August is the month when friendships are celebrated. Most times, August is also the month when Krishna Janmashtami is celebrated. This may be a coincidence but Krishna is also the most loved amongst the many Indian Gods. He has always been the embodiment of friendship, love, fun and… pranks of course!
His pranks drove his foster mother Yashoda to tears even as other laughed a lot. He always made it up to his mother, got the scoldings and punishments he was due, but never let go of his sense of fun or righteousness. Krishna is fondly called ‘Kanna’ in tamil which can also mean beloved. He was beloved of everyone who met him and had oodles of charm that could melt the heart of anyone who met him.
Krishna was also a very good friend. His friendship with Sudama, his classmate from his gurukul days is known to every child. Though Sudama was a poor Brahmin, and Krishna was the king of Dwaraka, he welcomed his old friend with open arms and showered him with love, affection and dignity because his friend had come to visit him after a long time. He also eased his friend’s pain of poverty without being asked because he understood his friend well enough to know his heart was pure and his intentions good.
He was also a good friend of his cousins, the Pandavas. He was not only Arjuna’s friend, but also his mentor, confidante and guide during the war. He even tried to advise his other cousins, the Kauravas, to compromise with the Pandavas. But the Kauravas always felt that Krishna was always watching out for the Pandavas and was partial to their cause.
There was another person with whom he maintained an amazing friendship – Draupadi. She was as dark as Krishna and just as charming, good looking and intelligent. Resourceful and determined, she faced all the dangers and problems with her five husbands. Through all her problems, Krishna’s friendship and support was continuous. They both had a deep respect for each other.
He always relieved her tension even when the brothers and she were exiled to the forests for 12 years. One such incident occurred when the short tempered sage was persuaded to visit the Pandavas during their exile in the forest. Lord Surya, the Sun God had given Yudhistra, the eldest of the Pandavas, a gift of the Akshaya Patra – a vessel that would never get empty till after Draupadi finishes her meal, since she was always the last to eat. Thus, the Pandavas could feed all their holy and honoured guests even when they were exiled in the forest. One day, Sage Durvasa, who was known and feared very much for his short temper arrived at their home with his disciples to enjoy their famed hospitality.
The sage walked in late in the evening after Draupadi had already finished her meal. She heard the Sage and his disciples being welcomed by her husband, Yudhistra, while she was cleaning the Akshaya Patra. Terrified, she did not know what to do.
Meanwhile, her husband asked the Sage and his disciples to refresh themselves at the nearby lake. While they were gone, Draupadi thought of her friend, Krishna. He immediately sensed her need and came to her. Smiling, he asked her to show the Akshaya Patra. Dismayed, she said, “But I have already cleaned it!” Laughing Krishna replied, “Let me see how well you have cleaned!” Mutely, she went to get the vessel. Once Krishna took it from her, he checked the vessel and found a grain of rice stuck to it. “Tut! Tut! You missed this….Mmmm! Yummy! I love it! This is so delicious! The best I’ve ever had! So filling, too!”
“Stop joking!” said a confused and bewildered Yudhishtra. Smiling Krishna responded, “I said what I felt…but now, you must go check on the Sage and his disciples. It seems as if they have been gone for ages.”
While Krishna was tasting and exclaiming his satisfaction over the leftover morsel of food, it seemed as if his satisfaction reflected many times over in the minds and bodies of the Sage and his disciples. As Krishna felt his belly was filled with delicious tasty food, the short tempered Sage Durvasa and his disciples, suddenly felt that they have just had a deliciously full meal and could not possibly have another morsel of food. When Yudhistra came to the lake, the Sage and his disciples were resting as though they had eaten a full meal. The Sage saw him and said, “Your hospitality is indeed as good as it is famous! My disciples and I have had our hunger satisfied by the most delicious food. We shall rest here awhile, and take leave soon. Thank you for your hospitality!”
Stunned, Yudhistra went back to tell Draupadi of this amazing tale. She smiled her thanks to her friend, Krishna. He had saved her from a distasteful situation…yet again.
Krishna was also compassionate to his enemies. He always let them know that they were crossing their limits. Though his actions seemed spontaneous, he always warned his enemies of their impending doom and asked them to mend their ways. Krishna respected people and their deeds more than their status. King or pauper, people who were righteous were always treated graciously by Krishna, the eight Avatar of Lord Vishnu who lived and loved as a human being.
