The Mahabharata, one of the longest epic story ever written, is a 2,000-year-old piece from India. It's mainly about a fierce family feud, but it's also filled with profound lessons. The story leads up to a huge 18-day battle between two groups: the Pandavas, who are the heroes, and the Kauravas, who are not quite so honorable.
On the 13th day of a fierce battle, the Kauravas had set up their army in a special formation known as the chakravyuh. This formation, resembling a spiraling shell or a hurricane from above, was almost impossible to break.
As the day progressed, this lethal setup caused heavy losses to the Pandavas, causing great worry among their leaders. They needed a solution fast, to stop the loss of their soldiers and break through this deadly arrangement. It was a daunting challenge.
Let's rewind 16 years from this battlefield scene to when Lord Krishna was talking to his pregnant sister, Subhadra. He was explaining how someone could enter a chakravyuh, get to its core, and finally escape, causing mass panic among the enemy.
This might sound straightforward, but it's nearly impossible. It requires strength, timing, and a deep understanding of the formation. This tale from the past held relevance to the Pandavas' predicament, as they grappled with the mighty chakravyuh on that daunting 13th day.
There's an intriguing twist to this tale. Lord Krishna had been diligently explaining to his sister, Subhadra, how a chakravyuh could be successfully entered and navigated.
But just as he was about to share the crucial part - the strategy to exit safely - he found his sister had dozed off.
Apparently bored by the tale, Subhadra had slipped into slumber, leaving Krishna without an audience. He, thus, left the story hanging, the secret of exit from the chakravyuh untold.
But there was someone else soaking up every word. The unborn warrior, Abhimanyu, nestled in his mother's womb, had been listening with rapt attention, absorbing the discourse in its entirety, up until the untimely interruption.
Abhimanyu, even at the young age of 16, had followed in his father Arjuna's footsteps, becoming an accomplished warrior. Seeing his comrades in deep trouble against the chakravyuh, he decided to step up.
He proposed to enter the deadly formation, aware of the grim fact that he didn't know how to exit it once he reached the center. Despite the risk, the Pandava leadership, under immense pressure, gave their reluctant approval. They planned to stay close behind, hoping to intervene if things turned south, as they sent this brave young warrior into the heart of danger.
Armed with Krishna's technique, young Abhimanyu plunged into the chakravyuh, cutting down scores of Kaurava warriors who dared to block his path. He pushed towards its center with impressive speed.
But the Kauravas managed to seal off the chakravyuh after his entry, preventing any other Pandava warriors from following him. Abhimanyu found himself isolated, confronted by nine of the best Kaurava warriors in the very heart of the formation.
With no knowledge of how to escape, he stood his ground, putting up a fierce fight. Despite his bravery and resilience, he was vastly outnumbered. He eventually succumbed to his injuries, ending his courageous charge against the enemy.
Why did I tell you this story?
Simply because the story of Abhimanyu and the chakravyuh is more than a tale of battle, bravery, and tragedy—it offers a powerful lesson that directly applies to trading.
Just like the battlefield, the market is a challenging arena, where knowing how to enter a position (akin to penetrating the chakravyuh) is crucial. But equally important, if not more so, is understanding when and how to exit.
Abhimanyu knew how to break into the chakravyuh, but without an exit plan, he ultimately fell victim to the formation's deadly trap.
In trading, a clear entry strategy without an equally well-defined exit strategy is a setup for potential loss. Without an exit plan, even the most promising positions can turn into losing ones.
Therefore, before you consider entering a trade, always ensure you have an exit strategy in place. Remember, the market is your battlefield, and in order to survive and thrive, you need both entry and exit strategies as part of your trading plan.
Just as Abhimanyu's lack of exit plan cost him his life, an absence of an exit strategy can cost you your hard-earned profits. So, don't be an Abhimanyu in your trading journey.
Plan your exit before you enter.
On the 13th day of a fierce battle, the Kauravas had set up their army in a special formation known as the chakravyuh. This formation, resembling a spiraling shell or a hurricane from above, was almost impossible to break.
Let's rewind 16 years from this battlefield scene to when Lord Krishna was talking to his pregnant sister, Subhadra. He was explaining how someone could enter a chakravyuh, get to its core, and finally escape, causing mass panic among the enemy.
This might sound straightforward, but it's nearly impossible. It requires strength, timing, and a deep understanding of the formation. This tale from the past held relevance to the Pandavas' predicament, as they grappled with the mighty chakravyuh on that daunting 13th day.
There's an intriguing twist to this tale. Lord Krishna had been diligently explaining to his sister, Subhadra, how a chakravyuh could be successfully entered and navigated.
But just as he was about to share the crucial part - the strategy to exit safely - he found his sister had dozed off.
But there was someone else soaking up every word. The unborn warrior, Abhimanyu, nestled in his mother's womb, had been listening with rapt attention, absorbing the discourse in its entirety, up until the untimely interruption.
Abhimanyu, even at the young age of 16, had followed in his father Arjuna's footsteps, becoming an accomplished warrior. Seeing his comrades in deep trouble against the chakravyuh, he decided to step up.
Armed with Krishna's technique, young Abhimanyu plunged into the chakravyuh, cutting down scores of Kaurava warriors who dared to block his path. He pushed towards its center with impressive speed.
But the Kauravas managed to seal off the chakravyuh after his entry, preventing any other Pandava warriors from following him. Abhimanyu found himself isolated, confronted by nine of the best Kaurava warriors in the very heart of the formation.
Why did I tell you this story?
Simply because the story of Abhimanyu and the chakravyuh is more than a tale of battle, bravery, and tragedy—it offers a powerful lesson that directly applies to trading.
Just like the battlefield, the market is a challenging arena, where knowing how to enter a position (akin to penetrating the chakravyuh) is crucial. But equally important, if not more so, is understanding when and how to exit.
Abhimanyu knew how to break into the chakravyuh, but without an exit plan, he ultimately fell victim to the formation's deadly trap.
In trading, a clear entry strategy without an equally well-defined exit strategy is a setup for potential loss. Without an exit plan, even the most promising positions can turn into losing ones.
Therefore, before you consider entering a trade, always ensure you have an exit strategy in place. Remember, the market is your battlefield, and in order to survive and thrive, you need both entry and exit strategies as part of your trading plan.
Just as Abhimanyu's lack of exit plan cost him his life, an absence of an exit strategy can cost you your hard-earned profits. So, don't be an Abhimanyu in your trading journey.
Plan your exit before you enter.