“The glory of Lord Srihari, who holds Devatas very dear, is limitless. When traits of passion and ignorance (rajas, tamas) become prominent such that they subdue the traits of goodness, the Lord, whose plays are unfathomable, in accordance to time and situation annihilates the demons who are ruled by passion and ignorance”.

Swamiji explains: It is a known fact that DDT kills germs. On the contrary when DDT was used in my home the germs began to breed. I probed into the matter and figured out that the germs have become resistant to DDT. Even in killing germs a certain procedure is to be followed. It is incorrect to simply walk into the forest killing all insects and animals that come on the path. Only when destroying germs is essential for crop growth or it benefits the society at large, the deed is an acceptable one. Not otherwise. When germs are eating away the furniture at home, then eliminating them is acceptable. In all other cases ahimsa (non-violence) should be practiced.

Here it is said that the Lord acts, based on the time, situation and need. He decides which demon is to be eliminated. Do not assume that every demon is wicked. Even in bacteria or germs there are good and bad bacteria. Some are harmless. So the Lord draws up a plan. In accordance to His plan He decides which demon should be eliminated. Hence elimination of demons is not a ‘spur of the moment’ action but is based on the time, situation and place requirements.

For being born in the demon clan, Prahlada was also a demon. The Lord protected him while destroying his father, who was filled with demonic traits that had emerged from the traits of passion (rajas). Hence he killed that trait. Prahlada was filled with traits of purity and goodness (sattva). He was filled with devotion. Therefore the Lord protected him. Maharishi Śuka continued, “O king, in reality the Supreme Lord looks equally upon everyone. There is a very ancient story from the Purāṇās pertaining to this subject. Previously, when the Rājasūya Yāga was in progress, Emperor Yudhisthira, who had no enemies in this world, questioned Maharishi Nārada”.

Swamiji explains: Yudhisthira is addressed as ajātaśatru –which means he has absolutely no enemy. We are surrounded by enemies at all times. It is wrong to have feelings of envy towards a person who is prospering. Not having feelings of envy reflects a state of purity. When one is filled with feelings of extreme envy or anger towards the person who is prospering, he should realize that he is filled with demonic traits. Yudhisthira did not find any enemy right since his birth. If you read Mahabharata repeatedly you will notice that none of the Kauravas barring the blind Dhritarastra ever had any complaints against Yudhisthira. Their anger was always directed towards Arjuna and Bheema. They mainly targeted Arjuna believing him to be a true hero. The Kauravas failed to realize that Yudhishthira was the real hero. Since he eternally abided by dharma they could find no faults in him at any given point of time.

Arjuna on the other hand was filled with pride. He would often provoke the Kauravas and threaten them. Unable to withstand his threats they often tried to attack him. Likewise even towards Bheema they had feelings of malice.

The noble-hearted and pure Yudhisthira never ever considered Kauravas as his enemies. That is why his younger brothers never questioned his actions even when he lost everything in the game of dice. Even jocularly they refused to complain or ridicule him. Draupadi screamed but she never spoke against him in vengeance. In anger she did scream, “can’t you help me when I am suffering”, but deep within she had no anger against him. This was because he never considered anyone his enemy. Now coming back to the story.

“During the Rājasuya yagna, Śisupala, the king of Chedi, merged into Vāsudeva. Seeing this wonderful incident Yudhisthira was filled with astonishment. At that moment Maharishi Nārada was also present in that assembly”.

Sankarśanāya namah