EXPERIENCE OF A DEVOTEE 63 YEARS AGO
It was during 50’s that, there was an ardent devotee of Bhagawan called Saakamma
who stayed in Puttaparthi and used to be with Swamy having paadanamaskar and
listening to Bhagawan’s daily discourse. One day Saakamma happened to read a
Telugu version of Bhagavad-Gita and could not understand how Lord Krishna was able
to chant 700 slokas in the battlefield while Kauravas and their soldiers were ready to
battle against Pandavas.
Also Saakamma’s doubt was that, how did Arjuna understand the slokas chanted by
Lord Krishna. What was the situation when these two were in discussion? Was it possible
for Lord Krishna to do so in the battle field?
Saakamma walked towards Bhagawan with full of questions in her mind and asked
Bhagawan if, Bhagavad-Gita was right and if so, was it possible at all in the battlefield?
for Lord Krishna to chant 700 sloka’s and was there any time for Arjuna to listen and
understand Lord Krishna in a packed battlefield while battle was ready to take place?
Swami smiled and gave no answer to her.
In the evening Swamy called all the devotees including Saakamma, took them all to
the sands of Chitravathi. Bhagawan sat in the sands of Chitravathi and started
gathering the sand and made a heap of sand while in discussion with devotees and
gently he put his right hand into the heap of sand and the devotees were eagerly
watching what was Swamy doing in the sand.
Swamy gently took out his hand with an idol in His hand. It was a beautifully carved,
artistic and a glittering gold idol with Lord Krishna guiding the chariot towards battle
field while Arjuna watching the enemies, ready with his bow and arrows.
Swamy’s showed it to all the devotees and said, “How much time does it take to make
this kind of idol for a Goldsmith”. Many said months and some said weeks, that too with
the assistance of one or two persons.
Then Swamy asked them how much time He took to manifest this idol. “A minute”
replied the devotees. Swamy then started saying that, anything is possible to God. Just
now you happened to see the idol having been manifested in less than a minute’s time
and the same way, Lord Krishna was able to make them all in the battlefield un-
conscious and were standstill, though their eyes were open and were looking like they
were watching everything. Only Arjuna was allowed to see and listen to Lord Krishna.
The Sun’s movement was standstill. Thus Lord Krishna stopped the time to advise Arjuna
to go ahead with his mission. During this period of conversation between Lord Krishna
and Arjuna was called “Bhagavad-Gita”. “It was not you, who is going to kill them all”.
Their destiny has already been decided and “you are only instrumental” said Lord
Krishna and made him to get ready to the battle field. Then Lord Krishna made
everyone in the battlefield conscious.
to go ahead with his mission. During this period of conversation between Lord Krishna
and Arjuna was called “Bhagavad-Gita”. “It was not you, who is going to kill them all”.
Their destiny has already been decided and “you are only instrumental” said Lord
Krishna and made him to get ready to the battle field. Then Lord Krishna made
everyone in the battlefield conscious.
Thus, Saakamma’s doubt on various issues of Bhagavad-Gita clarified and Saakamma
fell on the feet of Bhagawan shedding her tears, said Swami how kind of you to put so
much effort to clear my doubt I had in the morning. “Swami you are none else, than
Lord Krishna and how lucky are we to be at your lotus feet”.
