Chariot on Fire
There’s a moment in the Mahabharata, after the trumpets of victory fall silent, when Arjuna turns to Krishna, his charioteer, and asks him to step down from the chariot first, as a mark of respect to the warrior. It was Arjuna’s moment of accomplishment and vanity, for he had carried the weight of the war on his shoulders, believing his strength had seen it through. But Krishna refuses. He instructs Arjuna to descend first. Only after Arjuna obeys does Krishna step down himself, and along with him Hanuman, who was gracing the flag of the chariot, also leaves. The next instant, the grand chariot erupts into flames and crumbles to ashes. It had been damaged, struck, pierced, and cursed during the war. What had kept it from collapsing throughout the battle wasn’t Arjuna’s ability to intercept everything, but it was the presence of Krishna and Hanuman. As long as divinity remained within, the destruction had held its breath. Once this realization hits him, Arjuna instantly regrets his...