We have finished the chapter, “of horse sacrifice (Aaswamedhika Parvam)” . We next go into “a sequel to Geeta (Anugeeta Parvam)” which is a follow up of Krishna’s famous advice known by the name, Bhagavad Geeta..
Krishna was with the Pandavas all through the Mahabharata war, away from his home, Dwaraka. When Yudhishthira remained in Hastinapura after the war thinking about the horse sacrifice Krishna and Arjuna moved, enjoying each others company, in the palace, Indraprastha, and in the forests around.
One day Arjuna said. “Krishna, I have forgotten all those advices you gave me at the beginning of the war. Do you mind going through them again?”
Krishna made fun of his friend and said that he, himself, found it difficult to recall all that he had advised. Yet, he went into the philosophical discourse from an entirely different perspective. This time Krishna brought out the essence of the right path (Dharma) through a large number of short stories. The stories are mainly dialogues between ancient sages and other wise men on moral codes of conduct.
Krishna returns to Dwaraka
At the end of his long discourse Krishna said. “I have stayed a long time away from Dwaraka. It I time that I visited my parents and other dear ones at home. I have to take leave of you now.”
Arjuna could not object to that genuine wish of his dear friend and guide. But, he said. “You must first go and inform my brother, Yudhishthira, about it.”
Krishna’s own chariot was already made ready by his charioteer, Daruka. He went quickly to Hastinapura in the company of Arjuna and touched the feet of all the elders including Dhritarashtra, Gandhari,Yudhishthira and Bhima.by way of paying respect to them.
Krishna took rest that night in Arjuna’s palace and started for Dwaraka with the permission of the senior Pandavas and Kauravas. Yudhishthira requested Krishna to convey his regards to his uncle and other relations in Dwaraka.
The story of Uttanka
Krishna was accosted by sage Uttanka on the way. The venerable sage enquired of all that happened in Hastinapura, including the war that had just ended. When he heard of the large scale massacre the sage was furious. He said. “Krishna, you should have prevented this war between your own people on the two sides. You were fully capable of doing that which you did not do. Be ready to receive my curse on you.”
Krishna smiled in his charming way and explained how it was beyond him to avoid the disaster in spite of his best attempts. He concluded. “Now it is up to you whether you want to curse me or not. I wonder whether you should waste your hard earned power from long years of penance on me. You must realize that I do not deserve your wrath in this case.”
Uttanka was convinced with what Krishna said. Listening to his words the sage also became aware of the divine nature of Krishna. He, then, requested Krishna to show his true form (Viswaroopa) which Krishna granted to the great sage. Uttanka was wonder struck looking at the all encompassing form of the Lord and preyed to him with all his heart.
Krishna asked the sage to choose any boon he wished from him. The sage was satisfied just by the good fortune of seeing Krishna’s true form. When Krishna insisted Uttanka said. “My wanderings take me through deep forests and vast deserts where I often find no water to quench my thirst. Please grant me the boon that I find water whenever I need it.” Krishna granted the boon to the sage. He said. “Just think of me when you are thirsty”.
Water for the thirsty
One day Uttanka was in the middle of a vast desert and got very thirsty. Then, he remembered the boon and prayed to Krishna. Soon, the sage found a man of low birth (Candaala) approaching him in ragged cloths leading a pack of four dogs. The man carried a leather bag with water and offered some to the sage. Uttanka, though an enlightened soul, loathed the very sight of the man and would rather go thirsty than accept water from him. The man persuaded the sage again and again. But, Uttanka refused the offer and went his way.
Then, he started wondering whether Krishna had played a trick on him pretending to have granted the boon. At that moment Krishna appeared on the scene and asked the sage smilingly. “Why did you not accept the water I had sent for you?”.
Offer of the immortal nectar
Krishna, then, explained what happened. He had asked Indra, the king of gods, to offer the immortal drink, nectar (Amruta) to Uttanka when the sage prayed for water. Indra was reluctant. But, Krishna insisted on the offer. Finally, the king of gods yielded, but, he would make the offer in his own way.
It was thus that Indra appeared as a man of low birth carrying the nectar in his ragged leather bag and leading the four Vedas as four dogs. Unfortunately, the sage failed to recognize the divinity and his special offer.
So saying Krishna disappeared and went his way towards Dwaraka.
( We next go into an earlier episode of the story of Uttanka in Samskruthi, www.kunjunny.blogspot.com)
