On the ninth day of Mahabharata war, Duryodhana approached Bhishma in his camp. He was suspicious of the grandsire’s dedication to the fight. Duryodana felt that Bhishma was not doing his best , as he was carried away by his affection to the Pandavas. Duryodhana felt anxious of the result if Bhishma continued to fight half-heartedly. So Duryodhana wanted to rouse Bhishma to his full fury, even if it meant hurting the old man.
Approaching
Bhishma, Duryodhana remarked that Bhishma was waging a half-hearted
fight. Stung by these remarks, Bhishma gave word that he would rout
the Pandava army and kill all the Pandavas.
When
Draupadi heard this, she was afraid. She prayed to her Lord Krishna.
As
soon as she thought of Krishna, he appeared before her. Krishna asked
her to follow him. He took her through the battlefield. The
battlefield was an awful sight with bodies scattered everywhere. They
finally reached a tent.
Suddenly,
Krishna told Draupadi, “Sister, please remove your sandals. They
are making a lot of noise.”
Draupadi
removed her sandals.
Just
at the entrance to the camp, Krishna whispered to Draupadi, “Please
go in and fall at the feet of the old man whom you can hear pacing up
and down inside.”
She
did so accordingly. Bhishma was surprised to see a lady fall at his
feet and he blessed her, “May you live long with your husband. Who
are you? What can I do for you? Why are you here at this hour?”
Druapadi
got up asking Bhishma to promise protection to her husbands.
When
she got up, Bhishma recognized her. He was stunned, “Draupadi, Is
it you? How did you come here?”
Draupadi
replied, “Krishna brought me here. I came here to seek your
blessings.”
Bhishma
recognized Krishna at the door. “Krishna, please come in. What is
it that is hanging on your shoulders? It looks like sandals.”
Krishna
replied quietly, “Oh yes, they are Panchali’s foot wear. They
were making lot of noise. So I took them with me.”
Draupadi
was mortified to see this. She said, “Oh Lord! Great calamity will
fall on me by this act of yours.”
Krishna
replied, “What is wrong with the brother carrying his sister’s
sandals? By the way, did you take his blessings?”
Bhishma
replied, “She did not ask for it. I gave it on my own. Krishna,
what concern you have for your devotees, you did not mind even
carrying their footwear. Who can equal you in protecting the
devotees? When you are with the Pandavas, what do they have to fear?”
Draupadi
replied, “Grandpa, we were terrified to hear your promise.”
Bhishma
said, “What can the oath of this insignificant person do before
Krishna, the God incarnate. He is on your side. No harm can befall
you.”
Thus
succeeding in their mission, Krishna and Draupadi took leave of
Bhishma.
Moral:
As
soon as devotee think of Krishna he appear on lotus of his hearth.
When invited by devotee Krishna is always ready to help although
apparently we do not see his help. By pleasing great personalities we
get blessings even without asking for them as Draupadi get blessings
of Pitamaha Bhishma.
