Story of the week - Ways of the Divine

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Ways of the Divine

The Pandavas during the time of their exile once walked into the forest of

Romarishi. Romarishi was a sage whose body was covered with hair and his beard

was so long that it spread like a carpet into the entire area of the forest.

There was a sacred tree in that forest yielding a very special type of fruit

which, once tasted by a person, would relieve him of hunger and thirst for

years and years. But the fruit was not to be plucked, it was to be eaten only

when it fell down on its own.

One day Dharmaraja and Draupadi chanced to come near the tree. Draupadi was very

much tempted to taste that luscious big fruit hanging from the tree. She said:

"Can we not take that fruit? We can all share it." Dharmaraja shot an arrow and

the fruit fell on the ground. He went to take the fruit with his hand. It was so

heavy that he could not move it. Dharmaraja tried to lift it with all his

strength using both his hands but he could not lift it. Draupadi also tried but

in vain. In the meantime, Arjuna arrived at that place. He tried to lift the

fruit but could not succeed. All the three tried to lift the fruit but it would

not move. The two younger brothers came and tried to lift the fruit but they too

could not succeed.

Finally came the mighty hero, Bhima. He asked the others to keep away and said:

"I will lift it. But even Bhima failed."

Meanwhile the hair of Romarishi which had spread all over the area, began to

stir because when these six people were trampling about to lift the fruit, the

strands of hair were being trodden and pulled. He realised that some one must

be trying to steal the fruit. He had become furious. His long hairs started

coming together and coiling round the Pandavas to tie them up.

Draupadi realised the danger and immediately prayed to Lord Krishna. Krishna

appeared before them. Draupadi fell at his feet and prayed to Him for help.

Krishna said: "Sister, I am helpless. Romarishi is a great sage. I reside in

his heart. How can I do anything against the wishes of my devotees?" Draupadi

once again pleaded: "You alone can save us, you can do anything if you wish

to." Krishna said: "I will help you, but all of you should be totally silent

whatever may be the situation and do exactly as I tell you." Draupadi and

Pandavas promised to obey his orders. Krishna went towards Romarishi's ashram

and instructed them to follow him after sometime.

In the meantime, Romarishi was so much enraged that he had actually started to

walk towards the tree to curse the poachers. Just then Krishna entered the

ashram. Romarishi fell at the Lotus Feet of the Lord. He was overjoyed to see

Him. He said, "How fortunate am I to have you as my guest. Oh Lord! What can I

do for you?" Krishna engaged him in discussing certain spiritual matters till

the Pandavas arrived.

As soon as the Pandavas along with Draupadi reached the ashram, Krishna hurried

towards them and fell at their feet. The Pandavas were feeling embarrassed but

remembering the Lord's command, kept quiet. Seeing Krishna fall at the feet of

the Pandavas, Romarishi also fell at the feet of those visitors. Then Krishna

asked them to come into the ashram. He introduced them to Romarishi. He praised

the virtuous Dharmaraja, valiant Arjuna and Bhima and the intelligent Nakul and

Sahadeva, and above all, the devout Draupadi. Romarishi by that time totally

forgot about the fruit and the poachers. Krishna informed Romarishi that the

Pandavas were the people who were tempted to taste the fruit being unaware of

the unique nature of the fruit. Romarishi desired to please those who could

please the Lord Himself. He said: "Let them take the fruit. I would like them

to have it." By eating the fruit the Pandavas were able to live without hunger

for a long time.

It is difficult to understand the ways of the Divine. All that we can do is to

always remember Him with love and pray with faith for His matchless grace.

- Baba

Source: Chinna Katha II, 140

http://laluni.helloyou.ws/askbaba/stories/s1049.html

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