KR ISHNA

BHAKT I

SANGHA

PRESENTS

44TH

D ISCOURSE

ON

THE

KR ISHNA

BOOK

SER IES

Ill-motivated Dhåtaräñöra

Akrüra visits Hastinäpura

• On the order of Krishna

• City of elephants

• Kingdom was rich

• Many opulences

• Kings of the whole world

• Good counsel of learned brahmanas

Akrura meets King Dhrtarastra , Bhishma and Vidura

He then meets Bhurishrava, Drona, Kripa, Karna and Suyodhana

And the Pandavas

He was well received

He was known as theson of Gandini

• Dhrtarastra unlawfully occupies the throne

• Inclined in favour of his own sons

• Instigating and planning to kill Pandavas

• His sons were crooked politicians

• He did not heed to good advice given by Bhishma and Vidura

• He was influenced by ill instructions of Karna Shakuni and others

Akrura’s study of the political scenario

Akrura stays to find out more …

• Dhrtarastra was intolerant of the Pandavas extraordinary military prowess

• He envied their great bodily strength

• Pandavas were true heros, good kshatriyas, responsible Princes

• Thought of the welfare of the citizens

The Pandava poisoned

• Dhrtarastra consults Duryodhana

• Agrees to poison the Pandavas

• Duryodhana poisons Bhima

Akrura meets cousin Kunti

Kunti inquires about her relatives

Begins to cry

Does Krishna remember us?

She-deer amidst tigers

Will Krishna come and advice her sons?

Begins to offer prayers

SB 10.49.11

kåñëa kåñëa mahä-yogin

viçvätman viçva-bhävana

prapannäà pähi govinda

çiçubhiç cävasédatém

Kåñëa, Kåñëa! O great yogi! O Supreme Soul and protector of the universe! O Govinda! Please protect me, who have surrendered to You. I and my sons are being overwhelmed by trouble.

TRANSLATION

Kunti grief stricken

• Talks as if Krishna were present

• Possible for everyone who can follow in Kunti’s footsteps

• Simply surrender sincerely

• Began to cry out loudly

• Akrura and Vidura console Kunti

Akrura decided to return to Mathura

In presence of Kunti, addressed the King as Vaichitravirya

He cannot claim the throne on hereditary grounds

Son of Pandu was the rightful King

Akrura’s Prophecy

• Told Dhrtarashtra to rule morally

• Not to ill-treat his nephews

• He would become unpopular

• Next life he would live in hellish condition

• Surely there will be a fight

• Just Pandavas will come out victorious

• His sons will be killed

Akrura continued …

• We assemble in a family by chance

• We should not be unnessesarliy affectionate

• Dhrtarastra’s staunch family affection was due to gross ignorance

• Everyone has individual destiny – individual karma

• Father’s hard earned wealth squandered away by son

• Unethically earned wealth is sinful, leads one to hell

kåñëa-bhakta—niñkäma, ataeva ‘çänta’

bhukti-mukti-siddhi-kämé—sakali ‘açänta’TRANSLATION

“Because a devotee of Lord Kåñëa is desireless, he is peaceful. Fruitive workers desire material enjoyment, jïänés desire liberation, and yogés desire material opulence; therefore they are all lusty and cannot be peaceful.

CC Madhya 19.149

Material conditioned life is a dream

One should control one’s mind and senses

Akrura’s instructions do not stay in Dhrtarastra’s mind

One destined to die does not utilize nectar

Dhrtarastra has complete faith in Krishna yet he is partial to his family

He knows that Krishna will vanquish his family members

Then he will take shelter of Lord’s lotus feet

This actually happened to Dhrtarastra at the end of the battle

Dhrtarastra’s Dilemma

• He saw two opposing factors acting before him

• Begins to offer prayers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead

• Lord’s plans are inconceivable

• Lord creates the material world

• Sets into action the 3 modes

• Enters into each and every atom

Akrura returns to Mathura

• Dhrtarastra will not give up his discriminating policy

• Akrura takes leave of all his friends

• Successful in his mission

• Informs Krishna and Balaram the intensions of Dhrtarastra