krishna leela series - part 44 - ill-motivated dhritarashtra
DESCRIPTION
Krishna Leela Series - Part 44 - Ill-motivated DhritarashtraTRANSCRIPT
KR ISHNA
BHAKT I
SANGHA
PRESENTS
44TH
D ISCOURSE
ON
THE
KR ISHNA
BOOK
SER IES
Ill-motivated Dhåtaräñöra
Akrüra visits Hastinäpura
• On the order of Krishna
• City of elephants
• Kingdom was rich
• Many opulences
• Kings of the whole world
• Good counsel of learned brahmanas
Akrura meets King Dhrtarastra , Bhishma and Vidura
He then meets Bhurishrava, Drona, Kripa, Karna and Suyodhana
And the Pandavas
He was well received
He was known as theson of Gandini
• Dhrtarastra unlawfully occupies the throne
• Inclined in favour of his own sons
• Instigating and planning to kill Pandavas
• His sons were crooked politicians
• He did not heed to good advice given by Bhishma and Vidura
• He was influenced by ill instructions of Karna Shakuni and others
Akrura’s study of the political scenario
Akrura stays to find out more …
• Dhrtarastra was intolerant of the Pandavas extraordinary military prowess
• He envied their great bodily strength
• Pandavas were true heros, good kshatriyas, responsible Princes
• Thought of the welfare of the citizens
The Pandava poisoned
• Dhrtarastra consults Duryodhana
• Agrees to poison the Pandavas
• Duryodhana poisons Bhima
Akrura meets cousin Kunti
Kunti inquires about her relatives
Begins to cry
Does Krishna remember us?
She-deer amidst tigers
Will Krishna come and advice her sons?
Begins to offer prayers
SB 10.49.11
kåñëa kåñëa mahä-yogin
viçvätman viçva-bhävana
prapannäà pähi govinda
çiçubhiç cävasédatém
Kåñëa, Kåñëa! O great yogi! O Supreme Soul and protector of the universe! O Govinda! Please protect me, who have surrendered to You. I and my sons are being overwhelmed by trouble.
TRANSLATION
Kunti grief stricken
• Talks as if Krishna were present
• Possible for everyone who can follow in Kunti’s footsteps
• Simply surrender sincerely
• Began to cry out loudly
• Akrura and Vidura console Kunti
Akrura decided to return to Mathura
In presence of Kunti, addressed the King as Vaichitravirya
He cannot claim the throne on hereditary grounds
Son of Pandu was the rightful King
Akrura’s Prophecy
• Told Dhrtarashtra to rule morally
• Not to ill-treat his nephews
• He would become unpopular
• Next life he would live in hellish condition
• Surely there will be a fight
• Just Pandavas will come out victorious
• His sons will be killed
Akrura continued …
• We assemble in a family by chance
• We should not be unnessesarliy affectionate
• Dhrtarastra’s staunch family affection was due to gross ignorance
• Everyone has individual destiny – individual karma
• Father’s hard earned wealth squandered away by son
• Unethically earned wealth is sinful, leads one to hell
kåñëa-bhakta—niñkäma, ataeva ‘çänta’
bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kämé—sakali ‘açänta’TRANSLATION
“Because a devotee of Lord Kåñëa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jïänés desire liberation, and yogés desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.
CC Madhya 19.149
Material conditioned life is a dream
One should control one’s mind and senses
Akrura’s instructions do not stay in Dhrtarastra’s mind
One destined to die does not utilize nectar
Dhrtarastra has complete faith in Krishna yet he is partial to his family
He knows that Krishna will vanquish his family members
Then he will take shelter of Lord’s lotus feet
This actually happened to Dhrtarastra at the end of the battle
Dhrtarastra’s Dilemma
• He saw two opposing factors acting before him
• Begins to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead
• Lord’s plans are inconceivable
• Lord creates the material world
• Sets into action the 3 modes
• Enters into each and every atom
Akrura returns to Mathura
• Dhrtarastra will not give up his discriminating policy
• Akrura takes leave of all his friends
• Successful in his mission
• Informs Krishna and Balaram the intensions of Dhrtarastra