PRIUE once entered into the heart of Arjuna, the
beloved friend of Sri Krishna. Arjuna thought
that none equalled ''him in love and devotion to his
Lord and Friend. The omniscient Lord, Sri
Krishna, reading the heart of His friend, took him
one day for a walk. They had not proceeded far
when Arjuna saw a strange brahmana eating dry
grass as food, but nevertheless had a sword
dangling at his side. Arjuna at once knew him to
be a holy and pious devotee of Vishnu, one whose
highest religious duty was to injure no being. As
even grass has life, he would not eat it green but
sustained his life by eating it dry and lifeless. Yet
he carried a sword.
Arjuna, wondering at the incongruity, turned
towards the Lord and said: "How is this? Here is
a man who has renounced all ideas of injuring any
living being - down to the meanest blade of grass;
yet he carries with him a sword, the symbol oF
death and hatred!" The Lord said, "You had better
ask the man yourself". Arjuna then went up to the
brahmana and said; "Sir, you injure no living being,
beloved friend of Sri Krishna. Arjuna thought
that none equalled ''him in love and devotion to his
Lord and Friend. The omniscient Lord, Sri
Krishna, reading the heart of His friend, took him
one day for a walk. They had not proceeded far
when Arjuna saw a strange brahmana eating dry
grass as food, but nevertheless had a sword
dangling at his side. Arjuna at once knew him to
be a holy and pious devotee of Vishnu, one whose
highest religious duty was to injure no being. As
even grass has life, he would not eat it green but
sustained his life by eating it dry and lifeless. Yet
he carried a sword.
Arjuna, wondering at the incongruity, turned
towards the Lord and said: "How is this? Here is
a man who has renounced all ideas of injuring any
living being - down to the meanest blade of grass;
yet he carries with him a sword, the symbol oF
death and hatred!" The Lord said, "You had better
ask the man yourself". Arjuna then went up to the
brahmana and said; "Sir, you injure no living being,
and you live upon dry grass. Why then do you
carry this sharp sword?"
The brahmana: it is to punish four persons if 1
chance to meet them.
Arjuna: Who are they?
The brahmana: The first is the wretch Narada.
Arjuna: Why, what has he done?
The brahmana: Why, look at the audacity of that
fellow; he is perpetually keeping ray Lord awake
with^ his songs and music. He has no
consideration whatsoever for the comfort of the
Lord. Day and night, in and out of season, he
disturbs the peace of the Lord by his prayers and
praises.
Arjuna: Who is the second person?
The brahmana: The impudent Draupadi!
Arjuna: What is her fault?
carry this sharp sword?"
The brahmana: it is to punish four persons if 1
chance to meet them.
Arjuna: Who are they?
The brahmana: The first is the wretch Narada.
Arjuna: Why, what has he done?
The brahmana: Why, look at the audacity of that
fellow; he is perpetually keeping ray Lord awake
with^ his songs and music. He has no
consideration whatsoever for the comfort of the
Lord. Day and night, in and out of season, he
disturbs the peace of the Lord by his prayers and
praises.
Arjuna: Who is the second person?
The brahmana: The impudent Draupadi!
Arjuna: What is her fault?
The brahmana: Look at the inconsiderate audacity
of the woman! She was so rash as to call my
beloved Lord just at the moment He was going to
dine. He had to give up His dinner and go to the
Kamyaka Yana to save the Pandavas from the
curse of Durvasa. And her presumption went so
far that she even caused my beloved Lord to eat
the impure remnant of her own food.
Arjuna: Who is the third?
The brahmana: It is the heartless Prahlada. He was
so cruel that he did not hesitate for a moment to
ask my Lord to enter the boiling cauldron of oil, to
be trodden under the heavy feet of the elephants
and to break through an adamantine pillar.
Arjuna: Who is the fourth?
The brahmana: The wretch Arjuna.
Arjuna: Why, what fault has he committed?
The brahmana: Look at his felony, he made my
beloved Lord take the mean office of a charioteer
of his car in the great wars of Kurukshetra.
Arjuna was amazed at the depth of the poorof the woman! She was so rash as to call my
beloved Lord just at the moment He was going to
dine. He had to give up His dinner and go to the
Kamyaka Yana to save the Pandavas from the
curse of Durvasa. And her presumption went so
far that she even caused my beloved Lord to eat
the impure remnant of her own food.
Arjuna: Who is the third?
The brahmana: It is the heartless Prahlada. He was
so cruel that he did not hesitate for a moment to
ask my Lord to enter the boiling cauldron of oil, to
be trodden under the heavy feet of the elephants
and to break through an adamantine pillar.
Arjuna: Who is the fourth?
The brahmana: The wretch Arjuna.
Arjuna: Why, what fault has he committed?
The brahmana: Look at his felony, he made my
beloved Lord take the mean office of a charioteer
of his car in the great wars of Kurukshetra.
brahmana's devotion and love, and from that
moment his pride vanished, and he gave up
thinking that he was the best devotee of the Lord.
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