Mahabharatha stories: Krishna & Ashwathaama

On the 18th  day of the Mahabharata war,  Ashwatthama, slaughters all the sons of Pandavas, while they were fast asleep after their victory in the great war. When Draupadi sees all her children dead, she completely breaks down and implores Bhimasena to kill Ashwathama and get the divine gem which he had on his forehead. Bhima immediately takes up his chariot and takes Nakul as his charioteer goes in pursuit of Ashwathama, who is hiding in Veda Vyasa's ashram. 

As soon as Bhima departs, Krishna says,  its very dangerous that Bhima has gone alone to fight against  Ashwathama, who possesses the mighty weapon Brhamshiras. This weapon is extremely powerful and can burn the whole world. Dronacharya was very happy with dedication and devotion of Arjuna and he had imparted the complete knowledge of this weapon to Arjuna. Ashwathama couldn't bear it and  and begged his father to also give this wearpn to him. Dronacharya was reluctant as he knew Ashwathama  was not of a stable mind and reckless in nature. However, the love for his son made him to give the knowledge of this weapon to Ashwathama. He however, enjoined his son to never use this weapon on any human being, even while his own life was at threat in a battle. Drona also told him, it seems you are not destined to lead  life of righteousness. 

Now, when the Pandavas were in the forest during their period of  exile, Ashwatthama was wandering over the whole country and also happen to reach Dwaraka. He was welcomed by the Yadavas as a guest and given all kinds of luxuries. One day he happened to meet Krishna alone and said, "I have received the  Brahmashiras weapon from my father, which I want to exchange with your Sudarshana chakra". Krishna was very amused and said, all the devas, danavas, nagas, gandharvas, men, birds, animals combined together are not even one-hundreths of my energy. You are free to choose any of my weapons(bow, mace or Sudarshana chakra) and you don't have to even exchange your Brahmashira weapon with me. Ashwathama, in all his stupidity, once again asked for Sudarshana. Krishna said take it. Now, Ashwathama tried to lift that great weapon with his left hand, he couldn't move it even an inch, then he tried with his right hand, still he couldn't move it. He used all his strength,  still couldn't even stir that mighty weapon. Having failed miserably at moving Sudarshana, he sat down with exhaustion and dejection. 

Krishna, after enjoying this stupid spectacle of Ashwathama said, Arjuna my dearest friend, Pradyumna my son and Balarama my dearest brother,  I can do anything for these people and also give them anything. They have never asked me what you asked. What was the purpose of your asking me Sudarshana, whom did you want to fight with that great weapon.  Ashwathama said, after acquiring the Sudarshana, he wanted to fight against Krishna himself. He thought that once he obtains Sudarshana, he would become invincible in the three worlds and none(gods, asuras) can defeat him. After failing to even move Sudarshana, he realised that only Krishna is capable of  wielding that mighty weapon and now he wants to go away from Dwaraka. 

Having narrated this story, Krishna tells Yudhishthira, that Ashwatthama is a very cruel and wicked person and they all should rush immediately to save Bhimasena from him. Krishna then takes Arjuna along with him. As predicted by Krishna when Ashwathama sees the Pandavas coming after him, he fires the Brahmashiras weapon for the destruction of Pandavas. Arjuna invokes another Brahmashiras to neutralize the weapon fired by Ashwathama. As, the energy of these weapons is highly dangerous for the humanity, both Vyasa and Naarada asks Ashwathama and Arjuna to withdraw their weapons. The weapon could only be withdrawn by a person who has a very pure soul else it will destroy the person who fired it.. Arjuna is able to do it, but  Ashwathama couldn't and he directs the energy of this weapon on the womb of Uttara who is carrying the unborn child of Abhimanyu. Seeing this act of Ashwathama, Krishan curses him to live for 3000 years with a wound which will not heal. He will not have any companions and people will not welcome him to any society. The Pandavas also take away Ashwathama's divine gem and give it to Draupadi. 

Stories from Mahabharatha: Uttanaka and the celestial earrings

  

Utanka was endued with austere penances. He was completely devoted to his teacher, the great sage Gautama and Gautama was also very highly pleased with the self-restraint, purity of behaviour and devotion of  Utanka

One after another, thousands of disciples completed their studies and after taking Gautama's permission, returned home, however, Gautama didn't permit Uttanka to leave his ashram due to his love and attachment towards Uttanka. One day, while doing some work, a strand of white hair came out of Uttanka's matted lock, seeing  it, Utanka became very sad and started crying. On Gautama's enquiry, Utanka told that he had completely devoted himself to the service of his teacher for several years while hundreds & thousands of other students had left the hermitage and are doing quite well in their lives. He asked, what should be given as Guru dakshina to Gautama to get his permission for leaving. 

Gautama said, he is highly pleased  with Utanka's devotion and using his powers of penance, he turned Utanka into a young man of 16 years and also offered his own daughter in marriage to him. Now, Utanaka told Ahalya, wife of Gautama to ask for any gift. On much insistence, Ahalya asked him to get the celestial ear-rings which are worn by the wife of King Saudasa. 

Uttanka immediately left to get those ear-rings, however unknown to both Ahalya & Uttanka, the King Saudasa. was cursed by his Guru Vashistha to become a cannibal. When Uttanka reached the court of Saudasa, the king was ready to have his meals and was extremely terrifying to even look at. The King was  very happy to see the meal(Uttanka) walking unto him. Uttanka however wasn't scared and told him that he has come for his teacher's sake and as per scriptures he should not be harmed till that work is done. He proposed to come back once he accomplishes the work. The King agrees and ask Uttanka to go and seek the celestial ear-rings from the queen. The queen gives the ear-rings to Uttanka and also asks him to be extremely careful as the ear-rings are of divine nature and all the devas, nagas, gandharvas and other beings always want to get hold of them. Any slight carelessness on his part will cause them to take away the ear-rings. Uttanka then goes back to the King and says,since the King should always respect and protect Brahmins, what advice would the King give to him. The King says,  I'll surely kill you, if you come back, so please go to your teacher and don't come back to me. 

Uttanka proceeded with haste to his preceptor's ashram and taking extreme care to protect the earrings. On the way he got hungry and as he was trying to pluck some fruits, the earrings fell down on earth and immediately were taken up by a snake, who took them in his mouth and went inside the earth to the nether region of the Nagas. Now, Uttanka was filled with rage and he started to dig that snake pit with his stick. The Lord of the celestials(Indra) took pity on Uttanka and he added the strength of his thunderbolt(Vajra) to the stick of Uttanka. With this added strength, soon Uttanka reached the nether regions inhabited by Nagas. The region of Nagas was huge and Uttanka didn't know what to do there. As he was contemplating on his next course of action, the the sacrificial fire(Jataveda) appeared there in a form of a divine horse and asked Uttanka to blow air into my back to get back the earrings. The sacrificial fire was very pleased with Uttanka as for many years Uttanka had worshipped it at his teacher's hermitage. As soon as Uttanka blew air on the horse back, the whole Naga region started to burn with fire coming out of the divine horse's mouth and ears. The nagas got frightened and immediately came out to pacify Uttanka and gave him back the earrings. 

Finally, Uttanka took the earrings to his teacher and presented them to his teacher's wife. He also narrated his whole experience to Gautama who was very pleased with the conduct of Uttanka and then had his daughter married with Uttanka. 

Interesting stories from Mahabharata -I : Krishna & Utanaka

 

After the Mahabharata war got over and having spent considerable time in the company of Pandavas, Krishna started his journey back to Dwaraka. On his way, he had to cross the desert region where water was very limited.Therein he met a great ascetic, named Utanka. Krishna paid his respects to Utanka and was respectfully worshipped by the ascetic in return,. After enquiring about Krishna's welfare, Utanka asked Krishna, did he succeed in establishing peace between Pandavas & Kauravas? 

Krishna said, 'I did my best to bring peace, but Kauravas didn't heed to my advice and also ignored the wise counsel of Bhishma & Vidura.  Ultimately, a great war happened between Kauravas & Pandavas. The Kauravas along with their friends & relatives went to the abode of Yama".  When Krishna had said these words, Utanka, was filled with anger, and  said 'Since, even though you were able, you didn't stop the war, I am going to curse you.  "Vasudeva said, please listen to  me before uttering your curse. No harm is going to come me from your curse and  I don't want merits acquired by you through penances to be exhausted by making a curse. After having heard my words, if you wish, then you may curse me 

Krishna said, 'Know that the three qualities of Tamas, Rajas and Sattva exist, depending on me as their refuge. Additionally,  know that the Rudras,Vasus. Daityas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Rakshasas, Gandharvas, Nagas and Apsaras have sprung from me. In me are all creatures, and in all creatures do I exist. Whatever is manifest and not-manifest, whatever is destructible and indestructible, all have me for their soul. There is nothing higher or beyond me I am the eternal god of gods. Know that all the Vedas beginning with Om are identical with me. I am the sacrificial stake, I am the Soma , I am the offering in the sacrifice and I am the sacrifice itself. Dharma is my eldest-born offspring, sprung from my mind,  whose essence is compassion for all creatures. I keep transforming myself and keep taking birth in diverse wombs, for upholding dharma, with the aid of men now existing or departed from the world. I do this for protecting righteousness and for establishing it. I am known, in the three worlds as Vishnu, Brahman and Indra. I am the origin  and I am also the destroyer of all those creatures that live in sinfulness. When, I live in the order of the deities, I then act in every respect as a deity. When I live in the order of the  Gandharvas, I then act in every respect as a Gandharva. When I live in the order of the Nagas, I then act as a Naga, and when I live in the order of Yakshas or that of Rakshasas, I act after the manner of that order. Born now in the order of humans, I must act as a human being. I appealed to the Kauravas most piteously but they refused to accept my words. I also frightened them by referring to the consequences of  ignoring my message but as they were possessed by unrighteousness, and were under the impact of  Time, all of them have been righteously killed in battle, and have, without doubt, gone to heaven. 

After hearing this from Krishna, Utanka said, 'I know you, to be the creator of the universe, this knowledge that I have,is the result of your grace towards me. My heart is now free of agitation and I no longer wish to curse you. However, if, you are pleased with me, then please show me once your divine form. Gratified with him, Krishna, then showed Utanka that Vishvaroopa which He had shown to Arjuna  Beholding that high and wonderful  form of  the Supreme Lord,  Utanka became filled with wonder. Utanka, said, "I bow to you , O Soul of the universe, O parent of all things".

Having shown his divine form, Krishna asked Utanka for a boon as the sight of this supreme form cannot be fruitless.  Utanka said, "O lord, as water is very scarce in this region, I desire to have water whenever I  wish to quench my thirst". Vasudeva said,  whenever you require water, just think of me! Having said so, Krishna proceeded towards Dwaraka. Subsequently, one day, Utanka, was exceedingly thirsty as he was wandering over the desert and he thought of Krishna  Immediately, he held in front of him  a naked hunter, full of  dirt and surrounded by a pack of dogs and water issuing from his urinary organs .The hunter smilingly addressed him, saying, 'O Utanka, do you  drink this water. Utanka, refused to drink that water and became extremely angry with the hunter, but before he could  utter a curse the hunter disappeared from there. Now, Utanka was puzzled and thought this was some trick played on him by Krishna. Just then, Krishna appeared there. 

Utanka questioned Krishna, "Was it proper for you to offer water to a Brahmana in the form of a hunter's urine".  Janaradana smilingly said, "water was offered to you in the form, which was best suitable for you, however you couldn't understand it".  I had asked Indra to give you Amrutam in the form for water, however Indra said its not proper to give Amrutam to ordinary mortals. However on my insistence,  Indra said, I'll take a form of hunter and give him water in a way I find fit. If, he drinks it then he'll get Amrutam. So, it was the King of gods who had come to give you nectar but you refused it. You made a big mistake, however, I'll still fulfill your wish. Whenever you wish to have water, on those days, clouds well-charged with water will rise over this desert. Those clouds, will give you sweet water to drink, also those clouds will become known in the world as Utanka-clouds.' Thus addressed by Krishna, Utanka became happy, and to this day Utanka-clouds (appear and) shower rain on the deserts.

Why Utanaka was such a great ascetic that he could think of cursing Krishna? Wait for the next blog..