We’re in the midst of a very interesting event that is unfolding with Draupati and the Paandava brothers wherein Sage Dhurvasa and his 10,000 disciples have arrived at their place at an odd time. This is the time when there is no food to serve any of the guests who had come, including Sage Dhurvasa. Shaking with fear as to how this situation could be handled, Draupati prays to Bhagawan Krishna for His divine intervention, just like she did while she was being unstripped at the Hastinapura palace during the gambling game. When an ardent “Bhakta” prays to Bhagawan with so much of devotion and helplessness, how can Bhagawan not respond? He immediately comes to the rescue of Draupati and Yudishtra. However, Bhagawan Krishna wants to play a small “Leela” here. He exclaims to Draupati that He is extremely hungry owing to the long travel from Dwaraka to the forest where these people are residing. However, Draupati says to Bhagawan that she doesn’t have anything to serve Him! But Bhagawan Krishna is adamant! He wants something to eat desperately! As Draupati breaks down, Bhagawan Krishna requests her to bring that “Akshaya Paatra” from the kitchen, which she claims to have been washed and stored after the day’s meal is over. However, Bhagawan Krishna insists Draupati to bring it.
Reluctantly getting up from her chair, Draupati walks towards the kitchen and brings the “Akshaya Paatra” to Bhagawan Krishna. As Draupati walks towards the kitchen, Bhagawan Krishna jokingly says to her thus, “Oh Draupati! I know something about you – You are very good at cooking, but you’re not very good at washing the dishes!” As Bhagawan says thus, He laughs out loud and all the others too join the laughter, including Draupati. Thus, Bhagawan consoles Draupati and as she brings the “Akshaya Paatra” in her hands, Bhagawan Krishna looks at her deeply! He is now desperate in hunger and He urgently wants something to consume. However, what is coming towards Him is an empty vessel! As Draupati comes and hands over the vessel, Bhagawan Krishna receives it with both His divine hands and as expected, Draupati had not washed it properly! There is just one grain of rice sticking to the edge of the vessel! Bhagawan Krishna quickly spots that small grain of rice, takes it in His divine fingers and consumes it! As Bhagawan Krishna consumes that small grain of rice, His hunger comes down drastically! He is no longer hungry at all!
As Bhagawan Krishna does so, He declares to Draupati thus, “Oh Draupati! Thank you for the wonderful meal that you’ve served me today! You’ve eradicated my hunger completely!” As Bhagawan Krishna says thus, nobody understood what was going on! Draupati is shell-shocked! She immediately quips thus, “Oh Bhagawan! You’ve not taken anything! I’ve not served you anything! All what you’ve done is consume that one small grain of rice that was sticking to the vessel! With that, how do you conclude that your hunger has come down? Are you making fun of me or are you trying to console me with your answer? Your answer makes me feel even more guilty! I’m unable to hold myself back! Oh Krishna! You’ve come all the way paying heed to my prayer and here I am, without any capacity to serve you the way you wanted me to serve! Why is this happening?”
As Draupati cries thus, she surrenders herself to Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet! Acknowledging Draupati’s unconditional and pure surrender, Bhagawan Krishna explains His answer in a detailed manner. He says thus, “Oh Draupati! I know how devoted you are towards me and this is why I came running all the way to help you. Oh Draupati! Do you think that the small quantity of food that you would have served me would have filled up my stomach and made my hunger subside? I have the entire world under my control. Whatever is there as part of nature – Fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. are all mine and I was the one who created everything! Do you really think that this one grain of rice fulfilled my hunger? Not at all! Your “Bhakti” and your “Sharanaagati” towards me were the ones that fulfilled my hunger and not the little grain of rice. Even if you would have made a sumptuous meal for me, but without Bhakti, my hunger might not have got satisfied at all! Hence, please do not worry! Everything is taken care of!”
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna acknowledges Draupati’s unconditional surrender and devotion! This is an important lesson for all of us – Our unconditional surrender and Bhakti are the ones that make Bhagawan melt with joy and not what we offer Him as materials! So for today, let us ponder over this point and we shall continue this discussion forward in the next episode as well! Stay tuned! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 