What kind of a friend was Krishn?
Pandavas and Draupadi, rulers of a prosperous Indraprastha. Now duped out of their comfort, wealth and luxury. Pushed into penury, forests, hardships.
Krishn- their eternal friend and well wisher. Confidante, mentor and ally.
Did he offer them the comforts of his palace while they were in exile? No.
Did he provide them with wealth and luxury in their 13 years of severe penance? No.
Did he enjoy rich food & Soma even as his dearest friends survived on fruits and lake water? Yes.
Did he loll on plush cushions as his dearest friends slept on bare floors? Yes.
WHY?
Krishn’s LOVE & CONCERN was never demeaning, never insulting, never condescending, never showy.
If he had offered Pandavas and Draupadi his wealth and luxury, it would have contaminated their equation.
It would have DEGRADED friendship into extortion, love into pity, assistance into alms and friends into beggars.
It would have saved them from struggle – and left them unable to face themselves. Given them comfort – and taken away their quest for justice.
Very possibly, Krishn choked on every morsel he ate, tossed and turned sleeplessly even in his plush bed and suffered emotionally every bit as his friends suffered.
and YET- neither he offered a single gold coin to Pandavas; NOR did Pandavas & Draupadi expect monetary help from him. In all 13 years.
All they expected was his benediction, his moral support and his wisdom. All he would offer them were the tools necessary to reclaim their self-respect.
This mutual respect and understanding makes their relation so unique and so pure.
If Lord Krishna has given all the comforts to the Pandavas and they never suffered 13 years in the forests, then there is no Mahabaratha story. Ask any Indian movie director. He/She will tell you.
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Correct. Suffering makes for good stories.
But my point was that Krishn understood their deepest wants. They needed moral support, not money. They needed his wisdom, not wealth. Friendship is based on such understandings.
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I agree with you Sweetie. Just wanted to make the situation a lighter one.
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Got it! What is ‘pyaar’ without ‘lambi judaai’? What is ‘bhai’if they are not ‘bichade hue’? What is ‘motherly love’ if not for ‘tyaag aur balidaan’? Trust Bollywood to wrench emotions out of dry wood.
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Nava drushtikon !
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Mahabharata is a never ending mystery. It unwraps fresh perspectives at every reading. What a creation by Ved Vyas!
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Very very thoughtful indeed. Krishna was a true friend. While, I am not a person who’d concur with every part of every epic, this cannot be denied. 🙂
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Thank you Ranju. Krishn was indeed aware that the best gift he could offer Pandavas was an opportunity to maintain their self-respect and dignity.
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I agree 🙂
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