In the previous episode, we had witnessed both Arjuna and Duryodhana flocking towards Dwaraka to meet Bhagawan Krishna. Duryodhana is hell-bent on waging a war against the Paandava brothers and somehow finishing them off. Arjuna too on the other side, is getting himself prepared to face the wrath of Duryodhana and Co. in the battlefield, sooner or later. Bhagawan Krishna knows this very well, and this is also His divine “Leela” to check out who is batting for “Dharma” and who is against. As both of them arrive from their respective places, Bhagawan Krishna is sleeping and as they see Him, Duryodhana quickly goes and sits near Bhagawan Krishna’s divine face, near His pillow. However, Arjuna is quite calm and composed and quietly goes and sits near Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet. This itself shows who is arrogant and who is not! If someone has to volunteer to go and sit near Bhagawan’s divine lotus feet, doesn’t it clearly show that he is an ardent “Bhakta” of Bhagawan? Arjuna always wants to be at the service of Bhagawan Krishna and automatically his instincts drive him towards Bhagawan’s feet, and this is something that all of us need to understand as well – If we surrender ourselves to Bhagawan, He would always take us to His divine lotus feet, won’t He?
Saying thus, there is another “Sookshama” (Secret) behind Arjuna’s move to sit near Bhagawan’s feet. When Bhagawan opens His divine eyes, where will His divine look be cast upon first? Will it be towards His feet or backwards towards Duryodhana? It would be upon Arjuna who is sitting near Bhagawan’s divine feet, isn’t it? As we’ve seen many times earlier as well, the moment Bhagawan casts His divine vision upon us, all our sins get washed away instantaneously and we become pure! We saw this same thing happening in the case of Hanuman as well in the Ramayana. We’ve discussed this at length during our Ramayana project that the moment Bhagawan Rama’s divine look fell upon Hanuman, he was totally transformed and purified at that very moment itself. Post that, whatever happened to Hanuman, is all of us to see – Till today, Hanuman is continuing to be one of the greatest devotees of Bhagawan Rama! A similar thing is happening here too with Arjuna. Now let us witness what happens next.
As both of them assemble on either side of Bhagawan Krishna, He quickly realizes that something is happening around Him. Thus, as Bhagawan opens His divine eyes, as expected, His eyes automatically capture Arjuna who is sitting right in front of Him! Thus, Bhagawan Krishna immediately gets up from His divine recline and exclaims thus, “Oh wow Arjuna! I just saw you a few days ago at the Viraata Desha, and now you’ve come to see me! I was just thinking about you a while back, and you’re here in person! What happened? Is everything OK at your end? How are Yudishtra and the others doing?” Asking a series of questions thus, Bhagawan Krishna started talking with Arjuna, even as Duryodhana looks on! As this conversation goes on, Duryodhana gets increasingly furious that he is not given the same amount of importance and respect that Arjuna is given!
As this happens, Duryodhana intervenes the conversation rudely and exclaims thus, “Oh Vaasudeva (Bhagawan Krishna)! I was the one who came first. You’ve not even seen me and spoken to me! You’re giving so much importance to someone who came last! How is this feasible?” As Duryodhana asks thus, Bhagawan Krishna laughs out loud! He replies to Duryodhana thus, “Oh Duryodhana! You’ve come here too? I never noticed that you’re here as well! When I woke up, I saw Arjuna sitting right in front of me and hence, I thought that only Arjuna has come to see me! However, since you were sitting behind me, how will I be able to cast a look at you? Hence, I did not notice you being here!” 🙂
Saying thus, Bhagawan Krishna asks a common question to both of them – “Oh Arjuna and Duryodhana! What is the purpose behind your visit? Please explain to me in detail!” As Bhagawan Krishna poses an “open-ended” question like this, Duryodhana quickly volunteers to reply! Now, this is a huge trap being laid by Bhagawan Krishna, which all of us are getting entangled into every passing day! The moment Bhagawan asks us the reason for our visit, what will we say? Do we tell Him that we’ve come here seeking “Moksha” or a place near His divine lotus feet? Not at all! Instead, we would start asking Him thus, “Oh Bhagawan! I’m trying so hard to purchase a house or a car! I’m unable to get one! Please help me with it!” Or, we would ask Him for some solutions for our family problems, etc.! Are we labelling Bhagawan so cheaply to seek help for satisfying these small desires, or, are we using this opportunity given by Bhagawan to seek the ultimate “Moksha”? Duryodhana exactly falls into this trap and replies thus, “Oh Keshava! (Bhagawan Krishna)! I need your help to win the war against Yudishtra & Co.! This is the sole purpose for which I came to see you!”
This might have been Duryodhana’s answer, but as I had mentioned above, we should also introspect within ourselves! If we were at Duryodhana’s place, and if Bhagawan asks such a question to us, what would be our reply to Bhagawan? Will we go the Duryodhana’s way, or will we ask for something that is ultimate? So for today, let us understand up to this point and ponder over this question! In the next episode, we shall witness what Arjuna replies, when the same question is asked to him by Bhagawan! Stay tuned for an interesting accord! 🙂
The Indian Dharma 