Lord Krishna'skingdom was in Dwarka. One day Arjuna decided to pay him a visit.
On meeting Lord Krishna, Arjuna conveyed through his conversation with Lord Krishna that since he possessed the gandiv dhanusha, no one could touch him and he could defeat everybody, every power in the universe.
While talking, Arjuna'seyes fell on a Brahmin crying at the palace gates. So he and Krishna approached the man and asked, ?Why are crying over here? What is the matter? Can we help you in any manner??
The Brahmin replied amidst sobs, ?I am crying at the loss of my ninth son. But what is the use of my crying when a king like Lord Krishna is not able to do anything about it. I had expected him to protect me and my children, but not even one son of mine is left alive till today.?
Arjuna felt sorry for the Brahmin and pondered, ?It'strue, Lord Krishna is a powerful ruler, yet he did not save the poor Brahmin'ssons. What'sthe use of His being so powerful if He could not do this much for this man??
Arjuna tried to console the man by saying, ?Don'tcry. I?ll save your next son that is born. When your wife is about to give birth to your tenth child, just come and inform me. I?ll do my best.?
The Brahmin was somehow not convinced. He asked Arjuna, ?When Krishna and Balaram and other warriors are not able to do anything about it, then what can you do??
Arjuna replied with pride, ?You do not know this but I possess the gandiv dhanusha with which I can overpower anybody. Nobody can touch me now. I promise, if I do not save your tenth son, I?ll go and commit suicide by jumping into a burning pyre.?
The Brahmin went away, somewhat convinced. After ten months he appeared again to inform Arjuna that his tenth son was about to born. Arjuna decided to visit the Brahmin'swife. After a few days, the Brahmin and Arjuna reached the wife'shut, who lay groaning on the mat. Arjuna drew near her and began shooting arrows, one after another, all around her from his gandiv dhanusha. After some time, he built a wall of arrows around the Brahmin'swife while he himself went and stood guard at the hut'sentrance. He said to the Brahmin, ?Now even Yamaraj cannot enter inside.?
Just then the Brahmin'swife gave birth to her child. The Brahmin rushed inside but to his horror, found that the baby had just disappeared through thin air. Red with anger, he came out and shouted at Arjuna, ?You are a liar; you did not save my tenth son. This time it was so bad that before I could even catch a glimpse of my son, he disappeared into thin air.?
Now Arjuna became really worried. He searched everywhere but there was no sign of the baby. Completely defeated, he got ready to jump into the burning pyre as he had promised to the Brahmin.
Immediately Lord Krishna appeared in front of him and said, ?Stop Arjuna. Don'tdo this. I?ll take you to the child.?
So Lord Krishna took Arjuna to a dark place where nothing was visible. Krishna threw his chakra, which lighted the path through the dim path. There, in front of him, Arjuna saw Lord Vishnu sitting on the sheshnag and playing with the ten sons of the Brahmin.
Arjuna turned to Lord Krishna in surprise. Krishna said to him, ?I did this to make you realise the importance of humility. I wanted to teach you that you do not have all the powers to save a child. Never boast about your powers in front of anyone in future.?
Lord Vishnu intervened, ?Now that you have learnt your lesson, go and spread the message of Dharma. Killing the asuras should be your aim from now onwards.?
Arjuna thanked Lord Vishnu and took the Brahmin'sten sons back to the poor man'shut and who was thrilled to see his children.
