Yudhishthira was a deep thinker, to the extent that at times Bhima would get irritated by this quality of deep thinking. Bhima was action-oriented and would think from a quick present-action point of view. Yudhishthira would think from the point of view of future consequences. Both qualities had their pluses and minuses. If we look only at the future and not at the present, how will we survive even to see the future?

If we look only at the present and not at the future, how will we enjoy the fruits of our hard labor? In one sense, both the Pandavas had some shortcomings, but the other party would supply the quality that was in shortage whenever required, and they continued to live together cooperatively .

Once Bhima was stuck in the coils of Nahusha Naga, who was a great king but had turned into a huge python by the curse of Rishi Gautam. Nahusha would gulp everyone who came in touch with him, and unfortunately, the mighty Bhima came into his coil. Bhima, with all his might, could not release himself from the jaws of the mighty python, but Yudhishthira Maharaja, with his controlled emotions, saved him from near death. Yudhishthira Maharaja then inquired from Nahusha and answered all the questions of the python, satisfying him.

On the other hand, when Yudhishthira Maharaja had to punish Jayadratha, who had tried to kidnap Draupadi, it was Bhima who took swift action against Jayadratha. This is the beauty of the Pandava brothers – rather than exploiting each other’s weaknesses, they used each one’s strength to overcome the other’s weakness. They were complementing each other’s shortcomings .

The Dharma of Yudhishthira needed the power of Bhima, and Bhima’s power needed Dharma to release power at the right place and at the right time. Do we have Dharma in the first place, and is our power controlled by Dharma ?

Shubh Pandava Nirjala Ekadashi 🪔

– Govinda Das (ISKCON Member)