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Life throws at us a variety of challenges every day.

Some days are easy and some days are demanding, but at the end of the day, if we observe closely, all of them have a lesson to teach us – even the mundane ones.

Mahabharata gave us characters we can identify with every day, through every problem. That’s how vast and layered it is.

It is not just religious philosophy we learn from this epic, but even wisdom to deal with the challenges our daily life throws at us.

1. Sahadeva shows us how to keep a secret until death, even when our loved ones are in danger

Although many feel gossiping is a nature of humans, sometimes our close ones trust us with information very intimate to them. They divulged it to us so that their burden could be lighter.

Sahadeva was an accomplished astrologer. He knew the outcome of the war completely. But he still kept mum. Yes, part of it was because he was cursed that he would die if he let slip the information, but knowing how noble he was, he kept it to himself, even if it meant his near and dear ones suffered.

2. Uttara teaches us to never come in the way of our loved one’s career

Uttara married Abhimanyu when they were just 16. He was called to fight in the Kurukshetra war and Uttara hadn’t even spent time with him. But she did let him go because it was his duty and glory awaited on the battlefield.

She felt sad, but in the end she knew that Abhimanyu was meant for that, and she shouldn’t stop him.

So if you feel that your love is going to make a career choice that may take him/her away from you, learn from Uttara and send them on their way of duty. Because when the job ends he/she will come back home.

3. Karna teaches us to be humble in face of ever-increasing odds

I have elaborated on this hero a lot. And he still inspires me to this day, every day.

Again, if you think that your day is turning out to be very bad, maintain humility, keep learning and keep working to make yourself a better person.

4. Shakuni teaches us that sometimes life needs a bit of shrewdness and a trick to tip the tables towards our side

Being a straight arrow all the time is not a good thing. It makes you gullible and people take undue advantage of you. During such times, it is in your good interest that you become shrewd, just so that life becomes easier – not at someone else’s expense, though.

Also, Shakuni illustrates that with shrewdness and knowledge of risks, chances and rigging, even the most pious qualities can be overcome and defeated. For a short time, though.

5. Abhimanyu teaches us to give our 100% even if we know that we are going to lose eventually

Have you ever come across a subject in school that you were always weak in? No matter ho much you tried, you never scored a lot in it.

But take Abhimanyu, he knows that the Chakravyuh can be penetrated into. He also knows that he doesn’t know the way out of it. He was supposed to get back up, but like for him, backup plans also fail in real life.

But we still should give our 100%, no matter what, because you never know that attempt might get you the success you have always wanted.

6. Ekalavya teaches us the ability to give credit back to our teachers who made us who we are

During the time in our life when we get success, we tend to drift away in self-importance. But in all the time you worked towards your goal there have been people who helped you get there.

Ekalavya worked towards his goal under a statue of his guru. He learned everything himself, and when the day came to give back he didn’t hesitate at all.

We need to acknowledge the people in our life who helped us. They need our sincere thanks, if not a cut thumb.

7. Yuyutsu and Vikarna teach us to have the ability to stand up to our loved ones when they have wronged

As J K Rowling so elegantly put it, “It takes so much more courage to stand up to your friends.”

We tend to overlook the flaws our loved ones have. When they do wrong, we still look the other way.

Yuyutsu and Vikarna spoke out against the Kauravas, although they were a part of them. Because it was right. Sometimes we need to put our foot down even in the case of our loved ones.

8. Gandhari teaches us to love our loved one, to the end, through all the life’s sadness

Gandhari blindfolded herself so that they remain equal in the relationship. She devotedly loved him until the end, even when he was traumatized by the death of every child they bore.

How far can we go for our loved ones?

9. Bhima teaches us how to enjoy food and exercise and how to keep ourselves fit

Bhima lived his life like that friend we all have – eating and exercising and enjoying every bit of their life. Bhima is a passionate person and lived his life to the fullest.

When the deep issues of our lives are on the back burner, we also need to take care of our body and enjoy the little things – like food.

10. Bhima again to take the right action against sexual harassment

When a person provokes you, it is wise and mature to walk away from the fight.

But what happens when a person abuses your most loved one? Do you just wait and let justice do the due process? The right answer would be yes.

But there is always this one time when the offence crosses all boundaries of even indecency. That’s when you go brawl.

11. Yudhisthira teaches us to never go all out when gambling, or to never gamble at all

Yudhisthira was a truthful man throughout his life. But he was not very shrewd. In our lives there will come a time when we are on a winning spree – be it gambling or the modern version of it – the stock market.

We need to understand that winning streaks don’t last forever, and losing streaks sometimes do. We should always know when to cash in our chips.

12. Bhishma teaches us to sacrifice some of our happiness so that others may be happier

Bhishma took a terrible oath of celibacy so that his father could get married. Of course, we cannot go to such drastic lengths, but we can always sacrifice a bit every once in a while for our loved ones.

Just so that they are happy.

13. Sanjaya teaches us to tell the truth to our friends and loved ones, even if it makes them sad and uncomfortable

Sanjay knew everything that was happening during the Kurukshetra war and had the hard job of relaying information to Dhritarashtra. That meant telling him play by play how and when his children died.

Can we inculcate the habit of honestly putting forward facts that may also be bitter and unsavory.

14. Jayadaratha teaches us to stop being creepy towards females because it does not end well

Jayadratha pulled a Ravana and abducted Draupadi after creepily stalking her, even when he knew she was married.

He was humiliated and killed in the end, and this should be a good lesson for people who think it is fun to cross boundaries when flirting.

If we had the time, we could list every character and list out the lesson we learn from their story arc.

But like all good lessons, Mahabharata too has to be taken in small doses, so that we can assimilate a bit of good wisdom every time until we accumulate enough to become a better person.

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