Two symbolic trees – The Hindu

From Vyasa the Mahabharata was passed on to Roma rishi, and from him to Suta Pauranika, and from Suta Pauranika it was passed on to Saunaka. We find that different people narrated the Mahabharata, the listeners too being different in each case, said Thenthirupperai Aravindalochanan in a discourse. Sage Vyasa went to the venue where Janamejaya was performing a sacrifice. He appointed Vaisampayana to narrate the Mahabharata to Janamejaya. Vaisampayana narrated the story to king Janamejaya and also to all the people gathered there. But it was Narada who narrated the Mahabharata to the devas. Two sages — Asita and Devala — were the narrators for the manes. Gandharvas, yakhsas and rakshasas heard it from Suka, who was the son of Vyasa.

The Mahabharata can be seen as a tree, with Duryodhana, who is anger personified, being the tree. The lower portion of this tree of anger is Karna. Sakuni constitutes the leaves, and the root is Dhritarashtra. Had Dhritarashtra not been swayed by affection for his son Duryodhana, he would have checked him and war could have been averted. So, he is seen as the root cause of all the trouble that ensued. There is another way in which the Mahabharata can be seen as a tree. It is a tree of dharma, Yudhishthira being this tree. The lower portion of this tree is Arjuna, the branches are Bhima, fruits and flowers are represented by Nakula and Sahadeva. Lord Krishna is the root of this tree. These representations of the Mahabharata as trees help us see why the Kaurava defeat was inevitable. When decisions are made in anger and jealousy, how can one be victorious? On the other hand, we have the Pandavas, with Yudhishthira being visualised as a tree of dharma. Lord Krishna Himself is the main root of this tree. Pandava victory was, therefore, certain.