॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
Wednesday , 7 September 2022 - Chapter 14 of the first skandha - Yudhishthira’s unease after noticing unholy portents, which intensifies when a crestfallen Arjuna returns from Dwaraka.
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This and the next chapter plunge us into anxiety and distress. Trust Yudhishthira to describe his foreboding eloquently.
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The days at Hastinapura are losing their joie de vivre. There is a general degeneration of conduct in people and inhospitability in nature. King Yudhishthira is full of anxiety. He calls Bhima and says,
संप्रेषितो द्वारकायां जिष्णुर्बन्धुदिदृक्षया।ज्ञातुं च पुण्यश्लोकस्य कृष्णस्य च विचेष्टितम्॥
गताः सप्तधुना मासा भीमसेन तवानुजः। नायाति कस्य वा हेतोर्नाहं वेदेदमञ्जसा ॥
अपि देवर्षिणाऽदिष्टः स कालोऽयमुपस्थितः। यदात्मनोऽङ्गमाक्रीडं भगवानुत्सिसृक्षति॥
यस्मान्नः सम्पदो राज्यं दाराः प्राणाः कुलं प्रजाः।आसन् सपत्नविजयो लोकाश्च यदनुग्रहात्॥
पश्योत्पातन्नरव्याघ्र दिव्यान् भौमान् सदैहिकान्। दारुणान् शंसतोऽदूराद्भयं नो बुद्धिमोहनम्॥
T: “Dear Bhima, our younger brother, victorious Arjuna, went to Dwaraka to renew affectionate relations with people there and ascertain the well-being of dear Sri Krishna. But he has not returned even after seven months! I am apprehensive. Has the prophecy of Devarshi Narada come true that the time will soon come when Sri Krishna will wind up his incarnation? Oh, dear! To whom we owe everything - our wealth, our kingdom, our families, our lives, our happy citizens, our victories, Sri Krishna! I hope he is well!!! I see too many bad omens, in the skies, on earth, and in all sentient life. It is enough to drive me crazy.”
Yudhishthira goes on to describe a long list of ill-omens all around that make for frightful reading. He is really a worried man. Just then, Arjuna arrives. He is a mere shadow of his usual, ebullient, confident, happy, self.
Yudhishthira asks Arjuna, in a voice full of despondency,
कच्चिदनर्तपुर्यां नः स्वजनाः सुखमासते।
भगवानपि गोविन्दो ब्रह्मण्यो भक्तवत्सलः।
कच्चित्पुरे सुधर्मायां सुखमास्ते सहृद्वृतः॥
T: “Oh Arjuna! Tell me, are the people of Dwaraka well?” He lists every important name in Dwaraka including all of Sri Krishna’s relatives. “And how is Lord Govinda Sri Krishna himself? He loves holy Brahmins, and is the epitome of compassion towards his devotees! Is he indeed well, in that city of good men, being surrounded by his dear ones?”
And then he asks, looking much concerned at Arjuna’s crestfallen appearance,
“Oh Arjuna, are you well? Any ill health? Any untoward events in your journey? Did you not discharge your usual Dharmic duties? Were you insulted? Did you ill-treat or molest any woman? Were you deficient in any manner? Oh, I am so worried, and my worry has intensified after seeing your condition!” And here Yudhishthira lists a number of possible reasons for Arjuna’s despondency, which make for interesting reading of what can go wrong in one’s life.
Let us see what Arjuna replies, tomorrow.
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॥ ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय ॥
