Post by jksivan on Sept 8, 2013 21:24:11 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
69 ''A RARE GUEST''
Why this sudden change in the environment? Everywhere people talked in groups and there seemed to be an eagerness and speculation of a welcome change. It was the only subject they talked about wherever they met and discussed.
What was it?
‘’war’’.
‘’War is inevitable. Is there any doubt?’’
‘’Krishna from Dwarka is reported to have visited Hasthinapur already’’
‘’something big is likely to take place. May be for good or bad I don’t know.’’
‘’If the clever Krishna could prevent the war, it wold be good is n’t it?’’
‘’ How can anyone guess so? Suppose there is a war and Yudhishtra becomes the king it would certainly be good for all of us’’
‘Does it mean so far Dhuryodhan has been doing only harm to us. He may not be a great administrator. But he did nothing wrong to us or anything detrimental to our interests.’’
‘’It is all only a quarrel between brothers. It is there door to door in each and every family. Being an occurrence connected with a royal family, it is talked about much by many’’
‘’Yes, the matter is ordinary, but its form or shape is big’’
‘’’Krishna is a seasoned diplomat. Let us hope he will handle the situation to everyone’s satisfaction.’’
Whatever you read above were the feelings expressed by some of the citizens in Hasthinapur according to their expectation, appreciation and disappointment etc.
Krishna arrived Hasthinapur in his chariot driven by his friend Dharuka. Quite possibly, there may be a lot of heated arguments and discussions in the palace court hall tomorrow when Krishna meets Dhuryodhana and discuss the rightful share of the kingdom for Pandavas.
Bhishma was walking alone in his quarters in the palace. He looked completely exhausted, with his mind bogged in worries. He was crushing his palms while thinking hard. He was talking to himself analysing what was going to be his role in the discussions.
Dhuryodhan and Karna along with other Kaurava princes were rehearsing their proposed arguments and demands and defence. Dhuryodhan was not in favour of giving any special reception to Krishna, who is a messenger from Pandavas and rejected whatever suggestions given to honour and extend due respect to Krishna. Many felt that Krishna a non participant in their disputes should be accorded the courtesies due to a friendly king and a respected leader of a community. And finally, Dhuryodhan yielded to the pressure and agreed to provide a suitable place in the palace for Krishna to stay in Hasthinapur during his visit for talks on behalf of Pandavas. The palace was made ready accordingly.
When Krishna entered Hasthinapur, he ordered ‘’Dharuka, slow down the chariot’ He gazed at the old lovable town of Hasthinapur with which he was associated for long . He observed the happiness in the faces of the citizens, and enjoyed the fertile fields surrounding, the beautiful row of flowering trees, the colourful row of houses on both sides of the main streets. '' No change should affect these'' he thought within himself. Dharukan was leading the chariot slowly towards Dhuryodhan’s palace, which was suddenly observed by Krishna.
‘’Stop, Said Krishna. Turn the chariot towards south west of the royal palace and enter the small single street in front of you.’’ Dharuka led the chariot in the small street with various bends and at the end of that long road, amidst desolate open dry fields in darkness, there was an old palm leaf thatched old house, surrounded by some trees. ‘’Stop there '' said Krishna and walked towards the hut. There was no one to be seen in the street and an old man was living all alone in the hut. He was surprised to hear the loud noise created by the chariot and the horses and slowly came out of the hut. When the wheels stopped in front of the hut and wondered who would be visiting him at that time. He knew that normally, no body would dare to come and talk to him as he was an unwanted man for the king. So he was amazed to find Krishna standing in front of his hut whom he least expected to visit him.
‘’Krishna, Krishna, I cant believe my own eyes .. Is it you, Krishna, who thought of me and came all the way here.? I am a very fortunate person to be visited by you, at this late hour. Tell me is it you, Krishna and are you definitely my Krishna who has visited me''
‘’Uncle Vithura, how many Krishnas do you know, because I know only one Vithura uncle whom I wanted to visit?’’ laughed Krishna.
“My loving Krishna, How many years after, these old ears are again hearing your sweet talks! Krishna..I am glad I am alive today.”??
I came to know that you are likely to visit Hasthinapur and in my heart of hearts I longed to see you once and talk to you, before I die, but I doubted the possibility as you would directly go to Dhuryodhan’s palace and return back from there to Dwarka”
‘’Uncle what are you talking. Is it only for ‘’talking’’ you wanted me to visit Hasthinapur. Please note that it is not for ‘’talking’’ alone, but to ‘’stay’ with you, that I have come here all the way. Will you allot me some space to sit, lie down and sleep in this cottage.
“Krishna, don’t you know that you have a permanent place reserved for you in my heart and it being so, is there not any space in this poor cottage for you?’’
"I am glad uncle, that you have allowed me to stay with you here. In fact, I am fed up with the palatial houses and comforts which are tiring me out, and does not allow me to lead a simple life of my choice. I am seriously thinking of staying here with you for long?? I don’t know if you will allow me to do so?”
Vithura laughed.
“Uncle Vithura why did you laugh when I was seriously explaining what was in my mind ?”” asked Krishna
‘’Krishna you must be kidding and joking, Can you afford to take any rest? Are you like me and any other normal individual? If you rest for a while, will not the entire universe come to stand still? Is it possible for you to rest?''
‘’Forget it uncle Vithura, Do you have anything for me to drink or eat as I have travelled for long hoping that you will have something to offer me?’’
“Krishna, the moment I saw you I could not think or do anything overwhelmed in extreme joy. I have some fruits to give you. Let me bring them quickly.’’
Vithura brought some selected fruits and a plate and sat before Krishna . Both Vithura and Krishna were talking about Sasthras and Dharma and Rajya paripalan etc., while Vidhura was busy in removing the skins of the fruits and offering the fruits in the plate, which Krishna was eating one by one.
‘’Uncle Vithur, after a very long time, today only I enjoyed the food offered most heartily and my stomach is full. It looks like that I may not need any food until I reach Dwarka in a couple of days’’ said Krishna
‘’I did not offer you any feast Krishna, This old poor man had only a few fruits for you, would they be enough for you ?
So saying Vithura looked at the plate he kept before Krishna and was shocked to notice the grave mistake he committed. While fully absorbed in his talk with Krishna, what Vidhura did was, he had kept all the fruit skins in the plate before Krishna , and had thrown away the fruits.!! And Krishna had eaten all the skins in the plate before him!!
Vithura became nervous and sweated profusely with emotion and uttered in a choking voice ‘’Krishna, what have I done’’ from the deep recesses of his heart continuing, ‘’This fool had kept only the skins in your plate, and threw away the fruits in my ecstacy on seeing you. Poor Krishna, how patiently you ate the skins!! I have committed a sin by ill treating you being totally unfit to even offer fruits properly to you my divine guest’’ cried Vithura. Krisna only smiled in reaction.
Recovering from the shock Vithura asked ‘’Krishna, why and how did you eat all the skins?
Krishna heartily laughed and replied ‘’Uncle Vithura, I have a habit. Whoever gives me anything with true love and affection I don’t see the taste in what is offered or how it is offered but fully enjoy it. The skins and the Thulsi jal you offered gave me immense happiness’’
Dear Children, you will remember that in Gita lectured by Krishna to Arjuna, later in the Kurukshethra war, He said ‘’any bit of leaf, or a small spoonful of water offered to me with pure love and devotion makes me completely happy. I don’t want any other thing from any devotee’’ \
It is not only for Arjuna but for all of us too.