There was Karna, delivering the final blow to Abhimanyu with a heavy heart, and then something astonishing happened. After striking, Karna broke down in tears, filled with overwhelming regret. Even Lord Krishna, who had seen countless battles and tragedies, was moved, his divine composure slipping into sorrow. The Pandavas, too, stood crushed by grief, helpless as their beloved Abhimanyu fell.

Though I knew it was merely a television reenactment, I found myself unable to hold back tears. It wasn’t just a scene from a serial anymore; it was as though the ancient tragedy had come alive right in front of me. Despite being aware that Abhimanyu’s death had happened ages ago—or perhaps not at all, depending on whether one believes the Mahabharata is myth or reality—the grief felt tangible. The emotions transcended time.

It made me ponder deeply—was the Mahabharata a historical event or just an elaborate myth passed down through generations? Does it matter? These stories, whether true or not, possess a timeless essence that touches the very core of our humanity. They make us weep, reflect, and question our existence, our choices, and the nature of life itself.

Tears Speak Something
Tears—often misunderstood—are a language all their own. They don’t only signify sorrow; they speak of joy, of overwhelming love, and of moments too profound for words. When words fail, tears take over. They are the purest form of expression, bypassing our intellect to directly communicate with the heart.

What do tears mean? If they could be fully expressed in words, we wouldn’t need them, would we? Why cry when language can convey it all? But tears say what no words can. They flow when emotions rise beyond our ability to articulate them, when feelings become so intense they simply must be released.

Tears aren’t limited—they are boundless. Whether they come from joy or sorrow, peace or turmoil, they flow from the same source: our deepest emotions. We should never suppress them or be ashamed of them. Didn’t Meera herself abandon all sense of worldly shame when her love for Krishna overwhelmed her? If you stop your tears, you risk stopping your smile too, for they both come from the same place. Songs, celebrations, and stories—they are all born from the same well as tears.

In life, some people find it hard to cry, and that’s okay. They shouldn’t force it; tears will come when they are ready. But for those who can cry, who feel their emotions well up inside them, let them flow. Don’t worry about what others might think. Crying is a natural, beautiful part of being human. When tears come, embrace them. Let them tell the story that words cannot.

There’s no shame in tears. Let them flow freely—just as freely as the smile that follows.