Monday, March 5, 2012

Vishnu related - Lord Krishna immobilised by Sahadeva

There was incident where Lord Krishna immobilized by Sahadeva the youngest of the 5 Pandavas.  This incident is narrated in the great epic Mahabharata. This incident of Sahadeva immobilizing the Lord Krishna occurs immediately after the 'Vana vaasa' (forest life) of 13 years and the 1 year's 'atnatha vaasa' (living in hiding - living without being identified by any one) of Pandavas on his (lord's) way on peace mission to Kauravas. After the Pandavas successfully completed the 14 years' exile their cousins the Kauravas should have returned the kingdom to the Pandavas as per the understanding. The elder of the Kauravaas, Duryodhana did not want to return the kingdom to the Pandvaas.

In that circumstances the Pandavaas met to decide their next course of action. All of them except the eldest brother, Yudhishtira (Dharmaputhra) and their mother Kunthi Devi wanted to wage war against the Kauravas and capture the kingdom. Their cousin Lord Krishna was also present with them. Yudhishtira requested Lord Krishna to go to the Kauravas as the emissary (ambassador) of Pandvas to talk for peaceful solution and suggested that even if the Kauravas give 5 houses instead of the rightful kingdom, it should be OK and the war is to be avoided. Lord Krishna started for Hasthinapur, the capital of the Kauravas.

On the way first Draupadi (Panchali) wife of Pandvas stopped Lord and told him that the lord is like an elder brother to her and did he forget her vow not to mend her hair till the blood of Duryodhana and Dussasana, who had insulted her in the open court of the Kaauravas,was applied to her hair. She asked whether the Lord wants her full life with unkempt hair? The lord continued his journey without answering to her. Next the 2nd eldest Pandava, the Bhimasena, stopped the Lord and reminded about his (Bhima's) vow that he will kill all the 100 brothers of Kauravaas and will rip open the bodies of Duryodhana and Dussasana and soak his hands in their blood and apply the same to Draupadi's hair so that she can groom her hair. The lord walked on without answering to him. Next came Arjuna the next eldest one. He reminded the lord of his (Arjuna's) vow of destroying the Kauravas with his bow 'Gandeeva'. For this also the Lord did not reply and continued his journey to Kauravas.

Next the Nakula and the youngest brother Sahadeva (twins) were waiting for Lord Krishna. Before they could talk to Lord, the Lord Krishna asked the youngest of the brothers Sahadeva who was an outstanding astrologer, that all their other brothers and wife except the eldest brother Yudhishtira and mother wanted war. The mother and the eldest brother has entrusted the job of talking peace with the Kauravas to me (Lord). According to the astrology is there any way out except for war? Sahadeva answered to the lord that one way is to shave off the hair from Draupadi's head, break the Gadha (maze) of Bhima and destroy the bow, Gandeeva of Arjuna. But even with these acts the Kauravas will not keep quite.The Lord asked Sahadeva in that case what is the other way? Sahadeva replied that the way is to stop the Lord Krishna from going to the peace talk by binding him. The Lord asked him as to who can bind (immobilize) me to prevent my going? Sahadeva answered that he (Sahadeva) can do it if the Lord permit it. So saying Sahadeva sat in Padmasna posture and started chanting 'ashtakshari' manthra ( a word of 8 letters prasing the lord) with full concentration and devotion. Then hundreds of Lords appeared around Sahadeva and all joined together and entered the heart of Sahadeva. The Lord was in real fix. He woke Sahadeva and requested him (Sahadeva) to release him (the lord) from Sahadeva's heart. Any devotee calling me with utmost devotion will bind me to the devotee and will make me to obey the devotee. He told Sahadeva that for the protection of 'Dharma, the war between Pandavas and Kauravas have to take place. Immediately Sahadeva agreed to the bidding of the lord on one condition that the Lord should protect the Pandavas (5 brothers) from death in the war. The Lord smiled thinking within himself that even the expert astrologer, Sahadeva could not get the truth that the Pandavas (sons of Kunthi Devi) are 6 and not 5. This is nothing but the play of the fate. So thinking the Lord assured that the 5 brothers (Pandvas) will not die in the war and went on his mission of peace talk to the Kauravas.  

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