Philosophy

http://www.narach.com/philosophy/the_mystery_of_the_mahabharata.html
http://hinduphilosophymahabharat.blogspot.in/
http://www.infinityfoundation.com/mandala/i_es/i_es_chakr_mahabharata_frameset.htm

Om

Sanjaya to Dhṛtarāṣṭra

Laying aside his weapons then in that battle, and sitting down on the terrace of his car, Drona devoted himself to Yoga and assured all creatures, dispelling their fears.

Beholding that opportunity, Dhrishtadyumna mustered all his energy took up a sword, and jumping down from his vehicle, rushed quickly against Drona. All creatures, human beings and others, uttered exclamation of woe, beholding Drona thus brought under Dhrishtadyumna's power. Loud cries of Oh and Alas were uttered, as also those of Oh and Fie.

As regards Drona himself,abandoning his weapons, he was then in a supremely tranquil state. Having said those words he had devoted himself to Yoga. Endued with great effulgence and possessed of high ascetic merit, he had fixed his heart on that Supreme and Ancient Being, viz., Vishnu.

1. Bending his face slightly down, and 
2. heaving his breast forward, and 
3. closing his eyes, and 
4. resting ort the quality of goodness, and 
5. disposing his heart to contemplation, and 
6. thinking on the monosyllable Om, representing. Brahma, and 
7. remembering the puissant, supreme, and indestructible God of gods,

the radiant Drona or high ascetic merit, the preceptor (of the Kurus and the Pandavas) repaired to heaven that is so difficult of being attained even by the pious. Indeed, when Drona thus proceeded to heaven it seemed to us that there were then two suns in the firmament. The whole welkin was ablaze and seemed to be one vast expanse of equal light when the sun-like Bharadwaja, of solar effulgence, disappeared. Confused sounds of joy were heard, uttered by the delighted celestials.

http://foundationinformation.blogspot.com/

When Drona thus repaired to the region of Brahman, Dhrishtadyumna stood, unconscious of it all, beside him. Only we five amongst men beheld the high-souled Drona rapt in Yoga proceed to the highest region of blessedness. These five were

1. Myself, 
2. Dhananjaya, the son of Pritha, and 
3. Drona's son, Aswatthaman, and 
4. Vasudeva of Vrishni's race, and 
5. king Yudhishthira the just, the son of Pandu. 

Nobody else, O king, could see that glory of the wise Drona, devoted to Yoga, while passing out of the world. In fact, all human beings were unconscious of the fact that the preceptor attained to the supreme region of Brahman, a region mysterious to the very gods, and one that is the highest of all. Indeed, none of them could see the preceptor, that chastiser of foes, proceed to the region of Brahman, devoted to Yoga in the company of the foremost of Rishis, his body mangled with arrows and bathed in blood, after he had laid aside his weapons.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07189.htm

Seven Founders

Beholding Drona stationed on the field for the extermination of the Kshatriya race, the Rishis

1. Viswamitra, and 
2. Jamadagni, and 
3. Bharadwaja, and 
4. Gautama, and 
5. Vasishtha, and
6. Kasyapa, and 
7. Atri, and  

http://sevenfounders.blogspot.com/

1. the Srikatas, 
2. the Prisnis, 
3. Garga, 
4. the Valkhilyas, 
5. the Marichis,
6. the descendants of Bhrigu and Angiras, and diverse other sages of subtle forms quickly came thither,
7. with the Bearer of sacrificial libations at their head, and, desirous of taking Drona unto the region of Brahman, addressed Drona, that ornament of battle, and said,

'Thou art fighting unrighteously. The hour of thy death is come. Laying aside thy weapons in battle, O Drona, behold us stationed here. After this, it behoveth thee not to perpetrate such exceedingly cruel deeds.

1. Thou art versed in the Vedas and their branches. 
2. Thou art devoted to the duties enjoined by truth, especially, thou art a Brahmana. 

Such acts do not become thee. 

1. Lay aside thy weapons. 
2. Drive away the film of error that shrouds thee. 
3. Adhere now to the eternal path. 
4. The period for which thou art to dwell in the world of men is now full. 

Thou hast, with the Brahma weapon, burnt men on earth that are unacquainted with weapons. This act that thou hast perpetrated, O regenerate one, is not righteous. Lay aside thy weapons in battle without delay,

O Drona, do not wait longer on earth. Do not, O regenerate one, perpetrate such a sinful act.'

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07187.htm

All of them

At the entrance were stationed all the princes possessed of solar effulgence.

1. All of them had taken oaths (about standing by one another). 
2. All of them had standards decked with gold. 
3. All of them were attired in red robes, and all had red ornaments. 
4. All of them had red banners and all were adorned with garlands of gold, smeared with sandal-paste and other perfumed unguents; they were decked with floral wreaths.  

Firm bowmen, all they numbered ten thousand. Placing thy handsome grandson, Lakshmana, at their head, all of them, 

1. sympathising with one another in joy and grief, and 
2. emulating one another in feats of courage, 
3. desiring to excel one another, and 
4. devoted to one another's good, they advanced to battle.

Duryodhana, O monarch, was stationed in the midst of his forces. And the king was surrounded by the mighty car-warriors, 

1. Karna, 
2. Duhsasana, and 
3. Kripa, and had a white umbrella held over his head. And fanned with yak tails, he looked resplendent like the chief of the celestials. 

And at the head of that army was the commander Drona looking like the rising sun. And there stood the ruler of the Sindhus, of great beauty of person, and immovable like the cliff of Meru. Standing by the side of the ruler of the Sindhus and headed by Aswatthaman, were, O king, thy thirty sons, resembling the very gods. 

There also on Jayadratha's flank, were those mighty car-warriors, viz., the ruler of Gandhara, i.e., the 

1. gamester (Sakuni), and 
2. Salya, and 
3. Bhurisrava.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07032.htm

illusions

Sakuni also, conversant with a hundred different kinds of illusions, created illusions for confounding the two Krishnas. Then

1. clubs, and 
2. iron balls, and 
3. rocks and 
4. Sataghnis and 
5. darts, and 
6. maces, and 
7. spiked bludgeons, and 
8. scimitars, and 
9. lances, mallets, axes, and 
10. Kampanas, and 
11. swords, and 
12. nails, and 
13. short clubs, and 
14. battle-axes, and 
15. razors, and 
16. arrows with sharp broad heads, and 
17. Nalikas, and 
18. calf-tooth headed shafts, and 
19. arrows having bony heads and 
20. discs and 
21. snake-headed shafts, and 
22. spears, and 
23. diverse other kinds of weapons, fell upon Arjuna from all sides.  

And

1. asses, and 
2. camels, and 
3. buffaloes, and 
4. tigers, and 
5. lions, and 
6. deer, and 
7. leopards, and 
8. bears, and 
9. wolves and 
10. vultures, and 
11. monkeys, and 
12. various reptiles, and 
13. diverse cannibals, and 
14. swarms of crows, all hungry, and excited with rage, ran towards Arjuna. 

Then Dhananjaya, the son of Kunti, that hero conversant with celestial weapons, shooting clouds of arrows, assailed them all. And assailed by that hero with those excellent and strong shafts, they uttered loud cries and fell down deprived of life.

Then a thick darkness appeared and covered Arjuna's car, and from within that gloom harsh voices rebuked Arjuna. The latter, however, by means of the weapons called Jyotishka, dispelled that thick and awful darkness.

When that darkness was dispelled frightful waves of water appeared. For drying up those waters, Arjuna applied the weapon called Aditya. And in consequence of that weapon, the waters were almost dried up.

These diverse illusions, repeatedly created by Sauvala, Arjuna destroyed speedily by means of the force of his weapons, laughing the while. Upon all his illusions being destroyed, afflicted with Arjuna's shafts and unmanned by fear, Sakuni fled away, aided by his fleet, steeds, like a vulgar wretch.

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07028.htm

Vaishnava weapon

Bhagadatta Son of Narakasur with Mantras, turned his hook into the Vaishnava weapon and hurled it at Arjuna's breast.

1. That all-slaying weapon, hurled by Bhagadatta, 
2. Kesava, covering Arjuna, received on his breast. 
3. Thereupon, that weapon became a triumphal garland on Kesava's breast. 

Arjuna then cheerlessly addressed Kesava, saying, 

'O sinless one, without battling thyself, thou art to only guide my steed! Thou hadst said so, O lotus-eyed one! Why then dost thou not adhere to thy promise? 

1. If I sink in distress, or 
2. become unable to baffle, or 
3. resist a foe or weapon, then mayst thou act so, but not when I am standing thus. 

Thou knowest that with my bow and arrows I am competent to vanquish these worlds with 

1. the gods, 
2. the Asuras, and 
3. men.' 

Hearing these words of Arjuna, Vasudeva replied unto him, saying, 

The form of mine which awaketh from sleep at the end of a thousand years, granteth, upon awakening, excellent boons to persons deserving of them. 

The earth, knowing (on one occasion) that that time had come, asked of me a boon for (her son) Naraka. Hear, O Partha, what that boon was. Possessed of the Vaishnava weapon, let my son become incapable of being slain by the gods and the Asuras. It behoveth thee to grant me that weapon. 

Hearing this prayer, I then gave, in days of old, the supreme and infallible Vaishnava weapon to the Earth's son. 

I said also at that time these words, 

'O Earth, let this weapon be infallible for the protection of Naraka. None will be able to slay him. Protected by this weapon, thy son 

1. will always, 
2. in all the worlds, 
3. be invincible and 
4. crush all hostile hosts.' Saying, So be it! the intelligent goddess went away, her wishes fulfilled. 

And Naraka also became invincible and always scorched his foes. It was from Naraka, O Partha, that the ruler of the Pragjyotishas got this weapon of mine. There is none, in all the world, O sire, including even Indra and Rudra, who is unslayable by this weapon. It was for thy sake, therefore, that I baffled it, violating my promise. 

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07027.htm

Performing One's Own funeral rites

Samsaptaka means 'sworn warrior'. They were the bravest of the Trigartas, who, led by their King Susarman, had sworn an oath to either kill Arjuna or die in that attempt. 

Trigartas enmity with the Pandavas had started 

1. when their kingdom was first captured by Arjuna in his campaign to proclaim Yudhishtra as the overlord of all Kings. 
2. They were also soundly defeated when they assisted Jayadratha to abduct Draupadi.
3. Once again, they were thwarted by the Pandavas when they attempted to drive away the cattle of King Virata.

They swore the Samsaptaka oath, and performed their own funeral rites, for it was almost certain that their entire clan would be destroyed, and none would be left to offer their funeral cakes. 

http://www.apamnapat.com/entities/Samsaptaka.html

lion, tiger and wolf Vs bear, buffalo and bull

1. Thy sons, Durjaya, Jaya, and Vijaya, resisted 
2. Nila, and the ruler of the Kasis, and Jayatsena, three against. 

The combat between those warriors

1. deepened and 
2. gladdened the hearts of the spectators 

like those between a lion, a tiger, and a wolf on the one side and a bear, a buffalo, and a bull on the other

http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/m07/m07023.htm