Nara and Narayana

Mahabharata Vanaparva Arjunabhigamanaparva Section XII

Sri Sadgurubhyoh Namah

The Royals of the clans of Bhojas, Vrishnis, Andhakas, Panchalas, Kaikeyas, King of Chedi (Dhrishtaketu) went to the forest to meet Yudhistir on hearing the injustice done to Pandavas and asked him what should they do ?

They sat around Yudhistir and reproached Dhritarashtra. Krishna says "The evil quartet Duryodhana, Karna, Dussasana, and Shakuni shall meet their death in the battlefield and justice will be done". Seeing Krishna's anger which can consume all the worlds, Arjuna starts placating him saying "O' Krishna, you are Vishnu of profound wisdom, you are the lord of creator, you are the eternal principle, immeasurable with infinite energy. In your earlier days you did penance on the mountains of Gandhamadana for ten thousand years as a wandering muni. You did penance for eleven thousand years living on water alone on the banks of lake Pushkara. You did penance on mount Badari, standing on one leg and with upraised hands for one hundred years living on air alone. You did penance on the banks of Saraswati for twelve years. Another thousand years you did penance on one leg in the plains of Prabhasa. Sage Vyasa told me that you are the cause of all things, beginning and end of all. You are cause of movement in minds of people. You are the goal of all sacrifices. You slayed Naraka the first born of Earth and became victorious over everyone. You have given Indra (King of Heaven) the soveriegnity over universe and taken birth among men as a mortal. You are Hari, Brahma, Rudra, Surya, Dharma, Yama, Vasus, Kala and the ten directions. You slayed demons Madhu and Kaitabha. Having born in Yadava race, you have slain many wrong-doers like Kamsa, Sisupala, Jarasandha, Ahvriti, Saibhya and Shatadhanwan. You defeated Rukmi in battle. You destroyed the city of Saubha along with its king Salva. You are at the beginning of creation, having created the creator. At the end , everything will contract within you. You are the supreme ruler of the universe. The feats done by you and Balarama are unmatched by anybody. You stay in Kailasa with Brahmanas." 

Krishna says to Arjuna "You and I are one. You are mine and I am yours. What is mine is yours and what is yours is mine. Who hates you hates me and who hates me hates you. Who is your friend is my friend. You are Nara and I am Narayana. We are rishis Nara and Narayana born in this world for a special purpose. I am born from you and you are born from me. Nobody can understand the difference between us."

When Krishna and Arjuna are conversing thus, Panchali (Draupadi) approaches Krishna with tears in her eyes and with quivering voice she narrates her plight to him "O' Kesava, I was humiliated in front of all Kuru elders in the court. I was dragged on the floor by Dussasana, when I was in season, and my clothes were stained in blood in full view of Kuru elders. Seeing me thus, Duryodhana and Karna laughed at me derisively. Pandavas who are great warriors didnt come to my rescue. Fie on the might of Pandavas. They were mute spectators to my humiliation. I have no friends, protectors, I seek refuge in you."

Krishna says to the distraught Draupadi "Do not grieve, the wives of your foes will weep just like you on the death of their husbands on the battlefield. Your foes will die by the arrows of Arjuna and mace of Bhima. Heavens may fall, earth may be rent, oceans may dry up but my words will never be false." Draupadi looks at Arjuna who says "It will be as Krishna says."

Drishtadhyumna says "I will slay Drona, Shikhandi will slay Bhishma, Bhima will slay Duryodhan, and Arjuna will slay Karna. We have the guidance of Krishna and Balarama and we will be invincible in the battle even against Indra, what are Dhritarashtra's sons against us?"

Hari Om