Mahabharatham : ( 08/06/2013. )

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 hi...

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 exer...