Love In Action

Once during the Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam, a Sai Youth asked Swami, “What should youth do?”

Swami replied, “Youth should remain young. The day energy is spoilt, you age, you become old. See My form, can you tell My age? This body is 81 years old. But it does not look so. I am fine, but I fell as a boy came in the way once. This body had incurred the fracture. Inside I move about freely, but outside doctors are there. Therefore to satisfy them, I take the support of the boys while walking. Actually, I keep telling these boys not to hold Me. none can understand my nature! I never had any head ache, fever, cough cold etc. I am healthy and wealthy always.

All the while I observe and hear. These boys here keep conversing to each other. They think it is going unnoticed. But I know everything! It may be wrong. In fact, the truth is that there is nothing called right or wrong. I keep seeing everything. What appears to be good at one time becomes bad some other day. Good and bad is just a matter of time.

Krishna ensured victory for the Pandavas. Abhimanyu was forced into battle. He was just a lad in a tender age of sixteen. He was forced to battle in the Padmavyuha. Abhimanyu went to Dharmaja and asked, “May I go into it?” Dharmaja replied, “It is not ordinary! Dronacharya has decided it himself.” Abhimanyu approached his mother Subadra and sought her permission. Subadra replied, “This is not right! You need an auspicious time to get in. Your wife is Garbhavati, (in the family way) Krishna and Arjuna are also not here. So do not go.”

Abhimanyu got angry that the son of Arjuna is being obstructed. He spoke with conviction, “I will never disobey father.” But Subadra said, “Do not go.” Abhimanyu replied, “Drona has devised this. He maybe an expert but you must bless me that I get in like a tiger. As a mother, is it right on your part that you do not permit me?”

So Subadra blessed him,(just like Kousalya blessed Rama) applied turmeric to his feet and sent him. But as Abhimanyu entered the Vyuha, he realized that he did not know how to get out. Since when he was in the womb of Subadra he had heard the story of how to enter the Vyuha but the story was left unfinished so he did not know how to get out. So Abhimanyu lost his life inside the Padmavyuha.

Therefore never neglect the word of elders. Always listen to the words of parents. Matru Devo Bhava, Pitru Devo Bhava (Mother is God, Father is God) Hence at any time follow their advice.

When Arjuna returned he felt very sad. He cried out, “Where is Abhimanyu? He would rush and hug me as soon as he sees me. Something seems to be wrong Krishna.” Krishna told Arjuna not to be weak. Krishna said that the Kauravas cheated and got him killed. Arjuna got very angry. He cried out, “Krishna why did you not tell me before?” Later, due to a twist of fate, Abhimanyu’s wife Uttara delivered a dead baby. All the Pandavas sat and cried. All of Draupadi’s sons and Abhimanyu were gone. So there was no one to continue the clan of the Pandavas.

When Krishna entered the scene he was criticized as Vamshanashi (Destroyer of the clan.) Krishna was smiling, “Don’t be in a hurry. It leads to worry.” He asked Draupadi to get the child in a plate. Then Krishna exclaimed, “Ah! He looks just like Abhimanyu. See the nose, the eye, the mouth… All the features are like Abhimanyu.” The Pandavas in all agony said, “Not worried about the lives of people, Krishna, you are talking of the dead. Even the baby is dead!”

Krishna tapped the baby’s thigh, the stomach and the back. The baby sprang back to life and started wailing. Since the baby was tested by God Himself, he was named Parikshit.

It is true that without testing there can be no promotion. But the test must be taken as your taste. It was later Parikshith who became King, the one who was protected by Lord Krishna. It was later a testing period for Pandavas when Krishna left his mortal coir. All the Pandavas broke down and Dharmaja decalared that it was time for them also to leave for the final journey. So all the Pandavas accompanied by Draupadi embarked upon their final journey. At that time even the Pandavas had to spend some time in hell.

The great Yudhistira also had to suffer the consequences of his actions. He uttered the words, “Ashwattama Hataha Kunjaraha” but made the Kunjaraha soft. (The truth was that Bheema had killed an elephant named Ashwattama, but to demoralize Drona such a method was used. Drona was aghast and lost his life after refusing to fight since he had lost interest in living as he believed that his son, Ashwattama, was dead.) This was the reason they had to spend some time in Hell.

Hence none can escape the consequences of actions. Everyone is bound to the actions, defects and mistakes. Pandavas were embodiments of justice, love and Dharma. But even then they could not escape the consequences of their actions.

Draupadi was the greatest Pativrata(one devoted to husband). When there was a contest between Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati, Krishna said that Draupadi was the greatest Pativrata. Imagine managing five husbands’ commands. She was dedicated to all and had time for all. She was satisfied with whatever they got for her. Nowadays women want sarees which cost greater than that of the husbands’ salaries. Padavas are immortal because they upheld their honour.

Men should be like them. Men should show love, foster compassion, speak the truth and follow Dharma. Without these, they are lifeless.

These Sathya Dharma Shanthi Prema and Ahimsa are the very breaths of human existence. Never speak the untruth. Never make fun of anyone. Criticism is the worst sin. Love is God and God is Love. There is no reason or season for love. Develop that unsullied and unconditional love. Whether one is in city, village, forest, space or deep sea, only love is the refuge. Never hate anyone. If you come across even your enemy, you must not hate him. Then alone man can become Divine. Foster this LOVE.

Vinay Kumar you are the President of the Youth in Karnataka. You should make it your responsibility to spread this message to all the other states. Man should first take care of himself, his family and then go out to society.