Janmashtami's Most Life-Changing Story – NEVER Worry, Krishna Is in Control by Swami Mukundanand
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY
Full Text:
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All the scriptures ask us to surrender to God. Why should we surrender and what does it mean? Surrender happens when we repose all our trust and faith in the grace of God. When we realize no matter how much wealth we may possess, it cannot always protect us.
In fact, Lakshmi is Chanchal, here today, gone tomorrow. Our health can also fail us. Our reliable friends and relatives could turn against us in future. Our high posts could be snatched away from us. Then we realize our real protector through thick and thin is the supreme divine personality and him alone.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=1
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During the Mahabharat on the last and 18th day of the battle, Sri Krishna said to Arjun, "Today at the end, you get off the chariot first and stand a distance away." Arjun did not understand the reason behind Shri Krishna's instruction but obeyed blindly.
When he stood apart, Shri Krishna then stepped off the chariot and immediately it crumbled and then exploded. Arjun asked Sri Krishna what happened. He said your chariot could not have withstood the divine weapons of Karan and Drona, Bhishma etc. I was holding it in place by my power. And that is why when I left it crumbled.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=80
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So when we realize that my crutches are fallible and choose to develop complete and absolute faith, my real ashray or protector is God. Narad ji expresses that as “anya ashray tyaga” and that brings about the spirit of surrender. What comes in the way of surrender is this big enemy inside, the ego which informs us God may be great but I am also something.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=142
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Consider the example of Barbarik. He was the son of Ghatotkach who was the son of Bhim and Hidimba. So Barbarik was the grandson of Bhimsen. When the battle of Mahabharat was about to begin, Barbarik was also approaching to participate.
Shri Krishna realized this warrior is so powerful he has in his capacity the ability to overturn the outcome of the battle. So he met Barbarik on the way and said where are you going? Barbarik said to participate in the forthcoming battle.
Shri Krishna asked him, "What are your abilities? Give me a demonstration." Barbarik in his quiver used to have three arrows. He said, "These three arrows is all my arsenal. The first marks out whatever I wish to kill. The second marks out what I wish not to kill. And the third completes the task. Shri Krishna said, "Show me."
Barbarik released them. Now the arrow first one went and marked all the leaves of the nearby tree. Shri Krishna had put one leaf under his foot as a test. The arrow started hovering over Shri Krishna's foot and then Sri Krishna realized his power. He released the leaf. The second arrow came back without touching any and the third arrow pierced all the leaves and fell at the feet of Shri Krishna.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=187
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Sri Krishna was impressed by Barbarik's prowess and asked him on which side are you going to fight. Barbarik said I received the instruction from my mother to always take the side of the weaker army.
In this case the Pandavas have only seven Akshohini divisions while the Kauravas have 11. Sri Krishna said suppose you fight from the side of the Pandavas you will then kill everybody in the Kaurav army but Bhishma will remain unscathed because he has the “swetcha mrityu varadan” ,i.e., death only when he wishes.
In that case the Kaurav army will then later become the more powerful one and you will side it and start killing the Pandavas. This is very dangerous. He then said to Barbarik will you offer me a gift. Barbarik said Shyam Sundar whatever you ask. Shri Krishna said give me your head. Barbarik said without question but you also offer me something. Sri Krishna said what?
He said I wish to have the opportunity to observe your glory manifest in the forth coming Mahabharat war. Shri Krishna said so be it. Barbarik took a sword chopped his head off and offered it to Shri Krishna. Shri Krishna took his head and placed it in the sky so that Barbarik could observe the entire battle.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=316
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After 18 days when the Pandavas finally Won, once a discussion began on whose contribution was the maximum in the Pandav victory. There were different claims. Sri Krishna said, "We have a judge up in the skies." So he brought Barbarik's head down and asked him the same question. Barbarik's response was classic.
He said, "Sri Krishna, although I found a lot of people fighting in the war, I could see very clearly it was your divine disc, the Sudarshan Chakra moving around all over the battlefield and effecting the results.
Oh, I could see only your glory manifest everywhere in this war. The Pandavas then questioned Sri Krishna. Why did he ask for such a terrible gift the head of their grandson Barbarik.
Sri Krishna then revealed that in his past life Barbarik was a yaksh and at a time when the evil forces had increased tremendously the devatas had approached Vishnu for protection.
Vishnu had said he would soon descend on the earth as an avatar and annihilate the miscreants. However, the Yaksh with pride had said, "There is no need. I can do this myself. I am so powerful."
The arrogance of the Yaksh had incensed Brahma who then cursed him that when Vishnu descends before annihilating the miscreants, he will first of all kill you. Sri Krishna said I had to fulfill the words of Brahma. What is the learning from here?
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=434
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The mistake of the Yaksh was his arrogance that prevented him from accepting the greatness of God. And later on when he came again as Barbarik, his glory lay in his complete and absolute alignment of his will with the will of God.
That is the prime symptom of surrender. Unite your will with the will of God. When we surrender, we accept that all we have belongs to him. We give up the sense of proprietorship and desire to use our possessions for the happiness of God.
Then the sava behav develops. By doing sava, we put our learning into practice. It helps us realize that devotion is to be done for the happiness of God.
Through service, we grow in the spirit of surrender and selflessness. Sava also prepares us for the divine service of God in His nithya leela, his divine Abode. Seva is thus the very life of devotion, surrender and spirituality. In fact, it is the original nature of the soul.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=569
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The Chaitanya Charitamrta states. “The eternal constitutional position of the soul is by nature the servant of God”. So to progress in surrender, learn to use your possessions in a manner that pleases God.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=679
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Take inspiration from this little girl who had accompanied her mother to the mall. And while they were checking out, the girl saw an artificial pearls necklace. Its shine and splendor attracted the little child and she begged her mommy to have it. The price tag on it was 250 rupees. The mother said, "My child, you will have to purchase it with your money."
So the girl went home, checked her piggy bank, did a little chore at home for which she earned a little bit from her mother, requested her grandmother for a little more, and finally put together the price to purchase the necklace. When she got it, she felt she was on top of the world. Papa returned and she proudly showed her possession to her father.
The next day while papa was putting her daughter to bed, it was his habit to tell her a lullaby story. At the end of it, he said, "Beti, do you love me?" "Yes, Baba. Are you sure you love me?" "Yes, papa.
Will you give me something if I ask for it?" Definitely, Papa. In that case, give me your pearl necklace. Oh, no. Papa, ask for anything else. The teddy bear, the toy train. Don't ask for this necklace. It's all right, Beti. You don't love me. And he went off.
The next night he came. His daughter was sitting cross-legged on her bed with tears in her eyes. And she said, "Papa, I've got something to give you." He put his hand forth. She placed the necklace in it.
The father pocketed it and from his other pocket, he took out a real pearl necklace worth 25,000 rupees and placed it on her. The papa had no intention to impoverish his daughter, but he needed her to learn to surrender before he could enrich her with gifts.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=708
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Likewise, our eternal father is full of divine knowledge, divine love and divine bliss and wishes to enrich us with these divine presents. But He needs to know whether we are surrendered.
And we will have to express that by learning to sacrifice and serve him with what we possess.
https://youtu.be/eHK5xmsITsY&t=864
