Post by jksivan on Sept 29, 2013 6:59:35 GMT 5.5
Dear Children
83 ''Two Half baked ''
We look back on past events in our life and it makes us happy when we recall the incidents which occurred to our full satisfaction. Likewise it makes us re-live the moment of anger, frustration and disappointment, when we recollect certain incidents of the past, in which we met with failures, defeats and disappointments. It is the real knowledge to ''know'' that all the goods and bads we experience in life, are the result of our own making in the past! Even saints and rishis are no exception to experiencing this.
Krishna climbed on his chariot and Dharuka was ready to start the journey for Dwarka when a voice was heard from a distance. ''Krishnaaaaaa!! He turned back to find Uththara running towards the chariot from a distance.
Krishna waited for her to come to him. "Utththara, is it you? Why do you look so shattered and weak and why tears are flowing from your eyes. What happened to you to come here running ?
"Krishna, you are our saviour. You are the protecting god for all of us. Dheena rakshaka (helper of the helpless) whom else can I think of other than you now? '' Uththara was panting and sighing and still the tears were welling up and rolling down her cheeks. She could not talk and fell at Krishna's feet. He raised her and asked ''My child, what is your difficulty? You need not worry and tell me to see if I can help you''
''Krishna, how can I explain it, I am scared and scared and dont know how to escape from it... it is a red hot iron bar like thing with flames burning all over it with intense heat... It is chasing me. I have been running away from it, but it does not leave me and follows me everywhere. It is very sharp and long and I am afraid of this spear like weapon chasing me to kill me. I dont mind being killed by it but I dont want the baby in me to die out of it. Please protect me''
Krishna knew at once what was chasing her. You have already read a story in which you learnt that Aswaththama had a powerful weapon, Brahmmasthram. He promised his father not to use it on humans. Yet he breached his promise and aimed it on Uththara with a view to kill the baby of Abhimanyu, in Uththara's womb. The problem was that it was the manthra with which the Brahmasthram was released was only for onward journey. It will not return back to Aswaththama. (His father Dronacharya knowingly did not teach him the manthra to get it back once released). So the brahmasthram was on a mission to completely destroy the Pandavas clan, with the death of Parikshith who was the un-born baby inside Uththra.
The only weapon which could prevent the Brahmasthram from killing Parikshith was Krishna's Sudharshan Chakra. Pandavas were perplexed what to do. Uththara knew the only person who could save her baby was Krishna. That is why she was running so fast to him to stop the Brahmasthram from carrying out its instruction.
Krishna therefore immediately protected the baby by directing his Sudharshana Chakra to become the shield to stop and counter the force of the Brahmasthram until it became ineffective. Thus Sudharshan Chakra permitted the Brahmasthram hit the stomach of Uththra but received it instead as the shield and made the Brahmasthram ineffective. Pariskshith was saved.
Krishna asked Arjun to chant the manthra taught him by Dronacharya to get back the brahmasthram waiting for its return. It accodingly went to Arjuna who became its master now. Aswathama lost his only weapon in this way.
Kunthi the mother of Pandavas and Uththra gratefully prayed to Krishna findings no words to thank him for saving the baby Parikshith.
Krishna did not say anything except his usual smile which was enchanting and accepted the silent gratitude of all the Pandava family members who were watching this miracle with no words to utter. Their eyes spoke volumes and hearts were over flowing with grateful thanks.
Leaving them behind as statues, Krishna signalled Dharuka to move the chariot. All this happened in a few minutes and every one with folded hands were worshipping Krishna and watching his chariot disappear in the horizon till it was a dot.
It would not be out of place to recall certain incidents of the past at this juncture.
Pandavas in exile completed 12 years and were on the run incognito in the last 13th year shifting their place frequently. At one time they were in Panchal, ruled by King Virat, who was an admirer of Pandavas. The Pandavas since they were incognito with false identity they were not supposed to be known to Kauravas. If identified as Pandavas they were to again to be exiled for further 12 years and one more year incognito as before. It would be a never ending story then. It was the clever plan of Sakuni, the evil uncle of Dhuryodhan.
When the Pandavas were thus living with false identify in the kingdom of Virat, Arjuna was a transgender teacher of dance for Uththara the daughter of King Virat. When they were nearing completion of the 13th year there was a sudden attack of Panchal by the Kaurava forces. King Virat was unprepared for this attack and so did not have adequate forces and leader to counter the attack. Then Arjuna the transgender dance teacher suggested the prince Uththara, not well trained in warfare to defend the kingdom and Brahannala, the name of Arjuna as a transgender offered to drive the chariot for him. Initially no one approved this idea of the young prince venturing to meet the strong kaurava forces led by Karna and Dhrona, but Brahannala the charioteer, efficiently used the weapons as Arjuna and defeated them. He recovered the cattle and brought the crowns of the defeated Kaurava forces to the unbelievable surprise of Virat and others who rejoiced and declared Uththara was the great warrior who did all these while Uththara was just asked to sit and drive the chariot and Arjuna took over from him to thrash the Kaurava army. The king learnt the truth later and wanted his daughter Uththara to be married to Arjun, but he declined as he was the tacher for her and a guru marrying a disciple was not in order and acceptable in those days. He accepted her as the wife of his son Abhimanyu.
On the 13th day of the Mahabharath war Abhimanyu was killed and Uththara his wife was further in danger of losing his child also but was saved by Krishna. Aswaththama a strong supporter of Dhuryodhan tried to kill everyone of the Pandava children but Parikshith was saved by Krishna.
It is an unfortunate coincidence in Mahabharatha that both Aswaththama and Abhimanyu did not learn the techniques fully when they were employing their skill. Aswathama was found unfit to use the Brahmasthra, by his own father, Dhronacharya, and he did not want his son to be taught the manthra for getting back the asthra once released by him. The only chance he had to use it was therefore on Parikshith in the womb of Uththara, which attempt was foiled by Krishna's ingenuity of countering it with Sudharshan chakra. Aswthathama justified his father Dhronacharya's estimation of being unfit to possess Brahmasthra. You wil see from this that in those days our ancestors never showed partiality and even if it was a son, the father did not teach him if found not merited to be taught. He considered Arjuna to be the fit person to be taught all the relevant manthras for using the asthra. He relied and trusted Arjuna better than his own son. You will wonder how honest people were then.
Abhimanyu for his part, proved over confidence. He knew he did not learn fully about breaking the vyuhas and from what he overheard the formula which was not taught to him properly, he tried to use it and paid by his life. Any learning should be with the blessing of the teacher and Guru.
Knowledge gained through the Guru completely and properly with his guidance and blessing alone stands in good stead in our lives.
83 ''Two Half baked ''
We look back on past events in our life and it makes us happy when we recall the incidents which occurred to our full satisfaction. Likewise it makes us re-live the moment of anger, frustration and disappointment, when we recollect certain incidents of the past, in which we met with failures, defeats and disappointments. It is the real knowledge to ''know'' that all the goods and bads we experience in life, are the result of our own making in the past! Even saints and rishis are no exception to experiencing this.
Krishna climbed on his chariot and Dharuka was ready to start the journey for Dwarka when a voice was heard from a distance. ''Krishnaaaaaa!! He turned back to find Uththara running towards the chariot from a distance.
Krishna waited for her to come to him. "Utththara, is it you? Why do you look so shattered and weak and why tears are flowing from your eyes. What happened to you to come here running ?
"Krishna, you are our saviour. You are the protecting god for all of us. Dheena rakshaka (helper of the helpless) whom else can I think of other than you now? '' Uththara was panting and sighing and still the tears were welling up and rolling down her cheeks. She could not talk and fell at Krishna's feet. He raised her and asked ''My child, what is your difficulty? You need not worry and tell me to see if I can help you''
''Krishna, how can I explain it, I am scared and scared and dont know how to escape from it... it is a red hot iron bar like thing with flames burning all over it with intense heat... It is chasing me. I have been running away from it, but it does not leave me and follows me everywhere. It is very sharp and long and I am afraid of this spear like weapon chasing me to kill me. I dont mind being killed by it but I dont want the baby in me to die out of it. Please protect me''
Krishna knew at once what was chasing her. You have already read a story in which you learnt that Aswaththama had a powerful weapon, Brahmmasthram. He promised his father not to use it on humans. Yet he breached his promise and aimed it on Uththara with a view to kill the baby of Abhimanyu, in Uththara's womb. The problem was that it was the manthra with which the Brahmasthram was released was only for onward journey. It will not return back to Aswaththama. (His father Dronacharya knowingly did not teach him the manthra to get it back once released). So the brahmasthram was on a mission to completely destroy the Pandavas clan, with the death of Parikshith who was the un-born baby inside Uththra.
The only weapon which could prevent the Brahmasthram from killing Parikshith was Krishna's Sudharshan Chakra. Pandavas were perplexed what to do. Uththara knew the only person who could save her baby was Krishna. That is why she was running so fast to him to stop the Brahmasthram from carrying out its instruction.
Krishna therefore immediately protected the baby by directing his Sudharshana Chakra to become the shield to stop and counter the force of the Brahmasthram until it became ineffective. Thus Sudharshan Chakra permitted the Brahmasthram hit the stomach of Uththra but received it instead as the shield and made the Brahmasthram ineffective. Pariskshith was saved.
Krishna asked Arjun to chant the manthra taught him by Dronacharya to get back the brahmasthram waiting for its return. It accodingly went to Arjuna who became its master now. Aswathama lost his only weapon in this way.
Kunthi the mother of Pandavas and Uththra gratefully prayed to Krishna findings no words to thank him for saving the baby Parikshith.
Krishna did not say anything except his usual smile which was enchanting and accepted the silent gratitude of all the Pandava family members who were watching this miracle with no words to utter. Their eyes spoke volumes and hearts were over flowing with grateful thanks.
Leaving them behind as statues, Krishna signalled Dharuka to move the chariot. All this happened in a few minutes and every one with folded hands were worshipping Krishna and watching his chariot disappear in the horizon till it was a dot.
It would not be out of place to recall certain incidents of the past at this juncture.
Pandavas in exile completed 12 years and were on the run incognito in the last 13th year shifting their place frequently. At one time they were in Panchal, ruled by King Virat, who was an admirer of Pandavas. The Pandavas since they were incognito with false identity they were not supposed to be known to Kauravas. If identified as Pandavas they were to again to be exiled for further 12 years and one more year incognito as before. It would be a never ending story then. It was the clever plan of Sakuni, the evil uncle of Dhuryodhan.
When the Pandavas were thus living with false identify in the kingdom of Virat, Arjuna was a transgender teacher of dance for Uththara the daughter of King Virat. When they were nearing completion of the 13th year there was a sudden attack of Panchal by the Kaurava forces. King Virat was unprepared for this attack and so did not have adequate forces and leader to counter the attack. Then Arjuna the transgender dance teacher suggested the prince Uththara, not well trained in warfare to defend the kingdom and Brahannala, the name of Arjuna as a transgender offered to drive the chariot for him. Initially no one approved this idea of the young prince venturing to meet the strong kaurava forces led by Karna and Dhrona, but Brahannala the charioteer, efficiently used the weapons as Arjuna and defeated them. He recovered the cattle and brought the crowns of the defeated Kaurava forces to the unbelievable surprise of Virat and others who rejoiced and declared Uththara was the great warrior who did all these while Uththara was just asked to sit and drive the chariot and Arjuna took over from him to thrash the Kaurava army. The king learnt the truth later and wanted his daughter Uththara to be married to Arjun, but he declined as he was the tacher for her and a guru marrying a disciple was not in order and acceptable in those days. He accepted her as the wife of his son Abhimanyu.
On the 13th day of the Mahabharath war Abhimanyu was killed and Uththara his wife was further in danger of losing his child also but was saved by Krishna. Aswaththama a strong supporter of Dhuryodhan tried to kill everyone of the Pandava children but Parikshith was saved by Krishna.
It is an unfortunate coincidence in Mahabharatha that both Aswaththama and Abhimanyu did not learn the techniques fully when they were employing their skill. Aswathama was found unfit to use the Brahmasthra, by his own father, Dhronacharya, and he did not want his son to be taught the manthra for getting back the asthra once released by him. The only chance he had to use it was therefore on Parikshith in the womb of Uththara, which attempt was foiled by Krishna's ingenuity of countering it with Sudharshan chakra. Aswthathama justified his father Dhronacharya's estimation of being unfit to possess Brahmasthra. You wil see from this that in those days our ancestors never showed partiality and even if it was a son, the father did not teach him if found not merited to be taught. He considered Arjuna to be the fit person to be taught all the relevant manthras for using the asthra. He relied and trusted Arjuna better than his own son. You will wonder how honest people were then.
Abhimanyu for his part, proved over confidence. He knew he did not learn fully about breaking the vyuhas and from what he overheard the formula which was not taught to him properly, he tried to use it and paid by his life. Any learning should be with the blessing of the teacher and Guru.
Knowledge gained through the Guru completely and properly with his guidance and blessing alone stands in good stead in our lives.