Krishna and Uttanga

After the great war of Mahabharatha was over, Lord Krishna

was traveling back home. On his way back, he passed a barren
desert. He waited there for the night. There in the barren desert
he saw a Sage named Uttanga. Uttanga was a great devotee of
Lord Krishna. He spent most of his time in meditation and did
not know much about what happened in the outer world...

Uttanga saw Krishna camping the desert and was thrilled to
meet him. Uttanga fell at Krishna's feet and worshiped Krishna.
Krishna picked up Uttanga lovingly and embraced him. 'My
friend! What are you doing here?' Krishna asked Uttanga.
Uttanga smiled and shook his head. 'Just meditating, my Lord!
The question is what are you doing here?'

Krishna thought for a few seconds and then spoke, 'A great war
was just over! We just finished the Kurushektra war, my friend!
I am now going back home...now that my work there is done...'

Uttanga blinked...A war? Krishna could not stop a war? Uttanga
fumbled, 'But my Lord! A war? A war would have caused so
much bloodshed....Why would you even allow such a war to
happen?

Krishna sadly nodded his head, 'This war was responsible for
many people to lose their lives...But it was necessary...'

Uttanga said surprised 'You are saying that a war is necessary?'
Uttanga looked disgusted as he continued, 'this war has created
so much misery and lossDid you do nothing to stop the war
Krishna? Uttanga became more and more angry, as he spoke. In
anger he pulled out the water from his Kamandalam and held it
in his hands and said, If that is true Krishnathen I am going
to curse you

Krishna looked at Uttanga and smilingly shook his head.
Gandharis [the mother of the Kauravas] curse already hung on
his head. He had accepted that curse willingly.He did not need
another person who did not understand himHe had to make
Uttanga understand, Uttanga! I did everything in my power to
stop the warI went and pleaded with Duryodhana [the eldest
Kaurava] to make peace with PandavasI said that he did not
even have to give back the Pandavas the whole of the kingdom
that they had lost.I was even ready to accept five villages -
one each for each of the five Pandavas...

Uttanga looked surprised as Krishna continued, Yes! I actually
pleaded with Duryodhana to give five villages, one for each of
the five Pandavasand do you know what Duryodhana said?
Krishna said with pain filled eyes. Uttanga questioningly raised
his eyebrows as Krishna continued, Duryodhana said he would
not give even the space to occupy a needle to the PandavasHe
said he was willing to fight for itIt was his.

Uttanga felt a little silly with the water in his hands as Krishna
continued, Besides Uttanga, the Kauravas humiliated the
Pandavas and Draupadi[the wife of the Pandavas]Such cruelty
could not be forgivenAnd so...' Krishna said taking a deep
breath, '...the war was fought

Uttanga dropped the water uselessly on the floor and looked at
Krishna with tears in his eyes, I am sorry I doubted you,
Krishna He looked down looking shamefaced, I am sorry I
was about to curse you for something you were not
responsible

Krishna shook his head. He ordered his guards to prepare lunch
for the sage. The sage enjoyed Krishnas hospitality for some
time. The next day, as Krishna left for his kingdom, Krishna
spoke to Uttanga, Uttanga! I know that when you heard my
story yesterday you were about to curse me...you transferred
some energy to the water in your KamadalamIt was
wastedYour powers were wastedI wish to make up for
itPlease ask for anything from me, I will grant you any boon
you want

Uttanga shook his head, I need nothing KrishnaI am an
asceticI am devoted to youI can see you whenever I
want...What more could I want.

Krishna smiled, Please Uttanga! I insist! Please ask for a
boon

Uttanga thought for some time. Krishna did not give his word
normally to everyoneKrishna expected him to use the boon
carefullyHe looked at the place where his water had spilt and
suddenly smiled, He looked at Krishna, Krishna! I lost some
water on that day right? So that is what I ask from
youWaterIf I ever feel thirsty, you have to make sure that
my thirst is quenched.

Krishna smiled and blessed Uttanga. Krishna started his journey
to Dwaraka.

In the desert Uttanga sat meditating on the Dark Lord. Once as
Uttanga had finished his meditation, he felt very thirsty. He
looked around and saw no water. Krishna! He thought as he
closed his eyes.

When Uttanga opened his eyes, standing before him was a
hunter with his dogs, dressed in rags looking dirty and filthy.
The hunter was panting as if he had run a long way. The hunter
took out the water from a pouch in his belt and took a sip. The
hunter looked at Uttanga and said, Sir! You look like you are
thirsty.Want some water? The hunter said gruffly handing
over the dirty pouch to Uttanga. Uttanga wrinkled his nose. The
stench coming from the man was unbearableThe water that
the man was drinking was probably dirty. Uttanga stepped back
and shook his head, I dont want anythingGo away from
me

The hunter looked amused, Sir! You actually look thirstyI
saw you lick your lips, when I was drinking waterI filled the
water from a river near my houseIt is very clear and pure

Uttanga wanted to just get away from the dirty man and his
dogs, who were sniffing him, Go away now! He said angrily
and slightly nervous looking at the dogs.

The hunter tried again, Sir! You wont find a lot of water
here' The hunter said pointing at the desert around him,
'...Please sirtake some water

Uttanga looked angrily at the hunter and said, I would rather die
thirsty then to drink water from a dirty man like yougo away!

The hunter gave a sad smile and went away from there...Uttanga
was angry and still walking with no waterKrishna, your broke
your promiseHow dare you

Standing before Uttanga with a very sad smile was the Dark
Lord, who suddenly appeared before him. Uttanga angrily
looked at Krishna Is this a way to repay a boonI thought you
said I would get water, whenever I was thirstyMy thirst is
almost killing meand what? Uttanga said angrily waving his
hands, No water? He said looking scornfully at Krishna.

Krishna did not say anything while Uttanga was ranting. Finally
Uttanga looked exhausted then Krishna spoke quietly, You are
right, UttangaI did not give you waterI was going to give
you nectar of immortalityamrita of the Gods.

Uttanga looked stunned as Krishna continued, Indra, the God of
the Devas has the nectar of immortality with himI asked him
to give that to you' Uttanga looked stunned as Krishna sadly
continued speaking, 'Indra agreed to give you the amrita, but he
imposed a condition. Indra said that it was after all Amrita
...only a person who truly deserved it should be given it....Indra
said that he would first test you and if you passed the test, he
would give the amrita to you...'

Krishna pointed at the direction of the hunter, The hunter was
actually IndraHe had amrita in his pouchHe wanted to see
whether you saw the Brahman [the Force which runs within us
all] in all the people Krishna sadly shook his head, You
could not see that all people are equal, Uttanga Uttanga
looked too shamefaced and bowed down, his thirst forgotten,
Despite all your meditation and prayers, you still do not realize
that everything is one and the same and all are equalI am
sorry Uttanga The Dark Lord said turning away, You still
have a lot of learn about Love and the Brahman

The Dark Lord handed some plain water to Uttanga who was
now not in a mood to drink it. Uttanga just went away and
promised to himself that he would become a better person and
try to see everyone equally no matter who they are