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

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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 only this.


Sri Krishna helped the Pandavas in levelling the ground. It was called Khandava-prastha and then renamed Indraprastha and is now, at present, Delhi. It was a thick forest once upon a time, with no human beings living there – Khandava-prastha, which was converted into Indraprastha with the help of Sri Krishna. Krishna said, “Don’t bother if it is thorny. We shall see that a beautiful palace is built there which will vie even with the palace of Indra.” And it was built – a wonderful palace, shining, excelling Duryodhana’s palace.

To be continued ..

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