The Benediction Krishna Seeks - Part 1

Date: 2016-12-03 Author: Vaijayantimala devi dasi

Hare Krishna Prabhujis and Matajis, Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva!

The following is a very sweet pastime from . Once a king performed a continuous fire sacrifice to Lord Shiva for one month with huge amounts of ghee. Lord who accepted all the offerings of ghee in the fire sacrifice became saturated with ghee and became pale losing all his lustre. He appealed to Lord Brahma for help, who advised Agni to burn the which was destined to be burnt by providence. There were lot of poisonous and demons living in Khandava forest and they were all destined to be vanquished by the fire. Agni felt happy hearing this and started burning the forest.

Lord Indra was quiet upset by this act of Agni because Indra's close friend Takshaka was living in the forest and Indra became concerned about his friend's safety. So Indra summoned powerful rain clouds and foiled Agni's fire. And the snakes and the demons living in the forest also started attacking Agni. Agni again surrendered to Lord Brahma for help. And Brahmaji told him, "Please take shelter of the dual warriors Krishna and . They can help you out of this situation". Agni then surrendered to Krishna and Arjuna for help. They agreed to help him.

Arjuna built a roof with arrows covering the entire forest so that not even drop of rain could fall on the forest. He also shattered all the clouds created by Indra using the Vayu astra (weapon of wind) and completely protected Agni. Lord Indra was so pleased to see the valour of Krishna and Arjuna and thought that it is only to save his friend Takshaka he was fighting. At that time he heard a divine voice from the sky about how Takshaka with his entire family has moved to before this burning. Indra was very pleased to hear this and stopped the war and also requested Arjuna and Krishna to take benedictions.

Arjuna asked Indra for many divine weapons and mantras to control them. Indra granted them all. He asked Krishna to take some benediction. Krishna asked the following beautiful benediction and it is worth meditating for all aspiring devotees like us. Mahabharata Adi Parva 225.13:

vāsudevo 'pi jagrāha prītiṁ pārthena śāśvatīm dadau ca tasmai devendras taṃ varaṁ prītimāṁs tadā

The all-intelligent Lord Vāsudeva asked for the benediction, 'Let My love (preeti) for Arjuna be eternal and uninterrupted.'Devendra was so pleased with this benediction and he granted that.

Krishna willing we shall continue to meditate more on the benediction sought by Krishna in the subsequent offering.

Thank you very much. Yours in service of Srila Prabhupada and Srila Gurudeva, Vaijayantimala devi dasi Abu Dhabi.