The Role of Lord Sri Krishna in the Mahabharatam -1

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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 home life or his family life. But the public life of Krishna, which is of a different character altogether, is found only in the Mahabharata.

It is not in the Srimad Bhagavata or any other Purana. Vyasa is silent about his public life when he writes the Bhagavata, and he is silent about his early life and family life when he writes the Mahabharata. We have to read the two together. In one sense, we may say the Mahabharata follows the Srimad Bhagavata.

To be continued ..


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