Introduction
The important relevance of Mahabharat to me is the relationship management and managing the expectations. In life every one of us create relation and consequently we create underlying expectations from the relation. The story of Mahabharat and some of the epic characters taught the aspects of relation and managing the expectations arising out of relations The relations can start from Family to Friends, official,personal, professional, teacher and student, king and his subjects and much more. In every relation there is an underlying expectation and failure to meet the expectations creates an issue. The teaching from Mahabhrat and the actions of certain characters is certainly a lesson for us to follow in our day to day life be it in professional/personal. The first aspect of relation that comes to my mind is devotion between god and devotee.
I heard this story when I used to attend Pulavar Keeran's discourse in Mahabharat during my younger days and Pulavar Keeran used to narrate this story in his own inimitable style. It is still fresh in my memory.
Arjuna is a great devotee of Lord Krishna and the relation between Arjuna and Krishna is also beyond devotion. Arjun considered Krishna not only as a god but also his protector and saviour. The success of Arjun is not due to Arjun but due to the blessings and support that Krishna gave it to Arjun. Krishna guided Arjun at every level, corrected his course of action and protected him till last. We all know Krishna guided Pandavas and was with Pandavas till last. There is always a misonception that Krishna's commitement to Pandavas has come due to Arjun. Interestingly it was due to Sahadev's request to Lord and Sahadev is considered as more wiser. I will come to this analysis later. Though Arjun is a great devotee of Krishna, Krishna had to correct Arjun's self belief or Arjun's thought that he is a greatest devotee. Krishna through this story tells that good heart and pure devotion is required and ultimate dedication is not based on money or material but only through heart.
Very often Arjun thinks and carries an impression that he is the best devotee of Lord Krishna. Once Arjun tells Lord Krishna that Lord Krishna cannot find a better devotee than Arjun. Lord Krishna in his normal style indicates ignorance on who is great devotee and he tells Arjin that lot of people look to him and he cannot find who is the best devotee. But Arjun insist that he is the best devotee of Lord Krishna. So Lord Krishna tells that arjuna that "let us go and find out". Lord Krishna and Arjun started walking and they enter a small hut of a poor Brahman who is is living with his wife and son.
The priest his wife and son are all devotee of Lord Krishna. The priest was so excited on seeing Lord Krishna at his residence and he was so happy and so pleased. He wlecomes Lord Krishna with full of devotion,love and affection. Lord Krishna asks the head of family what he can offer to Lord. The Head of family request that Lord can ask whatever he wants but he request Lord Krishna to ask him what Brahman has. Lord Krishna in his inimmitable style asks for the priest's son. The priest and his wife readily agrees and request Lord Krishna to take his son. But Lord Krishna has a point to prove to Arjun on devotion and he makes a plan. He requests poor brahman to give right side of the son. Lord insist that brahman and wife should stand on either side of the son. Both brahman and his wife should cut son into two parts. The right side belongs to Krishna and left side belongs to brahman and his wife. Krishna also said that during the process nobody should cry including the son.(Brahman and wife and son). As instructed by Lord Krishna the Brahman and his wife cut the son. Suddenly Krishna asks the Brahman to stop because he found the boy's eyes had tears and it indicated that boy is crying. Since the boy is crying Krishna said that Bhakthi from Brahman and his family to Lord Krishna is not pure and hence Lord says that he will not take the offering of Brahman. Brahman and his wife became sad. But the young boy who is son of the priest replies to Lord. "Lord. You had requested that Right part of mine belongs to you and left part belongs to my father and mother. The tears is coming from my left eyes. Do you know why? My left eyes is feeling bad because Right eye is lukcy enough to be with you but left is not lukcy enough to be with you. Though both eyes belonged to same body only one right eye is lukcy to be with you". When Arjun heard what Brahman's son replied Arjun realised his mistake and he realised how pure the Brahman's family devotion to Lord.
If you look at the story Lord Krishna though a human being taught few things to us:
The other story which Lord Krishna manages the relation and he uses as a biggest strategy was his visit to Vidhura's house when he visited Hastinapur as Pandava's emissary. Lord decided to visit Hastinapur as Pandava's emissary. Everybody in Gaurava's side were eager to receive Lord Krishna and make him to stay as his guest. Krishan refuses to stay in abybody's palace (Bhishma/Drona/Karna/Duryodhana etc) but he goes straight to Vidhura's place. Vidhura was staying in hut unlike others who stay in palace and has all the comforts. But Lord chose to visit Vidhura's place. Vidhura is also a great devotee of Lord Krishna and Lord wanted to honour Vidhura because of Vidhura's righteousness. Lord visits Vidhura's hut. Vidhura was plesantly surprised to receive Lord and he offers seat to Lord. After that Vidhura' asks Lord what he can offer. Lord says anything that he has. Vidhura says he is poor and he can offer only dal mixed with jaggery and water which will become payasam. Lord readily accepts and he takes the payasam offered by Vidhura. That is the reason in South Side (Vaishnavites Iyengars) call payasam as Thirukannaamudhu. means Payasam tasted by Lord Krishna. If Lord had desired he could have gone to anybody's palace but he goes to poor person Vidhura's hut and takes what Vidhura gives. Though next day in palace Duryodhana shouts at Vidhura for having received Lord Krishna as guest and Vidhura takes a vow that he will not participate in war. The story gives few insights:
Lord tells us. Be sincere to me and certainly i will take care of you. If you make mistakes surrender to me and i will be there. If you are true to your dedication and devotion i will answer positively.
The important relevance of Mahabharat to me is the relationship management and managing the expectations. In life every one of us create relation and consequently we create underlying expectations from the relation. The story of Mahabharat and some of the epic characters taught the aspects of relation and managing the expectations arising out of relations The relations can start from Family to Friends, official,personal, professional, teacher and student, king and his subjects and much more. In every relation there is an underlying expectation and failure to meet the expectations creates an issue. The teaching from Mahabhrat and the actions of certain characters is certainly a lesson for us to follow in our day to day life be it in professional/personal. The first aspect of relation that comes to my mind is devotion between god and devotee.
- Krishna and Arjuna ( Bhakthi and Friendship)- Relation of Friend/God/Protector
- Krishna and Vidhura( Pure Devotion)( Relation of devotee who knows nothing but truth)
I heard this story when I used to attend Pulavar Keeran's discourse in Mahabharat during my younger days and Pulavar Keeran used to narrate this story in his own inimitable style. It is still fresh in my memory.
Arjuna is a great devotee of Lord Krishna and the relation between Arjuna and Krishna is also beyond devotion. Arjun considered Krishna not only as a god but also his protector and saviour. The success of Arjun is not due to Arjun but due to the blessings and support that Krishna gave it to Arjun. Krishna guided Arjun at every level, corrected his course of action and protected him till last. We all know Krishna guided Pandavas and was with Pandavas till last. There is always a misonception that Krishna's commitement to Pandavas has come due to Arjun. Interestingly it was due to Sahadev's request to Lord and Sahadev is considered as more wiser. I will come to this analysis later. Though Arjun is a great devotee of Krishna, Krishna had to correct Arjun's self belief or Arjun's thought that he is a greatest devotee. Krishna through this story tells that good heart and pure devotion is required and ultimate dedication is not based on money or material but only through heart.
Very often Arjun thinks and carries an impression that he is the best devotee of Lord Krishna. Once Arjun tells Lord Krishna that Lord Krishna cannot find a better devotee than Arjun. Lord Krishna in his normal style indicates ignorance on who is great devotee and he tells Arjin that lot of people look to him and he cannot find who is the best devotee. But Arjun insist that he is the best devotee of Lord Krishna. So Lord Krishna tells that arjuna that "let us go and find out". Lord Krishna and Arjun started walking and they enter a small hut of a poor Brahman who is is living with his wife and son.
The priest his wife and son are all devotee of Lord Krishna. The priest was so excited on seeing Lord Krishna at his residence and he was so happy and so pleased. He wlecomes Lord Krishna with full of devotion,love and affection. Lord Krishna asks the head of family what he can offer to Lord. The Head of family request that Lord can ask whatever he wants but he request Lord Krishna to ask him what Brahman has. Lord Krishna in his inimmitable style asks for the priest's son. The priest and his wife readily agrees and request Lord Krishna to take his son. But Lord Krishna has a point to prove to Arjun on devotion and he makes a plan. He requests poor brahman to give right side of the son. Lord insist that brahman and wife should stand on either side of the son. Both brahman and his wife should cut son into two parts. The right side belongs to Krishna and left side belongs to brahman and his wife. Krishna also said that during the process nobody should cry including the son.(Brahman and wife and son). As instructed by Lord Krishna the Brahman and his wife cut the son. Suddenly Krishna asks the Brahman to stop because he found the boy's eyes had tears and it indicated that boy is crying. Since the boy is crying Krishna said that Bhakthi from Brahman and his family to Lord Krishna is not pure and hence Lord says that he will not take the offering of Brahman. Brahman and his wife became sad. But the young boy who is son of the priest replies to Lord. "Lord. You had requested that Right part of mine belongs to you and left part belongs to my father and mother. The tears is coming from my left eyes. Do you know why? My left eyes is feeling bad because Right eye is lukcy enough to be with you but left is not lukcy enough to be with you. Though both eyes belonged to same body only one right eye is lukcy to be with you". When Arjun heard what Brahman's son replied Arjun realised his mistake and he realised how pure the Brahman's family devotion to Lord.
If you look at the story Lord Krishna though a human being taught few things to us:
- There is nothing big or small in devotion to god.
- You be pure to god and it is not the offering of gold/material is important.
- Your heart to god is more important in devotion.
- Though Lord wanted to change Arjun's thought but he did in a great way. He did not tell Arjun that he is wrong but he created an instance to ensure that Arjun realises his mistake.
The other story which Lord Krishna manages the relation and he uses as a biggest strategy was his visit to Vidhura's house when he visited Hastinapur as Pandava's emissary. Lord decided to visit Hastinapur as Pandava's emissary. Everybody in Gaurava's side were eager to receive Lord Krishna and make him to stay as his guest. Krishan refuses to stay in abybody's palace (Bhishma/Drona/Karna/Duryodhana etc) but he goes straight to Vidhura's place. Vidhura was staying in hut unlike others who stay in palace and has all the comforts. But Lord chose to visit Vidhura's place. Vidhura is also a great devotee of Lord Krishna and Lord wanted to honour Vidhura because of Vidhura's righteousness. Lord visits Vidhura's hut. Vidhura was plesantly surprised to receive Lord and he offers seat to Lord. After that Vidhura' asks Lord what he can offer. Lord says anything that he has. Vidhura says he is poor and he can offer only dal mixed with jaggery and water which will become payasam. Lord readily accepts and he takes the payasam offered by Vidhura. That is the reason in South Side (Vaishnavites Iyengars) call payasam as Thirukannaamudhu. means Payasam tasted by Lord Krishna. If Lord had desired he could have gone to anybody's palace but he goes to poor person Vidhura's hut and takes what Vidhura gives. Though next day in palace Duryodhana shouts at Vidhura for having received Lord Krishna as guest and Vidhura takes a vow that he will not participate in war. The story gives few insights:
- For Lord there is nothing called rich and poor.
- He goes to place where devotion is more pure.
- It is not that Bhishma or Drona's devotion to Krishna is inferior to Vidhura. But he chose to visit Vidhura because Lord is aware that Bhishma and Drona has a role to play in war.
- Every body has a role to play when they were born. Bhishma has a role to play till he lives and similarly Drona has a role to play.
- Bhishma's devotion is answered by Lord through Lord's blessing by which Bhishma preaches to the whole world famous "Vishnu sahasranamam". There are two Ekadasi which are celebrated and reverred by devottes of Lord Vishnu. One is Vaikunta Ekadasi and another is Bhishma Ekadasi.
- Similarly Drona is blessed by Lord in different way once he completes his role.
- God will not let down any true devotion.
- For devotion to Lord what is required is good heart and not rich and poor,
- In first story Lord knows Arjun's mistake but he corrects Arjun's mistake by different way rather than making Arjun feeling bad.
- In second one he answers Vidhura more positively by going to Vidhura's hut.
Lord tells us. Be sincere to me and certainly i will take care of you. If you make mistakes surrender to me and i will be there. If you are true to your dedication and devotion i will answer positively.
