|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 28 – The legend of Lord Krishna – Dhrauni Nigrahanam - Uththara Garbhasamrakshanam

Pahi Pahi Mahayogin Devadeva Jagathpathe | Nanyam Thvadh Abhayam Pashye  Yathra Mrithyu: Parasparam || Abidhravathi Mameesha Sharasthapthayaso Vibho| Kamam Dhahathu Mam Natha Ma Mey Garbho Nipathyatham ||

Dharmaputhra highly appreciated Devi Dhraupadi’s respect for Bhramin Ashwaththama who is the son of the preceptor of all, Nakula and Sahadeva highly spoke of Devi Dhraupadi’s reverence for Dhvijathi and her kindness.  Vrikodara was in a rage advised Arjuna to cut off the head of Ashwaththama, but the rest of the others were opposing this action.  Once again, Arjuna fallen into extreme confusion, he looked at the face of Krishna.  Krishna began to speak “Oh! Partha, Ashwaththama is a twice-born, son of your preceptor, he should not be killed. If you want to follow the instruction of Vrikodhara and Devi Dhraupadi, go ahead with it.”  Arjuna understood what was meant by the supreme Lord Krishna, he removed the precious gem on the forehead of Ashwaththama and removed his shunt and thrown him out of the palace that was equivalent to the death of Ashwaththama.

Once the things were settled with the Pandavas, Krishna revealed his desire to go back to Dwaraka. The chariot was kept ready, Krishna proceeds towards the chariot, at that moment the widow of Abhimanyu who is the son of Devi Subhadhra rushed to Krishna and fell at his feet. She was terrified and pale, began to speak “Oh! Jagathpathe, kindly protect me, Oh! Devadeva, Oh! Mahayogin, a powerful Astra following my fetus, I have no one other than you,  kindly protect my fetus from destruction, let my body burn into ashes, I want my infant protected.”  Bhagavan Krishna looked at Uththara who was already grieving over the death of her youthful husband.  He thought for a moment, the death of five sons of Pandavas, he could not protect them, Abhimanyu who was trapped in the warzone was not protected; now the child of Uththara could only save the clan of Pandava from destruction and the souls in Kali era, they might get an opportunity to save themselves from the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence through the unborn child. Krishna pacified Uththara and assumed the form of thumb and protected the fetus from the powerful rays of Astra that nullified by the powerful Sudharshana Chakra.  The infant looked at the Supreme Lord who has assumed the size of a thumb, holding Shankha, Chakra, Gadha, and Padma.  The infant looked at the pleasing smile of the supreme Lord and closed its eyes, and the supreme Lord disappeared.  Thus, the child protected from the womb of Uththara was named Vishnuratha who has witnessed the supreme Lord while in mother’s womb, experienced the greatest threat was called ‘Pareekshith’ who became one of the greatest Bhavagathoththama.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 27– The legend of Lord Krishna – Dhrauni Nigrahanam

Krishna Krishna Mahabhaga Bhakthanamabhayankara | Thvameko Dhahyamananamapavargoasi Samsrithe: ||

Arjuna speaks “ Oh! Krishna, Oh! Mahabhaga, I have no shelter other than you. Oh! Bhagavan, a fierce weapon releasing fire approaching me to take away my life, kindly protect me.” Krishna affectionately patted on the head of Arjuna and spoke “ Oh! Arjuna, it is the Bhramasthra shot by Dronaputhra who is inexperienced in it, therefore you have to nullify its effect immediately with another one otherwise the whole Universe will undergo destruction.”  Thus, Arjuna removed the destructible effects of Bhramasthra, further Ashwaththama was fastened like a cow, even though Krishna ordered Arjuna to kill him for his grave sin of taking away the life of the children while asleep.  Arjuna did not Kill Ashwaththama, produced before Devi Dhraupadi as promised to her.  Draupadi fell at the feet of Ashwaththama who was fastened like an animal and instructed Arjun to unfasten him immediately, as he is a Brahmin and the son of the preceptor Dhronacharya.  Draupadi speaks “ Oh! Aryaputhra, Ashwaththama is a Bhramin and son of your preceptor, he should be revered always.  I am grieving over the death of my five sons, I do not want Devi Gauthami wife of Dhronacharya who is already grieving over the death of her husband, should go through the heartache like mine.  We should not destroy his clan, therefore unfasten Ashwaththama.” 

Devi Dhraupadi who symbolizes kindness and compassion proven that the weak minds take revenge on the evil doers, the strong-minded does not take revenge on even the greatest sinner. Devi Dhraupadi has the great fortune to realize the splendor of the Supreme Lord Krishna and she was an ardent devotee of him.  Devi Dhraupadi while performing all the tasks of wifely duties to Pandavas considered Krishna as her preceptor, Upasanamoorthi and supreme soul as well.

Devi Dhraupadi have intense faith and devotion upon supreme Lord Krishna, once the Pandavas and Kauravas assembled to play game board in the palace of Kauravas, Yudhishtira who was incompetent in the game lost his wealth, Kingdom, brothers and finally Devi Draupadi in the game.  Duryodhana had the intelligence to seek help from his uncle who was utterly wicked and won the game.   Yudhishtira was inexperienced did not seek help from Krishna had to lose glory and wealth. Later, Kripacharya, Bheeshmapithamaha, Dhronacharya and Viduras in the assembly of Kauravas kept quiet while Devi Dhraupadi was drawn on her hair locks by Dusshasana, she was publicly criticized and humiliated, none of the assembly members have uttered a word against the atrocities of Duryodhana. Devi Dhraupadi did not get discouraged when she was publicly abused, she had intense faith upon Krishna, and she called out for him and saved herself from further humiliation. In this way, Devi Dhraupadi proved her mental courage on several occasions.

|| Om Namo Bhagavathe Vasudevaya||

Chapter – 26– The legend of Lord Krishna – Dhrauni Nigrahanam

It was on the eighteenth day of Kurukshetra war, Vrikodhara encountered Duryodhana who entered in the battlefield with great might and pride.  The battle between Vrikodhara and Duryodhana continued, eventually Vrikodhara lost his confidence, understood it is impossible to win over Duryodhana.  He pitifully looked at Krishna, who mischievously patted on his own thigh, as an indication to pound on Duryodhana’s thigh, which was considered as morally wrong for Kshatriya to attack below the waist of the opponent.  Vrikodhara with his powerful mace hit hard on the thigh of Duryodhana, thus Vrikodhara won over Duryodhana, and ultimately it was declared that Pandavas won the army of Kaurava.  On that night of victory, Pandavas along with Krishna moved out of their regular tents/shibila, to celebrate victory over the Kauravas at the instruction of Krishna.  The five sons of Draupadi remained in the tents of Pandavas were gone to deep sleep. 

Ashwaththama who is the son of Dronacharya, could not bear to watch the pathetic state of his close associate Duryodhana, he mentally prepared to destroy the Pandavas who killed his father in an unfair means in the battlefield, he was waiting for an opportunity take revenge on them and destroy the entire clan.  Ashwaththama stood before Duryodhana who was struggling for death and promised to please him for all those kindheartedness he had showered on Dhronacharya and his children.  Ashwaththama arrived in the Pandava’s tent during the dark hours of the night, found the children in place of Pandavas, and sieved their head off from the body.  Ashwaththama could not control his happiness; he took the lifeless head out of the sack and showed to Duryodhana, Alas! He cried out utter grief, and cursed Ashwaththama for his grave sin and left his mortal coil. 

On the next day Pandavas were welcomed by Devi Dhraupadhi who was grieving over the death of her children.  Devi Dhraupadhi was pacified by Arjuna and promised on his powerful weapon Gandeeva, that he would produce the perpetrator before her.  Thus, Krishna and Arjuna left in a chariot, chased after Ashwaththama who shot Bhramasthra against Arjuna was shocked, cried before Krishna was nullified the effect of it with another Bhramasthra shot at the instruction of Krishna.