ntroduction
When the Kurukshetra battle was over, Lord Krishna bade farewell to the Pandavas and went to Dwaraka. While on his way, he met his old brahmana friend Utanga. Krishna stopped, descended from his chariot, and saluted the brahmana. Utanga returned the greeting and proceeded to make the usual inquiries about the health and welfare of relatives. He asked whether Krishna’s cousins, the Pandavas and Kauravas, loved one another as brothers should and whether they were well and flourishing. The innocent brahmana had not heard about the great battle that had been fought.
The Brahmana’s Anger
The Lord was astounded by this question and, for a while, stood silent, not knowing what to say in reply. He then softly disclosed what had happened, explaining how a great battle had been fought and almost all the Kauravas had been exterminated. On hearing the narrative, Utanga became very angry. He told Krishna that He had failed in His duties and asked Him to be prepared to receive his curse. In reply, the Lord just smiled, asking him not to use up the fruits of his great penances. He then proceeded to show Utanga his Vishvarupa form and explain to him the message of the Bhagavad Gita, just as He had done to Arjuna.
Utanga’s Realization
After this explanation, Utanga recovered his calm, and the Lord was pleased. He told the brahmana to ask for any boon he desired. Utanga said that he did not desire anything, as he had seen the Lord Krishna’s Universal form. When Krishna insisted, Utanga said that he should be able to find water whenever he might feel thirsty. The Lord blessed him and went on His way.
The Test in the Desert
Later, when Utanga was passing through a desert, he felt very thirsty and remembered the boon he had received. He decided to make use of it. The same moment, a Nishada (Shudra) appeared before him, clothed in rags, with five hunting hounds (dogs) in leash and a water bag strapped to his shoulder. He offered the bamboo spout of his water skin to the brahmana to drink from.
The Brahmana’s Refusal
Utanga looked at the man in disgust, telling him he was not thirsty and asking him to leave. Reproaching the Lord in his mind for the kind of boon He had given, Utanga became more and more angry as the outcaste pressed him to quench his thirst. The outcaste then disappeared.
The Lord’s Explanation
Seeing the strange disappearance of the Nishada, the brahmana reflected, “Who was this? He could not have been a real Nishada. It was certainly a test, and I blundered miserably. I rejected the water offered by the outcaste and proved myself to be an arrogant fool.” Utanga was in great anguish when a moment later, Madhava Himself appeared before him with conch and discus.
Utanga exclaimed, “O Purushottama! Was it right of You to send an outcaste to offer unclean water to a brahmana like me? Was this kind?” He spoke in bitter tones. To him, the Lord replied smiling, “O Utanga! For your sake, I asked Indra to take amrita and give it to you as water. He said he would on no account give nectar to a mortal. But I prevailed upon him, and he agreed to do so only if I allowed him to test you in the form of a chandala. I accepted the challenge, believing you had attained that stage of understanding. But you have and made me suffer defeat at Indra’s hands.”
Moral of the Story
Although the brahmana asked the Lord only for water, the Lord gave him nectar out of His causeless mercy. The Lord always cares for us more than we do for ourselves. We just need to have the vision to understand His mercy.
A verse from Srimad Bhagavatam (5.19.27) highlights this point nicely:
satyam dishaty arthitam arthito nrnam
naivarthado yat punar arthita yatah
svayam vidhatte bhajatam anicchatAm
icchapidhanam nija-pada-pallavam
“The Supreme Personality of Godhead fulfills the material desires of a devotee who approaches Him with such motives, but He does not bestow benedictions upon the devotee that will cause him to demand more benedictions again. However, the Lord willingly gives the devotee shelter at His own lotus feet, even though such a person does not aspire for it, and that shelter satisfies all his desires. That is the Supreme Personality’s special mercy.”
Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare
Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare
PS: I humbly request all the devotees to please forward and share this moral/instructive story so that everyone can benefit from hearing about Krishna and His dear devotees.
