Dhritrastra is a character in the Mahabharata who is most relevant in today's world. Dhritrastra did not have eyes. I feel that "blindness" is quite symbolic. If someone lacks awareness of the truth, he is as good as being blind. Despite being "unaware", Dhritrastra was always "sure" that he had been victimised. That's why he wanted his son Duryodhana to become the king of Hastinapur. That's why, consciously as well as unconsciously, he made a monster out of Duryodhana.
The combo of "absence of awareness" and "being sure" is quite dangerous. When we are sure of something, we become adamant. We close ourselves. We become more and more sure of whatever belief we hold on to. Dhritrastra was sure that the action of making Pandu the king was not justified. He became king very soon, but the sense of injustice continued. When we are not aware, we make a mental story and live by it. The problem with all the mental stories is that they are based on feelings. They are not based on truth. That's why it is very difficult to examine them. If Bhishma or Vidura try to challenge Dhritrastra's mental story, the first thing Dhritrastra would do is shut himself off and treat them as his adversaries. Once the mind takes that positioning, whatever they say would not strike any chord with Dhritrastra.
Now think of another factor. If this feeling of being "sure" is supported by the mass belief? That becomes very dangerous then. I see a similar danger in the present-day world. The prevailing belief is that the purpose of life is to earn well and enjoy life through various sensory gratifications. Some extend it further, feeling that not only should they enjoy but also accumulate wealth so that future generations can enjoy. People want to have different experiences. The mountains are flooded due to the wanderlust of the people. Restaurants are minting money because people want to satisfy their taste buds. Malls and markets are flooded, and there is no place to park vehicles. Roads are jammed because everybody wants to run away from home. People are doing jobs that they don't like 7 days a week because they pay them well. There are so many online frauds going on. People lie without thinking just to get that money. There is rampant corruption all around. Ladies are exploited for dowry. All these people are so "sure" of what they are doing. People around them support them. In most cases, their family members also support them. That's what happened to Dhritrastra.
His wife, Gandhari, also decided to put a blindfold on her eyes. I feel this, too, is symbolic. She could have decided to stay aware and make Dhritrastra aware. However, she knew it was very difficult to live with an ignorant person. It is because the aware person can see through and would point it out to the unaware person, and the unaware person is so "sure" of his views that he would not only reject the aware person but also become his biggest enemy. Gandhari chose her relationship over awareness.
Dhritrashtra's conviction led to the destruction of Hastinapur. Our conviction is leading to the destruction of the world. We are "sure" that materialistic pursuits and sensory pleasures are the purpose of life. On the one hand, society justifies this greed, and on the other hand, it wants to regulate it by making the rules. How will that work? That's why we see crimes, exploitation, wars, and inequalities. If money is good, people want to earn money by hook or crook. If that money is contaminated, they will launder the same. People want to have fun at any cost. If that fun is not allowed by the rules, they will misuse their powers to bend the rules.
In this mass delirium, is there any space for awareness? Dhritrastra will not listen to Bhishma or Vidura till he is "sure". Somewhere, the Pandavas will have to go through Vanvasa and Ajnatvasa to gather that awareness under the guidance of Krishna. Some people will choose Krishna, and then they must fight to reestablish the rule of Dharma. Dhritrastra and Duryodhana will continue to be sure of their entitlements. Poor Bhishma and Karna will also support them for their misplaced sense of "right". The battle of Kurukshetra will continue, within us as well as outside. There will be some people, like Yuyutsu, who will leave the side of adharma and choose the side of truth. It looks very tempting to be "sure", even if that conviction is based on false beliefs. When a person tries to give away that conviction and examine reality, that's quite unsettling. It needs immense courage to leave that "certainty" and enter the domain of the unknown. Truth is always wide and beyond all the frames. Krishna's life was always guided by "love" with "awareness". "Love" without "awareness" often turns into attachment, which is equally dangerous as "false conviction and beliefs". So "awareness" is the key.
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