7 FRIENDSHIP LESSONS FROM THE MAHABHARATA EVERY INDIAN MUST KNOW

 THE MAHABHARATA OFFERS SOME SURPRISINGLY SPOT-ON ADVICE FOR MOMENTS LIKE THIS. AS WE GET OLDER, FRIENDSHIPS AREN’T ALWAYS AS SIMPLE AS THEY ONCE SEEMED. PEOPLE CHANGE, LIFE SHIFTS, AND SUDDENLY, THE BOND THAT ONCE FELT EFFORTLESS STARTS TO FEEL... OFF. THE MAHABHARATA DOESN’T SUGARCOAT HOW RELATIONSHIPS EVOLVE—SOMETIMES THEY TAKE A SHARP TURN, AND NOT ALWAYS FOR THE BETTER. BUT THAT’S PART OF THE DEAL. FRIENDSHIPS CAN CHANGE, AND THAT’S OKAY. IT’S JUST ANOTHER CHAPTER IN THE STORY, EVEN IF IT’S ONE YOU DIDN’T SEE COMING.

7 Friendship Lessons From the Mahabharata Every Indian Must Know

1. KNOW YOUR DRAUPADI MOMENTS

2. BE A KRISHNA, NOT A KARNA

3. THE PANDAVAS AND THEIR ETERNAL GROUP CHAT ENERGY

4. DON'T BE A DURYODHANA

5. KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO TAKE A GANDHIV BOW

6. FORGIVE, BUT DON’T FORGET LIKE BHISHMA

7. CELEBRATE THE SUDAMAS IN YOUR LIFE

                                              1. KNOW YOUR DRAUPADI MOMENTS

SPEAK UP WHEN FRIENDS CROSS THE LINE.

DRAUPADI WAS THE OG “I SAID WHAT I SAID” QUEEN. REMEMBER THAT DICE GAME WHERE HER HUSBANDS (YES, PLURAL—WILD TIMES) LOST EVERYTHING, INCLUDING HER? SHE DIDN’T JUST SIT THERE AND TAKE IT; SHE DRAGGED EVERYONE WITH A SPINE-SHATTERING GLARE AND ZERO PATIENCE FOR NONSENSE. LESSON? IF YOUR FRIENDS ARE PULLING SHADY STUNTS—SAY, INVITING YOUR EX TO THEIR PARTY WITHOUT A HEADS-UP—YOU CHANNEL YOUR INNER DRAUPADI. SPEAK UP. BUT DO IT WITH GRACE AND FIRE, NOT PASSIVE-AGGRESSIVE INSTAGRAM CAPTIONS.

2. BE A KRISHNA, NOT A KARNA

 BE LOYAL, BUT DON’T ENABLE BAD BEHAVIOR.

KRISHNA WAS THAT FRIEND WHO HAD EVERYONE’S BACK, BUT HE ALSO KNEW WHEN TO GIVE TOUGH LOVE. KARNA, ON THE OTHER HAND, WAS LOYAL TO A FAULT—SO MUCH SO THAT HE STUCK WITH DURYODHANA, THE HUMAN EQUIVALENT OF A RED FLAG. THE TAKEAWAY? BE LOYAL, YES, BUT DON’T LET YOUR FRIENDSHIPS DRAG YOU INTO THEIR MESSES. SOMETIMES, THE HEALTHIEST THING YOU CAN DO IS LOVINGLY TELL YOUR FRIEND, “BABE, THIS ONE’S ON YOU. I’LL BRING SNACKS, BUT I’M NOT BRINGING BAIL MONEY.”

                            3. THE PANDAVAS AND THEIR ETERNAL GROUP CHAT ENERGY

 SHOW UP, EVEN WHEN THINGS ARE MESSY.

FIVE BROTHERS, ONE MASSIVE WHATSAPP GROUP VIBE. SURE, THEY ARGUED, MADE QUESTIONABLE DECISIONS, AND OCCASIONALLY GAMBLED AWAY THEIR EMPIRE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, THEY HAD EACH OTHER’S BACKS. FRIENDSHIP ISN’T ABOUT ALWAYS AGREEING; IT’S ABOUT SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER, EVEN WHEN SOMEONE’S MADE A COLOSSAL MESS OF THINGS. SO, WHEN YOUR BESTIE TEXTS YOU AT 2 A.M. ABOUT THEIR LATEST WORK DRAMA, YOU REPLY. EVEN IF IT’S JUST, “GIRL, YOU NEED THERAPY AND A GLASS OF WATER.”

                                                       4. DON'T BE A DURYODHANA

DON’T LET JEALOUSY TURN YOU INTO THE VILLAIN.

DURYODHANA, THE ORIGINAL DRAMA KING WHO COULD HOLD A GRUDGE LONGER THAN YOUR AUNT HOLDS ONTO TUPPERWARE YOU LENT HER IN 2017. SURE, HE WAS AMBITIOUS, BUT HIS INABILITY TO CHILL COST HIM...WELL, EVERYTHING. TAKE NOTE: A LITTLE COMPETITION IS FUN, BUT DON’T LET ENVY TURN YOU INTO THE VILLAIN OF YOUR OWN GROUP CHAT. CELEBRATE YOUR FRIENDS’ WINS—YES, EVEN THAT FRIEND WHO “ACCIDENTALLY” LANDS EVERY DREAM JOB WHILE YOU’RE STUCK GOOGLING “HOW TO FAKE ENTHUSIASM IN INTERVIEWS.”

5. KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO TAKE A GANDHIV BOW

PROTECT YOUR PEACE AND WALK AWAY WHEN NEEDED.

ARJUNA HAD A GANDHIV (FANCY DIVINE BOW) AND KNEW EXACTLY WHEN TO USE IT. YOU NEED THE SAME PRECISION IN FRIENDSHIPS. SOMETIMES, WALKING AWAY ISN’T LOSING; IT’S PROTECTING YOUR PEACE. THAT FRIEND WHO ONLY CALLS WHEN THEY NEED SOMETHING? THE ONE WHO MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE A SIDE CHARACTER IN YOUR OWN LIFE? YEAH, IT’S TIME TO CHANNEL ARJUNA AND WALK INTO THE SUNSET (METAPHORICALLY, UNLESS YOU’RE FEELING DRAMATIC).

                                        6. FORGIVE, BUT DON’T FORGET LIKE BHISHMA

SET BOUNDARIES, DON’T TOLERATE TOXIC BEHAVIOR.

BHISHMA WAS LOYAL, WISE, AND ANNOYINGLY STUCK IN HIS PRINCIPLES. HE FORGAVE A LOT BUT ALSO ENDED UP ON THE WRONG SIDE OF HISTORY BECAUSE HE REFUSED TO CALL OUT BAD BEHAVIOR. FORGIVENESS IS COOL; IT'S LIKE A RESET FOR YOUR SOUL.. BUT DON’T LET IT MAKE YOU A DOORMAT. IF A FRIEND KEEPS REPEATING THE SAME TOXIC PATTERNS, IT’S OKAY TO SET BOUNDARIES. IN FACT, IT’S NECESSARY.

                                         7. CELEBRATE THE SUDAMAS IN YOUR LIFE

APPRECIATE FRIENDS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, NOT MATERIAL GIFTS.

KRISHNA’S FRIENDSHIP WITH SUDAMA IS THE HEARTWARMING REMINDER WE ALL NEED. SUDAMA WAS BROKE, BROUGHT KRISHNA A SNACK MADE OF DRY RICE, AND STILL GOT TREATED LIKE ROYALTY. MORAL OF THE STORY? CHERISH THE FRIENDS WHO BRING YOU JOY, EVEN IF THEY CAN’T SPLIT THE DINNER BILL OR SHOW UP WITH A PROPER GIFT. SOMETIMES, THE ONES WHO OFFER THE LEAST MATERIALISTICALLY GIVE THE MOST EMOTIONALLY.