Student Life
Sri Krishna received his instructions from Sandipani, a sage of Avantipura. He lived with his teacher like an ordinary student. He was meek, humble and obedient. He led a laborious life. He gathered fuel from the woods for his preceptor’s household. He inspired his classmates with love.
Sudama was Sri Krishna’s classmate. Sudama was later on known by the name of Kuchela.
Sri Krishna had wonderful retentive memory. If he heard anything once, he would retain it in memory, however difficult it might be. He mastered the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days.
He was matchless in physical strength. He learnt the art of archery and military science under his teacher. When his school career was over, at the request of his teacher, he rescued his teacher’s son from Panchajanya, a sea-monster, by whom the boy had been carried away. Krishna slew Panchajanya and took away his conch ‘Panchajanya’, rescued the boy from Yama, and handed him over to his teacher.
Embodiment of Mercy
Lord Krishna appeared as Para-Brahman before the sages, as the supreme Reality before the Yogis, as the Lord of Beauty before the Gopis, as Warrior before the warriors, as a child before Vasudeva and Devaki, as the Lord of Death before Kamsa, as King of kings (Samrat) before the kings, according to the view and understanding of the seer or subject. The object is the same. It appears different according to the view-point of the beholder.
Lord Krishna is styled as one who steals butter, because he used to eat butter stealthily in the houses of the Gopis on account of his extreme love for them. But he really steals the evil thoughts of devotees and fills their minds with divine thoughts. This stealing of butter was a sort of sport (Lila) when he was a boy, to instil delight in the hearts of the Gopis who were His devotees. The Gopis liked this immensely. They were eagerly expecting Krishna to come and eat their butter. He really steals or captivates the hearts of His devotees, makes them forget the world, draws their minds towards His blessed feet and makes them enjoy everlasting peace and bliss. He steals the letter “Da” in the feeling “Dasoham” (I am servant) of devotees and make them feel the right significance of “Soham” (I am He), or their identity with the Supreme Self. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “I give My devotees the Yoga of discrimination.” (Chapter IX-10.) How merciful is Lord Krishna! Glory to Him and His Name!!
He had the Bhava of mother even for Puthana who came to kill Him and gave her salvation.He gave salvation even to His bitterest enemies, Kamsa and Sisupala who insulted Him openly in the Rajasuya Yajna. Then what to speak of those who are highly devoted to Him?
Once Sri Krishna said to his wife Rukmini, “Princess, you have not done well in marrying me after rejecting the offers of great potentates and kings. I have no kingdom. I live out of fear in a city on the shore of the sea. My character and conduct is peculiar and not according to the general usage. Very few understand me. The wives of men like myself always meet with miseries. I love to associate with the poor and the fallen, and therefore the rich do not like to meet men like me. I have no attachment for wife, children, wealth, or luxury. Men like me live contented with their own selves. Therefore, O Princess of Vidarbha! You have made a mistake in marrying me.”
Sri Krishna received his instructions from Sandipani, a sage of Avantipura. He lived with his teacher like an ordinary student. He was meek, humble and obedient. He led a laborious life. He gathered fuel from the woods for his preceptor’s household. He inspired his classmates with love.
Sudama was Sri Krishna’s classmate. Sudama was later on known by the name of Kuchela.
Sri Krishna had wonderful retentive memory. If he heard anything once, he would retain it in memory, however difficult it might be. He mastered the sixty-four arts in sixty-four days.
He was matchless in physical strength. He learnt the art of archery and military science under his teacher. When his school career was over, at the request of his teacher, he rescued his teacher’s son from Panchajanya, a sea-monster, by whom the boy had been carried away. Krishna slew Panchajanya and took away his conch ‘Panchajanya’, rescued the boy from Yama, and handed him over to his teacher.
Embodiment of Mercy
Lord Krishna appeared as Para-Brahman before the sages, as the supreme Reality before the Yogis, as the Lord of Beauty before the Gopis, as Warrior before the warriors, as a child before Vasudeva and Devaki, as the Lord of Death before Kamsa, as King of kings (Samrat) before the kings, according to the view and understanding of the seer or subject. The object is the same. It appears different according to the view-point of the beholder.
Lord Krishna is styled as one who steals butter, because he used to eat butter stealthily in the houses of the Gopis on account of his extreme love for them. But he really steals the evil thoughts of devotees and fills their minds with divine thoughts. This stealing of butter was a sort of sport (Lila) when he was a boy, to instil delight in the hearts of the Gopis who were His devotees. The Gopis liked this immensely. They were eagerly expecting Krishna to come and eat their butter. He really steals or captivates the hearts of His devotees, makes them forget the world, draws their minds towards His blessed feet and makes them enjoy everlasting peace and bliss. He steals the letter “Da” in the feeling “Dasoham” (I am servant) of devotees and make them feel the right significance of “Soham” (I am He), or their identity with the Supreme Self. Lord Krishna says in the Gita, “I give My devotees the Yoga of discrimination.” (Chapter IX-10.) How merciful is Lord Krishna! Glory to Him and His Name!!
He had the Bhava of mother even for Puthana who came to kill Him and gave her salvation.He gave salvation even to His bitterest enemies, Kamsa and Sisupala who insulted Him openly in the Rajasuya Yajna. Then what to speak of those who are highly devoted to Him?
Once Sri Krishna said to his wife Rukmini, “Princess, you have not done well in marrying me after rejecting the offers of great potentates and kings. I have no kingdom. I live out of fear in a city on the shore of the sea. My character and conduct is peculiar and not according to the general usage. Very few understand me. The wives of men like myself always meet with miseries. I love to associate with the poor and the fallen, and therefore the rich do not like to meet men like me. I have no attachment for wife, children, wealth, or luxury. Men like me live contented with their own selves. Therefore, O Princess of Vidarbha! You have made a mistake in marrying me.”
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