“Sometimes being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny. And a time to prepare to pick up the pieces when it’s all over.”
Gloria Naylor
Happy Janmashtami One and All!
Krishna is always special in India. He is there in everyone’s life here. Now-a-days, I do see his devotees across the world irrespective of religion.
What is so special about him?
Why is he spoken about even after ages?
Once Saurabh Jain, the one who enacted as Shri Krishna in Star Plus Mahabharata 2013, in his Instagram handle, spoke about how people see him as the Lord Krishna himself and share their worries, pain and ask him for guidance.
Such is the impression people have. Shri Krishna is seen as the guiding force. There is no caste, creed, religion or sex for the supreme being. He is all here for the people who love him truly. As simple as that. He goes a mile extra for such people. He stays with them in every step and ensures they reach their goals and destination that must be reached. He is the journey himself.
In his life he had taught the world many aspects through his way of living, being around with people, the way he carried himself in intense situations. And he never missed timing. When he had to be there for his friends he had been there. Neither a moment delayed nor a moment prior. He has been just there for his friends. He was a friend of all. The poor. The rich. Brahmin. Kshthriya. Male. Female. It never mattered. He would have their backs till the moment arrived and then he would appear at the right moment to take their hands and lead the way to the destined destination.
Treating Friends
He taught how to treat people, especially friends. We do see in real life how people treat their friends. Few people use them. Few people put down their own people. Say, when a friend is rich, people use them for paying bills in a get together. His big heart is taken for granted. His wallet gets burnt. There is also the other extreme where poor people are ill treated. Most times friends are seen with benefits. Unconditional love for friends is a rare trait. Both Krishna and Rama have been an epitome of unconditional love, friendship.
Lord Krishna treated Sudhama, his poor Friend and Arjuna, his rich Friend alike. Both were from different castes. But it didn’t stop him from treating them alike with respect and love. Beyond helping them to grow with his guidance, he respected them and their privacy. He always maintained the invisible line when it came to helping others and respecting them.
He never did it all by himself. He let them do and appeared when his presence was much needed. In the case of Sudhama, he was in poverty beyond words. He was Krishna’s childhood friend. He tried all his means in an ethical way to lead a good life and when he couldn’t find a way, he went to Krishna, the king of Dwaraka upon the request of his wife.
Being Humble
Sudhama was shabbily dressed and had some flattened rice in a torn cloth to offer it to his beloved friend. As Sudhama reached Krishna’s palace, the security guards did not let him in. But Krishna came running to receive him. Sudhama was moved. He did not openly ask for help. Krishna understood his situation and blessed him prosperity.
Krishna did not put his friend down. He neither felt proud about his wealth nor made fun of his childhood friend. He just empathized and did what he could do to help his friend.
The Takeaway
In our lives after college we might lose touch with childhood friends in the course of life. Say after some 10 years you accidentally meet your friends. You may bump into any of the following situations.
Your friend fastly moves away from your sight. He may not have achieved his goals and might feel shy and move away. And some other time you may meet a friend who is in a higher position than yours and he may think why to talk with his peers and he wouldn’t smile back even. The vice versa is also possible. Where you are in a higher position and you think small about others.
Krishna, through his actions revealed that if a friend is in a lower financial status due to some reasond, but is here looking for help, do not question him knowing his situation. If in a position to help him, in ways you can, do it wholeheartedly with no ounce of pride. That way one can do a sane service and his respect isn’t at stake. Just need to thank God that we are in a better position, the position where our hands give rather.
Krishna, the Jagad Guru even during intense times never left himself behind. In friendship if both Friends connect with the child in themselves even after years, then the ego dies. Friendship just becomes immortal.
This Janmashtami let’s vow to treat people better with love and respect. Especially our friends. If one does not have a friend like Krishna. Being one may help. Might be.
With love,
Rukmini
