Krishna and his friends keep watch on crops
SRI Krishna, Satyaki and Balarama were then young boys. Foster-father Nanda Gopa once called them in the evening and said ?My dear boys, I am now coming from the fields. This year the crops are good. It is an excellent harvest. We have a sumptuous yield and the grains are heaped in the fields. Tomorrow we can transport the paddy to the godowns. This night we have to safeguard the fruits of our labour from the onslaught of pests, such as rats and evil spirits. Therefore, all the three of you go to the fields and keep watch. Be vigilant and see to it that this God'sgift is not snatched away by the devils. Distribute the labour among yourselves and protect the paddy from the demons and enemies.?
The three boys nodded their heads and proceeded to the fields with lamps in their hands. For full twelve hours, from dusk to dawn, they were to keep watch. Sri Krishna suggested: ?I wonder if there is any evil spirit in this quiet place. Anyhow, let'sobey the elder'sorders. Since I am the youngest of the three, I shall go to sleep first. Both of you keep watch during the first two parts of the night. The third period of vigilance will be looked after by me. Let'sfind a suitable place closest to the paddy heap and commence our roster duties. I think it is better if our big brother Balarama takes up the first turn.?
Balarama readily agreed and asked Satyaki and Krishna to rest. Soon after taking charge, he became serious, frowning at the invisible spirits who were likely to steal the grains. He shou-ted, ?Who'sthere?? And pro-mpt come the reply, ?Who'sthere??. Infur-iated, he blasted again, ?How dare you answer?? The voice too echoed, ?How dare you answer?? Bala-rama grew more and more furious. He could not leave the place of grains, nor could he catch the shouting devil. Tired of shouting, his anger began to rise. At the same time he became restless and tense. He could not be at peace, nor could he do anything worthwhile. For every shout of his, there was a counter shout. Somehow his period of duty came to a close and so he woke up Satyaki to take the charge. Balarama uneasily told Satyaki about the presence of the evil spirits and asked him to be very careful.
Satyaki, with equal vigour and anger, shouted at the top of his voice, challenging the enemy to come out. And the devil promptly responded with equal anger. Shouts and counter shouts continued. Satyaki became more and more, worked up and his body became aflame with fury. At long last, his period of duty ended. So he woke up Krishna asking him to keep the vigil for the rest of the night. However he cautioned him against the evil spirits and their audacity to disturb his poise. Shri Krishna only smiled and commenced his duty. Satyaki went to take rest with a sigh of relief.
Shri Krishna, in a gentle voice said, ?Hello, how are you?? and the voice replied ?Hello, how are you??
Krishna said, ?I am okay,? and came the response, ?I am okay?.
Sri Krishna: ?Hope, everything is fine.?
Echo: ?Hope, everything is fine.?
Sri Krishna: ?We are friends.?
Echo: ?We are friends.?
Sri Krishna: ?You are tired.?
Echo: ?You are tired.?
Sri Krishna: ?Please sleep.?
Echo: ?Please sleep.?
Sri Krishna: ?I shall relax.?
Echo: ?I shall relax.?
Sri Krishna: ?Bye, bye…?
Echo: ?Bye, bye…?
And Krishna peacefully retired and woke up, looking fresh, in the morning. Balarama and Satyaki were still agitated. They asked, ?Krishna how could you sleep? Has not the devil distur-bed you??
Sri Krishna replied, ?I found no devil to be done away with. I found everywhere peace and so I slept peacefully. Nobody ever disturbed me.?
It is only our fears that become devils to disturb us. Yadbhavam tatbhavathi (What-ever you imagine will rebound). Sri Krishna entertained ill will towards none and so he was left undisturbed in the mind.
A mind finding faults with others cannot afford to remain quiet. It gets tossed in foul weather and remain far from tranquil. The net result is restlessness and sleepless-ness. Thus see no evil to remain peaceful.
