Mahabharatham : ( 08/06/2013. )

08/12/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam - 13. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmashtami in 1972) The Drona Parva is again a masterpiece of Vyasa’s literary beauty. Only those who know Sanskrit can appreciate the literary beauty of Vyasa; but even in a translation, one may enjoy it because of the magnificent high pitch of language used. It is difficult to read it without a thrill, without hair standing on end, and without a tumult of emotion in one’s mind. In the Drona Parva, the work was very difficult. It became more complicated, and Sri Krishna had to help Arjuna from various calamities and catastrophes. Sri Krishna was alone, grooming the horses, while Arjuna fought alone, single handedly, on foot in the battlefield. And there was a very powerful man called Bhagadatta. He was a very old man. He used to fight on a very powerful elephant which was supposed to be a descendent of Airavata of Indra. A very fierce elephant it was; it could simp

16/11/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam - 12. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmashtami in 1972) LAST POST -11.END AS UNDER : Duryodhana said, “I have taken the butter. He has taken the buttermilk. I am going. Wonderful! Foolhardy and stupid is Arjuna.” He said to Sri Krishna, “Thank you for the army.” He thought he had already half won the victory. “What is the use of one man? The whole army is mine.” He went and told his brothers, “Victory is ours.” Then Krishna said to Arjuna, “You are a foolish man. Why did you choose me? What made you choose me, who will do nothing?” Arjuna said, “Even if you do not do anything, your presence will do more than others can do by hands and feet. I know your greatness.” READ FURTHER-12 : “All right, as you wish,” he said. “What work can I do?” “You guide me in the war.” Krishna said, “I will be your charioteer.” And then the Udogya Parva closes and the Bhishma Parva starts, where we have the

01/11/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam - 11. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) Then Sri Krishna told Dhritarashtra, Bhishma and Vidura, “This kind of person you are keeping in your palace! It is a shame to you. He wants to bind me. And you want to listen to all this? If you give me permission, I myself shall bind him and take him just now to the feet of Yudhisthira.” Gandhari got very wild and went on reprimanding Duryodhana. She said, “What is happening to my son? Why does he talk like this?” She called him to the court and said, “Have you gone crazy? Why do you talk of binding him? What harm has he done? He is an ambassador. He is not your enemy. Have you no shame?” Then Sri Krishna said, “Duryodhana, don’t be under any misapprehension. You may be thinking that I am alone here – that I have no friends, no assistance, no support of any kind – and that you can bind me and throw me into prison. Everybody is here; all

11/10/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam - 10. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) There is another story that when Sri Krishna entered the hall of the king of the Kurus, all got up except Duryodhana. He was seated on a throne on the other end of the hall. When Sri Krishna entered, all got up, but he did not get up. The story goes that Sri Krishna pressed the earth with his thumb, and when he pressed the earth at one end of the hall, the other end rose up, and the throne on which Duryodhana was seated fell. He was made to prostrate, which was an insult to him, and he had very much wrath over it in the presence of all people. He did not know what was happening. He thought there was something wrong with the throne – that the leg was broken or something. He was very irritated over this incident but he simply smiled falsely and sat again. Then Sri Krishna said, “I have nothing to say. All wise people here know the purpose for

23/09/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -9. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) He went to the hut of Vidura, a poor man who was in consternation to see Krishna coming to his cottage for no reason whatsoever, uninvited, at an unearthly hour.  In his ecstasy, as the story goes, he offered him whatever he had – a few plantains – and his ecstasy rose to such a height that he forgot what he was doing. He offered the peels and threw away the plantains. Very politely, smilingly, Sri Krishna enjoyed the peels. He did not say anything, and ate the peels. These are the peculiarities of a great man. I cannot describe them in a few minutes. You have to read between the lines in the Mahabharata, not merely the lines. The greatness of a perfect person, the greatness which is identical with humility and goodness and unselfishness – that can be read not only in the lines of the Mahabharata, but also between the lines of the Mahabharata. The pe

30/08/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -8. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) Who will go? At present, nobody was left other than Sri Krishna.  Yudhisthira said, “Sri Krishna, I am ashamed to send you as my messenger.  I weep. It is better I die than send you as a message carrier. But I have agreed to this proposal for one reason – not because I am unable to recognise your greatness, but because nobody can deal with this problem better than you can. This is why, Krishna, I have agreed to this proposal of your going. But I am afraid, also, from the bottom of my heart, that I am sending you to a jungle of beasts where one’s life itself can be in danger. No! Krishna, don’t go! Sit down,” he said. “It is not necessary. I don’t want anything now.” Immediately he changed his mind, in a minute. “I understand the whole situation. It is dangerous to go there. They may attack you and harm your life. I have cancelled the whole program. You

08/08/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -7. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) 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 regain their kingdom, but we should not hurt Duryodhana; we should not displease him in any manner. He is also a friend of ours – a brother, 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.” 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 w

25/07/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -6. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) Bhima said, “Right! I am ready just now.” And Arjuna said, “I think it is all right. There is no point in fulfilling a vow that has been thrust upon us by a trick, by a falsehood, by a fraud. Should we fulfil this vow? I think a lie is counteracted by a lie. We shall go back and see our valour.” Draupadi gave a very long lecture to Yudhisthira, condemning him for his imbecility, for his weakness of thought and his unKshatriya-like behaviour, and pitying herself for having married him. Then Yudhisthira said, “I understand everything. I know what you say. And I know that the Yadava princes came here and offered help. Everything is clear to my mind. But I shall not break my vow, for reasons known to me alone.” And they cursed him, but stayed with him because they had no other hope. They had great obedience to him in spite of disagreeing with him. The

11/07/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -5. Swami Krishnananda (Spoken on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) Narada, who visited Indraprastha, said, “I have never seen a palace of this kind. I have visited Yamaloka, I have visited Indraloka, I have seen the palaces of all the gods, but they are nothing of this kind.” This became known to Duryodhana. “Oh, still these fellows are prospering! Even if I throw them into the jungle and thorns, they have become like this.” Then it was that he played the trick of dice. When the dice game was played, Sri Krishna was not present. He was outside. It was all a miracle that in crucial moments his presence was not seen. Later on he says, “If I had been present, I would have prevented it. Unfortunately, I was not present.” He was not present; and why he was not present, he only knew. He said, “I was very busy.” That was all he said. “I had a lot of work to do in Dwarka.” Dice was played; the Pandavas were made slaves

17/05/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -4 (Spoken by Swami Krishnananda on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) The Sabha Parva of the Mahabharata gives us a more stirring description of the conniving of the Kauravas. The invitation was extended to Yudhisthira for playing dice so that he could be ousted from the kingdom. There was no mention of Krishna anywhere. After departing to Dwarka and having given presents to Yudhisthira, he is completely out of the scene. And the next scene is when he helps Arjuna in establishing himself and his brothers from the tyranny of Dhritarasthra and the Kauravas. When Dhirtarasthra knew that the Pandavas were alive and had come back, he said, “Give them a part of the kingdom. Why do you trouble them? Let them stay somewhere.” Grudgingly, a piece of dry land was given which was good for nothing – no water, infertile – all stones and thorns, with wild animals in the forest. For namesake, a part of the kingdom was given, but on

31/05/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -3. (Spoken by Swami Krishnananda on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) Well, what has happened has happened. The celebration was over; the Pandavas, disguised as Brahmins, went to their cottage and narrated this happy incident to their mother Kunti, who was waiting for them at sunset. Then Krishna came there and offered rich, costly presents to Yudhisthira and his brothers. Yudhisthira asked, “What is the matter? How is it that you have brought such valuable presents to us?” Sri Krishna said, “Because the glory of the Pandavas has been seen today in the court of Draupada.” “But how do you know that we are Pandavas?” Sri Krishna smiled and said, “Fire cannot be hidden, wherever it is kept.” That is all that he said, and he gave his good wishes and returned to Dwarka. He did nothing else. Then we know what happened to the Pandava brothers – the great hardship that they had to pass through. Duryodhana and his b

19/05/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -2 (Spoken by Swami Krishnananda on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) There is a tradition called the Bhagavata Saptaha, and we know what Vyasa has written about Sri Krishna in the Tenth Skanda of the Srimad Bhagavata. I shall try to append these glorious descriptions of the Tenth Skanda with the other aspect of the life of Sri Krishna which Vyasa tells us in the Mahabharata – without which, a very important aspect of his life will be completely out of our mind’s picture. We may say that the intention of Vyasa in writing the life of Sri Krishna in the Mahabharata is to demonstrate the character of a most-unselfish life of perfection. It is action to the core, and action not bringing any good to oneself. That is the essence of unselfish perfect action. This is very magnificently given to us in this sonorous, soul-lifting and powerful style of the Mahabharata. The style of the Mahabharata is different from that of t

04/05/2018 The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -1 (Spoken by Swami Krishnananda on Sri Krishna Janmasthami in 1972) 1. Krishna Dvaipayana Vyasa is the biographer of Bhagavan Sri Krishna.  But for the writings, we would have known nothing of the existence or the deeds of Sri Krishna. Among the many writings of Vyasa on this subject of the life of Sri Krishna, the prominent ones are the Srimad Bhagavata and the Mahabharata. We may write the life of Sri Krishna in three books, three sections or three parts: The early life, the family life and the public life. In the Tenth Skanda, the tenth book of the Srimad Bhagavata, Vyasa describes to us in great detail the early life of Krishna and his home life – the family life, we may say. From the birth of Krishna until the death of Kamsa can be called the early life of Krishna. From his encounter with Virasunda until his marriage to Rukmini and others, and his encounter with certain local kings, may be called his ho

17/04/2018 4.The Message of the Mahabharatam :- The sufferings of the Pandavas and Draupadi, Nala and Damayanti, Savitri and Satyavan, clearly explain to us the fact or hard truth that the goal of life or perfection can only be attained through pain and suffering. Pain is the means through which man is moulded, disciplined and strengthened. Just as impure gold is turned into pure gold by melting it in the crucible, so also the impure and imperfect weak man is rendered pure, perfect and strong, by being melted in the crucible of pain and suffering. Therefore, one should not be afraid of pain and sufferings. They are blessings in disguise. They are eye-openers. They are silent teachers. They turn the mind towards God and instil mercy in the heart, strengthen the will and develop patience and power of endurance, which are the pre-requisites for God-Realisation. The message of the Mahabharata is the message of Truth and Righteousness. The great epic produces a moral awakening in

23/03/2018 The Mahabharatam : The Greatness of the Epic - 3.2.3 3. Heroic Characters :--2.3. 3. Bhishma, Yudishthira, Karna, Arjuna, Draupadi, Krishna, Subhadra : The noble and heroic grandsire Bhishma—who had control over his death and who was unconquerable in war even by the gods—still inspires us with the spirit of self-sacrifice, undaunted courage and purity. Yudhishthira is still a model of justice and righteousness. Remembrance of his very name generates a thrill in our hearts and goads us to tread the path of truth and virtue. Karna still lives in our hearts on account of his extreme munificence and liberality. Karna’s name has become proverbial. People even now say, whenever they come across a very generous man, "He is like Karna in gifts." Arjuna was the bravest of all the five Pandavas. Arjuna had got Draupadi by winning in the selection match and he had defeated the Kauravas on several occasions. He was a devoted friend of Sri Krishna who had him

16/03/2018 The Mahabharatam : The Greatness of the Epic - 3.2.2 3. Heroic Characters :--2.2. 2.  Draupadi, Savitri, Kunti, Madri and Damayanti: The kings had a complete knowledge of the scriptures and of right and wrong. They practised rigid austerities also. That is the reason why Yudhishthira and Nala were able to bear the privations and hardships. They rolled in wealth and yet they had the strength and power of endurance to walk barefooted in forests and sleep on a bed of stones. They had such a rigorous training and discipline in suffering. Draupadi, Savitri, Kunti, Madri and Damayanti were highly devoted to their husbands. They were bold and fearless when they were under extreme difficulties, hardships, sufferings and privations. They were pious. They bore the sufferings through the force of their chastity and moral strength. They were ideal wives and ideal mothers. That is the reason why they have left an immortal name behind them. The Mahabharata still exerts a

11/03/2018 The Mahabharatam : The Greatness of the Epic - 3.2. 3. Heroic Characters :--2.1. 1. Yudhishthira : Yudhishthira did not wield arms. He did not take active part in the war-front. He did not use bow and arrows. He had neither the strength of Bhima nor the skill of Arjuna in archery. But he was an embodiment of righteousness. He was an incarnation of Dharma. That is the reason why he was called as Dharmaputra. He was a wise and ideal king. He established peace and order. He guided his brothers in the path of truth and righteousness and checked them whenever they went astray. Arjuna bore manfully the insults which Draupadi was subjected to before his eyes. He could not disobey Yudhishthira or show him the least disrespect. All the brothers were meek and submissive before Yudhishthira, however mighty and heroic they were. They could crush mountains and dry up oceans with their arrows. They were terrible before their opponents but they were mild and gentle bef

03/03/2018 The Mahabharatam : 1. The Greatness of the Epic - 3. 3. Heroic Characters :-1. The Mahabharata war was a just war. If you go through the speech given by Bhishma to Yudhishthira, you will know the usages of righteous war. A brave hero would fight only with an enemy of equal strength and on equal vantage. This was the motto of every brave soldier who engaged himself in warfare in days of yore in India. Perfect justice and fairness in everything was rigidly observed on both sides. There was no fighting during nights; when the enemy had no arms in his hands, no arrows were aimed at him. The Mahabharata, the most renowned epic of India, is the only book of its kind in the whole world. It contains countless stories besides the main episode—the Mahabharata—which teach moral lessons or illustrate distinguishing characteristics of the ancients of India. It contains the history of ancient India and all the details of its political, social and religious life. The stori

24/02/2018 The Mahabharatam : 1. The Greatness of the Epic - 2.1 1. The Epic in a Nutshell :- The Mahabharata is the history of the Great War of Bharatham between the Pandavas and the Kauravas. The two brothers Dhritarashtra and Pandu were born through sage Vyasa after the death of Vichitravirya. Dhritarashtra being blind, Pandu succeeded to the throne but he entrusted the kingdom to his elder brother and himself proceeded to forest where his five sons Yudhishthira, etc., were born and were called the "Pandavas." Dhritarashtra also had one hundred children in Duryodhana and others, who were called the "Kauravas." Pandu died during the infancy of his sons and Dhritarashtra continued to rule the kingdom with the help of their granduncle Bhishma, who had pledged himself to lifelong celibacy. The Pandava and Kaurava princes were brought up together and also educated and trained alike through Dronacharya. Both sets of princes considered themselves entit

14/02/2018 The Mahabharatam : 1. The Greatness of the Epic - 1. MAHABHARATAM—the very mention of the name gives a thrill of holy ideas. This is a great epic heroic poem. It contains one hundred thousand verses. It contains the essence of all scriptures. It is an encyclopaedia of ethics, knowledge, politics, religion, philosophy and Dharma. If you cannot find anything here, you cannot find it anywhere else. It contains eighteen Parvas or sections viz., Adi Parva, Sabha Parva, Vana Parva, Virata Parva, Udyoga Parva, Bhishma Parva, Drona Parva, Karna Parva, Shalya Parva, Sauptika Parva, Stree Parva, Shanti Parva, Anushasana Parva, Asvamedha Parva, Ashramavasika Parva, Mausala Parva, Mahaprasthanika Parva and Swargarohanika Parva. Each Parva contains many sub-Parvas or subsections. This wonderful book was composed by Sri Vyasa (Krishna Dvaipayana) who was the grandfather of the heroes of the epic. He taught this epic to his son Suka and his disciples Vaisampayana and oth