Strange Are the Ways of Krishna

There have been a variety of teachers, mystics and messiahs in the history of mankind. But none like Krishna. It is immaterial whether he actually lived or not. Two thousand six hundred years have passed since Buddha walked the earth. Two thousand years since Christ came. One thousand four hundred years since Mohammed (PBUH). None of us have actually seen them. Whatever we know of them is from the writings of somebody or the other. To be honest, it does not actually matter whether they lived. What is material however, is the relevance of their teaching to our life and our faith in what they said. So, let's get back to Krishna.

There are three aspects, incidents and sayings of Krishna without understanding which, whatever else we may talk about would be just stories or conjectures or both. Let us therefore talk about them one by one.

Scene 1: We will begin at the end. At the end of the war, Pandavas get installed in the throne and Krishna goes back to Dwarka. Many months pass and Kunthi becomes agitated by his absence. She commissions Vidur to fetch Krishna from Dwarka. Krishna accepts the invitation and sets out on Vidur's chariot towards Indraprastha. Through the journey Krishna finds Vidur unusually withdrawn and subdued. He queries him only to be told that the questioner being Lord of the Universe should know why. Krishna goads him to ask and eventually Vidur obliges. The conversation goes something like this:

'You are god. Had you just wished both brothers must live in peace, today we would have the entire clan alive. Why didn't you?'

'Since you know the complete sequence, Vidur, tell me what did the brothers desire?'

'Well, when Duryodan and Arjun came to seek your assistance, you made it clear that you will not take up weapons and fight. So, Duryodan asked you to give your army to him. Arjuna on the other hand, asked you to drive his chariot on the battlefield'.

'Did the brothers broach peace and seek my help to live peaceably?'

'Not at all. In fact, they both sought war and your support for it'.

'Vidur, can't you see that they obtained what they desired. Why are you blaming me for the desires of your heart? What you seek with the craving of your heart is what you shall attain'. Vidur understood.

Scene 2: In the course of exhorting Arjuna to give battle, in the Gita, Krishna makes two important statements:

‘There is no one I consider as worthy of my love. Nor is there someone that I hate’.

‘I have said what I have to. Now it is up to you to take it or leave’.

Both these sentences are addressed to Arjuna, whom the world considers as the foremost of the disciples of Krishna. We of the world can never imagine the two without each other. However, Krishna by his cited statements, makes it abundantly clear that it is not so. Further he says:

‘I do what I have to, irrespective of someone's likes or dislikes. In order to ensure that the universe continues to function the way it does, I must continue to do what I have to’.

Scene 3: Earlier in Mahabharata, when Duschasan attempts to disrobe Draupati, she makes feeble attempts to resist him. She then goes on to appeal to the good conscience of Dridrashtra, Bhishma, Drona and the like. Finding no help, she usurps her husbands but finds them incapacitated by their deeds. After having exhausted all options, she throws up her hands in surrender and cries out to Krishna. He instantly saves her honor.

When we sequentially arrange the lessons in these stories, we come to know why Krishna is like no other. Let us see the lessons:

1. There is no special devotee or hated opponent. All are equal in god's eyes.

2. He will neither change nor alter what is ordained in the universe. Nothing will be changed for anyone so as to advantage him or disadvantage him.

3. You will attain what you seek. There is nothing that god will grant you separately and beyond what you desire.

4. If you really want Him to do anything, then you have to completely give up your ego, honor, wants and everything. Only when you completely surrender yourself to Him, He will take you in. When that happens, He will possess you so completely that you will be left with none of your former self.

Such are the ways of Krishna. Other messiahs asked you to believe, to pray, to forgive, to love and to renounce. Krishna actually leaves everything on you. You do. You desire. You attain.

Strange indeed are the ways of Krishna.