn’t right.

• Krishna exists in every friend who challenges your illusions.

• Krishna exists in the second you pause, reflect, and choose truth over comfort.

But Krishna can only guide. The question is—are you ready to listen?

Conclusion – Mahabharata: A Cycle of History

The Mahabharata is not just an ancient tale. It is history repeating itself—in conflicts over power, in battles for justice, in struggles between loyalty and truth.

The great war of Kurukshetra was fought with arrows. Today, wars are fought with policies, ideologies, elections, and decisions that shape nations. The stakes remain the same—who holds power, who speaks for justice, who stands for truth.

And Arjuna—Arjuna still exists. In every leader who hesitates before making a difficult decision. In every individual who stands at a moral crossroads, questioning the path ahead.

Just like in history, the dilemmas of Mahabharata persist. Power struggles still divide nations. Loyalty still clouds judgment. Silence still enables wrongdoing.

The war outside will continue, shifting in form but never fading. But the question history asks us is: Will we learn from it? Or will we repeat it?

"The Mahabharata never ended. It plays out in our politics, in our friendships, in our choices. It plays out inside us. So, today—who wins the battle within you?"

-Mohan S