Bhakti : Kunti’s Prayer to Krishna from Srimad Bhagavatam.
Thoughts : Krishna and Krishnaa
Yesterday, as I watched the the scene in Mahabharatam where Krishna gave Draupadi sarees upon sarees to save her from the evil actions of Duryodhana and Karna, I was inundated with thoughts.
Krishna was the only person in the entire court of the Bharatas who stood for Dharma. The entire court was reduced to such a state of elaborate laws and by laws and interpretations and counter-interpretations.. that Dharma-Glani had happened.
In a hollywood movie (Al Pacino), a defence lawyer weeps because he gets a serial killer off on a technicality and that guy kills someone else.
It was the same situation in the hastinapur court on that day. Everyone can feel the injustice and humiliation of a lady who stands to be publicly dishonoured by her own family, in their own court and yet everyone stood on some technicalities. Vikarna protests and fights for Draupadi but is powerless. It is Krishna and only Krishna, who not only knows what is right, but has the competence to help her. He is The only hero in a court full of impotent idiots. That is what makes him a Bhagwan.
It also made me think of the Anna hazaare’s campaign to end corruption. With rampant corruption seeking to publicly disgrace our motherland, when someone says “stop or I will die”, the very same politicians who violate the constitution to support corruption and wrong doing, suddenly call him unconstitutional. When the bad guys know how to bend laws and get out on technicalities, then its only the good guys who can be harassed by laws.
Was it right for Duryodhana to cheat at dice? Was it right for Dharmaraja to wager his wife? For that matter did he have a right to wager his kingdom? What about the people? Was it right for Bhishma and Vidura to shut up? And if the law permitted it.. then it was time to change that stupid law. Like Gandhiji sais, ” I will not obey an unjust law”.
Krishna, the aapat baandhava (saviour of the distressed) saved Draupadi, the victim of an impossible situation, created by humans. Humans create rules for their own protection and well-being and the rules create victims. Then only Bhagwan can save them. It is Krishna and only Krishna who saved Draupadi.. not the elaborate system of ethics, justice and law prevalent in the land.
The tragedy in this story, of course is that Draupadi was not content that Krishna saved her. She wanted revenge. She wanted to retaliate against the chaps who sought to hurt her. Instead of completely turning to Krishna who saved her, she focussed on the human minds who sought to hurt her. Human no? like you and me. We take divinity for granted and focus on each other.
In this context Kunti’s prayer to Krishna is such a relief.
Jai Sri Krishna!
Help me focus on you in good times as well as bad. Draupadi turned to You when all abandoned her and turned to others once you saved her. Let me, like Sudama Kuchela, be turned to you even in joy and comfort and pleasure. Let me not waver. Please!
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