Sunday, November 19, 2006
The world re-enchanted
Why sould science, mythology and religion not be compatible? Or how to make them live together? Find the answer in India. Modernity without disenchanting the world.
"Arjuna picked up one the dreaded celestial weapons and, charging it with its mantra, released it. The blazing shaft hurtled down on Duryodhana's elephant corps and cavalry divisions killing thousands of warriors and the earth turned soft with blood. Only a handfull escaped the terrible blast.
[...]
"I could kill them if they weren't protected by Vishnu" Bhishma thought tiredly "I can't kill Shikhandi because he was once a woman."
[...]
Bhishma stood his ground though there was not a finger's space between the winged shafts riddling him. His sword gleamed wet and none dared to go near him. But his strength was seeping out and as the sun set Bhishma fell but his body didn't touch the ground. It lay suspended above the red, mirey earth on a bed of arrow, head hanging down facing east.[...]
As his body gave way Bhishma noticed that the sun was in the south, an unauspicious period to die in, and the undomitable warrior decided not to give up his life's breath until the sun returned to the north."
(From Mahabharatha, Meera Uberoi version, Penguin ed. p.332 and following)
"Arjuna picked up one the dreaded celestial weapons and, charging it with its mantra, released it. The blazing shaft hurtled down on Duryodhana's elephant corps and cavalry divisions killing thousands of warriors and the earth turned soft with blood. Only a handfull escaped the terrible blast.
[...]
"I could kill them if they weren't protected by Vishnu" Bhishma thought tiredly "I can't kill Shikhandi because he was once a woman."
[...]
Bhishma stood his ground though there was not a finger's space between the winged shafts riddling him. His sword gleamed wet and none dared to go near him. But his strength was seeping out and as the sun set Bhishma fell but his body didn't touch the ground. It lay suspended above the red, mirey earth on a bed of arrow, head hanging down facing east.[...]
As his body gave way Bhishma noticed that the sun was in the south, an unauspicious period to die in, and the undomitable warrior decided not to give up his life's breath until the sun returned to the north."
(From Mahabharatha, Meera Uberoi version, Penguin ed. p.332 and following)
