[Pa33anger]

Due to the popularity of the Bhagavatham and especially the widely organized Saptahams, many stories connected with the childhood exploits of Bhagavan Krishna are well known to people in every nook and corner of the country. But there are many other stories relating to Bhagavan Krishna, often told in his own words, which give us tremendous new insights into his personality. I give below in very brief words, some of these ..... in hopes that it will give rise to further interest amongst us in reading the Mahabharatam original & unabridged and thereby understand more about this many-sided wonderful personality.

1) That he spent 12 years in deep Tapas in the Himalayas, seeking to propitiate Lord Siva, in order to get a son by his wife Rukmini.
2) That, after the birth of a son named Pradyumna, who was as beautiful as Kamadeva, by Rukmini, but who unfortunately was carried away by asuras even as a baby, one of his other wives Jambavati also requested him for a son of great exploits, and complying with her request, he again went to Kailasa and did another 12 years deep Tapas, and with the blessings of Mahadeva, got another supremely handsome son named Samba.
3) It is ironic that these two sons of Krishna became the direct cause of the destruction of Vrishni Race, assisted by Sathyaki and Kritavarma.
4) That, despite his divine nature, Krishna in his human birth was unable to prevent the depredations caused by Jarasandha and his army on the Vrishni race then living in Mathura, and to prevent further harm, they had to escape to the seashore where they built Dwaraka. Krishna mentions this in detail to Yudhishtira when the latter expresses his desire to conduct the Rajasooya yajna.
5) The penance and respect for Rishis that Krishna and Rukmini had was so great, that once when Durvasa himself tested both of them severely including yoking Rukmini to a chariot with himself in it and making her draw it like a horse, and lashing her repeatedly, despite all the pain and humiliation, they successfully overcame all tests posed by the irate Rishi.
5) That Krishna, despite his great strategic acumen, was once so depressed and helplessly led by the manipulations going on between the Vrishnis and Bhojas and Andhaka princes, as to seek advice from Narada, who in turn politely blames Krishna himself for ceding the royal power to Ugrasena, instead of taking it himself, which was the root cause of the machinations.

[uncoodync]

It is an ironic coincidence that neither Krishna nor Rama were able to enjoy the plays and prattle of their children as babies. In the case of Krishna, Pradyumna was carried off as a baby, and comes back only as a grown up man. Whereas in the case of Rama, his children were born in the forest, and he sees them first as young lads, able to recite a whole kavya by rote.

Not much different was the fate of their parents too. In the case of Rama, his parents had to bear long years of separation from him, leading to the death of his father, while in the case of Krishna his parents again had to live separated from him until the death of Kamsa.

[Evdokia]

It is an ironic coincidence that neither Krishna nor Rama were able to enjoy the plays and prattle of their children as babies. In the case of Krishna, Pradyumna was carried off as a baby, and comes back only as a grown up man. Whereas in the case of Rama, his children were born in the forest, and he sees them first as young lads, able to recite a whole kavya by rote.

Not much different was the fate of their parents too. In the case of Rama, his parents had to bear long years of separation from him, leading to the death of his father, while in the case of Krishna his parents again had to live separated from him until the death of Kamsa.

dear KRN !
even the incarnations to under go the curse of the family what ever Dasaratha suffered the suffering continued for rama. Sri. Rama lived a roll model for human being.waiting to read more such messages
with regards,
guruvayurappan

[Sensbachtal]

Dear guruvayurappanji,

Thanks. As you said, Sri Rama is the ideal role model, not merely a Purushothama, but THE maryada Purushothama.

The concept of father-son relationship in the epics, especially in Mahabharatha is very fascinating. The first detailed rendering of the Parashurama story occurs in the Mbh, and is often extolled as the model for a child's unswerving obedience to the words of the father.

There is the great story of King Pooru who willingly exchanges his youth with the premature old age and decrepitude that his father King Yayati suffers through rishi-shapam. Pooru rightfully wins the kingdom for himself and his descendants, while at the end of it all, King Yayati's Gaatha "Na jaathu kaamah kaamanam upabhogena shaamyati havishaa krishnavartmeva bhooya evaabhivardhathe" is again and again retold in the Puranas, including Bhagavatham also, and through the ages becomes the motto of Sanathana Dharma.

There is the celebrated example of Bheeshma who willingly takes up eternal Brahmacharya Ashrama, to further the happiness of his father. While he furthers the happiness of his father, and earns the much cherished boon of ichcha-mritya, in the course of time he becomes so addicted to his Brahmacharya that he is unable to give it up, even if only to further the happiness of all his ancestors! Rishi Agasthya however decides to please his ancestors, and takes to a wife.

Sathyavan happily goes to the forest to take care of his blind parents, and as a result of his devotion to his parents, gets blessed with the ideal woman as his wife. Indeed, no tapas is too much to get such a wife @

There is the oft told story of Rishi Kausika who was taught by the housewife and then the butcher that the basis of Sanathana Dharma is devoted attendance upon one's parents.

Vyasa Rishi requests Mahadeva himself to conduct the upanayanam of his son Suka and although warned by Mahadeva of undesired consequences, continues to press for the same. As soon as the upanayanam is conducted, Suka gets Brahmajnanam and runs away, followed by his affectionate father. When the Rishi, in deep pain caused by separation, calls his son by name, the entire universe responds - illustrating the upanishadic Mahavakyam "Brahmavid Brahmaiva bhavati"...This story told in detail in the Anusashana Parvam is very poignant. Reciters of Srimad Bhagavatham would relate the celebrated slokam from Padma Purana "Yam pravrajantham..." to this incident.

More to this topic, as is well known, it was the inability of Dhritarashtra to control his sons that led to the great war. This idea is repeatedly highlighted before us throughout the epic. Right at the beginning of the epic occurs a most poignant rendering of the lamentations of Dhritarashtra, of course after he lost his hundred sons in battle. (Nevertheless he was still left with a son, a very capable and righteous one at that, while it was Gandhari who lost ALL her sons)

Looking at it from another angle, I would suggest that it was the absence of father Pandu's corrective action during the growing-up stage of the Pandavas, that ultimately led to the great war. In the absence of a father's careful monitoring, the Pandavas especially Bhima were left to grow up in an uncontrolled fashion. Bhima misused his strength at a very young age and committed many atrocities on the hapless sons of Dhritarashtra. This naturally led to the hatred of the elder sons of Dhritarashtra, Duryodhana and Dussasana, towards the Pandavas and all those attempts at their lives, especially Bhima's.

Drona who was invincible in battle loses his reason and life only due to his extreme affection for his son. While his son commits dastardly crimes in revenge and thus offers expiation in the war.

Bhagavan Krishna of course appears as the embodiment of Rishi Bhakti and in turn the Rishis were united in giving him all blessings. Whereas the sons of Krishna appear in no-good light in the Mahabharata. While Samba attains notoriety through Rishi shapam and gives birth to the iron axe that leads to the entire destruction of his race, Pradyumna expresses his anger at the Rishis and questions his father as to why respect ought to be given to the Rishis. It requires all the persuasion of father Krishna, with detailed anecdotes, to convince Pradyumna of the value of Sanathana Dharma.

dear KRN !
even the incarnations to under go the curse of the family what ever Dasaratha suffered the suffering continued for rama. Sri. Rama lived a roll model for human being.waiting to read more such messages
with regards,
guruvayurappan