the disciple

The Disciple

After Lord Srikrishn killed Kans his parents Vasudev and Devaki performed the sacred thread ceremony called yajnopavita and sent him to the ashram of muni Sandipan in Ujjain to receive education. The enlightened guru knew the status of his new disciple who however performed all his duties in an excellent way to teach the masses how a student should obey and follow his guru. Guru Sandipan taught all subjects such as Vedas, six schools of philosophy, science of mantras and inviting deities, archery, manusmriti, ethics and politics. Learning is incomplete without arts for life itself is a combination of arts and sciences. Lord Srikrishn and his brother Balaram learnt sixty-four arts in just sixty-four days. These arts were-vocal music, instrumental music, dance, theatre, painting, carving, rangoli making, decorating bed with flowers, dying and painting clothes and body-parts, floor decoration with precious stones, arranging and decorating bed, stultification of water, exhibition of siddhis, garland making, making floral ornaments, dress and jewellery designing, making up with floral ornaments, decoration of ears, making scents and perfumed oils, magic, disguising at will, handicrafts,cookery,preparing drinks,needle-work,puppetry,creating and solving riddles,sculpture,diplomacy,teaching of epics, creative writing, solving practical problems, caning and making arrows, carpet making,carpentry,building construction, testing of precious metals and gems, making gold and silver, testing pearls, discovery of mines, treatment of plants,cock-fight,languages of birds, countering spells, hair conditioning, reading minds, poetry, sensing good and bad omens, making instruments, cutting of gems, creating cryptic languages, mental trickery, neology, practice of trickery, knowledge of five sheaths, knowledge of metres and musical notes, hiding and changing of garments,gambling,teletransportaion of men and goods, children’s games, use of mantras, methods of ensuring victory, subjugating celestial spirits etc.

Offering unique gurudakshina

Guru Sandipan knew the status of his disciple. When Lord Srikrishn having mastered all arts and sciences requested him to ask for gurudakshina, the guru and his wife asked him to bring back their son who had drowned in sea in Prabhas Kshetra.  Lord Srikrishn called the sea god and asked him to return the guruputra. The sea-god told him that the son of sage Sandipan was swallowed by demon Panchjanya dwelling in sea. Lord Srikrishn entered sea and killed the demon but did not find him there. The demon told him that the son had been sent to Sanyamani Puri ruled by Yamaraj. Lord Srikrishn then went to Yamaraj and asked him to return the guruputra.  Yamaraj welcomed him and gave the guruputra back. Lord Srikrishn thus brought back the dead son of his guru to him. Guru blessed him and he came back to his parents.

Seeking wisdom from Goddess earth

Bhishm was on deathbed. Yuddhisthir asked grandfather to enlighten them about the duties of a married man. Bhishm said, -"Son! I tell you an ancient discussion that took place between Goddess Prithvi and I Lord Srikrishn. Once Lord Srikrishn asked Prithvidevi, -"Vasundhare! Please enlighten me as how should a married man like me perform to attain fruition in life?"  Prithvi said, -"Madhav! A married man should daily worship deities, ancestors, sages and human beings. Deities should be pleased by performing Yajna; ancestors through shradh; human beings through welcoming guests and sages by studying Vedas and service. Offering should be made daily to Brahmans and Agni. Guru, father, friends and guests should be always welcomed home. One should eat only after offering food to them. Guru, seers, and father-in-law if come after one year then they should be worshipped by offering honey etc. Food should be given away for dogs and birds daily. One, who follows this attains great life and honour." Lord Srikrishn has been following this instruction regularly. You should also do so." Strange indeed is the approach of Lord of Universe who passed on the credit to goddess Prithvi by pretending to be an ignorant householder.

The Friend

The popular prayer of Lord Srikrishn describes him as “the mother, the father, the brother and the friend. He is the knowledge, the wealth, the god for all and all deities.” Lord Srikrishn alone must know that how many friends of him have experienced the sincerity and reliability of his rare friendship. Puranas and epics are replete with the stories of his staunch friendship.

Redeeming Draupadi

Having been banished from their empire on losing in the game of dice played deceitfully with their cousins Duryodhan, Dushasan and their uncle Shakuni, the Pandav were residing in the Kamyak forest with their chaste wife Draupadi. Well-wishers and friends of Pandav chose Lord Srikrishn as their leader and reached there to meet them. Lord Srikrishn saluted cousin Yuddhisthir and sat on the floor. All his supporters surrounded him. Silence and pale faces of dethroned Pandav narrated their tale of deprivation. Lord Srikrishn addressed the kings in a voice that expressed his deep displeasure, -“Kings! It is now certain that the earth desires to satiate her thirst for blood of evil souls such as Duryodhan, Karn, Shakuni and Dushasan. This is an eternal truth that a person who enjoys life by cheating on others, deserves to be killed. Let us all join hands to finish Kaurav and crown righteous Yuddhisthir as the king of Hastinapur.”

Seeing Lord Srikrishn seething with wrath, Arjun eulogized Lord Srikrishn to calm him down. Speech of his bossom friend appeased fiery Lord Srikrishn to some extent. Calm yet stern, Lord Srikrishn however addressed him, -‘Arjun! You are mine and I am yours. Those who belong to you belong to me, too. One, who hates you, hates me and the one who loves you, loves me, too. You are Nar and I am Narayan. We both are inseparable and one.” As Lord Srikrishn expressed his solidarity with Pandav in their hour of crises, bereaved queen of Pandav, Draupadi too joined them. “O.Killer of demon Madhu! I have heard from sages that you alone created this universe and are incarnation of lord Lord Vishnu. You are well aware of the suffering we have been undergoing in the hands of Kaurav. Dushasan dragged me by hair while I was in a single cloth and menstruating. These Pandav remained a silent witness to that ghastly act of my humiliation…” Unable to narrate further the saga of her sordid plight, Draupadi broke in to tears. An eerie silence shrouded the gathering of august warriors. Tears of a queen expiated the plight of feminine anguish, perhaps, that justified the averment made by Lord Srikrishn a few moments back that Earth certainly longed to quench her thirst of blood of evil souls. None uttered a single word. Holding her anguish, she further said, -“Lord Srikrishn! Because of four reasons you should protect me. First, you are my relative; second, born of fire I enjoy a special status; third I am your beloved and fourth I possess full authority over you and you are capable of protecting me.”

Lord Srikrishn solemnly listened to her tale of suffering. He raised his head and said in front of all,-“Fairone! The women of those men, whom you curse, will also grieve one day, the same way. Within a few days, all of them will lick the earth. Grieve not! I pledge to you that you will become the empress soon. Let the sky fall apart; let the Himachala come crushing down; let the oceans get dried but Draupadi! My words to you won’t be belied.”History is the witness of how Lord Srikrishn rescued and protected Pandav throughout the battle of Mahabharat and ultimately enthroned Yuddhisthir as king of Hastinapur. Draupadi remained his close friend throughout.

Assurance of Lord Srikrishn filled the heart of Bereaved Draupadi with calm confidence. Lord Srikrishn then, turned to Yuddhisthir who sat with a head drooping down, filled with remorse and shame. “King! Had I been present there I would not have allowed you to play the game of Dice. Intimate association with women, game of dice, habit of hunting and consumption of wine all these four are the causes of suffering to men. Had King Dhritarashtr not agreed with me, I would have punished him perforce. Had his men supported him I would have killed even them. Because of my absence you invited this trouble and landed into this calamity. “He summed up his opinion.

The Pandav especially Yuddhisthir remained as dumb as idols, completely nonplussed by the speech and demeanor of their critical yet cordial redeemer, Lord Srikrishn. His manly pride and kingly might had been soiled. Lord Srikrishn had touched the raw nerve. After redeeming queen Draupadi from the ocean of suffering, he left the forest.

Shower over Sudama

In Gurukul his humble behaviour endeared him to all. Once he was sent to the forest to collect woods for Yajna by his guru. His friend named Sudama accompanied him. Suddenly, clouds gathered and it began to rain. Lord Srikrishn and his friend Sudama had to take shelter under a tree. Lord Srikrishn was hungry. His friend Sudama had some roasted grams given by guruma. Sudama did not share the grams with hungry Lord Srikrishn and ate it up secretly. Lord Srikrishn remained hungry, aware of what Sudama did. Later on Lord Srikrishn became the king of Dwarka.  Sudama although was learned, remained very poor all his life. His family used to almost starve but he made no effort to earn money. He was a fatalist and remained content with his lot. His wife could not bear with the plight of her emaciated children. She knew that once Lord Srikrishn, the magnanimous king of Dwarka studied with Sudama in Gurukul. She therefore, exhorted Sudama to go to Lord Srikrishn and seek help. Sudama was hesitant. He was a Brahman by cast and could not think of asking for alms from Lord Srikrishn. His wife convinced him that he needed not ask for anything. Lord Srikrishn would come to know of his pitiable condition himself. All he needed do was to pay a visit to Lord Srikrishn. Sudama finally agreed. His wife borrowed roasted rice from neighbours and gave to Sudama for offering to Lord Srikrishn. She believed that on seeing the varieties of rice mixed together Lord Srikrishn would learn of their poverty naturally and do something for them without Sudama's asking for alms.

Sudama was barefooted and clad in tattered clothes when he reached Dwarka after walking all the way. He reached one of the palaces of Lord Srikrishn. The doorman welcomed him and went in to inform Lord Srikrishn. When Lord Srikrishn learnt that his old friend Sudama was at his doorstep, he rushed barefooted to welcome him. He embraced him without minding his poverty-ridden status and made him sit on his golden bed. Lord Srikrishn was overwhelmed to see him reeling in poverty. The throes of Sudama's life filled with suffering and deprivation moved his heart. Tears streamed from his eyes. He washed his cramped feet with the tears flowing down his lotus eyes. Sudama was speechless. Lord Srikrishn honoured him and anointed sandal paste and saffron all over his body. He worshipped him like an ordinary householder and gave him cows in alms. Rukmani, the incarnation of goddess Lakshmi fanned him respectfully. Sudama looked debilitated and odd on the golden throne of Lord Srikrishn. His queens wondered what fortune the poor Brahman had earned that the lord of Universe served him like an attendant. Both of the friends sat together and recalled their golden days in Gurukul.  Lord Srikrishn then asked "O the knower of dharm! Did you marry a girl of your choice after coming back from Gurukul? I very well know that you have no interest in married life and mundane affairs. Rare are the people who like me even though are nonchalant to worldly pleasures and achievement but do so only to guide others. Do you recall the period we spent in Gurukul for only in Gurukul one receives the light of wisdom, which takes one across the ocean of ignorance? Friend! The father is first guru. The one who teaches various subjects and inspires to perform virtuous deeds is second guru. He is adorable like me. The third guru is he who bestows the knowledge of god realization. He is actually a form of me. Those who in this world follow such a guru spontaneously get across the cycles of death and rebirth. They are aware of their true interest and welfare both. Friend! I am the soul of all and present in all. I am not pleased with any other thing as much as the selfless service of such a great guru. Do you remember how we spent a whole night in the forest when it was almost flooding all around due to heavy rains? Our guru Sandipan came searching for us next morning. He blessed us whole heartedly by saying,-"Sons! You have suffered so much to obey me. To redeem oneself from the debt of guru, a disciple should merely surrender his all belongings and body to the guru. I am highly pleased with you. I bless you that whatever you have learnt will remain always etched in your mind and your wisdom and knowledge will neither fail in this world nor after death." Many such events had occurred in Gurukul. No doubt that because of guru's blessings man becomes eligible to attain peace and perfection in life." Sudama the content Brahman also said in reverence, -'O lord of deities and Guru of the entire creation! What is now due on my part for I was blessed with your association in the Gurukul. Vedas are your body and yet you stayed in Gurukul to gain knowledge. What else is this, if not a game being played by you?" Lord Srikrishn talked to him for long. Then he asked, -" O Gracious Brahman! What have you brought for me from your home? When my loving devotees offer me even a little, it seems to me huge and when ordinary people bring me huge offerings I remain discontent. If a man offers me fruits and flowers with true love I instantly eat it" Lord Srikrishn was hinting to Sudama the preciousness of his offering but Sudama was drowning in shame and hesitation. He did not dare offer him the dry puffed rice given by his wife. Lord Srikrishn knew the truth. He thought, -"He is my dear friend. He has never prayed to me for wealth. This time he has come just to satisfy his chaste wife. Now I will bless him with such wealth as even deities get rarely" thinking so Lord Srikrishn snatched the bundle of rice hidden in the tattered clothes of Sudama. He saw it and said, -"Dear friend! You have brought my favourite food for me. These rice are enough not only to satiate me but the entire world." He ate one hand full of rice and as was up to taking the next, Rukmani held his hand back. She said, -"O, Soul of the Universe! Enough. One handful is enough for you to give away all the wealth of this world in life and after death."

Sudama stayed in Lord Srikrishn's palace over night. He felt as if he were in the Vaikunthalok. He received no wealth from Lord Srikrishn yet he did not intend to ask for anything. He enjoyed the love and hospitality extended by Lord Srikrishn. Then he thought of going back. Lord Srikrishn showed unhappiness at parting with him but then allowed him to go back saying that his children and wife would be missing him. Sudama started from his palace. He was swindling between shame and pleasure both. Lord Srikrishn did not give him any money or financial help. He was brooding as to how would he face his family when he would not have anything given by Lord Srikrishn to show them. But he was exalted for Lord Srikrishn had treated him like a king. Even his queen had fanned him with her own hands. Recalling the regal status and warmth Lord Srikrishn had showered over him, his eyes moistened and heart got filled with gratitude. He began to justify Lord Srikrishn's act by believing that he had rather prevented him from falling into the pit of mundane temptations. He therefore, took it as his grace and thanked him for it. Thus recalling and brooding again and again the experience in Lord Srikrishn's palace he reached his village and searched for his house.

He did not find his old hut anywhere. What he saw was unbelievable for his eyes. A majestic palace studded with precious gems stood there. Enchanting gardens and aesthetic water ponds lapping up fragrant flowers thrummed the glory of Lord Srikrishn's generosity. Sudama was in sheer confusion. He could not understand if he was in his village or had mistakenly come back to Dwarka. As was he contemplating, a group of men and women accompanied by musical bands came forward singing ominous songs to usher Sudama in the palace. His wife came running to welcome him in. She looked as graceful in her muslin sari and shining ornaments as goddess Lakshmi. Hordes of maids attended upon her. She took bewildered Sudama inside the palace, which glimmered with gold and precious gems. Sudama sat on the golden bed and closed his eyes. Instead of a hut, Lord Srikrishn had erected an exotic palace for his family. Tears of gratitude flowed from his eyes." O, my dear friend Lord Srikrishn is like a cloud, that showers rain when the peasant goes to sleep. He gives so much but considers it so little that he did not even mention it to me. Whatever his lovers offer him, he accepts with gratitude. I offered him just a handful of rice and he flooded over me such enormous wealth. Although I never wanted riches for that maddens a man and binds him in the sundry of mundane bonds. May he help me in not getting proud of the wealth. For what I aspire is his unflinching love and grace." intoned Sudama. He was enlightened and content. He now devoted his all time in worshipping Lord Srikrishn and soon attained Golok.

SAVIOUR OF DRAUPADI

Draupadi the celestial wife of his five cousins known as Pandav had issued from the sacred fire of Yajna and was very fond of Lord Srikrishn who treated her as his friend. Whenever any problem arose she would meditate upon him who always rushed to help her out. When the Pandav were given the kingdom of Indraprastha by uncle Dhritarashtr they performed a Rajsuya Yajna. The Pandav worshipped Lord Srikrishn as the chief guest. Shishupal, who wanted to marry Rukmani, abhorred this celebration for he had lost Rukmani to Lord Srikrishn in her swayamvar. Rukmani married Lord Srikrishn and Lord Srikrishn defeated Shishupal in the battle.  Shishupal looked for an opportunity to demean Lord Srikrishn. He therefore, abused Lord Srikrishn in front of all. Lord Srikrishn beheaded him with his discus Sudarshan.  Blood flowed from the injured finger of Lord Srikrishn in the process. Draupadi, who stood there, immediately tore down her sari she was wearing and dressed Lord Srikrishn's bleeding finger. “Dear Krishne! I will repay for it at the appropriate time." promised Lord Srikrishn with a mysterious smile displayed on her rosy lips.

After sometime it so happened that cunning Duryodhan invited the Pandav to play a game of dice. Their maternal Uncle Shakuni was determined to avenge the marriage of her sister Gandhari who was deceitfully taken in marriage to blind prince Dhritarashtr by grandfather Bhishm. Gandhari, out of frustration, blindfolded herself for her entire life. She did not see even her own hundred children. Shakuni had vowed to avenge this deceit by decimating the lineage of Bhishm. Shakuni, thus, used to instigate his nephews Duryodhan and his brothers against the Pandav. He poisoned their minds so much that the Kaurav, the sons of Dhritarashtr always looked for opportunities to terminate and torture the Pandav, the five sons of Dhritarashtr’s younger brother Pandu. In the game of dice planned and engineered by uncle Shakuni, the Kaurav cunningly defeated the Pandav. Yuddhisthir put his entire wealth including kingdom and brothers at stake and lost all. Shakuni then instigated Yuddhisthir to put Draupadi also at stake. A nonplussed Yuddhisthir agreed and lost her as well. Duryodhan asked his younger brother Dushasan to bring Draupadi in the court. As legally, her husbands had lost her to the Kaurav, she was now as good as a maidservant of the princes of Hastinapur. His bosom friend Karn brazenly ordered that the maid Draupadi should be undressed in front of all in the royal court. Karn wanted to humiliate Draupadi as during her swayamvar when no young man could target the eye of the fish revolving in a wheel, he got up to participate. But Draupadi publicly called him 'the son of a charioteer' who had no right to participate in her swayamvar for she was a princess of Kshatriya class. Karn felt terribly insulted and looked for an opportunity to demolish her pride. Duryodhan also wanted to challenge her arrogance as she had demeaned and ridiculed him also. When the Pandav got Indraprastha as their share of property, they built a matchlessly exotic palace in which, floor looked transparent like water and water looked carpeted with greenery. Duryodhan got confused and taking the pond for floor, stepped on it and fell down the water. Draupadi was watching him falling down from her terrace. She ridiculed and laughed over his repeated falls by exclaiming, -"The blind son of a blind father!" Duryodhan could not digest the humiliation and vowed to soil her pride. Karn and Duryodhan thus together planned to humiliate proud Draupadi by enslaving her five capable husbands.

All great and wise men present in the court of Hastinapur were aghast. No one could ever imagine that jealous Duryodhan would stoop down to such meanness. Women folk inside the palace trembled in fear. Men heard their pathetic wailing’s but had no courage to defy the cruel king. Draupadi was in shock. She asked what right did Yuddhisthir have to put her at stake in the game of dice when he had lost himself already in the game. But no one answered her query. The crowd of brave and royal men was reduced to corpses. Cruel Dushasan dragged a menstruating Draupadi by hair into the royal court. She cried and asked for help from all. But no one, including guru Dron and Kripa responded to her entreaties and heart rending shrieks. Even the wives of the Kaurav cried out in shame and condemned it. Who could even imagine that a royal princess would be humiliated publicly by her own relations? Grandfather Bhishm sat with his head hung in sheer shame. He was a mighty man but did not stop his own grandsons who behaved in the most heinous way in the majestic court once adorned by great kings such as Kuru, Hasti and Shantanu. His anguish was beyond expression. He would have beheaded anyone who dared disrobe his own grand daughter-in-law anywhere but not in the royal court where he was bound by an oath taken at the time of finalizing wedding of his own father.

The father of Satyavati to whom King Shantanu was deeply attracted did not agree to give her in marriage to Shantanu who had a son named Devavrat from his first wife Ganga. Devavrat then himself took the proposal of his father's marriage to Satyavati's father and promised him that he would never come in the way of his daughter's happiness. To astonish all including deities, he valiantly took a pledge that he would never marry or beget children and will always serve the king of Hastinapur, whosoever he may be. His oath therefore, prevented him from standing up and protecting the honour of a wailing Draupadi.

Draupadi was being forcibly disrobed in front of all. Her five gifted and valiant husbands set there with heads hung in shame. Finding no one to raise their voice to protect her, she lost all hope and ultimately prayed to Lord Srikrishn to save her honour. All were absolutely drowned in dismay. Draupadi had thrown her hands up for how long could she resist the force being exerted by a robust man?  Dushasan went on dragging her sari elatedly. He and Duryodhan were keen to see a naked wife of the Pandav. Their hawkish eyes were glued on her sparklingly resplendent body. How they longed to humiliate and demean the proud princess! Lo! The moment to completely soil her pride had finally arrived.

Seldom do the men intoxicated with the wine of arrogance and wickedness realize that they are and can never be the mightiest. For the mightiest force always takes care of the pure souls. The egoistic eyes do not perceive the secret plan and power of Almighty God. Even though the most awaited moment of the Kaurav mission had arrived, their hungry eyes still longed to see what they had been craving for. But their wish was not fulfilled. The master creator had not approved of their wicked plans. He did not appear there. But his omniscient power instantly came to the rescue of the beseeching Draupadi. Her sari became so long that Dushasan got tired of pulling it. The satanic eyes of poisonous Shakuni and his despotic nephews were wonder struck and disappointed.  The saris piled up and a huge mound of saris became visible to all. The perpetrators of deceit and cruelty were stultified. The mighty arms of Dushasan twanged and his entire body perspired profusely. Exasperated, he sat down on the floor.

Draupadi was in tears, tears of gratitude to Lord Srikrishn who had granted innumerable saris to her in lieu of a single strip she had once torn from her sari to dress the bleeding finger of Lord Srikrishn. That too, in a moment when everyone had turned away their faces relegating her to be humiliated by cruel vultures clad in human hide.

When the enemies got exhausted and professed their defeat, every one looked up. Draupadi stood there with eyes closed in veneration to her single saviour Lord Srikrishn, content and gracefully dressed. The one who always helps and takes parental care of all true seekers in his mysterious and magnanimous ways unfailingly, had saved her honour.

The Pandav in exile

On another occasion the Pandav were in exile. Duryodhan honored sage Durvasa greatly in his palace in Hastinapur and asked him to pay a visit to the Pandav also who were living in the forest after lunchtime. Duryodhan knew that Yuddhisthir had pleased god Surya and obtained a pot called ‘akshayapatra’ in which food cooked, lasted till Draupadi finished it. Duryodhan had wished that when Durvasa would not receive proper food at the place of the Pandav he would surely curse them. Thus he sought to humiliate his cousins. Durvasa reached the Pandav camp and told him that he would dine at their place along with his thousands of disciples. Draupadi had finished her lunch. There was nothing to offer to the sage. The Pandav feared that angry sage would definitely curse them. Their misfortune was multiplying their throes. They had lost kingdom, had no place to live and yet practiced dharm to the best of their ability. Wicked and jealous Duryodhan however, left no stone unturned to create troubles for Pandav. Their only hope and support was their cousin and mentor Lord Srikrishn.

A helpless Draupadi meditated upon Lord Srikrishn, the king of Dwarka. In the blink of an eye, Lord Srikrishn was standing barefooted before her, smiling as ever. Draupadi was exalted to see him for she knew that there was nothing that he could not solve. She told him about arrival of sage Durvasa who had to be fed along with his thousands of disciples. "Krishne! I am dead tired and hungry.  Give me something to eat first. Think of other things later on." chirped Lord Srikrishn in a lighter vein. He used to call Draupadi by the name ‘Krishna’ lovingly, as she was dark-skinned and ‘Krishn’ means ‘black’ or ‘dark’. Draupadi was in a quandary.  She had nothing to offer to him. Annoyed, she said, -“Lord! The akshayapatra given by God Surya, issues food only til I have eaten. I have already eaten so there is nothing left. How should I get you food?” Lord Srikrishn was unperturbed and insisted, -“Draupadi! I am searing with hunger and fatigue and you are cracking jokes. It is not the time to crack jokes. Go and get me the akshayapatra.” Draupadi showed him the empty pot. Lord Srikrishn punctiliously explored. There was just one grain of food sticking in a corner of the pot. He took it out and ate it up saying willfully, -“May the omnipresent god be satiated with this offering."

The anxious Pandav quietly looked up to Lord Srikrishn to come out with some miraculous solution to the problem gnawing at them. Lord Srikrishn asked Sahdev to go and bring the sage for lunch. Sahdev followed him. The yogic power of Lord Srikrishn filled the stomachs of Durvasa and his disciples and they began to burp. Durvasa had already suffered great humiliation by king Ambarish. He knew that Pandav enjoyed patronage of Lord Srikrishn. He feared being penalized by Lord Srikrishn if he could not eat the food he had asked Yuddhisthir to prepare for him and his disciples. Instead of going to the Pandav he decided to quietly slip away. Sahdev looked all around but did not find the sage. The Pandav kept on waiting for him till late night. Lord Srikrishn assured them, -“I had come here to help you out. Now you need not worry. He has slipped away, fearing your piety and spiritual prowess. Those who practice righteousness never suffer. I now seek your permission to go back.” The Pandav were relieved. They said, -“Govind, We have been overcoming all troubles only with your help. Go and keep redeeming your devotees always.” Thus Lord Srikrishn saved his friend Draupadi from a calamity concocted by cunning Duryodhan.

Scheme of Bhagadatt Foiled

The battle of Mahabharat was going on. Bhurishrava was a brave king who sided with Kaurav. His aged father Bhagadatt fought valiantly for them. He possessed immense strength and unique astra named Vaishnav. None in the armies of both sides knew how to face the devastating aftermath caused by the astra.  Bhagadatt was aware of this and took great pride in creating fear amongst his enemies. Arjun was away with Lord Srikrishn routing samshamptakas out of the battlefield and Bhagadatt taking advantage of their absence, rejoiced in battering battalions of Pandav.

Riding his gigantic elephant, Bhagadatt reeled in the joy of destroying the enemy. Arjun spotted him and asked Lord Srikrishn to advance to Bhagadatt. The beast charged at Arjun menacingly but alert charioteer of Arjun turned the chariot away to let the elephant pass. Arjun swiftly blew off the armour of elephant. Hurt and debased Bhagadatt lost no time in unleashing his unique weapon. He aimed Vaishnav astra at Arjun. Before Arjun could apply his wits to face the weapon, Lord Srikrishn stopped charioteering and stood up. In an eye blink, the entire army saw Lord Srikrishn smiling with a floral garland adorning his resplendent bossom.

Bhagadatt lost his life as his face paled and mind got numbed.  The jubilation of Kaurav turned into sheer frustration.  Arjun was overwhelmed to see the unfailing protection of his lord. But his heart bled for his charioteer who had broken his vow of not taking part in the battle. Arjun loved the honour of his friend more than his own victory. Penitent disciple of Lord Srikrishn said,-“O Lord Srikrishn! It is not proper that you break your vow…. You should allow me to face the weapons if I am capable of doing so… and only come to my rescue when I begin to fail…” Unaware of the all destroying power of the astra and limitation of his own capability Arjun objected to the gesture of his charioteer.

“That is what I have done Arjun...”, said Lord Srikrishn coolly. His smile however, expressed the crux of his action. Arjun was confounded.

Lord Srikrishn sensed the desperation looming large on the face of his dear Arjun and said, -“Long back when I was in the form of Lord Vishnu, goddess Earth had approached me with the desire to obtain the most powerful weapon for her son Narkasur. I bestowed him with the Vaishnav astra. Bhagadatt had obtained the same astra from Narkasur. Who can endure the terrific impact of this astra but me? I have merely protected you by depriving Bhagadatt of this astra. Now march on and kill him.” Commanded, Lord Srikrishn.

A few words of revelation assuaged the clouds of confusion and gloom from the mind of Arjun. Elated Arjun attacked his enemy with multiplied vigour. In one shot he sent Bhagdatt’s elephant to death and with the second shot, he tore apart the cloth-band tied around the forehead of Bhagadatt. His third arrow put an end to the life of Bhagadatt.

Amazing Charioteer

By the eighteenth day Pandav had destroyed the entire army of enemy in the battlefield of Kurukshetra. Bhim had floored Duryodhan by hitting him below the navel, as hinted by Lord Srikrishn. Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Srikrishn who was also the guru of Duryodhan as he trained him in fighting with mace i.e. gadayuddha, resented the move of Bhim furiously but Lord Srikrishn restrained him by reminding the chain of misdeeds of Kaurav to Pandav in the past. Balaram left the battlefield in a huff. The ace mentor of Pandav advised them to leave Duryodhan to face his end and mount the chariots to reach back to their camps.

Forlorn and humiliated Duryodhan retorted from behind, -“O, You son of a slave! Are you not ashamed of yourself? You have been so unjust and unkind to us all through. It was you, who reminded Bhim his vow to break my thigh. It was you who used Shikhandi to defeat grandfather Bhishm. It was you who made truthful Yuddhisthir utter a lie about the death of Aswatthama to make Dron lay down his arms. It was you who make Karn unleash his Shakti on Ghatotkach to save your dear Arjun…..” Lord Srikrishn turned about and sternly looked at him. His eyes radiated toughness of a diamond.

“Duryodhan! You are suffering… because of your… own wicked deeds.” Thundered, a peremptory Lord Srikrishn.

“I have no regrets. I lived as a hero and am dying as a brave Kshatriya who is sure to attain Swargalok.” Retorted, Duryodhan.

And lo! As soon as he said so flowers rained from the Swargalok. Pandav hung their head in shame to see the heavenly commendation for Duryodhan. Lord Srikrishn however, paid no heed and to boost the morale of Pandav, explained, -“It was impossible to kill mightily warriors such as Bhishm, Dron, Karn and Duryodhan by righteous means. Had I not intervened, you would never have won this war. Anyhow, our task is now accomplished. Let us go home and relax.”

Refilled with ebullience, the Pandav blew their conch shells proclaiming their ultimate victory. They mounted upon their chariots and jubilantly departed from the battlefield.

The palace of Hastinapur, appeared worn out and appalling. When others got down their chariot, Lord Srikrishn asked Arjun, -“Remove your Gandeev and celestial quivers from the chariot and get down.” Arjun did his bidding. Lord Srikrishn then also, got down the chariot. As soon as he got down, the monkey who adorned the banner of chariot also vanished. In front of all, the chariot went up in flames. In a moment the chariot along with horses and reins was reduced to a heap of ashes. Pandav watched the scene with fear and awe. Arjun fell in the feet of Lord Srikrishn. All watched the drama with a baited breath. “O Lord Srikrishn! How did this happen?’ How the chariot could be suddenly burnt down?” asked a weary warrior.

“The chariot had already been charred by the repeated blows of enemy’s weapons. As long as I sat in it, it appeared to be intact. As I have abandoned it, it is now a heap of ashes.” Softly explained, Lord Srikrishn.