The Relevance of the Bhagavadgita to Humanity : 4.2. Swami Krishnananda

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13/04/2020.
The First Six Chapters of the Bhagavadgita

Chapter 4: Stories from the Aranya Parva - 2.

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1.

Today I am not discussing any intricate theme. It is a light vein of a story which you may find very interesting. The Pandavas were getting on with the miracle vessel, the divine bowl offered by the Sun. How can the Sun be so kind to us? I was happy to read a little anecdote in the Kalyana Kalpataru. Kalyana is the magazine of the Gita Press. 

They narrated a story that actually happened. One gentleman from Europe who was not accustomed to the heat of the Indian sun in summer got sunstroke when he stood in the sun. He could not bear the heat of this summer of India. He had fever, and he took rest and recovered. 

The next day some brainwave occurred to him. It appears he took in his hand some flowers and holy water, gazed at the mighty brilliance, chanted a mantra, put it down as an offering, and stood there for more hours than he had stood the previous day, and nothing happened to him. He was perfectly all right.

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2.

Sri Krishna, the great superman, was the friend and well-wisher and the unfailing protection of the Pandavas, but he was not available when they were in the state of great misery through which they had to pass, an incident that is described in the Sabha Parva, an earlier section of the book. It was an outrageous condition in which they were sunk, yet the hand of God did not help. 

Why should God not help us every minute? 

God only knows. But some explanation is sometimes offered. He comes only when we want Him, or rather, when it is impossible for us to exist without Him. And certain circumstances were there which explain this mystery. We need not go into those details now.

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3.

Sri Krishna came with a retinue and greeted the Pandavas in the forest to express regret over what had happened. He did nothing else, only expressed regret. 

“If I had been there at that time, I would certainly have not allowed this to happen. But for some reason I was engaged otherwise, and I could not be present. I am really sorry for what has happened. That is all. What can I do? I am very sorry.”

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4.

Now, why he said only that much and did not raise his finger? This is for every spiritual seeker to research. Many a time we see wretchedness superintending over even good souls. Great saints lived a life of hardship, intense suffering, test and turmoil. 

Everyone had to carry a cross. And it is perhaps necessary that everyone has to carry this cross as long as one is in this world. It is the process of burning and burnishing our spirit, and making us ready for God to embrace us.

To be continued ...

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