The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -4. : Swami Krishnananda.

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Monday,  15 May,  2023. 07:30.

The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -4 :

(Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972)

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There is no mention of Krishna again for a long time, until thirteen years are over and they entered the fourteenth year. The Pandavas had to live incognito in the court of Virata. They suffered very much, but nobody came there. They had to live unknown. When the fourteenth year was over, Sri Krishna came to the court of Virata. There begins the Udyoga Parva of the Mahabharata, and there also begins the central scene of the epic. Up to the Virata Parva, we have one section—the preliminary introduction or the sowing of the seed of the Mahabharata. Then the germ begins to sprout as the Udyoya Parva commences in a glorious manner. Sri Krishna came to the court of Virata where the Pandavas had been living incognito. By then the period of fourteen years was over, and they were known as Pandavas. He came there and held a conference.

Swami Chinmayananda :

The role of the mother is central. That is how great men of the past were made — a Shivaji, an Einstein, a Tagore, a Mahatma Gandhi. It is always the mother at home who gives the values and ideals to the child, who molds the mental thinking of the child. In molding their children, mothers have the opportunity to positively influence the mothers and fathers of the future. It is crucial for us all to recognise the importance of the mothers' role. The children of today are going to be the leaders of tomorrow. And we must supply them with a vision.

Happy Mothers' Day!

Tag your mother or a woman who has shaped you, nurtured you into a beautiful being!

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Sri Krishna said, “Now the time has come for us to think what has to be done. The fourteenth year is over. Now what steps do I have to take to help the poor brothers in gaining their kingdom back? I ask you, wise friends in this assembly.” That was all he said. He never gave an opinion or made any suggestion.

Then Balarama got up. He was partial to Duryodhana because he was a Guru of Duryodhana. He got up and said, “Well, I fully agree that the Pandavas should gain their kingdom, but we should not hurt Duryodhana; we should not displease him in any manner. He is also a friend of ours—also a brother and an honourable ruler; and if the Pandavas have lost their kingdom, it is of their own fault, and no fault of Duryodhana. So I do not suggest any kind of insulting or pain-giving attitude on the part of people here. This is my advice. Very cautiously, amicably, the matter should be settled.”

Swami Chinmayananda :

The Geeta Mother.... the Universal Religion of Geeta, is the one to whom the children of any age can always confidently turn to, expecting nothing but total forgiveness and complete love, even after a million outrageous acts which the individuals​ might have committed.

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Satyaki got up and said, “Birds of the same feather flock together. I understand the partiality of Balarama to Duryodhana. It is most unbecoming of a hero like Balarama to speak like this when the poor brothers have eaten humble pie in the jungle. We shall not be satisfied with anything short of war.” Then there is a very lengthy process of argument and counter-argument, suggestion and counter-suggestion, and so on.

Finally it was decided that a messenger be sent to Duryodhana: “My dear friend, the brothers have come back. You give the portion due to them.” A Brahmin who knew how to speak well was sent, and the reply from Duryodhana was curt and cutting. “Nothing doing!” he said. “They are due nothing. Go back and tell them.”

Well, this was the news they received back. And then, in turn, Dhritarasthra sent a messenger in the form of Sanjaya. “Sanjaya, you go and tell the Pandavas we shall not be cowed down by a show of their powers or by their threats, and war is the only solution. If they have power, let them show their strength.”

That portion of the Udyoga Parva is very interesting as a piece of literature, as a piece of poetry, an artistic presentation of ideas, a glorification of divinity, and many other interesting things. Sanjaya's message is conveyed, which is very unpleasant and most unjust, which made out in the end that the Pandavas are not to be given anything. And then another messenger was to be sent from the side of Yudhisthira to the Kauravas to finally settle the matter: “Is war essential, or can we get on without it?”

To be continued

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